Paige's Warriors (Bondmates Book 3) (21 page)

She let out a squeak of fear as he tackled her, gripping her hair in his fist and pulling her mouth to his as he pressed himself between her legs, his careful self-control snapping. Instead of being put off by his violent actions, she wound her legs around his hips, her wet core rubbing against him in a way that drove him mad. When she reached between them and positioned the blunt mushroom head of his cock against her slick entrance, he bit her lower lip hard enough to draw blood.

That sting of pain only inflamed his bride further, and she was the one who pressed her hips forward, who held him still with her legs and hands while she thrust herself onto him.

He’d had her hymen taken care of during her time with the Healers earlier so she would not feel pain right now. Her internal muscles squeezed around him, only the first five inches of his cock inside of her. She was tight, so very tight, but he didn’t appear to be damaging her in any way. No, she was becoming accustomed to him and working her hips again, pushing more of him into her.

“Tren,” she moaned, “move.”

The desperate pleading in her voice had the pleasure ridges of his cock filling, the vibrations startling a gasp out of her. With a smooth thrust, he pushed into her all the way, until his tight balls rested against her upturned bottom. He took each of her legs and placed her feet on his shoulders, opening her to his stroke. Pulling out, the sight of her pale internal cream on his dark purple shaft had him thrusting back into her, the gripping of her sex luring him into taking her harder, faster. She dug her nails into his back, and he hissed.

“Please, fuck me.”

That dirty word on her sweet tongue had a fireball of desire roaring through him. He shoved all that feeling at her bond and snarled when she screamed, consumed by his lust. Her body met his, thrust for thrust, as he pounded into her wet softness, the scent of their sex filling the air. Again and again she came beneath him, until her voice was hoarse, and she tossed her head from side to side, begging him to climax.

With two slow, devastating strokes, he did as she commanded, opening the bond wide as he filled her with his seed. Her moans became broken screams, and she arched and twisted on his dick, squeezing him in a way he’d never experienced. Nothing felt as good as sharing his love with this female and his sweat slicked body slid over hers as he partially collapsed on her, rolling to the side at the last second to avoid crushing her. Paige wrapped herself around him as much as she could, her love for Tren radiating from her like a sunburst in the middle of winter.

After a while, their breathing calmed, and her rumbling stomach alerted him to the fact that she was hungry. They cleaned up and soon Tren was presenting her with a tray filled with food from his territory on Kadothia. Wearing a clean pale red sheath, Paige selected a round, purple object and examined it closely.

“What’s this?”

“Infused
ri ri
squash. Shake it up, then use your thumbnail to pierce the skin of the vegetable and drink the contents.”

She gave him a dubious look, but followed his instructions. After her fist sip, she gasped. “Delicious!”

After she’d drained three more fruits, she moved onto a slice of
veron
steak coated with honey flowers and roasted
nuri
fruit. Tren watched her the whole time, content to just sit and feel her enjoy the experiences of trying new things. The front of his black sleep pants was tented from his erection as he watched her puffy lips savoring each bite. He wanted to lick those lips. And the ones between her legs.

“So, Tren,” she said after she’d drained a glass of water. “Do you have a blood brother?”

He sat up abruptly, all erotic daydreams gone in a flash. “I…why do you wish to know?”

“Is this room secure?”

He ran a quick check then nodded. “It is.”

“Then tell me who your blood brother is.”

Stalling for time, praying to the Lord of Life for a hint on how to deal with this delicate situation, he studied Paige’s open face and tried to get as good of a read on her as he could without exposing his own conflicted feelings. “What makes you think I have one?”

“You’re old. I mean, you’re not that old, but you’re old for a male to have survived the madness without a Matriarch.”

The muscles in his thighs tensed and flexed. “It is not unheard of.”

“No…but as much as you try to hide it, the second I mentioned a blood brother your emotions blew up like a nuclear bomb.”

He winced, surprised that she’d been able to detect that brief emotional flare before he’d shut the bond between them. “I have a blood brother, but it is…complicated.”

She sighed and sat her food down, her muscles jumping slightly as she wobbled over to the couch. “Come here and tell me about it. I’m getting tired again, but I have to know more about your blood brother. He’s important to you, which means he’s important to me. And I want to meet him. The sooner the better.”

“What?” He knelt next to the couch that she’d returned to a more upright shape to cuddle on. “Why do you want to meet him?”

