The Melier: Home World (Women of Dor Nye Book 2) (23 page)

The little shits.

“Loo-Sha,” Zun said in
that
tone and her thighs squished further together.

“No!” she smacked his chest and then Soren’s. “Stop that!”

They began to purr.

“That’s it!” she shrilled. “No more
oral pleasures
for either of you!”

The purring stopped. The puppy dog eyes stopped. The tails stopped.

They both let out a strangled sound, eyes wide.

“What are
oral pleasures
?” Val’Koy whispered to Gi’Ren who only grunted and shook his head like Val’Koy
didn’t
want to know.

And as their group moved into the main ship, Lucia snickered to herself at how both of them were falling all over themselves apologizing and promising to never keep secrets from her again.

Score one for Lucia. Zero for team Beasty.

Chapter 17

“Does
anyone
have any idea how they got planet side?” the queen asked wearily as they crowded into a command room with high ranking officials.

“We are in the midst of figuring that out, Your Highness,” a stocky, green Zi’Com replied. He looked frazzled, but mostly composed as he flipped through text on a CID and shook his head like he was trying to make sense of what the communications team had given him. “The only thing we can pinpoint is that someone from within the palace aided the Trepnils.”

A chill swept over Lucia, and Soren who stood behind her laid a pair of hands on her shoulders, and squeezed gently before he draped them around. Her own hands lifted to settle upon them underneath her jaw and she leaned back against his body when he bent forward enough to kiss top of her head. Being wrapped up in him brought her some comfort after what the commander just said.

Everyone in the room quieted and let it sink in that someone
within
had committed a traitorous act.

“I mean no offense, Your Highness,” another Zi’Com, this one red, threw a distasteful glance her way as he spoke to the queen. “But why is the human here?”

Soren and Val’Zun stiffened and growled at him then. She couldn’t help but roll her eyes at how the commander thought her presence, of all things currently going on, was something to worry over right now.

Eyes landed on her from around the room, including the queens as people waited for an answer. Even the war couldn’t sway the Melier people from their prejudice, and she wanted to slap each one of them at that moment and tell them to pull their heads out of their asses.

They’re truly getting on my last goddamned nerve.

“If it were not for the
human
,” Gi’Moy finally replied and then corrected herself. “Loo-Sha,” she said stiltedly in English, and Lucia was just trying to not let her jaw hit the floor with shock. “I may not be alive.”

Confusion ran rampant on every face in the room while some shifted and looked at one another before Gi’Moy spoke again. Zun, who stood beside her and Soren, smoothed his hand over her cheek, and brushed back her heavy curls, his expression just as confused as the others.

The queen relayed what happened with the attacking Trep and the statue, which Lucia was
really
glad at that moment her terrible aim had actually even hit the monster and not Gi’Moy.

She didn’t voice that though.

“She showed strength in a time of pandemonium,” a gleam of respect shown in Gi’Moy’s expression. “She brought my sons back to me a second time, and for that, I will always be grateful.”

“So you see,” the queen gave an appreciative nod in her direction for the second time that night, “without her, I might not be here speaking to you lot right now. The
human
, who you
will
address as ‘Princess’,
stays
.”

Her queenly tone was frosty as she raised her brows and stared the room down, waiting for anyone to try and challenge her.

Lucia stood in stunned silence with the rest of the room, no longer able to keep her jaw hinged and it hung open as if awaiting insects to buzz right on in.

Holy shit, holy shit, holy
shit
!

Breathe.

She took a breath, not even realizing she’d stopped. Soren’s arms squeezed slightly once he got over his surprise, and a low purr started up from him and Zun. Not loud and uncontrolled, but just enough to show their pleasure at the turn of events.

She closed her mouth and then sucked in her full lips to keep the incredulous smile hidden, even though it was a poor attempt. It was her turn to dip her chin appreciatively toward the queen, and for a wink in time she could’ve sworn a twinkle lit Gi’Moy’s eyes before she went back to addressing the issue at hand.

****

The next day, Lucia paced the room that had been given to her and her mates to use while aboard the military craft, both of whom had disappeared again. Her mind was split as she thought about many issues that bounced around in her head.

Who is aiding the Trepnils and why?

Is it the same person who wants me dead?

Is it even a single person? What if it’s a group?

She groaned and nibbled her bottom lip. It was slightly swollen and sensitive with all the biting she’d done in the past few hours. She consciously stopped chewing, and her eyes slunk to the box that had been taunting her for the last while.

Gi’Ren must’ve boarded his ship and retrieved the gift she purposely never took with her.

Fucking finger gauntlets.

Fucking Melier customs.

Ughhhh!

Lucia
wanted
to do it. She really did. She wanted to give Soren and Val’Zun the mark they so desperately wanted. She noticed how their gazes lingered on the marks some of the mated males aboard the craft displayed proudly.

I’m a terrible person, aren’t I?

You keep asking me that and one day I’m going to answer you.

Lu groaned again.

She hesitantly lifted the lid of the gift box and then slammed it closed again.

She sighed.

Once more, she opened the lid and looked at the frightening makeshift claws. Her stomach rolled as she imagined the razor points dripping with droplets of her mate’s blood, and she covered her mouth.

She stepped back, leaving the lid open as she began to tread the small space again, her eyes continuously straying to the box of horrors.

MoMo lay on the bed watching her with his wide, purple orbs. Lu could swear he was
judging
her.

“Stop looking at me like that,” she told him.

He chuffed, and then whimpered.

“I mean it,” she tossed a finger at him. His velvety black ears twitched and he sighed, laying his head atop his matching front legs.

I can do this right? I mean, they’ve both done so much for me…

What’s a little love mark?

