NANCY AND THE NAGA

A SCIFI ALIEN ROMANCE (ALIEN ABDUCTION BOOK 14)

HONEY PHILLIPS

CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Epilogue

Author’s Note

Other Titles

About the Author

Copyright © 2021 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 by Maria Spada Book Cover Design

Edited by Lindsay York at LY Publishing Services

Created with Vellum

CHAPTER ONE

Nancy tried to wiggle further back into her pitiful hiding place. It wasn’t much of a shelter—a slight dip in the rocky ground, masked by some shrubby vegetation—but it had been the only thing she could spot when she made the impulsive decision to escape.

One of the other slaves in her wretched little band had collapsed, and when all eyes were focused on him, she had slipped down into this little gully, quickly rubbing the prevalent red dust of the desert floor over her tattered jumpsuit and exposed skin. Two of the Tajiri guards—the feline aliens native to this planet—went over to the body. One of them bent down, then shook his head. He picked up the body, carried it over to the transport, and threw it carelessly into a storage locker as if the slave was no more than a bundle of cloth. God, she hated the furry bastards.

Her heart pounded against her ribs as she watched them resume loading the other slaves into the transport. They were a pitiful sight, worn down by work and lack of food, and they shuffled obediently up the ramp. The guards didn’t even bother to chain them anymore.

No one seemed to have noticed that she was no longer amongst them. No one sounded an alarm. She suspected her fellow slaves were too lost in their own misery to even notice that she was gone, and the guards were simply bored at the routine assignment. All of them except Linzim, the overseer and the one Tajiri she didn’t hate.

A fine tremor ran over her body as he paused at the bottom of the landing ramp and scanned the surroundings. For a moment, she was quite sure that his eyes were focused on her hiding place.

Please, please. Don’t come after me, she prayed silently.

He was looking at her. She knew he was, but he didn’t raise the alarm. His lips twisted in an odd sort of smile, and then he turned and walked up the ramp, his tail twitching behind him. A minute later, the transport departed.

She’d done it. She’d actually done it. After a year of misery, she was finally free. She slumped back in the dirt, tears streaming down her face, but she only allowed herself a minute to give in to her emotions. Just because Linzim seemed to have let her go didn’t mean that someone else might not notice and decide to investigate further.

She still couldn’t quite believe he let her go—or could she? He had always been kind to her, or at least as kind as a guard could be to a slave. The first time had been when she had awoken in the mines. She’d been in a small room carved out of rock, and he was standing over her.

Her broken arm had throbbed, her entire body battered and bruised, but she snarled at him.

“Don’t you dare touch me,” she managed to say, her voice weak and raspy.

It was a meaningless warning, and she knew it. She had somehow managed to fight off the first alien when he tried to rape her, but it had taken everything she had. She didn’t think she had the strength for another fight, but she did her best to glare at him defiantly.

“You fought,” he said thoughtfully.

“Of course I did.”

He shook his head, but she thought she saw a hint of sympathy on his face. “Foolish female.”

Instead of forcing himself on her, he’d given her water. Even though she flinched every time he came near her, all he had done over the next few days was tend to her wounds. On the fifth day, he checked her arm and announced it was healed.

The wonders of alien technology, she thought bitterly.

“Now that you have healed, you’re going to have to work.” He shot her a speculative look from under bushy eyebrows.

“What kind of work?” she asked, already expecting the worst.

When her first owner bought her, he’d told her how lucky she was that she’d only have to service him. He’d saved her from a brothel, he told her magnanimously. She should be grateful, he’d added, just before he started stripping off her clothes.

But she wasn’t grateful, and she fought back. He was far stronger than she, even without the fangs and claws that were his natural weapons. But when he’d sent her flying across the room with the blow that had broken her arm, he’d knocked her into a vase. The vase shattered beneath her, and when he forced himself on top of her, she managed to grab hold of one of the shards. Finding a reserve of strength she didn’t know she had, she plunged it into his neck just before she started to pass out.

She had some foggy memories of other aliens rushing in. Of muttered comments about her lack of value. Of a painful heat in her broken arm. Of being thrown into the back of some kind of vehicle. Of finally waking up in the cell with Linzim standing over her.

She knew the past week had only been a brief reprieve, but she glared at him despite the despair filling her.

“There are guards here who would appreciate the company of a female. They are not all bad,” he added. “If you are… amenable, they will not treat you badly.”

“I have no intention of being amenable.”

He sighed. “I suspected as much. Here.”

He tossed her a long roll of bandages. She caught it automatically, then tensed. Was it some kind of warning? Was he saying she was going to need it?

“Wrap it around your breasts,” he ordered. “As tightly as possible. The jumpsuit on the bed is the loosest one I could find.”

“Why?”

“The alternative to being a pet for one of the guards is to work in the mines. It’s hard work, dirty and brutal. We don’t usually send females there. But if you would prefer that…”

“Yes,” she said immediately.

“Then it would be… better if no one realized that you were female.”

She looked down at the bandages and then back up at him, her eyes filling with tears.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

He grunted and left the room. When he returned, she had done her best to transform herself into a man. Fortunately, she had always been thin and small-breasted. He gave her a perfunctory nod, then took her deeper into the mines to begin her new life.

He was right. It was hard, brutal work. He assigned her to a small group whose main role was to follow behind the other miners, re-examining the work that had already been done to find the smaller gemstones that were so easily overlooked. Because it did not require brute strength, the group was composed of the smallest, weakest, and sickest of the slaves. She fit in well enough. Growing up with three older brothers meant that she was used to being around men. And most of them were too apathetic to really care about a newcomer.

As time wore on, she grew increasingly morose. It was always cold and dim in the mines, her body always ached, and she was always hungry. Linzim continued to check up on her periodically. He managed to sneak her a little extra food, and he always asked her if she wanted to reconsider her choice. But despite her misery, she wasn’t desperate enough to turn herself into a whore.

Then, two months ago, they were given a new job. Her group was marched onto a transport without any explanation and taken to a new destination. She’d had one brief taste of open sky and fresh air before being sent down into another mine. But this mine was different. It had been abandoned long ago, and they were the only ones in the tunnels. The owner had sent them in to make one final sweep.

That glimpse of the outside world had reawakened her desire to escape. She had considered it many times before, but had been unable to think of any way to get past the guards and make it to the surface. Even if she could make it that far, what then? From what she’d been able to pick up, the previous mine had been part of a busy complex. But here, there was no one.

Just when she’d come up with a tentative plan, Linzim had returned and ordered them back onto the transport. Her heart sank as she tried desperately to think of an alternate plan. And then the slave had collapsed, and she had taken her chance.

And now, here she was. Alone for the first time in over a year. With a bright, clear sky high above her, and the only sound the soft rush of the wind, fresh and clean against her face. She was free, and she was determined to stay that way.

Now what?

She sat up and looked around. She was at the edge of what remained of the small town that had once supported the mines. A row of barracks that must once have housed the guards lined one side of the only street. The other side had a few small buildings—administrative offices, a store, a couple of bars, and what looked like a hotel. The entrance to the mine itself was surrounded by abandoned workshops and storage areas.

It was obvious that no one had been here for a long time. Everything was covered in a thick layer of the ubiquitous red dust, and scraggly weeds climbed up through every available crack.

She began inspecting the buildings, looking for anything that might be useful, but the silent town was unexpectedly eerie. It reminded her of an old Western ghost town. The back of her neck kept prickling, and she kept giving the sky a suspicious look, half-expecting to see the transport returning.

If they notice I’m gone, this is where they’ll look first, she thought grimly.

But what was the alternative? From what she could see, and from the brief glance she’d had on the flight in, she was in the middle of nowhere. Trying to travel through the harsh, rocky surroundings would be difficult at best—and where would she go? She had absolutely no desire to see another one of the furry bastards, even assuming they didn’t immediately try and enslave her again. But neither did she want to make it easy for them to recapture her by staying here.

As she took another look around, she caught a glint of light from high on the hillside rising over the town. Her heart skipped a beat, wondering if someone was coming for her already. But the light didn’t move, and she eventually decided that it was simply the sun reflecting off something. But what?

With the uneasy feeling still crawling down her spine, she decided to go and check it out.

The climb up the rocky hillside was steeper than she had expected, and she was sweaty and panting by the time she reached her destination. On a small plateau overlooking the town was a house, the afternoon sun reflecting off a clean patch on one of the broad windows that lined the front. It looked as deserted as the town below, but it didn’t give her the same uneasy feeling. From here, she could look out over everything. She would be able to see anyone coming from far away. And the house itself was… cozy. More of a cabin really, with weathered wood walls and big windows.

Curious, she began to explore. The doors were locked, of course, but she found a small window at the back of the house that wiggled when she pushed at it. It took a surprising amount of effort to force the warped frame open, and even more to climb up and through, but she made it. She landed in some type of utility room, although none of the panels lining the walls made any sense to her.

Beyond it was a simple kitchen, although the appliances were unfamiliar. Her throat parched, she tried the faucets hopefully, but no water emerged and she sighed. It had been too much to hope for running water. The kitchen opened into a spacious living room with the same wide-open view out over the valley. It had a big stone fireplace and a set of stairs leading up to an open bedroom and a large, lavishly appointed bathroom.

As she wandered into the bathroom and ran her hand along the beautifully veined marble counter, she gave the big bathtub a wistful look. This was far from the rustic cabin it appeared to be from the outside. Most of the other furniture was gone, but the huge, elaborately carved bed remained, and it too had obviously been an expensive purchase. Everything about the cabin reminded her of one of those glamourous camps for rich people who liked to pretend they were roughing it.

Without power or water, it sure isn’t a luxury retreat anymore, she thought wryly, but she liked it here. It made her feel safe in a way the town below had not.

She stood at the bedroom railing, looking out across the living room and through the windows. Looking at the wide expanse of sky and the sunlight dappling the floor below. She listened to the silence.

Yes, she thought, this will do.

CHAPTER TWO

As soon as the property came into sight, Kaiyo knew his mission was going to be fruitless. He was seeking a deranged member of one of the extraordinarily wealthy Houses that ruled Yangu. The male might be desperate and without funds but, given his characteristic arrogance, Kaiyo doubted that he would ever stoop quite so low.

Not that the property was unattractive; it wasn’t. A wooden cabin with large windows perched on the side of the mountain, overlooking the remnants of the mining town which had once occupied the valley floor. From his research, he knew the mine had been closed for years, and the town abandoned. It wasn’t a tame landscape, but it had a stark, natural beauty that reminded Kaiyo of his home planet of Nagara.

However, he suspected that Chinit would consider it far too barren and the cabin too austere to serve even as temporary refuge. He was a male with a vastly overinflated sense of his own importance, even when driven into hiding. But Kaiyo’s true quarry was not Chinit but the female he had abducted. Although unlikely, it was possible that he had been here, and perhaps even that he’d left the female behind.

Or her body, he thought grimly. The male had lost everything, and he was looking for someone on whom to vent his rage. Kaiyo pitied the poor female in his clutches—it was the reason he had agreed to assist in the search, even though unpaid altruism wasn’t his usual practice. Pity, and perhaps boredom, spurred him on this time.

The first few years he’d spent on Yangu had been little more than a desperate attempt to survive. Forced into exile from Nagara with little more than the few things he could gather in those last painful hours, he’d taken any job he could find, legal or not. But as he became familiar with the seedy underworld of the city, he’d come to realize that many of the skills that had proven useful to an unwanted son of the Royal House could benefit him here as well.

He explored until he knew all the secret passageways and hidden places. He slipped into obscure corners, and he listened—listened and learned. Learned who ruled and who resented that rule. Learned where the bodies were buried and who buried them.

And then he began to offer his services—a little pressure here, a quiet disposal there. From the very beginning, he presented himself with the assured arrogance that had been bred into him, no matter how hungry or how desperate he might be for the job. It had worked.

Now he had enough credits to afford a very comfortable life, and he had a reputation for success. He had his own network of spies and informants, and he no longer had to hunt down every detail by himself. But as the challenge started to fade, he grew increasingly bored. If he allowed himself to think about the future, he saw little prospect of his life changing. But until he could think of an alternative, he had to keep his reputation intact—which meant he needed to focus on his task.

He briefly circled the town but saw no sign of life. A thick layer of red dust from the surrounding rocky desert covered the buildings, and weeds were growing through the cracked sidewalks and starting to invade the buildings. There was no sign of habitation.

No, if Chinit and his victim were here, they would be at the cabin. He took the flyer higher up the mountain side to survey the building. It too looked deserted, except… He did another sweep. Yes. The windows along the front of the cabin were surprisingly clean, carrying only a slight trace of the endless dust. It could be that this higher elevation had more wind and rain so they were naturally cleaner, but he didn’t believe it. Although why would Chinit care about clean windows?

Driven by his insatiable curiosity, he brought the flyer in for a landing on the cracked parking pad behind the house. As soon as he exited the vehicle, he caught a trace of an unfamiliar scent, and he smiled. The female was here.

Only a few days ago, he had encountered two females who had made the mistake of thinking themselves hidden. One had been Gliese, with a delightful little tang of fear overlaying her spicy scent. The other had been human, and he had been intrigued by her sweetness. His curiosity about human females had been another part of the reason he had so uncharacteristically volunteered his assistance. But this scent was even more interesting than that first human—sweet, yes, but with a rich complexity that made his mouth water. He had to find the source.

The door was locked, but after checking to make sure that it was not monitored, he snapped the lock with a quick twist of his wrist and entered. Ah, yes. Her scent hung heavy in the air, and his tongue flicked out to taste more of the tantalizing fragrance. Delicious. He was sure the female had been here recently.

“Hello?” he called, but there was no response.

Perhaps the house was deserted after all. But as he hesitated, the scent changed just a little, a hint of spice increasing its potency. His dotras actually stirred within his body. That was… unusual. He was certainly not immune to an attractive female, but he’d never had such a reaction based purely on their scent.

His lips twisted. This hunt had just become more interesting. Now where was his little mafiti hiding?

Her scent was strong in the small mechanical room, but there was nowhere for anyone to hide. Tracking the scent trail, he decided she must have been coming in and out through the window, not once but many times. Logical perhaps, if she was trying to obscure her presence. But as he turned to leave, he saw that none of the systems to support the house had been turned on. If she was staying here, why had she not restored the power and water?

Frowning thoughtfully, he passed back through the kitchen and out into the living area. The breathtaking view across the valley reminded him once again of the deserts of his home planet of Nagara. He felt an unexpected pang of homesickness but quickly pushed it aside. That past was far behind him now. And he was on the hunt.

A set of stairs led up to a sleeping area, and while the scent trail led up there, it was not as fresh as down below. He frowned at the living room. The only furniture consisted of a broken chair and a wooden rocking chair, hardly enough to conceal anyone. Which meant…

“Where are you, mafiti?” he purred as he moved back to the kitchen area. Open shelves hung on the wall above the sink counter. There were some cabinets beneath the counter, but they looked far too small to contain an adult female. The two tall cabinets on the opposite wall looked much more promising. He silently grasped the handle on the first cabinet and yanked it open. Empty. His pulse actually raced with anticipation as he moved to the second cabinet and opened it. Also empty.

He could almost believe that he must be mistaken—that she was not present in the house—but the tenacity that made him such a successful hunter drove him on. The first cabinet under the counter revealed nothing, but the delicious taste of fear increased and he grinned. The second cabinet also revealed nothing, but then he very slowly opened the third door…

Success at last. A female was wedged in there, curled so tightly into the small space that he could almost have mistaken her for a Nagaran female. But no Nagaran female had ever smelled so deliciously of fear. Huge amber eyes glared up at him from a dirty, terrified face, but she bared her teeth in a pitiful attempt to look fierce.

“Go away!” she snarled.

How adorable. Did she really think that an order from such a tiny little thing would have any effect on him? He considered simply pulling her out of the cabinet, but she would undoubtedly fight and potentially hurt herself in the process. Instead, he moved to the opposite wall and leaned his shoulders back against it, crossing his arms over his chest. Her eyes widened even further as she saw the full length of his tail.

“You might as well come out, little mafiti,” he drawled. “I’m not going anywhere.”

She leaned forward, and for a moment he thought she intended to obey. Instead, she snatched the cabinet door and pulled it closed again. He burst into laughter.

“That does not strike me as an ideal living space,” he said as his laughter faded. “You’re going to get very hungry, and thirsty.”

“I’m used to it.” The words were defiant, barely audible through the closed door, but he frowned.

