DRAKKAR

SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN ALIEN BROTHERS

HONEY PHILLIPS

Copyright © 2022 by Honey Phillips

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author.

Disclaimer

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or people, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Cover Design by Mariah Sinclair

Edited by Lindsay York at LY Publishing Services

Created with Vellum

CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Epilogue

Author’s Note

Other Titles

About the Author

CHAPTER 1

Drakkar checked the results of the third analysis and nodded with satisfaction. The results were the same. He had modified one of the anesthetics he used on the battlefield for human anatomy. The first analysis had confirmed that it was safe and would not result in any harmful aftereffects, but he never took chances he could avoid and he’d repeated the tests twice more.

Now that he was satisfied, he distilled the potion into three small atomizers and put them into his bag before taking one last look around his lab. Everything was neatly arranged in its proper place, just as he preferred. The contrast between the roughly formed rock walls and the neat lines of his equipment always amused him, even though he had spent most of his life in similar habitations. He dimmed the lights, then moved through the entry tunnel to the rocky plateau outside.

Snow was falling, just as it had been all morning, and he wondered again why he had decided to accompany his brothers on their quest to find human brides. He had promised to provide the anesthetic—but he could have simply handed it over. Curiosity, he decided, refusing to admit the pang of envy he felt whenever he considered the subject of mates. His people did not believe in life bonds. They only came together for arranged sexual encounters and even more carefully arranged breeding opportunities. Neither of those was a possibility for him.

The rest of the Arkani lived on Vizal, his home planet. For ten long years it had been the subject of a territorial dispute between two galactic alliances—neither of which his people recognized. Most of them had chosen to spend the war tucked away in their caves in the high mountain ranges, but he had been unable to keep his distance.

He had chosen to fight, and in the process he had discovered something completely foreign to the Arkani way of life: a family. The bonds he had formed with the other warriors in his squad were stronger than his ties to his people. When Commander Artek announced that he intended to purchase an isolated ranch on this backwater planet as a home base for his squad, Drakkar had chosen to accompany them rather than return to his isolated existence.

That ranch spread out before him now, a long, wide river valley that ran between two mountain ranges. Even covered by snow—a phenomenon he had not been familiar with and still did not enjoy—it was a beautiful place. He was grateful that Artek had chosen a location surrounded by mountains. He had been able to find a set of caves which suited his purpose and allowed him the luxury of isolation. As much as he had come to enjoy his familial relationship with the other warriors, he still found it difficult to be around others constantly.

Then why am I accompanying them? He returned to the question as he spread his wings and took flight. As he had previously admitted, curiosity was definitely a factor. Not only curiosity about the bride quest, but about the human town on the other side of the mountain pass. Artek had chosen a bride from that town, and Drakkar had been surprisingly impressed by his choice. Nelly was a competent, intelligent female with a talent for managing the assorted personalities in their small group. But more than that, she obviously cared deeply for Artek.

Perhaps that was the source of his envy—he had never been exposed to a similar relationship. He had met both of his parents, but he had never seen them together. As far as he knew, they had never repeated the breeding contract which had resulted in his birth. He had been raised in the Arkani way, assigned to a creche before he reached the first anniversary of his birth. He had been raised there until he was judged independent enough to inhabit his own cave.

He had been thirteen at the time—the age at which he began the physical transformation into an adult—and also the age at which an Arkani male became increasingly aggressive. That aggression was what had driven them to develop the traditions that ruled their lives. Traditions that still bound him, even on a planet so far from his home.

He landed at the ranch to find his brothers waiting for him inside one of the barns. Benjar was his youngest brother, a cheerful male with an optimistic outlook. Not surprisingly, he had been the one to suggest that they embark on this scheme in an attempt to reproduce a historical tale that Nelly had told them about soldiers in search of brides. Now he was practically bursting with excitement.

Endark looked far grimmer. A human bride was the last desperate hope for the half Vultor. His Vultor ancestry provided him with the ability to shift into a stronger and more aggressive form, but Endark was beginning to lose control of that part of his personality. He had come to see Drakkar only a few weeks ago, seeking a medical solution for controlling those aggressive urges. So far, he had not uncovered anything promising. The Vultor were a secretive species, and there were few public records. The limited amount of information he had been able to obtain suggested that for most Vultor, a mate bond served to control that side of their nature.

Drakkar was not sure that a human mate would have the same effect, but for his brother’s sake, he hoped it would work. Endark had already told him that if he were unable to control his inner beast, he would have no choice except to terminate himself. As a medic, Drakkar would do anything he could to save his brother, but as a fellow warrior he understood the kind of damage an uncontrolled warrior could do. He dropped his hand briefly on Endark’s shoulder before looking at Benjar and raising an eyebrow.

“Do you still intend to carry out this ridiculous scheme to obtain your bride?”

“Ridiculous scheme?” Benjar placed his hand over his chest in a dramatic gesture. “How can you say such a thing? It is a perfect plan. Based on historical fact,” he added piously.

Drakkar shook his head but refrained from arguing. He suspected that Benjar knew just as well as he did that while there might have been some truth in the tale, it had no doubt been embellished over the years. But if there was any possibility that the scheme would help his brother, he wasn’t going to argue.

The horses—hybrid animals based on prototypes brought from Earth—shied nervously as Endark approached. Since they were normally placid creatures, their response indicated how close his beast was to the surface. Benjar went to their heads as Endark took a position in the wagon box they had attached to the sleigh runners. Drakkar climbed onto the driver’s bench so that his scent would help disguise Endark’s, although he only told Benjar that he preferred not to fly in this weather.

The snow continued to fall as they traveled down the valley from the main ranch house to the pass that separated their location from the settlement, and he cast an uneasy look at the sky. Based on the clouds, he suspected that this was only the beginning of one of the winter storms that could last for weeks at a time on Cresca. As soon as he returned to the valley he would head back to his cave. His internal body temperature ran high enough that the snow did not bother him, but neither did he enjoy the experience.

The pass led up from the end of the valley, then down to the wide, flat plains on the far side of the mountains. The town of Wainwright was located only a short distance from the base of the pass, but the storm had not yet reached this side of the pass and they decided to leave the sleigh tucked amongst the trees scattered at the base of the mountains.

“I will fly ahead and observe,” he said, preparing to take flight.

Benjar gave him a doubtful look. “You’re not exactly inconspicuous.”

He shrugged. “You know that most beings never bother to look up. I doubt that humans are any different.”

And if they did, he had his way of preventing an outcry.

Deciding to err on the side of caution, he flew high enough for the clouds to conceal him as he surveyed the town. It did not impress him. The buildings were a mixture of wood and earthen bricks and of a modest size. His people no longer built cities, but their ceremonial buildings were far larger and more impressive. Primitive, he thought with a sigh.

There was a good deal of activity below and since, as he suspected, no one showed any interest in looking overhead, he flew lower to observe. Artek had told him that it would be easy to spot the location of the dance and he was correct. A stream of people carried food, plants, and assorted decorations into one of the larger buildings.

He did a quick tactical survey of the building, then returned to his brothers and reported his findings. Endark immediately grabbed one of the atomizers and headed for town, and Drakkar sighed. He did not believe that Endark was out of control yet, nor did he believe that he would ever hurt a female, but if he encountered an aggressive male, the outcome might be… unfortunate.

Promising Benjar that he would watch over Endark, he took to the skies once more. He watched as Endark raced towards the town, making no attempt to conceal his appearance. Drakkar was on the verge of swooping down to intercept him when his brother reached the first buildings and his pace slowed. He took advantage of the increasing darkness in the shadows between the buildings to conceal his appearance, and Drakkar breathed a sigh of relief.

From what he understood, the humans had very little interaction with most other species, but the Vultor came from another planet in the same system and were also homesteading on Cresca. As a result, the humans had encountered them more often—and those encounters had rarely ended well. If anyone caught sight of Endark, they would be sure to raise an alarm. While he would have no hesitation in defending his brothers, he had no desire to fight the humans if it could be avoided. All Arkani received warrior training, but those skills were rarely used except in individual duels. Their race had been on the verge of extinction before they learned to restrict their aggressive impulses.

He watched as Endark surreptitiously made his way towards the large building where the dance was being held, but before his brother reached it, he came to a sudden halt. He lifted his head, sniffing the air, then abruptly turned away from his destination. He moved silently through the back streets to an imposing house surrounded by an iron fence. He stopped there, his attention obviously fixed on something within the house. Or someone, Drakkar suspected.

A number of lights were on inside the house, and Drakkar could see signs of activity, but despite whatever had drawn Endark to this place, he seemed content to hide and watch. Drakkar waited a short time longer, circling lazily, until he was sure that Endark would do nothing foolish, then flew back towards the main building just in time to see Benjar disappearing through an attic window. Since his entrance wasn’t followed by screams of dismay, Drakkar assumed that Benjar had also decided to wait and watch.

Good. Now that both of his brothers were accounted for, he flew down and perched on the roof of a retail building between their locations. The snow that had accompanied them over the mountains had finally begun to reach the town, falling on his wings and almost instantly turning to water. How unpleasant. He thought regretfully about his snug lair, but he would not abandon his brothers. Instead, he amused himself by watching the activity of the humans.

They were a noisy race, constantly talking—although from what he could hear, their words held little value. Apparently, Artek’s bride was an exception. As he kept watch, a light appeared on the second floor of a nearby building as a curtain was drawn aside. A female stood there, looking down at the activity below just as he had.

A beautiful female with long golden hair that streamed down across her shoulders, gleaming in the lamplight like the most precious metal. And then she defied his expectations and looked up. He knew she couldn’t see him in the darkness but he felt as if their eyes met. Her eyes were a deep, mysterious blue and he found himself wishing she really could see him.

Ridiculous. And yet he was oddly disappointed when she went back to observing the street below. He had lost interest in other humans—he found her far more fascinating. Unlike the other females, she was not covered in multiple layers of fabric. Only a simple gown of some thin blue material drifted across her body. With the light behind her, he could see the outline of her slender figure—slender except for the lush curve of her breasts.

Arkani females did not develop breasts unless they were with child. He was aware that the females of other races had more pronounced breasts, but he had never found them particularly enticing. But with this female… He found himself wondering what it would be like to touch those soft curves.

He did his best to dismiss the idea, to turn his attention away from her, but to no avail. His eyes kept returning to the window and the female standing there watching. She appeared to be as isolated as an Arkani, but it did not suit her. Her thin shoulders drooped, and she looked lonely and somehow vulnerable. She needed someone to protect her…

I am behaving like my brothers, he realized. But I am not seeking a bride.

Nonetheless, he settled down to watch over her while he waited.

CHAPTER 2

The sound of laughter drew Kitty to the window of her tiny apartment. People were already beginning to arrive at the dance that was part of the Harvest Festival, and even though her own troubles had started at just such a dance, she couldn’t help feeling a pang of regret as she looked down at the brightly colored dresses and elaborate hairdos. She looked down at herself with a rueful smile. It had been one of Lola’s fussy days, and she hadn’t even changed out of her nightgown. Her hair was still loose and unbraided, and she absently combed through the long strands as she watched.

Something in the night caught her attention, and she looked up into the darkness. Nothing. And yet, she had the strangest feeling that she was being watched as well—no, not watched—watched over. The thought made her smile even though she knew that there was no one to watch over her.

She looked back down in time to see her friend Pearl arrive, dressed in her widow’s black, and accompanied by her sister Ruby in a lacy blue dress so like the one Kitty had worn to that dance. She only hoped that Ruby wouldn’t be as foolish as she had been. That dance was where she had met Archie. He was a good deal older than her—she had found out later just how much older—with a confident air that naturally appealed to her.

As soon as he entered the dance, he focused on her. A shy girl who was used to being in her mother’s shadow, she had responded to his attention like a parched flower responding to rain. He had even visited her home and charmed her mother. Her mother had told her to be a good girl and be nice to him.

She’d often wondered if her mother had any idea what Archie considered nice, even though she’d acted horrified when she discovered that he had taken her virginity. Her mother kicked her out, and she’d left town with Archie. She’d been foolish enough to think that she was in love with him—and that he was in love with her. His charm had quickly disappeared, but she had stayed with him, still trying to be a good girl—until the day he brought home another girl.

She had looked at the new girl, so pretty and so young, staring worshipfully at Archie and her stomach churned. She could so clearly see the reflection of herself in the other girl. Maybe Archie would get tired of her, maybe he would leave her behind and keep Kitty, but in that moment, she knew there would always be another. She tried to warn Amy, but the girl refused to listen just as Kitty would have refused.

Afraid Amy would tell Archie what she’d said, she packed her worn traveling bag and snuck out, hiding in the back of a supply wagon heading out to the country. She really didn’t care where she went as long as she left Archie far behind. The supply master had discovered her, of course, but he was a kind older man who was willing to let her help out in exchange for her passage. They had headed across the western plains, stopping at various small villages along the way. Wainwright had been the last town on his circuit. Silas had offered to let her stay with him, but she was tired of traveling and she liked the look of the small town and the friendly faces as well as the old-fashioned way of life. It had seemed like a peaceful alternative to the road. And a place where Archie would never find her.

She hadn’t taken into account that their way of life didn’t provide many job opportunities for an unmarried woman without a family. She’d ended up working in the saloon, but it was much tamer and less intimidating than many of the places she had been with Archie, especially with Sam watching out for her.

Sam. Her second mistake.

He’d been so kind to her when she first moved to Wainwright. He’d given her the job in the saloon and found her this apartment. He intervened several times when patrons in the bar got out of hand. And then he started walking her home. She’d been grateful for that as well. Even though Wainwright was a small town and seemed safe enough, she didn’t like being on her own late at night. But despite her experience with Archie, she had still been naïve enough not to realize what he wanted from her.

The first time he kissed her, she froze, shocked by his actions and uncertain about how to let him down gently. He had taken her shock as evidence of her modesty and told her that her shyness charmed him. That hadn’t stopped him from continuing his pursuit. Once again, she found herself in the position of not knowing what to do. Not only was he kind to her, but he provided her with a job and a place to live.

If he became angry with her, what could she do? His advances continued to escalate, pushing her a little further each time, and praising her when she did what he wanted. He even told her that he loved her.

When she realized she was pregnant, she’d actually been thrilled. And of course, she’d been convinced that Sam would finally decide to marry her—a dream that was rudely shattered by his reaction to her news. He’d been horrified, and that was when she found out that he already had a wife and two children. She felt sick to her stomach—and not only because she’d been so wrong about him, but by how much it would hurt the other woman. When he told her that he would continue to provide her with a place to live as long as she kept her mouth shut, she did it as much for his wife’s sake as her own.

The sound of the key in the lock jerked her out of her memories. She clenched her fists as the door opened and Sam stepped inside. He looked around the small room, his face darkening as he took in the diapers drying on the line next to the stove, the pile of clean blankets on the small couch, and the stack of plates in the sink.

“I really expected more from you, Kitty. You’re not working—you should at least be able to keep this place neat and tidy.”

As always, the disapproving note in his voice made her stomach churn, but she raised her chin.

“Lola has been suffering from colic.”

His frown only increased.

“I knew I should never have let you have the child.”

The churning in her stomach increased.

“I wanted my daughter,” she said.

“We would all be better off if you did not.” There was no trace of the friendly man she remembered as he surveyed her. “But I’ve waited long enough. It’s time to pay for your room and board.”

Oh, God, no. She’d been hoping to come up with a way out of this situation before he insisted on resuming their physical relationship.

“It’s too soon,” she said desperately.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I already have two children, remember?”

She flinched at the reminder. How could she have been so foolish?

“I know how long it takes to recover from childbirth. I gave you six weeks. It’s time.”

“I… I don’t want to.”

He scowled at her. “You never objected before.”

Color suffused her face at the reminder of her foolishness.

“You said you loved me.”

He laughed, a harsh sound that held little humor.

“Love? Love is just an excuse—a fiction for those who don’t want to admit their desires.”

“But I didn’t…”

She stopped, but it was too late. His face turned even colder.

“Didn’t what? Want me? Were you just after my money after all?”

“No!” she cried.

She had never particularly enjoyed their lovemaking, but she’d loved him and she hadn’t wanted to turn him down.

“I don’t want this,” she whispered as he grabbed her arm and pulled her roughly against his body.

“Why not? You were eager enough before.”

Eager? She didn’t think she’d ever been eager, but she had been grateful and maybe he had taken that as the same thing.

Why hadn’t she taken Pearl up on her offer to help her? She’d offered to help Kitty find another place, but she hadn’t wanted to take advantage of their friendship. She’d thought she had more time.

