Runner's Moon Trilogy Megabook Series (51 page)

The venom in Hannah's voice was disarming. More so was the look of disgust in the woman's crystal blue eyes. Sarah realized that the tale was more horrifying than she was being told. Hannah continued.

"Mated couples were beaten and tortured, forced to bear more children so the Arra could feast on them, or sell them.

Many of the couples refused and were tortured to death. One of those couples were Jeb and Simon's parents, Gitall and Morr. If there's anything good to be said at this point, it's the fact that Jeb and Simon had already been sold to a mining planet, and they didn't witness their parents' death. But Tiron was there. She saw it all, but there was nothing she could do.

The few surviving Ruinos were kept in tiny cages. She was one of those who were forced to mate with a different species almost every day of her life, from the time she reached puberty, until the time of the revolt."

The last comment drew a frown on Sarah's face. "How long were they captives?"

"Sixteen years," DeGrassi supplied.

"Oh, dear God!" The exclamation escaped her before she was aware of it. Sarah turned stricken eyes to Hannah.

"Revolt?"

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The woman nodded. "There were just two hundred of them left, scattered about on a few of the Arran ships. Jeb and Simon heard about a deal the Arra had made with one species for a dozen of their strongest males. They knew it would mean the end of their race, because that dozen were the last of the unmated males from the remaining population. So they took the chance and rebelled. Thirty-one of them managed to escape the ship before it exploded. And for two years after that they floated around looking for a place to land. A place to call home. Anyplace where they could be free again." Hannah bit her lower lip. "Would you like more tea?"

Sarah stared down in surprise at her empty mug. "No. No, thanks. Go on. They landed here, didn't they?"

"Not here in Tumbril Harbor," DeGrassi said. "Further west, from what I can gather. They spread out, hoping that if they separated, the Arra couldn't find them."

"Which only lasted for about five years," Hannah said. "It's been nip and tuck. Twice they've managed to find us, once here and once in Crescent City where Thom and Roni came from."

Sarah turned to the deputy. "You managed to escape?"

"No. I blasted them into a gooey mess. Before they managed to find Roni, she and I had become blood mates, so I was aware of when they took her."

"Blood mates?"

The feel of Hannah taking one of her hands and clasping it between hers drew Sarah's attention back to the young woman. "Okay. More truthfulness. Sarah ... when you think of Simon, do you get a feeling of warmth in return? Like the 707

most peaceful and serene feeling of love you've ever felt in your life?"

Stunned, Sarah forced herself to continue staring at the woman's face instead of at their hands, which lay on top of the table. "That was Simon?" she whispered.

"That was Simon."

"How?"

Hannah paused for a moment. "The same way he was able to give you your first and only orgasms when you made love."

Sarah jerked her hand away, her gaze bouncing from the woman to the deputy whose faces proved they were speaking the truth. She stopped to stare at the big man who was slowly nodding his head. "Me, too," he admitted.

"That's nuts," Sarah snapped. "Are you telling me you'd never had an orgasm until you made love to Tiron?"

"I had an erectile dysfunction. Suffered with it since puberty. Oh, I tried," DeGrassi chuckled. "Believe me, I tried doctors, and remedies, and all sorts of mechanical aides, but none of them worked. Not until I met Roni. Not until I realized I was in love with her, and made love to her that first time."

"And Simon? He's ... he's never had an orgasm before?"

she persisted.

Hannah shrugged. "I know he was forced on board the Arran ship to copulate with other females, but a Ruinos male can only mate with the female who is destined to be his life mate." She reached out and took Sarah's hand once more.

"Like I said, for a Ruinos, only true mated couples can bear offspring. Without that true mating, a Ruinos woman cannot 708

ovulate. And without a true mating, neither the male or the female can achieve an orgasm."

"But you, me, we're not Ruinos." Sarah looked back at DeGrassi. "None of us are."

"Which is why our mating is so miraculous," Hannah told her with a warm smile. "When they landed here, all they hoped for was to be able to live out the rest of their lives as free people. They have this incredible ability to shape-shift, to look like any humanoid species, which is one of the biggest reasons why the Arra prize them so highly. They took on human form so they could blend in with us. Sarah, they had literally given up all hope of ever finding that one true soul who would complete them. The one who would make them happy for the rest of their lives."

