Feral Series IV: Feral Fallout (27 page)

The smoke swirled into stripes. Orange-and-black. My favorite tall muscled form wrapped in mouth-watering black-leather pants.

Oh. My. I can't breathe. And he can hear my tattling rattle of a heartbeat.

He gripped a metal cup fashioned like a stein as his gaze slid up and down my form.

I had to really look impressive to the point of ridiculous beyond slutty in the chains and leather. Why hadn't I had the sense enough to change clothing before searching for him? “I'm sorry. I should have burned this ridiculous outfit before stepping one foot into the village.” Well, except it's locked. Sol!

"It doesn't look like something you'd choose to wear.” He crossed his enormous arms over his chest, muscles begging to burst in every direction, and gulped down a drink of something I'd give anything to suck down for the sheer sake of escape the beverage offered at the moment.

Sweat beaded on my brow.

Oh my God. I'm just a whore. Maybe I could beat him to the door if I took off running?

"Why are you upset, Theo?"

Okay, he's purring my name. Listening to my
heartsong
with his heightened hearing. Maybe I can talk myself out of this mess. “You know you always fluster me.” I just stood there, waiting for a reply, watching him smack his lips after taking another drink.

"I didn't expect to see you again."

My heart squeezed.

Choked me. “Goro told you that?"

Wrank reached into the shadows and dragged a chair out, descended into a manly position with an ankle crossed over a knee, and tilted the chair back on its hind legs. His motions kicked up tendrils of arcing smoke from the floor. All of the wisps fluttered around him like magic burbled everywhere.

If only I felt the magic. It obviously worked for him.

"He said you'd departed to meet your mate,” Wrank announced.

The bastard. “I was informed after departure of the commander's plan. It had nothing to do with us. And still doesn't."

"Oh?” his black eyebrows arched.

So that was how things would be between us. Everything, all we shared, is lost. So damned gone. “I'm not going to lie. Duty is duty. And I did what I was sent to do. But don't think for one minute you weren't factored into the game. I bartered for the right to return and claim you as my blood mate. Just like we planned before I was ripped from my cushy little reality—"

"How do you know I still want to be a Marshal?"

My heart sank. And sank. And sank.

He hated what I'd done to him so much he'd quit?

Tears warmed my eyes.

Gods-damned tears. “I'm not a weak woman, Wrank. I've survived my stint in Hell, was forced to take three mates, and returned. And, yes, things could have gone far worse. But I'm alive and trapped in the biggest joke the universe could have dropped in my lap. My goal had always been to return to you. To keep my promise. And if you can't respect that, I should go.” I pivoted.

"I'm not finished with you,” his voice thundered like a Lord.

Like another Solvun. King. Lord. Bastard. Goodbye. “But I am.” I stormed back into the darkness toward the door and punched the heavy wood open.

M'yote, Flonn, and Solvun waited in the Great Hall with Goro.

Wide-eyed. Did I have to see anyone right now? Was this my future? A mate at every turn to share his disgust? If not, Goro with his orders?

Someone grabbed me from behind and pulled me to a halt.

"Dammit, you all can really make a girl curse.” I whirled to the stare into the compassionate Tiger mask I loved so much. Not so long ago.

"Why are you leaving?” Wrank asked softly.

"I have work to do. A war to end.” I pointed at my belly. “A child to prepare for."

His face froze where he peered down at his youngling mark.

Apparently, he couldn't see the faint gray temporary tattoo through the smoke and shadows moments before.

"I told you I needed to speak with you,” I whispered. “Although, I'd rather do it in private."

Slowly his knees buckled and his six-foot-four body lowered to kneel before me.

"They say a youngling is the most important thing to a Luvk Lord.” Maybe I shouldn't be so blunt. Luvk Lords often lived entire lives without ever mating. That is before two years ago and the formation of The Order of the Marshals. But, I needed him to work with me here. I needed to dangle the carrot.

Even more slowly, he pressed his warm black palm against my belly and turned his blue eyes up to mine. Not his striped short beard, nor his orange-and-black stripes, or even his emotionless mouth could convey what his squared black eyebrows said.

Absolute understanding. “It's yours. Ours, Wrank."

He nodded extremely slowly and snaked his enormous arms around my ribs, pulling my breasts into the bristle of his stubbled cheek with a hug nobody could break.