Sam ignored her whispered protests, ripping her gown away from her neck. That wasn’t even the pretense of tenderness, and silent tears started to slip down her cheeks. He grabbed one of her swollen breasts, his grip painful on the sensitive mound, and laughed.

“I do like a woman with big tits. These are almost worth it.” But then he clamped his fingers around her nipple. A small spurt of milk escaped, and he made a disgusted sound as he wiped his hand on her gown. “I’d forgotten that part. You better start weaning that kid now.”

Give up feeding her baby? She started to protest, but he wasn’t listening, his hands thrusting crudely between her thighs.

“I hope you’re still tight enough to please me.”

More tears dripped down her cheeks, and she found herself looking towards the window, praying for someone to rescue her, even though she knew no one would come for her.

A huge winged figure burst into the room, breaking the window and a good portion of the wall as well. His skin was a burnished coppery gold, and his eyes blazed with silver light. Was he an angel? He grabbed Sam’s hand away from her, and she heard the distinct crack of breaking bone. Sam howled but the angel ignored him, grabbing him by the collar and tossing him through the opening. There was another crack, and Sam’s cries ended abruptly. She rushed to the wall to see Sam lying in the snow below, his leg at an awkward angle.

“Did… did you kill him?” she whispered as her angel joined her in the opening, his big body radiating enough heat that she could feel it warming her despite the snowy air now swirling into the opening.

“No. He’s still breathing. He will live if he receives adequate medical care.”

His voice was cold, dispassionate.

“Don’t you care?”

“No. I don’t understand why you would. He attacked you.” An expression she couldn’t read crossed his face. “I apologize. It took me far too long to realize that his advances were unwelcome.”

His fingers, hot and slightly rough, trailed gently across her breast. So gently that it took a moment for her to realize that he was tracing the red marks that streaked across her naked flesh. She blushed and tried to pull her gown back in place.

“It wasn’t your fault.”

“A warrior always protects those weaker than himself.” There was an almost ritualistic quality to the words, and she gave him a curious look.

“Are you a guardian angel?”

He looked astonished.

“Angel? That is a religious figure?”

“Yes. When I was little, my Sunday school teacher told us about guardian angels. About how they are put here to protect us. But she said you don’t usually see them,” she said doubtfully.

“I imagine she is correct,” he said dryly. “I am not one of those angels of yours. My name is Drakkar. I am Arkani.”

“What is that?” she asked.

“My people. They live on Vizal.”

“You’re an alien?”

She suddenly felt dizzy. She knew that a group of aliens had purchased Josiah Wainwright’s ranch on the other side of the mountain pass. She had even seen two of them when they were visiting, but neither of them looked like this male. She took a closer look at the huge wings and realized that his skin was covered with metallic scales. Now that the silver eyes were no longer blazing, she could see they had dark slit-like pupils. Two small horns poked up on either side of his forehead. She didn’t even realize she had taken a step back until he frowned.

“I may not be an angel, but I have no intention of harming you,” he said stiffly.

Guilt immediately swept over her, and she forced herself to step forward again and place an apologetic hand on his arm—a very warm, very firm arm.

“I know. I’m sorry.”

The apology was automatic but she spoke the truth. She didn’t believe that he intended to hurt her. Of course, she had been wrong before.

“I’m Kitty, by the way. Would you like, umm, something to drink?” she asked, wondering what angels—aliens—drank. “Maybe some coffee…”

Her words died out as she looked over at the small stove that served not only to cook her food but also to heat the apartment. The alien’s dramatic entrance had knocked the stove off its small pedestal, and the safety switch had kicked in. It was no longer generating heat, and from the damage to the stove, she suspected it would never generate heat again. She’d been standing close enough to the warmth of Drakkar’s body that she hadn’t realized how quickly the temperature in the room was sinking. The snow that was blowing in through the wall hadn’t even melted.

“Oh no,” she whispered.

“What is it?” he demanded immediately.

She bit her lip. She knew he’d been trying to help, and she didn’t want him to feel responsible for the damage.

“It’s nothing.”

His gaze sharpened.

“You are a terrible liar. I find that an admirable quality. Now tell me the truth.”

“It’s just…” She gestured vaguely around the room. “I don’t think I can live here any longer.”

“That is just as well. The human male may decide to return while I am not here.”

An odd expression crossed his face, but she was too busy trying to decide what she could do to pay much attention.

“What am I going to do?” she whispered, to herself as much as to him.

“You have no family?”

“No.”

He nodded. “Then I will protect you.”

She opened her mouth to tell him that it wasn’t necessary, but before she could speak he raised what looked like a blue perfume bottle to her face. The scent of flowers filled her head, and she felt his arms surround her as the world slipped away.

CHAPTER 3

I will protect you.

The words echoed in Drakkar’s head. What possessed him to make such a vow? And yet, as he looked down at the helpless female in his arms, he could not find it within himself to deny the words. But how was he going to carry out his promise? He looked around the room in disgust. Even if it had been safe, it was not an appropriate setting for her delicate beauty.

She would be safe in my lair, he thought, then froze. No one ever saw the inside of an Arkani lair. They received their lair when they left the creche, and from that time on the space belonged to them alone. Any interaction with other Arkani took place in a communal setting. In addition to the large ceremonial spaces, there were smaller locations which could be used for the occasional face-to-face meeting. He had used one of them to meet with his tutor each year before commencing his studies. He had also encountered other males in the practice arena during his warrior training.

But neither his tutor nor any of his fellow warriors had ever visited his lair, nor had he visited theirs. Even arranged matings took place in a neutral location. The Arkani were taught to guard the privacy of their lairs, and yet he found he had no objection to the presence of this female. In fact, he could see her nestled amongst the rich fabrics that adorned his sleeping space or stepping into the heated bathing pool in the back cave.

To his utter shock, he felt his body start to respond to those images. His vedik started to grow, pulsing within his body, and the temperature of his skin increased in preparation for mating.

No!

He quickly placed the female on the couch covered in piles of fabric and stepped away, but as soon as he did, his arms felt cold and empty. He had to force himself not to pick her up again immediately. He paced the three steps back and forth across the small room, fighting the urge to return to her with each step, as he brought his body under control.

What in the name of the gods is wrong with me?

The Arkani did not mate frequently, but they did come together for brief, fiery meetings every year or so. In the first few years after he had left his people to join the war, he had felt the urge but suppressed it with his usual discipline. Eventually, it had almost ceased to exist, only surfacing occasionally in his dreams. But those dreams had been a pale shadow of the need coursing through his system. Why now? And why with this female?

He looked over at her, the rich gold of her hair glittering even in the dim room, and saw her shiver. Fuck. He had been so lost in his own thoughts that he had forgotten the rapidly dropping temperature. He immediately picked her up again so that the warmth of his body could protect her from the cold. Ignoring the relief he felt at having her in the correct location once more, he covered her with some of the fabric from the couch and resumed his pacing.

He could not—would not—take her to his lair, but how was he to protect her? Given the poverty of her surroundings and the presence of the abusive male, she didn’t appear to have anyone in town to turn to. If only Nelly still lived in town…

Of course. He could take her to the ranch house. He was sure that Nelly would care for a fellow human female. And… he could see her there whenever he chose.

Pleased with the idea, he started to carry her to the opening in the wall, then hesitated. Nelly had arrived with clothing and personal items. Would his female require the same? He gave a disdainful look around the room—nothing appeared to be of any value—but there was a door at the rear of the room. Perhaps she had other items stored there.

The door opened into a tiny hallway. On one side was a minuscule and rather primitive bathing facility. The room on the other side was not much larger, with a bed occupying most of the space, but there were also some articles of clothing hanging from hooks on the wall. As he went to collect them, he heard a soft sound. He whirled, his claws emerging as he searched for any sign of danger. But it wasn’t until the sound was repeated that he found the source. He hadn’t paid any attention to the small basket of fabric on the bed, but as he stepped closer, he realized that he wasn’t just looking at a pile of fabric. A small, rosy face rested in the center of the basket.

A child.

The infant could not be more than a few weeks old. Was the abusive male the father? The anger he had felt at the male who had assaulted his delicate female was nothing compared to the rage that swept through him now. Not only abusing a female, but abusing the mother of his child. He should leave the female here while he ensured that the bastard never laid a finger on another female. But before he could carry out his murderous intentions, the baby’s eyes opened. Huge dark blue eyes looked directly up at him, and then the baby smiled.

That same sense of rightness swept over him.

“I will protect you too, little one,” he vowed.

The child would be safe in his lair… No. He would take them both to the ranch. Nelly would be far better equipped than he to care for a child.

The baby made that soft little sound again, but then its eyes closed. He breathed a sigh of relief as he turned to the more practical aspects of the situation. While he could easily carry them both, he would prefer to have at least one hand free. Sitting on the bed, he kept his female cradled in one arm as he reached for the baby. Carefully supporting its head, he lifted it out of the nest of fabrics. So impossibly small and delicate. He had performed intricate operations and his hands had never trembled. They threatened to tremble now, holding this fragile child.

The baby’s eyes fluttered open for a moment, and he froze, waiting for a panicked cry. The baby only smiled again, and when he placed it against his female’s chest, its eyes closed. He carefully wrapped a length of fabric around the two of them, keeping the baby nestled snugly in place. He checked twice to make sure that it was secure, then rose to his feet.

A gust of wind blew open the door to the front room and he swore. The strength of the storm was increasing, and he was running out of time. He grabbed a handful of clothing from the hooks along with some of the small, neatly folded garments on the shelf beneath them. He tucked them next to the female and the child, then wrapped them in one of the covers from the bed, making sure they were completely protected from the icy air, before returning to the other room.

As he paused in the opening he had made in the wall, he looked down and swore again. The male was no longer sprawled in the snow. He could see tracks indicating that he had been dragged away, but there was no time to hunt him down. Instead, he spread his wings and leapt into the air.

He was winging his way back towards the mountain pass when he remembered his brothers and their brides. The bonds of loyalty between them required that he ensure their safe return, and he sighed and circled back to where the sleigh was waiting. An unconscious female was already nestled in the straw in the wagon bed and covered with blankets, but there was no sign of either Benjar or Endark.

Had some trouble occurred? He looked towards the town, but it was still dark and silent, then looked down at the female and child in his arms. Unless his assistance was required, he would not leave them. He sat down on the sleigh bench to wait.

Benjar appeared a short time later, carrying another female, but he seemed more interested in Drakkar’s burden. Before he could ask more than a few questions, Endark trotted towards them and he breathed a sigh of relief.

Now that both his brothers were here, the need to protect his female and her child took precedence. Although he had made sure they were covered and kept them tightly against the warmth of his body, humans were fragile. He needed to get them into an enclosed environment as soon as possible.

“Since the two of you are safe, I am returning to the mountains.”

He nodded at Benjar and took flight, ignoring Benjar’s protest.

The closer he drew to the mountains, the more the wind and snow increased. He found himself buffeted from side to side as he flew over the mountain pass despite the strength of his wings. The severity of the storm continued to increase, and the ranch house was located further down the valley, currently obscured by the swirling clouds of white. His caves were closer and would allow him to provide them with shelter against the storm sooner. His Arkani instincts should have objected, but as he flew towards his lair, he was instead filled with a deep sense of satisfaction.

CHAPTER 4

Lola’s cry penetrated Kitty’s sleep and she tried to wake up to go to her, but her body felt warm and heavy. The sensation wasn’t unpleasant, but she couldn’t move. Even her eyes didn’t want to open. What’s wrong with me?

Lola’s cries grew louder and she started to panic, but then she felt fingers pushing her nightgown aside—fingers that felt strange and yet oddly familiar. Lola quieted immediately as she clamped down on her nipple and she breathed a sigh of relief.

She tried again to force her eyes open and this time they obeyed. Her angel was standing over her, his eyes glowing as he looked down at the baby nursing at her breast. He looked even more imposing looming over her like this, his metallic skin glittering in the firelight.

Firelight? Her apartment didn’t have a fireplace. The panic began to return.

“Where am I?”

Her voice came out soft and shaky, and he frowned, his eyes moving to her face.

“Are you unwell?”

“I… I don’t know. I just feel odd—like my body’s too heavy to move.”

Still frowning, he put his hand against her head, then touched two fingers to the pulse on her neck. There was something so professional about the gesture that a thought popped into her head.

“Are you a doctor angel?”

“I already told you that I am not an angel. I am—”

“Drakkar. I remember now.”

Was it her imagination or had the glow in his eyes increased when she said his name? Before she could decide, he turned away to pick up a small scanner which he began to pass over her body. Her almost naked body, she realized with a start. All she was wearing was the thin nightgown she’d had on in her rooms. The torn neckline had been pulled down so that she could nurse, but the other side was also slipping down and the thin cotton did very little to conceal her body. But his attitude remained clinical as he completed his scan.

“Is it Dr. Drakkar?”

“I have medical training,” he admitted as he frowned down at the scanner. “There is no cause for alarm. You simply responded more strongly to the anesthetic, probably because of your small size.”

“Anesthetic? Was that what was in the blue bottle?” Her eyes widened as Lola smacked her lips. “Oh no. What about the baby? Is it going to hurt her?”

She started to raise her hand, thrilled when it responded, but Drakkar caught it in his.

“Do not worry. It will not hurt her.”

“How do you know?” She tried to pull her hand free, but there was no escaping that gentle but absolutely implacable grip. “Oh my God—did you give it to her as well?”

“I did not. She slept quite naturally until we arrived.” An oddly rueful look crossed his face. “She did, however, awake as soon as we arrived here and made it quite clear that she was ready to be fed.”

He sounded amused rather than annoyed.

She looked down at her daughter, nursing happily, sighed, and stopped trying to tug her hand away from him.

“Where is here?”

For the first time, she looked at her surroundings. It appeared to be some kind of cave, the rock walls arching high overhead. She was propped up against the pillows of an enormous bed tucked into a niche in one of the walls. The bed was covered with sumptuous fabrics in rich, deep colors—royal blue silk embroidered with gold, burgundy jacquard, gold satin, and many more.

On the far wall was a fireplace carved out of the rock with cushioned benches to either side, but there was also a high-tech kitchen unit on the wall to the right behind a beautifully carved wooden table with a single chair. A crystal chandelier with actual candles hung over the table, but artificial lighting also created a soft glow at the base of the walls. More rich fabrics covered openings on either side of the room.

Drakkar turned away, ostensibly to put down the scanner again, but his posture had stiffened.

“This is my lair. I brought you here because I promised you my protection.”

Yes, she remembered him saying that now. His words had comforted her, but she hadn’t been convinced he meant them. He certainly wouldn’t have been the first person to promise to protect her and not follow through on his words.

“And this was your solution?” she asked doubtfully, looking around again.

Not that she had any objection to the space itself—it was far larger and far nicer than her rooms - but where was the cave? How far away was the town? And most of all, what was he going to expect in return?

His back was still to her and his voice still sounded stiff. “I had thought to take you to the ranch house. To Nelly.”

Her stomach churned at the thought. She’d interacted with the shopkeeper’s daughter of course, but while Nelly had always been pleasant to her, they certainly were not friends. She suspected that Nelly viewed her the same way most of the women in town did—as a fallen woman with loose morals—but she might have been projecting her own feelings of guilt. But even if she was wrong, the thought of turning up on the woman’s door, alone and destitute with a baby in tow, made her shrivel inside. There had to be another alternative.

She ran her hand across the soft fabric covering the bed as she looked around again. The cave was warm and sheltered, and she felt safe here. And Drakkar, still turned away from her, had done his best to keep his word. Maybe he would let her stay a little longer, long enough to figure out what she was going to do. But what would he expect in return?

“You didn’t want to keep me for yourself?”

The question came out more plaintive than she intended, and he whirled immediately, his wings flaring.

“I did not say that—but it is not possible.”

Her heart sank. Of course. She should have known that such an attractive male would already have a life.

“I see. You’re married.”

“What? Of course not. I have no mate—no bride. My people do not believe in life bonds between a male and a female.”

“Oh.” Her gaze went to the single chair. “That sounds very lonely.”

“It is the way.”

“Then since you’re alone, maybe… That is, would you mind if Lola and I stayed for a few days? Just until I have time to decide what to do next,” she added hastily.

He suddenly smiled, a startlingly attractive smile despite the white gleam of very sharp teeth.

“I’m afraid there is no other choice. We are in the midst of a blizzard, and even I have difficulty flying under those conditions.”

“Flying?” Her eyes went to his wings in a combination of excitement and terror. “You mean you flew with us?”

