Sarazen's Vengeance: Book 1.1 (11 page)

She’d laughed out loud at one of his mental comments. Laughed out of nowhere and she had had to explain why. What she’d heard. From there they had sat together on the floor the holo-room, surrounded by trees and actively focused together to make that last link. Where thoughts, became words.

Andi blushed while she remembered that session. Sitting in his lap with her back to his chest. Meditating almost. Following his directions to breathe deeply and slowly. To focus on the scent of him and on the rhythm of their hearts beating. His voice had gone from being warm and electrifying along her throat. To deep and sensually filling every corner of her mind. Ohlen had changed the scene in the holo-room from the forest to a cozy room with a fire burning in a stone hearth. They had spent the night celebrating their bond.

-There is no need for your fear, my one. We will land on the platform shortly and I will come to you as soon as I am dismissed
.

She smiled a secret smile as she returned to the present. Shot a glance at Gwen and Cassie. Wondering if they were able to hear their mates’ voices yet. If not, she wasn’t willing to share the secret of how she could hear Ohlen inside her. It just felt too special. Like a gift for her and her alone. Something she could hug around her like a warm blanket when he wasn’t right beside her.

They landed on some kind of ocean platform without so much as a bump. Everyone watching in awe as the ship submerged. As water slid up the outside of the viewing window and blotted out the sky. A curtain of bubbles couldn’t hide the spectacular sight of the expansive underwater city. She’d never seen anything like it. Not even in her wildest dreams. She and the handful of other engineers were enthralled. Hands and noses pressed to the glass as though that would get them closer to the subject of their fascination.

I wish I had my sketch pad
, she thought.

She thought it, having not intended to send it to Ohlen, but his voice immediately came back to her. Asking what a sketchpad was and why she hadn’t asked for one sooner.

Paper. Something to draw on. I used to do it when I was little and could steal sticks of charcoal from the schoolroom. The city down here is so beautiful, I want to draw it.

Andi could feel his affection, tingling down their bond.

-
You will have as much paper as you want, my one. I will see to it immediately. This is not a city. It is a staging area and launch bay for all ships assigned to this planet. The water protects the ships from orbital weapons fire. Makes it difficult for any enemy to accurately determine just how many ships we have ready to deploy
.

It was unreal. She could not tear herself away. Even when the group was told that it was time to move to the docking bay to prepare for the disembarking procedure. Ohlen’s amusement filled her.

-There is so much more to see and I cannot wait to show it to you. Wait for me where you are.

Wait where she was?

No problem.

Andi had an unbelievable view. Could have stood there for hours, staring at the way the light from the sun sparkled down through the water. The patterns flashing and shimmered as the currents moved, refracting in golden rainbows. Bubbles dancing and sliding up the surface of the viewing window.

It was breathtaking.

Mesmerizing. “Andi, it is time to surface.”

She jolted at the soft murmur in her ear. Settling immediately at the scent she pulled into her lungs. At the familiar touch on her arms. She leaned back against Ohlen and sighed, almost disappointed to have to leave.

“Okay.”

Ohlen tucked her under his arm as he drew her out of the viewing room. Dropping a kiss on her hair when she gave the underwater view a final look from the door.

“If it pleases you, there are no vessels in the fleet I am not authorized to pilot. I can take you to the very bottom of the sea at any time. This will not be your last sight of it. Not if you are so fascinated.”

She looked up at him with a smile. Curled her hand in the material of his tunic to knead at the fabric. Wondering how mysteriously the universe worked. Bringing them together days before she would have killed herself and never gotten to see all this.

Never gotten to be with him.

Never changed into something greater, stronger and more special than she ever could have imagined.

“Thank you,” she murmured.

Hoping he knew that she wasn’t just thanking him for his offer to show her the sea. He purred softly for her, walking tall and proud beside her, towards their future.

Thirteen

After some weirdness with the primary elders of the ruling council, she and the other humans stepped out into the sunlight. Their feet on solid ground, for the very first time in their lives.

Andi didn’t know how the others were feeling. She could guess, but she herself was half terrified, half exhilarated. Her body felt heavier. The air she drew into her lungs a little thicker to breathe. The smells and sensations overwhelmed her for a minute. The heat of the sunshine on her skin. The tug of the wind in her hair. The experience of the holo-room paled in comparison.

Ohlen stood beside her the whole time. She could feel him inside her thoughts. Intently focusing on her feelings. His beast attuned to hers. Attuned to their bond and seemingly thrilled to experience his world through her eyes. He held her hand, gave it a squeeze and urged her forward to the open transport ship waiting for them.

“Ohlen, at the controls.” Ohlen nodded sharply in response to Tarek’s commanding bark, handing her up into the rectangular transport. Silently asking if she would rather sit or stand with him.

She turned her face up to smile at him.

With you. Always.

Her answer had him grinning.