“Tren, really?” She rolled her eyes at him even as she yawned. “I’ve spent most of my time between dreaming and waking, accessing the historical records of the Kadothian Empire and learning about your culture. I know what this man means to you. So please, tell me about him.”

“His name…” Tren searched her expression, shielding so hard right now it made his head ache. All he found in her pale blue eyes was acceptance. “His name is Lord Rell Thantoh, and we have, in the utmost secrecy, been blood brothers for over a thousand years. Though for almost the last thirty I have not been speaking to him.”

“What? Did you guys break up?”

“I will assume you mean did we break our bond as blood brothers. If you had asked me last week I would have said yes, there was nothing between us. But that is a lie. The bond is as strong as ever despite my rage. I wished him dead.”

He said the last part in a shamed whisper, ready for Paige’s judgment, but she only crooned softly and caressed his face with her light touch. “Why? What did he do?”

Pain settled in his gut as he went over the events that day on the Cliffs by the sea, in their cottage where he’d finally found peace and love. Through it all Paige listened without comment while absently running her fingers through his hair, down his neck, and over his shoulder. Once again the feeling of growing stronger, of being centered washed over him, and he found himself really thinking about that day from an objective standpoint. The more he thought about it, the more certain he became that he was in the wrong, not Rell.

That day he’d lost control of himself, given into his inner beast, and destroyed one of the few people in the Universe he truly loved. Deep in his heart he knew neither of them was to blame for those men’s deaths, nothing he could have done would have saved them, but why could he not see that at the time? Why was he so quick to not only pile the blame on Rell, but to hate him with a savage intensity like nothing he’d experienced before? None of it made sense. His actions were those of a rational man. They…

“Tren? You stopped breathing. Are you okay?”

“It was my fault.” Self-loathing washed over him. “Dear Lord of Life, it was all my fault. I…the madness. It had to be the madness.”

“You’re really scaring me, honey. Please tell me what’s going on. I don’t understand.”

Realizing her voice quivered with fear, Tren forced himself to get a grip and push past this revelation that changed everything. “I think…I think Rell wanted to stay the extra day not for himself, to help keep his madness at bay, but for me.”

“How so?”

“Over the past fifty or so years I have been more aggressive in my campaigns against the Hive. And I have been quicker to anger, to go on killing rampages. Luckily my troops have survived my thirst for vengeance…but I was not who I used to be. You brought me back, Paige. You saved me from the madness. It should not be possible. I am certain now that it had already begun to take me, but my mind is clearer now. And I feel at peace.” He kissed her slightly parted lips, his heart beat slowing as he calmed further. “The Lord of Life has blessed you with the ability to soothe the beast. This is a great power.”

“You’ve healed me as well, in a different way; you’ve restored a part of my soul that was damaged. Without you I’d still be scared and hiding in my apartment, wishing I had the courage to go explore the world. When I was little all I ever wanted to do was get out of Chelsea and live in some exotic location. Then that…stuff with my dad happened, and I found myself clinging to the security of my hometown, afraid of what was out there. But I’m not afraid anymore because I have you. I love you.”

He sat against the back of the couch and hauled her onto his lap so she was cradled in his arms. The fact that she actually filled his arms now made him smile down at her, taking a slow look at her larger frame and appreciating the rich curves that rounded her body so nicely. When his gaze returned to her chest, he found himself tracing the bare, pale skin of her cleavage. He wanted his mark there, and if he was being honest, he wanted Rell’s there as well.

“Can I meet him?” Paige asked in a low voice, her gaze sleepy.

“Rell?”

“No, Santa Clause. Of course Rell. Does he want to meet me?”

“I—things are complicated at the moment. It would be detrimental for all of our safety for you to publically meet Rell at this point.”

“Why?”

“After our bonding ceremony, I will be officially retired and a new Supreme Commander will be chosen. Rell and I are known political adversaries, an image we have carefully cultivated over the years, and people whisper important things into his ear about who my successor will be. The High Council will vote on who gets to hold the position, but I have veto power.”

“Wow.” She blinked then opened her eyes wide, obviously trying to stay awake. “So you have to keep your relationship on the down low so people continue to gossip with Rell. Got it.”

“Something like that. If you choose to bond him, even if he begins to publically court you, people will know of our deception.”

“And that’s bad, right?”

“There are those who seek to destroy the Kadothian Empire, and they will bribe or coerce anyone they can in order to do that.”

