CALLUM

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

For Buda

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

Epilogue

Author’s Note

Other Titles

About the Author

CHAPTER 1

C allum stepped up onto the porch of the ranch house, then paused to shake the snow off his horns. The snow had started falling earlier that day, and a white blanket already covered the valley surrounding the ranch. He took a moment to appreciate the peaceful sight. During the ten years they had endured on Vizal, fighting a meaningless war, it had never snowed. Most of the time, it was hot and humid and unpleasant. During the brief winter it was just as damp, with a cold mist that seeped into your bones, but no soft carpet of white ever hid the atrocities of war.

But he had grown up on Harkatan, and he still remembered the excitement of the first snowfall. It was one of the few untainted memories of his home world, but he firmly pushed it aside before other less pleasant memories had a chance to surface.

The ranch house was unusually silent when he entered, muffled not only by the falling snow but also by the absence of his family—the military brothers who had also been part of that war. Despite the silence, he knew that Artek would not have left his new human bride alone after the events of the past few days. Sure enough, his brother was sitting in the kitchen, frowning at a mug of coffee.

“You look serious,” Callum said as he went to the stove for his own cup of the oddly addictive human beverage.

Artek only grunted and Callum shot him a worried look. He had known the other male since Artek was ten years old and Artek’s father had hired Callum to train the boy in fighting and weaponry. Callum had been twenty-three, already a seasoned campaigner, and he hadn’t expected to think much of the spoiled son of a Kemberian lord. But instead of an arrogant, entitled heir like his own brother, he’d found a quiet, solemn child, already bearing the weight of his responsibilities on his thin shoulders.

He hadn’t intended to remain in the position for long, but he’d rapidly grown fond of the boy and couldn’t face the thought of leaving him to his uncaring parents. When Artek reached adulthood and his father coldly informed him that it was his duty to lead a squad into battle, Callum followed him. He’d followed him again when he and the rest of their squad decided to make a new home for themselves on this backwater planet. He hadn’t expected to find restoring the neglected ranch as gratifying as he did, but these past few years had brought an unexpected peace—to all of them.

But right now, Artek did not appear peaceful, and Callum was sure he knew the source of his brother’s distress.

“It wasn’t your fault,” he said quietly.

“Yes, it was,” Artek burst out. “I should have realized that Nelly might be in danger and insisted that someone accompany her at all times.”

“You had no way of knowing. We’ve been on the ranch for almost two years, and we’ve never seen any signs of the adyani except near the high pastures.”

The adyani were the only large predators native to Cresca and usually kept to the high mountain ranges. Unfortunately, one had found its way to the river valley and threatened Artek’s new bride.

“But you saw the signs,” Artek said, his voice heavy with guilt. “I even asked Endark to track them down.”

“Those signs were nowhere near the ranch house,” he reminded Artek. “And Nelly was not injured.”

“Thank the gods that Frantor heard her cry out. I don’t know what I would have done if anything happened to her.”

Callum understood only too well the pain of losing the female you loved, even though in his case that love had not been returned. But Artek had been far more successful with his mating. Nelly was a worthy bride who clearly returned his feelings.

“Especially now,” Artek added, giving Callum a haunted look. “I could have lost both of them.”

“But you did not,” he said firmly. “You have your bride and in the spring, you will have your child.”

An unexpected spike of longing speared through him. He had long ago accepted that he would never sire a child. Artek was the closest thing he would ever have to a son. As much as he valued their relationship, he did sometimes long for a larger family. But it was not to be.

He pushed the thought aside and returned to trying to distract Artek from his guilt.

“And where is your bride?” he asked. “Seems strange to be in the kitchen without her.”

Artek immediately scowled at him, just as Callum had intended.

“I didn’t bring her here just to cook for us.”

“I know. But you must admit that it’s an improvement,” he said, looking around at the sparklingly clean kitchen.

The seven of them had been more focused on building up the ranch and restoring the working buildings before Nelly arrived. Since none of them had any skill at cooking, they had allowed the kitchen to deteriorate into a disgraceful state. She had not been happy to discover the condition of the ranch house, but once she realized that their neglect was due more to ignorance than laziness, she had set them to work.

Each of them had been assigned chores. He had always been too much of a loner to be the kind of commander that Artek was, but Nelly had a similar skill. She had found tasks for all of them that had complemented their natural abilities.

“I told her to stay in bed,” Artek said firmly. “I am concerned that the stress of the attack and the news that she is with child is too much of a strain on her.”

Callum opened his mouth to comment, then shut it again. He was quite sure that Nelly would not put up with being confined to bed rest for very long, but better to let her address it with Artek. He had every confidence that she could rein in Artek’s overprotective instincts.

He bit back a smile when she appeared in the kitchen a few minutes later. She was an attractive female—tall and graceful—although he personally preferred dark hair and lush curves. Pearl’s image flashed through his mind. The small human female was a friend of Nelly’s, and even though he’d only encountered her on two occasions, every detail about her was etched into his mind—from her soft smiling face to the hidden sorrow that lurked in those deep blue eyes.

Not to mention the feel of luscious curves pressed against him when they had accidentally collided. He had automatically put his hands on her waist to hold her upright—and he hadn’t wanted to release her. His cock twitched at the memory, as it did far too frequently. She was human, and he couldn’t even expect the type of mate bond he should have experienced with a Harkatan female.

But several of his brothers were enthusiastic about finding human brides of their own. Inspired by a story Nelly had told them from human history, both Benjar and Endark had set off earlier that day to retrieve their brides. Amused by the endeavor, Drakkar had accompanied them although he had no intention of obtaining a bride of his own. Neither did Callum, but he wished them well—or at least he did until Nelly found out about the scheme.

“It was just a story,” she cried.

His reassurance that his brothers would never hurt a female did not seem to comfort her. But then she pointed out the one element they had not taken into consideration—that the females would have families that worried about them. He no longer felt any tie to his birth family, but if one of his brothers went missing? He would never abandon the search.

He saw the same understanding on Artek’s face and rose to his feet.

“I’ll go after them,” he said, refusing Artek’s assistance. “Stay here with your wife and child to be.”

Artek looked torn, but when Nelly asked him to stay with her he agreed.

Callum assured them that he would do his best to prevent any females from being taken and went to collect his horse. Despite his promise, he found himself hoping that he would make it as far as town before he caught up with them. Perhaps he could even stop by and talk to Pearl. Just to reassure her that Nelly is doing well. He headed for the barn with an unusual eagerness in his step.

CHAPTER 2

P earl slipped through the door of her house and shut it quietly behind her. She looked around at the wide entrance hall, richly paneled in local wood, the imported carpet, and the ornately framed paintings, and sighed. Everything was luxurious and expensive, but the house had never felt like hers. She would rather be back in the tiny two-room apartment she’d just left, especially if she could have been there with a baby of her own. Her heart ached at the memory of that small, warm body tucked against her shoulder.

Don’t be foolish, she scolded herself. As much as she envied Kitty for her baby, she wasn’t naïve enough to believe that Kitty was going to have an easy time. The pretty young woman was one of the few newcomers to town. She’d shown up a year ago and taken a job in the saloon only to become pregnant a few months later. The father of the child—who Kitty refused to name—had not stepped forward. And the conservative lifestyle that Josiah Wainwright, the founder of their town, had established made an unmarried woman with a child a social outcast.

Pearl was quite prepared to ignore those conventions, but many of the other inhabitants of Wainwright would not. Ironically, it was the very luxury she despised which enabled her to offer Kitty the limited amount of help she would accept.

“Pearl? Is that you?” Ruby came dancing out into the hall, smiling at her sister. “I’m so glad you’re home. Becky just finished my dress in time for the dance tonight. Isn’t it pretty?”

Her sister twirled in front of her, showing off the pretty blue dress adorned in lace and ruffles. Somewhat over-adorned in Pearl’s opinion, but it was what her sister wanted and she hadn’t had the heart to say no.

Ruby was the other reason her momentary desire for a small apartment was foolish. Everything she had ever done had been to make sure that her sister could be this happy and carefree.

Pearl had been eight years old when her sister was born, and she’d loved her since the first moment she saw her. The birth had been hard on their mother, and she’d never really recovered. Despite her youth, Pearl usually ended up taking care of the baby, even before her mother died two years later.

Her father tried to hire household help, beginning with a very efficient and well paid housekeeper. As his funds diminished, so had the quality of that help, but it made no real difference. He had driven them all off with his outbursts of temper as his drinking grew worse. By the time he died, shortly after Pearl’s eighteenth birthday, she had been managing the house and looking after her sister for years.

Alone and frightened, overwhelmed by her father’s debts, and worried about her sister, she’d finally agreed to marry William Bennett. He’d been pursuing her for over a year and while she wasn’t in love with him, he was a good-looking, charming man and had assured her that he would take care of both her and Ruby. From a material aspect, he had kept his word. In every other way, he had failed. She shuddered at the memory and focused on her sister instead.

“You look beautiful. That shade really brings out the color of your eyes.”

“A blue dress would bring out the color of your eyes too, if you ever wore anything other than black,” Ruby insisted. “We look just alike.”

“Not exactly,” she said, smiling.

“Of course we do.” Ruby dragged her over to the big mirror in the foyer. “Look.”

“I know what we look like.”

In the soft light of the fall afternoon, they did look alike. They had the same coloring—the same blue eyes and the same dark hair, although Pearl’s was finer and straighter. They were even built along similar lines, although Pearl’s curves were far more pronounced. But a harsher light would reveal the fine lines and the sorrow she did her best to hide. Her sister looked radiant in comparison, and she found herself wondering if she had ever been that young and carefree.

“What’s the matter, Pearl?” Ruby asked softly. “You look tired.”

Ruby’s gaze was unusually penetrating. Pearl had a tendency to forget how perceptive her sister could be when she focused her attention on someone.

“I’m fine,” she said automatically, determined not to worry her sister. “I was just visiting Kitty and remembering when you were that small.”

“You should have let me go with you.”

“It’s not a good idea.” She wasn’t concerned about her own reputation, but she had every intention of protecting her sister’s. “Besides, you said you weren’t interested in babies.”

Ruby shrugged. “They don’t seem very interesting—they can’t do anything.”

Except love you, she thought wistfully, then firmly pushed the thought aside and changed the subject.

“Do you want me to put your hair up for the dance?”

“No, I think I’ll leave it down. You should let yours down too.” Ruby poked playfully at the neatly arranged bun that was Pearl’s usual hairstyle.

“I don’t think so. I’m too old for such nonsense.”

“Would you feel the same way if a big purple alien was going to be at the dance?”

Callum. Pearl knew that she was blushing and quickly turned away from her sister.

“Would you like something to eat before we leave?” she asked, heading for the kitchen.

The question diverted her sister, just as she hoped it would, but it didn’t prevent her own thoughts from returning to Callum. He was one of the small group of aliens who had bought Josiah Wainwright’s ranch after the town founder’s death. For the past two years, she’d only seen him from a distance when he accompanied another alien male on their rare trips to town, but something about that big figure always attracted her attention. She even found the deep purple skin and the massive horns that curved up and back over his head oddly appealing.

Then she encountered him in the general store run by her friend Nelly. Despite his size and his alien features, there was an odd feeling of connection as soon as their eyes met. She recognized the sorrow she could see in his striking green eyes—she had seen the same haunted expression on her own face. If they had been alone, she might have found the courage to talk to him, to find out what lay behind that solemn gaze. But his companion Artek was obviously there to talk to Nelly, and Ruby was a little too interested in both males.

Pearl quickly tried to whisk them both out of the store and in the process she collided with him. He caught her—his big hands briefly clasping her waist—and a spark of arousal traveled through her body at the feel of that tall, muscular body against hers. A spark she’d never experienced during the torturous years of her marriage.

She’d done her best to keep her face composed, and when she attended Nelly’s wedding the next day as the maid of honor she’d tried equally hard not to look at Callum as he stood with Artek. But despite her efforts, she found her eyes drawn to him over and over—and every time she looked at him, he was looking back.

They had returned to her house for a brief celebration after the ceremony, and she’d hoped they might have a chance to talk. But she hated seeing him here, in the house her husband had built. She felt as if somehow he could sense everything she had endured, and it was almost a relief that Artek was impatient to be alone with his new bride.

The last time she saw him had been when he and Artek and Nelly had ridden out of town, heading for the pass that led to the ranch—the pass that would soon be closed by snow until the following spring. She’d had the strangest impulse to run after him, to beg him to take her with him, but Ruby was far too interested in the idea of alien males and her first responsibility was always to her sister.

She did her best to dismiss him from her thoughts, but his memory continued to haunt her as she escorted Ruby to the harvest dance. Each time a man came over to ask her to dance, she couldn’t help comparing him to Callum and finding him lacking. Perhaps it was just because she knew too much about the men in town. She knew who gambled and who drank and who cheated on their wives. She knew that Mr. Potter had buried two wives in part because of his parsimony and neglect. Of course, he was more interested in Ruby than in her—he was looking for a younger victim to be his third bride.

She had shut him down as decisively as she could—a fact she was happy to share with Mrs. Watson when the older matron joined her. She knew the other woman had her eye on Mr. Potter as a potential husband for her own daughter, and she pooh-poohed Pearl’s frank assessment of his character.

“It’s easy for you to say, sitting there in that big house with all that money that William left you. You don’t need to worry about finances.”

Pearl bit back her instinctive protest. It wouldn’t do any good, and indeed, Mrs. Watson’s husband had left her far better off. But Emma Watson was one of those women who was never satisfied. She always wanted more.

“Now you know your house is the finest in Wainwright,” she said, and Mrs. Watson preened herself.

“I did insist on only the best, even though it takes such a ridiculously long time to obtain anything from Port Cantor.”

Josiah had deliberately founded Wainwright in the most isolated location he could find, determined to re-create an idealized version of the simpler times in Earth’s past. As a result, importing goods was a lengthy and expensive process.

As Mrs. Watson began bemoaning the delays in obtaining all the expensive items with which she had furnished her house, Pearl found herself once more thinking of Callum. She couldn’t imagine him at an event like this, not only because of his alien appearance but also because she suspected he would despise the hypocrisy as much as she did. She immediately berated herself for the uncharitable thought. There were many good people in town, and it was foolish to focus on their flaws rather than their strengths.

Mrs. Watson had moved on to complaining about her daughter when Ruby reappeared at Pearl’s side. Where had she been? Guilt immediately swamped her. She had been so distracted that she hadn’t noticed her sister’s absence. Her guilt increased when she noticed the false gaiety of Ruby’s smile. Had her sister snuck off with one of the young men in town? And whom could it have been?

She couldn’t think of a single man she thought would be a good fit for her sister, and the knowledge worried her more every day. Ruby was ready for love and romance, and Pearl was desperately afraid that her search would lead her to making the same mistake that Pearl had made. Her worry deepened when Ruby was not only ready to leave the dance before it was over but had little to say about it afterwards.

When they went upstairs for the night, she was quite sure that something was wrong, but she decided not to press the matter. She would let her sister come to her.

As she snuggled down under the covers, the events of the day tangled together. Kitty’s baby and the dance and the memories of Callum that had haunted her. Would he be a good father, she wondered, and found herself dreaming of a baby with Callum’s purple skin and her dark hair. An impossible image, but she smiled as she drifted off to sleep.

CHAPTER 3

C allum rode slowly along the trail next to the river. Despite his eagerness at the possibility of seeing Pearl again, the rapidly accumulating snowfall made it impossible to push the animal too quickly. Fortunately, he had learned patience a long time ago, so he took a deep breath and settled back into the rhythm of the ride. The snow now blanketing the valley and the surrounding mountain peaks did nothing to detract from the beauty of his surroundings. Strange. He never thought he was the kind of male who would care that much for his environs, but there was something about this place that had a soothing effect on all of them, despite its tragic history.

Josiah Wainwright, the human who originally owned the ranch, had built it in expectation of a bride who never came. From what his manservant had told them, he’d never recovered from that blow, becoming more of a recluse as each year passed. But isn’t that what I did too? Perhaps not physically, but after Kurva’s betrayal, he had withdrawn from everyone around him. Artek had been the first one to break that barrier, and now he held a deep and abiding affection not only for his former pupil, but for all the males in their band of brothers.

He could understand why they wanted brides, especially now that the horrors of the war had begun to slip into the past. The transition had proven easier for some of them than others. He thought of Frantor, still hiding away in his converted mill, reluctant to show his scars even to his brothers. And yet Nelly’s kindness had made some progress in reaching him. He had even emerged from his seclusion in order to rescue her. Perhaps the presence of more females on the ranch would allow him to finally accept that his physical scars did not matter.