If she was thirsty, why had she not turned on the water system? And as for hunger, this was good hunting territory—although perhaps not for a human female. Based on the rumors he had heard, they were singularly ill-equipped to defend themselves. His brief glimpse of her certainly hadn’t revealed fangs or claws or any other obvious weapons.

Still frowning, he returned to the mechanical room, keeping the door open to make sure she didn’t try and escape him. As much as his blood surged at the thought of chasing her down, he had no desire to pursue a defenseless prey.

The water system was several years out of date, but it was simple enough to operate. A few quick adjustments, and he heard the distant gurgle as the pipes started to fill. He went back to the kitchen sink and turned on the faucet, letting the water cascade into the basin, then leaned down and opened the cabinet door again.

“There is water available.”

“What’s it going to cost me?” she asked suspiciously.

“An exit from your charming little hiding place.” He flashed a quick smile at her and saw her flinch. “Whenever you’re ready, of course,” he added graciously, and shut the door.

He resumed his position against the opposite wall and waited. And waited. Her resistance surprised him, but perhaps she was not thirsty after all. No matter, he was a patient hunter.

Finally, the door cracked open and those big eyes with their funny little round pupils stared out at him.

“Why are you still here?”

“I’m waiting for you to have a drink.”

He watched in fascination as an impossibly small pink tongue flicked across dry lips. Could she even taste anything with such a tiny appendage? And yet the thought of it stroking his flesh or licking his lips the way she was licking hers made his dotras stir again.

Despite her obvious thirst, she still didn’t emerge from the cabinet. He sighed. Perhaps he would have to pull her out after all and make her drink.

“You are thirsty. Drink,” he ordered.

“What’s it going to cost me?” she asked again.

“Nothing.” When she still didn’t move, he sighed. “I give you my word as a Nagaran that I do not expect payment.”

Another pause, and then she nodded and uncurled herself from the cabinet. His mouth went dry. She was taller than he had expected given the confined space, although still much smaller than a Nagaran female. Her body was mostly hidden beneath an oversized and extremely dirty jumpsuit, but there was the hint of subtle feminine curves. Dark hair was pulled back from her face, the true color difficult to determine beneath the dust. But despite the dirt, despite her bedraggled condition, and despite her completely alien appearance, he had never experienced such an instantaneous rush of desire. His life had definitely gotten a lot more interesting.

CHAPTER THREE

Nancy’s hands gripped the counter as she stared at the intruder and tried to calm her racing pulse. A snake alien! She had never even dreamed such a thing existed. When he first opened the door to her hiding place, she had been almost relieved. At least he wasn’t one of the Tajiri males.

Instead of fur, he had skin in multiple shades of green with a subtle scaled texture. She had immediately focused on his eyes—swirling pools of gold flecked with green surrounding vertical pupils—set in a face that, while alien, was disturbingly attractive. But then she noticed the slender fangs on each side of his wide, sensuous mouth. Her gaze had traveled down over a broad, muscular chest—and down past a leather belt that circled what should have been his waist, only to realize that his lower body consisted of a massive tail, at least twice the length of his upper body.

A tail that carried him across the room in one rapid, sinuous movement. The memory of his speed was the only thing that kept her from running now. That and the crystal clear water flowing into the sink. It was such a long trek to the spring, and she had to ration her water each day. She tried to lick her parched lips again, but her mouth was too dry. She could almost taste the water, but what if this was simply another trap?

“Who are you?” she asked warily.

“I am Kaiyo S’Ainlay, at your service.”

He swept her a surprisingly courtly bow, moving with a fluid grace that made it appear almost… normal.

“What are you?”

“I am Nagaran. You are not familiar with my species?”

A hysterical giggle threatened to escape. “I’m not familiar with any of you.”

Except those bastard Tajiri, of course. But although he clearly wasn’t one of them, why was he here?

“Is this your house?” she asked.

“No. I was looking for its owner.” He raised a hand before she could ask him anything else. “Now drink some water before you fall down. While I am quite capable of catching you, I suspect you would doubt the purity of my intentions.”

His smile somehow managed to be both mocking and sympathetic—and the combination was oddly attractive. Unfortunately, he was right. Her knees felt suspiciously weak. Keeping a wary eye on him, she edged over to the sink, then cupped her hands beneath the flow of water.

Oh, God! The cool water flowing down her throat made her groan ecstatically. The water at the spring was drinkable, but by the time she had carried it back to the house, it was inevitably warm and speckled with dust. She almost forgot her strange visitor as she drank thirstily, then splashed the water over her face and hands, wincing at the amount of dirt that washed into the sink. It would be so nice to be completely clean again.

She was actually considering ducking her whole head under the tap, when Kaiyo cleared his throat. She whirled around to find him watching her, his head tilted a little to one side.

“Ah, yes. I suspected you would clean up nicely.”

The indisputable heat in his gaze made her dart a glance at the door. Could she reach it before he could catch her? She didn’t see any sign of sexual organs on that wide expanse of tail, but she didn’t want to take any chances.

“Yes. I would catch you,” he said, with that same wicked smile, and she jumped.

“How did you—I mean…”

He waved a hand.

“It was quite clear that you were contemplating a mad dash to some imagined safety.”

The mocking note annoyed her enough that she squared her shoulders and glared at him.

“No, I wasn’t. You’re the one who needs to leave. Now.”

“Me?” He arched an eyebrow.

“Yes. You said you weren’t the owner, and I was here first.”

Somewhat to her surprise, his amusement faded. Had she really convinced him to leave? But instead of heading for the door, he pulled a device out of his belt. Her heart sank as she recognized it as one of their communication devices. Was he going to report her?

“Please don’t.” The plea escaped before she could stop herself.

“Don’t what?” He frowned over at her.

“Don’t turn me in.”

“I have no intention of doing so—although that statement is definitely going to require further explanation.” He flashed her a quick grin. “You simply reminded me that I need to notify someone that the owner isn’t here. But if you want to remain undiscovered, then you had best keep quiet while I make this call.”

She nodded obediently, but once he started speaking, she turned and raced for the door. His thick tail wrapped around her waist just as she touched the handle. She gave a despairing cry just as he snapped the device closed.

His tail tightened, pressing her against his body and making her overwhelmingly aware of his size and strength. His skin was surprisingly silky, despite the subtle texture of his scales, and the spicy scent surrounding her was almost… enticing. She must be going crazy.

“I told you not to run from me, mafiti.” His tongue flicked out, long and forked. “The urge to chase you is far too tempting.”

“My name is Nancy, not mafiti,” she told him, with as much dignity as she could manage. “Now let me go.”

“Should I, I wonder?” Those unusual eyes glinted down at her, and then his tongue swept down her cheek in what almost felt like a caress.

“As sweet as I expected,” he murmured, and then he was gone.

He resumed his position against the wall, still giving her that mocking smile.

Keeping her eyes on him, she put her hand on the door handle again and slowly swung the door open. He watched her with that lazy, mocking smile, apparently completely relaxed, but she was quite sure that he was prepared to come after her if she tried to leave. Instead, she gestured from him to the open door.

“Like I said, you can go now.”

The faintest hint of surprise flashed across his face before he raised an eyebrow. “Now why would I want to do that?”

“Because you just said that the person you’re looking for isn’t here—and this isn’t your house.”

“It isn’t your house either.”

She lifted her chin. “Well, I’ve claimed it.”

“Indeed? Then why were you so concerned that I should turn you in? Are you in trouble, mafiti?” The last question seemed almost sympathetic, but she had no reason to trust him. “I must admit I’m surprised to find a human female out here in the middle of nowhere,” he added thoughtfully.

“You know what I am?”

“Of course. It’s my business to know things.”

“Why?”

“Because people pay me to make their problems go away. And I’m very good at my job.”

His confidence was actually rather impressive.

“I could even make your problems go away. For a suitable payment,” he added.

Her admiration vanished. She had no doubt what kind of payment he would demand.

“No, thank you. I’m doing just fine on my own,” she lied. “But there are other women—human females—here on this planet?”

“Two of whom I am aware.”

“Are they… are they slaves?”

The mockery vanished, and his face seemed to soften. “Originally, but no longer. Is that what happened to you? Although…” He looked around the empty cabin and shook his head. “Why would your owner have left you here?”

She wanted to deny it but his gaze was all too knowing.

“I escaped,” she admitted. “When they picked us up from the mines, there was some… confusion, and I managed to get away.”

He frowned at her. “Human females are far too valuable to be condemned to a mine. How did you end up there?”

“Because I killed one of those furry bastards when he tried to rape me,” she said defiantly. “So you’d better not try anything.”

He actually looked offended. “I would never force an unwilling female.” But then that wicked smile resurfaced. “Of course, I rarely find females to be unwilling.”

“Well, I am.”

He tilted his head to one side, his lips curving as he studied her, but to her surprise, he changed the subject.

“I think the next thing to do is to feed you.”

“You don’t have to do that. I’ll take care of it myself. After you go,” she added pointedly.

“I have no intention of leaving while you’re hungry.”

“I’m not hungry.” Her empty stomach protested her words. There had been a stock of dry packaged items in one of the cabinets, and for the first few weeks she had existed on them. Despite her uneasy thoughts about expiration dates, she had been desperate enough to rehydrate them. None of them had been particularly tasty, but nor had they poisoned her.

But pickings had been slim since then. She had managed to rig up a primitive slingshot from a forked branch and a rubber tube she had wrestled off one of the machines in the utility room. Her brothers had taught her long ago, and her skills came back with a little practice. Unfortunately, the only targets she could find were the small desert lizards and an occasional rodent.

“Don’t lie to me, mafiti,” Kaiyo said, crossing to her side with that effortless speed. Long, cool fingers lifted her chin so that she was staring directly up at him. “You are hungry. I will provide food.”

“And then you’ll leave?” she asked hopefully, trying to ignore the fact that his grasp on her chin felt strangely comforting.

“Perhaps.” His lips quirked at the annoyance she couldn’t conceal, and then he released her and disappeared through the door. She watched him go, the green of his scales blending surprisingly well into the desert. His muscles rippled across his broad back, and she could almost believe that he was simply a graceful man until her gaze dropped to the tail propelling him with such ease.

He vanished behind some rocks, and she was alone.

She took a few steps towards the edge of the small plateau upon which the cabin had been built and came to a halt. Where was she going to go? The town was the obvious answer, but even if it hadn’t still made her nervous, it was a very small town. If Kaiyo decided to pursue her, she didn’t think it would take him long to find her. She considered the mines, but discarded that idea even quicker. The thought of being lost in the pitch-black tunnels horrified her.

But where did that leave her? The isolated desert that surrounded her was no more hospitable than it had been when she first escaped. There was nowhere for her to go.

Maybe Kaiyo really will leave once he feeds me, she thought optimistically. Perhaps his insistence on staying had more to do with his desire for knowledge than any interest in her personally. Remembering the look in his eyes she wasn’t entirely convinced, but he had seemed genuinely appalled by the idea of forcing her. The fact that he hadn’t hurt her so far was definitely a point in his favor.

If it was curiosity keeping in here, then she simply needed to convince him she was far too boring to be worth his time. And in the meantime, she was alone with fresh flowing water for the first time in months. She was going to seize the opportunity to get clean again.

FROM HIS HIDDEN position on the hillside, Kaiyo smiled as Nancy turned and re-entered the cabin. It had been a calculated risk, leaving her alone, but given the fact that she had stayed until now, despite the barrenness of her surroundings, he suspected she had nowhere else to go. The thought of those surroundings erased his smile. No female should be living in such conditions. She should have a male to provide for her, to hunt for her as he was doing now.

But of course, he had nothing else to offer. This was an interesting interlude, nothing more. He could be nothing more.

But when he returned to the cabin a short while later bearing two plump waaths, he felt as victorious as any male carrying home the results of a worthy hunt to his mate.

CHAPTER FOUR

Nancy’s wide-eyed look of surprise at the sight of his kill would have pleased Kaiyo if he hadn’t been so bemused at the change in her appearance. She had taken advantage of his absence to cleanse herself more thoroughly, washing away the last streaks of dirt from her face and revealing impossibly smooth golden skin with a sprinkle of darker gold specks. She had washed the dust from her hair, revealing its natural rich brown and it curled damply around her face.

The dirty jumpsuit still concealed her figure, but he could see why the slavers had taken her. She would be a prize worthy of any king’s harem.

“I said, where did you find those?” she repeated, and he realized that he had been too busy staring to pay attention the first time she asked the question.

“They live amongst the rocks. A little small perhaps, but two of them should provide an adequate meal.” He placed them on the counter, and then frowned at her.

“If you didn’t know about the waaths, what have you been hunting?” His gaze traveled down to those small, defenseless hands. Now that they were clean, he could see scratches marking the delicate skin. “And how?”

After a brief hesitation, she reached into the pocket of her jumpsuit and pulled out an odd-looking device. A rubber tube was attached to each side of a forked stick.

“What is that?”

“It’s called a slingshot.”

He shook his head. “I find it unbelievable that you have managed to survive out here without a male to protect you.”

Her small brows drew together as she glared at him. “I’m quite capable of providing for myself.”

“With a… slingshot?”

“It works just fine, if you know what you’re doing. Here. I’ll show you.”

She turned and marched out the door, and he followed, amused at her outrage.

Once they were outside, she reached down and picked up a small rock before turning to him. “Now give me a target.”

She was so adorably determined to prove herself that he took pity on her.

“How about that red rock?” he asked, pointing to a good-sized rock only a short distance away.

Her scowl only deepened. “Don’t patronize me. How about that one?”

“If you insist.”

Not only was the rock she pointed to much smaller, but it was a good distance further away. He doubted that she would reach it, but he decided he would not make a point of her failure. He had tried to impress his father once, challenging an opponent far too large for his size, and he still remembered how much it had hurt when his father laughed at his inevitable failure and dismissed his efforts.

She placed the rock on the rubber strand, then pulled it back and let it fly. To his utter astonishment, she hit her target squarely in the middle, then turned to him with a triumphant grin.

“You see?”

He started to laugh, and swept her a bow. “I was obviously quite mistaken about your skills. I apologize.”

“Thank you,” she said as graciously as any lady of the Royal House.

“However, much as it distresses me to point this out, given your obvious skill, why are you hungry?”

Her smile faded as her shoulders sagged. He was immediately tempted to retract the question, but she gave him a rueful smile.

“I can hit a target once I find it—but I have to find it first. This…” She gestured at the rocky mountainside. “This isn’t the kind of landscape I’m used to, and I have a hard time knowing where to hunt. The only thing I can find with any regularity are these small lizards and they’re not exactly filling.”

And she didn’t think she needed a male to provide for her? The thought of her scraping together sustenance on her own infuriated him, but this time he had the sense not to voice the sentiment.

“In that case, it is time I remedied the situation. After you, my lady.”

She shot him a suspicious look, but then she headed back to the cabin without arguing and triumph filled him. Keeping his face carefully blank, he followed her inside. Instead of moving away and ignoring him, she lingered, watching in fascination as he started to skin the waaths.

“Can I help?”

“Are you sure? It’s not a task for a delicate female,” he added provocatively. As he expected, the adorable scowl returned immediately.

“I’m quite capable of helping. Besides,” she added with a defiant look, “I want to know how to do it after you’re gone.”

He only barely managed to hide his grin. She wouldn’t be getting rid of him that easily.

“I am desolated to have to tell you this, but it appears that I will be spending the night,” he said, attempting to look contrite.

“What? No, you can’t.”

“Unfortunately, my flyer is not functioning,” he said sadly.

“I don’t believe you.”

“Go and see for yourself.”

He kept his face innocent as she gave him a suspicious glare and went to do just that. He even opened the flyer door for her since it was coded to his thumbprint. She surprised him by locating the starter. How fortunate that he had disconnected the ignition.

“How are you going to fix it?” she demanded, after producing nothing but a series of fruitless clicks.

“Tomorrow I will venture into the town and see if I can locate some tools.”

“You could go tonight—and spend the night there.”

He gestured at where the sun was setting over the mountains on the far side of the valley, the sky brilliant in shades of red and gold.

“In the dark? Surely you wouldn’t be so cruel.”

She looked down at the dark shadow of the mining town and shivered, then slowly shook her head. “I suppose not.”

He managed to suppress his triumph and school his face into an expression of limpid innocence when she glared at him.

“But no funny business.”

“I’m not here for any kind of business.”

“I meant… Never mind. Just behave yourself.”

“Of course,” he said as she turned and stalked back to the house, her small backside swaying as enticingly as any tail.

NANCY SCOWLED as she headed back into the cabin. It seemed way too convenient that Kaiyo’s vehicle had suddenly stopped working, but it had definitely not responded to her efforts. On the other hand, why would he insist on staying? Although there was one obvious answer, he hadn’t done anything to try and force her so far.