“The Hive?”

“Not just the Hive. There are hundreds of thousands of sentient races in the Bel’Tan galaxy who wish they had Kadothia’s prosperity. Jealousy, hatred, and greed are all emotions that everyone possesses, not just the Hive.”

Stretching out, Paige curled into him with a grumble. “Why can’t everyone just get along? I want to meet him.”

“Who?”

“Rell.”

“I just explained why you cannot.”

“No, you explained why I couldn’t meet him in public. I want to meet him in private. Please, Tren, it’s important.”

A little tingle of jealousy moved through him, but it quickly fizzled out. “Please tell me why, Paige. It will be hard to accomplish and I will need to convince Rell to risk breaking his cover.”

“I think I know him.” Almost asleep, she yawned. “Long blond hair, crisp blue eyes, and an amazing smile with two dimples above his incredible ass. I’ve been dreaming about him, I think…and I believe he’s starting to lose his battle with the madness.”

She fell asleep after that statement, and Tren gathered her into his arms and stared at the dancing shadows on the ceiling, praying for Rell to hold on just a little while longer. He vowed to the Lord of Life he’d do whatever was needed to make them the family they were supposed to be, prayed that the man he still loved could find his way out of the dark prison his mind was becoming.

Tren could now see the signs in Rell of his own previous deterioration into madness, and as he held Paige in his arms, he buried his face into her hair and tried to find peace.

Lord Rell Thantoh

Leaning back in his chair, Rell gave a contented sigh, appearing every inch the relaxed Lord as he smiled across the table at Matriarch Sallas and her husbands. Lifting his hand slowly to pick up his black glass goblet filled with expensive Kadothian wine, he looked for all the world like a bored man enduring a woman’s chattering. She was a beautiful female with her dark brown skin and pale gold hair, but she had a flighty way about her—at least in public. Two of her husbands were with her, and they also appeared as bored as Rell, but that was nowhere near the truth.

Matriarch Sallas was one of the best informants in his vast personal network of spies, and frighteningly good at appearing to be nothing more than a gossip hungry, self-indulgent woman who was too stupid to be a threat. Older than Rell, Matriarch Sallas had been good friends with his mother, which gave Rell the excuse of spending time in her company without raising suspicion. He could still remember being a young man and watching her giggle and simper her way through a discussion with some political figure and come away knowing all his secrets. No, behind that simple minded mask lay a mind as sharp as any.

She played the Kadothian political scene like a pro, placing choice pieces of gossip with the right people, always getting invited to the right parties and being in the best place to listen. They were dining in a public place together, which wasn’t unusual for the person Matriarch Sallas pretended to be. For some Matriarchs life was nothing but an endless series of parties, dinners, and vacations. They lived a vapid life, insulated from the Universe by the might of the Kadothian Empire. And these spoiled, pampered women with no real grasp of how the world worked had nothing better to do all day than gossip with smart and cunning women like Matriarch Sallas.

Each table at this particular restaurant on the Reaping ship was equipped with its own state of the art privacy bubble, a rippling layer of energy that kept anyone from hearing them, or reading their lips. The view of the tables around them, and their own circular booth, was wavy and blurry, as if one were looking at the tables through massive heat shimmers. While some diners wanted to be seen and didn’t use the bubble, most did not, so Rell’s table didn’t stand out.

“Rell”—she leaned forward, the bondmarks on her cleavage gleaming like fresh black ink—“I have heard whispers that there is a Kingmaker among the Kadothian aristocracy, one who is working with slavers.”

Through training that was akin to torture, Rell had learned how to ruthlessly suppress any and all emotions—even the rage trying to boil up in him. Kingmakers were fools who sought to return Kadothia to its pre-Great Sorrow state where the planet was divided up into kingdoms ruled by different monarchies instead of the Council system that was in place, which ruled all of Kadothia. Or- even more dangerous- a man or woman who sought to rule over the whole planet like an Emperor or Empress of old. More than anyone else, Kingmakers had been a political thorn in Rell’s side over the years, idiots who believed they could rule and manage all of Kadothia and take it into a new golden age.

Most had no idea how to actually go about doing this, but they lusted after the imagined power they would have as absolute ruler of the Kadothian Empire.

Mistress Sallas leaned closer, the light catching the pale gold chains woven into her hair. “I have heard there are some rather…high-ranking members who would like to slice up Kadothia like a cake. Ones who have no qualms about promising the slavers protection in order to win their support.”