But Nelly was also right. This was not the way to go about obtaining a bride. After being estranged from his own family for so long, he hadn’t even considered the fact that other families might be distraught to lose a family member, especially a precious female. But that did not mean that they had to give up hope. He would simply have to convince Benjar and Endark to return to the ranch and wait until spring. He frowned at the thought.

Benjar was his youngest brother and the most impulsive, but Callum was sure that he would listen to reason. Endark, on the other hand, was a more difficult problem. He had done well for the first year or so they had been on the ranch, the hard work and simple life helping to heal him just as it had healed the others, but over this past summer things had begun to change. He had become unusually restless and volatile, quick to take offense and lose his temper. Callum had hoped that finding a mate would help to settle him, and he was concerned that an additional delay would be especially difficult for him.

Perhaps I should reinstitute a training regimen. They were all physically active, but the discipline and precision of a warrior’s training regimen might prove especially beneficial for Endark. He hadn’t come from a military background—Callum suspected that he had joined the Alliance forces partially because he had no other place to go and partially because he needed a way to channel that streak of aggression. Without a female to help settle him, Callum would have to find another way to direct it.

As he continued along the river valley to the base of the pass through the mountains, he began planning that training. The more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea. All of them were busy with their separate duties, but as a result they spent less time together. Now that Nelly was living with Artek in the main ranch house, they no longer all slept there together every night, choosing to work on their own habitations instead. He was the only one who still spent every night in the main house, and now he began to wonder if he should establish a place of his own as well.

The thought did not give him any pleasure—he’d spent enough time on his own over the years. But perhaps it would be best for Artek and Nelly. He already knew the spot he would pick—a small ridge on the other side of the river with a view out over the entire valley, the mountains forming a protective wall at the back of the ridge. Although the location pleased him, the thought of the isolation did not. Yes, time spent training together would help to ease that.

The ground began to slope upwards over the pass, and he could see faint traces of where the horses and sleigh had passed several hours ago. He looked up to the sky, searching for any sign of Drakkar. The steadily falling snow would not be enough to stop the other male if he had grown tired of the scheme. Callum wondered yet again why Drakkar had chosen to accompany Benjar and Endark. The Arkani did not take brides. From what he understood, their matings were brief and fiery, a male and female coming together simply to create the next generation, the alliance based on lineage and mutual advantage.

Drakkar claimed that all Arkani preferred to live alone, but Callum found that difficult to believe. Even though he had chosen a similar solitary path, he was not immune to the urge to share one’s life with another. He had watched Drakkar’s face when he looked at Nelly and Artek, and Callum thought he saw, if not envy, at least curiosity in his eyes. But he couldn’t imagine a human female would enjoy living in the cave high in the mountains where Drakkar had made his nest.

As he returned his attention to the pass, a flicker of movement caught his eye, and he brought the horse to a halt, scanning the tree line. Nothing disturbed the quiet, and yet he was sure that he had seen something—something too large to be just an animal.

An adyani perhaps? This should have been too low an elevation for them, but then again, one should never have made it as far as the river bank. If it had been an adyani, it had been an unusually large one. A prickle of unease traveled down his spine as he searched the trees again. Nightfall was rapidly approaching, but the fading light didn’t significantly impact his vision. He could see well enough under almost all conditions except total darkness.

He thought of his brothers heading over the mountains towards the town, but he also thought of Nelly and how devastated Artek had been by the attack on her. If the Adyani were becoming a problem, they needed to know and to take precautions. He glanced back towards the pass as visions of Pearl’s soft smile danced through his head. If he stopped to investigate, there was little chance he would be able to take the time to speak with her.

But his duty was clear. At the very least, he needed to inspect whatever tracks had been left behind. If there was nothing there, or if he had been wrong about the size of whatever he’d seen, it wouldn’t take long to investigate and resume his journey. The fact that he had reached the storage building just below the pass finalized his decision. The warehouse was used to hold goods they were intending to sell, and it included a small stable area. He could leave his horse there to wait while he went into the woods. It was only designed for a temporary shelter, but it would keep his horse out of the snow.

He led the animal inside, then left it lipping over a few handfuls of hay as he took off towards the woods. His blood hummed pleasantly. Despite his impatience to reach Wainwright, there was a familiar satisfaction in the pursuit. He’d been raised to be a hunter as well as a warrior, and the few pleasant memories he had of his father and his brother involved hunting trips with them.

Reaching the tree line, he slowed his pace, scanning the ground for any sign of tracks. Despite the still falling snow and the uncertain light, when he reached the place where he had seen movement, he found the tracks. But this was no animal.

A set of footprints led off into the woods—footprints that had not been left by a person walking upright. Why would there be anyone here on the ranch? The townspeople avoided them. In the almost two years they had been here, they’d never had a single visitor. For someone to be here now and in such conditions set every one of his warrior’s instincts on alert.

He sent another look back over his shoulder at the increasing darkness and the empty pass leading into town, then shook his head. He had no choice. He had to investigate this potential threat. He set off into the woods.

CHAPTER 4

T  he creak of the stairs startled Pearl awake, her heart racing. Panic flooded her system before she remembered. William was dead. He couldn’t hurt her any more.

Three years, she thought bitterly. He’s been dead for three years and I still can’t sleep properly. During her marriage, she’d trained herself to wake at the slightest noise. Not that being awake would prevent whatever was coming, but she’d rather face him with all her wits about her.

She did her best to push away the memories of her marriage, and returned to the problem of Ruby. Perhaps she should take some of the money in her carefully hoarded bank account and give her sister a social season in one of the larger towns. She’d considered it before, and it hadn’t been the expense that had deterred her, but the fact that she wouldn’t know anything about whatever men paid court to her sister. At least in Wainwright she had the chance to observe not only what people said about someone, but how they acted when they thought no one else was looking. Looking back now, she thought she could see some of the subtle signs that would have revealed William’s true character.

And now she was back to thinking of him again.

She sighed and adjusted her position, sleep evading her. She would talk to Ruby about going to town, she decided. But it wouldn’t be until the spring now that the snows had begun—snows that would block the pass through the mountains to the ranch. Spring would also be the first time that Callum could return.

The stairs creaked again, and once again her heart jumped. It’s just the change in the weather, she told herself, but then she heard a very faint click as if a door closed and her heart rate sped up again. Was there someone in the house?

She pulled the fireplace poker out from its hiding place at the top of her bed and gripped it firmly as she crossed quietly to the door. She paused for a moment but couldn’t hear anything, so she pushed the door open. Despite the falling snow, enough light came into the hallway to show that it was empty. The rest of the house was silent as well.

She sighed with relief and then, as she had done so many times over the years, padded quietly down the hall to check on Ruby. She eased the door open, her eyes going directly to the frilly canopy bed. The silky sheets had been thrown back and one of the pillows had tumbled to the floor, but Ruby was gone.

She stared at the empty bed, her heart pounding so rapidly she felt sick.

“Ruby?” she whispered into the empty room.

Maybe she just went to use the bathroom. Or to get a snack. But even as she tried to reassure herself, she didn’t believe it. The house felt too empty.

She searched anyway, going through every room and even checking through closets and under beds as she had once done while playing hide and seek with a much younger Ruby. Nothing. Where could she have gone? Had she arranged to meet someone while she was at the dance? Was that why she had been so quiet?

Given Ruby’s restlessness lately, it wasn’t totally out of the bounds of possibility, but Pearl couldn’t believe that Ruby wouldn’t have talked to her about it. The two of them were so close. She returned to Ruby’s room to see if her sister had at least left a note, but everything looked just like normal down to the discarded blue dress crumpled on the floor. The dress…

Suddenly frantic, she started going through her sister’s wardrobe. Ruby had a lot of clothes, but Pearl was familiar with all of them—and nothing was missing. The only item she couldn’t find was the new nightgown Pearl had bought her. She’d left in her nightgown? Her heart started to pound again as she went through the wardrobe one more time.

As she searched the second time, the dread in her heart increased. While she could just believe that Ruby might have slipped off to meet someone, she couldn’t believe that she would have done so wearing only her nightgown beneath her cloak. And none of her shoes were missing.

Hurrying back downstairs, she opened the front door and stepped out onto the porch. Despite the rapidly deepening snow, the marks from where she and Ruby had returned were still visible—but there was another, fresher set of footsteps on top of theirs. A much, much larger set of footsteps.

Her knees started to give way, and she clutched one of the porch columns for support. Someone had taken her sister—someone who hadn’t even let her get dressed. Why wouldn’t Ruby have cried out? She was sure her sister would put up a fight, unless… unless she had been drugged.

The scenarios running through her mind were each more horrible than the last. Who? Who would have done this? There had been a few unfamiliar faces at the dance last night, but she had assumed they had come from one of the outer farms. Had one of those men taken her sister?

She looked desperately up the street as she tried to force down the panic and think. There were no signs of life in the rest of the town. No lights gleamed in any of the windows—no one who might have witnessed her sister being taken. She had to find someone to help her as soon as possible.

Callum’s face appeared in her mind, but even though she had no doubt that he could handle any scenario, he was on the other side of the mountain pass. She would have to rely on the men in town instead.

She took a half-step off the porch before she remembered that she too was barefoot and in her nightgown. Despite the urgency beating at her, it would be foolish to set out like this. She hurried back upstairs and started to dress. She automatically reached for her normal black dress, then pushed it aside, digging through her wardrobe for an old pair of pants instead. Wearing them in public was, if not exactly scandalous, certainly frowned upon, but given the increasing severity of the storm the practical clothing was a much more reasonable choice.

She yanked on the pants, and found them decidedly snug across the bottom, but they fastened and that was all that mattered. After adding a flannel shirt and her thickest sweater, she pulled on her boots and her heaviest cloak and headed back downstairs. Keeping to one side of the path so as not to obscure the rapidly disappearing footsteps of the stranger, she hurried through the gate and towards the center of town.

Wainwright didn’t have much in the way of law enforcement. Most rules and regulations were put in place by the town council, but they had authorized Thomas Cole to keep the peace and act as their representative. He had a small house, set one block behind the Town Hall on Main Street. The house was shrouded in darkness, but she didn’t hesitate, pounding loudly on the door until a light finally went on inside. A moment later, he flung the door open, an annoyed expression on his handsome face. She’d never really liked him—he always reminded her a little too much of her late husband—but that didn’t matter now.

“You have to help me!” she burst out. “It’s Ruby.”

An oddly wary expression crossed his face and he took a step back. “What about her?”

“She’s missing. I think somebody took her.”

“Took her? From where?”

“From my house. Her bed is empty and she’s gone, and there are strange footsteps leading away from the house.”

His face hardened. “Male footsteps? I knew she wasn’t the innocent she pretends to be.”

“Of course she’s innocent,” she snapped. “I’m telling you that somebody took her.”

“Did she cry out? Is there any sign of a struggle?”

“Well, no. I think he must have drugged her.”

The skepticism on his face was clearly obvious.

“Or perhaps she wanted to go with him.”

“Dressed only in her night—”

She stopped abruptly, but it was too late. Thomas smirked at her.

“She was in her nightgown? What a naughty girl.” Then he rubbed his cheek and scowled. “Not my business.”

“I’m telling you she didn’t go willingly. You have to help me find her. Maybe we can follow the footprints—”

He peered over her shoulder at the wintry night, then shook his head.

“No one’s going anywhere in this weather. Especially since nothing you’ve said convinces me that she didn’t want to go.” He shrugged. “If she doesn’t come back by the morning, I’ll look into it.”

“But whoever took her could be miles away by then.”

“Not in this weather. And that’s assuming that somebody actually did take her and that she didn’t decide to go off on her own. She is an adult, Pearl.” He rubbed his cheek again. “And quite capable of looking after herself.”

“But she’s my sister.”

His face softened a fraction. “I know. And I’m sure she will contact you. Like I said, if she doesn’t return by the morning, come and see me then. Now good night, Pearl,” he said firmly, and shut the door.

She wanted to scream with frustration, she knew it was useless. She tried to think of anyone else who could help her, but she suspected that she might encounter the same cynical attitude, although perhaps phrased more politely, from everyone else. Was he right? Was she overreacting? Was it possible that her sister had just decided to sneak off for a little adventure?

No. She didn’t believe that. Her instincts were screaming at her that something was wrong. Once again, she found herself thinking of Callum. It was a long trip through the mountains to the ranch, especially in the snow, but she was convinced that he would help her. And the aliens didn’t have the same constraints that had been imposed on Wainwright. Perhaps they had some type of technology that would help her find her sister.

Mind made up, she hurried to the livery stable where they kept their horses.

Sally nickered softly as Pearl approached her, but she followed her out of the stall willingly enough. Normally one of the stable boys saddled the horse, but Pearl had watched the process often enough and she managed to fumble her way through it. As she mounted and headed towards the mountains, she saw several lights had come on at Mrs. Watson’s house at the opposite end of town. For a moment, she hesitated, wondering if she should ask the older woman for help, but then quickly dismissed the idea. Not only was Emma Watson useless in a crisis, she would delight in spreading gossip about Ruby’s disappearance.

She shook her head and continued on towards the mountains.

The snow continued to fall, but every now and then it would thin enough to let a hint of moonlight peek through the clouds. As she started up the pass, she realized that the trail ahead of her was not as smooth and undisturbed as she had expected. She could see hoof prints and what looked like sleigh tracks marking the surface of the snow. Her feeling of apprehension suddenly increased. What if she had been wrong? What if it hadn’t been one of the strangers at the dance?

What if it hadn’t been a man—a human man—who took her at all? Callum seemed so honorable and Artek had asked for Nelly’s hand in marriage, but what if all the aliens on the ranch weren’t like them? No one even knew exactly how many aliens lived there. She almost hesitated, then bit her lip and urged Sally onwards. If one of the alien males had taken her sister, all the more reason to get to the ranch. Even if Callum wouldn’t help her, she couldn’t believe that Nelly would put up with such a thing.

The climb up the pass seemed to take forever, the snowfall growing heavier as she huddled into her cloak and leaned further forward over Sally’s withers. The horse moved steadily up the pass, despite the increasing depth of the snow. When they finally reached the top of the pass, the snow was falling too heavily for her to see very far down the valley. It doesn’t matter. All I have to do is follow the river, she told herself. She knew that the main ranch house was located next to the river, farther down the valley.

“Not much longer now,” she whispered to Sally. At least she hoped not.

They had only gone a short distance down the other side when two sharp cracks sounded. Sally tossed her head in the following silence, and then a tremendous roar split the night. A huge cloud of snow started to slide down the far side of the pass as terror turned her bones to water.

Avalanche.

“Go, Sally. Run!”

She urged Sally on, even though there was only so much the horse could do given the depth of the snow, as she looked around desperately for some type of protection. There was a big rectangular building to one side of the pass, and she directed the horse towards it. The roar increased until it deafened her. The edge of the snow cloud reached them, pelting them with icy drops.

Sally stumbled and Pearl slid out of the saddle, fighting her way to the horse’s head and tugging her towards where she had last seen the building. More snow surrounded them and she could barely see, but she kept going. The two of them pushed blindly through the snow until a final tremble shook the ground and knocked her off her feet, Sally going down next to her. The world disappeared into a swirling haze of white.

CHAPTER 5

C allum swore as he emerged from the upper line of trees and found himself on a rocky plateau. Night had long since fallen, but he had refused to abandon his search. Now he had no choice. The mountain continued upwards to a distant peak, but there was no more vegetation and nowhere to hide. The blasts of wind from the increasingly violent gusts blew away most of the snow as quickly as it landed. There was nothing left to track.

He looked up at the peak again, but he couldn’t see any point in continuing to try and follow a nonexistent trail. Once the storm passed and Drakkar returned, he would send his brother to search.

There had been enough signs in the woods that he was convinced someone had been present, but the fact that they had scurried away so quickly helped to reassure him. He was not inclined to ignore the threat, but he was at least prepared to believe that whoever it had been did not present any active danger to the ranch or its occupants. Perhaps some human lived up here among the heights, a recluse just as Josiah had been, but a far less obvious one.

Right now, his priority was to make his way back down to the pass and see if his brothers had returned. If not, then he would continue on his way towards the town. Under the circumstances, he didn’t relish the thought of the journey, and he hoped that his brothers had also been discouraged by the worsening storm. But if they had not returned, he would continue on into Wainwright. He assumed they would seek shelter for the night in the office building the ranch owned and he could join them there.

