Lovers of the Galaxy: Book Three: Raiders of the Lost Heart (11 page)

“Gram told me that my great grandmother used to have
premonitions when danger was close. In my vision or nightmare, I
see the Bone Eaters working at our entrances. Volund, they’re
sacrificing others as they try to get in.” She laid her head on his
chest. “How can we bring children into this area? Nothing is
secure.” A cold shiver slid up her skin and she curled up closer to
her man.

Remus, Zandor, and Jaxxon all stared at the
instrument Zandor held.

“They do seem to be testing our security systems,”
Jaxxon said as he looked up. “We can see a few of the same
individuals, standing back and watching. Do you think Randle did
something to some of the males? Are there any notes in your doctor
friend’s journal?” He moved to the side of the bed and knelt beside
them.

“We have over twenty trained warriors here now,
Venus. We will secure the area you want. Our children will be safe,
trust us.” He took her hand and kissed it.

Venus squeezed Volund’s arm and sat up. “I’m sorry
for acting like a child, but things are changing so fast. I was
alone for so long.” She leaned up and kissed Jaxxon on the lips. “I
haven’t read the whole journal, but I know Miln did while he was
here. There were some loose papers in the pouch…” She crawled to
the side of the bed and sensed Volund was staring at her.

He moaned. “Venus…”

She looked over her shoulder, playing innocent.
“What? I’m just trying to get off the bed.” She knew he was looking
at her ass.

He grabbed one of her ankles.

“Stop it, Volund.” She kicked at him before she swung
her legs off the bed. “We have some work to do.” Venus grinned and
batted her eyes at him. “We can play later, but right now I need to
find those papers.” She kneeled and started to dig under the
bed.

“What are you looking for? Maybe I can help?” Jaxxon
picked her back up and sat her on the bed. “Plus, you shouldn’t be
crawling around on the ground.”

“I’m looking for that big, purple suitcase. I put the
doctor’s pouch in it.”

Jaxxon opened the closet door. “This one?”

He picked it up, and she nodded.

“Yep, that’s it. Bring it over here, please.” As soon
as Jaxxon put the suitcase on the bed, she was in it, searching.
“Here it is.” She ran her hand over the pouch.

“Dr. Zeon would have loved hearing about you guys.”
She sighed and scooted back against Jaxxon as she pulled out the
loose papers.

“Damn, Volund, we could be in trouble here.” She
looked up at him then at Jaxxon. “It seems Randle was also doing
experiments, but his was on how to control the males and make them
think intelligently. However, Dr. Reginald Zeon believes Randle
lost control of his test subjects.” She handed Jaxxon a sheet of
paper.

“This looks like some kind of serum, but it’s
different from what Dr. Zeon’s formula. Can your machines tell us
what its purpose is?”

Jaxxon frowned, nodding. “I can run it on one of the
ships’ computers, but right now I think we need to finish setting
up our perimeter surrounding the buildings we wish to use, and
start removing all the Bone Eaters from within that area.” Jaxxon
nodded to Remus and Zandor, who left their quarters.

Volund kissed her head and took the papers out of her
hand. “We’ll discuss this later. Right now I want you to try and
take a short nap. Please, Venus, you haven’t slept well in the last
three days. You need to try and rest for the babies.” He grabbed
the blanket at the end of the bed and covered her.

“You and those little ones are our world. Let us
worry about everything else for a while.” He kissed her lips and
turned to leave.

“Volund, do you think we’ll get our house ready
before the babies come?” She frowned and shooed Jaxxon away as he
tried to take her pulse. “Stop, I’m fine now.”

“We’ll try Venus, but don’t worry about it now.” He
left, and Jaxxon followed, closing the door.

She sighed when Gram leaned over, brushed her hair
back, and smiled down at her. “Let your men worry about this for
now. You need to rest. You have been doing too much. I’ll talk to
you in a few. Love you, Venus.” Her Gram turned to leave, but Venus
grabbed her arm and squeezed. Both Badden and Acwel waited for Gram
to help her if she needed it.

“I’m so glad you’re here, Gram. I love you.” She let
go and closed her eyes before her Gram could see her tears.

***

Volund watched as Badden helped Venus’s grandmother
down the hall to her own room. Zander and Remus stared at Acwel
where he sat at the table with Volund and Jaxxon.