“Yes.” He hesitated. “My lair is high in the mountains. It is the only way to arrive.”

“I see.” She took a deep breath and smiled at him. “I’m sorry I was asleep. Flying sounds very exciting.”

“You will be awake next time.”

There was an odd note in his voice, but Lola distracted her before she could decipher it. The baby’s sucking had slowed, and she automatically reached down and moved her to her other breast. A strange sound filled the cave, somewhere between a growl and a purr, and she looked up to find Drakkar staring at her uncovered breast, a last drop of milk still clinging to a red, swollen nipple. His eyes blazed silver as he bent towards her.

CHAPTER 5

Drakkar’s hand was only inches from the tempting curve of Kitty’s breast when he heard her breath catch. Somehow, the soft sound penetrated his need enough to draw his attention to her face. Her eyes had widened, and although she didn’t look terrified, there was enough trepidation in her gaze to fill him with remorse. He forced himself to take a step away from the bed.

“I apologize,” he said stiffly. “I am fascinated by human reproduction, but you have nothing to fear from me.”

It was the truth, although only a part of the truth. He had been researching the process to prepare for Nelly’s upcoming birth. But his clinical interest in the process had not been the reason he wanted to touch her. Why was this one small female so alluring?

To his relief, she nodded, giving him a shy smile as she tried to cover her exposed breast with the torn gown.

“Do your people—the Arkani—not nurse their children?”

“They do for a brief period, but the weaning process begins early in order to prepare the child for the creche.”

“Creche?”

“When the child reaches a year old, he is given to a creche to be reared in the Arkani way.”

Her arms tightened protectively around the child.

“They give their children away? I would never do that.”

“I believe some mothers have difficulty with the process,” he admitted. By all accounts, his mother had not been one of those. “But it is the way.”

“But why? I don’t understand.”

“My people have a… violent history. The only reason we have survived is because we have been trained to overcome those instincts. The creche is the first step on that path.”

She shook her head. “Is it worth it to give up your family? If the only way to survive is to be alone?”

He had asked himself the same thing.

“It is our way,” he repeated, ignoring the unexpected ache in his chest, and went to the trunk at the end of the bed. “I brought some of your garments if you would be more comfortable in another outfit.”

“Thank you,” she said as she lifted the baby to her shoulder—keeping herself covered this time—and began patting her back. “But I suspect the first thing we’re going to need are diapers.”

“Diapers?”

“A cloth to wrap around her bottom?” She blushed. “You know—for when they pee?”

Ah. His studies so far had concentrated on pregnancy and birth, not caring for the infant. The squares of fabric hanging in her rooms suddenly made sense. He shook his head.

“I did not include them. But it is of no consequence,” he added hastily as he gestured at the bed. “I will cut up one of the coverings.”

“That’s a very sweet offer, but I’m not sure it’s a good idea.” She stroked the fabric with a cautious finger. “These all look very expensive—”

“That does not matter,” he assured her.

“And I’m afraid they might irritate her skin. Do you have any old material? Something that’s worn and soft?”

He considered the matter. The Arkani rarely discarded anything and he searched through his inventory in his mind. He still had the sheets he had brought from the creche to his lair. They fit her description.

“I believe I have something. I will return shortly.”

The sheets were in their correct location, and she nodded her approval when he showed them to her.

“Those will work. Can you cut them into squares? About this size?”

She held up her hands to demonstrate, and her gown slipped down again. It took every bit of self-control he possessed to turn away and begin cutting up the sheets. He finished the project just in time.

A sudden gurgle was followed by the most appalling stench, and she gave him an apologetic smile.

“I know it’s not very pleasant. Can you bring me soap and water? I can use one of the diapers as a cloth.”

“I have cleansing cloths,” he said, grateful for the chance to leave the room.

He returned with one, but after one appalled look, he went back for the container. He was a medic—he was familiar with all of the fluids a body could produce—but he still found it difficult to believe that such a small creature could produce such a copious amount of foul-smelling effluent. The baby did not seem concerned, kicking her legs merrily as Kitty quickly and efficiently cleansed her and fastened the new diaper around her tiny body. She replaced the one-piece garment while he disposed of the byproducts.

“Don’t throw the diaper away,” she told him. “I can wash and reuse it. That is, I assume you have a bathroom?”

“I have a sanitary facility, but I believe this is past saving.”

She laughed as she placed the baby on her shoulder. The torn gown threatened to slip again, and he quickly averted his eyes.

“Do you wish to change?” he asked her.

“That’s probably a good idea.” She looked around the cave. “Do you have somewhere safe where I can put her to rest? A basket maybe? Or I could use a dresser drawer if you have something like that,” she added doubtfully.

“I will consider the matter. In the meantime, I will hold the child.”

“You?”

“Of course,” he said, mildly insulted by her apparent disbelief. “I assure you she will come to no harm.”

“I’m sure she won’t. Are you sure you don’t mind?”

“I do not mind.”

She still looked doubtful, but she handed him the baby and he immediately nestled her against his chest. Cradling the tiny body was oddly rewarding and he found himself content just to hold her while Kitty inspected the items he had brought from her apartment.

She quickly sorted through the garments, then sighed. “I guess you don’t know much about women’s clothing.”

“I do not. And human female clothing seems excessively elaborate.”

“It can be, especially in Wainwright. Apparently, the man who founded the town set up all these rules about appropriate clothing. I had a hard time getting used to all the restrictions when I first arrived.”

“I like the garment you are wearing now. Perhaps I could repair it.”

Her cheeks turned a fascinating shade of pink.

“This is my nightgown. It’s really not appropriate.” Then she sighed again. “But nothing here is really suitable. You brought my chemise, which is an undergarment, the pants I wear when I’m cleaning, an old sweater, three scarves, and what used to be my best dress. It doesn’t fit me anymore.”

The last item of clothing was a pale blue dress with layers of ruffles down the skirt. The color would suit her, but it seemed unnecessarily elaborate.

“Wear the white one,” he urged. “I will repair the garment you were wearing and see if there is anything else you can use.”

“The white one? You mean my chemise?”

He nodded his approval. The Arkani didn’t wear complicated clothing in their lairs. Their formal clothes were also of simple construction, but the fabrics were much richer. As much as she deserved the finest fabrics and the richest clothes, the plain fabric made it seem as if she were at home in his lair—and he liked that idea far more than he should.

She looked at him, an expression he couldn’t read on her face.

“I suppose it makes sense. Is there somewhere I could change? And wash?”

“Indeed.”

He offered her a hand as she rose from the bed. The aftereffects of the anesthetic seemed to have worn off and after making sure she was steady on her feet, she released his hand. He had the oddest desire to keep her hand in his, but he forced himself to release it as he led the way to the back of the main cave.

He showed her the sanitary facilities, then led the way to the bathing pool. As he did, he remembered his earlier vision of her rising from the waters. His vedik reacted just as it had before, but he did his best to ignore it.

She gasped as she took in the sunken pool, steam rising gently from the surface. He had redirected a natural hot spring, and the water trickled down the back wall and into the pool before flowing back out and down a hidden channel. He had worked with Gilmat to find plants that would appreciate that humid atmosphere, and they were tucked into the rock walls, lending a fresh scent to the air. Bioluminescent mosses gleamed, casting a warm glow over the cave.

“This is acceptable?”

“Of course. It’s beautiful.”

Her praise pleased him, but he kept his face impassive as he nodded.

“Good. Then remove your clothing.”

CHAPTER 6

Kitty’s mouth trembled as she stared at Drakkar. Was this it? Was this the moment when his apparent kindness proved no more real than any other man’s? And what could she do? He was so much bigger and stronger—and he had her daughter cradled against that powerful chest. The sight gave her courage and she lifted her chin.

“I don’t want to do that,” she said quietly, proud that her voice didn’t shake.

He actually looked puzzled.

“You prefer to bathe in your clothing?”

“No, but I don’t want to be naked in front of you.”

“At this point, I do not believe you have much to hide,” he said dryly, but in spite of the dismissive words, she could almost feel the heat of his gaze as he surveyed her. “I should also remind you that I am a medic. I am familiar with the naked form.”

She almost nodded obediently, but then she looked at Lola again. How could she teach her daughter to be strong unless she was strong as well?

“You haven’t seen my naked form before.”

“A fact with which I cannot argue. But if you do not hand me your garment, I cannot attempt to repair it.”

The fact that he wasn’t yelling at her or forcing her to obey him gave her confidence. Maybe he really was as kind as he seemed.

“Why don’t you stand over there—with your back to me—while I get in the water?” she suggested. “And then I’ll throw the gown to you.”

“A disappointing but reasonable solution.”

Once again, his eyes traveled over her, and now that she was no longer afraid she could feel her body responding to that heated look. No! He might have rescued her from a bad situation, but she had no intention of rushing into another relationship. Especially with an alien male, no matter how attractive she found him.

He walked over to the spot she’d indicated, but as he did Lola cooed in her sleep and she had second thoughts.

“What about Lola? Maybe I should wait until we have a place for her to rest.”

“I can assure you I am quite capable of caring for an infant.”

He sounded almost bemused by his words, but he was holding Lola so carefully that she couldn’t argue.

“You realize you might have to change her diaper?”

“It is a sacrifice I am prepared to make.” He turned his back to her. “Now remove your clothing and take your bath.”

She hesitated a moment longer, but the pool of gently steaming water proved irresistible. How long had it been since she’d had a proper bath? And she longed to scrub away Sam’s touch. Hands shaking, she quickly stripped off the nightgown, then tossed it in his direction before climbing down the roughly carved steps into the pool. The hot water swirled around her, reaching just above her breasts, and a sigh of pleasure escaped. Oh, Lord, that felt wonderful.

“All right. I’m in the water.”

“So I gathered. It sounds as if you appreciate my bathing pool.”

She laughed in spite of herself. She checked quickly but decided that the overall dimness and the depth of the water preserved her modesty.

“All right, you can turn around now.”

He obeyed immediately. Because she hadn’t managed to throw the gown very far, he took two steps back in her direction in order to pick it up.

“The vial next to the pool contains a cleansing lotion.” He looked over at her, and then his lips curved in that startlingly attractive smile. “You do realize that the water conceals very little?”

She gasped and looked down, but all she could see was the white gleam of her body in the shadowy depths.

“I don’t believe you.”

“I assure you I have excellent eyesight—for which I am very grateful tonight.”

Before she could think of an adequate response, he grinned again and left the cave.

Had he been speaking the truth? His gaze had been undeniably approving, and a small thrill of pleasure filled her at that approval. It had been a long time since she felt attractive, and the fact that her body responded to him reminded her that she was a woman as well as a mother. But she was also a mother and she wanted to return to her daughter as quickly as possible. With a sigh, she set aside her fanciful thoughts and washed quickly.

It wasn’t until she was about to leave the pool that she realized that not only did she no longer have her gown, she couldn’t see anything resembling a towel. Moving as close to the edge as possible so that the rock would conceal her—if he could in fact see her from a distance—she called to him.

He appeared almost immediately, even though she hadn’t called very loudly so he must have been close by. He was still carrying Lola, but he had used what appeared to be some kind of embroidered sash to hold her in place against his chest. She felt a foolish impulse to burst into tears. Sam had never even held the baby, but this virtual stranger had not only accepted her presence but thought of her comfort.

“Did you need me?” he asked, then shook his head as he took in her position. “I can see that I should not have revealed the quality of my vision.”

She blushed, smiled, and shook her head. “If you have any towels? Or can you bring me my chemise?”

“The white garment? I suspect it would be most appealing when placed over your wet, naked body, but unfortunately I also have drying sheets. I should have thought of it, but I rarely use them since the heat of my skin removes the water so quickly.”

He went to a niche by the door she hadn’t noticed before and returned carrying a large square of folded cloth. He carried it all the way to the edge of the pool and stood looking down at her. She could feel herself blushing again, even though she was fairly sure that all he could see from that angle was the top of her head.

“Do you need assistance in drying yourself?” His voice had turned low and husky, and once again she felt her body respond, but she shook her head.

“I think I can manage. After you leave,” she added when he didn’t move away.

“What a pity,” he said, but once again he made no attempt to argue or to overrule her objection. He placed the folded cloth on the rock in front of her and left once again.

The drying sheet was more like a square of linen than an actual towel, but it quickly absorbed the water from her skin. Since she still had nothing to wear, she wrapped it around herself before she left the cave. It covered her from under her arms to just above her ankles so she felt relatively covered—until she returned to the main cave and saw Drakkar look at her.

His eyes blazed, and that growling purr came from his chest again. Her heart started to beat faster, and even she wasn’t sure if it was from excitement or nerves, but this time he didn’t move towards her. Instead, he nodded to her chemise, lying across the foot of the bed. She gave him a grateful smile, grabbed it, and returned to the bathing room to dress.

Not that it’s much of a dress, she thought wryly once it was on. The white cotton was no heavier than her nightgown, but at least it was intact and hopefully it was full enough to provide some concealment.

She returned to the main cave to find him in the exact same position. He didn’t appear to have moved since she left, and she realized that his hands were clutching the wooden table.

“Is everything all right?”

“I am experiencing some… unusual sensations.” His voice sounded strained.

“You mean you’re sick?”

“I do not believe it would be considered an illness, but it is outside of my experience.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

He laughed, a deep rumbling sound of genuine amusement, and she found herself smiling in response.

“I think you have done quite enough.” He rose from the table. “I have an idea about a bed for the child, and I thought perhaps you would like to see the rest of the caves?”

“You mean there are more?”

“Quite a few more, but I do not take advantage of all of them.”

“I’d love to see them,” she said eagerly.

She crossed to his side, then impulsively put her hand on his arm. She could feel the tension in the hard muscles beneath her touch.

“What are you doing?”

“When a gentleman escorts a lady, he always offers her his arm,” she said primly.

He placed his hand over hers, the heat comforting her. They both chose to ignore the fact that his purr had returned.

“This way, my lady.”

CHAPTER 7

The mating purr was still coming from Drakkar’s chest, but he was determined to ignore it. It had been caused by their physical proximity, nothing more. The sight of her small hand on his arm should have alarmed him—he preferred not to be touched. Although he touched others when he was healing them, he was able to separate that out from other types of interactions. But he did not object to her touch.

It wasn’t until he led her into the entrance cave that the magnitude of what he was doing struck home. He had allowed another person into his lair, and now he was preparing to reveal all of its secrets to her. Years of training warned him not to proceed, but then she looked up and smiled at him.

She is a small, defenseless female, he reminded himself. She will not bring danger to my lair.

“This is the entrance cave. Most of the other caves open off of it.”

“Entrance?” She looked around, then gave him a puzzled frown. “All I see is more caves.”

Once again, he found himself hesitating, even though it was ridiculous. She had no wings—she couldn’t escape. Nor could she return to attack him, he amended quickly.

“It is through that tunnel.”

“Can we go see?”

“No.” The word came out harsher than he intended, and her eyes widened. He quickly softened his tone. “The tunnel is angled to block the weather, but the storm has not diminished. The temperature would not be suitable for you, or the child,” he added, looking down at the small figure sleeping against his chest.

“I suppose you’re right, but I would like to see where we are when the storm is over.”

Did she remember that it required wings to reach his lair? That she could not leave unless he carried her? He decided not to bring up the subject unless she asked and simply nodded.

“My workrooms are on this side,” he said, changing the subject away from her arrival and eventual departure.

The three interconnected caves consisted of his lab, his study, and a supply room. His study occupied the largest cave, and she looked around curiously at his big desk in the racks of books arranged neatly around the walls. Removing her hand from his arm, she wandered over to one of them, and he had to clench his claws into his palms to prevent himself from insisting that she return. The ferocity of his response worried him. This fierce possessiveness was one of the traits that had been so dangerous to the Arkani in the past.

“I used to love to read,” she said wistfully. “My mother said that it was a waste of time and filled my head with foolish daydreams. Maybe she was right.”

Her mother? This was not a solution he had considered before, but given that human females did not abandon their children, perhaps Kitty’s mother could provide her with shelter.

“Would your mother help—”

“No.” She shook her head before he finished speaking, and he did his best to ignore the wave of relief that swept over him.

“Why not?” he forced himself to ask. “Human females do not abandon their young.”

“Not when they’re a year old, I agree, but I promise you she would not want me to return.”

A look of desolation crossed her face, and this time he could not prevent himself from drawing her back against his side.

“Then we will make other arrangements,” he said firmly.

She did her best to smile up at him, but her soft little mouth was trembling.