I wonder if he thinks he can seduce me? she thought incredulously.

Despite his undeniable charm and that wicked smile and his attempts to provide for her, she wasn’t foolish enough to think she’d be anything more than a notch on his belt. The I fucked a human female notch.

But when he moved up next to her at the kitchen counter, his spicy scent washing over her, she found an unexpected pleasure in the heat of his big body.

“Are you going to show me what to do?” she asked, shaking off the momentary lapse.

“Of course, if that is what you wish.” He looked past her at the setting sun. “Although this would be easier with more light. What do you do after dark?”

“Go to bed.” And try not to think about the fact that she was stranded on a planet somewhere far from Earth.

“Why not turn on the lights?” Kaiyo asked. “Are you concerned about being seen?”

She was tempted to agree, but she sighed and told him the truth instead. “Not really. After the first week, I decided that no one was going to come looking for me. And I’ve never seen any lights or any indication of life.”

She had followed his gaze out at the sunset, and now she found herself frowning down at the town being swallowed up in shadow.

“What is it?” he asked softly, and she looked up to find him looking at the town as well.

“I don’t know. There’s something about that place that makes me feel uneasy.” She gave him a rueful smile. “But to answer your question, the reason I haven’t turned on the lights is because I don’t know how to start the power.”

To her relief, he didn’t laugh, but simply nodded thoughtfully.

“Then I shall remedy that situation.”

He disappeared into the utility room, and within a few minutes she heard a distant hum. A short time later, the bank of lights over her head came on.

She hadn’t realized until that moment how much she had become accustomed to the natural rhythm of living by the sun. The overhead lights seemed far too bright, glaring in her eyes. The world outside the windows turned darker in contrast, making her feel as if she was on display for whatever waited in the darkness. An involuntary cry of distress escaped her just as Kaiyo returned. The bright lights rendered him even more alien, but despite his strange appearance, he seemed to understand the cause of her dismay and immediately dimmed the lights to barely more than a subtle glow.

“Is that better?”

“Yes, thank you. It’s just been a long time.”

“Under the circumstances, it was a sensible thing to live in accordance with nature. I do the same thing when I hunt.” His sensuous lips twisted. “Not that I’ve had many chances to hunt… until today.”

She suspected he was referring to more than just his pursuit of the waaths, but she resolutely changed the subject. “Now are you going to show me what to do?”

From the mockery in his smile, she was quite sure he knew what she was doing, but he didn’t comment. Instead, he showed her how to strip the thin, scaly skin from the carcasses, watching approvingly as she followed his instructions.

“You don’t seem disturbed by the process.”

“I have three older brothers. They took me hunting with them.”

Her brothers. As always, a lump formed in her throat at the thought of them. Yes, they were bossy and annoying, and there were many times when she wished she was an only child, but they had been a constant part of her life. Even after she graduated from college and settled down in their hometown, at least one of them was likely to show up on her doorstep at least once a week. Sometimes to catch a meal, but more often just to check up on her and provide her with unwanted but well-meaning advice. What would they think of her situation now?

Determined not to break down in front of him, she redirected the question at him. “What about you? Do you have any brothers or sisters?”

As shadow crossed over his face. “No. I am the sole result of my father’s unfortunate attempt at mating.”

Despite the light, mocking tone, there was something in his voice that hinted at an old pain.

“I’m sorry,” she said softly.

“No need. I accepted my parent’s failures a long time ago. Now. How shall we prepare these?” He looked around the kitchen. “I don’t believe this kitchen was designed for more than heating prepared meals.”

“I’ve been using the fireplace.”

“Excellent. A much more appropriate way to cook the results of the hunt.”

“There’s wood in the outbuilding.” Fortunately for her—the surrounding vegetation tended towards small and scrubby.

He returned with an armful of wood that would have taken her at least four trips to carry. As she watched in bitter envy, he neatly arranged the wood, then pressed a small switch that ignited a flame beneath the stack. It had taken her such a long time to figure out how to start a fire, and all along the fireplace had an ignition switch.

He arranged the waaths on branches over the flames, then turned to smile at her.

“Not long now. A good hunt always makes me hungry.”

She saw the heat in those swirling golden eyes and prayed that roast meat was the only thing on the menu.

CHAPTER FIVE

Nancy took a cautious bite of the roast waath, then moaned ecstatically. It tasted every bit as good as it had smelled while it was cooking. The small lizards that had formed the bulk of her diet over the past weeks weren’t terrible, but they were dry and rather flavorless. This meat had enough fat to render it juicy, and the taste reminded her a little of wild boar.

She took another bite, then another, humming with pleasure, before looking over at Kaiyo. She had avoided glancing in that direction since she had seen him swallow a quarter of the waath, bones and all. He was no longer eating. Instead, he was watching her. His eyes were focused on her mouth, and the heat in his gaze was unmistakable. But when he met her eyes, he simply gave her a lazy smile.

“I believe you are enjoying the waath.”

“You know I am,” she snapped, then winced at how ungracious she sounded. “Thank you for providing it.”

“I would never allow a female to go hungry.” The words sounded surprisingly solemn, but when she studied his face, the careless smile returned. “And it was good to practice my skills.”

“You don’t hunt very often?”

“An interesting question. Let us say I do not hunt for game very often.”

“You said you solve problems. Is that how? By finding things—finding people?”

He shrugged a shoulder, and the movement rippled through the defined muscles of his chest and abdomen and down into his tail. She watched in fascination as the firelight played across his shimmering scales.

“Sometimes.”

“You’re very evasive.”

“I don’t believe you have been exactly forthcoming yourself.” His gold-green eyes glinted at her. “Shall we exchange questions?”

She took another bite of the meat as she considered. He already knew that she was an escaped slave. There didn’t seem to be much harm in answering whatever other questions he had. And she did find herself curious about him.

“All right. Do I get the first question?”

“I am tempted to respond that you just did, but no.” His fangs flashed as he smiled. “Since it was my idea, I’ll go first. How did you end up here on Yangu?”

Even after all this time, it still seemed unreal to her. One minute she had been walking back from a cookout at her oldest brother’s house, and the next she had awoken on an alien spaceship, caged along with an assortment of exotic creatures who were most definitely not from Earth. The guards, stocky, hairy aliens who bore a surprising resemblance to primitive humans, had paid no attention to her demand for answers. She hadn’t even been able to understand them until shortly before the ship landed. Then they had shoved a translation device into her ear as they hauled her off to be sold—to her attempted rapist.

By the time she finished her story, he was frowning and the end of his tail was lashing back and forth. She would have been nervous, but the anger seemed to be on her behalf.

“You don’t seem to approve,” she said cautiously. “But I was under the impression that slavery was common. Do you not believe in it?”

“It is not a question of belief. It exists in the Empire, although individual systems handle it differently. There are no slaves on my home planet of Nagara.”

“How did you end up here instead?”

“I believe that’s two questions from you.”

She huffed at him. “The first one didn’t really count.”

“Why not?” He raised an eyebrow.

“Because I wasn’t asking anything personal. I was just asking your opinion.”

“I assure you my opinions are entirely personal.” He laughed. “The annoyed look on your face is completely adorable.”

She could feel her cheeks burning, even though she was not usually inclined to blush. Even though he had spoken lightly, the intensity in his eyes belied the humor. She was suddenly conscious of how close they were, sitting together in front of the flames with darkness surrounding them. There was an intimacy to the situation that she hadn’t experienced in a very long time. His eyes were so focused on her face, and he was so close she could detect his intriguing spicy scent. She had the foolish impulse to lean even closer to him, to take comfort in the presence of another after being on her own for so long. Even in the mines, surrounded by slaves and guards, she had been alone.

Don’t be an idiot, she scolded herself and tore her eyes away from him.

“I believe it’s my turn,” he said, his voice cool and matter-of-fact, but when she snuck a quick glance at him, the warmth in his eyes hadn’t faded. She wasn’t actually sure that it was his turn, but perhaps it would bring an end to this false sense of intimacy.

“You said you had hunted before, but not in a place like this. Where did you hunt?”

“I’m not sure that I would have ever called myself a hunter. I just went with my brothers when they let me. We lived on the edge of the mountains—but not mountains like these. Our mountains were softer, older I think, and full of trees and wildlife.”

“Did you enjoy hunting?” he asked softly.

“Not particularly,” she admitted. “But I always loved being with my brothers. I have three, all older, and they practically raised me after my mother left.”

“Your mother left you?” There was a peculiar note in his voice, but she was too focused on the past to pay much attention. Why, after all these years, did it still hurt so much?

“She decided she didn’t want to be married to my father anymore. She knew my brothers would never leave him, but she told me she would come back for me.”

“And she did not?”

“No. She found herself a rich husband—or at least richer than my dad—and married him and had a whole new family.”

He gave a soft hiss, but she shook her head. “It wasn’t that bad, once I realized she wasn’t coming back. My dad worked a lot, but I always knew he loved me, and my brothers were always there. They were good to me, even though they tended to forget that I was a girl.”

She hadn’t minded until she started to grow up. There hadn’t been anyone to explain the changes she was going through or show her how to use makeup or any of the things that a teenage girl valued. It didn’t help that everyone in her small hometown knew her brothers, and no one in her high school had been brave enough to ask her out and risk their wrath. Which was why she had gone to the other side of the country to go to college. To find out who she was when she wasn’t just the youngest Taylor. The experience had been liberating and she had enjoyed all four years, but when she graduated, she decided to return home. And she had never regretted that decision. The thought of her hometown, of her dad and her brothers, made her heart ache.

“I am sorry that you were taken,” Kaiyo said softly.

“Is there… is there any way to go back?”

“I’m afraid not. Traffic to your planet is strictly forbidden, which unfortunately means that the only ships which would attempt the journey would belong to those who operate outside the law.” He shook his head. “Unless you happened upon the rare individual who could be trusted, you would simply be added to their cargo and sold at the next opportunity.”

An overwhelming wave of loneliness swept over her. Even though she had suspected all along that she would never be going home, the reality hurt. Kaiyo’s tail wrapped around her waist, followed by his arm around her shoulder. She knew she should push him away, but there was a surprising amount of comfort in his presence, and she let herself lean against his broad shoulder. His skin was warm and silky beneath her cheek and his scent filled her head. They sat in silence until a branch popped in the fireplace, the noise breaking the spell and bringing her back to the present.

She tried to push herself away from him, and for the briefest second, he refused to let her go. Then his arm dropped and his tail released her, but it was a potent reminder of his far superior strength.

Picking up the bones of the waath, she searched for any remnants she might have missed while she fought to compose herself.

“Would you like this?” Kaiyo offered her the remains of his dinner. More than half of it was left, and she was tempted, but she shook her head.

“You need to eat too, and you’re a lot bigger than I am.”

“Indeed.” His voice had dropped back into that slightly mocking purr, and she almost welcomed the change. “But my system processes food very efficiently. Take it, if you are hungry.”

“I’d better not. It’s been a long time since I had that much to eat.”

He frowned, but didn’t press her to take the meat.

“Do you miss your planet?” she blurted out, still thinking of Earth. “Can you go back?”

“Yes and no.” He laughed when she huffed again. “Yes, I miss it. No, I can’t go back.”

“Why not?”

“I was banished,” he said calmly, but once again she thought she detected a hint of old pain behind the casual tone.

“Why?”

“I could say it was because I was falsely accused of plotting against my cousins, but I know all too well that no one ever admits to their dastardly deeds. I wouldn’t expect you to believe me.”

Did she believe him? Even in the short time they had known one another, she could believe that he would be deceitful. She could certainly believe that he was capable of scheming to achieve his goals. But every time he had given her his word, he had kept it. His behavior had been almost… honorable.

“Did you like your cousins?” she asked thoughtfully.

Surprise flashed across his face before he shrugged a shoulder again. “As a matter of fact, yes.”

“In that case, I believe you.”

This time, he couldn’t hide his shock. “Why?”

“Because I think you have a sense of honor. And I don’t think it would be honorable to harm those you care about. Am I wrong?”

“No. But you’re the only one who has ever thought that.”

“I’m sorry,” she said softly, impulsively putting her hand on his arm. She could feel the tension in the hard muscles and heard him catch his breath. He put his hand over hers and gently raised it to his mouth, pressing a kiss to the back of it. She felt the warmth of his lips as they pressed against the back of her hand, his tongue lightly caressing her skin before he raised his head.

“Thank you, mafiti.”

She had the oddest desire to lean closer, to press her lips to that wide mouth and explore that strange tongue. Time seemed to come to a halt—and then she panicked and jumped to her feet.

CHAPTER SIX

“I’m going to bed now,” she said with as much dignity as she could manage, even though she knew her cheeks were burning.

Without waiting for him to respond, she turned and fled up the stairs to the bedroom. The massive bed was one of the few pieces of furniture that had remained, and it had become her refuge. A refuge she needed tonight, more than ever. Somehow she doubted she would sleep much knowing that Kaiyo was in the house.

She cast a wistful glance at the big bathtub as she went into the bathroom and turned on the tap in the sink. The cool, clear water flowing from it was still miraculous. Instead of the small jug she had been using, she could actually wash her face and hands and as much of her body as she wanted without having to lug each ounce from the springs to the house. But as much as she would love a proper bath, there was no way she would be able to relax in the tub knowing that he was nearby. In the meantime, she settled for stripping off her dusty jumpsuit and giving herself a quick sponge bath.

Maybe tomorrow he can fix his flyer, she thought optimistically, then hesitated. Did she really want him to leave so soon? She looked at herself in the mirror and realized she looked almost… happy.

Only this morning she had admitted to herself that she was lonely. The first few days after the transport left, she had reveled in the open air and the peaceful solitude, grateful to be away from the darkness of the mines and the constant presence of the guards.

But as the days passed, and as she struggled to find food and water, the solitude had not seemed quite so friendly. The only sound was a constant rush of the wind. There wasn’t even much in the way of wildlife—no birds chirping or insects humming.

She had found herself returning to the town, walking aimlessly through the empty buildings and wondering about the people who had lived there. But the town made her uneasy. She still had that constant feeling that she was being watched. Eventually, she stopped going and concentrated on trying to survive with what she could find closer to the house. Finding the spring had helped, and she had managed to rig up her slingshot, remembering those long-ago games with her brothers.

She had learned to survive, but that hadn’t erased the isolation. Once Kaiyo left, she would be alone again.

That’s fine, she thought. I can take care of myself.

And she could, but maybe it would be foolish not to admit that she could use some help. She had spent such a long time trying to persuade her brothers to let her do things on her own that sometimes she forgot it was okay to admit that she needed help. Just a little help. Maybe she should ask him to show her how to hunt the waath while he was here. Or see if he had any other hunting suggestions. With more variety in her diet, plus both running water and power, she would be much better off after he left.

But you will be alone again, an inner voice whispered.

For a fleeting moment, the thought of asking him to take her with him crossed her mind, but she immediately dismissed it. Where would she go? He’d already indicated that it was impossible for her to return to Earth, and she certainly didn’t trust the Tajiri. For all she knew, she was still down on their books as an escaped slave. No, better to remain here and keep focusing on making a new life. On her own.

She reached for her nightgown, then hesitated. On one of her early visits to the town, she had explored the “hotel” on the main street. It hadn’t taken much exploration to confirm that it had actually been a whorehouse. The rooms were mostly empty, abandoned like the rest of the town, but she’d stumbled upon a box of discarded clothes. To say that they weren’t her type of clothing was an understatement at best, not to mention the fact that they were completely impractical. But one of the less outrageous items had been a thin, silky gown in a pretty shade of pink, and she hadn’t been able to resist. The soft material came down to her ankles, and even though it had an odd little slit in the back which she had decided was intended to accommodate a tail, it was extremely comfortable and she usually wore it to sleep in.

Should I wear it tonight? she wondered. Kaiyo was downstairs after all—and despite the air of danger he projected, he hadn’t done anything to harm her. She looked over at the dirty jumpsuit, then back at the nightgown, and sighed. The nightgown was better than being naked—and wearing it would allow her to rinse out the jumpsuit. She gave the garment a quick wash, then pulled on the nightgown and left the bathroom.

“Now I find that outfit far more becoming,” Kaiyo purred, and a ridiculously girly scream escaped her lips.

He was sprawled across the big bed, his upper body raised on one elbow as he studied her. The pose displayed his very impressive muscles to his advantage. With his striking good looks and seductive smile, he could have been a model advertising expensive cologne—except for the scales and the thick tail, of course.