He moved to situate her between his body and the console. Allowing her to stand securely and still able to see everything. Her stomach flipped when the transport lifted off, but Ohlen’s body behind her was steady. Holding her as it moved forward and the wind rushed over her body with more force. She lifted her hand. Let the air roll between her fingers. Fascinated, excited, so much so that she was trembling. When Ohlen bent his head and asked her if she was alright, she opened up her side of the bond as much as she knew how. Flooded him with just how alright she was. She felt him stiffen against her back. His low growl rumbled up her spine, straight through her. Her nerve endings sparked with delight.

The terrain was just like Andi had expected after hiking and running through the simulator. She glanced at the others behind them. Mildly surprised by the way their heads were whipping this way and that to take it all in.

When she asked, Ohlen silently explained that not everyone had been given clearance to view the holograms.

Not even Clary got to use the simulator?
she questioned.

Ohlen cleared his throat, bending slightly to touch a kiss to her temple.

-As I told you, only the primary squad leaders have access to the downloads. I was given special permission to allow you to receive my memories.

She jumped like he’d pinched her on the ass. Her head whipping up to stare at the underside of his clenched jaw.

YOUR, memories?

He nodded, glancing down at her quickly.

-It would have been impossible for me to breach the security protocols. For you to receive such knowledge directly from the armada’s database. But there is nothing off limits between mates.

Andi froze as the depth of what he’d done sunk in.

Ohlen had given her knowledge of his training maneuvers. His memories. His experience. Every fighting technique that ran through her brain. Like a library of books she was able to take down and thumb through. Hundreds of years’ worth of training. Hand to hand combat. Weapons. Stealth maneuvers. Missions he’d been on.

The dreams she’d had of running through the trees, of snow? They’d been his memories. With ease, she was able to access the knowledge of how to take an opponent to the ground. How to track someone through the woods. She knew she would be able to access those memories of him when he was a cub. Alone and wild. Andi had felt at the time like he’d been giving her a gift. It didn’t sink home until right now how truly monumental a gift it had been. Ohlen’s words came back to her, the night after Ethan’s death.

All that I am, all that I have, belongs to you.

She snuggled back against him and turned her face to the wind. Let it dry the tears of adoration that welled.

Andi tore her eyes off the plains and the approaching forest, to watch what he was doing with the controls. He had both hands on the console, fingertips pressed into some kind of gel pad. She could see minute muscle movements along the backs of his strong hands. The muscles in his forearms working, twitching really. The transport responded almost as though it was hooked directly into his mind via his hands. He had given her that too. His memories and the knowledge of what it was to fly.

Will you teach me to fly, too?

He leaned down briefly to nuzzle at her ear. Letting her feel the way his lips were curved into a smile.

-Your curiosity is joyous, my one. I will teach you anything you wish to learn.

Her curiosity to learn about how their technology worked was put on hold. Her jaw slackened at the sight of the giant opening in the mountainside. The gate Ohlen flew through to take them into the city beyond. As an engineer, she was blown away by the time and the skill it had taken to carve such an expansive, beautiful city into the stone. Ohlen proudly told her that this particular fortress was five times the size of the warship they’d just left. It was the primary residence for most of the people on this continent. The planet had five major continents, each with their own unique stronghold. This one was the seat of their ruling body. The seat where every other one of the fifteen planets was governed from.

There were couples and groups of Sarazens moving around the stone city. Most of them stopped to look and stare, but she was too busy gaping at the multi-tiered levels to give them much attention. Beautiful stone stairways connected each level. Looking like they had been hand carved by master masons. Despite the majestic beauty of the city, like the warship, every building was meant to function as a defensible perimeter. One layer at a time, all positioned to provide maximum protection for the inhabitants.

Ohlen flew the transport higher, straight for the far side of the huge cavern. The residence of their ruler, where they were to be housed. The five stories each had a balcony, three Sarazen’s high. Each one more intricately carved than the last. There appeared to be no other access points except for the one Ohlen was currently flying them into.

He took a deep breath once he touched down. Removing his hands from the controls to smooth over her. Like he was physically checking her to make sure she was alright. She beamed at him, eager to see more and he smiled right back.

Fourteen

They were shown to their quarters by an elder man, Ne’tare. She later learned he had been one of commander Tarek’s caretakers as a child.

Unsurprisingly, she was stunned by the space provided for her and Ohlen. He told her it was only guest quarters. Only temporary until it was decided where they would be placed permanently. Guest quarters or not, they were beautiful. The stone walls sort of…sparkled. The lights seemed to have grown right out of the rock. The glow having caught the surface of the walls, the crystals embedded into the stone, to make them shine and flicker in the light.

Soft rugs covered the floors. There weren’t chairs so much as lounges. Plush pillows to recline on the ground with. Spaces to stretch out and be comfortable. There was a large bathing room situated off the main space. Instead of an enzyme shower, there was a huge pool sunken into the floor. Big enough to comfortably fit at least four. Ohlen told her it was meant to be filled with water.

It intimidated her for some reason.