“Idiots.” Latinur, a Warrior and one of Matriarch Sallas’ husbands, gave Rell a hard look. “Like we do not have enough to deal with already. They want another Great Sorrow? The Lord of Life will finally get sick of our garbage and end us once and for all if we go to war with each other again.”

Matriarch Sallas nodded. “Do they really believe everyone will divide the territories without a single complaint? Continental Kings or Grand Emperors indeed. I want to see someone try and take over the Southern Continent.”

“War is too much work,” another husband muttered as he shoveled dessert into his mouth. “Things are good, peaceful.”

The look Matriarch Sallas gave Rell was a little too clear, a little too knowing for his taste as she toyed with her
benali
gem necklace. “The Kingmaker would need some type of advantage no one else has, say, human women. If they have potential bondmates, the Warriors will do anything to keep them safe, do anything to secure their release. Or if no bondmate presents himself for the Earth woman, they are still a priceless rarity in the Bel’Tan galaxy. Flesh collectors would pay obscene amounts of money for one, or trade excessive political favors.”

Latinur grunted. “Only there’s an unexpected thorn in the slavers’ side, a Supreme Commander who has made it his mission to eradicate slavery on Kadothia. He blocks them at every turn, wipes out their valuable holding pens, and in general is enemy number one among the slavers. But they know that Supreme Commander Trenzent has found a bondmate and will be focused on winning her heart, that his guard, his legendary ability to sniff out danger, will be compromised. Now would be the perfect time to strike, because once the Commander and his Matriarch return to Kadothia it will be much, much harder to get near him. Hundreds of thousands of Kadothia’s best Warriors are vying for the chance to be one of the Commander’s personal guard and they would die to protect him in an instant.”

“Even so,” Latinur said after he took a long drink, “There will be those who will test the Commanders security, who will try and find a way to his Matriarch. I have seen videos of her, she has a very kind way about her, a sweetness that I did not expect the Commander’s bondmate to possess. She will need protection from everyone that will see her tender nature as a weakness to exploit.”

Carefully placing his wine glass on the table, Rell closed his eyes, struggling to keep his instincts at bay, the ones that demanded he eliminate any danger to Paige, that he go on a rampage and destroy the threat. Unfortunately, he had no idea who the threat really was yet and would be snarling at shadows. It took some effort, but he managed to leash the darkness enough to regain his logical mind.

Matriarch Sallas was watching him closely, and he wondered if she suspected the true nature of Rell and Tren’s relationship.

“We will do everything we can to help protect her.” Matriarch Sallas sighed. “As you know, my youngest son Cormac is on Earth seeking his bondmate and the last thing I want is an attempted assassination while he tries to woo his rather stubborn bride. Knowing my son, he would go on the war path in order to avenge the Commander and get his foolish self killed.”

Meeting Matriarch Sallas’s wise gaze, Rell said, “I thank you for this information, but I urge you to be careful. If what you say is true, and there is a Kingmaker who is hording Earth women, then he, or she, presents a danger to us all. Do nothing to attract attention to yourself.”

She rolled her eyes at him, then nodded. “Yes, Lord Rell. You act as if I was serving the Kadothian Empire before you were even born.”

“Yes, Matriarch.”

Giving him a small smile, she stood then took a deep breath and let it out. A moment later her entire posture changed as a vacant smile curved her lips and a vapid sparkle entered her gaze. Her husband Latinur went through a similar subtle transformation. The intelligence faded from his face, replaced instead by a bored and dull expression. As Rell looked from Matriarch Sallas to her husbands, he marveled again at how damn good they were at playing their parts.

With one last meaningful look at Rell, Matriarch Sallas swept back her brown robe bordered with black and let out a trilling laugh as the force field lowered around them. “Oh, Lord Rell, you are such a darling boy. You simply must come visit when you return to Kadothia. I shall throw a Dark of the Night party, and we will dance until the moons set. It will be such fun!”

Putting on a long suffering expression, Rell stood and gave her a bow. “I shall contact my social secretary and see if I have any time available.”

“It was so lovely seeing you again, Lord Rell. Do take care of yourself, darling boy.”

“And you, Matriarch Sallas. May the Lord of Life shelter you in his hand.”