“What are you doing up here?” she demanded, trying to ignore how exposed she felt with nothing more than a thin layer of silk covering her skin.

“Is this not the bedroom?”

“It is my bedroom. And how did you get up the stairs?” she added, her eyes flicking to his tail.

“I assure you, I am quite capable of climbing. And perfectly capable of handling stairs as well.” His voice had that same mocking note again, and once again she found herself blushing.

Dammit. How could he make her feel like a silly schoolgirl? She raised her chin.

“I don’t care if you can climb. This is my room.”

“I’m devastated to have to point this out, but I believe that technically this building doesn’t belong to either of us. So I have just as much right here as you do. And where else would you expect me to sleep?”

“Can’t you just—curl up or something?” she asked, gesturing at his tail.

“If you mean am I physically capable of doing so, of course. Just as I suspect you are physically capable of ‘curling up’ as you put it and sleeping on the floor. However, I am a… civilized male, and I prefer a bed.”

“But—”

“You are more than welcome to share it, of course,” he added graciously.

Of all the freaking nerve. But even though it was her bed, she couldn’t see any practical way of getting him out of it. She stalked over to the balcony, looking down at the living room below. Neither of the chairs looked like a particularly appealing prospect.

He sighed. “I will give you my word as a Nagaran that I will not lay a hand on your delightful little body while you are sleeping.”

She turned to look at him and found him regarding her with unexpected solemnity. It really was a very large bed, and it looked even softer and more comfortable than usual.

She bit her lip. “You promise?”

“I give you my word.”

Their eyes met, and she wanted to trust the sincerity in those swirling gold eyes.

“All right,” she muttered, then winced when she realized how petulant she sounded. “Thank you.”

He waited silently as she climbed into the far side of the bed, as far away from him as she could possibly get, then pressed one of the switches that had not worked previously, and the lights went out.

The room was not completely dark, of course. Moonlight shone through the big windows, and she could see the starlit sky over the shadow of the mountains across the valley. But it was dark enough to make the room feel intimate. She could hear the faint sound of his breathing, the soft rustle as he adjusted his position, and his delicious, spicy scent wrapped around her.

“Relax, mafiti,” he said softly. “No harm will come to you this night.”

She noticed that he didn’t say anything about the next day, but somehow, his words comforted her, and her body slowly relaxed. Despite her best efforts to stay awake until she was sure he was asleep, it had been a long and traumatic day and she eventually gave into exhaustion.

KAIYO SMILED into the darkness as Nancy’s breathing settled into the soft rhythm of sleep. This was progressing most promisingly—although it was a shame he promised not to touch her. He would have liked to tuck that soft little body against his side, perhaps even explore their differences a little more. But when he had seen her hesitation and caught the sweet tang of fear, his first impulse had been to reassure her.

She whimpered softly in her sleep, and he started to reach her before he remembered his promise. He regretfully pulled his arm back, but then she turned towards him. No doubt the heavier weight on his side of the bed made her roll towards him, and she ended up with her face pressed to his chest. His smile turned into a grin. He had promised not to touch her, but he had given her no assurances that he would prevent her from touching him. And even though his dotras were pushing eagerly against his slit from the combination of her soft body and delightful fragrance, for the moment he was surprisingly content.

Tomorrow should prove to be a very interesting day.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Nancy woke up the next morning with her face pressed against Kaiyo’s broad chest. His leg was thrown over hers while his arm circled her waist and reached up between her breasts… Wait a minute. He didn’t have legs, and his arm was already around her shoulders. She realized that the heavy weight across her legs was part of his tail, and the end of it was wrapped around her waist and nestled in her small cleavage.

Part of her thought she should be panicking, but she actually felt surprisingly comfortable, and she took a few deep breaths of his reassuring scent. However, she didn’t want to give him the wrong impression by remaining snuggled against his body. His deep, slow breathing indicated that he was still asleep so maybe she could simply slip away. As she cautiously put her hand on the end of his tail, intending to pull it free, it started to vibrate. The sensation sent little pulses of pleasure through her breasts, and her nipples started to harden. She had the strangest urge to rub his tail over the aching points. A spark of excitement went straight to her clit at the thought, and she was suddenly, shockingly aroused. How long had it been since she felt even the slightest sexual urge?

As if in response to her thoughts, the tip of his tail moved, sweeping across the thin silk covering her now rock-hard nipples. It traveled from one peak to the other, then curved around one taut bud and tugged with astonishing dexterity. The resulting streak of lightning raced through her body, and she moaned.

The sound of her own voice made her freeze, even before it was followed by a low chuckle. Kaiyo rolled her over on her back, his big body looming over her like some mythical creature.

“Good morning, mafiti. What a pleasant way to start the day.”

He bent down, and she thought he was about to kiss her, but instead he rubbed his chin against the hollow of her neck, his scent increasing. The slight abrasion felt surprisingly good, as did the warm heavy weight of his body over hers.

Her nipples throbbed, and her entire lower body felt like one needy ache, but she forced herself to push at his shoulders. They felt like solid wood beneath her hands, but he obligingly raised his head.

“You promised you wouldn’t touch me,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady. “Maybe I was wrong about you being honorable.”

His lazy smile disappeared.

“You were the one who came to me. You curled against me during the night.”

Her cheeks were heating again, but she ignored them and lifted her chin. “I didn’t wrap your tail around my… nipples.”

“No, that was quite my own idea. Not that you seem to object.” His tail still circled a taut peak, and it tightened a little more, sending another streak of fire straight to her clit. “And besides, my promise was for last night. It is a new day.”

He lowered his head, his long tongue gliding along her jaw before he whispered, “Perhaps we can find a way to please each other.”

A thick, unmistakable length stirred against her lower stomach. He had a cock after all, and panic raced through her system.

“Does that mean you’re going to rape me now?” Her voice shook.

He drew back as if she had slapped him, and what looked like hurt flashed over his face before he assumed the sardonic look she had seen the day before.

“I told you that I would never force an unwilling female. Forgive me for mistaking responsiveness for willingness.”

He rose out of the bed as he spoke in her gaze snapped to where his cock, no, cocks, had emerged from a vertical slit in his lower abdomen.

“Two,” she whispered, unable to tear her eyes away. Although they were both the same creamy color as his stomach, they weren’t identical. The bottom one was thick and heavy, covered with small, almost spiky-looking protrusions. The upper one was slightly smaller and much smoother, with only a series of narrow ridges circling its length.

“Why do you have two cocks?” The question escaped before she could prevent it.

“Not cocks, dotras. They serve different purposes.” He ran a finger along the smoother one. “This one strokes inside the upper channel. To pleasure the female while the mating dotra grips her lower channel and releases its seed.”

“But I don’t have an upper channel,” she said, then immediately felt her face heat. “Not that I’m suggesting that you would ever… that I would ever…”

“Yes, you made that quite clear.” He grasped the lower cock, giving it a firm tug. “But I’m perfectly capable of satisfying my own needs.”

He raised a mocking eyebrow. “I would suggest you do the same, if you’re capable of admitting that you were aroused.”

With that parting shot, he disappeared into the bathroom, closing the door firmly behind him.

She collapsed back down on the bed, angry, intrigued, and undeniably aroused. Damn him. Her body ached with unsatisfied need, and when she heard the shower start, she slipped her hand beneath her gown. Slickness met her fingers, her swollen clit throbbing as she circled it. She tried to remember past boyfriends, but the image that finally sent her over into a shattering climax was the image of Kaiyo beneath the shower, his hands working those intriguing cocks.

KAIYO CAREFULLY SHUT the bathroom door behind him, resisting the impulse to slam it closed. Her accusation had angered him. He refused to admit that it also hurt. But he was also angry at himself. He had committed the unforgivable mistake of acting impulsively. When he had awoken to find her grasping his tail, her sweet body nestled against his, he hadn’t considered the situation. He had only known that she was warm, and he thought willing, in his arms. The exquisite scent of her arousal had seemed to confirm it.

He had planned to seduce her, of course, eventually, but this had been no careful seduction. Just the desire awakened by her presence. A desire that showed no sign of disappearing anytime soon, he thought ruefully. Their morning encounter had left him harder than he could ever remember being. He sighed and turned on the shower.

As he moved under the water and grasped his lower dotra, images of Nancy filled his head. The way her sweet little breasts had felt against his tail. The way her intriguing little nipples had responded to his touch. The way her scent had grown richer with her arousal. It seemed to surround him even now…

His tongue flicked out, tasting the air, and his lips twisted. So she had decided to take his advice after all. He imagined her hand slipping between those slender thighs, exploring her tempting little cunt. He could only imagine the details, but the image was enough to send the seed spurting from his dotras in a rush of heat that left him limp and drained.

As he leaned against the shower wall afterwards, his muscles still trembling, he realized he had never come that hard before. And at just the thought of the female in the other room. He was in serious trouble.

When he returned to the bedroom, he was disappointed but not surprised to find that Nancy was no longer there. The pink nightgown lay discarded on the bed, and he couldn’t resist picking it up and inhaling her scent. The fragrance of her arousal clung to the silken fabric, and despite the strength of his climax, his dotras threatened to emerge once more. He was tempted to let them, to wrap the silk around his hand as he touched himself and imagined that she was touching him, but in the end it would be a poor substitution. He reluctantly let the nightgown drop and went in search of his quarry.

He found her in the kitchen, picking at the remnants of his waath and studiously avoiding looking at him.

“Did you want some of this?” she offered.

“No. I told you my metabolism is quite efficient. I don’t require food now.”

She nodded, still not looking at him. “Then we should head for town.”

“I thought you didn’t like the town?”

“I don’t. But you said you need supplies to fix your vehicle and I can at least show you where things are located.” She crossed her arms over her chest and lifted her chin. “So you can get it fixed and leave sooner.”

For a moment, he was irritated, but then he noticed her defensive posture. He suspected her desire for him to leave was because she was afraid she might succumb to their mutual attraction.

“Of course. I would hate for my presence to inconvenience you any longer than necessary.”

The color in her cheeks deepened, and then she sighed and her shoulders relaxed.

“I’m sorry. You’ve been very helpful. I was even wondering…”

“Yes?”

“Could you show me how to find the waath burrows? Or if there’s any other game around?”

She finally looked at him, her big amber eyes hopeful. He had to bite back the immediate impulse to assure her that he had no intention of leaving her to provide for herself. Eventually, he would have to leave. He would have to return to the city, and he couldn’t take her. An escaped slave would be under constant threat. That didn’t mean that he couldn’t return. He could bring her food and other supplies.

Pleased at the thought, he smiled at her.

“I would be happy to show you,” he said sincerely. Not only would it give her something to do while he was away, the time teaching her would bring them closer together.

“Thank you.”

She gave him a shy smile, and he had to resist the impulse to pull her into his arms. But then again… He leaned down and rubbed his chin against hers, letting their scents mingle, pulling back before she had a chance to react.

Her hand lifted to her jaw where he had touched her.

“Why do you do that?”

“To seal our bargain,” he said lightly, turning away to hide his shock as the realization swept over him. Scent marking was a mating trait. How had he not even realized what he was doing? Because it isn’t possible for me to take a mate.

“Shall we go?”

CHAPTER EIGHT

As Nancy followed Kaiyo down the steep hillside into the town below, she wondered how she could ever have been foolish enough to think that he wouldn’t be capable of climbing stairs. He traversed the rocky terrain with a graceful ease that made her clumsy, two-legged descent seem even more awkward than normal.

The thought of the previous night—or more specifically this morning—made the heat rise to her cheeks again, but it also left her feeling confused. She had to face the fact that she was undeniably attracted to him. Was it simply because he was the first person who had been nice to her since she was taken? Was it because she was lonely? She tried to tell herself that those were reasonable explanations, but her eyes kept going to the strong lines of his back as she remembered how he had felt on top of her. Neither one seemed adequate to explain the shockingly intense way her body reacted to him.

He looked back over his shoulder to check on her progress and smiled when their eyes met. Her pulse gave an unexpected leap. This was not good. This was not good at all.

He’s only going to be here for a little while, she reminded herself. And then I’ll be alone again.

The thought depressed her, so she pushed it aside and focused on her steps instead.

He waited for her at the point where the angle of the slope increased, and they traveled the rest of the way together.

“The town, and presumably the mines, have been abandoned for a long time,” he said thoughtfully as they climbed down. “I wonder why you were sent here. And why now?”

“It was our job to sift through the remnants of the larger excavations and find the smaller stones, and I don’t think it had been done here before. From what I heard the guard say, it’s actually quite lucrative. Especially when your labor costs are so low,” she added bitterly.

“Maybe Chinit realized that his option of using illegal slaves was about to run out.”

“Chinit?”

“The person I was seeking. His House owns the mine and all of this land, as well as the cabin.”

“If he owns all of it, why didn’t he build a road up to the cabin?” she grumbled as she stumbled over a rock, and he reached out to steady her.

“I doubt he ever had any intention of visiting the mine. If there was something he wanted to know, he would have sent for a supervisor.”

“You don’t like him very much, do you?”

“No. I dislike spoiled, arrogant males who believe their position entitles them to take whatever they want.”

From the bitterness in his voice, she suspected that he was actually referring to someone else, but she didn’t press the matter.

“What did you mean about illegal slaves?”

“Remember how I told you that different systems have different policies regarding slaves? Despite that, there are Imperial laws governing the overall treatment of slaves. Unfortunately, not everyone abides by those laws. Chinit is one of the ones who does not—he’s even involved in an illegal slavery ring.”

“Is that why you were looking for him?”

“I’m afraid not.” He looked over at her as they reached the valley floor. “I was looking for him because he absconded with a female who is mated to an… acquaintance of mine. A human female.”

“Then why did you stay here? Why didn’t you keep looking?”

“Because my acquaintance had located him. That was who I was contacting when you made your rush for safety yesterday.”

She ignored the mockery in his voice. “But did he find her? Is she all right? And—not a slave?”

“I’m sure he found her,” he said soothingly. “Sendat is a formidable adversary.”

They had reached the edge of town now, and she stopped to point out the main buildings.

“Those are the barracks for the guards on that side. As far as I can tell, they’re completely empty.” She shivered. Her uneasiness was always worse in the big empty buildings. “Those are offices, but I doubt you’ll find anything useful. The store was essentially empty and so were the bars.”

“What a shame. And what about that building?”

From the provocative glint in his eyes, she was quite sure he knew exactly what it was.

“It’s a whorehouse,” she said as sternly as she could.

“No doubt the source of that delightful pink gown of yours?”

Dammit, she was blushing again. She really disliked his ability to fluster her.

“Most of the buildings next to the mine entrance seem to have been for storage,” she said, determined to ignore her embarrassment. “But I think the one over on the right was used as a workshop. I think I saw some tools there.”

“Then that’s where I’ll begin. Are you going to accompany me?”

“I thought maybe I would check through the store again, and see if I missed anything. I’ve never liked spending very long down here.”

His face softened, and the end of his tail wrapped around her waist in a brief hug.

“Do you want me to come with you?”

“No, it’s fine.” She gave him a rueful grin. “It helps knowing there’s someone nearby if I need help.”

“I will come at once if you call me,” he spoke with unusual solemnity, but then his mocking smile resurfaced. “Hopefully that will give you enough confidence to check the bars again as well. Just in case something was left behind.”

She laughed, and put her hand on his back to push him in the direction of the workshop. It had been intended as a casual gesture, but as she touched him and felt the muscles rippling beneath his warm silky skin, she had the oddest desire to let her hand linger, to explore more of him. Her nipples tightened, and she took a hasty step back.

“Go on now.”

His eyes were fixed on her face, the swirling pools of gold and green seeming to read her every thought, but he said nothing. After a moment’s hesitation, he turned and headed for the workshop.

The wind whispered past her cheek, and the skin on the back of her neck tingled. There it was again—the sense that she was being watched. She whirled around, but as always there was nothing there. She turned back in time to see Kaiyo disappearing through the workshop doors. Part of her was tempted to follow him, to stay close to his reassuring presence, but she really should take advantage of the trip and see if she could find anything useful.

Shaking off her apprehension, she headed for the closest building. It happened to be a bar, but she wasn’t searching it because he had suggested it, she told herself. The thought of finding a long-forgotten bottle of alcohol was rather tempting. After everything she’d been through in the past year, she deserved a drink.

The visit to the bar was a success. She found the remnants of a case of some type of liquor tucked in a low cabinet behind the counter. She couldn’t carry all of them, but she grabbed two and tucked them into her carrying bag, smiling at the thought of Kaiyo’s surprise.