“I know it’s silly, but I wish things had been different. I will never abandon Lola,” she added fiercely, stroking her daughter’s cheek.

He recognized the fierce possessiveness in her voice—perhaps not that different from his own feelings towards her—and wondered why it had not destroyed the humans the way it had almost destroyed the Arkani. A small part of him wished that his people had been able to at least retain the instinct when it came to their children.

“What’s your mother like?” she asked.

“I don’t really know. I only met her on two occasions that I remember.”

“What? I don’t understand.”

“I told you that our females give the children to the creche when they reach their first birthday.” His mother actually hadn’t made it that long—she had handed him over when he was only nine months old.

“I know you told me that, but I didn’t realize that meant you didn’t have any contact with your parents at all.”

“It is the Arkani way.”

He forced himself to shrug. He did not explain to her that not all mothers chose to eliminate contact. There were occasions over the years when visits were allowed, but his mother had never bothered. He had met her for the first time when his lair had been assigned to him. She’d barely even looked at him as she completed the necessary documents. The second time he had seen her was when he relinquished the rights to that same lair because he chose to follow Commander Artek. She had looked at him that time, but it had been with disgust rather than affection.

“And your father?”

“I encountered him while I was completing my warrior’s training.” The older male had been one of his tutors, but he was no more interested in Drakkar than in any of the other students. “Our lineage is matriarchal. The paternal role is of little importance.”

“I don’t remember my father either. He left when I was very young. When my mother was angry with me, she told me that it had been my fault.”

Unable to resist that woeful face, he put both arms around her. The baby was still strapped against his chest and Kitty nestled against the other side. With both of them safely under his protection, a feeling of rightness swept over him. They felt like a family.

No. The Arkani were not meant for families. But despite that knowledge, he continued to hold the two females until Kitty sighed and looked up at him.

“Enough about the past. What else do you have in your cave of wonders?”

He accepted the change of subject with a mixture of relief and disappointment. It was an uncomfortable topic, for both of them he suspected, and yet there was something oddly freeing about sharing his past with her. None of his brothers had ever asked, just as he had not inquired about their pasts, although he had picked up details here and there over the years. Some of them were more forthcoming than others, but he had never been tempted to share before.

“This is my laboratory.”

“You have a lot of equipment here, and it all looks very modern.” She sighed. “The town where I grew up had some technology, but there is very little in Wainwright.”

“I understand the founder was… eccentric.”

“I guess he thought that life used to be better in Earth’s past, but I’m not sure that trying to recreate the past is ever successful. I can’t help feeling sorry for him, though.”

“Why?”

“Didn’t you hear the story when you bought the ranch? He built it for his bride, but his bride never came. He just shut himself off from everything. From what I heard, he just grew more and more isolated each year.”

“Perhaps he enjoyed his solitude?” he suggested, but he could hear the doubt in his own voice.

“Would you enjoy being alone all the time?”

“It is the Arkani way.”

“But you’re a doctor—you have to see people. Although…” She tilted her head on one side and studied him. “I guess it’s not like you have many people to look after now. What do you do instead?”

“I have been tending to the animals on the ranch. A task which is sometimes easier than dealing with sentient beings,” he added dryly, and she smiled. He hesitated, then found himself telling her about his other project. “I am also working on a treatise on universal medical techniques—ones that can be applied to most different species—and how to determine when they are appropriate.”

“That sounds fascinating.”

He did find the subject interesting. He had planned to spend the winter months working on it, but it suddenly didn’t seem as captivating as concentrating his attention on one fascinating human female and her daughter. They will not be here for the winter, he reminded himself, ignoring the sense of desolation that followed. Instead, he tucked her hand back in his arm.

“Shall we continue our tour?”

CHAPTER 8

Kitty tucked Lola into the new bassinet that Drakkar had created and smiled. It was composed of mesh sides and padded with silk. He had ignored her objections about using such expensive material, but he had begrudgingly agreed to let her add one of the linen bath sheets as well.

All of the materials had come from the store rooms he had shown her when they continued their tour—several caves filled with an astonishing variety of materials, all neatly arranged and categorized.

“Where did all this come from?”

“The Arkani tend to collect things.” He ran his hand along a silk rug. “I suppose I may have gone overboard because this is a new planet and I was not sure what items would be easy to find.”

Since this was the third time she had been uprooted with very little left of her previous life, she could understand the impulse. She squeezed his arm sympathetically, and he stiffened as he did every time she touched him. At least it didn’t seem to be lasting as long.

“Oh, look, you have a second chair. That’s good. Why don’t you bring it back to the main cave so we won’t have to take turns?”

“I placed it in storage because it is inferior to the new chair.”

“It is?” she asked doubtfully. This chair was not as elaborate as the other one, but it seemed nice enough. “I don’t mind using it.”

“You take up little space. We could both occupy the existing chair.”

The heated gaze was back, and she could feel her body responding. Her nipples tingled, followed by a rush of dampness as her milk let down. The growling purr returned as his eyes dropped to the thin, damp cloth that did little to conceal her erect nipples. She half-expected him to reach for her again, but all he did was hand Lola to her and send her back to the main cave.

He rejoined her just as she finished feeding and changing Lola, carrying the sleeping basket.

“She is well?”

“She’s wonderful,” she said, smiling down at her daughter. “I guess babies are very adaptable.”

“As long as you are with her. I do not believe she would be so content if you were not present.”

His voice held that odd note again, and she remembered what he had said about how the children of his species were raised.

“Then it’s just as well I’m not planning on going anywhere.”

“Yes,” he agreed. “Do you wish to try out the sleeping basket?”

“I will as soon as she goes to sleep.”

Since Lola showed no immediate signs of falling asleep, she walked around the cave with her, letting her look around as she told her silly stories until her eyes finally closed. She tucked her into the sleeping basket, waiting a moment to make sure that she would stay asleep, then smiled up at Drakkar.

“It’s perfect.”

“I’m glad you—and she—approve.” After a brief hesitation, he asked, “Do you do that often?”

“Walk with her?” She laughed. “Sometimes, but since there are only four steps back and forth across the living room, I usually end up rocking her instead.”

“I see. But I meant talking to her like that.”

“Of course. I know she doesn’t understand, but I think she responds to the sound of my voice.”

“It is a very pleasant voice.”

He was watching her again, and she felt suddenly breathless. Turning away, she started folding the diaper squares she had washed.

“Why did you ask?”

“It is very… different from what I remember of my childhood.”

That brought her head back around. He looked more thoughtful than sad, but her heart ached for the child he had once been. She crossed the room and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek.

“Why did you do that?”

“To thank you. For the sleeping basket and the bath and for making me feel safe and for being so kind.”

“I am not a kind male.”

“Yes, you are.”

A yawn split her face, and she gave Lola’s sleeping basket a wistful look. Her daughter looked so cozy. I should ask him to make me one, she thought with a smile.

“You are tired,” he said.

“It has been a long day. Or night? I’m not really sure anymore.”

“It is still night, but day is approaching. You should rest.”

He gestured to the bed, and she bit her lip. He had been kind, and she did feel safe—but she wasn’t sure that she was ready to share a bed with him. Although it was a very big bed.

“You will take the bed,” he continued.

“But what about you?”

He shrugged, his wings fluttering.

“I do not need much sleep. If I decide to rest, I will use the chair in my study.”

“I could sleep there.”

“You will remain here with your child,” he said, frowning.

“I wasn’t going to abandon her. I can take the basket with me.”

“The outer caves are cooler. It would be better for her to remain here.”

She sighed and gave up.

“All right. I’ll take the bed. Thank you.”

He nodded and rose to his feet.

“The panel that controls the lights is next to the bed. Feel free to adjust them to your liking.”

He was almost at the door opening before her conscience got the better of her. Despite her apprehensions, it didn’t seem fair that he should try and cram that big body into a chair to sleep.

“We could share the bed,” she blurted out.

He froze, his back to her.

“The Arkani do not share beds,” he said after an interminable pause.

“Not ever?”

“No. We are told that it can create territorial fights. But I… thank you for the offer.”

And then he was gone.

Her heart ached again as she lowered the lights and climbed into the bed. It was set up more like a nest than made like a human bed, but she wiggled in amongst the silky fabrics. The mattress was deep and comfortable, and she could hear Lola’s soft little breaths coming from the basket next to her. Their future was still uncertain, but for the first time in a very long time her worries didn’t overwhelm her as soon as she closed her eyes.

For now she felt safe, and for now, that was enough.

She was sound asleep when Lola’s cries woke her. Her little face was bright red when Kitty bent down to pick her up. She was checking her diaper when Drakkar came rushing in.

“What is it? What’s wrong with her?”

“I don’t think anything is wrong.” She shuffled Lola against her shoulder and started walking. “She had colic for the first few weeks, but it’s been getting better. I hoped she had outgrown it.”

“What is colic?”

He walked next to her, studying the baby anxiously. For the first time, she noticed that he was dressed in a sleeveless dark blue robe embroidered with gold thread. It should have looked gaudy and ridiculous. Instead it only set off his broad shoulders and glittering copper skin.

“It’s when a baby gets fussy for extended periods of time for no reason. Like now, I know she’s not hungry and her diaper doesn’t need changing.”

He looked horrified. “Is there no cure?”

“Only time. She’ll grow out of it eventually. In the meantime, I have a routine of things to try. Sometimes they even work,” she added ruefully.

“What do you do?”

“Walking is the main one, although like I said, I rock her as well. Sometimes putting her directly against my stomach or a warm towel helps. Sometimes swaddling her works. And sometimes only time makes a difference.”

He still looked appalled, but she could see him processing the information.

“Motion. Warmth. Binding. I see.”

She made several circuits of the room, and he continued to accompany her. Lola’s cries showed no signs of stopping, and she bit back a tired sigh. It didn’t look as if she was going to get much sleep after all.

“I would like to try something,” he announced a few minutes later.

“What do you have in mind?”

“Let me hold her. Please.”

She hesitated. He’d been very good with Lola earlier but there was a big difference between carrying a sleeping baby and one who wailed constantly. But maybe his medical background meant he really could help. She handed him the baby.

To her shock, he opened his robe and placed the baby directly against his bare chest, holding her gently but firmly in place so that she couldn’t kick her legs. It took a second before she realized that he had nothing else on under the robe. Her gaze dropped involuntarily to his cock—or rather where his cock should be. The skin between his legs was as smooth and muscular as the rest of his body.

“My body temperature runs higher than yours,” he said, and she jumped guiltily, tearing her gaze away from that smooth patch of skin.

“Yes, I’d noticed.”

“Perhaps the additional warmth combined with the motion will help.”

“It’s worth a try.”

She tucked her hand in his arm as she had done earlier and they resumed their walk. She did her best not to look at him again, even though more and more questions raced through her mind. His species obviously reproduced—but how?

CHAPTER 9

Lola’s pitiful cries tore at Drakkar’s heart, but he forced himself to be patient. To hold her closely and maintain a slow steady pace around the cave. The minutes ticked by interminably before she started to respond. Her cries began to die down to occasional gasps, and he could feel her small body relaxing against his chest. Satisfaction filled him as her breathing deepened into slumber.

“I can’t believe it,” Kitty said quietly. Her hand curved protectively over the baby’s head. “It usually takes me a lot longer to get her back to sleep.”

“I am grateful that I was able to help. And you have been doing this by yourself since she was born?”

“Yes.” Her mouth trembled, but then she smiled. “There were a few bad weeks, but she’s getting much better. She doesn’t have many fussy periods.”

His anger at the child’s worthless father flared all over again, but he did his best to keep it buried because he did not want to upset Kitty. How could any male ignore such a precious gift?

The thought stopped him in his tracks. Didn’t every Arkani male do exactly that?

“Is something wrong?” she asked.

“No. Just thinking of the differences between our species.”

“Oh, I think we’re all the same in here.”

She lightly touched her hand to his heart.

“It is a nice sentiment.”

“But you don’t agree?”

“No. But then I have met many who seemed to have no heart at all.”

Her mouth trembled again. “I suppose I have as well, but I choose to believe that they are in the minority.”

He bowed his head rather than argue. “Do you think it would be safe to return Lola to her basket now?”

“I think so. She seems to be sleeping well.”

He carefully placed the baby back in the basket, and they both watched anxiously until they were sure she remained asleep.

“Thank you again for your help,” she whispered.

“I am glad I was here,” he said sincerely. “I will let you return to your rest now.”

She stepped closer and put her hand on his arm.

“Stay with me. With us. I know you said you don’t share a bed, but it’s a big bed and I won’t get in your way.”

His body responded just as it had earlier when she made the suggestion, his vedik pulsing. He should be horrified, appalled at the very idea, but at this moment, with her sweet scent filling his lungs and her silky sleep-tangled hair brushing against his arm, he could think of nothing he would prefer more.

“I…”

“And if Lola needs you, you’ll be right here.”

How could he resist that argument?

“Very well.”

“I’ll go ahead and get in. You can join me whenever you’re ready.”

She slipped beneath the covers, and he suspected she was deliberately keeping her back to him. He had never slept with another person, and he felt as anxious as he had on his first day of warrior’s training as he climbed into the other side of the bed.

At first he held himself stiffly, afraid of his instinctive reaction, but although he was aware of her on the other side of the bed, the instinct to protect his territory remained dormant. Instead, there was something comforting about her soft breathing and the small rustling of the covers as she moved. The warmth and dimness created an unusual feeling of intimacy, and he found himself relaxing. This was not as bad as he had feared.

And then she rolled over and nestled against his side.

He froze, afraid of his reaction, but instead of an urge to push her away, he was far more tempted to pull her closer. From the sound of her breathing, she was asleep, but even in her sleep she had turned to him for comfort. He took a deep breath, then put his arm around her narrow shoulders and drew her closer. She made a contented sound in her sleep.

The soft curves of her body nestled against his side, and his mating purr began once more. She didn’t react to the vibration coming from his chest. If anything, she seemed to nestle closer.

His vedik pulsed, pushing against his slit with painful urgency, but he forced himself to control the need to emerge. Instead, he stroked his fingers through the golden silk of her hair and wrapped his wings around her. He had others in his lair and a painful throbbing in his body, but he had never been more content.

He did not intend to fall asleep, still not entirely certain how he would react if she did something to startle him while he slept, but despite his resolution, his eyes closed. The next time they opened, he could tell by the light coming in from the entry cave that it was long past daylight. Kitty wiggled against his side, and he realized that her movements had awoken him. His fears about his reaction were unjustified. He had no urge to fight her, only to…

He suppressed a groan as she stretched and the soft weight of her breasts pressed against his side. His vedik still throbbed within his body, and he suspected it had been in a constant state of arousal the entire night.

“Good morning,” she said, looking up at him with a smile on her beautiful face. “At least I think it’s morning.”

“It is daytime, although closer to midday.”

“Then Lola will be waking soon. But before she does, I just want to say thank you.”

“You do not need to thank me.”

“Yes, I do. You’ve been kind and patient, and you have protected me just as you promised you would. That means a lot to me, Drakkar.”

Before he could respond, she reached up and pressed her soft little lips against his. Perhaps she meant it as no more than the brief salute that she had given him the previous night, but a male could only take so much. His tongue pushed past her lips and delved into the enticing depths of her mouth.

For a moment she froze, but then she kissed him back, just as urgently. He groaned and pulled her on top of him, twisting his fingers in the golden strands of her hair and using his other hand to press the slight weight of her body closer against his. He realized he was holding her in place, just as he would have done with an Arkani female to prevent her from harming him, but Kitty wasn’t fighting him.

She eagerly returned his kiss, making soft encouraging sounds as she tried to press even closer against him. She wasn’t trying to harm him or leave him—she was completely open and welcoming. And that knowledge destroyed his control. He lost control of his vedik and it sprang free from his body, thrusting into the tight space between their bodies, and for one glorious moment he felt her softness caressing his throbbing shaft.

He wanted to hold her there, to seek more of that delicious softness, but then she gasped into his mouth and raised her head, her eyes wide and blue.

“What—”

Shame filled him at his lapse of control. He had behaved unforgivably, and he quickly lifted her off his chest and back to the bed and stood. Her eyes widened again as they went to his vedik, still fully erect and pulsing, but now that it had emerged there was nothing he could do. Without a release, only time would cause it to retreat back within his body.

“I apologize,” he said stiffly. “Please forgive my lack of control.” He turned away, then added, “Despite that lack of control, I would never harm you.”

And then he fled the cave.