“Say it now and get it over with, because I won’t
have you upsetting the women. They have enough to worry about?”
Acwel challenged Remus and Zander.

Leaning back he smiled as both Remus and Zander moved
towards the table. “If you think you are going to attack anyone
here think again. Our woman is in there carrying our children. I
will not have her upset when the three of you start destroying what
she thinks of as hers.” Volund challenge the three of them.

Zander placed his hand on Remus’s shoulder. “You are
right and I apologize. We have no problems with you Badden, or
Acwel, but your kin…”

“He is out there doing his duty. Already he has
eliminated one threat to our mission, and started the process of
rebuilding Earth, by bringing us children and more women.”

Remus looked at him for conformation and Volund
nodded. “Yes, and from the last message I received from him, he
seemed to have found some other women too. The communication was
cut, but it matters not to me. He’s doing what he was supposed
to”

“He is supposed to be finding a woman for himself,”
Remus snapped.

Acwel grinned and sat back. “You can still have a
woman and be with a male. Miln likes both, as does Badden and I.
It’s really none of your concern or Tapio’s now is it? Why bother
with him? Or is there another reason?”

All talk stopped when Charlotte came in the room and
smiled. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but my sister was wondering if it
would be okay if she got up and walked around a little. She’d like
to spend some time with the children,” she looked at Jaxxon while
speaking, but kept stealing quick glances at Remus and Zander.

“I’ll come and take a look. I don’t see it being a
problem as long as she doesn’t over do it.” Jaxxon got up.

Volund hid the smile as Zander and Remus kept their
gazes on Charlotte as she left.

It looked like Tapio’s puppets would be staying here
for good, but the thought also worried him. He didn’t need Tapio
dictating through them, or causing trouble. He was the leader of
this base.

“You are going to tell me the real reason why Tapio
sent you here?” Volund scrutinized every move and gesture the two
made.

Zander’s gaze met Volund’s, each of them not giving
the other an inch, till finally Zander turned his attention to
Remus. “You know Tapio has no real liking for Miln, but his dislike
for Miln’s partner is of greater issue. Oshki made many bad choices
and left many men looking for him, including Tapio. Did you know
that Miln wasn’t supposed to be in prison, but he refused to give
up Oshki’s whereabouts?” Remus stated seeing Badden walk back in
and sit down at the table near his brother.

“I know, and I warned Miln about him, but he wouldn’t
listen. There was something about Oshki. Miln was always doing
twice the work, because Oshki was either too busy with something
else, or he was with another man. I never knew where Miln met him,
but he should have left him where he found him,” Badden stated and
took the cold drink Jaxxon handed him.

“Sometimes lust does that to a person.” Jaxxon
stated. “I don’t want to change the subject, but we need to get
moving on a few things. Venus only has about six months before our
babies are born. I want her and our children somewhere safe and
comfortable. That means we have to clean out most of this city out
and get the wall up around an expanded compound.” Jaxxon looked at
Volund who nodded.

“I say we take half the men you brought and put up
the enclosure. Use the coordinates Venus laid out. She knows this
area the best. The other half I want to take down into the tunnels
and see what we have there. If there are women and others still
down there we need to move with caution.”

Rolling over, Venus stretched, noting that both
Jaxxon and Volund hadn’t come up to bed. Considering how late it
was she was surprised. She ran her hand over the small swell of her
stomach, the cramping was gone. “I know they said you little guys
would grow fast, but this is amazing.” She slowly got up, still
staring down at her tummy.

“Your pa-pa and ma-ma would be so excited you were
coming.” A knot formed in her throat as she thought of her father
and mother. It seemed like just yesterday they were sitting in the
park enjoying a picnic lunch with them. She smiled and laughed as
she got up, a surprise forming in her head. She knew just how to
surprise her men.

Her men had given her so much in such a short time
that, Venus didn’t know how she could ever thank them. She moved to
the bathroom and stripped out of her clothes. Before bed she wanted
to check on the two other women downstairs. Her grandmother was
nearly fully healed, and she expected the two females would be too.
She needed to eat something before she settled in for the night,
but right now the thought of food was not sitting well.