Rell stood, sweeping his cape out behind him as she passed. He’d dressed with more official formality than usual, knowing the woman Matriarch Sallas pretended to be would demand he treat the occasion like a royal diplomatic dinner. As she swept past she nodded with a simpering smile, tittering and clucking her way through the restaurant as she said hello to a variety of different people. Her presence was like a whirlwind of energy and more people paid attention to her departure than her dining companion, just the way she wanted it.

Taking one more drink, he lingered for a moment as if appreciating the wine, while in reality he was making note of those who’d been watching his table.

Paranoia came with the territory of being a spy, but he couldn’t help but wonder if he’d been more paranoid than usual lately. Over the past few days his anxiety steadily increased until he had to stop himself from checking his back every five minutes. A faint part of him worried that it was the madness, but he easily dismissed the notion. He’d know if he was losing himself to the beast, wouldn’t he?

After placing his napkin on the table, Rell stood and gave a weary sigh as if the dinner had been a trying one. Matriarch Sallas wasn’t the only one with a role to play. He made his way past the crowd, lifting his chin to those who called out his name but not stopping, embracing the cold, arrogant Lord persona he did so well. Any uneasy feeling crept along his skin, his instincts telling him something was wrong. The urge to jump up on a nearby sculpture so he could scan the room filled him, but he pushed the thought away with some effort. His animalistic side insisted higher ground was better for hunting, but the man knew that would only attract attention.

The crowd, the noise, everything suddenly became too much, and he noted his adrenaline was spiking for no reason. The skin along his back twitched as if someone were plucking at it with sharp nails, and he forced himself not to run. With his heart pounding, he walked through the crowd to the nearest transport, making himself step inside like it was no big deal and sealing the door. His chest heaved like he’d run a great distance, and as the computer asked him where he would like to go, he could barely answer.

It’s just the stress
, he tried to tell himself. He was merely reacting to the pressure of trying to discover who the Kingmaker was, protecting Trenzent from his enemies who wanted revenge, and resisting the lure of his bondmate. Being near Paige, but not going to her, seemed to be driving his inner beast crazy, and he’d found himself dangerously distracted with thoughts of her. And to have seen her, in the flesh, sleeping peacefully…just the memory helped him get ahold of himself.

After ordering the transport to take him back to his apartment, he focused on the memory of Paige stretched out on the bed with the holographic image of her Matriarch’s Palace spread out around her. How smooth her skin had looked, how much he adored the way her nose tipped up at the end. It gave her a mischievous appearance, and he knew from his dreams that her blue eyes were as soft and pale as the ice clouds that dominated the Northern Continent in the winter. Powder blue streaked with hints of silver, stunning eyes that were even prettier when they were glazed with passion.

An uncomfortable erection made itself known, and as he entered his apartment, he gave an irritated sigh. The last thing he wanted to do right then was sleep, but he needed to. The only times he felt rejuvenated were when he True Dreamed with Paige, but they didn’t happen every night. He could take sleeping aids, but they sometimes interfered with psychic abilities, and he didn’t want to risk missing one moment with her, however he could get it.

His fangs lengthened as he snarled.

Trenzent was keeping her from him.

His mind argued that he needed to stay away to keep her safe, that his presence would endanger her, but his instincts insisted she needed him at her side. Logically, Rell knew all the good reasons he had to stay away, but he was losing the battle with his primal side that demanded he claim her, now, even if he had to tear through Tren to get to her.

A hard tremor went through him, and he fell to his knees, clutching his head and trying to hold on to his humanity.

With a shaking hand, he drew out the ribbon that held Paige’s scent and crushed it to his face like an addict seeking a fix. On his first deep inhalation his body calmed, and by his fifth he was no longer shaking like he was going to shatter into pieces. In an effort to quiet his fearful rage, he contacted one of his men standing watch over Paige. It took longer than usual to get through, and when he did all of his senses went on alert.

“How may I help you, Lord Rell?” The words spoken by his old friend Jarkin were perfectly innocent, but his experience told him something was off with the other man’s voice.

As his highly trained mind ran through different scenarios, he asked, “Anything to report?”

“No, my Lord.”

There it was, an odd pronunciation on the “d” when he said the word lord, an intonation he’d never heard from Jarkin before. “Good. Nothing out of place to report?”

Alarm went off in his mind as Jarkin didn’t use the coding Rell insisted all his men learn, instead saying, “Nothing out of the ordinary, my Lord.”