CHAPTER 10

Kitty stared after Drakkar, her mouth still open as she tried to process what had just happened. She had wanted to kiss him, to show him her appreciation, but she hadn’t expected him to respond the way he had. When his tongue stroked into her mouth, she’d felt the strange bifurcated tip, but then he’d wrapped it around hers and the difference ceased to matter. If anything it had added to her own passionate response.

When she kissed him, she hadn’t felt self-conscious or inhibited or shy. Even now, a lingering hum of arousal still coursed through her body. All this time she had thought sex was for the man’s benefit, not always pleasant or comfortable, but necessary to achieve closeness. But that kiss had not been unpleasant or uncomfortable and for the first time she truly understood what it meant to be aroused.

She certainly hadn’t expected a hidden cock either.

I guess that explains how they reproduce, she thought, suppressing a sudden urge to giggle.

Was that why he had left so abruptly? She wished he’d stayed longer. Even the brief glance had been intriguing. She’d seen the thick golden shaft, glistening even in the dim light of the cave, and the wide bifurcated tip. Would it feel as good as his tongue she wondered, then blushed.

Was it her fault that he had left? No, she told herself firmly. She had done nothing wrong. They had done nothing wrong. Of course, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t blame himself. Should she go after him or give him some time to compose himself?

Before she could decide, there was a gurgle from Lola’s basket and she looked down to find her daughter’s eyes open.

“Good morning to you too, sweetheart.” She picked up the baby and cuddled her close, and smiled when Lola immediately started rooting at her breast. “You’re a greedy little girl this morning, aren’t you?”

As she settled back down on the bed to nurse the baby, she remembered the way Drakkar had watched them the previous evening, the way his eyes had heated. What would that intriguing tongue feel like wrapped around one of her nipples, she wondered. She had never particularly enjoyed a man’s attentions to her breasts, but somehow she suspected that she would enjoy Drakkar’s very much. But that thought would have to wait. Right now, she had a baby to care for.

After Lola finished nursing, she gave her a quick bath in the sink in the kitchen area, put a clean diaper on her, and dressed her in one of the other outfits that Drakkar had brought with them. Then she walked with her and told her stories until she fell asleep. As she tucked her safely back in her basket, she decided it had been long enough. Time to face the dragon in his lair.

Carrying the basket with the sleeping baby, she went in search of Drakkar. He was sitting behind his desk, staring down at two small devices and a collection of mechanical parts with unseeing eyes.

“Good morning again,” she said softly.

He didn’t seem startled when she spoke and she suspected he had heard her coming.

“It is afternoon now,” he said finally.

“How do you know?” she asked, momentarily distracted.

He shrugged, his wing fluttering. “The Arkani have a type of… internal clock, I suppose you would call it. Even deep in our lairs we are aware of the seasons and the period of the day. Plus the light has changed in the entry cave.”

He was right. The roof of the cave was no longer lost in darkness. Instead a faint white glow came from high overhead although she couldn’t see the sky directly.

“That’s very interesting, but I wanted to talk to you. About what happened.”

“I have already apologized. I assure you it will not happen again.”

“That’s not what I meant. You really don’t have to apologize. We were kissing and you got… excited. I was excited too,” she added, blushing.

“You do not understand. It is my responsibility to control my vedik unless mating terms have been arranged.”

“Arranged?”

He sighed, and for the first time he looked up at her. The basket was still clasped in her arms, and he immediately came around the desk and took it from her. He placed it carefully in a niche to one side of the room and stroked a gentle finger down Lola’s cheek before turning to her.

“The basket is too heavy for you. You should have asked me to carry her.”

“That would have been a little difficult since I was coming to find you. I just wasn’t sure I could hear her if I left her in the main room.”

“I have been working on that.” He handed her the two devices on his desk. “This is a monitor. You can leave one with her and carry the other and still be able to hear her.”

“That’s wonderful. Where did it come from?”

“I repurposed the communication device that Commander Artek uses when he wishes to communicate with me.”

“But what if he wants to reach you now?”

“There is no need. Everyone is locked down until after the storm passes.”

“You mean it’s still snowing?”

“The conditions have not improved. I suspect that it will be several weeks before the storm passes.”

“In that case, I really think we need to address the elephant in the room.”

He glanced around, looking confused. “You are referring to an earth animal? There are none present.”

She laughed. “It’s an expression. It means there’s something big we need to talk about. Tell me what you meant when you said that matings are arranged.”

He sighed and tried to usher her into his desk chair. Instead she perched on the desk and told him to sit back down. He hesitated, then obeyed. They were only a short distance away from each other and he could easily pull her down onto his lap, but despite her shiver of excitement at the thought, she knew he would not.

“Now tell me about the matings.”

“As I told you, we live alone. “

“And do not share a bed.”

“Never. Last night was outside of my experience. Of any Arkani experience of which I’m aware.”

She liked the thought that it had been something new to him, but she refrained from commenting.

“But we are physical beings and as such we have… urges. We were taught that such urges are one of the reasons for our violent history. As a result, rules have been put in place to guide all of our interactions.”

“What kind of rules?”

“All matings are strictly negotiated. This includes the length of time and the location—a neutral location.” He sighed. “Even then it is… difficult. Both parties will fight for dominance despite the agreement.”

“You fight each other? That doesn’t sound very romantic.”

He gave a harsh laugh. “There is nothing romantic about it. It is simply two individuals seeking to satisfy a need.”

“And you’ve done that? Had one of those arranged matings?”

She tried to keep her voice neutral, but she hated the idea of him with an Arkani female. With any female, she realized uncomfortably.

“I did,” he said evenly.

“And you enjoyed it?”

She couldn’t resist asking, even though she wasn’t sure she really wanted to know.

“Again, I am not sure that enjoyment is the right word. I find no pleasure in restraining a female but neither do I wish to be restrained. But I cannot deny I have those instincts.” He looked down at his hands. “When you stopped kissing me, I did not want to let you go.”

“But you did.” She leaned forward and put her hand on his face. “And I wasn’t fighting you.”

“You should have,” he said bitterly. “I let my vedik emerge without your permission.”

“But you didn’t do anything with it.”

She smiled at his look of shock, then hopped down off the desk. She was standing between his knees, and she leaned forward and brushed her lips gently across his before stepping back.

“Now if you’ll watch Lola for me, I’m going to take another bath.”

His hands had closed over her hips when she bent forward to kiss him, and she waited patiently for him to release her. And if he didn’t, maybe that was a sign that he was ready to take things a little further.

Was she? She wasn’t entirely sure, but she thought she wanted to explore more of this passion between them. But he did let her go and she slipped out from behind the desk.

“I will watch over the child.”

“Thank you.” Then she gathered her courage and gave him a teasing smile. “Unless you want to bring her along and watch over both of us.”

She giggled when his eyes blazed silver and fled the room.

CHAPTER 11

Although Drakkar did not take Kitty up on her suggestion, the thought continued to haunt him throughout the day. What if he had followed her? What if he had watched? Something had shifted between them due to his lamentable lack of control—and her acceptance of that.

Of course he was aware that females from some other species welcomed their mates, but he had always assumed that his own instincts would cause problems. That he would be too fierce, too demanding. But Kitty’s softness softened his own reactions. Her gentleness encouraged him to be gentle.

Once, he reminded himself. He had lost control once and he hadn’t tried to dominate her. One incident was hardly conclusive, and it seemed unreasonable to expect her to take a chance on repeating the experiment.

However, that did not stop him from thinking about it as they went about the day.

She returned from her bath flushed and glowing, and he wished he had been there to see her emerge from the waters.

“You mentioned repairing my nightgown, but I know you haven’t had time to do anything with it. If you have a needle and thread, I can give it a go.”

“On the contrary.” He handed her the folded gown. “I attended to it earlier.”

He had hoped it would distract him from his aching vedik, but the cloth still carried her scent and it had not worked. In the end, he had been forced to take himself in hand.

The act of self-pleasure was a shameful one for an Arkani male. A male should have sufficient control that his vedik never emerged unless he was participating in an arranged mating. The experience had not been… unpleasant, but it was unsatisfactory. He had only been successful by adding to his shame and imagining her face as he touched himself.

“You used such neat little stitches,” she said as she examined the gown. “Mine always come out crooked.”

“It was a requirement of my medical training.”

Her nose wrinkled. “I think I’d rather have crooked stitches than have to sew up a person. But thank you for doing this. It’s nice to have a change of clothes.”

Another area in which he had failed her, but this one he could remedy.

“I apologize that I have not provided for you, but as you saw in the storage rooms, I have a good deal of fabric. Perhaps I could make you another garment?”

“I don’t want to be a burden. I know you have work to do. Maybe I could give it a try?” she suggested doubtfully.

“My work is not urgent. Perhaps we could work together?”

“I’d like that,” she said shyly.

“Then let us go and choose some fabric.”

But as he pushed back from his desk, Lola awoke and Kitty gave him an apologetic smile.

“I have to take care of this little one first.”

She picked up the baby, then looked at him. The pretty pink covered her cheeks as she started to say something, but then she shook her head and carried the baby out of the room. What had she been about to say? Was she going to issue another invitation for him to watch her? His vedik pulsed at the thought. Perhaps it was just as well that she had not. Yes, he wanted to watch, but he also wanted to touch. And taste.

Where had these desires come from? He was sure no other Arkani would ever consider such a thing, but the impulse seemed oddly natural despite the eroticism of the act. Despite that—or perhaps because of it—he waited until he was sure that she had finished nursing before joining her in the main cave.

Lola did not fall asleep immediately after her meal so he wrapped her to his chest again and she gurgled contentedly as they visited his stores.

“Why do you have so much fabric?” Kitty asked.

“An Arkani legacy, I suppose. We place great value on formal attire, and we dress in the finest clothing on the occasions when we do meet in person.” He looked down at his plain black uniform pants with a smile. “It was a practice I quickly realized had no place outside of that society, but I suppose the instinct remained. I brought some of these with me and obtained more after we arrived. We are acquisitive by nature.”

“I think that’s pretty obvious,” she said with a look around the store. “It seems strange to think of you hiding all these treasures in your caves.”

“I have recently discovered that there are far greater treasures,” he murmured, sliding a gentle finger through her golden hair.

She swayed towards him, an expectant look on her face, and he almost kissed her, but this was not the time nor the place to repeat the experiment. He cleared his throat and gestured at the fabric.

“Which ones would you like?”

“I don’t know,” she said doubtfully. “They all look very fancy—and expensive.”

“That is not a concern.”

He had received financial consideration when he signed over his lair, in addition to the value of all the items he could not bring with him. Even though he had contributed to the purchase of the ranch, he still had more than sufficient funds to meet his needs. To meet their needs, he amended, looking at Kitty and Lola. Whatever they needed, he would provide, even after they left him. An unexpected growl erupted at the thought, and she gave him a startled look.

“Is something wrong?”

“Just… thinking.”

“Bad things?” she asked sympathetically, patting his arm.

It was the first time that she had touched him since the morning and he wanted to demand that she keep her hand on him. The strength of that need concerned him, and he deliberately stepped away from her as he pointed to an embroidered silk.

“That would match your eyes.”

She shook her head. “It’s way too fancy.”

In the end, they settled on a blue silk with a slight opalescent gleam. It was one of the plainer fabrics in his collection, but it suited her.

“I can cut out the pieces,” she volunteered. “I’m pretty good at that part. It’s only the actual sewing part that’s a problem.”

“Perhaps I can teach you—if you would like that.”

“That would be wonderful. I had to teach myself originally because my mother…” Her lips pressed together.

“What about her?”

“She considered it manual labor and thought it was beneath her. She didn’t approve of me sewing, but she wasn’t enthusiastic about providing me with clothes either. Although after she saw my first creation, it helped convince her.”

With the same resilience he had noted before, she shook her head and then gave him a sunny smile as she tucked her hand in his arm.

“Let’s see if you can make a seamstress out of me after all.”

They worked on the project for the rest of the day, in between caring for Lola—a seemingly endless task, but endlessly fascinating. She needed to be fed and washed and have her diapers changed on an astonishingly frequent basis.

After feeding her, Kitty placed one of the covers from the bed on the floor and put Lola down so that the baby could move her arms and legs freely. Of course, once he realized the purpose of the cover, he added more layers of fabric to make sure that it was adequately padded. She also tied a thread around a spoon and dangled it over the baby’s head for her to see.

“Why are you doing that?”

“I’m mainly just playing with her, but the book I read about babies said that this age is when she’s starting to focus on things. It gives her something to look at. In the book, they had a picture of a mobile—it’s a kind of frame with colorful objects dangling from it—and it was hanging over the baby’s crib. I thought about how pretty it looked. But then she doesn’t have a crib either, so I guess it doesn’t matter.”

She joined him as he prepared the evening meal, inspecting his supplies and the cooking equipment.

“Do you want me to do this while you go and get some work done? I do know how to cook—and I’m much better at it than I am at sewing.”

“I am not good at cooking,” he admitted. “None of us are. I don’t think we had a decent meal until Nelly showed up. But perhaps you could teach me?”

She looked surprised, but pleased.

“It’s a deal. I’ll teach you how to cook and you can teach me how to sew. Or at least try.”

“You’ll learn,” he promised. After the evening meal—which was in fact considerably better than his own efforts – he left her long enough to retrieve one of his books.

“You said that you like to read. Are you familiar with Galactic?”

“I’m afraid not. Most of the human colonies seem to prefer using earth languages.”

“This is a teaching guide for Galactic. I thought perhaps you might like to learn.”

“More lessons?” she laughed. “This is almost like going back to school. But in the very best way,” she added hastily. “I think it’s a wonderful idea.”

They worked on the reading lesson until it was time to give Lola her last feeding. He left the room, just as he had done every time she fed the baby, and when he returned, Lola was asleep in her basket and Kitty was waiting in the big bed. She patted the empty space next to her.

“I think it’s time for bed. Are you going to join me?”

“I am not sure this is a good idea.”

“I think it is.” She gave him an innocent look. “And what if Lola needs you again tonight?”

Once again, he couldn’t resist that appeal. He nodded and climbed into the bed, his pants firmly in place, as she dimmed the lights.

“Will you kiss me good night?” she asked softly. “And don’t say it’s a bad idea.”

He gave into temptation and kissed her. Her response was as enthusiastic as before. The mating thrum sounded deep in his chest, but this time he managed to retain control.

“You see?” Her eyes were the same deep blue as the pool in the dimness. “That didn’t hurt at all, did it?”

It was not an entirely fair question. His vedik ached and throbbed inside his body, but despite that, he would not have missed the experience. And his hypothesis was proven correct. He could control himself.

That hypothesis continued to be tested over the next few days. Not only did she ask for kisses in the morning and evening, but the more time they spent together and the more comfortable she became with him, the more she touched him. She hugged his arm as they walked with Lola through the caves. She snuggled next to him at night and scooted her chair closer so that their sides touched as they worked on the sewing or reading lessons.

The kissing sessions grew more and more extended, her innocent enthusiasm testing the limits of his control. Twice it failed, but he rushed away as soon as his vedik emerged, forced to attend to it before it would subside—and each time it was her image which enabled him to reach climax.

This morning’s session had been particularly lengthy and his vedik was already throbbing relentlessly when she took his hand and brought it up to her breast, her damp swollen nipple thrusting against his palm. A shudder ran through his body as his vedik sprang free. He immediately tried to leave, but she put her hand over his where it lingered on her breast.

“You don’t have to go.”

“I do.” He hesitated, and then confessed his shame. “If I do not attend to it, I will remain engorged.”

Her eyes widened, but he also caught the increased sweetness of her arousal.

“I didn’t realize you had to do that.” Her small white teeth closed on her lower lip, currently swollen from their kisses. “Maybe… maybe I could take care of that for you?”

CHAPTER 12

Kitty knew she was blushing, but she continued to hold Drakkar’s hand in place over her breast as she waited for him to respond. His cock—no, his vedik—flexed against her, and a ripple of excitement went down her spine. She really wanted to touch him, to explore more of him, but she knew how much restraint he placed on himself.

“You do not have to do that,” he said stiffly, but his hand began to massage her breast.

“I know I don’t have to but I want to,” she said truthfully. It was the first time she had ever truly wanted to touch a male this way. “Please?”

He groaned, the steady thrumming in his chest increasing.

“I did not intend to carry the test so far.”

“What test?”

“To prove that I could touch you and remain in control. To make sure that my instincts would not overrule my intelligence.”

“So I’m a test subject?”

She gave him a teasing smile as she worked her hand down between their bodies. Her finger brushed the tips of his vedik, and she almost jumped when the two pieces separated, then came back together, wrapping around her finger and massaging. Oh my.