Their bed was twice the size of the one aboard the warship. A glance back at her mate showed him to be standing at the threshold of the room. His shoulders propped up against the wall while he watched her move curiously around. A soft smile on his face. The wardrobe, she opened just out of curiosity. Andi gasped when she saw that it was filled with dresses and clothing obviously meant for her,

“When did you…where did all this come from?” she breathed. Reaching in to touch the softest material she’d ever had her hands on.

“Ga’rae’s medical scanner took your measurements when you first came aboard. When the commander, the 
Asha
, briefed the mated males on where we would be housed I sent a request for items to be bought for you. They are just enough things to make you comfortable. It would please me to take you to the market place for anything else you might desire.”

Ohlen shifted in the doorway. The sound of it pulling her away from the beautiful sight of all the very thoughtful, very generous gifts. Gifts almost overflowing from inside the wardrobe. Ohlen was still intently watching her.

“I never said, thank you.” she whispered.

“For the clothing? My one, it is my honor, my pleasure to provide you with anything-“

Ohlen stopped speaking when she shook her head. She took a deep breath, making herself walk forward towards him. His hands reached for her before she even got close enough to touch. “Not for the clothes. You found me on the 
Aria
. Gave me your blood. Saved me even when I fought to die.”

His expression melted into one of complete, utter tenderness. It permeated his smile, his scent. Softened the rumble of his purr. He pulled her in, touched his lips to her brow and folded her into his embrace.

“The god’s were not yet ready to take you into their keeping. For this, I will be grateful every day.” Tears pooled in her eyes, but this time, they were happy tears.

Tears of relief. Such unbelievable relief.

****

Ohlen watched her during the evening meal. Noticing how she smiled more readily. The confidence her change had brought, marked. Where before she had shied from making eye contact with anyone, now she did so with ease and calm. Every now and again, he could sense niggles of uncertainty from her along their bond. He silently asked her about it and she cast him a little look. Her fingers curled around his under the table.

I made myself invisible as possible for so long, it’s just hard to let people see me.

He did his best to lock down his side of their bond. Not wanting her to feel the backlash of his rage. Ohlen would never not feel that searing fury when she made mention of anything pertaining to her previous life. He hoped that one day he would be better able to control it. For now, it simply caused him to see red. He wondered how many of his brother warriors would take a human mate and suffer such fury. Suffer knowing that their mates had not been honored or protected. Had been made to suffer such unspeakable pain and fear.

He wondered how many potential mates had been lost because they had not been strong enough to endure as his female had.

He wondered how many…

Ohlen?

He drew a deep breath and forced it away. Forced such morbid thoughts that drug him towards allowing feral snarls to break free, deep down where they belonged. He looked to her, to his one, and made plans to hunt down an offering of thanks to the Beast for having delivered her into his keeping. He lifted her hand to his mouth, rubbing his cheek across her palm to leave his scent there.

-Thank you, my one.

For what?

-Waiting. Enduring. Surviving
.

She rumbled, purred, so softly that had he not been sitting right beside her, he never would have heard it. Lifted her lips to touch a soft, sweet little kiss to the corner of his mouth. Cuddled up to his side and stayed there throughout the rest of the night.

****

Ohlen shut the door to their quarters, asking if she was interested in experiencing a bath. Andi surprised him with her answer. She jumped on him. A quick little leap that had her in his arms. Knees clenched around his hips. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders with a playful, bashful little smile.

“It was worth it.” she told him softly. Rubbing the tip of her little nose to his,

“What was worth it?”

Andi scraped her nails against his nape. Curled into the fine little strands of his mane she found there. Made chills race up and down his spine. Made a hungry growl roll up from inside him,

“Waiting. Enduring. Surviving. It was worth it to have this. To have you.”

Ohlen felt as though she had ripped the rugs out from under him. A free fall through space with no inertial dampeners to cushion him. No way to say which way was up. He struggled to even draw a full breath. To keep on his feet. She nuzzled him again, her words coming out in a breathless, hurried rush,

“I can tell some of the others think I’m crazy for giving in so fast. Trusting you without question. But this thing inside me. This beast you gave me, it’s like…I don’t know how to describe it. I can taste your sincerity. Hear it. Feel it when you speak to me. The sensations are almost overwhelming. Whenever I get frightened or uncertain of something, you’re right there. She’s there, feeding me information. Strength. Protecting me.”

He managed to make it the few feet to the lounge. Managed not to let her move so much as a fraction as he knelt down on the plush floor mats. Kept her curled up in his lap. He stroked his hands over her hair. Her body. Swallowing thickly because he couldn’t force words out past his thick lips.

Luckily, the gods had seen fit to grant him the miraculous gift of their bond.

-I wish I could claim in truth that I had done it on purpose. Given you my beast on purpose. I would have, without hesitation. I would give you anything, 
anything
, my one, to make sure you never feel frightened or hurt ever again.

Andi rubbed her cheek against his, licking her lips so she could press a string of kisses over to his ear. Kneading at his shoulders with her little hands.

“I don’t care if you did it on purpose or not. You gave me your blood knowing it would heal me. Knowing it would save me. You just didn’t know how much it would save me.”