Guardian [New World Book 6] (13 page)

Jinx slipped into sleep. Of course she didn’t want a baby. It was fine for Taz and Macey, but this planet was just too frightening and dangerous to even consider having a child—even if it was Roam’s.

* * * *

When Roam opened his eyes the fog was clearing but the storm still raged. He settled Jinx closer to him. Her warm skin pressed to his. She was dreaming, he could tell, he scented her emotions. Secretions in Roam’s skin automatically produced a calming hormone to comfort her. If she were his mate he could simply go to her in her dreams.

Roam felt so many emotions battling within him. He couldn’t make her mate with him; she had to know what he was. His seed had spilled to the cave floor hurting his soul. They could have made them a son. He grieved for a child he would never know. He couldn’t do this again unless she agreed to be his mate.

Jinx’s emotions were so turbulent it took so much energy to keep her calm. Like Roam, she had been a virgin. She would undoubtedly laugh if he told her. An eight-hundred-year-old virgin? She would be surprised to know it was common on their planet. Especially since the females were poisoned four hundred years ago. Some four-hundreds might experiment with a female, but most females wanted the older, experienced warriors to take as mates. By rights, Roam should be mating this must cycle. It was his time.

Thankfully, Slay had told him intimate details about how he and Tia mated so Roam was somewhat experienced. It was polite to stay out of a warrior mate’s intimate memories, but Roam peeked occasionally. With Taz and Macey near, Roam scented their lovemaking. Because Macey was pregnant, Taz was no longer in must, he was caring and gentle with the babe’s scent high within the mother.

Since their warrior mating, Roam’s feelings toward Macey were protective; she still exuded the savory scent a pregnant female has, but Roam’s thoughts were pure toward her. Taz scented Roam’s emotions and welcomed them. Since their mating, Taz was comfortable around Roam, he had to be; Roam was now a part of him. Warrior battling would come easy for Taz even though he had never battled as a team. Like Slay and Roam if need be, Taz would have Roam’s back. Roam knew Slay and Taz would join when they returned.

Roam wasn’t concerned about being away from the others. Taz would sense both he and Jinx were fine. He would be able to calm any worry from the others. Macey’s senses were heightened because a Tonan babe was inside of her. Roam had loved the way the babe now welcomed his presence. It would be interesting to see if the new little one would develop a razor claw with the ability to cut through armor.

The cave was chilly and Roam draped his t-shirt over Jinx’s shoulders. Before first light, he would have to retrieve it; he couldn’t chance her seeing his nipple-free chest. Their other clothing lay beneath them. Roam nuzzled her neck and could make out the two small puncture marks he had made with his fangs. He hadn’t been able to control his must. His cock had swelled with the power of his armor, readying to give a piece of himself to his babe.

Her blood had mixed with his secretions when he first entered her. Her body joined with him in a way no human male and female did. She was a part of him; they flowed through each other’s veins. Scent and sense were everything to a Castian. Roam held onto the feeling as long as he could. It would vanish because they hadn’t mated. When they mated she would run through his veins until the day they died.

Roam now had a taste of what it felt like to have a female. Somehow he would have to make Jinx love him enough to trust him. If he could ease her into accepting Castians weren’t the foul creatures she thought them to be, she would mate him. Curling his body comfortably closer to her, Roam closed his eyes. He wouldn’t sleep, but he wanted peace for a short time. There was a place he could go in his thoughts where he could think. It took him seconds to call up the memories, and for the next few hours, he sat under his favorite tree in the brilliant heat of the two suns on Bagron. He watched the holograms of the beautiful mammoths play in hologram snow. He couldn’t wait to show Jinx this place.

As light began to permeate the cave, Roam slid his t-shirt from Jinx and yanked it over his head. He eased his pants out from under her and pulled them on. His armor came up to cover his feet in the black sandals. Jinx yawned and rubbed at her eyes. She went red when she noted he was dressed and she was still naked. With the color high on her cheeks she was beautiful. Her rounded breasts bobbed when she snatched her shirt. She had to stand up to tug her pants on, dancing around the cave comically. She fell onto her ass as she put her shoes on.