Several seconds ticked by on the clock on the wall, seconds that Sarah used to absorb what this woman was telling her. "A moment ago you called them blood mates. Now you said life mate."

"You and Simon have done something that Hannah and I experienced later. You two have only made love while he was human. Not when he was Ruinos."

She wrinkled her forehead in thought. "What are you saying? That you made love before he was human?"

"Not quite," Hannah said. "I knew I was in love with Jeb before I discovered the truth. When he explained to me how much our connection would grow once we made love in his true form, I knew I would never regret spending the next eighty years or so with him."

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On the other side of the table, DeGrassi was nodding as well. "Hannah and I both came upon their real selves by accident. We both had to think about what it meant to love them. The dangers that might occur. But deep in our hearts we couldn't deny how we felt. I have never felt more blessed or grateful than the night I accepted Tiron into my life. Yeah, I know that sounds corny, but it's the God's truth. And Hannah will tell you the same thing. You were meant to be Simon's life mate. His sole reason for living. And he for you."

Leaning over the table, DeGrassi pointed a finger at her.

"That's why you followed him here to Tumbril Harbor.

Because you could no more spend another night away from him than you could stop breathing."

"But he's not human," Sarah protested, feeble though it was.

"No, he's not," DeGrassi answered. "He's better than human. He's stronger. He'll give his life to protect yours ...

just like he tried to tonight."

Sarah buried her face in her hands. It was true. It was all true. Every word, every emotion, every instance rang with sincerity. "What ... what if I can't face him? I mean ... stop and think. He was standing there, dripping blood and gore.

Covered in it. Those claws. How can I even entertain the thought of letting him make love to me looking like that?"

The look on both of their faces turned to sadness. It was like watching someone throw a switch. After another wordless glance passed between them, Hannah spoke up.

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"He knew you were in trouble. It took all four of us to hold him down and keep him from charging out of here to save you."

Sniffing, Sarah wiped the wetness from her cheeks. "Four of you?"

"Me, Roni, Jeb, and Thom. He's connected to you already.

Just as you are to him. That connection is weak. It's very weak. But once you make love to him as Ruinos, that connection will become a lifeline between you. You've felt it, Sarah," Hannah said. "Maybe you were thinking of him, and then this big blanket of sunshine came over you. Listen. Back at the mill when you were in trouble, at any time did you feel an overwhelming sense of hope come over you?"

Sarah sniffed again. "Simon?"

Hannah smiled. "Simon. But think of it as a dime's worth.

Now ... imagine what it would be like to have a million dollars'

worth."

She suddenly broke off and sat up. Sarah looked over to see the same far-away stare in DeGrassi's eyes. In the next instant they were back with her, watching her.

"They're out there, aren't they?"

"Yeah," DeGrassi admitted.

"Thom?" Hannah whispered. The man nodded. A moment later the front door opened. Sarah glanced up, gasping, expecting to see the green-skinned monster from the lumber mill. Instead a woman of ethereal beauty and jet black hair ambled into the cabin. She was wearing jeans and a sleeveless blouse worn outside of her pants. Casually she 711

walked over and slipped her arms around the deputy's neck, dropping a kiss on top of the man's head in the process.

Sarah stared at the young woman and tried to see the creature in the green one-piece who had membrane-like wings running from her arms to her ankles. The female who had sliced one man's arm to shreds with wicked, knife-like fingers.

"Sarah, I'd like for you to meet my wife, Tiron. Or Roni, as she's sometimes called. T'korra, this is Sarah."

"I am very happy to meet you," Tiron greeted her with a little smile. Her accent was identical to Simon's.

Sarah gave her a nod. "How did you know to come in?"

"I asked her to," DeGrassi explained.

The black haired woman continued to stare unafraid and unashamed at Sarah. Sarah noticed the woman had pale gray eyes with little silvery flecks in them that sparkled like minute mirrors in the light.

"You're a shape-shifter?"