“Weren’t you the one who told me that a successful experiment requires many variations?”

“I did.” His eyes blazed silver fire, but he was still holding himself rigid. “But you must tell me if I do anything to alarm you. I think… I believe that I will be able to stop.”

“I know you will,” she said firmly and slid a little lower in the bed so that she could wrap her hand around his shaft. Or at least she could try. He was just as large as she remembered and silky smooth, her hand gliding easily as she stroked the thick shaft.

“And you will have to tell me if I do something you don’t like.”

“I do not believe that’s possible.”

“In that case, I have a few experiments of my own to conduct.”

She was determined to find out what pleased him. She tried varying the speed of her strokes and the strength of her grip, but he responded eagerly to all of them, thrusting into her hand. Between each stroke, she played with those two intriguing tips. His body was rigid with tension, and her heart ached for him. He was so convinced that he needed to remain in control at all times. If only she could make him lose that control and just let himself experience pleasure…

A wickedly naughty idea occurred to her, and she slid further down his body, pushing her nightgown down. Then she slid his shaft between her breasts.

He growled, his fists clenching in the covers.

Grinning with satisfaction, she continued to slide his shaft back and forth between her breasts as she lowered her head and licked the tips of his vedik. They twined around her tongue the same way his tongue had wrapped around hers except they were thicker and stronger. She gave them a gentle suck and his hips arched towards her. Hot liquid exploded into her mouth like thick heated honey. She swallowed as much as she could, licking up each drop, and suddenly found herself on her back with Drakkar looming over her.

She smiled up at him. “I think that was a successful experiment.”

“It was not successful,” he growled, his voice barely recognizable. Her intellectual medic had disappeared, replaced by this fierce male with the glowing eyes and growling voice, but she wasn’t afraid.

“What do you mean?” she asked breathlessly.

“I am still erect. Even more erect.” His hips thrust forward and his vedik slid hotly, wonderfully, between her legs. “There is only one solution.”

“What is it?” Her heart was racing so hard she could barely hear herself, but she didn’t think she had ever wanted anything more.

His vedik slid between her legs again, the glistening shaft parting her folds, and then the tips of his cock closed around her clit, massaging it with a slick, irresistible pleasure.

She cried out and arched into his touch. He froze at the sound, and suddenly her medic was back.

“I did not intend to cause you distress,” he said, and she realized he had misinterpreted her cry.

“You didn’t—”

“I have disgraced myself once again.”

He didn’t seem to hear her protest, locked away in his own guilt. She reached for him, but it was too late. He flung himself off of the bed and stalked out of the cave. Oh no. Where was he going? This time, she wasn’t going to leave him alone to dwell on his misplaced guilt. Grabbing the baby monitor, she raced after him. He wasn’t in his study as she’d expected. She started to head for the store rooms, but then she heard the flutter of wings from the entrance tunnel.

The tunnel? He was leaving her? She went flying down the passageway, only to come to an abrupt halt as it opened onto a small rocky plateau. Drakkar had already taken to the air, his vanishing body only a coppery gleam against the sky. Although the clouds were still heavy overhead, the snow had stopped falling and she could see most of the valley from here.

“Drakkar!” she cried, but it was no use.

The icy wind whipped her words away, and she knew he couldn’t have heard her. The wind made her shiver, and she realized she was standing half-naked in front of the cave. She gave a last despairing look at the vanishing figure, and stepped back inside. She would just have to wait for him to return so that they could talk.

What if he doesn’t come back?

No. No matter how guilty he might be feeling, he would never leave her and Lola trapped in his caves without him. He would return, and she was going to talk to him even if she had to tie him down in a chair in order to do so.

CHAPTER 13

The strength of the air currents threatened to throw Drakkar off course, but he welcomed the challenge. The storm was far from over, even though the snow was not currently falling, and the gusts battered his body. His vedik still throbbed angrily despite the devastating climax she had drawn from him with her mouth, but even the thought of touching himself horrified him. His pants were still open around his thighs, and he yanked them back in place, stuffing his vedik behind the fabric. He almost relished the painful sensation—only a minor taste of what he deserved. How could he have been so foolish?

If it had been an experiment, then he had failed completely. So much for his hopes of remaining in control. He’d been on the verge of claiming her, taking her with all the ferocity of an untrained Arkani male. The thought haunted him as he circled over the valley. At least his brothers were all safe below, no doubt gently wooing their brides.

As if his thoughts had conjured him up, he spotted Benjar on the open slopes above the tree line, his deep pink for a startling contrast to all the white, and he decided to join him.

Benjar looked surprisingly morose, unlike his normal cheerful self. Although Drakkar suspected that the other male was not always as cheerful as he chose to appear, he had never seen him quite this despondent.

“You are a long way from your cabin. And your bride.”

“I’m not sure that she is my bride,” Benjar said gloomily.

He did not want to discuss his own situation, even with his brother, but he agreed that the bride quest had not gone as smoothly as Benjar had intended.

“Are you having problems with your bride as well?” Benjar asked.

Bride? It suddenly occurred to him that he had never considered Kitty as his bride. He had accompanied the others as an observer, not to obtain a bride of his own. And he had taken her in order to protect her, not to claim her as his mate. But the idea no longer seemed quite so unthinkable.

What if he didn’t have to let her go? What if he could claim her and Lola as his?

It didn’t seem to matter that the Arkani did not believe in life mates. He wanted that bond no matter how alien it was to everything he had been taught. He knew it was too soon, no matter how right it seemed, but the possibility of that bond calmed him.

He had no intention of revealing his concerns to Benjar, so he simply pointed out the gathering clouds and flew back towards his caves. As he did, a thought struck him. Could it be that the Arkani matings were so fierce because there were no permanent bonds between them? Perhaps their attempt to reduce conflict had exacerbated the situation instead.

He returned to the caves in a thoughtful mood, but put it aside as soon as he entered. Finding Kitty was far more important than worrying about Arkani history. The main cave was empty and his heart skipped a beat. She can’t have left me, he reassured himself. There was no way down off the mountain without wings. Then he realized that Lola was sleeping peacefully in her basket and the baby monitor was gone. A moment later, he heard the sound of water.

He found her in the bathing cave. She looked up at him and gave a sigh of relief.

“I’m so glad you’re back. You didn’t have to leave. It wasn’t your fault. You didn’t do anything wrong.” Her words fell like a balm across his soul even as he shook his head.

“I did do wrong. I did not ask. And despite all our experiments, my hypothesis is a failure. I cannot control myself when I am around you.”

“I honestly don’t mind. You have never lost control in a way that hurt me. And you’re forgetting one thing. I didn’t say no.”

His vedik jerked hard enough that it must have been visible because her eyes dropped to it.

“You’ve been flying around in the cold with your poor vedik exposed?”

“How do you know I was flying?”

“Because I followed you, but I was too late. You were already in the air when I reached the entrance.”

She had been outside on the narrow ledge without him?

“You should not have left the caves. It’s too cold for you.”

“I know.” She gave an exaggerated shiver. “That’s why I’m in here. To warm up.” She took a deep breath, her tempting breasts rising to the surface as she did. “I’m sure your vedik needs warming as well. Why don’t you join me?”

“I do not know if I can refrain from touching you.”

“And I didn’t tell you not to touch me.” She moved over to his side of the pool, her body clearly visible in the clear water. “I trust you not to do anything to hurt me. Why can’t you trust yourself?”

“I’m not sure. Perhaps because I still hear the lessons I was taught about the Arkani way.”

Should he tell her about his plans? Too soon, he reminded himself.

“I know what that’s like. I still hear my mother’s voice in my head, and it’s always something negative. I do my best to ignore it, and I think you should too.” She held out her hand. “Come and join me.”

He obeyed, stripping off his pants—to the relief of his vedik—and climbing into the pool with her. She immediately moved into his arms, and the throb of his mating purr echoed in the small cave.

“You always seem hotter when you purr like that,” she murmured.

“That’s because I am. The temperature of my body increases in order to make my seed fertile.”

Her eyes widened. “Fertile? Does that mean you could get me pregnant?”

The wave of longing that passed over him was so intense that he felt dizzy, and his vedik hovered on the edge of explosion, but he shook his head.

“I do not know if such a thing is possible between our species, but it’s not relevant. I have an implant to restrict my fertility.”

“You do? Why? I thought you hadn’t been with anyone in a long time.”

“I have not. It is implanted when we reach sexual maturity.”

“I see.” There was an odd expression on her face. “Can it be removed?”

“It’s a simple procedure. I could do it myself,” he said impatiently. The conversation seemed far less important than the fact that at long last he had Kitty’s naked body against his. “You had a chance to explore my body. Now it is time for me to explore yours.”

“It wasn’t much of a chance—”

Her words ended abruptly as he lifted her into his arms and kissed her. Gods, he loved kissing her. Loved the way her funny little tongue tried to mimic his and the way the burning points of her nipples rubbed against his chest. Loved the soft little sounds she made as she kissed him back. Her legs wrapped around his waist, and he could feel her slick heat against his stomach, despite the surrounding water. He could have kissed her for hours, days, but there was so much more to explore.

He lifted her onto the smooth, moss-covered rock that curved around one side of the pool, and finally did what he had been dreaming of doing since the very first night and wrapped his tongue around her nipple. Her back arched and she cried out, but she clutched his shoulders before he could pull away.

“It’s not a bad cry. It just means I like it when you do that.”

He mumbled an acknowledgment, but he was too entranced by the succulent peak in his mouth and the sweet taste of her milk. He moved hungrily from one breast to the other, then kissed his way down across her stomach to the hidden treasure between her legs. He swiped his tongue through the glistening folds, and this time they both moaned their approval.

She was just as sweet here, but with a richer, deeper taste. He found the swollen nub his vedik had discovered and wrapped his tongue around it. She cried out again, but now he knew it was a sound of pleasure. He worked the small bud with his tongue as her body went rigid, then shook in his hands as her pleasure took her. He kept licking as her body softened.

“Drakkar, let go of my hands,” she whispered.

It took a moment for her words to penetrate, and then he was horrified to realize that he had been holding her in place, just as he would have held an Arkani female to prevent her from harming him. He immediately released her and started to back away, but she grabbed his arms before he could.

“Don’t start apologizing. I only want my hands free so that I can touch you too.”

“You are not alarmed?”

“Oh no. That was wonderful.” She gave him a shy smile, the color changing her cheeks again. “Can I have more?”

He bent eagerly towards her, and she shook her head

“I mean I want your… vedik.”

Once again, his climax threatened to overtake him, but he managed to keep it under control.

“You are sure?”

“I’m very sure.”

CHAPTER 14

Kitty waited breathlessly as Drakkar started to lower his head towards her, but then he stopped. Was he going to pull back again? She wasn’t sure as he lifted her into his arms and carried her out of the pool, running one of the drying sheets slowly and sensually over her body.

“What are you doing? Why did you stop?”

“Because I do not want our first time to be in the pool. I want to see every gorgeous detail.”

Her heart melted.

“I want to see you too,” she said shyly.

Once he had dried her to his satisfaction, he picked her up again and carried her back to their bed. His eyes glowed with silver fire as he looked down at her.

“You’re very beautiful, my treasure.”

She could feel herself blushing, and she lifted her hand to touch his face.

“You’re beautiful too, angel.” She ran her fingers around the small horns hidden in his hairline. “Although I think horns are more devil than angel.”

“You think I am evil?”

“I can’t think of anyone less evil. But maybe wicked,” she gasped as his thumb stroked across an aching nipple. His finger joined it, mimicking the way his tongue had wrapped around her earlier, and she shivered with pleasure as he tightened his grip.

“You like that?” he asked, his voice a low growl barely audible over the deep purr coming from his chest.

“Yes,” she gasped.

Her breasts tingled and a drop of milk appeared on the taut bud. He caught it with his finger and raised it to his mouth.

“So sweet. But all of you is sweet and soft and open to me.”

He ran his hand down her side, her skin quivering under the heated contact as he gently parted her legs. He circled her clit, sending another shiver of arousal through her as he caressed the still sensitive flesh before slipping lower and gently pressing against her entrance.

“You are very small.” he said, hesitating.

“Not too small. And you can finish your exploration later.” She grabbed his horns and tugged him closer. “I’ve waited long enough. I want you inside me.”

“Yes, treasure.”

He rose over her and for a moment his wings flared out, blocking out everything but him before he drew them back. Gripping his vedik, he slid it back and forth through her folds, letting his tips tease her clit until she was hovering on the verge of climax once more. He returned to her entrance and the tips of his vedik slid inside. She could feel them moving, stroking the sensitive inner walls and stretching her as his shaft followed.

He advanced an inch, then two, the stretch enough to make her pant, but then his tips would move, sending another streak of excitement through her body and helping her relax enough to take more. She could see the strain on his face, but he continued the slow advance, alternating between stretching and stroking until he filled her completely.

“By the gods, I have never felt anything so exquisite.” He studied her face. “And you are not fighting me.”

“Why would I fight you?” she asked breathlessly. “You feel so good.”

He smiled, and it was a truly wicked smile.

“Then let’s see if we can make it feel even better.”

His tips moved again, separating even wider and beginning to swirl inside her body. The sudden rush of sensation triggered her climax, her body convulsing helplessly around him. He growled, and his hands fastened on her hips, holding her in place as he thrust wildly, desperately, until she felt the hot rush of liquid as he shuddered. He released her hips, but only so he could pull her tighter against the vibrating warmth of his chest.

She gave a contented sigh as she snuggled against him. He had been as wonderful as she had hoped he would be. But it was more than just the physical sensation, no matter how extraordinary that had been. It was because it was Drakkar.

I love him. And this time she knew it was real—at least on her side. But that didn’t mean he loved her back, no matter how kind he had been. Or how much he wanted her body. She had learned that lesson. The words hovered on the tip of her tongue, but she held them in. It was still in the early days, and she didn’t want to pressure him. She had to accept the possibility that her love might not be reciprocated.

But as the days passed, it grew harder and harder to remember. He never said the words, but all of his actions conveyed them, from the amount of time he spent with Lola to the patient way he helped her learn to read Galactic. From the dresses that he helped her make—and ended up doing most of the work on—to the exhilarating nights in the big bed.

He also proved to have an astonishingly creative and erotic imagination. That morning he had asked her to come to his study while Lola was napping. When she joined him, she found he had cleared the top of his desk and covered it with a plain white cloth. He was wearing something oddly like a lab coat.

“It is time for your examination, Miss Kitty,” he said solemnly.

“Examination?”

“Your medical examination. To make sure that all of your feminine parts are in correct, working order.”

A prickle of excitement ran down her spine.

“Why, Dr. Drakkar,” she said demurely, “I’ve never thought about such things.”

“Indeed? Then it is even more important. Please remove your clothing.”

She was wearing one of her new gowns, a simple fall of gold silk with a matching sash. She untied the sash, then pushed the gown down off her shoulders. His gaze heated even more, but he maintained the stern, professional demeanor as he assisted her onto his desk and told her to lie back.

“Miss Kitty, female patient, appears to be in good health,” he said calmly. “But of course, we must examine every part.”

His hands closed over her breasts, massaging them gently. His face was still expressionless, only the heat in his eyes giving the game away.

“Large, well-formed breasts. They appear sensitive to stimuli,” he added as he reached down and clamped his fingers around her nipples. “Let me know if this becomes uncomfortable.”

He tightened his grip, gradually applying more pressure. Each time she was on the verge of saying it was too much, it would suddenly morph into pleasure.

“There,” she gasped at last. “That’s too much.”

But despite her words, she was still quivering with excitement.

“One more test.”

He extended his claws and very carefully and very delicately ran them across her nipples. Another wave of excitement washed over her, and she felt her channel pulse as a quick, unexpected climax swept over.

“Most responsive,” he said approvingly. “And now we must continue our examination.”

He pulled her to the edge of the desk and raised her knees, leaving her completely exposed to his gaze—which only added to her excitement.

“The patient appears to have a significant amount of natural lubrication,” he said as he thrust a gloved finger firmly inside her channel.

It was just one thick finger, but she was still swollen and sensitive from the previous climax and she writhed against him.

“I will use this natural lubrication for the next check,” he announced.

Her eyes widened as he probed delicately at her bottom hole. No one had ever touched her there, and she knew she was blushing, but the gentle pressure felt surprisingly good. He pressed harder, and there was a slight burning stretch, quickly replaced by a strange, full sensation. She squirmed a little, not entirely sure how she felt about it, but then he swept his thumb across her clit. Her body automatically tightened, clamping down on his finger and sending a streak of erotic pleasure through her system.