“I’ve seen you naked,” he reminded her.

“Well, kinda, it was too dark in the cave to see much.”

Roam hid a grin, he had seen every luscious inch of her when she had gone swimming and when in the dark cave. As they stood up, Roam faced her seriously. He cupped her chin.

“Mate with me,” he asked.

“Mate? You mean make love again?”

“I want you to agree to be mine, always.”

“I guess mate would be a good term now. I bet a preacher is hard to come by in this day and age.” Jinx’s look was thoughtful, she grinned after looking him up and down. “I suppose you’ll do. But if we mate, we need a feast, and I’m starved.”

With a wink and sway of her hips, Jinx walked from the cave. Roam knew she thought he was teasing, in a way. He scented her confusion, she was wondering if he was being honest. She was protecting her heart. Roam caught up with her in a few strides, he captured her hand and kissed her fingers.

“I’m not teasing. We are a good couple.”

Jinx stopped to gaze into his eyes. “You really want to keep me around forever?”

“Longer, if possible.”

Jinx smiled as they continued on. “I’m a pain in the ass you know.”

“First hand.” She wasn’t kidding, lions could bite hard.

“I’m almost always hungry and after last night, it might not just be for food.”

Roam laughed. “I think I could live with that.”

“I might just eat you alive next time,” Jinx continued. Roam wouldn’t mind that at all.

Every wonderful thing she had done from Taz’s memories’ point of view was astounding. Jinx was a mate to be proud of. Roam knew Taz spent hours each day sifting through Roam’s memories. It was comical to see a grown warrior giggling, then giggle some more realizing he could now giggle.

Taz’s emotions were off the wall. He was a good person, he had been, but suppressed it most of his life to fit in with his Tonan band. Taz had a harder time connecting with Slay; he could only do so when Roam was near. Roam assumed it was because Roam was the only one to bite Taz. There were memories in Taz’s past, heinous visions Roam refused to search. The memories weren’t of things Taz had done, so were of no importance. Taz had been cruel, but his experience with Macey was incredible.

Admittedly, Taz was a real badass. A tempered badass more so now that they had bonded. Roam forgave him his faults; he grieved for the sad, lonely little boy who was raised by an evil bastard. Roam was surprised he had saved Macey’s life. It was a decision Taz never regretted. Macey had been amazed when Roam had taken her for a stroll and pulled her into his shield with him. Roam could shield Slay’s mate. Roam realized he would also be able to shield Macey’s aunt. He was fond of his extended family. He adored the way Ally now took to him, like Slay’s daughter Scarlet did.

Taz was still dealing with the idea of trusting a Castian warrior implicitly. It came naturally to Roam to trust his warrior mate, even a Tonan. His new emotions weren’t as hard to control as they were before. Except when he searched his memories, he found himself to be categorizing Tonan from Castian. Roam came to the realization Taz was right about certain memories. The Tonan and early Castian hunting memories were barbaric, animalistic, fascinating. Roam would have to watch out for those emotions.

As for lying, Roam chose never to. The idea of fabricating emotions left a disgusting taste in his mouth, so much so Roam knew he could never lie. He wouldn’t be able to bear the taste, it would poison him. A tail sticking out his ass was also a big deterrent. Lying Tonans really looked ridiculous. Taz’s memories of snapping off his long tail was painful to witness. Taz did it for Macey and never looked back on his decision. Their love story was awe inspiring. Amidst Earth going to shit, a love flowered.

The couple strolled hand in hand further into the jungle. Roam’s heart was bursting with pleasure, so much so his shield was hard to battle to stay down. The urge turned painful, then excruciating. Something was happening, something bad. Roam stopped laughing. A sudden pain in his chest dropped him to his knees, his hand was torn from Jinx’s grip. His entire being hit rock bottom.

“Roam what’s wrong?”

Jinx was beside him in a heartbeat. She crouched down with her hand placed on his shoulder. Roam felt the blood drain from his face. Something earth shattering was happening, he felt like he was dying.