"At night. Once the sun rises we're locked into whatever shape we've taken for the whole day. Only at night can we revert back to our true selves." Tiron looked up at Hannah.

"He needs his bandage changed."

Hannah nodded and got up from the table to go over to a kitchen cabinet. While she pulled out what she needed, the front door opened again. This time a tall, dark-haired man entered the cabin. Sarah stared in shock at the heart-stopping features that smiled at her before her eyes caught sight of the blood-stained bandage around his waist. And she remembered the creature at the mill who had also worn the 712

same bloodied bandage. The camouflage briefs had been replaced with a pair of jeans, but he remained shirtless and barefoot.

Gingerly he took the chair Hannah had vacated. Sarah watched as Hannah tended to her husband's wound. "What happened?" she managed to ask.

"One of Pycee's men shot him," Tiron spat. "But don't worry. I made sure he won't be using that arm to shoot anyone again."

"Roni!" DeGrassi reached up and grabbed one of her hands, giving it a squeeze. Tiron immediately apologized, but Sarah already knew who she was talking about.

The wound looked ugly from where Sarah was sitting. Still, Hannah cleaned it with a rag before reapplying a fresh sterile gauze pad and re-wrapping it. The man watched Sarah throughout the whole ordeal.

"You're Jeb. Jebaral," Sarah said.

The man nodded. "Simon said you were brave. He forgot to tell us how brave. What you did back there at the mill took gas."

"Guts, t'kor," Hannah giggled, giving her husband a pat on the shoulder. "It took guts."

"Thank you, but it was more fear than guts, I assure you."

"No. We are drawn to people with exceptional inner strength," Jebaral told her. "You are also resourceful and trustworthy, as well as beautiful."

Her? Beautiful? Sarah managed a small grin. "Are your people also great liars?"

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"We don't lie," Tiron broke in irritably, earning her a pat on the arm and a reproachful word from DeGrassi.

Jebaral gave an amused snort. "Well, we can be colorful elaborators if the moment arises. Why do you ask?"

"Because you called me beautiful, which we all know isn't true. I'm very plain," Sarah shot back.

"Oh ... you mean your outward appearance?" Tiron countered.

The truth was like running into a concrete wall at a high rate of speed. These people didn't judge by outward appearances. In fact, it would be the last thing they would ever consider.

"Sarah, whether by Ruinos standards, or human ones, you are one of the most intriguing, brave, beautiful, intelligent, and resourceful women we have ever encountered. Aside from the fact that you have managed to trap my brother's heart like no one in this universe ever has." Jebaral leaned over, close enough to where Sarah could see every line and pore on his amazingly handsome face. If she looked up the term "tall, dark, and handsome," surely she would find his photo next to the description.

"Close your eyes, Sarah. Please. You know you're safe with us, in spite of what we are. And in spite of what you've seen us do, which was showing us off at our worst. And I apologize for that. But right now, close your eyes. I want to show you something."

He was right. She knew she was safe. In fact, she was probably safer among them than she would be inside a police 714

station filled with armed cops. She closed her eyes and smiled. "You can't show me anything if my eyes are shut."

A warm chuckle answered her. It sounded so much like Simon that for a split-second her heart gave another one of those lurchy jumps.

"He's outside. Waiting for you," Jeb whispered, as if he had heard her thoughts.

Her heart lurched again. The face of a blood-covered green creature rose to confront her, and the sight of it erased the smile from her face.

"You have that connection between you, Sarah," Jebaral continued gently. "You can call to him the same way Hannah calls to me. Except yours is very weak."

"I know. I know. And it won't get stronger until we make love in his real form. I got it," she protested softly.

"No. I don't think you got it. You see, Sarah, if that final connection is not made, Simon is afraid your link with him will eventually fade away or break. But his heart, his soul, is already committed. You're human. You might be able to walk away and not look back. You might have a few days or weeks of missing him, but in the end you'll be able to pick up your life where you left off and go on." She heard him take a deep breath. "But he can't. We're Ruinos. We mate once. Forever.

For the rest of our lives. If my brother loses you, I will lose the only person left in my family."