Her cheeks puffed up with the bout of nausea that rolled through her at the thought of sinking those weapons into Soren’s and Zun’s pretty cobalt skin.

She swallowed repeatedly and then approached the box again, reaching out to pick up one of the claws. Slipping it onto her finger, she curled the digit and tested the foreign feel of something encasing half of her finger. The silver was cool but continued to warm with her prolonged touch.

Lu poked the tip, testing its sharpness and wasn’t disappointed at how easily it would be able to pierce flesh, even the thicker skin of the Melier.

“Goddammit,” she mumbled and looked to the ceiling while she blew out a defeated sigh.

She would do it.

****

“It is his
daughter
,” Val’Zun grinned as they both went over the latest intelligence from an elite team that intercepted communication from the ship Soren was looking into.

“A’Drast,” Soren sighed reverently. No one knew Vu’Mal’Su had a
daughter
, and it was beyond him why the emperor would keep her in a ship floating in space with very minimal security. Was it a trick? Was he that conceited?

He couldn’t be.

If anything, it was a disguise. A heavily guarded craft would draw a large amount of unwanted attention, especially in a time of war. In addition to little security, the ships location was in the Sak Pan galaxy, far off the normal trade routes many ships would take.

He was
hiding
her.

Soren’s eyes met the sights of his brothers before he returned Val’Zun’s grin.

With no communication to their military presence on the planet, it was nearly impossible to make any type of collaborative plan to clear the palace of the enemy. His father and sister were still down there in the middle of it all, hopefully still protected and within the safe room.

“We need to get onto this ship,” he tapped a claw against the hardened surface of the CID the message was on. “If we have Vu’Mal’Su’s daughter…”

“We may be able to bargain for a treaty,” Val’Koy nodded, rubbing his chin.

“No,” Soren shook his head. “That is not enough. He broke the treaty once, he will do it again. It is a flimsy promise to someone such as him. We need something stronger, longer lasting.”

“A show of force,” Gi’Ren supplied and Soren nodded in agreement.

“The emperor likes to play dirty, so we will play dirty,” Val’Zun contributed, his eyes narrowing in thought.

Already, Melierun’s allies were bringing military reinforcements to aid them, and they all sought retribution for their kindred wounded and killed during the party when the Treps invaded. Very few had actually escaped and reached the safety of their transports; most had fallen.

“We will send another Ze’Quv team for retrieval of the daughter,” he decided, resting his hands atop the table and eyeing all of his brothers. “Discreetly. No one outside of this room, and the team, is to know this plan since we still have no idea who aided the Trepnils.”

They all agreed.

****

“Will you both sit down, please?” Lu asked, ushering them into their sleeping quarters. It was a bit cramped with all three of them in there, but she didn’t really mind at that moment. She was much too worried about what was going to happen next.

Soren and Zun looked at each other before slowly lowering themselves onto the edge of the bed.

“Is everything alright, Loo-Sha?” Soren asked.

She sighed and
‘woosah’d’
, shaking out her limbs to try and relax her tense muscles. Again, the brothers shared a look and watched her worriedly.

“I’m ready.”

Their expressions brightened considerably, but there was still an air of confusion.

“For another youngling?”

“What? No,” she scowled and shook her head.

Apparently
they
are.

They also aren’t the ones that have to push a large melon through a very small hole.

Lucia shook her head again.

“No, I’m ready to,
ya know
…” she waved her hands about, “mark you.”

“Truly?” they both said at once.

“No,” she grumbled and grouched under her breath, her fingers curling in on her palms before she shook out her limbs once more. “I mean, yes. I’m still not comfortable with it, but I’m starting to
understand
the importance your people place on the act.”

Their grins plastered to their faces as they looked at each other and then back at her. Lucia covered her face with her hands and moaned because she was happy they were happy, but she really wished it was because of
anything
other than this weird, beastly ritual.

They began purring and she felt even worse.

No backtracking now.

Groan.

She sucked in a breath and then lifted the lid on the box as it sat on a small table. She nervously began putting on the finger gauntlets, sliding the chained rings onto each digit one by one.

When they were all placed, she held her hands in front of her and flexed her fingers. It looked strange, almost as if she was some kind of wicked sorceress in a fairy tale.

“I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do,” she admitted, her brows knitting in frustration. “Are there words I need to say, or…?”

They both chuckled and Zun got up. “I will get the others,” he said excitedly, leaving the room.

Her expression was confused, and before she opened her mouth to ask Soren what Zun meant, the door was reopening. The already cramped room barely had enough space after the door shut again, this time with three more Melier. Gi’Ren, Val’Koy, and Gi’Moy stood just within the door.

“I…” she trailed off.

Laying his hands upon her back, Zun guided her to stand in front of Soren who was no longer sitting down. He placed her hands upon the biceps of Soren’s upper arms, and then brushed aside her locks before he softly kissed the curve of her neck and shoulder.

Being surrounded by her mates and their heat made her a little more relaxed, even though her mind was still blaring with apprehension about
wounding
two people she loved.

Loved.

Yes, she loved Val’Zun.

A small smile tipped the corners of her mouth.

“What is amusing?” Soren asked curiously.

Her clawed fingers gently scraped his thick skin where her hands lay, and his pupils widened with pleasure, which surprised her. She didn’t realize the act might actually be gratifying for them.

It made her feel a tiny bit better.

“I love you,” she said as if she was just now realizing it, which she kind of was when it came to Val’Zun. “I love both of you.”

They both purred loudly at her admission, and Zun’s hands traveled her body with a careful slowness while his lips continued to reverently place kisses along the back of her neck and shoulders.