He began to second-guess that decision as he made his way back down the mountainside. Although the trees provided some shelter, the visibility dwindled as the strength of the storm increased. Even his enhanced vision couldn’t penetrate the clouds of swirling white, and it took him much longer than it should have done to return to the storage building. He was still in the woods when he heard two sharp cracks. Explosions, he recognized at once—not a natural phenomenon. There was a moment of almost breathless silence, the only sound the howl of the wind, and then a deafening roar echoed across the valley.

Fuck. He recognized that sound from his youth. An avalanche.

He abandoned his cautious descent in the interest of speed. What had his brothers done? He had absolutely no doubt that the explosions he’d heard had set off the avalanche. Dismay filled him as he finally emerged from the tree line behind the storage building and saw the pass had been blocked by a wall of snow. There was only one reason he could think of why Endark—and it must have been Endark—would have set off that type of controlled explosion. They had intended to block the pass—which undoubtedly meant that they had in fact retrieved their brides and brought them back to the ranch.

Guilt filled him. He had promised Artek and Nelly that he would stop the bride hunt, but he was too late, delayed by his fruitless search. All he could do now was to return to the main house and report his failure.

Fortunately, the storage building was still standing, and he couldn’t help admiring Endark’s skill with explosives, even though he shuddered to think how easily it could have gone wrong. The winds dropped as he made his way back towards the building, but so much snow had fallen that even he had difficulty making his way through the tall drifts. He was almost at the doors when he heard a whinny of distress coming from the far side.

He hurried around the warehouse, shocked to see a horse half-buried in the snow and struggling to stand. For a startled moment he wondered if his horse had found its way out of the stables, but then he realized he didn’t recognize the animal. Had the stranger he’d been tracking arrived on horseback? But if so, why hadn’t he seen it before? He was sure there hadn’t been a horse present when he set off on his mission.

Regardless of where it had come from, he couldn’t leave the animal there to suffer. He made his way to it through the snow, murmuring reassuringly as its struggles increased as he approached.

“Don’t worry. I won’t hurt you. Let’s see if we can get you out of there.”

The horse’s reins were loose around its head and it had obviously been carrying a rider, but where was the rider? If it had been whoever he was tracking, where could they be? He looked at the wall of snow blocking the pass again and cursed. If a human had been injured, there would be hell to pay. He yanked on the reins as the horse made another valiant attempt to rise, and this time it managed to stand, shaking away the weight of the snow across its hindquarters and revealing a small huddled figure at its side.

Fuck, no. There had been someone riding the horse, but it looked like a child. What had he been doing up here alone? He reached for the still figure, already dreading what he would find, and discovered that the rider wasn’t a child after all but a small female. Quickly digging away the rest of the snow around her, he pulled her body free and pushed back her cloak to check for any signs of life.

No! A fiery streak of agony pierced his chest as he recognized the pale, cold face. Pearl. What was she doing here? A mindless fury began to gather beneath the pain. If one of his brothers had caused her death, he would never be able to forgive them.

He pulled her closer, resting his forehead against hers as one of the tears he hadn’t shed since he was a child made its way down his face. But then he felt it—the slightest puff of air against his wet cheek.

She’s alive!

He had to get her to shelter immediately, and he quickly rose with his precious burden in his arms. Her horse whinnied softly, and he decided that a pocket of air must have been trapped between them, providing enough air to allow her to breathe despite the snow covering her.

“Follow me,” he ordered the horse as he made his way back around the building to the stable end. Opening the door proved difficult with his arms full of soft human and the wind trying to tear it out of his grasp, but somehow he managed to get them all inside and close the door.

The small space was noticeably warmer, simply from the heat of his horse’s body. The walls were well insulated and there was an under-floor heating element, although it was only designed to stop the goods being stored there from freezing, not to provide enough heat for habitation. He pulled down enough hay to protect Pearl from the hard floor and then gently laid her down. Her eyes were still closed and her face pale.

He didn’t have any formal training, but he’d spent more than enough time on the battlefield to know how to check for basic injuries. His first concern was frostbite. He pulled off the thick gloves covering her hands and saw no sign of the discoloration that would indicate damage. Her feet too had been protected inside the heavy boots and several layers of socks. He paused for a moment, cradling a ridiculously small foot in his hand. So impossibly fragile… What could have driven her to attempt this reckless journey?

Once he was satisfied her feet were warm, he pulled her socks back on and then began a quick but thorough check of her other extremities. Everything seemed to be intact. He even ran his fingers through the soft silk of her hair but didn’t find any wounds. He suspected that she was unconscious more from shock than from an actual injury.

Should he try and get her to the ranch?

The storm had increased again. He could hear it howling around outside the building, and he didn’t think he could subject her to those conditions. Hopefully, she would regain consciousness before the storm played itself out.

Decision made, he covered her with his cloak as well as her own, then quickly removed the gear from both horses and wiped down the new one. It touched noses with his horse and seemed content enough to occupy its own stall as he returned to Pearl. After a brief hesitation, he settled down in the hay next to her, then lifted her into his arms.

Only for warmth, he assured himself, but couldn’t deny the satisfaction of holding her in his arms. Her lush curves felt as right against him now as they had during that first brief encounter. He cradled her against his chest, making sure that both their cloaks were tucked around those tiny feet, and set himself to keep watch. He didn’t expect any danger, but he would never take a chance with her safety.

CHAPTER 6

P earl could still hear the sound of the blizzard beating at the walls of her house, and she tried to snuggle deeper into her covers. But then she realized that despite the warmth surrounding her, she wasn’t in her bed. Rather she was cradled against a muscular chest—a very large, muscular chest. Her eyes flew open in instinctive panic only to find Callum staring down at her. Relief washed over her.

“Callum,” she murmured, smiling, but then the rest of her memories resurfaced and she started to struggle upright. “You have to help me. My sister was taken, and I think it might have been someone here on the ranch.”

“Hush,” he said soothingly in his deep voice as he helped her to sit up. He kept her cradled against him, and despite the gentleness of his grip, she was well aware that it would be impossible to escape him. A shiver of unease ran down her spine, but she forced herself to remain still.

“Your sister,” he echoed. “So that’s why…”

“Why what?”

“Why you were out in this weather. How did you know it was one of my brothers?”

“I didn’t, at least not at first. I was coming to ask for your help.”

He looked surprised, but also oddly pleased.

“Of course I would help you. But you said at first?”

“As I was coming up the pass I saw the tracks—hoofprints and what looked like sleigh runners—and I couldn’t think of any other reason why they might be there. But why, Callum? Why would someone take my sister?”

He sighed and looked over her head.

“Nelly told us a tale from your history. About soldiers who returned from war to find that there were no females left for them. A wise man told them to go to a nearby town and claim their brides while they were happy and dancing.”

The story sounded vaguely familiar, but she frowned at him. “I think I remember that, but it was just a story. I’m not even sure if it was based on an actual historical event.”

“Nelly said the same thing when she found out what they had done—”

“They?” She suddenly remembered the lights at Emma Watson’s house. “How many were there? How many women did they steal?”

“Only two,” he said, then winced. “I know that even two is too many. Once we understood I set out after them, but I was… detained.”

“Detained? You mean you could have stopped this?”

“I don’t know—they were considerably ahead of me—but I intended to try.”

“But you found something more important to do?” she asked bitterly. She had come to him for help, but he had already known what would happen and he hadn’t prevented it.

“I saw signs of an intruder on the ranch, and I made the decision to go after them.” He sighed. “I thought it was the right decision, but I’m sorry that I could not prevent your sister from being taken.”

Her anger leached away with his apology. She fought back the urge to bury her head against that broad chest and give in to tears.

“You said two of your companions went to town? Who were they?”

“Benjar and Endark.” He frowned. “Drakkar accompanied them, but he was not looking for a bride. I’m afraid that one of them may have taken your sister, but I don’t know which one of them.”

“You have to help me find her,” she said urgently.

“I will,” he promised. “But there’s nothing we can do until the storm passes.”

“What if she’s out in the storm? Or if someone tries to… hurt her?”

“None of my brothers would ever hurt a female,” he assured her. “They may have acted recklessly, but I promise you that their intentions were honorable.”

“Then they are very unlike human men,” she said, her bitterness returning. Was he speaking the truth? Or were his companions simply as good at hiding their cruelty as her husband had been? “Maybe you don’t know them that well.”

“Pearl, we fought together for years. I have seen them injured, starving, and desperate. I know them. They are my brothers. I promise she is safe with whoever took her.”

“And you’re sure they’re here, in the valley?”

For the second time, he looked away from her for a moment before sighing.

“I believe so. I suspect that the avalanche was a deliberate attempt to prevent anyone from following them.”

“You mean to trap the women here?”

“I’m afraid so.”

“That doesn’t sound very honorable to me.”

“Do you remember the rest of the story that Nelly told us?”

“Not really.”

“She said that in the spring the men of the town came after the soldiers’ stolen brides, but none of the brides wanted to return. I suspect that my brothers also wanted that time to convince their brides to stay.”

“But Ruby is too young to be a bride,” she protested automatically.

He frowned down at her. “She appeared to be a fully grown female. Is that not correct?”

“Well, yes, I suppose,” she said reluctantly. “But she doesn’t have any experience with life.”

He hesitated for a moment and then said gently, “It is hard to accept that those we love have become adults. I became Artek’s tutor when he was a child, and I did not believe that he was ready to become a commander. But I followed him anyway and quickly realized that he no longer needed my assistance.”

“But you trained Artek,” she protested. “I didn’t train Ruby. I just wanted her to be happy.”

“Perhaps that is the best training of all.”

The sympathy in his voice penetrated her defenses, and she had an unexpected desire to burst into tears. Once again, she was tempted to lean against him and take comfort in his presence, but she refused to allow herself that weakness.

“How long do you think the storm will last?”

“I don’t know. We had several lengthy periods of snow last winter, but it is still early in the year,” he added hastily when she flinched.

They might be snowed in for an extended period of time? For the first time, she looked around at her surroundings. They were seated on one side of a small stable area, and a row of small lights at floor-level provided enough illumination for her to see Sally was in one of the stalls. A much larger horse that must have belonged to Callum occupied the other. The building seemed much smaller than it had appeared from the outside.

“Where are we?”

“This is a storage building. We use it to hold things that we intend to trade or sell. The majority of the space is through there.” He indicated a door in the wall opposite them. “But I was concerned because you were so cold and the horses help to keep this space warm.”

She shivered as she remembered that wall of snow surrounding her.

“How did you find me?” she asked, suddenly wondering what had happened after she fell unconscious.

“I was lucky,” he said grimly. “I spotted your horse and when I went to assist her, I found you as well. I suspect that her body shielded you and created a pocket of air which provided oxygen.”

She shivered again and his arms tightened around her, tugging her gently against his chest. She went willingly, but as she did, she suddenly realized that there was a very large, very hard ridge pressing against her thigh. An unreasoning panic speared her, and she immediately struggled to get up. This time he let her go, and she scrambled to her feet, wincing as her feet hit the cold ground.

“You should put your boots back on,” he said. “It will help to protect your feet from the cold.”

His voice was carefully neutral, and when she looked back over at him she saw a hint of sympathy on his face. Her panic had already begun to abate, but although she managed to smile, she had no intention of returning to his arms, no matter how comforting they had been.

“You’re right,” she agreed, pushing aside her fears and focusing on more practical matters. “And then maybe we should explore and see if there’s any food. It looks as though we’re going to be here for a while longer.”

CHAPTER 7

C allum remained seated against the wall as Pearl retrieved her boots. He wanted to assist her, or perhaps even suggest carrying her so that her small feet wouldn’t be exposed to the cold, but he did not wish to alarm her. He knew that her sudden flight had been due to the fact that she had realized that he was aroused, but there was absolutely nothing he could do about it. The feel of her lush body cradled in his arms had caused his shaft to stiffen into a full, aching erection.

After all these years of abstinence, he would have sworn that he was immune to female charms, but this small human female aroused the kind of desire he hadn’t felt in many years. Considering how that previous episode had ended should have been enough to soften him, but as he watched her bend over to put on her boots, the tight fabric of her pants clinging to every luscious curve, he accepted that only time would lessen his arousal.

Boots back on her feet, she turned and gave him a cautious smile. His heart ached at the hint of trepidation in her eyes. Did she find him so alien—so terrifying?

“I’m glad the horses are provided for, but I don’t really fancy eating hay,” she said. “Do you know if there is anything edible in the rest of the building?”

“I don’t remember the specifics, but some of the trade goods are food supplies.”

She put her hand on the door and then gave him a hesitant look.

“Go ahead,” he said.

Moving as slowly as possible, he rose to his feet. He saw her eyes widen, and his heart ached again. He hated the thought that she seemed so wary of him. He hadn’t seen the same concern in her eyes before, but then again, there had been other people around during their previous encounters.

“What I said about my brothers is true for me as well. I would never hurt you.”

“I know,” she said but despite her words, he could see a shadow of doubt remained on her face.

He suspected that it would take more than words to convince her, but perhaps the storm would provide time for her to learn to trust him. She gave him a shaky smile and then opened the door, shivering as the much colder air from the warehouse rushed in. Caution only went so far. He picked up both the cloaks and swung them around her shoulders before he stepped back.

“Thank you.” Her smile seemed more genuine as she peered into the dimness of the warehouse. “I don’t suppose you have lights?”

He returned to her side, still moving slowly so as not to startle her and pressed the switch for the supplemental lighting. The dim, floor level lights illuminated the rows of tall racks lining each side of the building.

“I know it’s not much, but the generator is very limited.”

“What else does the generator do?”

“It keeps this main space above freezing.”

“Not by much I suspect.” She gave him a rueful smile as she tugged the cloaks closer around her neck, then immediately looked apologetic and tried to give him back his cloak. “Here. I don’t need both of them.”

“Yes, you do. The human body is very fragile.”

“Fragile?” She laughed. “I don’t think anyone has ever called me that before.”

“You are as far as I’m concerned. And my vow not to harm you includes protecting you from other kinds of harm.”

She gave him an oddly thoughtful look, but didn’t respond. Instead, she began making her way down the central aisle, studying the racks to each side.

“These are all items you are preparing to trade?”

“Yes. We had considered taking them to market this fall, but decided to wait until we had filled the space before arranging for transport.”

Because of the isolated position of the ranch and the relatively primitive conditions on Cresca, the most frequent means of transportation was simply horse and wagon. It was effective, but it was slow. Air transportation was much more efficient; however, they would not be able to justify the expense unless they were sure to make a profit. In the end, they had decided to give it another season. The ranch provided everything they needed to live. The trade goods would simply provide credits for any additional luxuries.

“What are you intending to trade?”

“We have a good deal of wool from the first shearing,” he said, stopping by the rows of neatly bundled fleeces. “And no use for the wool. We have been discussing whether or not to fly it to Port Cantor or to try trading it in Wainwright. Assuming that the townspeople are willing to trade with us.”

She tilted her head to one side as if considering, then nodded. “I imagine they will. A desire for profit tends to overcome most prejudices.” She ran a hand along some of the bundles. “You know, this would be more profitable if it were processed. If you invested some of your proceeds in a spinning machine, the yarn would be easier to transport as well.”

It was an excellent suggestion, and he wondered if Frantor could turn his considerable mechanical skills towards the creation of such a machine.

“Thank you for the suggestion. Have you done much trading?”

She shook her head. “No, but my… husband was involved in several businesses and I heard him talking about them.”

He noted that she gave no indication that her husband had actually discussed his business with her. He also noticed the constraint on her face when she mentioned him. Nelly had told him that Pearl’s husband had died three years ago, but although she had little else to say, she gave him the impression that it had not been a happy marriage. What kind of male would not have appreciated and cherished such a desirable female?

“Did you raise the sheep?” she asked, changing the subject.

He shook his head.

“Although we all helped with the shearing, Endark is primarily responsible for their care.”

“Endark. Isn’t he one of the ones who went to town?” When he nodded, she sighed. “Somehow, I can’t see my sister as a sheep farmer, although she does love baby animals. What does Benjar do?”

Gets into trouble, he thought immediately, but that wasn’t fair to his mischievous brother.

“A number of different things. Lately he has been of great assistance to Nelly in working on the main ranch house.”

To his relief, her face lightened. “If he took her there, then I know Nelly will take care of her.”

He decided not to mention the fact that both Endark and Benjar had been working on their own cabins.

“Unfortunately, these won’t fill our stomachs,” she said, looking at the fleeces. “What else do you have in here?”

“I suspect Gilmat’s contribution will be more useful.”

He led her along the shadowy aisle to the food supplies. Neat rows of barrels contained fruits and vegetables packed in straw to protect them, along with bags of grain. Overhead, strings of dried fruit hung from the storage racks. He opened one of the barrels and pulled out two pieces of fruit and handed her one. She bit into it, then gave an appreciative moan.