She had equally good luck at the store. There were several containers of a hard, rice-like grain she had noticed on a previous trip, but she hadn’t been confident about cooking it. Now that they had water and power in the kitchen, she would try boiling it. If nothing else, it would provide a change. There were a few other items she hadn’t been sure about, and she grabbed those as well. Hopefully, Kaiyo would recognize them.

Her satisfaction with the results of her explorations disappeared as she stepped back out onto the street and was struck by a blast of cold, sand-laced air. The sun had vanished, concealed behind heavy, dark clouds. Even the temperature had dropped, and she shivered. A storm was coming.

She had witnessed two of them since she arrived, both from within the safety of the cabin, but she knew how destructive they could be. She needed to find Kaiyo as soon as possible.

“Kaiyo!” she shouted, but the wind whipped the words out of her mouth. It was roaring down from the mountain where the mine was located, and she doubted he could hear her.

As she started up the street, hunched over against the wind, she caught a glimpse of movement out of the corner of her eye. She turned her head and saw what looked like a tail disappearing between the barracks.

“Kaiyo,” she called again, but her voice was still lost in the rising wind.

Dammit. Didn’t he realize how quickly the weather was deteriorating? She altered her course, heading for the narrow passageway between the two buildings where she had seen him disappear.

Stepping between the buildings helped block the force of the wind but didn’t lessen the roar. Between the increasing cloud cover and the dust in the air, it was difficult to see very far. She took a few more steps away from the street and called his name again. There was no response, but the fine hairs on the back of her neck suddenly stood up.

There’s no one there, she told herself as she turned back towards the street.

But this time there was something there.

An animal she had never seen before blocked her path. It wasn’t tall, only about knee height, but it had long arms ending in vicious-looking claws. Dark scales covered a round body that might have seemed comical under other circumstances, but she was too focused on the fact that it was between her and the street. Beady yellow eyes glinted at her, and then its wide mouth opened in a horrible parody of a smile to reveal a double row of pointed teeth.

She took a cautious step away from it, praying that it wouldn’t follow her, but her skin was crawling again. Keeping her eye on the first creature, she put the wall of the building at her back before daring a quick look in the other direction. Another creature blocked her escape path.

They’re not that big, she told herself. And there are only two of them. Maybe I can make a run for it.

But then a third climbed out of a hole beneath the barrack wall. The three of them surrounded her, and even through the roar of the wind she could hear them snarling. The bag she was carrying wasn’t much of a weapon, but it would have to do. She took a firm grip on it, and prayed.

“Kaiyo!” she screamed one last time, just as they rushed her.

CHAPTER NINE

Kaiyo grinned with satisfaction as he tucked the last item he had scavenged into his carrying bag, already anticipating Nancy’s reaction. He had picked up a few tools as well, trying to ignore his guilt at having misled her. Since she had asked him to teach her some of his hunting skills, he didn’t think the ruse was still necessary, but he was in no hurry to “fix” his vehicle.

During his search, he had been conscious that the noise of the wind was increasing, but he didn’t expect it to try and snatch the door out of his hand as soon as he opened it. Dark clouds covered the sun, and the air was heavy with sand. Nancy! He peered into the maelstrom, searching for any sign of her. Hopefully she had taken shelter in one of the other structures. He would start with the one closest to where they had separated, he decided, edging along next to the wall.

The wind swirled around him, and he searched for any sign of her scent. He caught a hint of it, but it was impossible to tell the direction from which it had come. But then he caught another scent and his heart started to pound. Ardik! The vicious little underground dwellers were primarily nocturnal, but what if the darkness of the storm had brought them out of their burrows? He peered frantically through the dust obscuring his surroundings. Where was she?

A faint cry reached his ears, so faint he could almost think he imagined it, but it was coming from across the street. The barracks. He remembered her saying that they made her nervous. How could he have been foolish enough not to pay attention to her concerns?

Keeping his body low to the ground, he sped across the street. Just as he was about to open the door to the first barracks, he heard the cry again. Closer this time, close enough that he could make out the sound of his name. He was sure it hadn’t come from within the building, which meant she was outside in this storm. His pulse racing, he started checking the narrow passageways between the barracks. The first one was empty, and the second.

She was in the third passageway.

He roared with anger when he saw her cornered by three ardiks. She swung a bottle at the closest one, landing a heavy blow, but one of the others leaped for her outstretched arm and sunk its teeth into her flesh before he could intercept it. He reached her side a second later and grabbed it, wrenching its jaws apart and tearing the bottom half of its face off in the process. The one she had hit was staggering back to its feet, but he used his claws to slit its throat before it could attack again. As it collapsed back down to the ground, the third one dove for him. His tail snatched it in midair, strangling the life out of it before casting it aside.

Keeping an eye out for any additional attackers, he bent down over Nancy as she sagged back against the wall. In addition to the gash on her arm, she had vicious bites on her calf and thigh. The gold specks on her skin stood out in vivid contrast to her pallor, but she tried to smile at him.

“You came.”

He could barely hear her over the sound of the storm, but her words made his chest ache. He had been too late, and she had been wounded. How could she smile at him?

“I’m sorry I was late, but I’m here now.”

He started to lift her into his arms, and she cried out. Fuck. He had to get her out of the storm, but how could he move her without hurting her more? Unless…

He put his mouth against her ear so she could hear him over the rush of the wind.

“Don’t be afraid, mafiti, but I’m going to bite you. It may sting a little, but then the pain will go away. Do you understand?”

“Yes. Go ahead.”

He lowered his mouth to her neck, and struck.

She cried out, but then her body softened and, when he raised his head, her gaze had turned dreamy.

“I feel like I’m floating.”

He hadn’t expected her to react that quickly to his venom, but at least he could move her without pain. He pulled one of the sheets he had scavenged out of his bag and wrapped it around her to try and prevent any more of the windborne sand from getting in her wounds. As he lifted her carefully into his arms, she smiled up at him. “I never thought a snake alien would be so sexy.”

He almost stumbled. The venom appeared to be having an intoxicating effect.

“And I didn’t know that a human female would be so desirable,” he murmured, hesitating at the edge of the street to consider his options.

Sheltering in one of the nearby buildings would be quickest, but he wouldn’t have access to water to bathe her wounds. And the ardiks ran in packs. They usually wouldn’t go after someone his size, but his wounded female might prove too tempting. The cabin would undoubtedly be safer, despite the treacherous trip back.

A small wet tongue licked his neck, and he jumped.

“Mmm. You taste as good as you smell,” Nancy sighed.

Definitely intoxicated—which didn’t stop his body from reacting. First things first. He needed to get her back to the cabin, and treat her wounds. Once she had time to recover, they could explore her statement. And perhaps he would even have a chance to find out if the reverse was true.

He pulled the sheet gently over her head to protect her face from the sand, tightened his grip, and set forth into the storm.

THE THROBBING ache in her arm was the first thing Nancy noticed, but despite the discomfort, it seemed muted and somehow far away. Her whole body felt strange, heavy and warm, while her mind floated somewhere above it.

She forced one eye open, then the other, and realized she was back in her bed in the cabin. How had that happened? The last thing she remembered was going to the mining town with Kaiyo, and then…

The memory of the attack swept over her, and she tried to sit up, irrationally afraid that those horrible creatures had followed her here.

A big warm hand gently pushed her back down.

“Hush, mafiti. You’re safe.”

She turned her head and saw Kaiyo curled up on the floor next to the bed—literally curled up with his tail supporting him. Another memory flashed through her mind, of him flying down the narrow passage and pulling the creatures off of her with astonishing ease.

“You came for me.”

He didn’t look triumphant. If anything, he looked more forbidding. He looked tired as well, and for the first time she noticed the raw patches marking his skin.

“What happened? Did those things attack you again?”

“The ardiks do not present a threat to me,” he said with a trace of his usual arrogance.

“Then why are you all scratched up?”

“The storm,” he said shortly.

“You mean you brought me back here during that storm?” Even having seen for herself how strong he was, she could hardly believe it. She’d had trouble standing against the wind—she couldn’t even imagine carrying anyone else.

“You should have waited,” she told him. “I didn’t want you to get hurt on my behalf.”

He shrugged a shoulder. “I thought you would feel safer here. And I needed to cleanse your wounds.”

Another memory floated to the surface. Of the two of them in the big tub. Had it actually happened?

“Were we in the tub together?”

“Yes. You were not quite yourself, and it was the only way I could keep hold of you.”

More images flashed through her mind. But they had a strange hazy quality. Had she really been naked? And had she tried to grab his…

This time she felt as though her entire body was blushing and she tugged the sheet covering her higher, only to realize she was naked beneath it.

“What happened to my clothes?”

“I’m afraid your jumpsuit was rather damaged. I had to remove it to tend to your injuries.” He didn’t meet her eyes. “I did try and dress you afterwards, but you informed me that you wanted to be free.”

Oh my God. She covered her face with her hands, wishing she could sink into the mattress.

“I’m sorry.”

“It wasn’t your fault. You were in a lot of pain and I bit you.”

“You bit me?” Her gaze traveled to the long slender fangs bracketing his mouth, and she shivered, but it didn’t feel like fear.

“In small amounts, my venom can have an anesthetic quality. Apparently it has other effects on a human female. You became somewhat… intoxicated.”

“I’m still sorry if I embarrassed you.”

That brought his eyes back to her face. Then his lips curved in a slow heated smile, and for the first time, he looked like himself again. “I can assure you, mafiti, I was not embarrassed.”

“Why do you keep calling me that? Mafiti?” she asked, eager for a change of subject.

“It is a small creature, native to my planet, with big eyes and a pointed little nose. And it likes to hide in small spaces.”

“You’re calling me a mouse?” A completely unexpected rush of homesickness swept over her. Mouse had been her brothers’ nickname for her.

“Does it upset you?” he asked as tears filled her eyes. “It was not intended as an insult. They are very charming little creatures.”

She shook her head. “It made me think of a nickname my brothers gave me.”

“I see.” He hesitated again. “I should inspect your wounds to make sure that they are healing properly.”

She gulped, carefully drawing her injured arm out from under the covers. The ring of bite marks horrified her, but he nodded as he inspected the wound.

“I see no sign of infection. And I believe I was successful in removing all of the sand.” He flashed her his wicked smile. “Despite the way you were wiggling around.”

Oh, Lord. She was never going to live this down. The worst part was that she kept having flashes of memory that made it only too easy to believe he wasn’t exaggerating.

“Now your legs,” he ordered, then pulled the sheet away from her lower leg.

The examination of the wounds on her calf went smoothly enough, but one of the bites was high on her thigh and he had to uncover most of her leg in order to inspect it. She was hyperaware that only a few inches and a very thin sheet covered her naked pussy. Kaiyo, on the other hand, seemed more focused on her injuries than her lack of clothing. But then he reached for the sheet to pull it back in place and his fingers brushed very lightly over her mound. A rush of lust raced through her so quickly she felt dizzy.

He froze, his eyes heating as his tongue flicked out to taste the air.

“I think perhaps you are still feeling some of the effects of my venom,” he said calmly as he finished putting the sheet back in place. He uncurled his body to move towards the stairs. “I think I had better go and fetch you some broth, before you start demanding to see my dotras again.”

A flash of that wicked smile, and he was gone.

She groaned and pulled the sheet over her face. As much as she would like to have blamed her reaction on his bite, she wasn’t entirely sure that it was true. She had reacted just as strongly to him when they woke up together, and he certainly hadn’t bitten her at that point. Why was she having this reaction to him? Other than the fact that he was protective and charming and surprisingly thoughtful? Not to mention that, despite their differences, she found him extraordinarily attractive. Those swirling golden eyes and the muscles rippling beneath his skin…

Her nipples started to tighten again, and she hastily decided that it wouldn’t help matters to concentrate on his admittedly impressive physique. Maybe she should take advantage of his absence and try and find her nightgown. But when she tried to sit up, she found that her weakened muscles did not want to obey. She sighed and gave up the struggle.

Kaiyo returned a short time later carrying a large mug of delicious smelling broth. He brushed aside her protests and helped her into a sitting position, keeping his arm around her back to support her. She sipped eagerly at the broth and did her best to ignore how good his arm felt against her bare back.

“How long was I unconscious?” she asked.

“Almost two days.” He nodded at the window, where gold was starting to outline the mountains on the other side of the valley. “It is approaching evening on the second day.”

“Maybe that’s why I feel so weak.”

“Perhaps.” He frowned down at her. “I’m worried that it is another side effect from the venom.”

“Maybe, but I remember how much it hurt.” The searing agony of the ardik’s teeth tearing into her flesh was still fresh in her mind. “Thank you for sparing me that.”

“Are you sure?”

He seemed unusually uncertain, but she nodded as firmly as she could.

“I’m sure.” She winced as she tried to lift her arms. “I think it’s starting to wear off though.”

“You are in pain?”

“Not that much. I’m fine,” she lied, even though her wounds were beginning to burn.

He didn’t look as though he believed her, but he took the empty cup away without further questions. By the time he returned to the bedroom a few minutes later, the dull throb was starting to turn into a fiery ache.

“You are in pain.” This time it was not a question.

“Yes,” she admitted. “But I’m sure it will get better soon.”

CHAPTER TEN

Nancy’s optimism proved unfounded. By the time the sun had disappeared completely behind the mountains, she was biting her lip to keep from moaning. Kaiyo glided back and forth across the room in the Nagaran equivalent of pacing.

“I cannot stand to see you like this.” He returned to her bedside and took her hand. “Do you want me to bite you again?”

God, yes. But…

“What if I try and attack you again?” She gasped as another wave of pain rolled over her.

“That is what is concerning you? Foolish mafiti. I won’t let you do anything you will regret. Please let me ease your pain.”

“All right.”

He breathed a sigh of relief and bent down over her. She expected him to head for her neck immediately, but instead he brushed his lips lightly over hers.

“Thank you.”

She was still trying to figure out why he was thanking her when his mouth drifted along her jawline and down her neck. Despite the pain coursing through her body, his mouth felt good against her heated skin. He paused when he reached the sensitive curve between her neck and her shoulder, and pressed another kiss there. A second later, she felt a quick sharp sting, followed almost immediately by a rush of relief.

The pain disappeared beneath a fuzzy pink cloud. She knew it was there, but it couldn’t reach her. As the pain subsided, the rest of her body grew increasingly sensitive. Her nipples felt like heated pebbles, the brush of the sheet almost unbearably arousing, and her clit seemed to throb in time with the beat of her heart.

Kaiyo’s scent surrounded her, his face still nuzzled against her neck as she reached up and stroked the back of his neck. She trailed her hands down to his broad shoulders, his scales silky smooth over the firm muscles.

“Mafiti, remember what I said? I promised not to let you do anything you would regret.” His voice was strained.

She giggled. “Why would I regret this?”

Her own voice sounded strange, low and husky. Part of her knew that she was acting out of character, but it didn’t feel as if she was doing anything wrong. It was more as if all of her inhibitions had vanished as his venom spread through her veins. He really was awfully sweet and she wanted to know more about him.

Sweet? No, spicy, she thought as she remembered tasting him. She wanted to do it again and pressed her mouth against his neck without a second thought. She licked him, humming in pleasure as his spicy taste exploded in her mouth. Like cinnamon and honey, she thought dreamily, opening her mouth against his neck and sucking on the tempting flesh.

“Mafiti, you must stop.” Big hands closed over hers, and he gently pulled away from her.

“But I want to touch you. Don’t you want me to?”

“More than anything. But I made a promise. And… I want you touching me because you choose to, not because you have been affected by my venom.”

“I wanted to touch you before,” she protested. “When we woke up together.”

“Then I look forward to the next time we wake up together, but not tonight.”

He brushed another kiss across her lips and started to leave, but she grabbed his shoulders again.

“Don’t leave me.”

“Nancy…”

“Just hold me. Please. I don’t want to be alone anymore.”

He sighed but lay down next to her and pulled her into his arms.

“You are testing my honor to the limits, mafiti.”

She giggled, happy now that she was back in his arms. But her body still wanted more, and she wiggled her butt, trying to see if she could feel his dotras. His big tail curved over her legs, holding her still.

“Go to sleep, before I decide to forget all about honor and explore every inch of this tempting little body.”

Excitement shivered over her. She tried to wiggle again, but his tail still held her firmly in place.

“Sleep,” he ordered. “Let’s see if you feel the same way tomorrow.”

Tomorrow seemed a long way off, but she was warm and sleepy. The pain of her injuries was far away now, and exhaustion swept over her. She yawned and obeyed his order.