“No.” The tiny word was little more than a whimper.

Terrible realization dawned, he wasn’t dying, but someone was. Roam felt everything through another’s emotions. The devastation, the loss. Agony made his breath catch. He could hear the bellow of horror in his thoughts, see it in his mind, the look on his warrior mate’s face. Whatever it was it was awful and it was happening to Slay—and Roam wasn’t there. The saliva in his mouth turned bitter with pain, sorrow, hate, love. Slay had never once experienced the emotion of hate.

It was the acceptance that had Roam raise a second hand to his heart. Slay’s mate was dead; Roam knew it as certainly as he knew the soil beneath his knees. The warriors connected as Slay said his goodbyes. Roam was screaming in his thoughts.

Don’t leave me. You’ve been my other half since I was barely twelve.

I can’t live without her, my friend. Remember, Roam, you are loved.

Roam felt Slay’s armor come down inch by inch. Planets away, millions of miles from each other—Roam watched his best friend die like he had watched his father die. The pain of his loss doubled Roam over in agony, he hardly heard Jinx, her words, her fear. And then it was over. Slay was gone. His armor squealed, turned to dust and blew away. The connection was broken, Roam saw no more, but his emotions were about to kill him with the agony. An actual piece of his emotions was ripped from him, dragged into nothingness. He was certain his heart would explode as a piece of him died.

There was no controlling his shield as it slammed over his body, cocooning him, cradling him, calming him, caring for him as it had when his parents had died. Roam slumped to his side. He heard Jinx screaming in protest, terror, disbelief. He heard Taz yelling, crashing through the underbrush. Coming to rescue her from whatever it was that terrified his charge. Coming to see why Roam was shattered.

Roam heard more screaming. Jinx was pressed to a tree, her look unmistakable fright. Roam could see Taz now. His grey shield had come up when he saw Roam in his protective armor, lying there, unmoving. Jinx saw it all. The Castian, the Tonan. She seemed not to know who to look at first.

“Don’t be afraid, sweetheart. Jinx, it’s me,” Taz said.

Jinx looked as though she would vomit. Realization dawned. Her misery seared Roam’s soul. It was then she crumpled, like Roam had done; out of sheer agony, only hers was caused by deception.

Jinx had no armor to shield her emotions, they were raw and so strong Roam could taste them. She lay there looking broken. Roam suspected she was. Taz raced to her and gathered her in his arms. Jinx didn’t struggle, didn’t move, didn’t open her eyes.

“
Why?”
Taz screamed.

Roam struggled to move into an upright position. His shield controlled his emotions; his pounding heart was a gentle beat. Still he felt like he was dying.

“My warrior mate is gone. Slay is dead.”

“How do you…” Taz’s shield came down. Roam dropped his armor. From the look on Taz’s face he knew what Roam said was true. A warrior mate was connected; when the connection broke the effect was a devastating blow. Though Tonans didn’t have warrior mates they had the memories of once needing someone. Taz and Roam were warrior mated; there had been a connection to Slay through Roam. Roam knew Taz felt the loss, the blow. Roam felt Taz’s hurt.

“Cobra will come for me.” Roam knew this beyond a shadow of a doubt. Roam was slammed with another agony. The blow hit him again, and his body curled inward.

“Roam?” Taz asked.

“They had a child together, a daughter named Scarlet, I don’t know if she was killed.”

“Her shield must be gone, like Ally’s.”

“If she still lives, I’m all she has.”

“Something awful must be happening on Bagron.”

Roam feared the same. All the warriors were hitting must. It was supposed to be a time spent with their mates creating life. Slay and his mate could have been an isolated incident. What if the Gorgano had attacked? Roam wouldn’t know until Cobra came for him. In the meantime, they had Jinx to deal with. Their secret was out.

Jinx stirred in Taz’s arms. When her eyes fluttered she gazed at Taz in recognition, before pulling herself away from him. Her face flamed red; she scowled as she crawled away from him.

“How could you?” The agony in her voice was hard to bear. “I trusted you, all these years.”

“You can still trust me,” Taz said.