“Oh my goodness. I don’t think I’ve ever had such a delicious apple.”

“Gilmat has a talent for working with plants. We were also considering selling these in town in the spring.”

“I’m sure they will do very well. Everyone is ready for something fresh by the time spring rolls around, and these taste like they were just picked. Are you sure it’s all right if we eat them?”

“Of course. We all know what it is like to be hungry.”

A small amount of dried meat hung from another rack, but the rest of the warehouse was empty.

“What’s through there?” she asked, pointing to the door at the far end.

“An unheated storage area. Eventually we will use it as a freezer but right now we are using it to store anything Josiah left behind that might be useful.” He hesitated. “There is a small sanitary facility there as well.”

She winced. “Also unheated?”

“I am afraid so, but the receptacle does not use water so it will still function.”

“I suppose that’s better than trekking through the snow to an outhouse,” she said, and smiled up at him.

Relieved by her approval, he led the way back to the food supplies. Together they examined the contents of the rest of the barrels. She gave a barrel of potatoes a regretful look.

“It’s a shame we don’t have a fire. We could roast the potatoes.”

He wouldn’t have hesitated to eat them raw, but perhaps human stomachs were not as sturdy. Also, a warm meal would undoubtedly make her feel more comfortable. And speaking of comfort…

“I’ve been thinking,” he said tentatively. “While the stable section is warmer, it is not perhaps the most desirable environment. I thought I could use the fleeces to section off a small area in here for you to rest.”

“What about you?”

“I know that you are not entirely at ease in my presence. I will remain with the horses.”

Another expression he couldn’t read passed across her face, and then she stepped forward and put her small hand on his arm. The touch of her hand sent a wave of arousal through his body, but he did his best not to react.

“I’m sorry. It’s not you—in fact, I trust you more than I have trusted anyone in a long time. But I have had… issues in the past.”

A growl rose to his throat at her confirmation of Nelly’s suspicions, but he managed to choke it back. He did not want to frighten her.

“Maybe we can make a space big enough for both of us?” she added tentatively.

Her fingers trembled, and he automatically covered them with his own. “Of course. But it will be your space. I will not enter unless you ask me to.”

“All right,” she agreed, and her hand turned beneath his to clasp it briefly. “It’s a deal.”

CHAPTER 8

P earl sank down into the makeshift shelter that Callum had created with a sigh of relief. She hadn’t realized until that moment how tired she felt. His plan had worked surprisingly well. The thick layer of fleeces beneath her prevented the cold from the concrete floor from seeping into her bones. He had stacked another row against the outer wall to provide additional insulation there. He had also found three buffalo robes in the unheated storage area, and she remembered that Josiah had kept a herd of the hybrid animals. One of the skins covered the bottom layer of fleeces, and he designated a second one as a blanket. He had rigged the third one a few feet above her head to create a kind of tent roof to help trap the heat.

But his most ingenious invention was directly in front of her. He had used an old-fashioned oil lamp to create a makeshift fireplace. Using some spare pieces of the metal sheathing that had been used to cover the building, he made a three-sided enclosure around the lamp and then covered the top with more of the metal. The enclosure helped reflect heat back into the shelter and they could use the top as a type of makeshift oven. Potatoes rested on one side, while a metal container filled with a mixture of dried meat and water simmered on the other. It wouldn’t be a fast cooking process, but she was already anticipating having something warm to eat.

His ingenuity was both surprising and slightly alarming. Watching how easily he had bent the stiff metal of the sheathing made her all too conscious of his strength, but another long-hidden part of her actually enjoyed seeing the muscles in those strong arms flex.

Even though she’d had little time for boys during her teenage years, she had not been immune to their attractions. She had come to her marriage bed as a virgin, and she had shyly hoped for tenderness and affection. She hadn’t found it. Instead, she discovered the cruelty that William hid behind his charming smile. He laughed at her protests and gripped her more tightly, his eyes gleaming with pleasure at her tears.

Long after he had fallen asleep, she stared into the darkness trying to decide what to do. How could she have been so wrong about him? Even though there were few opportunities for young, unmarried women in Wainwright, she might have found the courage to leave him if she’d been on her own, but there was Ruby to consider. She had promised her sister a home and she was determined to provide her with one. She decided to stay.

During the hellish years that followed, she had learned that the less she responded to him, the less she showed her fear and disgust, the more quickly he grew bored. When he moved on to other women, all she felt was gratitude. Although she had no doubt that many of the men in town were aware of his infidelities, he was conscious enough of his position in the community to keep them discreet.

But the marriage had left marks that went far beyond the ones he left on her skin. She had been so terribly wrong about him, and she no longer trusted her judgment when it came to men. At least not human men. Was Callum different? He seemed to be, but was that only because she hadn’t known him long enough to discover his darker side? Or was he actually the solemn, protective warrior he seemed to be?

She looked over at him as he crouched on the other side of their makeshift fire, staring down at the glow of the lamp. His body remained in his usual stiff, military posture, but there was something about the set of his shoulders and the look on his face that made her wonder if he felt as tired as she did. That hint of vulnerability helped convince her.

The fact that he wasn’t human actually helped. Maybe he could help her get past the lingering fear and shame. She vowed to try.

The area he had prepared for her wasn’t large, but there would be room for two of them.

“Why don’t you join me?” she asked softly, gathering her courage.

He looked up immediately, green eyes glowing, but then he shook his head.

“I told you I would sleep with the horses.”

“You… you don’t have to. I trust you.”

The words came out with more certainty than she’d expected, but he still hesitated. She gave him a small encouraging nod.

“Otherwise, it would make more sense for both of us to smell like horses.”

He looked startled, and then seemed to realize she was teasing him because he returned her smile. He rose to his feet, looming even larger in the semidarkness, and her heart skipped a beat. William had been nowhere near as big, but it hadn’t stopped him from inflicting pain on her. How much worse would it be if Callum turned out not to be the male she thought he was? She did her best not to flinch, but she gripped the hide so tightly that her knuckles turned white, and he took a step back.

“You do not need to worry about me. I will go to the stable.”

“Wait.” She bit her lip, trying to decide what to say. “I meant what I said—I do trust you, but I have a history and sometimes my body reacts automatically.”

“Who hurt you?”

Unable to face him, she stared down at her hands. She knew that William’s attacks had never been because of anything she did, and yet she still felt responsible.

“My husband,” she said at last.

“But he is dead?”

“Yes, but I… remember.”

“For your sake, I am glad that he is dead, but I wish I could have had the privilege of teaching him the errors of his ways.”

His voice was a low growl. When she looked up, his fists were clenched and she could see the rage behind his carefully controlled expression. The fact that his anger was on her behalf helped to reassure her, and she unclenched her hand and patted the buffalo skin next to her.

“Please, sit down.”

This time he obeyed, moving very slowly and keeping his eyes on her face. She kept her own gaze locked on his as he grew closer and managed not to react until he was seated next to her. He was still far, far larger than her, but he was far less alarming sitting there than standing over her. The space was tight enough that she could feel the heat emanating from his body, and she had the sudden urge to put her cold hands on him. He seemed to put out almost as much heat as the small lamp.

He returned to contemplating their makeshift stove. The water in the pot was barely simmering, and he shook his head.

“This is going to take some time.”

“It’s not as if we seem to be going anywhere,” she said dryly and he flashed her a quick smile.

The smile transformed his normally solemn face, and her breath caught. She had thought him attractive before, but when he smiled he was startlingly attractive.

“Have you ever been married?”

The words came out before she thought about them and she immediately regretted them. His smile vanished.

“No.”

The abrupt denial was clearly intended to end the conversation, but she couldn’t help probing. William had always said that her curiosity was one of her besetting sins—usually when she wanted to know why he’d been out all night—but somehow he hadn’t managed to quell the impulse completely.

“Why not? You’re strong and protective and handsome.”

His head swiveled back in her direction. “You find me attractive, despite our differences?”

“Of course I do.”

How could he doubt it? Unless… She had thought the attraction was mutual, but perhaps not.

“Am I too different?” she asked softly.

“You’re the most beautiful female I have ever seen.” His eyes glowed as he studied her face. “Your hair is like the underside of a jaha’s wing, and your skin is like winter sunlight on new snow. And your lips…” His eyes focused on her mouth. “Your lips are like the perla berries that grow in the secret places in the woods behind my mother’s land. I have often wondered if they taste as sweet as they look.”

His voice dropped on the last sentence, and she wondered if he’d even intended to say it out loud. Her eyes dropped to the firm, sensual line of his mouth and she licked her lips.

“Would you like to find out?”

This time, his hands clenched in the buffalo robe and she heard the faint rending of fabric.

“I do not want to frighten you.” he said, and she understood that he would not approach her.

Remembering her vow, she rose to her knees and put her hands on his shoulders. He was as warm as she had anticipated, the heat of his body seeping into her hands despite his uniform.

“You are still cold—” he began, but she didn’t let him finish.

Instead, she leaned forward the final few inches and pressed her mouth against his. Oh, Lord, he tasted good. She slipped her tongue between his parted lips, almost groaning at the wet, delicious heat that awaited her. She licked shyly at his tongue—much larger than hers with an odd nubbed pattern—and then she realized he wasn’t responding. His shoulders had turned to stone beneath her hands. Did he not like kissing?

Her cheeks flaming, she started to draw back, and as she did, her knee caught in the loose buffalo skin and she fell forward against his body. He automatically reached out to catch her, and she found herself pressed against him—and against his massive erection once again. Apparently, he had enjoyed the kiss just as much as she had. She leaned back and he immediately released her, but she only put a few inches between them.

“Why didn’t you kiss me back?”

“I do not wish to alarm you.”

“Alarm me by kissing me?” Was there something dangerous about his kiss?

“With my hunger.” A big hand closed across her bottom and very gently, very quickly brought her back against his erection before releasing her. “I want you very much.”

“I… I’m not ready for that.”

“Of course. And perhaps it is not a good idea.”

Despite his denial, the hunger on his face remained unchanged and oddly, that gave her confidence. As much as he wanted her, he would not force her.

“Would it be all right if I kissed you again? Just kissing,” she added hastily.

“You may do anything you wish.”

She knew it was reckless, but she didn’t care. She leaned forward and kissed him again, and this time she encouraged him to respond, teasing at his tongue and nipping lightly on his bottom lip. With a groan, he obeyed, responding with a passion that left her breathless and clinging to him. Her hands were digging into his shoulders, and her body was pressed flush against his, her aching nipples reveling in the pressure of his muscular chest before she finally came to her senses. He had remained in the same position throughout the kiss, but she could see his body shaking from the effort to remain in control.

She bit her lip and reluctantly returned to her former position. As she did, she looked at him and realized she could actually see the rigid outline of his cock, throbbing beneath the fabric of his uniform.

“I’m sorry. It’s not fair for me to tease you.”

“You have no reason to apologize. I am honored by your trust.”

She was quite sure that a human man would not be so foregoing, but she didn’t say it out loud. She didn’t want him to think that she was comparing him—even favorably—to a human.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, and despite the electricity still arcing between them, it was a comfortable silence.

“Your hands were cold,” he said at last, and she gave a startled laugh.

“That’s what you noticed?”

“I noticed everything, but I am ashamed to admit that I did not realize you were chilled until just now.”

“My hands are usually cold in the winter time. And my feet.”

“They do not need to be.” He hesitated. “I warmed them earlier. May I?”

When she nodded, he lifted her onto his lap. It wasn’t what she had expected, but it was the same position she’d been in when she awoke, and it was definitely warmer. He reached down and removed her boots, and cupped both her feet in one huge hand, heat immediately radiating into her cold toes and she sighed with pleasure.

“That feels so good.”

“Your feet are so small.” He seemed fascinated with them. “Like those of a child.”

“I’m a long way from being a child.”

He looked up from her feet to her face, his eyes glowing.

“I am quite aware that you are not a child.”

He unfastened part of his uniform shirt, then gathered both of her hands in his other hand and pressed them against his bare skin. Once again, she wanted to moan with pleasure.

“Now rest and warm yourself. I will keep an eye on our meal.”

“I know you’re tired as well,” she protested.

“Rest,” he ordered, ignoring her protests.

Bossy male, she thought with a hidden smile. At least his orders were based on her well-being rather than for his own benefit. She closed her eyes and snuggled closer.

CHAPTER 9

O nce again, Callum found himself unexpectedly content to be holding his female in his arms. No. Not my female. But that didn’t mean he couldn’t enjoy this moment while it lasted. She had relaxed against him, not asleep, he suspected, but limp and trusting in his arms and her relaxation gave him a great deal of satisfaction.

It will not last, he reminded himself. As soon as she recovered her sister, she would be returning to the human town. Although, as he listened to the wind howling outside, he wondered how quickly that would occur. And what if Benjar or Endark was successful in claiming her as their bride? If her sister chose to stay, would she stay as well?

Perhaps she would be amenable to remaining with him under the circumstances, but he didn’t want her staying because of her ties to another. And he had no way to guarantee that she would remain with him, not even the hope of the mating bond that ensured a Harkatan male and female remained together. Not that such a bond had been successful in his case, of course, and he wondered once again how he had been so blind.

But perhaps he could enjoy this time with Pearl for what it was—and perhaps he could even help her erase the fear that still lingered in her eyes. If only she weren’t so fragile, he thought, looking down at the tiny toes.

“You’re playing with my feet again.” Her voice was a low, sleepy murmur.

“I find them fascinating,” he said truthfully. “I find it difficult to believe you could even walk through the snow on such small appendages.”

“I can walk just fine. Although admittedly, I did start off riding. I didn’t climb down from Sally until the avalanche came.”

She shivered, and he instinctively gathered her closer, although he suspected her reaction was from the memory rather than the cold. For a moment, she seemed to tense, but she quickly resumed her previous relaxed posture.

“I’ve been thinking,” she said slowly. “That wall of snow isn’t going away anytime soon, is it?”

Her question echoed his own thoughts, and he sighed.

“I suspect not.”

“So you don’t think anyone could cross it? If not on horse then on foot?”

“Not on these feet,” he said firmly, squeezing her toes. “And I am not sure about a horse. It would depend on whether the snow is packed solid. Crossing unknown territory can be dangerous.”

“You sound as if you’re speaking from experience.”

“When I was a child, I spent time in the mountains during the winter.”

“On your planet? What is it called?”

There was no reason not to tell her, and yet he still found himself hesitating.

“Harkatan,” he said at last. “But I have not seen it in a long time. I left there at a young age, and I have never returned.”

“Is Artek from there as well?”

“No,” he said shortly. “He is from Kember. His father hired me to train him in the ways of a warrior.”

She looked up at him, but before she could ask the question he could see on her face, he lifted her off his lap and tucked the rug around her feet.

“That should keep them warm. I’m going to check on our food.”

The makeshift stove had worked well enough that the outer part of the potatoes was cooked and the simmering soup was at least edible.

“I can see that we need to start cooking much earlier tomorrow,” Pearl said thoughtfully, and gave him an uncertain look. “Or do you think the storm will be over by then?”

He hesitated. He did not want to lie to her, but he had no reason to think that the storm was abating. He remembered uneasily how long some of the storms had lasted the previous winter.

“It seems to have settled in.”

To his relief, she only nodded.

“I don’t think we get the same type of blizzards that you do, but even in town we have snowstorms that last for several days.” She sighed. “I wouldn’t even mind if it weren’t for Ruby. This is the first time I’ve been separated from her for more than a day or two since she was a baby.”

“What happened to your mother?”

“She was never very healthy, and after Ruby was born she just seemed to get weaker and weaker. I did everything I could to care for her.”

“My mother was an invalid as well.” The response came before he remembered he had decided not to reveal anything about his background.

“I’m sorry. Was that the reason you left Harkatan?”

He winced, knowing it was his own fault that he had opened this sypod’s nest.

“It was not the only reason, but it was a factor.”

He had been close to his mother, too close according to his brother and father, but he enjoyed spending time with her, reading to her and trying to tempt her to eat. After she died, he had felt lost and alone—an ideal candidate for Kurva’s manipulative ways. Of course, he hadn’t realized that at the time. He’d simply been flattered that such a pretty young female had been interested in him and had been willing to spend time with him while he grieved. When she declared that she felt a mate bond happening between them, he had been overjoyed and ready to move on from his grief.

Unfortunately, her protestations had been false. When they returned to the capital, she had quickly realized that his older brother’s position and status made him a much more desirable mate. His brother had been all too happy to steal her away from the younger brother he despised.

Callum had found them in bed together. Kurva had only laughed at his outrage, holding up her arm to show him the expensive bracelets sparkling on her wrists. His brother smirked at him, equally unashamed.