KAIYO STARED at the darkness over the bed and did his best to ignore his aching dotras. They pressed against his slit, demanding release, but with Nancy’s body pressed against his, it would be all too easy to succumb to temptation and slip into her sweet little cunt.

How his father would have laughed. All those times he had called Kaiyo weak and self-indulgent—which was especially ironic considering the source—and yet here he was, steadfastly refusing the advances of the most desirable female he had ever met.

The bath had been hard enough. He had been entranced by the small mounds of her breasts, topped by those intriguing little nipples, so red and ripe that they seemed to beg for his mouth. And the small patch of brown fur shielding her feminine core had cried out to be explored. But her wounds had needed tending and he forced himself to concentrate on that, even when she rubbed against him and pressed her hot little mouth to his skin.

But this was worse. She seemed coherent—or at least coherent enough to tell him that she already wanted him. He would like to believe that his venom caused her to reveal the truth, but the very strength of his desire to believe it made him hesitate. At least she was willingly in his arms. For tonight that would have to be enough. It still took a very long time for sleep to overtake him.

HE AWOKE to a small hand sliding down his stomach, pausing as it reached the hidden slit through which his dotras emerged. He could feel the heavy weight of them, already aroused, pulsing against it.

“Mafiti,” he groaned, covering her hand with his own, but he didn’t push it away.

“Sorry. I just…” Her voice trailed off as she looked up at him. Her cheeks had turned pink again, but her eyes were clear.

“You just wanted to take advantage of me while I was sleeping?”

As he hoped, she gave him that adorable scowl. Surely that meant she was herself again.

“No! I was just… curious.”

“Even though you’re no longer influenced by my venom? Are you?”

“I don’t think so. I can feel my injuries again—”

“You are in pain?” he asked, immediately concerned.

“—but they’re bearable. Does your venom heal as well?”

“I’m not aware that it does, but I have never bitten a person before.” Only prey.

“Hmm. I think they use snake venom in medicine, back on Earth.”

“Yes?” he asked absently, more interested in the fact that her hand had started pressing lightly against his slit.

“Yes.” She sounded equally distracted. “I can feel them inside you,” she added, tracing the length of his sensitive opening, already beginning to part.

“If you don’t stop doing that, you will be feeling a lot more.”

“Can I?” she whispered, still exploring.

Fuck. How could he resist? He stopped fighting his instincts and let his dotras emerge, thrusting against her hand.

“Oh my.”

The scent of her arousal filled the air, and she moved restlessly against him. His first instinct was to touch her in return, to bring her to pleasure, but she was a stranger to his kind. Perhaps it would be best to let her explore first.

Her fingers brushed lightly against one of protrusions on his mating dotra, and he had to stop himself from demanding more.

“You said these were to hold a female in place. I thought they might be sharp, but they’re not.”

She grew bolder, closing as much of her hand around him as she could, and he groaned. Her eyes flew to his face.

“Am I hurting you?”

“Not at all. Nothing you could do would hurt me.” Unless you stop.

“I can be dangerous,” she protested.

He had no doubt that she could, but not through physical means. He put his hand over hers, encouraging her to grip him more firmly. She shivered.

“Is something wrong?”

She shook her head, the soft strands of her hair caressing his stomach.

“No, just imagining—” The pretty color flared in her cheeks. “I mean, just thinking about how different we are.”

Based on her embarrassment, and the fact that the scent of her arousal had increased, he suspected that she had been imagining him inside her. His dotras jerked at the thought, and her eyes widened.

“Did you just get bigger?”

“Only a little.”

“How much bigger do you get?”

He’d never met a male who wasn’t inclined to boast about the size of his equipment, but he didn’t want to scare her.

“A little more.”

“Holy shit. I’m not even sure you’d fit now.”

Somehow, he didn’t think she’d meant to say that out loud, so he gallantly refrained from commenting on it. Which wasn’t difficult, considering that most of his attention was on the way her small fingers were caressing him. She moved to his pleasure dotra, following the ridges that circled the thick shaft and he couldn’t prevent another groan of pleasure.

“Is this one just as sensitive?”

“Yes,” he said, his teeth gritted. “More so.”

She dragged her hand the full length, then bent even closer, her warm breath wafting over him. For a moment, he thought she would pull away, and then her tongue, that impossibly small, soft tongue, licked across the engorged flesh.

His control snapped.

He had her on her back, one hand holding her wrists together, before he could stop himself. Thank the gods that even in the heat of his desire, he had been careful of her wounded arm. She gasped, her eyes wide, but she didn’t look frightened. In fact…

“You like this,” he purred.

“M-Maybe.”

“Your scent reveals the truth, mafiti.”

He bent down and rubbed his chin against her neck, delighted as their scents mingled. An inner voice whispered that he was playing with fire by scent marking her, but he ignored it.

“What are you going to do now?”

Her words were a challenge, and he gave her a slow, dangerous smile.

“Now it is my turn.”

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Kaiyo smiled as Nancy gasped again, but she didn’t protest. His little mafiti wanted this. Satisfaction filled him, and he bent to kiss her, taking advantage of her parted lips. He felt her quiver as he explored, his tongue caressing hers, delighting in her tentative response. How could something so small be so pleasurable?

But as much as he wanted to linger, there was so much more to explore. He licked the two small punctures left by his bite, and she arched against him. Was there a lingering aftereffect? He hesitated, suddenly unsure, but then she pushed his head towards her breasts.

Her nipples were as delicious as he had imagined, and she was as responsive to his tongue as she had been to his tail. He tugged on the hard little peaks until her hands were digging into his shoulders, her tiny blunt nails urging him on.

Ignoring her cry of protest, he abandoned them and moved lower, raising his head so that he could see every delicious detail. He’d been with a non-Nagaran female before—when he first came to Yangu, he had attempted to obliterate his pain and his anger with liquor and females—but never with a human. Were they all this perfectly formed?

Beneath damp, silky curls, her delicate pink folds glistened with arousal. He traced the length of her slit, from the delicate pucker of her anus to a curious little nub half-hidden at the top. When he ran a gentle finger over the small pearl of flesh, he watched in fascination as it hardened at his touch and her whole body shook. Ah. It was almost like a miniature version of his pleasure dotra. He circled it again, then traveled lower to explore the one, tiny entrance to her sex.

The end of his tail vibrated rapidly, another mating sign that he refused to think about, and he brought it up to the small entrance. At first, her body resisted, but she was slick with arousal and he finally breached the tight opening. They both groaned.

“Oh my God. You’re vibrating.”

“This pleases you?”

“Yes,” she gasped as he started to work his way deeper.

Gods, she was small. He wasn’t even sure she could take his pleasure dotra. But perhaps…

He lowered his head until her intoxicating scent filled his senses, then extended his tongue. Her taste was as delicious as her scent, and his tail quivered, pressing further into the tight haven of her body. The swollen pearl of flesh at the top of her folds beckoned him, and he curled his tongue carefully around it. Her channel immediately clamped down on his tail, but then he felt her slicken and ease his passage.

Perfect. He began to explore the small nub, using her soft cries and the tantalizing response of her sweet little cunt to determine what she liked. Her resistance had eased, leaving only slick, tight heat, and he pulled free, only to enter her again, faster this time, and deeper. Her pleasure spot throbbed against his tongue as he swept back and forth over the heated flesh until, finally, he wrapped his tongue around it and tugged gently. Her body convulsed, milking his tail in long, satisfying pulses as she cried out his name.

He pulled his tail free, his dotras throbbing with anticipation, but as he lifted himself over her, he realized she looked exhausted. She smiled up at him, but her face was pale and her eyes heavy. Guilt arrowed through him. He was as selfish as his father.

Ignoring his aching dotras, he bent down and kissed those perfect little pink lips. They parted for him, and he couldn’t resist one more delicious taste. She started to lift her hand to his face, then winced, and he immediately pulled away.

“I’m sorry, mafiti.”

“Don’t be. That was amazing.”

Her smile looked genuine, even though her eyes were already drifting closed.

“You have not recovered your strength. Rest now.”

“Bossy,” she murmured sleepily. “You didn’t even let me finish exploring.”

“I didn’t notice you objecting,” he purred, remembering how exquisitely she had responded to his touch. He had every intention of exploring her responses further—as soon as she was more fully recovered.

“No.” Her eyes fluttered open as she smiled up at him. “No objections at all.”

A few seconds later, her steady breathing indicated that she slept. His dotras throbbed a demanding rhythm, harder than they had ever been, and he knew he would have to take himself in hand if he had any hope of them retreating into his body. And yet he lingered, watching the small female curled so trustingly in their bed. Their scents mingled enticingly in the air, and the end of his tail vibrated softly, still glistening from her release.

This felt… right. But it could be no more than a remarkably pleasant interlude, he reminded himself. He couldn’t bring her into the dark world that he inhabited, and he couldn’t remain in the desert with her indefinitely. But as he went to take his shower and finally relieve his aching dotras, he decided that there was no need to return immediately. He could stay with his female a little longer.

WHEN NANCY WOKE the second time, she was alone. From the angle of the sun, she had only been asleep for a few hours, but when she stretched, her injuries were no more than a slight ache. Maybe Kaiyo’s venom had some healing power after all, along with the more intoxicating side effects.

She sternly suppressed her immediate feeling of disappointment that Kaiyo was no longer next to her. He wasn’t staying, and she would have to get used to waking up alone again, with no spicy scent surrounding her and no big powerful body to explore. The heat rushed to her cheeks as she remembered their encounter. She had never been so bold before, or so responsive.

Maybe it’s pheromones, she thought, remembering his appealing scent again. Certainly no human man had ever made her climax like that. Then again, no human man had a vibrating tail or a tongue that could wrap completely around her clit. The memory made her nipples harden, and she couldn’t help but wonder what it would feel like if he entered her with his spiked cock—no, his spiked dotra. The thought was both intimidating and undeniably exciting, and she started to slide her fingers between her legs to relieve the needy ache.

A noise from below made her jump, and she guiltily snatched her hand away. Now that she was feeling better, there was no excuse for lazing around in bed, let alone attempting to satisfy the need he created in her body. She knew how difficult it was to survive out here. She should see if he needed help or if—her heart skipped a beat—if he had already repaired his flyer and was ready to leave.

There was no sign of her jumpsuit, and with a resigned sigh, she pulled her nightgown over her head. She was going to have to find some type of clothing. But the only place she could think to look was in the town, and even the thought of returning made her shudder with dread.

She made her way carefully down the stairs, but she only got about halfway before Kaiyo intercepted her. He lifted her into his arms and, after a brief hesitation, carried her the rest of the way down and settled her in the big chair by the window.

“You should have remained in bed,” he scolded her.

“I feel a lot better. I think your magic venom cured me.”

His eyes heated and he leaned closer. “My magic venom? Or my magic tail in your sweet little cunt?”

She gasped, shocked that he would say such a thing, then started to laugh.

“I don’t know what’s more outrageous—that you would make such a claim or that you would say it out loud. Magic tail?”

“Do I need to prove it to you again?”

The end of his tail brushed lightly over her breast, vibrating gently, and she bit her lip. The arousal that had hummed in her body upstairs came rushing back.

His tongue flicked out, tasting the air, and a slow smile crossed his face before he shook his head.

“You are far too tempting, mafiti. I have work to do.”

“What kind of work?” She did her best to keep her voice neutral. “Are you working on your flyer?”

“Do you want me to?”

Truth won out over pride. “No. There’s no hurry. Unless you need to get back to the city?”

“I can stay a little longer.”

His voice was carefully casual, but she had a sudden suspicion that he didn’t want to leave any more than she wanted him to go. Those hypnotic eyes fastened on her face and time seemed to stand still. She wanted to say something, but she couldn’t think of the right words and eventually, he looked away.

“I have been working on some additional furniture, so we can eat at a table like civilized beings.”

“You’re making furniture?” For some reason she had a difficult time imagining him performing such a humble task.

“Since I… arrived on Yangu, I’ve been forced to develop a surprising number of skills.” His eyes glinted at her. “But if you feel well enough to remain on your own, then I would like to go on a quick hunt.”

“Can I come?” She realized the question was foolish as soon as it left her lips. “Not now, I mean, but once I’m stronger. I really do want to know how to take care of myself.”

An expression crossed his face that she couldn’t read, but then he nodded.

“Of course. I would be happy to share my knowledge with such a charming partner.”

His voice had assumed that cool mocking tone from before, and she frowned at him. Why had he put it like that? Unless… Did he think she was in a hurry to get rid of him?

“There’s no rush,” she said quietly. “I know you’ll take care of me.”

The stiffness in his face vanished, and then he shook his head.

“I am undoubtedly a fool.” She decided the comment had been intended more for himself than for her and didn’t respond. “I will return shortly,” he added.

He bent down and brushed his lips across hers, then after the tiniest pause, rubbed his chin against her neck where he had bitten her. A streak of excitement made her nipples tingle. Why was that simple gesture so erotic? She wanted to reach for him, to ask him to stay, but she remained silent and watched as he disappeared out the door.

Her thoughts kept circling around him, even after he had gone, and she finally pushed herself to her feet. Time to deal with more practical matters. Her first priority was clothing. Maybe she could try cutting off the nightgown at knee level. At least that would make it a little more useful, although there wasn’t anything she could do about the thin silk.

As she walked into the kitchen, she saw her jumpsuit—or rather, the remains of her jumpsuit—hanging in the doorway to the utility room. She had assumed that it had been beyond saving and Kaiyo had thrown it away. Instead, he’d cut off the torn arms and legs to make something more like a sleeveless romper, and washed it so that it was cleaner than she’d ever seen it.

Her eyes filled with tears. He knew how much it meant to her, and he had done his best to make it usable again. What an unexpectedly sweet and thoughtful gesture. With every passing minute, she realized how much she didn’t want him to leave.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Kaiyo moved away from the house, still cursing himself for being a fool. When had he become so thin-skinned? So quick to read rejection into every word. He thought that had been burned out of him long ago, beginning the day his mother abandoned him.

Nancy didn’t reject me, he reminded himself. The fact that she wanted to learn to hunt was not a reflection on his skills as a provider. He had already accepted that he could not stay here forever, no matter how much the idea tempted him.

Just concentrate on the hunt, he ordered himself.

He did, but when he returned to the cabin with his kills, he couldn’t deny that sense of satisfaction, of having provided for his female. Once he cleaned the animals, he moved inside to find her in the kitchen, bending over a steaming pot.

She turned to greet him immediately, her smile brilliant.

“Thank you for fixing my jumpsuit.”

She was wearing the tattered remnants, and she seemed as pleased by the garment as if he’d given her priceless jewelry instead.

“I think fixed is overstating it a little,” he said dryly. “But you look charming.”

She did. Her dark curls were loose around her face, her skin flushed with pleasure. While he still didn’t care for the garment, he approved of the way the alterations revealed her slender legs and arms. He definitely approved of the fact that she’d only fastened part of the front, hinting at her small cleavage.

“Liar,” she laughed. “I know I’m a mess.”

“A charming mess. Only one thing would improve your appearance.”

“What’s that?”

“If you removed this.” He ran his finger down the open front between her breasts. “It’s a pity to hide such beauty.”

Her color deepened, and he caught the sweet scent of her arousal. For a moment, she seemed to lean towards him, but then she cleared her throat nervously.

“Was your hunt successful?”

“Three waath. I cleaned them outside.”

“I could have helped.”

“I don’t want you wearing yourself out. What is this?”

“Some type of grain, I think.” She stirred the bubbling pot. “It’s probably going to be a little bland. Maybe we should throw some meat in there.”

“As you wish.”

He retrieved a leg quarter and dropped it into the pot, then stood talking to her about the hunt. He put aside his misgivings, and told her how he identified and followed their trail back to their burrows.

“I really would like to go with you.” She shot him a quick glance. “To see you in action.”

“Mafiti, are you pandering to my male ego?”

“Three brothers, remember?”

Not entirely sure he was doing the right thing, he encouraged her to talk about them.

“Nate’s the oldest, then Ned, then Nigel. We never did figure out why my mom chose that name. Maybe she thought it sounded fancy. Maybe it was a sign that she wasn’t satisfied with our ordinary life.”

“They all sound fancy to me,” he said, relieved when she laughed.

She told him more about them, and despite the obvious affection on both sides, it was equally clear that they’d had no idea how to raise a female. No wonder she was so unsure of her own attractiveness. If nothing else, he would make sure she no longer had any doubts in that regard.

When night fell, they sat at the table he’d built, eating the food they had prepared together and watching the sunset. It was an unexpectedly domestic scene, something with which he was completely unfamiliar. The closest he had come to it were the times when he had perched on a bench in the palace kitchens while the cook tossed him pieces of dough and the male servants regaled him with completely apocryphal stories of their carnal conquests. The kitchens had been one of his refuges as a child, full of laughter and enticing smells. This had the same feeling, but this time his female was at his side.