Closing the shower curtain, Venus entered the shower.
The warm water hit every tense muscle and she sighed. It was just
what she needed to clear the cobwebs from her head. The newest ship
carried over twenty warriors and there were many things that needed
to be done for their accommodations here in the headquarters. And
she was going to have to duplicate the good doctor’s formula.
“Maybe we can catch more Bone Eater women tonight.”

Turning off the shower, Venus stepped out of the tub
and smiled at the warrior before her.

Volund leaned against the counter, his arms crossed
over his massive chest. She would never get tired at looking at her
men, her gaze traveling down his body. She nibbled on her bottom
lip, seeing that his cock was growing wider and longer as she
stared. Her attention jerked back up to his face and she saw him
grinning, knowing how affected she was.

“It’s too late to set the traps for more test
subjects. Jaxxon and I will set them tomorrow, but you won’t go
anywhere near them, agreed?” He reached for the towel and started
to slowly dry her off. By the time he was finished, her whole body
tingled with sexual arousal.

“Volund!” She leaned against his massive frame and
kissed his bare chest. “I expect satisfaction tonight, you big
tease.” She titled her head back and stared up at him. He leaned
down and nipped her nose.

“We’ll see. You need to take it easy tonight.” He
picked up the nightshirt behind him and slipped it over her head.
It floated down to her knees, but it was comfortable. Swinging her
up in his arms, he kissed her lips softly. “One lab coming up,” he
announced.

Taking a deep breath, she rested her head on Volund’s
chest as he transhifted them to the main floor. There, he slowly
lowered her feet to the ground. She didn’t say a word as she
observed the two women who were nearly transformed.

One sat on top of the center steel table, Jaxxon
hovered over her. The shirt the woman wore, one of Venus’s, was
hiked up, while he applied medicine to her back where the spikes
had previously been.

The young blond, leaned into Jaxxon and ran one hand
down his chest. As soon as Volund released her, Venus sprang across
the room. A tray went flying as she pushed the woman flat on her
back with her arm across her throat.

“You ever touch what is mine again, you’ll die. I
didn’t save you for him, but for them.” Venus nodded to six
warriors who were standing by the lab door, ready to attack if need
be. She knew the commotion would bring them in, but damn six of
them. It felt good to have so much protection, finally. Rough hands
slid down her arms to her hands, covering them. “Easy, Venus.”
Jaxxon nuzzled her neck. “I was just putting on the last of
antibiotic she needs. As you can see, the females are doing
fine.”

He slowly moved her away from the woman and into his
arms. Behind him one of the new warriors helped the woman off the
table.

Venus rubbed her cheek against his chest, gripping
his arms tightly, and sucked in a deep breath. “I’m sorry. I don’t
know what came over me, I’ve never acted like this before.” Venus
glanced over her shoulder, and the woman nodded.

“My name is Tony Freezom. I’m sorry too. I didn’t
know he was your man. Thank you for saving us.” She huddled in one
of the warrior’s arms as the other woman stepped forward. “My name
is Brandy Sliman. I don’t know how you did it, but we owe you so
much.”

Venus grinned and turned in Jaxxon’s arms to face the
new women. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m really sorry about
earlier. I guess being pregnant has affected more than I realized.
Anyway, this man behind me is Jaxxon Rolarai.” She waved her arm
around the room.

“All the men here are from different solar systems.
I’m afraid there are only a few un affected Earth men left, but I
have no idea where they are. Jaxxon and his brother, Volund, have
come here to help save our planet.”

Leaning over, Volund kissed her cheek. The women
gasped, and she smiled. “Yes, both brothers are my bonded partners,
or what we once called husbands. Things have changed much, I’m
afraid. I have a room set up that you two can share for now. I
think being with someone, who has gone through the same thing,
might help you. Until we can make the rest of the city safe, this
is our main headquarters.”

Jaxxon handed a small bag to one of the warriors
overseeing the women. “There are a few things in here that will
help you get settled. The warrior behind you, Tony, is Avnikeye,
and Brandy, the warrior standing next to you is Desh-Ka. They will
show you to your quarters and help you with anything you need. This
building is the only one that’s secure. You can find Venus and the
two of us on the top floor. On the fifth floor, we have some
children staying with us, and two other women who are watching
them, You will be meeting them soon, your room is on the same
level. The other men are staying on floors below yours, so you will
be perfectly safe. You need to rest and build up your strength.
Tomorrow we will talk more and explain much.”