“You didn’t really expect her to be satisfied with you, did you?”

He lost control and attacked his brother, lowering his horns and attacking his own kin. He was so used to thinking of himself as younger and weaker, that he expected it to be a pointless battle. He’d almost hoped that it would be—better the physical pain than the agony searing through his chest. But he had spent his spare time on his mother’s estate training and while still not at his full weight, his muscles were lean and hard and he was on the verge of killing his brother when Kurva finally managed to make him stop.

He looked down and saw the distress—the genuine distress—on her face and recognized the glow of a true mating mark over her heart. His brother sported a matching mark. Whatever their intentions had been, their bond was genuine.

He let his brother’s limp body fall to the floor, and he turned around and walked out. He left Harkatan that day, immediately joining the Alliance forces. He had occasionally wondered, especially in those first early years, if they had been happy together. He knew from his own experience with his mother and his father that a bond did not ensure happiness. But it was a tie, a permanent tie between two people, and he envied that certainty.

Pearl didn’t ask any more questions, and they ate in silence. He had put another container full of snow on the stove and left it to melt and heat while they ate. After they finished, she blushed and started pulling on her boots.

“I need to use the facility.”

He nodded and rose, his chest aching when he saw her flinch.

“I will bring the water for you.”

She nodded, the color in her cheeks deepening, and then she took a deep breath and held up her hand to him.

“Will you help me up?”

He took her hand and carefully assisted her to her feet, pleased when she didn’t immediately jump away from the brief contact, although he reluctantly let his hand drop as soon as she was standing. He carried the bucket to the sanitary facility, letting her follow him.

“Thank you,” she said softly before she closed the door.

He hesitated, then returned to their small shelter, suppressing the urge to growl. He hated the thought of her small body subject to the chilly environment. She deserved so much more.

One of the winter pleasures on his planet was the hot springs high in the mountains. He could easily envision her rising from one of the pools of heated water, her skin pink and glowing amidst the rising steam. His cock immediately began to stiffen at the image. Fuck. His body was reacting as if he were an untried adolescent instead of a seasoned warrior.

He tried to think about the storm surrounding them instead, but the icy pellets he could hear hitting the building had little effect on his overeager body and in the end, he abandoned the attempt. She had already noticed his desire for her.

Oddly enough, she seemed less frightened by that then by him standing over her, or making a sudden movement. Slow and careful, he reminded himself, and crouched down next to the fire. He remained there until she returned, her cheeks still pink.

“I left the water, but it’s already getting cold. You may want to heat it again.”

He smiled up at her, remaining seated.

“Cold water does not bother me.”

She smiled back. “I suppose soldiers have to be used to hardships. I’m more used to the comforts of town life.”

“There are many types of hardships. The lack of physical necessities is only one of them, and I suspect the easiest to endure.”

She gave him a startled look as she resumed her position on the pallet of fleeces, but didn’t respond. Keeping his eyes on her face, he rose slowly to his feet and then went to take his turn. He refilled the bucket with snow before he returned and placed it on top of their makeshift stove.

“You should get some rest.”

“I suppose so.” She looked beyond him at the dimly lit building and shivered. “It seems like it’s been night forever.”

“It is still dark outside,” he assured her. There were translucent panels in the roof of the building but given the amount of snow, he wasn’t sure that any light would make its way through them even after it turned to day. “Rest,” he repeated.

She yawned, her mouth opening into a perfect little circle and causing his cock to jerk. Fortunately, his position should conceal his reaction. But perhaps his face was not as composed as it should have been because she blushed again when her eyes opened and she saw him watching her. She hesitated, then scooted a little further back on the mattress.

“Would you mind warming my feet again?”

“Of course not,” he responded, reminding himself not to startle her in his eagerness to comply.

He kept his head down as he circled to her side, and then wondered if he’d made a mistake when he saw her gaze fastened on his horns.

“Do all of your people have horns?” she asked, but she seemed curious rather than afraid. “Both men and women?”

“Yes,” he said, settling in beside her. “But a female’s horns are smaller.” He very slowly lifted his hand and pressed his fingers lightly to her temple. “And they curve upward.”

The fine silk of her hair clung to his fingers, and he wanted to comb his hand through it as he had earlier, but he forced himself to drop his hand.

She was still looking at his horns.

“May I touch them?”

“Of course.”

He bent his head towards her, but instead of grasping the ridged surface as he’d expected, her small fingers curved around the base of one of his horns and a groan escaped before he could prevent it. She immediately released him.

“Did I hurt you?”

He shook his head, wanting to demand that she put her hand back.

“The base is… sensitive to touch.”

“Sensitive? Oh.” The color in her cheeks deepened as she understood his meaning. “I’m sorry.”

“Do not be sorry. I enjoy your hands on me.”

She bit her lip, her cheek still flushed, then very tentatively reached for him again. This time, she grasped both horns, gently circling the ridge of flesh at the base of each horn. He managed not to moan, but his eyes closed momentarily at the pleasure of her touch. Unfortunately, it was all too brief, her fingers moving away from the base and along the curved length to the sharp tips before she let her hands drop.

“Do you use them? When you fight, I mean?”

“Only rarely. In ancient times, they were used in combat, but now it is considered primitive.” Like the primitive impulse that had driven him to attack his brother.

Something must have shown on his face because she tilted her head to one side, studying him.

“Have you ever used them in combat?”

“Once. It was not an honorable impulse.”

“I don’t believe that,” she said, startling him. “I don’t believe you would ever act without honor.”

“Why would you say that?”

“I don’t really know,” she admitted. “But I meant what I said earlier. I do trust you, and I’d like to believe that my instincts are right. That there are men—males—who can be trusted.”

“There are,” he assured her as their eyes met. Her beautiful blue eyes didn’t glow like a Harkat female’s would, but he could still feel the connection between them. He could even believe she felt it as well. Don’t be foolish, he scolded himself. Remember that she is human and humans do not experience a mating bond. He reluctantly tore his gaze away.

“Now I believe you requested my foot warming services?”

“Yes please.”

Her voice was low and husky, and as she shifted position, he could see the stiffened peaks of her luscious breasts pressing against her shirt. She might not have been able to feel a mating bond, but she could obviously feel the same desire. He wanted to cup those soft mounds, to stroke his thumbs across those tempting peaks, but he forced his hands to remain at his side.

“May I hold you?”

She nodded, and he gently lifted her onto his lap, immediately curving his hand around her tiny feet. She sighed and snuggled closer. Her body tensed for a second as her ass brushed against his rigid cock, but then she relaxed, the soft flesh a delicious pressure against his aching flesh.

“I may go to sleep like this,” she warned him.

“I have no objection. Are your hands cold as well?”

She hesitated, then slipped them into his shirt where he had placed them earlier. They were not actually chilled this time, but he had absolutely no objection to her hands on his skin. He adjusted his position, leaning back against the rack that formed one wall of their shelter.

“Now rest.”

She gave a small sigh and obeyed.

CHAPTER 10

P earl awoke feeling warm and content. A dim glow filled the storage building, coming from the roof overhead. She decided it must be daytime even though she couldn’t see anything except for the heavy mass of white, and she could still hear the storm roaring around the building.

They had shifted position while she was asleep, and she was on her side, her head pillowed on Callum’s arm and his body wrapped around her from behind. His arm was a heavy weight across her ribs, tucked beneath her breasts, but the position didn’t bother her.

William never held her while she slept, and it triggered no unpleasant memories. Even the fact that she could feel Callum’s massive erection tucked against her ass didn’t frighten her. As far as she could tell, he seemed to be almost constantly erect, but he had never shown any indication that his obvious desire would overrule his control.

Was that part of the discipline he learned as a soldier, she wondered, then fought back a smile. Somehow, she didn’t believe that military training involved learning how to control an unruly cock.

But as comfortable as she was, her bladder indicated it was time to get up. The thought of another trip through the cold warehouse didn’t thrill her, but she reluctantly started to wiggle her way out of his embrace. As soon as she started to move, he jerked awake, rolling her over on her back and looming over her. She immediately panicked, her bones turning to water as she tried to suppress the instinctive urge to struggle.

“No,” she gasped.

His eyes widened and he immediately rolled away, a rush of cold air replacing the warmth of his body, and she shivered.

“Gods forgive me,” he muttered, and the horror on his face reassured her.

“It wasn’t your fault that I reacted like that.”

He growled, and she almost flinched, but his anger was clearly not directed at her.

“I find it intolerable that any female should be afraid.” He gave her an apologetic look. “I promise I will not hurt you.”

The momentary panic had eased enough that she gave him a tremulous smile. “I know. You really don’t have to keep telling me—it’s just that sometimes my body forgets.”

She could still see the anger on his face.

“Do you remember that I said last night that using our horns in combat is a primitive instinct? I would gladly have used them on that bastard of a husband.”

A startled laugh escaped her lips, and the last of her tension disappeared.

“I have an uneasy feeling that I wouldn’t have objected.”

His face finally lightened, and she smiled at him before reaching for her boots.

“Now if you’ll excuse me for a moment.”

He didn’t ask any questions but rose to his feet. Her heart ached a little as she saw how slowly and carefully he moved, obviously determined not to frighten her. Despite her protests, he insisted on carrying the bucket of simmering water to the facility for her. Because it had been on the stove longer, it was warm enough that she took the opportunity for a quick sponge bath. She was still shivering by the time she was through and she immediately hurried back to the shelter and wrapped the blanket around her.

Callum gave her an amused look. He was crouched by the stove again, stirring a pot of grain and dried fruit they had left to simmer while they slept.

“Why do I suspect that my feet warming talents will be requested again?”

She laughed. “It is a very useful skill.”

“And here I thought to be admired for my military prowess, not the warmth of my hands,” he said solemnly, and she laughed again.

Despite his stern expression, she could see the humor in his eyes and the hint of that attractive smile on his lips.

“You should smile more often,” she told him, and a shadow crossed his face.

“I have been told that I am lacking in humor.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. My guess is that you are usually in a position where you have to be serious. But now it’s just the two of us and you can relax.”

“You mean the two of us stranded in an isolated building in the middle of a blizzard? I’m not sure I would consider that relaxing.” But despite his objection, his face softened again.

“Things could be far worse. We have food and water and shelter—and your magic warming hands.”

“And I look forward to sharing that talent with you,” he said, flashing her a quick smile, and a pleasant tingle of anticipation went down her spine as she returned the smile.

But after they shared the mixture of grain and fruit—which turned out surprisingly well—he decided that he needed to attend to the horses. She nodded and started to rise, then held up her hand instead, determined to remind him that she trusted him. She saw the pleased look on his face before he shook his head.

“You can remain here and rest while I attend to them.”

“Don’t be silly. I’m used to being busy.”

She waved her hand at him again, and this time he took it and pulled her to her feet. Their bodies touched briefly, and he immediately started to step back. Instead of letting him move away, she gave into a sudden impulse and wrapped her arms around him. Lord, he felt good. Big and warm and strong. He made no attempt to return her embrace, but stood rigid, his arms at his side and she realized he was waiting for permission.

“Put your arms around me,” she whispered. “It’s okay to hug me.”

He obeyed immediately, one arm curving around her waist and pulling her gently closer while his other hand cupped her head, his fingers sliding into her hair. Her usual neat bun had long ago disappeared, but she didn’t mind as he buried his fingers in the loose strands.

“I don’t suppose you have a brush?” she murmured against his chest.

“No, but if you will permit me, I will attend to it later.” His fingers gently stroked through the tangled strands.

The slight, pleasant tug sent another spark of anticipation through her body, and she was tempted to wiggle closer. Instead, she lifted her head and smiled up at him.

“Chores first. Then pleasure.”

He loomed over her, his horns silhouetted against the dim glow coming from the roof, but the sight of them reassured her. He was not human and she could trust him.

“You are correct. Duty before pleasure.”

His voice dropped on the last word, and she felt his shaft pulse against her stomach, but it didn’t frighten her. She reluctantly stepped back, but she took his hand as they went to care for the horses.

Sally responded enthusiastically to her presence. There were supplies for the horses, and after they were fed and watered, she spent some time brushing Sally and telling her what a good girl she had been. Callum was also brushing his horse, although not talking to him, and he gave her a curious look.

“Why do you speak to her? Do you think she understands you?”

She tilted her head, considering, until Sally nudged her, urging her to continue.

“I do. Oh, not all the words, although I think she has a pretty good vocabulary, but she definitely understands praise and affection.”

She watched him for a moment, watching his big hands smooth over the horse’s side, as gently and firmly as he touched her.

“Did you grow up with animals?”

For once he didn’t tense at the question about his past but only shook his head.

“Nothing like these horses. We had draft animals, but none that we used for transportation. My mother had a semora.”

“A semora?”

“A small carnivore with soft fur. They are desirable companions, but they are very shy and only occasionally choose to bond with a person. Once they do, they are completely loyal.”

There was an odd look on his face, longing perhaps.

“What happened to the semora?”

“It followed her into death. Once the bond is formed, it cannot be broken.”

The odd look was still there and she chanced another question.

“Is that true for your people as well?”

“I thought so once.”

His face hardened, and he turned back to his horse. She let the matter drop, despite the questions now swirling through her mind. What was that he had said yesterday? That he had never been married. Had he thought there would be someone? Was that why he seems so reluctant to talk about his past?

Her heart ached as she watched his hands move across the horse. How could anyone have hurt this strong, proud male?

After they finished caring for the horses, they returned to the main part of the building and she prepared another container with jerky and dried vegetables and grain, added water, and set it on their stove. Leaving it to simmer, she resumed her position on the mattress and smiled up at him.

“Didn’t you promise to try and comb out my hair?”

He had been silent since their discussion in the stable, but now his eyes heated as he moved towards her with his slow, cautious steps. “It would be my honor.”

CHAPTER 11

C allum sat down behind Pearl, then slowly adjusted his position so that she was between his legs, her soft ass cradled between his thighs.

“Is this all right?”

She flashed a look back at him over her shoulder and nodded.

“It’s fine.” Her lips trembled, but she didn’t look away from him. “He mostly came at me from the front—he liked to see my reaction.”

“You’re making me want to use my horns again.” he growled, and was relieved by a quick nod of approval.

“They are very impressive horns.”

Her eyes went to the base of his horns and he could almost feel those soft little fingers caressing him again. Suppressing the resulting surge of desire, he started combing his fingers through her hair instead, carefully making his way down the long strands.

“Your hair is so soft, like semora fur.”

“Did you just compare me to an animal?”

He could hear the amusement in her voice.

“A very rare and valuable one—with the very softest fur.”

“Is their fur the same color as my hair?”

“No, it is green, the better to blend in with the foliage.”

He leaned towards her, not touching her but letting his breath whisper across her ear.

“I much prefer this deep, rich brown.”

She shivered as he spoke, but he did not think it was from the cold. Nonetheless, he pulled her a little closer towards him, close enough that her ass rested just in front of his aching cock, although he didn’t press her against him.

“Is this all right? I don’t want you to be cold.”

“Mmm, it’s fine.”

He resumed his task and his fingers brushed against her skin as he pulled several strands free from the collar of her shirt. Her skin was even softer in her hair and he wanted to let his hand linger, but she had only permitted him this one task.

He did his best to be gentle, but every now and then he had to tug a little harder to free a tangle and each time he did, he heard her breath catch.

“Does this bother you?”

“No.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I like the way it feels—commanding, but still gentle. Isn’t that strange?”

“Not if you enjoy it.”

He kept his voice carefully neutral, but satisfaction filled him at her words. He accepted them as an indication of her trust in him.

“Perhaps sometimes it’s nice to let someone else be in charge,” he suggested.

“I’ve never really thought about it that way, but then there’s never been anyone else to assume responsibility.”

He wanted to ask about her worthless husband, but he did not want to stir up bad memories. To his surprise, she answered his unspoken question anyway.

“William never took responsibility. He expected me to run the house and arrange everything to his liking, but it was always my responsibility—my fault if anything went wrong.” She sounded thoughtful, rather than upset. “I never thought to question it because I had already been doing the same thing for my father, although in his case it was more because he just wasn’t capable anymore.”

Despite the soft note in her voice when she talked about her father, he still felt a surge of anger at the male. Had she never had a male on whom she could depend?

“I bet you’ve never shirked responsibility in your life,” she added.

He wouldn’t have thought of it that way, but her words had a core of truth that he recognized.

“Perhaps not. I am not a leader in the same way that Artek is a leader, but I support him in every way.”

“Mmm. If you were in charge of me right now, what would you tell me to do?”

A thousand erotic images raced through his mind, but he kept his voice carefully neutral.