Someone cleared his throat behind me.

Apparently, there was no privacy in extraterrestrial marriages. I thrust my chin over my shoulder.

M'yote and Solvun had turned their backs to me. Flonn wore his standard somebody's-home-but-not-complaining mask. Goro just smiled with a nod.

What the heck? First it's no Wrank. Now, it's have at him.

"I love you, Theo.” Wrank wouldn't release me.

Well, better to finalize the deal before Goro got another wild hair up his alien ass. “Let's discuss this in private."

Wrank rose, met Goro's gaze, then grabbed my cheeks with his palms and stared into my eyes. “I love you, Theo. And can think of nothing but becoming your were-mate."

Let's go. Now. I took his large warm hand and tugged him toward the door. “My room?"

Wrank grinned. “I have something better suited for our reunion.” He ushered me toward the door.

My mates didn't look concerned. Although, they watched.

"Welcome back, Lord Wrank,” Goro said.

I guess Wrank really had quit the Order. Did he understand what he was getting into now? Sharing me was one thing. Not necessarily a foreign concept to Luvk Lords who shared a Queen. But the nanites were a bigger issue. Luvks lived twice as long as earthlings. Immortality was another can of worms. We needed to talk more. Alone. And hopefully talking would lead to big striped muscles wrapping me in incredible warmth.

But how rude would I be if I didn't stop for introductions? “Wrank, I need to introduce you to some people."

He smiled and nodded.

The Tiger warrior I loved so well proved himself the diplomat once again. I stopped before my mates who looked like a welcoming panel. Truly. Not one of them grimaced or scowled.

Sol stared into my eyes.

Would he flip out? “Sol, this is Lord Wrank.” I shot a smile between them. “Wrank, this is King Solvun of the planet Prall. I am his Queen."

Both men sized up each other with nods.

"And, Wrank, this is his brother, M'yote, a special kind of healer.” I sidestepped to allow my Tiger to tower directly over M'yote's blueness. “Brothers share their mate on Prall as do Tiger Lords on Luvk."

"Lord Wrank, I've seen you fight many times with the cadets during training. Your combat skills will be greatly respected on my home world.” M'yote thrust out a gloved hand to shake in Earth fashion.

"I am honored and hope to be as noteworthy on your planet.” Wrank reciprocated the handshake. Both had spent too much time among the Marshals.

I grabbed Flonn's wrist. He didn't show one sign of confusion or frustration. Thank goodness. So, I tugged him a step toward Wrank. “Flonn, this is my blood mate, Lord Wrank.” I gently squeezed the wrist to trigger a reaction from my most augmented cyborg. Hopefully Flonn wouldn't mind sharing me with one more mate.

Flonn had the wherewithal to mimic M'yote's actions and shake Wrank's hand. “It is an honor to meet you,” my !Dakos warrior said.

I could have cried with joy that Flonn had been so warm when the King merely nodded.

"D'ena,” Sol called, tugging twice at the plain ring he wore on his middle finger. “When shall I expect to see you again?"

I should have known my big blond King wasn't going to let me go quietly.

"Tomorrow. Early.” Wrank's resonating tone dared Sol to argue.

Sol hooked a finger at me.

Hell. What now? A kiss confirming he was still King? I stepped back over to him. “Yes?"

He smiled gently, took my hand, and placed the ring in my palm. “This is the key, D'ena. You will need it. I'm certain."

Key? “Oh?"

Sol leaned close, his nose an inch from mine. “To the chains, Theo. It triggers the lock's release when close to the mechanism.” He winked a golden eye.

I could have cried at his playful banter. My Sol was so adorable. I hopped onto my toes, grabbing his broad shoulders, and planted a kiss on his stubbled cheek. He returned the hug and left me to kiss each of my other mates. I finished with Flonn, turning to M'yote. “Look after my !Dakos warrior for me."

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By the time I shoved the wooden door into the empty Starry Sky Realm Royal Guard's quarters, my Theo had stopped sniffling. Had I insulted her and she no longer wished to bond with me? I couldn't force her to exchange blood. How could that achieve anything? And we were supposed to marshal a world? A forced mate wasn't one who would happily participate in such an enormous venture. I led her past the circular room's low flames in the floor's hearth, into the dark shadows beyond, toward the door leading into the natural spring pool.