“Patient requires additional stimulation for further examination.”

His tone was still clinical, but she could hear the betraying purr coming from his chest. He was enjoying this just as much as she was. He slid his hand free and stripped off the glove. Just as he started to unfasten his pants, there was a piteous cry from the baby monitor, and he shook his head.

“I believe that is the end of your examination. I’ll go check her diaper while you get dressed.”

And that was yet another reason why she loved him. He was never angry or impatient when Lola interrupted their playtime, and he clearly enjoyed spending time with the baby. He followed her example and frequently took Lola for walks around the caves, pointing out various objects while she babbled contentedly. He walked the floor with her during her fortunately increasingly rare bouts of colic, and her daughter seemed perfectly content nestled against that big copper chest. Not that she could blame her, she felt just as happy in his arms.

Maybe she had finally found a man she could trust, even if he was an alien male.

CHAPTER 15

Drakkar finished compiling his notes on his data tablet and happily pushed it to the side. He was behind on his carefully planned schedule, but he could not find it within himself to care. Kitty and Lola occupied most of his time, and they were far more important than his treatise. He loved walking into the main cave and seeing them smile at him, providing a comfort he’d never realized he needed.

But perhaps he had been searching for it for longer than he’d realized. He had chosen to study medicine in a society where personal contact was discouraged. He had joined a squad of alien warriors to fight when the other Arkani chose to remain securely within their caves.

He had not yet told Kitty that he wanted her to be his bride, but it was time. These past few weeks had been the happiest of his life, and his fears seem to have disappeared. He was considering the best approach when he entered the main cave and found Kitty down on the floor with Lola. She gave him an excited smile.

“Look! She’s lifting her head.”

“A remarkable achievement,” he agreed. “But then I always knew she was an exceptional baby.”

“She really is, aren’t you, sweetheart?” She lifted the baby onto her lap. “Who’s a clever girl? Soon you’ll be rolling over, and then crawling, and then walking.”

Walking? His proud smile suddenly faded. That was the age at which Arkani infants were sent to the creche. A hollow ache filled his stomach as he looked around at his cave. What had he been thinking? Yes, Lola would have the two of them instead of the creche guardians, but was this really so different than how he had been raised? Lola would still be isolated, still alone and away from other children.

“What’s the matter, Drakkar? You have the strangest look on your face.”

“Nothing important,” he forced himself to say. “But I came to tell you that I won’t be joining you this evening. I’m very far behind and I need to do some work.”

She looked disappointed, but she nodded. “I understand. I know we’ve been taking up a lot of your time. Is there anything I can do to help?”

“No, I… I just need to work,” he managed, his wings flaring behind him as he returned to his study.

What am I going to do? The thought of being without them was almost unbearable, but the thought of Lola isolated and alone as he had been for most of his life broke his heart. He couldn’t do that to the child he loved. He would have to return them to the town.

But the town isn’t safe for her, he remembered. It would have to be the ranch house, just as he had originally planned. The thought of having them so close and yet so unattainable was almost worse.

He would have to stay away from them. Seeing them and knowing that he could not have them would only tear his heart further apart.

Tomorrow, he thought grimly. He would take them tomorrow before his courage failed him and he kept them with him forever. The storm had finally blown itself out and it would be safe for them to fly with him.

He stayed in his study until late in the evening, even though he didn’t get any work done. Kitty came to see him twice, once to bring him a plate of food that he couldn’t eat, and the second time to tell him that she was going to bed.

“Aren’t you going to join me?” she asked with her teasing smile, and he had to grip the arms of his chair to prevent himself from following her.

But his plans to avoid her still went awry. He couldn’t resist the urge to spend one last night with her. Even though she was sleeping when he joined her, she rolled over and nestled against his side and he was lost. He woke her with his mouth on her breasts and his fingers dipping into the slick heat between her thighs and she responded as eagerly as always.

He made love to her with silent desperation, sending her from one climax to another until he finally buried his vedik in her body and released his seed. My infertile seed, he thought sadly as he gathered her close. He didn’t even have the faint hope that she would become pregnant with a child to tie them together.

“Drakkar, what’s wrong?” she whispered.

“Did I not please you?”

“You know you did—but I also know that something is not right.”

“Go to sleep, my treasure. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day.”

“Why is that? Do you have more work to do?”

“Wait and see,” was all he could manage.

She huffed, but then she settled into her usual place against his shoulder and went to sleep. He curled his wings around her, holding her tight as the minutes ticked by. Bringing him ever closer to the time when he would lose them.

He didn’t sleep at all, but even when the light from the entrance cave began to creep into the main cave, he kept her in his arms, dreading the time when he would have to let her go.

But then Lola woke and Kitty yawned and went to get her. He watched for the last time as she nursed the baby. Once she was done, he insisted that he be the one to change Lola and get her dressed for the day. Will she even remember me, he wondered as he looked down at her. Her chubby little legs kicked in the air and she gave him her toothless smile, and the ache in his chest felt like a physical pain. As soon as they finished eating, he told Kitty that he planned for them to visit the ranch.

“Are you sure we should do that?” she asked doubtfully. “I don’t really know Nelly very well and I think she disapproves of me.”

He frowned. “She has no reason to disapprove of you.”

“I had a child out of wedlock. That’s reason enough for most people in Wainwright—and that’s without even knowing that he was married.”

“The male had another mate?” he asked, horrified.

Her mouth trembled. “Yes, but I didn’t find out until it was too late.”

“The dishonor is his,” he assured her. “I only wish I had not been so gentle with him.”

“Gentle? You left him bleeding in the snow with what looked like broken bones.”

“As I said, gentle.”

The reminder of her previous situation did not make him any happier, but he trusted Nelly to look after her.

“Nelly will not treat you unkindly. She has been kind to all of my brothers, even Benjar—and he is enough to test the most understanding person.”

She gave him a hesitant smile. “All right. I guess it would be nice to see more of the ranch.”

Her words only confirmed his decision. Neither of them deserved to be cooped up in his caves.

As they prepared for the journey, once again he wrapped Lola snugly against Kitty’s chest before arranging a heavy cloak around her shoulders. He picked up his bag and started to lead them towards the entrance.

“What’s in there?” she asked.

“Just supplies.”

He kept his tone as casual as possible, and she didn’t ask any further questions. She did balk a little when they reached the ledge outside the cave entrance.

“Are you sure about this? We’re not too heavy for you?”

“You weigh practically nothing, and remember that I brought both of you here. As well as most of the items stored in the caves,” he reminded her.

“Good point. I had forgotten you were a one-man treasure hunter.”

And yet his greatest treasures were leaving.

“I’m going to carry you in my arms the same way you carry Lola. It will provide the most protection and help to keep you warm.”

“All right.” She gave him a trusting smile, and the same sharp pain spasmed in his chest. He did his best to ignore it as he lifted her into his arms.

“Ready?”

She took a firm grip on his arm, then nodded.

“Good girl.” And with that, he leapt into the air.

He heard her gasp, felt her blunt little nails digging into his skin, but she would get used to it soon enough.

“The pass is behind us,” he said conversationally. “There are pastures on both sides of the river at this end but the ranch house is further along.”

Her eyes had been tightly closed, but she finally opened one eye and peeked down. She squeaked and clutched his arm even more tightly, but she eventually began to relax as he continued to point out landmarks in the various projects they were working on around the ranch. The flight was far too short, but by the end, she seemed to be enjoying it as much as he did.

He landed in the courtyard in front of the house. Most of the snow had been swept away, and the green of Gilmat’s plants provided a pleasant contrast. He could even see a few flowers blooming despite the cold. He reluctantly put Kitty on her feet, but she immediately clutched his arm as they entered the ranch house.

“Nelly?” he called. “I have a surprise for you.”

She appeared immediately at the entry to her kitchen. He watched carefully as she looked first at him and then at Kitty. Her eyes widened.

“Oh my God, Kitty! Where did you come from? Are you Drakkar’s bride?”

Kitty hesitated for a fraction of a second before shaking her head.

“No, Drakkar just rescued me and brought me here.”

“Really?” Nelly gave him a puzzled look before turning back to Kitty. “You’re going to have to tell me all about it, but first come in out of the cold. How did you get here?”

“We flew.”

Nelly shivered dramatically. “I can’t even imagine how cold you must be. But I have some hot cider on the stove. It’s so good to see you, and the baby,” she added as Kitty opened her cloak. “Oh my gosh, she’s so adorable.”

Kitty gave him another questioning look, but she seemed reassured by Nelly’s welcome, and he nodded at her to follow. He needed to speak to Artek. His commander had been studying him from penetrating golden eyes, but he waited until the females entered the kitchen before he spoke.

“What happened to your communicator? You promised to keep it on.”

He forced himself to shrug. “I knew everyone was confined because of the storm, so I used it as a listening device for the baby. I will return it to its original purpose now.”

“Good. I was concerned. I’ve lost Endark, and I didn’t want to lose you as well.”

“What do you mean you’ve lost Endark?” he asked, distracted from his own worries.

“He’s no longer at his cabin. Neither is his bride.”

“What about the tracker?”

“We found it on the floor of the cabin.” Artek hesitated. “It appears that he removed it himself. No one else would know that it was there. And there is no sign of a struggle.”

“But why would he do such a thing?”

“I don’t know. Perhaps he felt threatened by having other males around his new bride.”

“None of us would ever harm her.”

“Of course not, but you know the state he was in.”

“I had hoped a bride would calm him.”

“As did I.” Artek sighed. “Now that the storm has passed, I will go in search of him. And what of your bride?”

“You know the Arkani do not take brides.”

“Perhaps not, but you are no longer entirely Arkani—and haven’t been since the day you flew down from the mountains and joined the fight.”

“I was… tempted,” he admitted.

Artek gave him another penetrating look. “But?”

“But I have not asked her.”

“Why not?”

“It is not possible. You know how I live. It is not suitable for a female, or a child.”

“You do not have to spend all of your time there. You know you’re welcome here whenever you wish.”

Artek had barely finished speaking when the doors opened again and Benjar rushed in, accompanied by a dark-haired female who appeared to be Kitty’s age. They were followed by the more sedate entry of Callum, Artek’s second in command, and what must be his bride—a plump older female with a definite resemblance to Benjar’s bride. Where had she come from? He knew that, like him, Callum had been convinced he would spend his life alone.

“What are you doing here, Drakkar?” Benjar asked. He seemed to have recovered his usual cheerfulness. “This is Ruby, my bride. Where’s your bride?”

“I do not have a bride,” he said stiffly, the pain in his chest increasing.

His body tensed as the others surrounded them. Benjar continued to pepper him with questions while Callum and Artek tried to carry on a conversation. The noise and the feeling of being surrounded had his claws emerging involuntarily for the first time since he had left the town behind.

“You still haven’t answered me,” Benjar insisted. “Where’s your bride?”

His pain and his tension gathered in a furious knot inside his stomach.

“I do not have a bride!” he roared. “No bride, no mate, no female.”

Everyone fell silent at his outburst, silent enough for him to hear Kitty’s faint cry. She was standing at the entrance to the kitchen, her face pale as she stared at him.

He wanted to go to her, to carry her and Lola back to his caves where he could protect them like the treasures they were, but he could not—would not—do that to them.

“I’m sorry,” he said softly, then turned to leave.

“Wait.”

Benjar put out his arm to stop him, but he growled and shoved him aside, refusing to even look back as he pushed through the doors and took to the sky.

CHAPTER 16

Drakkar’s rejection echoed in Kitty’s ears and she swayed dizzily. She felt as if the ground had dropped away from beneath her just as it had when they were flying. Some distant part of her heard his meaningless apology, but she could only stare at him as he snarled and turned away. He sent a big pink-furred alien flying when he tried to stop him. As he disappeared through the doors, she saw the bag he had brought next to them. Supplies. She would have laughed if she hadn’t felt so hurt. At least he’d had the decency to bring her clothes.

“What happened? What’s going on?” Nelly asked, appearing at her side with Lola cradled against her shoulder.

She couldn’t speak, but then Pearl rushed over to her and put her arms around her.

“Oh, Kitty, I’m so sorry.”

A tall older male followed Pearl, and she recognized him as the alien who had visited town with Nelly’s husband. His attention was focused on Pearl and she had the sinking suspicion that her friend had found a husband as well. As had Pearl’s sister, she decided, looking at Ruby bending anxiously over the leonine alien.

“I am terribly wounded. I will require much personal attention,” he said dramatically, and Artek shook his head.

“You are not terribly wounded. If I were you, Ruby, I would ignore him.”

The girl grinned up at him and shook her head.

“Ignoring him doesn’t work. He only gets more outrageous.”

Her tone was affectionate, and Kitty could see how gently she was touching him.

Three couples, but she was alone once again. She gently pulled herself out of Pearl’s embrace.

“Would someone be able to give me a ride back to town?” she asked, proud that her voice didn’t tremble. She had no idea what she would do when she got there, but she couldn’t stay here surrounded by all this happiness.

“Didn’t you hear?” Pearl asked gently. “The pass is closed until spring… or maybe even longer.”

“Already?”

Pearl exchanged a look with her husband.

“There was an avalanche,” he said in his deep voice after a brief hesitation.

Her heart sank.

“I see.”

“But you’re very welcome here,” Nelly said quickly. “And I’m happy to help with the baby.”

“We’ll all help,” Pearl assured her, then gave her a thoughtful look. “I think we need to talk. Come into the kitchen. Just the women,” she added when her husband started to follow.

“But I’m very good at female talk,” the irrepressible Benjar said as he climbed to his feet and gave her a cheerful smile.

She realized for the first time that he was bleeding from four parallel gashes across his chest, but he didn’t seem remotely bothered. “I’m sorry he hurt you.”

He shrugged. “It’s just a scratch.”

“A moment ago you said you were terribly wounded,” Ruby said as she came to join them.

“I have decided to be stoic and brave instead.”

Ruby rolled her eyes, even as she gave him an affectionate smile.

“What am I going to do with you?”

“I have many ideas,” he said eagerly, and Ruby held up her hand.

“Not here and not now.”

He grinned at her, but didn’t continue as the four women went into the kitchen.

“Now tell me what happened,” Pearl said as they sat down at the table.

“It was the night of the dance. Lola’s father showed up. He wanted…” Her gaze dropped to her hands. “Drakkar showed up and stopped him, and then he brought us here.”

“But why?”

In spite of herself, a smile curved her lips. “He came in through the window overlooking Elm Street. I thought he was an angel. But he took out most of the wall when he arrived and I couldn’t stay there.”

“You should have come to me,” Pearl said, putting her hand over Kitty’s before giving her a rueful smile. “Although I suppose that was the same night I was chasing after Ruby.”

“Is that how you ended up here?”

“Yes, and I’ll tell you all about it later, but I want to hear what happened next.”

“He took us to his caves.”

“Really?” Nelly asked. “He’s never taken anyone there, not even any of the other guys. Artek told me that an Arkani never lets anyone into his caves.”

“I don’t think they do. But he let us in.” For the first time, tears began to fill her eyes. “And he was so sweet and kind. He changed Lola’s diapers and made me this dress, and he was teaching me to read Galactic.”

“You sound like you’re in love with him,” Ruby said.

“Of course I am. I was so sure that this time it was the real thing, but I guess it’s only real on my side.”

“I’m not so sure about that,” Nelly said slowly. “I’ve never seen him like that before—so emotional.”

She sighed. “Maybe that’s the problem. He’s had it drilled into his head since he was a baby that his people have to live alone. That they’re too violent if their interactions aren’t precisely arranged. And what just happened proved his point.”

“Maybe not. Don’t you think it’s possible that he was acting like that because he was leaving? Because you were going to be separated?”

“But we didn’t have to be separated. He didn’t have to bring me here, or leave me. I was perfectly content in his caves. And so was Lola.”

There was a knock at the kitchen door, and then Artek poked his head around.

“I thought perhaps Kitty might want this. It’s the bag that Drakkar left behind.”

She nodded, and he handed it to her. She opened it, hoping that there was some type of explanation inside, but as she suspected, it was filled with her and Lola’s clothes. And something else, something that caught the light. She carefully pulled it free and discovered a round frame hung with intricate, sparkling drops. He had created a mobile for Lola. The tears finally came.

Artek quickly disappeared as Pearl gathered her into a reassuring hug.

When she finally recovered enough to blow her nose and sit up, she found Nelly inspecting the mobile.