“I would begin by telling you to come closer?”

He phrased it more as a question than a command, and when she didn’t object, he did exactly that, pulling the luscious fullness of her ass directly against his aching erection. She wiggled a little, then settled fully against him.

“That feels good,” she whispered. “What else would you do?”

“I would ask you—tell you—to offer me your neck.”

Holding her this closely, he could feel the difference in her body, the slight softening when he told her rather than asked her.

“Offer me your neck,” he ordered, and she immediately obeyed, brushing her hair back from her pale skin and exposing the delicate curve of her neck.

He bent down and pressed his mouth to the fragile flesh, tasting her sweetness as he kissed his way from her shoulder up towards her ear. From this position, he had a clear view of her nipples thrusting against her shirt in response, but he wanted no misunderstanding.

“You will tell me if I do anything you do not like,” he said firmly. “And you will ask me for anything you would like me to do.”

“I… I don’t know if I can ask.”

“Offer me your breasts.”

A shuddering sigh went through her body, and for a moment he was afraid he’d gone too far, but then she leaned back against him and arched her chest in unspoken invitation. He lifted his hands, but didn’t quite touch the tempting mounds. “Yes?”

“Yes.”

He immediately cupped her breasts, his hands firm but gentle. She gasped and pushed harder against him and he tightened his grip.

“Do you like that?”

“I… I…”

“Tell me,” he commanded, and she sighed again.

“I like it. More, please,” she added shyly.

He rewarded her bravery by grasping the stiff peaks between his thumb and finger and tugging on them. Her whole body quivered, and she shifted restlessly against his cock, subjecting it to a delightful, tormenting massage. He wanted more, and he suspected she did as well, but he had no intention of rushing her. He continued his attentions to her breasts until both nipples were stiff and distended, and pressed small, sucking kisses to her neck. She rocked against his cock with increasing urgency.

“Tell me what you need,” he urged.

Once again, he could see her struggling to find the words, and his heart ached. Did she not even feel she had a right to request pleasure?

“Tell me if you do not want this,” he ordered instead, and let his hand slip down between her legs, pressing it firmly against her mound.

Her legs immediately parted, opening for him, and even through the fabric of her pants, he could feel the heated dampness of her sweet cunt. He adjusted the angle of his hand until the heel of his palm rocked against a place that made her whole body tense. He rocked against it again, and then again, and then she gasped, a soft, choked cry escaping as her body convulsed against his.

He kept his hand in place, holding her firmly until her body went limp. She leaned back in his arms and looked up at him. His heart ached at the confusion on her face—a combination of pleasure and surprise and growing embarrassment. He was not entirely surprised when she pushed herself upright and gave him a shy smile.

“I don’t think that’s the usual way to comb someone’s hair.”

“I suspect you are correct. Do you object, little semora?”

“I… I don’t,” she said bravely, and he would have loved to reward her courage with a kiss, but he did not want to add to her confusion.

He watched with regret as she tugged her clothes back into place, and quickly wove her hair into a loose braid.

“Now what should we do?” she asked, not looking at him.

All of the ideas that sprang to his mind involved exploring more of her delightful body, but he didn’t think that was what she had in mind.

“You could rest,” he suggested, and she shook her head, looking genuinely amused.

“I’m really not as delicate as you seem to think, and I do like to keep busy.” She looked down at the corner of the mattress where the buffalo robe had pulled back to reveal the underlying fleece. “I wonder…”

“What do you wonder?”

“Remember what I said about the fleeces being more profitable as wool? I was wondering if I could work on one of the fleeces.”

“What would you need to work on it?”

He thought his ideas would be far more enjoyable, but if she preferred to work, he would do whatever he could to assist.

She smiled at him. “Actually, I would need a comb, but not the kind for your hair. A carding comb is a board studded with small points that you use to separate the wool fibers. I don’t suppose you have anything like that?”

“There may be something in the storage area,” he said thoughtfully, trying to remember everything he had seen crammed into the crowded space. “I’ll go and look.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“No, you’ll stay here. Remember that that area is not heated. You would need extensive foot warming and hair combing after that.”

Her cheeks turned pink, but she managed a teasing smile. “Is that supposed to deter me?”

“Does it?”

She bit her lip. “No, but… But not yet.”

He was disappointed, but not surprised. Moving very slowly, he bent towards her. Her eyes widened, but she didn’t flinch away as he brushed a kiss across her mouth.

“Then you will remain here, and I will return as quickly as possible.”

CHAPTER 12

P earl watched Callum’s tall figure disappear from sight with a combination of relief and regret. His sheer physical presence was comforting but also overwhelming, and she needed a moment of quiet reflection. She hadn’t expected things to go as far as they had, and yet she knew she could have put a stop to them at any moment. She also hadn’t expected her body to respond so strongly to that deep, commanding voice.

Why did I respond that way, she wondered as she rose to her feet and began inspecting the bundled fleeces. It had been a relief to let him take over—to shut off her doubts and fears and let him take command. After all these years of being responsible for everyone else—for her father, for Ruby, even William in an odd way—it had been surprisingly pleasant to set that responsibility aside, even for a moment.

Her body still hummed with pleasure and while she had sent him away, she had told him the truth—she would like to repeat the experience, and perhaps even take it further.

She smiled, feeling oddly proud of herself as she continued her inspection, but then she reached the end of the rack just as he suddenly appeared, looming in front of her. A gasp escaped her mouth as the familiar feeling of panic washed over her. He immediately took a step back and lowered his head.

“Forgive me, little semora. I did not mean to startle you.”

So much for feeling like a normal woman, she thought bitterly, but her panic started to ebb at the sound of his voice. She shook her head.

“It’s not your fault. I’m the one who is broken.”

“You are not broken,” he said firmly. “All soldiers return from war with wounds, and not all of them are visible.”

“War?” She gave a shaky little laugh. “I was not at war.”

“Yes, Pearl, you were.”

She turned that thought over in her mind. Perhaps he was right. Her marriage had often felt like a battle, and one for which she had been singularly unprepared.

“Were you looking for something?” he asked when she didn’t respond.

“Just trying to pick a fleece,” she said, pushing the idea aside to deal with later. “I wasn’t thinking about the fact that they would need to be cleaned.”

He nodded.

“We have water. And time,” he added dryly as the wind howled outside.

“The storm isn’t letting up, is it?”

“I’m afraid not.”

Ruby, she thought, distracted by the thought of her sister. I have to have faith that she’s safe. That whoever took her is treating her well, she reminded herself. Callum seemed convinced that none of his brothers would hurt a woman, and she found she trusted him in this, just as she had trusted him with her body. And as long as Ruby was safe, she didn’t mind the thought of spending more time with Callum.

“All right. In that case, let’s just pick one and get started. This is just an experiment, after all.”

He pulled down the cleanest one he could find and carried it back to their shelter.

“Did you find a carding comb?” she asked as she started picking out loose bits of vegetation from the soft fleece.

He shook his head but showed her a bucket containing some small pieces of wood and a number of nails.

“No, but I think I can make something similar to your description.”

While she pulled several clumps of wool free from the fleece and dropped them into the hot water to simmer, he set about the task. The ease with which he drove the small nails into the pieces of wood was somewhat disconcerting, but he was a calm, patient worker. He didn’t lose his temper when a nail bent the wrong way or he dropped something. Yet another way that he was different from William, who had a tendency to swear violently at the slightest obstacle to his plans.

They changed the water twice, and then left the first bunch of wool to dry as they put in a second batch to soak. It was definitely cleaner, although without detergent it would retain most of the natural oils found in the wool.

“How do you know how to do this?” he asked while they waited.

“I’m not sure that I do,” she said ruefully. “But when I was small, we had a part-time housekeeper. Most of the women in town simply bought yarn, but she liked to make her own. And I watched her do it.”

She smiled reminiscently, remembering afternoons in the warm kitchen and the gentle hum of a spinning wheel as she rocked Ruby while Mrs. H. worked. They were happy memories that she had almost forgotten. But then Mrs. H.’s granddaughter had a baby and needed help and Mrs. H. had gone to live with her.

Not long after that, Pearl’s mother died and it felt like the weight of the world had descended on her shoulders. None of the subsequent housekeepers, including the original well-paid and efficient Mrs. Martin, had ever seemed adequate to be trusted with her sister. They expected her to be a responsible older sister, and she had fulfilled that duty. No one ever seemed to remember she was only a child herself.

She realized that a silence had fallen between them, and she looked up to find Callum giving her a thoughtful glance.

“I am glad that you had that time with her.” He looked down at his project thoughtfully. “I also had someone who taught me the old ways. Moreg was a crotchety old male who did maintenance jobs for my mother—when he could be persuaded to work. He had a foul mouth and he liked to drink, but he often let me follow him around. I picked up a lot of skills from him.”

He handed her one of the finished paddles. “I think he would have been pleased that I knew how to do this because of him. What do you think? Will this work?”

“I have no idea,” she said frankly. “But the main goal is simply to separate out the fibers so it should. We’ll just have to see.”

After a stop to eat some of the stew that had been simmering all morning, they set to work. Callum didn’t seem to have any objection to doing what any man in town would have considered woman’s work. The process was crude at best, but as the afternoon wore on, they managed to accumulate a decent pile of combed wool.

“I consider that a good afternoon’s work,” she said with satisfaction. “Now the next thing will be to see if we can spin it into yarn.”

“How do you do that?”

“Mrs. H. usually used a spinning wheel, but she also had a…” She paused, searching for the word. “Oh, yes, a drop spindle and she let me play with it a few times.”

“A drop spindle?”

“A thin piece of wood with a weight on one end and a notch or hook at the other. You pull out the strands of wool while it spins, and it twists the fibers together.”

He nodded thoughtfully. “I may be able to make such a device.”

But then he turned to her and from the heat in his eyes, she knew he was no longer thinking about their project. His voice dropped to a low growl.

“But right now, I think you deserve a reward for such industrious behavior.”

“You worked just as hard,” she said breathlessly.

She had been aware of his size and presence all afternoon, but she had pushed the knowledge aside to concentrate on her task. With no chores to distract her, nothing quelled her arousal and she felt her nipples tingle beneath her shirt.

“I have no objection to a reward as well,” he said.

“What would you like?”

“To remove your clothing and touch more of your soft skin, little semora,” he said bluntly.

She had expected him to turn the question back to her, not to respond so bluntly, and her mouth dropped open even as her body reacted with shocking speed.

“But I do not wish to frighten you,” he added. “Would that make you uncomfortable?”

She wished she could tell him it wouldn’t, but she wasn’t sure. But the heat simmering in her veins gave her courage.

“I would like to touch you as well,” she said shyly, remembering the feel of his firm chest beneath her hand. “And that might make it easier.”

His eyes glowed with approval as well as hunger, and he immediately stripped off his shirt.

Oh, Lord. His deep purple skin seemed to shimmer in the fading light, accentuating broad shoulders and a wide chest—and scars. They were all old and healed, but an eloquent reminder of the life he had led.

Combat scars, she thought, remembering his earlier analogy, and somehow that gave her the courage to unbutton her own shirt. Her fingers trembled but she ignored them as she slipped the shirt down over her shoulders, leaving her clad only in her chemise. The hunger on his face increased, but he remained where he was sitting, his muscles rigid.

She took a deep breath and pulled the garment down over her shoulders, freeing her breasts. Her scars were all internal, but she knew he understood that they were there. Her nipples ached, stiff from both the cool air and the hunger in his eyes, and a shiver skated across her skin.

“The air is too cool in here,” he said immediately. “Pull the skin around you.”

“I thought you wanted to see me,” she said, oddly disappointed as she obeyed.

“No, little semora. I said I wanted to touch you, and I can do that beneath the robe—if you will permit me?”

She took a deep breath, then nodded and lay back on the mattress. She expected him to follow her immediately but he hesitated before slowly lowering himself to her side, and she realized he was doing his best not to loom over her.

“Would you be more comfortable if I were behind you?” he asked.

“No. I want to see your face.”

He rewarded her with that startlingly attractive smile, then moving slowly but with utter certainty, reached over and covered her breasts with his big, warm hands.

CHAPTER 13

C allum shuddered with pleasure at the silky flesh filling his hands. Touching Pearl over her clothing had been delightful enough, but it couldn’t compare to the feeling of her naked flesh.

“So soft,” he murmured.

“Too soft?” she asked, looking oddly uncertain.

“That would not be possible. A female should be lush and soft and welcoming.”

“Human males tend to admire thin females.”

“Then they are fools.” He started to lean towards her, then hesitated. “Ask me to kiss you.”

“Please kiss me.”

He obeyed, but he bypassed her tempting mouth for the even more tempting peaks thrusting against his palms.

“Oh,” she gasped. “I didn’t…”

“Do you object?” he asked, even as she arched against his mouth.

“Lord, no.”

He smiled and curved his tongue around her nipple, tugging at the taut flesh. Just as she had previously, she responded eagerly to the firm pressure, her hands going to the base of his horns and sending a streak of electricity down his spine.

“More,” he demanded, and she obeyed, squeezing the sensitive flesh.

Still working her nipples, he let his hand glide down over the soft swell of her stomach to the tight-fitting pants. He knew he could bring her pleasure despite their presence, but he wanted more.

“May I remove these?”

“Yes,” she whispered, but then she had to help him wiggle them down over those glorious hips, her cheeks flushed.

“So beautiful,” he murmured.

“So big, you mean.”

“I said what I meant.” He gripped her ass, letting his fingers dig into the soft flesh. “I love the way your body yields to me.”

She shuddered, pushing against his hand, and the sweet scent of her arousal filled his head. He flexed his hand again, then moved to the small patch of curls between her legs, as soft and silky as the hair on her head. Arousal already glistened on the delicate folds.

“Tell me to touch you,” he ordered.

“Yes. Touch me.”

He stroked his finger between those folds until he found a small swollen button that made her writhe when he caressed it—the same place he had found before. He lingered there, watching her face and listening to her soft cries, learning what she preferred. A gentle stroke made her quiver, but when he touched her more firmly, her whole body responded. His cock ached, trapped beneath him, but he ignored it.

Unable to resist, he lowered his head, lapping at the sweetness of her arousal. A startled gasp escaped her lips, but she didn’t protest. Instead, her hips rose to meet his tongue. He circled the heated nub of flesh, then dipped lower, to the small entrance to her body. Tight, so tight, but once again she rose to meet him as he dipped inside. Silky, heated perfection. He plunged deeper, and she cried out again as she climaxed around his tongue, the tight channel squeezing him in long, rhythmic pulses.

Unable to wait any longer, he quickly freed his cock and started to rise over her. She was still quivering from her climax, but then he saw her eyes widen and the slight betraying flinch. Fuck. He had forgotten.

Sternly suppressing the urge to growl, he rolled to his back instead and lifted her over him.

A FLASH of relief passed over Pearl as Callum switched their positions. She truly wasn’t afraid of him, but she hated the way her body reacted instinctively to certain movements.

But now that she was on top of him, she wasn’t quite sure what to do. She gave him a helpless look, and he responded at once.

“Touch my cock,” he growled.

Mmm, yes. Her fingers closed, or tried to close around the thick length. She felt the same raised nubs that covered his tongue and shivered in anticipation. His tongue had felt amazing inside her, and she suspected his cock would feel even better. If I can take him, she thought as a momentary doubt assailed her. It had been a long time, and he was much, much larger than her husband.

But all he’d told her to do was to touch him, and she knew he would never force her. She relaxed and tightened her grip, giving his shaft a long, firm stroke.

“Like this?”

His eyes blazed green, but his hands were gentle on her hips.

“Perfect.”

She blushed at the praise and repeated the motion. Her clit pulsed impatiently, but she took her time, experimenting with different pressures and speeds to see how he reacted. She could see the strain on his face, but he let her play until she had a sudden inspiration and leaned forward, surrounding his shaft with her breasts. He growled again, and his hands tightened on her hips, the firm grip adding to her own excitement as he pulled her forward.

“Rub yourself against my cock. I want to see your sweet arousal covering me.”

Her cheeks flamed, but she obeyed, moaning as the thick length parted her folds and those wonderful, wonderful nubs pressed against her swollen clit. She was on the verge of another climax when his hands tightened, holding her in place against him. His cock glistened with her arousal, just as he had wanted.

“Mount me,” he ordered in that deep, commanding voice.

Despite the order, his eyes searched her face and she knew he was checking for any sign of doubt. But her doubts were gone and she eagerly rose up over him. The broad head of his cock pressed against her entrance, impossibly large, and her body resisted despite the wetness coating them both.