He left the lights off, and they sat in the shadowy darkness, watching as the stars appeared in the sky over the valley. Nancy’s hand stroked his tail, and he realized he had it curled around her waist again. Her hand abruptly stopped the gentle movements, and she rose to her feet.

“I’m going to bed.”

“Is something wrong? Are you not feeling well?”

Even in the dimness, he saw the glint of her smile. “No. Something is very right. Give me ten minutes, then come join me.”

She disappeared up the stairs, and his dotras started to pulse with a slow, expectant beat. Did she mean what he hoped she meant? Or perhaps she simply wanted to explore some more. He would let her lead the way, he decided, let her determine the pace. But when the agonizing wait finally ended and he climbed the stairs, his good resolutions vanished.

The lights were set to low, and she was waiting for him, naked, her body gleaming gold in the soft light. He could see the perfect little mounds of her breasts and the tiny patch of brown curls between her legs, even more enticing now that he knew the treasure it guarded. He had seen her naked before, but this time, she had chosen to reveal herself to him.

“You are beautiful, mafiti.”

“You said you wanted to see me without the jumpsuit.”

“Is that all you wanted? To show me?” His voice was a dark, seductive purr.

“No,” she whispered. “I… I want you to make love to me. To be inside me.”

“Are you sure?” He forced himself to ask. “I cannot promise—”

“I know. But I want this—want you—more than I’ve ever wanted anything.”

His restraint vanished, and he swooped at her, carrying her to the bed so quickly that she gasped as she landed on her back and he hovered over her. The end of his tail vibrated between them, circling those odd, tempting nipples, already hard and waiting for his touch. The scent of her arousal filled the air, and his dotras sprang free, despite his efforts to restrain them.

“I am not sure that I can be patient,” he warned, rocking into the cradle of her hips.

“Then don’t be. I’m ready.”

Despite her brave words, when he probed the entrance to her cunt, he found it slick but impossibly tight. He bent his head and kissed her, building her passion as he worked first one, then two fingers into the narrow channel. She arched against him as his tail continued to tease her nipples, but despite her arousal, she still felt far too small for his mating dotra. But perhaps she could take another part of him…

He notched his upper dotra at her entrance, his mating dotra slipping down between her buttocks as he pressed against her. The tight ring of muscle loosened, and the head slipped inside her cunt. He froze, afraid to move. The hot, wet flesh gripping him so strongly had him on the verge of coming, even though he was barely inside.

Her eyes had widened again as he entered, but even as he fought for control, she gave an experimental wiggle.

“Mmm, that feels good.”

“We’re just getting started,” he promised and pushed deeper, the first ridge scraping the inside of her channel. She cried out, and then she was pulsing around him as his body jerked instinctively, thrusting deeper into the silken grip with a second ridge, a third, her body milking each inch until he was completely buried.

He gripped the bed, fighting the urge to climax as her tremors slowly faded away. Her body was limp beneath him, but she opened her eyes and smiled.

“Wow, that was amazing… and smoother than I expected. I didn’t feel those little spikes.”

In spite of the painful ache in his mating dotra, he laughed.

“That was only my pleasure dotra, mafiti.”

“The smaller one?”

“Yes. I’m not sure that you can take my lower one.”

She looked up at him, her blunt, little teeth gripping her lower lip. “Do you want to try?”

More than anything, but…

“I do not wish to hurt you.”

“It can’t hurt to try,” she said, then giggled. “Actually, I guess it could, but I trust you.”

He wasn’t sure he trusted himself, especially considering the way his tail had jerked forward. But she was beautiful and willing and her scent wrapped around him, filling his head with impossible dreams. He pulled his upper dotra free, groaning at the way her body clung to him. Surely this was impossible. But he placed the broad spiked head at the tiny entrance and pushed.

Her body resisted, even when she tried to raise her hips towards him, but he adjusted the angle of his upper cock so that it rested against her little pleasure pearl. She gasped and her entrance opened, just a fraction, but it was enough and he thrust inside.

“Oh my God.”

He could hear her panting, but he was too busy fighting the impulse to bury himself completely. He had thought having his first dotra inside her was magnificent, but this, this was so exquisite that it was almost painful. Her sweet cunt surrounded him completely, molded to each of his spikes like a thousand points of pleasure.

As he brought his body under control, he looked up. Her eyes shimmered with tears.

“Oh, mafiti, I’m sorry.” He started to pull free but she shook her head fiercely and wrapped her legs around him.

“Not sorry,” she gasped. “Just so much.”

“Too much,” he agreed.

“No.” She raised her hips again, and now that he was inside, she managed to take more. “Perfect.”

She wasn’t wrong. He gave in to her urgings and pressed deeper. By the time he was buried completely, they were both panting. Her skin glistened in the dim light, her eyes enormous. Her nipples were dark red and distended, and he could actually feel the swollen nub of her pleasure throbbing against him. He scraped a ridge of his pleasure dotra across it and she exploded, her body convulsing so wildly that she almost dislodged him. He growled and wrapped his tail around her, holding her in place as he lost all control, all restraint, and thrust into that hot, convulsing channel until his own climax roared over him and his seed erupted in long, endless pulses.

KAIYO BURIED his head in her neck, his body still shuddering, and tiny little aftershocks of pleasure rolled through her system with each jerk of his dotra.

Oh my God. That was the most amazing thing she had ever felt, as if her entire pussy was being massaged from the inside, stroking every inch of sensitive flesh. Maybe it was just as well she was never going home. She suspected he had ruined her for any mere human man.

He lifted his head to study her face.

“Are you all right? I… lost control at the end.”

“It was wonderful,” she told him honestly. And it had been—to feel the primal urgency of his grip, to feel his need.

He started to pull out, and she couldn’t help wincing a little. Her body had been stretched to the limit and there was a lingering, not unpleasant soreness.

He frowned down at her swollen folds. “I was too rough.”

“No, you weren’t. My body just needs time to adjust. That is… if you want to do it again?”

“If I want? Mafiti, if it was not for the fact that you are undoubtedly sore, I would be inside you again at this moment.”

“Maybe tomorrow,” she said hopefully, and he started to laugh.

He was still laughing when he carried her into the bathroom and proceeded to wash her so carefully and so thoroughly that she was quite willing to overlook the soreness. But he refused and instead brought her to climax after climax with nothing more than his talented tongue and that amazing vibrating tail.

She was afraid that things would have changed between them, but he kissed her awake the next morning with the same thorough attentiveness before embarking on more plans to improve the cabin.

The days fell into an easy pattern. He took her hunting and proved to be an excellent teacher, even though she could tell it still bothered him. The cabin began to feel more and more like a home, but there was also a strange sense of unreality to their situation, as if they were playing house instead of actually creating a future together.

They never discussed the future at all, but she knew that sooner or later he would have to leave. Would he ask her to go with him? And was it even possible for her to go? It was easier not to think about it and just exist in the contentment of the present.

Then she walked into the cabin about a month after he’d arrived and found him frowning down at his communicator. A sense of dread washed over her.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, trying to keep her voice casual.

“I think I’m going to have to go home.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“Home?” Nancy asked. “Do you mean back to the city?”

Kaiyo frowned down at the message he had just received, his chest aching.

“No, back to Nagara.”

“I see.”

The stiffness in her voice finally penetrated, and he looked up to find that she had walked over to the windows and was staring out across the valley. Her shoulders had stiffened, the way they always did when she was forcing herself to be brave.

He moved behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his chin on her head and breathing in her scent, letting her presence comfort him. She didn’t say anything, but her body slowly softened and she brought her hands up to rest on his.

“Do you remember when I told you why I had been banished from Nagara?” he asked softly.

“Yes, because you were accused of plotting against someone. Your cousins?”

“That’s right. But now they’ve been in an accident.” He did his best to keep his voice neutral, despite the growing ache.

She twisted around in his arms, her face indignant. “They can’t possibly think that you had anything to do with that.”

“It’s not that. It’s just that with their… death, I’m now the heir.”

“Death? Oh, Kaiyo, I’m so sorry. I remember you told me that you cared for them.”

He nodded, unable to speak, and she hugged him silently. He still couldn’t believe they were gone. That he would never again see their laughing faces as they teased him. Even in exile, some part of him had hoped that eventually they would meet again.

The twins had been five years younger than him, but almost as soon as they were capable of independent movement, they had a disconcerting tendency to seek him out. He wanted to resent them—they were so obviously loved and wanted—but their mischievous ways and obvious desire for his company eventually won him over. As he grew older and his father sent him off to a variety of boarding schools, he saw less of them, but every time he was ignominiously dismissed and sent back to the palace, they would be waiting for him.

Because of his affection for them, he had been stunned at the accusation that he had been scheming against them. To their credit, they had done their best to defend him, but no one else would listen. Not the king, and certainly not his father. Even Sachout, the king’s senior advisor and the closest thing Kaiyo had to a mentor, had suggested that it would be best for him to leave Nagara.

“Do you know what happened?” Nancy asked quietly, bringing him back to the present. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“An accident, according to the message. A foolish accident.” His voice cracked on the last word, and she hugged him fiercely.

“You don’t have to talk about it.”

“I have to. There are decisions to be made. Starting with whether or not I’m going to return to Nagara.”

“Why should you? It doesn’t sound like they ever treated you very well.”

“No, but perhaps I brought some of it on myself. I was not exactly the pride of my House.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Why do I think that was because you chose not to be?”

The accuracy of her assumption made him smile. He lifted her into his arms and carried her over to the big chair he had repaired and curled up with her, his tail wrapping around her legs.

“As always, you are quite correct. My father had already proven himself… unworthy, and everyone expected me to follow in his path.” He shrugged. “It seemed easier than trying to change their minds.”

“But now they want you back? Because you’re the heir? So what?”

He hadn’t really discussed much about his past with her—not in an attempt to be evasive but more because it was something that he didn’t like to think about. It also hadn’t seemed important, knowing that he was never returning to Nagara.

“Because it is not good for the people of Nagara to have concerns about the line of succession.”

“Nagara? You mean your planet?” Her eyes widened. “You’re the heir to a planet?”

“King Hurain, the ruler of Nagara, is my uncle. My cousins were his sons and, of course, his heirs. Or more specifically Kyee was the heir because he was the oldest of the twins by several minutes. Now that they’re both gone…”

His throat closed, but despite the curiosity he could see burning on her face, Nancy hugged him again and waited patiently until he could continue.

“Now the line passes to my branch of the family, and because my father is dead, that means me.”

“I can’t believe you’re going to be a king.”

“It’s not really as impressive as it sounds. The Parliament has primary responsibility for running the planet, but the people still value the monarchy, and there’s going to be a lot of uneasiness if I don’t return.”

“What if you don’t? Aren’t there any other relatives?”

“If I remember correctly, the next in line is a distant cousin of mine. He raises small meat animals and always smells of their droppings.” Unfortunately, while Nagarans were strong and hard to kill, their birth rate had never been high. Direct descendants of the royal family were in short supply.

She giggled. “I must admit that doesn’t seem very kingly.”

“I’m not sure that being part of the underworld on Yangu is either.”

“I don’t know. I would think that being able to dig out information and solve problems would be good traits for a king to have.”

“I may have given you a somewhat sanitized version of my profession,” he said dryly. But her point was not without merit. Just as his knowledge of the intricacies of palace politics had helped him find a way to survive on Yangu, he suspected that some of the skills he had acquired over the last ten years would prove to be very useful.

Would? Had he already decided to return?

“You’re going to do it, aren’t you?” The smile left her face, and her voice was barely audible. “I… I’m going to miss you.”

“No.”

“What do you mean no? Of course I am.”

“I mean no, you’re not going to miss me, because you’re going to come with me.”

His initial response had been driven by instinct, but as soon as the words came out, he felt the truth in them. He didn’t want to leave her, and her presence was the one thing that might make his return bearable. But would she come?

He looked down, and she was biting her lip. She didn’t seem as sure about the idea as he was, but perhaps she was just surprised. They had never really talked about the future. He had known that something would eventually have to change, but there had always been a reason to put off discussing it.

“Do you want to come with me, mafiti?”

“I… I don’t know.”

“You have grown tired of me?” Her uncertainty hurt more than he expected, and he took refuge in his characteristic mockery.

“Of course not. It’s just… I haven’t had the best experience with the aliens I’ve encountered so far. Is Nagara going to be any better?”

He wished he could automatically assure her that it would be, but although his people were used to other species, royal society remained quite insular.

“It would be an adjustment,” he said truthfully. “But you would not be a slave.”

She twisted her fingers together, studying them rather than looking at him. “That’s another thing. For all we know, I’m listed somewhere as an escaped slave. What if they catch me trying to leave?”

She had a point. He needed to investigate and find out whether or not she was recorded as missing. Once he knew, he would be able to make the appropriate plans for their departure.

“I suspect that you are not, since no one has returned here to look for you, but we can find out for sure. Either way, I won’t let it prevent you from leaving the planet. Do you really want to stay here?”

“Of course not. I just never really let myself think about leaving.” Those big amber eyes looked up at him hesitantly. “If I go with you and I’m not a slave, then what am I?”

“My mate, of course,” he responded instinctively, then froze. He had never acknowledged he felt that way before, not even to himself. She looked equally shocked, and he was afraid he was moving too fast for her. “It would be in name only, of course,” he added quickly.

Was that a flicker of disappointment on her face? He hoped so, but he couldn’t be sure.

“What does that mean? In name only?”

“That we would present ourselves as a mated couple, even though we haven’t… committed to each other.” Yet.

The more he thought about the idea, the more he liked it. This would allow him to ease her into accepting what he now recognized as the truth. She was his, and she had been since the moment he opened that door and found her hiding in the cabinet. He hadn’t allowed himself to think about it, because he hadn’t thought he had anything to offer her. But now he did. All he had to do was to convince her.

Her hands were twisting together again. “But what if you meet a Nagaran female that you… want? She’ll think you’re already mated.”

“Another excellent reason for you to be my mate—my pretend mate,” he added hastily. “You will protect me from the advances of all those females.”

“All those females? You certainly have the royal arrogance down,” she muttered.

He put his finger under her chin and raised her face so that she was looking at him.

“I don’t want any other female, mafiti. That is not going to change, not here and not on Nagara.” It was the closest he would allow himself to come to a declaration of the truth.

“I don’t want anyone else either.” Her brows drew together. “On Earth, a relationship in name only means that the people involved don’t have sex. Is that what you’re proposing?”

“Absolutely not. I have no intention of staying away from your sweet little body.” He reached down and cupped a small breast, stroking his thumb across her nipple and delighting in her immediate response.

“You said you had plans to make,” she said, but her voice had already turned husky.

“I do, but right now, I need you.”

She reached up and tugged his head down.

“You have me,” she whispered, and then she kissed him.

Relief washed over him, and he rose with her in his arms and carried her to their bed. Determined to show her what he didn’t think she was ready to hear, he took his time and worshipped every part of her. He sipped at her mouth, teasing that small, soft tongue that fascinated him so. When she panted and tried to move against him, he wrapped his tail around her legs and held her in place.

“Slowly, mafiti,” he whispered. “We have time.”

He rubbed his chin along her neck and over the small marks of his fangs, delighting in the way she shivered, and then down between her breasts. The combination of his scent mingling with hers had his dotras throbbing in anticipation, but he refused to rush this moment. He lingered over her nipples, licking and tugging until they were ripe and swollen against his tongue.

“Kaiyo,” she gasped, trying to move again.

“Patience.” He reminded himself as much as her.

Her stomach quivered as he marked it with his scent before he finally reached the delicious haven hidden between her legs. One brush of his chin against the hot little pearl of her pleasure, the merest touch really, and she climaxed, shaking against his tail as she bathed him with her essence.

“Such an impatient girl,” he murmured, and she quivered again as the heat of his breath washed over her.

“You’re too slow.” Her voice was still breathless from her climax, but her eyes sparkled at him.

“I can be even slower.”

And he proceeded to prove it, keeping her hovering on the edge as he slowly worshipped her delectable cunt with his tongue, his fingers, his tail. Moving so slowly that when he finally slipped inside her wet, quivering channel, they both immediately shattered in a long, sweet climax.

Satisfaction filled him as he held her close. My mate.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Nancy remained in bed as Kaiyo headed back downstairs to begin his arrangements. As always after they made love, her body was limp and satisfied, but this time her mind refused to settle. She still wasn’t quite sure how she felt about going to Nagara, let alone this fake mating he had proposed.