“This just doesn’t make sense. He clearly spent a lot of time making this, and you said you were happy together. There has to be some reason why things changed.”

“Some foolish male reason,” Ruby said, rolling her eyes. “Benjar took off on me because he thought I was going to leave him. Even if that had been true, why would he decide to leave me first?”

“Male logic can certainly leave something to be desired,” Pearl agreed.

“Even Callum’s?” her sister teased.

“He’s not perfect.”

But from the curve of Pearl’s lips, Kitty suspected she didn’t mean the words.

“Think, Kitty,” Nelly urged. “Do you know when things changed?”

She started to shake her head, then hesitated.

“He was different last night. He didn’t spend the evening with us. He went off to work. And when he came to bed…” She could feel the color rising to her cheeks. “He seemed different.”

“So he was different last night. What about yesterday afternoon?”

“I don’t think so. He came in while I was playing with the baby. I was talking about how fast she was growing, and then he said he had to go back to work.”

“Maybe that was the first time he thought about the future,” Pearl said gently.

The tears threatened to reappear.

“And he didn’t want us in it.”

“I’m not sure it’s that simple,” Nelly said. “What if he didn’t think it was the right future for you?”

“But why would he think that…” A thought suddenly occurred to her. “I was talking about Lola walking—which she would be doing at about the same age when Arkani mothers give up their babies.”

The other three women looked horrified.

“Why do they do that?” Ruby asked indignantly.

She shook her head. “They think it’s better for their society. But I wonder if that’s what he was thinking about. They filled his head with so many rules.”

“Then maybe it’s up to you to help him to get past them,” Nelly suggested. “Artek had some issues as well. I think they all do. You have to fight your way past them.”

She’d never fought for a relationship before, but then she’d never had a relationship worth fighting for. Was Drakkar worth it? Yes. She wanted to fight for him. For them, she amended, looking over Lola sleeping in Nelly’s arms.

“I’m willing, but what can I do? It’s not as if I can just show up on his doorstep.”

“Then set a trap for him,” Ruby said with a grin, and they all stared at her. “What?”

“I think Benjar is rubbing off on you,” Pearl said severely, then sighed. “But maybe it’s the only way. We just have to figure out how.”

“I think we should ask Artek.” Nelly drummed her fingers thoughtfully on her coffee cup. “He knows Drakkar better than anyone.”

“Do you think he would be willing to help?”

“Of course.” Nelly smirked. “I can be very persuasive.”

They all laughed. Kitty looked around the table and felt comforted, despite the ache in her heart. The three of them had not only accepted her, they had immediately tried to help her. She prayed that whatever scheme they came up with would work, but even if it didn’t, she was sure that she now had three friends.

CHAPTER 17

Drakkar paced from one end of his caves to the other. Why had he never noticed before how silent and empty they were?

It will pass, he told himself, but he did not believe it. Their departure had left a gaping emptiness inside him. Twice he found himself heading for the cave entrance, and twice he made himself stop. No matter how much he wanted Kitty and Lola here with him, it would be better for them to remain at the ranch house.

He would even have considered staying there with them, but he’d barely managed to last five minutes before attacking one of his brothers. How long would it be before he lashed out at one of them again? Guilt filled him at the memory of striking Benjar. He sighed and went to the study to rebuild the communicator. The least he could do was call and check on the other male.

And perhaps ask for news of Kitty and Lola.

The spoon Kitty had been using to entertain Lola was still sitting on his desk, and he found himself running his fingers back and forth across it as though some lingering hint of her might remain. He hoped Lola would like the mobile. He only wished he could have been there to watch her face when she saw it for the first time.

He forced himself to concentrate on the communicator and as soon as he was done, he called Artek.

“Yes?”

The commander’s voice was ice cold, and Drakkar winced.

“I wish to check on Benjar’s condition.”

“He is recovering.”

“I should not have struck him.”

“No.” There was a brief hesitation. “Why did you?”

He settled for the easiest explanation. “You know I have difficulty being surrounded by others.”

“I see.” Artek’s voice gave nothing away.

“How are Kitty and Lola?”

“How do you think they are? Your female is unhappy.”

His chest ached.

“It is for the best.”

“Is it?” Artek’s voice sharpened. “And why do you get to be the one who makes that decision?”

Artek ended the call before he could respond.

Was Artek right? Should he have discussed it with her? He stared at the communicator, fighting the urge to call back. But perhaps Artek would tell her that he had called and she would call him.

He suspected the chances were slim, but he carried it with him as he went to the main cave. Even here, he felt empty and alone. Which proves my point. This was no place to bring up a child.

Somehow, he made it through the evening, but sleep did not come. He found himself replaying scenes from the previous two weeks over and over in his head, everything from the way Kitty had laughed and twirled as she showed off the dress he had made for her to the way Lola’s tiny hand had closed around his thumb.

He reached over and pulled Kitty’s white garment out from beneath the pillow. When he’d packed her clothes, he’d kept this one for himself. Her scent still suffused the fabric, and he buried his nose in it, trying to pretend that she was here with him. The other items he had not sent with them had been carefully placed in his storerooms. He would never give up any reminder of them.

The night dragged on, eventually turning into a dreary day. Once more he found himself on the ledge outside the entrance to his caves, looking down the valley at the ranch house. It was too far away for even his enhanced eyesight to be able to pick out any details. Even if she came outside, he would not be able to see her.

Maybe I should move closer. Close enough that he could keep an eye on them. Even though he suspected it would only make things worse, it was a tempting idea. He was on the verge of departing to scout for a suitable location when the communicator chimed.

“Yes?”

“There’s been an incident,” Artek said. “At the main house. Hurry.”

“Is anyone hurt?”

“Oh, yes,” the other male said, and ended the call.

Drakkar didn’t hesitate. He grabbed his bag and took off at a run. As he hurried through the front doors, he found himself searching for any signs of Kitty or Lola, but only Artek waited for him in the huge living room overlooking the river.

“Where’s the patient? And who is it?”

“The room at the end of the corridor,” Artek said, ignoring his second question.

He didn’t bother to argue, heading down the hallway. The room at the end of the hall was a large, pleasant bedroom with windows on two sides giving a nice view out over the valley, but it appeared to be empty. He took a few steps into the room to double-check, and then he heard a distinct click.

He whirled around to find Kitty standing behind him. Her face was pale and there were dark circles under her eyes and she was obviously exhausted, but he had never seen a more beautiful sight. He took one step towards her before he remembered and forced himself to freeze.

“I don’t understand. Why did Artek send for me? He said someone was hurt.” Shame washed over him as he realized what Artek had meant. “He meant you.”

“Yes, he did,” she said quietly. “But I think you are in pain as well.”

“I miss you—both of you—very much.”

“Then why did you do it? Why did you send us away?”

“How can I expect Lola to grow up in those caves? It’s no different than condemning her to the same childhood as an Arkani child.”

“No, it’s not. You’re forgetting one very important thing. She would have a mother—and I hoped a father—who loved her and took care of her and taught her to be brave and curious and not afraid of other people.”

“But she would still be alone.”

She sighed. “Yes, some of the time. But there’s no reason why you can’t fly us down here so we can visit, just as you did yesterday.”

“I thought about building a house down here,” he admitted. “But I do not think I can live so close to the others. You saw what happened yesterday.”

“I’ve been thinking about that. Did you react the way you did because they were too close? Or because you were leaving us?”

He started to reject the idea, then hesitated. It had been difficult being surrounded like that, but there was no doubt that it had been aggravated by his emotional turmoil.

“Perhaps it was both.”

“And maybe if I had been with you, and touching you, you wouldn’t have reacted the same way. But I’m not asking you to live down here. I love your caves—they’re warm and safe and cozy. I love the bathing pool and the big bed and the storerooms with all your treasures. But most of all Drakkar, I love you.”

His legs actually shook.

“You do?”

“Of course I do. I think I’ve loved you since the first moment you crashed through my window. My angel.”

“I felt it too, but it took me a long time to realize what I felt.” He took one step towards her, then two, and then she was in his arms, laughing and crying at the same time.

“And we’re together now, right? Whether it’s here or in the caves or anywhere else, we stay together. And you don’t decide what would be best for us without talking to me first.”

Despite the smile on her face, he could hear the warning in her words, and he nodded.

“I was foolish not to talk to you. I’ve been fighting the urge to come back here ever since I left. Even if Artek hadn’t called me, I couldn’t have stayed away much longer.”

“Good. Now kiss me.” For the first time, she was demanding rather than asking, and he willingly obeyed. He lifted her into his arms as he kissed her, and she pressed herself against his body.

“I love you, Drakkar,” she said again, and his vedik sprang free, pushing out past the waistband of his pants.

“Oh, dear. I can see we’re going to have to do something about that.”

“I agree. What do you suggest?”

“Well…” She trailed her fingers down his chest to circle his shaft. “Nelly is keeping watch over Lola, and there is a big empty bed right here…”

He laughed, filled with happiness as he carried her over to the bed.

“Will you be my bride, Kitty? My real treasure?” he whispered.

“Yes, Drakkar. I can’t think of anything I would like better.”

And as he bent his head and kissed her, he agreed. He had his bride and his daughter and a family of brothers who were willing to forgive him for his foolishness. He couldn’t ask for anything more.

EPILOGUE

One year later…

“The outer entrance is secure,” Drakkar announced as he entered the main cave, and Kitty shook her head.

“You’ve already put gates across the entrance to this room, the bathing room, Lola’s room, and the workrooms. I’m pretty sure everything was already secure.”

Lola had just started toddling and he was obsessed with her safety. He had already tried to convince her that they should move to the cabin he had built in the valley but she had refused. They would spend time there of course when the weather permitted, but she knew he was more comfortable here in his caves. And so was she. This felt like home to her.

“We cannot be too careful with her safety,” he said stiffly.

“I know, and I love that you want to protect her, but you don’t need to worry so much.”

She put her arms around him, relishing the heat of his body, and waited for him to relax. Her touch soothed him, just as it always did, but his face still looked troubled.

“What’s wrong, Drakkar?”

“She just turned a year old.”

“I know.” They’d had a party for her down at the main house with all of the brothers and their wives and children in attendance. “Why is that bothering… Oh.”

The realization washed over her, and she tightened her arms around his waist.

“This is when she would have gone to the creche if she were an Arkani child,” she said softly.

“Yes. I know it is foolish, but I keep expecting someone to try and take her from us.”

“That is never going to happen. I’d never allow it. And I know you would stop anyone who tried to take her.”

“Yes,” he growled, and she felt the slight prick against her back as his claws emerged.

Before she could reassure him further, a plaintive cry came from their daughter’s room.

“Dada!”

Kitty laughed and shook her head. Lola was very much a daddy’s girl, and she loved seeing the two of them together.

“It sounds like our daughter is awake. Why don’t you go and get her up from her nap while I make some snacks? Then we can have a picnic in the atrium and watch the snow fall. You know how much she loves that.”

One of his projects over the past year had been installing clear panels in the outer walls of some of the caves. He had struggled with it at first because it was another violation of the Arkani urge to keep their lairs secure, but as soon as he saw how much Lola enjoyed the light and the view, he hadn’t hesitated to continue the installations. The atrium, with two walls of clear panels, had been his biggest and most successful project.

He agreed to her plan immediately, even though she knew he had planned to do some more work on his medical treatise that afternoon. Instead, they spent the rest of the day together and as he held Lola and told her stories, Kitty saw him begin to relax. After they had eaten their evening meal and put her to bed, he only checked twice to make sure that everything was secure before joining her in the main room.

“Thank you, my treasure,” he said, pulling her into his arms and down onto the comfortable couch they had added.

“Why are you thanking me?”

“Because you knew that spending time with her—with our family—would comfort me.”

“I thought it might help—and we can do it whenever you are feeling unsure.”

Instead of responding, he pulled her close and kissed her. Her nipples tightened as the familiar rumble of his mating purr vibrated against her chest.

“I believe we also need an early night,” he murmured.

“I think that’s a wonderful idea, but I wanted to talk to you about something first.”

Her voice sounded breathless, and she had to force herself to concentrate as he toyed with her nipples.

“You choose the strangest times to talk to me, my treasure. Is it important?”

“I hope you’ll think so.”

He slowed the distracting movement of his thumb, but she suddenly had a hard time getting the words out.

“What is it?”

“It’s just that I’ve been thinking about this since Lola’s birthday. That she’s a year old and I always thought that two years would be a perfect interval. And that I want to try.”

“Try what?”

“Try to have a baby,” she blurted out.

His eyes blazed silver fire, and his vedik sprang free between their bodies with sudden, shocking speed.

“I guess you like the idea,” she said breathlessly.

“I love the idea. But are you sure?”

“Yes. I love our family just as it is, but I think we have more love to share. We don’t need to limit it.”

“I will have to remove my implant, and it may not happen quickly. Or at all,” he warned her, even though his vedik was throbbing against her.

“I know. But all your studies so far have indicated that human women are remarkably compatible with other species.” She ran her fingers lightly along the glistening length of his vedik. “And even if it doesn’t work, won’t we have fun trying?”

A low growl was her only answer as he lifted her into his arms and carried her to their bed.

And a month after Lola’s second birthday, they welcomed her brother into their family.

AUTHOR’S NOTE

Thank you so much for reading Drakkar! I love seeing someone so controlled finally relax enough to find love - and to be the hero that Kitty and Lola so desperately need!

Whether you enjoyed the story or not, it would mean the world to me if you left an honest review on Amazon – reviews are one of the best ways to help other readers find my books!

As usual, I have to thank my readers for coming on these adventures with me - I couldn’t do it without you!

And, as always, a special thanks to my beta team – Janet S, Nancy V, and Kitty S. Your thoughts and comments are incredibly helpful!

* * *

Up next!

Seven Brides for Seven Alien Brothers

continues with Endark!

Endark is losing control over his inner beast and his only hope is a human bride - but will their fragile bond be enough to protect her when his father’s people come looking for him?

Click here to order Endark!

* * *

If you’d like to read about another half Vultor shifter hero, check out Her Alien Farmhand!

This is a standalone story also set on Cresca.

Can a desperate woman and a lonely alien shifter work together to defeat an unknown enemy?

Click here to order Her Alien Farmhand!

* * *

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OTHER TITLES

The Alien Abduction Series

Anna and the Alien

Beth and the Barbarian

Cam and the Conqueror

Deb and the Demon

Ella and the Emperor

Faith and the Fighter

Greta and the Gargoyle

Hanna and the Hitman

Izzie and the Icebeast

Joan and the Juggernaut

Kate and the Kraken

Lily and the Lion

Mary and the Minotaur

Nancy and the Naga

Olivia and the Orc

Pandora and the Prisoner

Quinn and the Queller

The Alien Invasion Series

Alien Selection

Alien Conquest

Alien Prisoner

Alien Breeder

Alien Alliance

Alien Hope

Exposed to the Elements

The Naked Alien

The Bare Essentials

A Nude Attitude

The Buff Beast

The Strip Down

Seven Brides for Seven Alien Brothers

Artek

Benjar

Callum

Drakkar

Endark

Folsom Planet Blues

Alien Most Wanted: Caged Beast

Alien Most Wanted: Prison Mate

Alien Most Wanted: Mastermind

Alien Most Wanted: Unchained

Horned Holidays

Krampus and the Crone

A Gift for Nicholas

Monster Between the Sheets

Extra Virgin Gargoyle

Cyborgs on Mars

High Plains Cyborg

The Good, the Bad, and the Cyborg

A Fistful of Cyborg

A Few Cyborgs More

The Magnificent Cyborg

The Outlaw Cyborg

Treasured by the Alien

Mama and the Alien Warrior

A Son for the Alien Warrior

Daughter of the Alien Warrior

A Family for the Alien Warrior

The Nanny and the Alien Warrior

A Home for the Alien Warrior

A Gift for the Alien Warrior

Cosmic Fairy Tales

Jackie and the Giant

Stranded with an Alien

Sinta

Blind Date with an Alien

Her Alien Farmhand

Anthologies

Claimed Among the Stars

Pets in Space 7

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

USA Today bestselling author Honey Phillips writes steamy science fiction stories about hot alien warriors and the human women they can’t resist. From abductions to invasions, the ride might be rough, but the end always satisfies.

Honey wrote and illustrated her first book at the tender age of five. Her writing has improved since then. Her drawing skills, unfortunately, have not. She loves writing, reading, traveling, cooking, and drinking champagne - not necessarily in that order.

Honey loves to hear from her wonderful readers! You can stalk her at any of the following locations…

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