A regretful expression crossed his face, but before he could lift her free, she pushed down again and this time her body opened, flowering around him with a delicious stretch. His hips jerked upwards, driving a few more inches into her channel, and she moaned. He immediately froze, holding her suspended on the tip of his cock.

“Are you—”

“I’m fine. Wonderful,” she panted, pushing against his hands. “More.”

“Yes,” he agreed and released his grip. But she didn’t want him to release her—she wanted those strong hands helping her, pulling her down on top of him.

“Help me,” she urged and sighed with relief as his hands tightened again, working her down over his cock with a firm grip as he sank deeper and deeper inside her until their bodies touched and she was spread wide, impaled, and quivering with pleasure.

He held her there, his eyes glowing, and she thought she saw a corresponding flicker of green on his chest, but then he began to move and she forgot about everything except the pleasure sweeping through her system. His nubs stroked the inside of her channel, awakening nerve endings she’d never known she had. Her climax swept over her with a shocking intensity, and her body shuddered, convulsing around him.

He growled, and any trace of gentleness vanished as he thrust into her urgently. All she could do was cling to him as wave after wave of pleasure filled her until a final flood of hot, wet heat filled her and he pulled her down across his chest, his breath coming in harsh pants.

CHAPTER 14

C allum felt the heat of his mating mark as the bond locked into place and closed his eyes in silent despair. As much as he wanted to rejoice at the connection between them, he knew she would never feel the same way. He would be tied to her forever, but she could leave him whenever she wished.

But at least she’s mine now, he thought, his arms tightening around her. She didn’t object, snuggling closer. Her hand came up to rest on his chest, and he suppressed a groan as she touched his mark, sending a wave of heat surging through his body. She made a startled noise and raised her chest, looking down at the mark.

“You’re glowing.”

“It is because of our joining.”

She ran her fingers over the small mark, and he shuddered with pleasure.

“Does it always happen?”

“No.”

She waited expectantly, and he added reluctantly, “There was another occasion when I thought it might, but it did not.”

“Was that the female who hurt you so badly?”

“Why did you think there was a female who did that?”

“Because you are strong and handsome and protective, but you are alone? Because you don’t want to talk about the past?” Her face softened. “You were right before - not all wounds leave external scars, but they are still there.”

He dipped his head, unable to respond.

“Who was she?” she asked gently.

“My mother’s maid. We spent a lot of time together during my mother’s final days, and I thought she cared for me.”

“But?”

“But she only cared for herself.” Or did she? The memory of her in his brother’s bed haunted him. “I took her to my father’s home in the city after my mother died.”

“And she found someone else?”

“My brother,” he said bitterly. “I discovered them… together.”

An outraged look crossed her face. “Your brother? How could he do that to you?”

“We were never really close, but I don’t entirely blame my brother.” Not any longer. “She was a very… tempting female.”

“Well you should blame him,” she said tartly. “It takes two to tango.”

“I do not understand.”

“It’s an expression—it means that unless she tied him up and threw herself on his cock, he was an active participant. He made the decision to betray you.”

Somehow her anger on his behalf helped ease the long-held pain, and he found himself smiling.

“I do not believe rope was involved.”

“Then they were both at fault.” Her face softened. “Is that when you left?”

“Yes. I walked out and went to the port and volunteered for military service.”

“And you’ve never been back?”

“No. There was nothing for me there.”

“And no other female?”

He shook his head.

“It seemed an unnecessary risk. Until I saw you.”

It was as close as he was prepared to go in declaring his feelings, but she smiled up at him.

“I had convinced myself that I couldn’t trust another man. Until I met you.”

His chest ached. “I am honored by your trust.”

“I don’t want to be honored,” she whispered. “I want to be kissed.”

He obeyed immediately, lingering over her sweet lips until temptation overcame him and he lifted her astride his body once more. He watched her face as she climaxed, his hand covering the place over her heart where her mark should have appeared, and despite its lack, he shuddered with helpless pleasure as his own climax swept over him.

After lifting her free a second time, he retrieved a wet cloth and carefully cleansed her limp body. She murmured a sleepy thanks but when he gently wiped away the last traces of his glistening spend from between her legs, her eyes suddenly flew open.

“I didn’t think about that.”

“About what?”

“Can you get me pregnant?” she asked.

He had a sudden vision of her body growing ripe with their child and a rush of longing swept over him so quickly that he felt dizzy.

“I don’t know,” he said carefully, “but I believe it might be possible. Artek and Nelly are expecting a child.”

Her mouth trembled, and his longing was replaced by guilt.

“I am very sorry. I should have considered the possibility and protected you.”

“You don’t need to apologize. I didn’t think about it either until just now.” She took a deep breath, her eyes searching his face. “Would you mind?”

“Mind? I would be delighted.” Delighted not only by the child but the additional bond between them. “But if that is not what you want—”

“I would love to have a baby.”

“With me?”

“Yes,” she said quietly.

His chest ached, his mark heating, but he couldn’t find the words. All he could do was bend his head and kiss her.

PEARL SPENT the night wrapped in Callum’s arms, but when she awoke the next morning she was alone. For a brief moment, she was afraid that he had taken what he wanted from her and then abandoned her, but she immediately dismissed the idea. He would never do that to her.

When she sat up, she found him crouched next to the fireplace working on something.

“Good morning,” she said softly.

He looked up at once, his face warm and his eyes glowing.

“Good morning, little semora.” His eyes traveled down over her disheveled hair to her bare shoulders. “You are a very tempting sight.”

“Not tempting enough to keep you in bed?”

“Too tempting to remain. If I had stayed I would have awoken you, and you need your rest.”

“That’s not the only thing I need,” she whispered, letting the robe slip lower.

The intensity in his gaze increased, but he remained by the fire.

“And you are not sore?”

“Of course not,” she began, then hesitated. There was a slight, not unpleasant ache between her legs, and the faint soreness of unfamiliar muscles.

He nodded.

“As I suspected. We will give your body time to recover.”

Perhaps he was right. If she’d been at home, she would have taken a long, hot bath. A rushed sponge bath in the icy bathroom wouldn’t have the same effect.

“Do you think we could heat up the bathroom? The water gets cold so quickly.”

He considered for a moment, then shook his head.

“Not without removing our heat source, and I believe this is more important.”

She sighed, but agreed and pulled on her clothes for a quick trip to the facility before they began their chores. Once again, they tended to the horses and prepared food to simmer on the stove. She still had wool to comb and he began working on her drop spindle.

Making the spindle proved easier than using it—she suspected that it was called a drop spindle for a reason—but she eventually began to learn how to manage the tension on the fibers and create a continuous strand. The distance from the mattress to the floor didn’t allow much room to work, so Callum used another stack of fleeces to create a chair for her next to the stove.

While she worked on her yarn, he started rearranging their shelter. First he added more layers to the mattress, creating a platform further from the floor. Then he stacked more fleeces against the racks, blocking more of the surrounding air and creating a smaller space that would be easier to heat. She had just finished spinning the last of her wool when he placed an old-fashioned wooden wash tub next to their stove.

“Can you use this to bathe?”

“Maybe,” she said doubtfully. “It’s not very big.”

“I have an idea. Remove your clothing.”

For the first time, she realized he had their largest containers heating water on the stove. She still wasn’t entirely convinced, but it would be nice to get clean. She took off her shirt, but although she shivered, it was nowhere near as cold as she had expected. She could almost feel the heat in Callum’s eyes warming her skin as she stripped off the rest of her clothing.

He had her step into the tub, then poured the warm water down her body before using a small pad of clean wool to wash her. The water was tepid at best but with his warm hands tracing her body and the heat of his gaze on her skin, she didn’t feel the slightest bit cold. It wasn’t until he was finished and reached down to lift her out that she realized he’d been standing over her the entire time and she’d never flinched away from him.

When he would have released her, she took hold of his hands, pulling him back towards the mattress.

“I’ve recovered,” she whispered.

“Are you sure?”

“Very sure.”

He started to put her down, but she kept her arms around his neck, urging him to come down over her.

“Pearl…”

“I’m not afraid. I want you like this.”

“You will tell me if you change your mind.”

“Of course.”

“In that case…”

He kneeled between her legs, then startled her by lifting her foot to his mouth and kissing her toes—the sensation both ticklish and curiously erotic.

“I think you have a foot fetish,” she gasped.

“I have a Pearl fetish,” he murmured. “I adore every part of you from these tiny little toes to these round little knees to this sweet little cunt.”

He kissed his way up her legs as he spoke and when he buried his face between her legs, she was already quivering with anticipation.

“Wet and ready,” he growled, carefully inserting a finger into her channel.

“Very ready, and not the least bit sore.”

He rumbled a laugh against her clit, the vibration sending a streak of pleasure through her body. She grabbed his horns to pull him closer and he obeyed, using that marvelous textured tongue to tease her to the edge of climax, setting her body on fire with desire before he finally raised his head. He moved up over her, carefully watching her face, but her fear had gone and she reached for him eagerly.

Her legs came up to circle his hips as he drove slowly, deeply, wonderfully into her body. She climaxed almost immediately, but he kept moving, rocking slowly in and out of her while she shuddered around him. His pace gradually increased, becoming more urgent but then he hesitated again, his body rigid with strain as he began to withdraw.

“Do you want me to pull out?” he growled.

She didn’t even have to think about it.

“No. Come inside me, Callum.”

He groaned and obeyed, thrusting deep inside her once more and filling her with a wash of heat. She tightened her arms around him, feeling the warmth of the mark on his chest pulsing against her skin, and smiled.

CHAPTER 15

O ver the next few days, the storm began to abate. The skies would clear for longer periods each day. Pearl joined Callum at the open door of the building during one of the clear periods. He was staring off down the valley, but he put his arm around her as soon as she joined him and drew her closer to the comforting warmth of his body. The fact that snow wasn’t actively falling hadn’t increased the temperature.

“What are you looking at?” she asked.

The clouds had lifted enough that she could see the long expanse of the river valley stretching away from them at the base of the mountains, but she couldn’t make out any details.

“The ranch house.” He pointed down the river, but whatever he was indicating was too far for her to see. “I was wondering if we should take advantage of one of these clear periods and head there.”

“Do you think Ruby is there?”

“I don’t know, but all of us have tracker implants and Artek can locate each of us. He could tell us where Endark and Benjar are if they’re not there.”

She longed to see her sister, but she also felt a strange reluctance to end their time together. She knew he cared for her—she could see it in his eyes and feel it in his touch—but he’d never mentioned a future between them. Did he expect her to leave him as that worthless female had done? He must know that she would never betray him like that.

They hadn’t discussed the possibility of a child again either, but he always hesitated before he came, waiting for her to urge him on. She always did, and each time his seed flooded her she found herself praying that it would take root. Was that what he was waiting for?

“That sounds like a good plan,” she said, trying to keep her voice neutral. “Why are you hesitating?”

“Even under the best conditions it would take several hours, and with the snow this deep, it could take far longer. If the weather closed in, we would have nowhere to seek shelter.”

“You mean no cozy warehouse with all the comforts of home?”

“I’m not sure I would describe it that way,” he said dryly. “You deserve a better home, one with a real stove and heat and a bathtub. I would—”

He broke off abruptly, and her heart skipped a beat. But he didn’t continue and she managed to smile up at him.

“I don’t know. I quite enjoy our little makeshift baths.”

His eyes heated as he drew her closer.

“As do I.” Then he looked over her shoulder and sighed. “And you see, the clouds are beginning to descend again.”

She followed his gaze to the heavy mass of white beginning to creep down from the mountain peaks. He had sounded almost relieved by their presence, and she wondered if he didn’t want to leave here either.

“The snow will hold off for a while longer. If you do not object, I will go and check the conditions on the pass.”

“I could go with you.”

“No, semora. There is no need to expose yourself to the cold. I won’t be long.”

She reluctantly decided he had a point. The clear skies only made the air feel colder.

“All right. I’ll start cooking so you have something warm when you get back.”

“You’re all I need to warm me up,” he murmured, then kissed her.

She clung to him, her body responding immediately to the passion in his kiss, but he broke it off all too soon.

“Chores, then pleasure,” he reminded her, and went to fetch his horse.

She watched him ride off, the vast expanse of white diminishing even his big body, then returned to their shelter. The time standing by the door had chilled her, and she couldn’t seem to get warm, even bundled up in the thick buffalo robes.

I miss his magic warming hands, she thought, smiling, but then her smile disappeared. No, I just miss him. I think it’s time to talk about the future.

She heard the warehouse door open and jumped up, eager to meet him.

“That didn’t take long—” she began, but there was something different about the figure silhouetted against the bright snow outside.

He stalked towards her, and her hands started to shake. It wasn’t Callum. As her eyes adjusted, she could make out the lupine features and sharp-toothed smile. A Vultor.

The race was native to the system, although not to Cresca, and they had colonies here. They tended to keep far away from the human settlements but she’d heard the rumors about them—that they were vicious, animalistic predators. His appearance did nothing to belie the rumor, and she could even hear him growling as he approached.

The hair on the back of her neck prickled with alarm, but she lifted her chin and did her best to sound calm.

“What are you doing here? This is private property.”

He ignored the question, prowling closer, then sniffed. His face contorted in an angry snarl.

“So they are stealing human females as well.”

“No one is stealing… No one stole me,” she amended. “As well as what?”

“Do they think we forget so easily?” he asked, ignoring her question. “You will give them my message.”

He stepped closer and she tried to back away, but the rack was behind her back and there was nowhere to go. His eyes glowed, green like Callum’s but with slit-like pupils. Yet there was something almost familiar in them—that same haunted expression that Callum sometimes wore—and somehow that gave her courage, despite the male’s obvious anger.

“What message?” she asked quietly.

“The promise must be kept—”

A roar interrupted him. Callum appeared in the open doorway, his big body unmistakable. He lowered his head and charged at the intruder, his horns sharp and threatening.

“No, wait!” she cried, but it was too late.

He had already reached them, catching the Vultor with the tip of one horn and tossing him aside.

“You will never take my female,” he growled, even as the Vultor sprang to his feet.

A red gash sliced across one side of the stranger’s chest, but he ignored it, his body poised to fight.

“He didn’t try to take me,” she said urgently. “He said he had a message.”

Both males ignored her, circling each other. Callum started to lower his head again, and she remembered what he had said before—that using his horns was considered dishonorable. She didn’t want him to feel that guilt again. Desperate to stop the attack, she darted forward just as he charged. His outstretched arm caught her, flinging her aside and sending her crashing into the closest rack.

“No!” he cried, reaching for her as the world spun around her and then darkness swept her under.

“PEARL,” Callum whispered, gathering her limp body in his arms.

Anguish swept over him as he placed a shaking finger on her pulse. Thank the gods. She was alive, her pulse slow but steady beneath his hand.

He heard the Vultor move and tensed, preparing for an attack, but he couldn’t bring himself to put Pearl aside. He flicked a glance over his shoulder and saw the Vultor disappearing through the still open door. If Pearl had been severely injured, he would hunt the other male to the ends of the planet, but right now all he could do was focus on her.

Despair filled him as he carried her to their shelter. He knew he should close the door and make sure that they were safe, but he refused to leave her. A bruise had appeared on her temple, and guilt washed over him. This wasn’t the Vultor’s fault—it was his. He had damaged the female he loved, and now there was no question that she would leave him.

Dipping a cloth in the water on the stove, he gently washed her face, then sat back with her in his arms. Her pulse remained steady, her breathing slow and even, and he waited patiently for her eyes to open, even though he dreaded what he would see in them.

Moments ticked slowly by before her lids finally fluttered open. He braced himself for her anger, her disgust, or even worse, her fear. Instead, she smiled at him.

“You’re all right.”

“Of course I am. I am more concerned about you. I’m so—”

“And the Vultor?” she interrupted, trying to peer over his shoulder.

“He’s gone, but I will track him down.”

She frowned. “I’m not sure that’s necessary.”

“He could have hurt you.” Guilt overwhelmed him. “I did hurt you. Can you ever forgive me?”

“I know it was an accident. It was stupid to try and get between you, but I know how badly you felt about using your horns.”

“You were trying to protect me?”

“Of course. I love you, Callum.”

The mark on his chest pulsed as strongly as if she had a corresponding mark—as if the mate bond had truly locked into place between them.

“You do?”

“Couldn’t you tell?”

He put her hand over his mark.

“This is not just an indication that we have joined our bodies. It is a mating mark—a visible symbol of the permanent bond between two people.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because humans don’t have mating marks and I was afraid to hope that you would feel the same way. I thought that without the mark I would never know for sure. But the mark doesn’t matter, does it? What matters is love.”

Tears sparkled in her beautiful blue eyes.