"What is this place?” she asked with a teary edge to her voice.

"This was Lord Borun's lead guard quarters before he moved his family to King Calen's city.” I stepped toward the glowing blue water set in the circular pool inside the room that had to appear black as night to Theone.

"Boy, it's dark in here,” she said. “But you can see with your infrared vision, right?"

"Yes.” I pulled her warm length against my body, her head stopping at my nipples, and rubbed a palm from the curve of her lower back up her spine. “I'll take care of you, Theo.” The whispered promise had to dry up her tears.

"I bet you will,” she almost giggled.

Oh the sounds of a Queen. My Queen. How ironic the Luvks had done away with them over the last two years. Then I wind up sharing a Marshal cadet with the exact same colorings of a high-caste Luvk female with other lords. Just as if she were Queen.

My Theo had returned.

How could the sacred stars bring her back to me after Goro's warning? I snatched her slight weight into my arms and kicked the door shut.

She snaked her arms around my neck and thrust her warm nose into my neck. “Oh, Wrank.” Tears resonated in her words. “I never thought I'd see you again.” Her body trembled against my chest.

As I had thought. “It's over. Now, we embrace our future together.” I stepped to the edge of the bubbling water near the pool's inner step.

She had to stop crying. Goro caused her this pain. The sooner we departed to serve on her mates’ planet the better. I pushed her chin back and made her look into my eyes. “There's one way we can ensure they'll never separate us again."

The dim silver light from the pool painted a smile on her face. “We almost did that the morning before I was ordered on that damned mission. So, no hesitation!"

Not today. I bent my knees, lowering her slowly to the bath's stone floor, and placed her on the hard rock beside me.

She yanked the knife from my boot and slashed her arm. “One thing though.” She grinned with a bit of worry. “My blood is tainted now."

Beads of blood dribbled down her arm.

"How so?"

"Well, it's a long story. But I have nanites now."

"Nanites?"

"Tiny machines you can't see in my blood that heal me."

"Machines?"

"Like the pod fighters or Crellon spacecraft. Wrank,” she paused as if fearing to say more.

"Go on."

"I'm immortal now. And if you accept my blood, you will be too."

Impossible. Invisible machines and immortality?

"Wrank, it's true. And I can't allow you to ingest my blood without you understanding."

If she believed it to be true, I would humor her. And even if it were, I'd be her mate forever. I took the blade from her hand, scraped blood from her pale arm, and licked the salty metallic liquid from the cold edge.

Heat prickled across my tongue.

"Do you understand?” she whispered.

"It doesn't matter. As long as I get to be with you, all will be well."

The edges of her eyes glistened again.

No more tears. I slashed my arm as well and handed over a draught to bind our souls forever.

She swallowed her share as I had done.

Mine. She was mine now, and Goro could do nothing to separate us. I grabbed her around the waist and lifted her to straddle my lap. “I missed you, Theone."

Sparkling tears spilled down her cheeks like liquefied light as her body quivered into racking sobs.

"Theo.” I pulled her shaking curves tightly against my chest.

"It was horrible, Wrank. I just wanted to be with you."

"You are now.” I kissed the ridge encircling her ear and pulled at the leather cord binding her extremely long hair. Hair that had grown unbelievably quickly. “I'm sorry, Theo. You shouldn't have had to go on that mission alone. Not without me. We were fools for not exchanging blood. Fools."

She shoved, releasing her hold on my shoulders, and sniffed, looking into my eyes. “It's not your fault. It's nobody's fault. I know that now.” She grabbed the end of her thick ponytail and studied it, unweaving the black cord.

"Look at me,” I whispered.

She slid her pale gaze back to mine.

"You'll never have to go on a mission alone again. I love you, Theo."

Light glinted in her eyes.

What thoughts flickered in those orbs?

She pressed her sweet mouth against mine.

Hungrily. And I knew she believed me.

In the dim glow of the pool's light, I managed to shimmy out of the prison's leather and chains with Wrank's firm hands gliding beneath the shackles in a fevered act of removal. But I had him back again. I wasn't going to lose him. Just these manacling clothes. “I hate these clothes, if you can even call them clothes. Burn them.” I leaned forward, grazing my bare hard nipples against his supple chest.