“It’s the only thing that matters. I love you,” she repeated, and he smiled as once again warmth spread from his mark.

“I love you too.”

CHAPTER 16

T  he next day dawned clear and sunny. Callum left her long enough to scan the tree line, although he kept the warehouse in sight the entire time. She watched from the door until he returned, shaking his head.

“A few drops of blood, nothing more. But if he was the one I saw originally, he must have some sort of shelter up in the peaks.”

She shivered as she looked up at the bare rocks high above their heads.

“That doesn’t seem like a very pleasant place to wait out a storm. He must have had a reason. I wonder what he meant about a promise?”

“I don’t know.” He sighed. “But if he returns, I will listen to him.”

“Good. He scared me, but he didn’t hurt me. He even seemed angry because he thought I’d been stolen. I know you didn’t steal me,” she added when he frowned. “I was the one who came looking for you.”

“Thank the gods.”

She put her hand on his mark, loving the way it pulsed in response.

“So why don’t we forget about him and celebrate the fact that we found each other?”

His eyes heated, and then he swept her up into his arms and carried her back to their shelter to do just that.

Another day passed. There was still no sign of the Vultor, and once again it remained clear the entire time.

“I think it is time,” Callum announced as she joined him at the door the following morning. “We should be able to reach the main house without any problem.”

She tucked her hand in his, surprisingly sad to be leaving, despite her desire to see her sister.

“All right,” she said softly.

As they looked out over the valley again, she found herself comforted by the idea that Ruby was hidden somewhere in the peaceful scene.

“It’s nice being up high like this and being able to see everything.”

“I will build you a house from which you can see the entire valley,” he promised, and she smiled up at him.

“I love the idea, but you know it will depend on Ruby’s situation.”

“There will always be room for her in our house.”

“What if she is unhappy here and wants to return to town?”

He looked up at the wall of snow blocking the pass.

“I do not believe that will be possible for some time, but if she wishes to go and you wish to accompany her, then I will go as well.”

A lump appeared in her throat.

“Are you sure? I don’t think you’d like living in Wainwright.”

“It doesn’t matter where I live as long as we are together. You are my mate, Pearl, my bride. I will never leave you.”

Unexpected tears threatened, but she managed a watery smile.

“Good, because I don’t intend to leave you either.”

“And perhaps I can put my new skills to use,” he added, his face lightening. “Creating yarn for the discerning female.”

She choked out a laugh and he hugged her, then went to saddle the horses. She lingered a moment longer looking out at the peaceful valley and realized she had no desire to return to town either. She found herself hoping that Ruby would want to stay as well.

As she started to turn back inside, a flash of movement caught her eye.

Two figures were making their way up the pass. For a moment, her heart skipped a beat, remembering the Vultor, but then she recognized her sister, accompanied by a big pink-furred male.

“Ruby!” she cried and raced out of the warehouse, her feet floundering in the deep snow but determined to get to her sister as quickly as possible.

Ruby reached her first, her feet nestled in homemade snowshoes, and fell into her arms. Pearl hugged her as tears streamed down her cheeks, scarcely able to believe that her sister was actually here at last. And radiant, she realized when they finally separated enough to see her sister’s glowing face.

“Are you all right?” she asked anxiously.

“I’m wonderful,” Ruby exclaimed. “But how did you get here?”

“I followed you, of course. Or at least I tried.”

“All by yourself?” Ruby looked over her shoulder, and her eyes widened. “Or did Callum take you too?”

“Of course not. But after you disappeared, I tried to get someone to help me find you. Thomas Cole refused to help, so I came to ask Callum. And then there was an avalanche and we were trapped.”

Ruby frowned. “Of course that bastard wouldn’t help you.”

“I thought you liked him?”

“No,” she said. “He tried to… Let’s just say, he’s not a gentleman.”

The male behind Ruby growled, and she reached back and took his hand.

“Pearl, I’d like you to meet Benjar, my husband.”

“Husband?”

A thousand objections rushed through her head. Her sister was too young. She scarcely knew this strange male—and he had stolen her from her home, her bed. But hadn’t she fallen for Callum just as quickly? And she couldn’t deny the happiness on her sister’s face.

The pink-furred male had assumed a protective stance behind her sister, but he gave her a charming smile.

“And you’re happy?”

“Yes,” Ruby said firmly.

She sighed, but then she returned Benjar’s smile.

“In that case, Benjar, welcome to the family.”

He grinned even wider and swept her a bow.

“Thank you.”

Benjar looked at Callum as he joined them. Mischief twinkled in his eyes, reminding her of Ruby’s impish spirit. Perhaps it was not surprising that they had found each other.

“I never thought you would steal a bride as well, Callum,” Benjar said cheerfully.

Callum frowned at him. “I did not. She came looking for her sister.”

“I told you she’d be worried,” Ruby said to Benjar, then smiled at her. “That’s why we’re here. We were going to try and cross the pass.”

Her heart threatened to skip a beat at the thought of the dangerous journey, but she managed to hold her tongue. There was no point in scolding Ruby now.

“You should not have taken Pearl’s sister,” Callum said sternly.

“I know.” Benjar looked genuinely apologetic for a moment, but then he shrugged and grinned. “On the other hand, it was much faster this way. Ruby tells me it can take months for a human male to claim his mate.”

“At least you picked the right one,” Ruby said gaily. “Can you believe he was going to choose Florie? I’m sure she’s much better off with someone else.”

Pearl frowned at her. “What do you mean she’s better off with someone else? She isn’t here in the valley, is she?”

Callum sighed. “Are you referring to the other female who is with Endark?”

Benjar somehow managed to look apologetic and mischievous at the same time.

“Not exactly.”

“I don’t understand. You and Endark were the only ones who went to town. I know Drakkar accompanied you,” Callum added. “But I know he wasn’t interested in a bride.”

“I wouldn’t be too sure about that,” Benjar said cheerfully. “The last time I saw him, he was carrying something wrapped in a cloak, and it certainly wasn’t supplies.”

“Drakkar?” Callum repeated, looking shocked.

“Is that bad?” she asked anxiously.

“I don’t know. He would never physically hurt a female, but he is…”

“Cold? Annoying? A smartass son of a bitch?” Benjar suggested. He must have seen her worried expression, because he grinned at her. “Don’t worry. He’s really not that bad, and he prefers to be on his own. I’m sure he’ll bring her back now the storm is over.”

That didn’t make her feel better. What had happened to the poor female during the past few weeks? But she pushed aside that worry for the moment.

“Does that mean that Florie is with Endark?”

“If you mean the cook, no. He picked out his own female.”

“Who?” she demanded.

“I don’t know.” Benjar shrugged, then frowned thoughtfully. “I think she has red hair.”

“Then how does Florie fit in?” she asked.

“Explain yourself.” The authority in Callum’s voice sent a pleasant shiver down her spine despite her confusion.

“It’s a little complicated. I thought I wanted the cook so I took her, but then I realized I really wanted Ruby so I went back for her, but then I thought the cook would be good for Frantor so I kept her anyway, and then Endark said that Gilmat needed a bride as well so I went back for another female.”

Pearl stared at him, her mind reeling.

“What other female?”

“I don’t know. She was small and pretty. Not as pretty as you, Ruby,” he added hastily when her sister glared at him. “But she had a room full of plants next to her bedroom so I thought she’d like Gilmat’s greenhouse.”

“You were in her bedroom?” Ruby demanded.

“Only briefly.” He pulled Ruby against him and wrapped his tail around her waist. “Unlike with you, I wasn’t distracted by thinking about all the things I wanted to do with her.”

He bent down to kiss Ruby, and she threw her arms around his neck. Pearl sighed and looked away. It was going to be a while before she adjusted to the sight of her sister and her new husband.

“Are you all right?” Callum asked quietly.

“Just worried. I’m sure the last woman he was talking about is Julie Watson. I can imagine what her mother must be thinking.”

“That she’s lost her meal ticket,” Ruby said tartly. “Everyone in town knows that she’s trying to marry Julie off to old Mr. Potter. I’m sure she’s better off here.”

Based on her own experience, Pearl couldn’t argue but that didn’t mean she wasn’t going to investigate. “You may be right, but we need to check on her. On all of them. Can we do that, Callum?”

“Of course, semora.” He smiled down at her. “We’ll return to the ranch house immediately.”

She saw Ruby whisper something to Benjar, and he growled softly before picking her up.

“Not yet, silly. Put me down.”

He reluctantly obeyed, and Ruby came over and hugged her.

“I’m so happy that you’re here. And that you’re happy,” she added, looking over at Callum as he stepped aside to talk to Benjar. “I want to know all about your adventures and tell you about mine, but I don’t want to go to the main house with you right now. I want to spend some time alone with my new husband first. Do you understand?”

Pearl swallowed around the lump in her throat and nodded. “I understand. I love you, Ruby.”

“I love you too.”

Ruby hugged her, and she fought back the tears that threatened. She’d always known—always hoped—that Ruby would find love. Despite the obvious differences between Benjar and Callum, she trusted that the same honorable streak that ran through Callum ran through his brother as well.

“And you will come down and spend some time with us as well, won’t you?”

“Of course we will. At least, once I’m sure he’s not going to wake the whole house with his roaring.” Ruby giggled. “He roars when he—”

“Which is entirely your fault, little bride.” Benjar picked Ruby up again, and this time she just smiled and settled into his arms. “You are entirely too tempting.”

The two of them took off across the snow, and she waved after them as Callum put his arm around her.

“Are you sad, semora?”

“Yes and no. I will miss her, of course, but I’m glad that she’s happy. She still seems so young.”

“Benjar is the youngest of my brothers as well, but I think they will be good for each other.”

She suspected he was right—and she almost envied them the chance to grow together. But then again, the pain that she and Callum had experienced in the past had only made their bond deeper. So many different paths to love, she thought, and smiled.

Callum sighed. “And now, as much as I hate to leave this place, I need to tell Artek about the Vultor.”

“And I need to check on those other women.”

Her words trailed off at the heat in Callum’s eyes as he tugged her closer.

“You have been out here in the snow for a long time. I’m sure your feet need warming. Perhaps our responsibilities could wait just a little longer,” he growled, and lifted her into his arms, turning back towards the warehouse.

“Perhaps they can,” she agreed.

Her sister was safe and happy, and she had finally found the husband she had always dreamed of having, even if he had turned out to be an alien.

EPILOGUE

N ine months later…

DRAKKAR BENT DOWN OVER PEARL, running one last check on her son, then nodded approvingly and stepped away from the bed. She still couldn’t quite get used to the idea that her doctor was a huge winged male with gleaming copper scales, but he seemed very competent. His bedside manner was very reassuring, although in a non-medical situation he had a sardonic wit that could be disconcerting.

“The baby is fine?” she asked anxiously.

“And my wife?” Callum added.

“Both she and the baby are perfectly well. I could claim it is because of my excellent medical skills, but I suspect that it has more to do with the bond between you.”

She saw the arrested look on Callum’s face.

“The bond?”

“The bonds of matrimony. Of… affection.” Drakkar’s hard face softened a little. “You human females are miraculous creatures.”

She smiled up at him. “And you should return to your own miracles. But please ask my sister to join us.”

He nodded and turned, his wings flaring behind him, but he paused for a second to put his hand on Callum’s shoulder and make a quiet comment before leaving their new bedroom. They had spent most of the winter in the main ranch house, a huge building with more than enough room for both privacy and company. Despite the almost constant snows, she had enjoyed working with Nelly and assisting with the plans to develop more finished products from the fleeces.

Nelly had welcomed her suggestions with her customary enthusiasm, and the two of them had spent a good deal of time experimenting with various processes and techniques. Ruby had visited frequently—although not quite as frequently as Pearl would have liked—but she couldn’t object to her sister’s obvious happiness. Despite some difficult times at the beginning, the other women had also settled into life in the valley. Callum too had been relaxed and at ease with his brothers, but as soon as the weather cleared, he began to work on a home for the two of them.

The three of us, she amended with a smile.

The large bedroom formed one end of the house that Callum had built for her and just as he had promised, it looked out over the entire valley. She could see the ranch house and her sister’s cabin high in the hills across the river, but right now she was more interested in the small, warm bundle nursing at her breast.

“Isn’t he perfect?” she whispered, admiring the pale lavender skin and the tiny dark nubs of his horns.

Her son blinked up at her with blue human eyes.

“As perfect as his mother,” Callum said, putting his arm around her.

“And his father,” she said firmly. ‘What did Drakkar say to you?”

“That the baby was fine. And that I had to keep my hands off of you for at least four weeks.”

She laughed at his unhappy expression.

“I’m pretty sure he just meant intercourse. There are other things we can do—although perhaps not right away.”

“Whenever you are ready,” he assured her, but the words were unnecessary. She knew he would never, ever rush her.

“Of course, you are a very tempting sight,” he added as the baby’s eyes closed and she gently detached him from her nipple.

She took Callum’s hand and stroked it across the dampened tip. Mmm, it still felt as good as ever, and she loved the way his eyes glowed as he watched the movement, then raised his finger to his mouth.

“And you taste as delicious as you look.”

“As I said, other possibilities.”

He bent his head to kiss her, but just as their mouths touched, someone knocked impatiently at the door. She gave him a rueful smile.

“And that will be Ruby.”

“Which undoubtedly means that Benjar is with her,” he added, pulling her gown back across her breast.

She laughed and nodded. Benjar and Ruby were as connected as the two of them—and considerably more open about it. A second knock sounded, this one even more impatient.

“You’d better let them in before she knocks down the door.”

He obeyed, and her sister came dancing into the room with her quick, graceful step. Her hair was tied back in a careless knot, and she was dressed in practical pants and a plain shirt, but she looked as beautiful as ever. When she bent down to gently touch the baby’s cheek, her hands were no longer smooth and perfect. A woman’s hands, Pearl realized with a start. Her sister had grown up—and she had never looked happier.

“He’s so beautiful,” Ruby whispered, then grinned at Pearl. “And the timing is perfect. They can grow up together.”

“They?” It took a moment before she understood. “You’re pregnant? I thought you were going to wait?”

“We were, but after Nelly had her baby, I realized that I didn’t want to wait any longer. That we wanted to start our family too. Isn’t it wonderful?”

Her first instinct was to protest that her sister was far too young, but then she looked at Ruby’s glowing face and felt the comforting weight of the small bundle in her arms, and smiled.

“I don’t know,” she teased. “My son will be the oldest. Do you think your daughter—or son—will appreciate a bossy older relative?”

“I certainly did.” Ruby leaned forward and put her arms around Pearl. “You were always there for me. And I know what you went through to protect me.”

Her heart aching, Pearl started to protest, but Ruby ignored her.

“I’m so lucky you’re my sister. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

She hugged her sister back, then looked up at Callum standing by the door, his eyes glowing, and held out her hand to him. He came to her side immediately.

“It looks as if our family is expanding.”

“Ah. So that is why Benjar looks so proud of himself.”

The leonine male also joined them, his tail swishing happily as he put his hand on Ruby’s shoulder and grinned at Callum.

“I’m simply following in the commander’s footsteps.”

Callum laughed. “From charging into battle to working a ranch to growing a family. Artek is certainly improving his leadership skills.”

“Did I hear my name?”

Artek appeared at the door with his daughter cradled against his shoulder and Nelly at his side. Nelly gave her a quick look.

“Are you up to more company? We won’t stay long, but I wanted to see the baby.”

“Absolutely,” she said firmly. “You’re all family, and I’m happy you’re here.”

She heard more laughter outside, and Nelly gave her a rueful glance. “I suspect that means you are about to receive more visitors.”

“Perfect.” She squeezed Callum’s hand and gave Ruby another quick hug. “I couldn’t ask for anything else.”

AUTHOR’S NOTE

Thank you so much for reading Callum! He and Pearl are such an intriguing contrast to Benjar and Ruby but despite their darker pasts, they have just as much love to share! I’m so glad you’re exploring these different paths to love with me!

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 Drakkar!

Even though Drakkar knows he is not suited for a mate and a child, he can’t resist rescuing a vulnerable female. But how can he keep her when his people have always known they have to live alone?

Click here to order Drakkar!

To make sure you don’t miss out on any new releases, deals, or updates, click here to sign up for my newsletter!

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

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

Blind Date with an Alien

Her Alien Farmhand

Anthologies

Claimed Among the Stars

Adamant Spirits

Pets in Space 7

ABOUT THE 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…

www.facebook.com/HoneyPhillipsAuthor

www.bookbub.com/authors/honey-phillips

www.instagram.com/HoneyPhillipsAuthor

www.honeyphillips.com

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

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

Epilogue

Author’s Note

Other Titles

About the Author