Not that she had any desire to remain on Yangu. She would be perfectly happy never to see it again. But would going from one place where she was so clearly an alien to another planet where it would be even more obvious really be an improvement? And although Kaiyo had promised that she would no longer be a slave, he hadn’t been quite so reassuring about her place in his society. His royal society.

As shocked as she had been to learn the truth about his background, she found she had no difficulty imagining him as a ruler. A vision of him curled on a golden throne and ordering people around made her smile. She would love to see him in action, but was it really the best thing? For either of them?

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to go with him—she did, desperately. The thought of remaining here on her own without him made her heart ache. But part of her wondered if he had made the offer more from compassion than a true desire to have her accompany him. Then again, when he said he needed her, she believed him. She had seen the sorrow he tried to hide, and he had made love to her with the desperate urgency of a male trying to cope with loss.

But just because he needed her now, would that still be true once he was surrounded by his own people? He had joked about Nagaran females chasing him, but she suspected that he was probably speaking the truth. The heir to a kingdom? Especially such an attractive, charming heir? Every Nagaran female in her right mind would be after him. Maybe once he was back on Nagara, he would realize what he had been missing. If that occurred, she had no doubt that he would make sure that she was provided for, but the thought of seeing him happy with another female made her sick with jealousy.

He’s mine, she thought fiercely. I’m the one who loves him.

The realization struck her like a blinding light. Of course she loved him—but she had been so carefully avoiding thoughts of the future that she had avoided thinking about her feelings as well. And now she realized she had probably been in love with him since that first night when he had comforted her simply with his presence.

Which meant, of course, that she was going to have to go to Nagara. Even with the possibility that he was eventually going to break her heart, she wanted to be with him. Assuming he can get me off Yangu, she thought, but somehow, she wasn’t really worried. She knew that he would manage to find a way.

Decision made, she climbed out of bed and picked up her discarded jumpsuit. As she pulled it on, another realization dawned. Clothes. What was she going to do about clothes? She strongly suspected that the female accompanying a royal heir should not be dressed in a cut-off jumpsuit. Had he thought about that?

“I need clothes,” she announced when she found Kaiyo. He was sitting by the window, frowning at his communicator again, but he looked up and gave her his wicked smile.

“Not in my opinion. I much prefer you without them.”

“Somehow I doubt your people will feel the same way.”

He shrugged. “The Nagarans have a very relaxed attitude towards nudity. Clothing is simply for ceremonial occasions.”

She didn’t doubt it—the only thing he wore was his weapons belt—but it didn’t help her.

“Yes, but you conceal your sexual organs internally,” she said tartly. “Mine are a little more exposed.”

“Delightfully so. But you have a point. I have no wish to share those delights with anyone else.” He tapped his finger thoughtfully against his chin. “I have a suggestion, at least until I can arrange for another alternative.”

“What suggestion?” she asked suspiciously, not trusting the smile on his face.

“There were additional clothes in the… working females’ house.”

“You want me to dress up like a whore?”

“You chose your nightgown from there, mafiti,” he reminded her. “All of the outfits may not be as scandalous as you think. I had actually picked out a few things that I thought would suit you before you were attacked. It won’t take me long to retrieve them.”

“What about the ardiks?”

He raised an eyebrow in mock offense. “Do you not think I’m a match for them? And besides, it is a clear sunny day.”

She knew he was right on both counts and nodded reluctantly.

“Then I’ll be back shortly.”

Before she could think of any other arguments, he had disappeared out of the door. With a sigh, she went to put a meal together while she waited.

True to his word, he returned very quickly, carrying a bag splattered with ardik blood. She shuddered at the sight of it.

“I’m sorry, mafiti, but this was the fastest option. Take a look.”

The first thing she pulled out of the bag was a sheer golden gown. It was ridiculously beautiful and completely impractical. She might just as well have been naked. When she glared at him, he laughed, lifting his hands in mock innocence.

“I’ll admit that when I chose that, I was only thinking of my pleasure. You would look stunning in that gown.”

She couldn’t help giving it a wistful look as she put it aside. Her brothers had teased her mercilessly whenever she wore anything too “girly.” And even though she knew they’d never meant any harm by it, any more than they meant any harm in teasing Nigel about his name, she still heard their voices whenever she picked up a dress.

“The rest are more… conservative,” Kaiyo said, his face suspiciously innocent.

He was right—to an extent. At least none of them were sheer. Instead, they were either cut down to the waist or up to the hip, and one was so short she didn’t think it would cover her butt.

She scowled at him. “I’m pretty sure none of these are appropriate.”

“Have I ever told you that I find that expression most appealing?” he murmured, then smiled at her. “They are not as bad as you seem to think. The fabrics are expensive and the gowns are well made, surprisingly so for a place like this. Someone must have had a wealthy lover. No Nagaran would be offended by them. Unlike that rag you insist on wearing.”

He was undoubtedly right, and really, why was she so attached to a garment that represented her time in the mines?

“I suppose.”

“I will arrange for something else as soon as—” He broke off as his communicator chimed. “Ah. Sendat is returning my message.”

His communicator had a small viewscreen, and watching from a discreet angle, she caught a glimpse of an entirely new alien. A huge bull-like male with massive horns. He looked intimidating as hell, especially when he was frowning as he was now at Kaiyo’s request.

“You want me to find out if a female slave has escaped?”

“A human female slave,” Kaiyo said patiently.

“There’s another human female on Yangu? Did she just arrive?”

“No, she’s been here for over a year. As a part of Chinit’s illegal slave operation.”

“What?” Even through the communicator, the other male’s roar was deafening. “That bastard didn’t suffer enough before he died.”

“Undoubtedly,” Kaiyo agreed, looking at her.

“We have to get her out of there. My mate would never forgive—”

“She’s already out. I just need to know if they are still looking for her.”

“Why?”

“Does it matter?” Kaiyo said coolly. “I believe you promised me a favor.”

“A favor, yes. Assisting you to enslave a human female, no.”

Kaiyo’s voice turned even colder. “I assure you that she is not enslaved. The reason I need the information is because we are leaving the planet.”

“Together?” Sendat asked, his doubt obvious. “She’s going with you of her own free will?”

“I told you she was not enslaved. Is it necessary for me to keep repeating myself?”

The big male stared through the screen at Kaiyo, a wide grin spreading across his face. “Just wait until I tell Miri that you have fallen for a human female.”

Nancy’s heart skipped a beat. The other male obviously knew Kaiyo, and if he believed that Kaiyo had fallen for her…

But Kaiyo only sighed.

“Sendat, are you going to honor your debt?”

“Yes. What did you have in mind?”

Kaiyo asked the other male to visit the mining complex where she had originally been taken. Apparently the bull-like aliens were frequently used as guards, and Kaiyo thought that he could fit in long enough to find the information they were after. He also suggested that Sendat seek out Linzim if possible, since he had been her overseer. Sendat nodded grimly, and they ended the conversation.

“Why does he owe you a favor?” she asked curiously.

“Because the person I was seeking when I came here abducted his mate, and I was trying to help him find her.” He smiled at her, his eyes glowing. “And as a result, I found you. I suspect that I am the one who actually owes him a favor, but he doesn’t need to know that.”

She laughed. “You are a very devious male. You’re going to make a great king.”

An expression she couldn’t read crossed his face, but then he turned to more practical matters.

“As soon as we hear back from him, I will make arrangements to leave the planet.”

Visions of furry hands clamping down on her wrists and hauling her back to the mines haunted her. “What if they’re looking for me?”

“Then we’ll choose a more discreet method of leaving. If they’re not, then any commercial vessel will work.” He tilted his head. “But under either circumstance, I don’t think that we should linger in Kalima. Even if you’re not specifically wanted, human females are valuable, and I’d hate to have to kill anyone who tried to take you from me.”

The dangerously possessive note in his voice absolutely should not have turned her on as much as it did.

“So we stay here until then?” she asked, huskily.

“Yes, mafiti. I want you all to myself.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Despite his assurances, Nancy could tell that Kaiyo chafed at the delay. He spent a good deal of time on his communicator making arrangements with regards to his business and their trip. She found herself wandering around the cabin, looking at the changes they had made and feeling unexpectedly nostalgic.

Fortunately, Sendat got back in touch with him only a day later. “No one is looking for her.”

Relief swept over her.

“You’re sure?” Kaiyo asked.

“I’ve seen the records. They indicate that she is deceased.” He hesitated. “I spoke to the overseer you mentioned, Linzim. I’m fairly certain that he is the one who marked her dead. I’m also quite certain he knows it isn’t true.”

“Do you think he intends to do anything further?”

“I don’t think so. He told me he hoped she had gone on to a better life. I told him that I was sure she had.”

After Sendat had signed off, she looked at Kaiyo.

“I don’t understand. Linzim always treated me decently. And the rest of the slaves, for that matter. How does someone like that end up working in such a terrible job?”

“Perhaps he was forced into it,” he said dryly, and she realized he was thinking of his own situation.

“I suppose you’re right. We never know what we might end up being forced to do.”

“You had a line you wouldn’t cross,” he reminded her.

“Did I? If they hadn’t sent us here, if I hadn’t had a chance to escape, I think I would have eventually done anything to get out of the mines.”

The question haunted her.

“As you said, we never know what we might be forced to do. You survived, mafiti. That’s the most important thing.” He pulled her close. “And now we will leave all of this behind.”

A FEW HOURS LATER, she climbed into the flyer next to him. He lifted off, then paused for a moment. They both looked at the cabin, and she felt unexpected tears fill her eyes.

“I was happy here.” She looked at him. “But mostly because of you.”

“I will make sure you are happy wherever we go.” Kaiyo’s hand clasped hers. “You will not regret our mating, mafiti, I promise you.”

Our fake mating, she reminded herself, but she didn’t say it out loud. She wanted to believe that it was real.

Kaiyo lingered a moment longer, then sent the flyer soaring into the air, winging towards the city. He told her that he had arranged to meet their transport on a small private field on the edge of Kalima. Even though no one was looking for her, he wanted to avoid unnecessary complications.

He spent the trip telling her more about Nagara. He was often cynical about his home world, but she could hear his affection for his planet beneath the irony.

“You’ve missed it, haven’t you?” she asked.

“I suppose I have.” He looked over at her. “Just as I suspect you will always miss your home planet.”

“A little. I will definitely always miss my family.”

They fell into a mutual silence for the remainder of the journey.

The landing field he’d selected did not impress her. The surface was cracked and weeds grew out of many of the crevices. The ship looked equally sketchy, the sides pitted and clearly in need of a coat of paint.

The captain met them at the bottom of the landing ramp. Her name was Ultana, and she was a slender green-skinned alien with dark green hair and pointed ears. She looked more like an elf than a spaceship captain to Nancy, but she was briskly professional with Kaiyo. As they followed her onto the ship, Nancy was relieved to see that the inside was in much better shape than the outside. Everything looked clean and freshly painted.

Captain Ultana saw her looking around and laughed.

“Let me guess. You were not impressed with the outside of the ship.”

She blushed and stumbled over her answer.

“Don’t worry. It is a very good ship—but that doesn’t mean that everyone needs to know that. We attract far less attention this way.”

“That makes sense. Is this what you usually do? Carry passengers?”

Kaiyo coughed, but Ultana only shrugged casually.

“We do a little of this, a little of that.”

She escorted them to their cabin, which was ridiculously small but also spotlessly clean.

“We will be taking off shortly so please remain in your cabin. You are welcome to join us for our meal in three hours.”

Kaiyo accepted and, as soon as Ultana left, burst into laughter.

“Why are you laughing?”

“My little innocent. Don’t you know that you should never ask someone the details of their transactions?”

“I thought this was going to be a standard commercial flight?”

He shrugged. “It is, mostly. I suspect they may have sidelines which are not entirely legal.”

“Then why did you choose them?”

“Captain Ultana has a reputation for honesty. If she says she will take us to Nagara, then she will—without attempting to rob us. Or to steal you away,” he added. “I can’t deny the fact that she is a female had an influence on my decision.”

“She might be interested in females too,” she pointed out.

“But you, mafiti, are not.” His tail wrapped around her and pulled her close. “I think we should spend the next three hours exploring what does interest you.”

“I think that’s an excellent idea,” she said breathlessly, just as his oh so talented tongue curled around her nipple and squeezed.

His exploration of her interests was so thorough that they were almost late to the meal.

Captain Ultana gave them a knowing smile before introducing them to the rest of the small crew. The communications officer, Kenithe, was a tall female with black scales and an unusual wedge-shaped head topped by a black crest that flowed down her back. Thynmirr, an apprentice mechanic, was a short little alien with fluffy blue fur and very little to say.

“We have an engineer as well,” Ultana said. “But he was unfortunately detained at our last port of call.”

“And you just left him?” she asked, trying to hide her shock.

Ultana shrugged. “It wasn’t the first time.”

“And it won’t be the last,” Kenithe added. “We’ll circle back there after we drop you off.”

“What detained him?” she asked before she remembered Kaiyo’s warning.

“A female,” the three shipmates chorused.

“Or possibly a card game.” The black-scaled female shook her head. “He has no self-control.”

Ultana smiled at the other female. “Not everyone can be as disciplined as you.”

“That is quite true, but at times it seems as if Studoc has none at all.”

“He’s never let us down when we need him,” Ultana said firmly.

“You are right, and I stand corrected.” Kenithe looked over at the two of them. “Do either of you play jatek?”

Her shipmates groaned, but Kaiyo grinned and nodded.

“I dabble.”

“Then you won’t be capable of giving me a decent game.”

“You might be surprised.”

“Ah. You attempt to throw your opponent off course by pretending to a lower level of skill.”

“Or perhaps I have a natural talent, but little opportunity to play.”

The two of them stared at each other, then Kenithe smiled, showing a rather disconcerting array of sharp white teeth.

“I believe you will be a worthy opponent after all. Let’s play.”

Kaiyo looked at her. “Do you mind?”

“Not at all.”

Kenithe had already brought out a board and was setting up the pieces. Nancy watched curiously for a little while, but she couldn’t figure out the rules of the game. It seemed to be somewhat like chess, but there were long, drawn-out periods of little activity, interspersed by a series of rapid actions. From the way the two of them were focused on the board, she suspected that they were very evenly matched.

Thynmirr had left some time ago, but Captain Ultana had remained, and she smiled at Nancy.

“Now you understand why we groaned. It is a fascinating game—for the two people who are playing it. It’s not much of a spectator sport. Would you like to see some more of the ship while they play?”

“That would be very nice, if you don’t mind.”

Ultana escorted her around the ship, then led her up to the bridge. She sat in the captain’s chair and smiled at Nancy.

“This is my favorite place in the whole universe. I’ve wanted my own ship for as long as I can remember.”

“How long have you had this one?”

“Only a year. I had the credits for a long time, but we were part of a larger crew and I didn’t want to leave. But sometimes, you have to strike out on your own.”

Nancy nodded in agreement, remembering her choice of universities, but if she had to do it all over again, would she still have done it? Would she have lost those four precious years with her family, knowing that they would be separated forever?

“What’s wrong?” Ultana asked.

“I was just thinking about my family. I know I can never go home again, and I know I’m always going to miss them. But what really bothers me is that they’re never going to know what happened to me. They’re going to spend the rest of their lives searching for an answer.”

“I’m sorry. I wish I had an answer for you.”

“I know there isn’t one. All I can do is try and be as happy as possible—I know that’s what they would want.”

They sat in silence for a few minutes, then Nancy changed the subject.

“Do you know anything about shopping on Nagara?”

“Not specifically. Why?”

“I need some new clothes, and I’m a little worried that they won’t have anything for people with two legs.”

Ultana laughed. “I suspect that pants might be difficult, but you could probably find a gown or two. And the one you have on is very pretty.”

She was wearing the most casual of the dresses that Kaiyo had retrieved from the whorehouse, a long, simple white silk sheath. The back was completely bare, but she didn’t feel as exposed as she did in some of the other garments.

“Thank you. I know it’s pretty, and really I should be grateful to have anything to wear, but I wish I had something more practical, like your uniform.”

“Really?”

“I’m not used to wearing dresses, but we didn’t have time to stop and go shopping before we left.”

“I have a few things I could spare. We are of a similar size.”

“Are you sure?”

“I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t mean it. It is easy enough for me to pick up something at our next port.” Green eyes twinkled at Nancy. “I’ll add the replacement cost to Kaiyo’s bill.”

A wave of guilt immediately hit her. She didn’t feel right spending his money, even if they were only pretending to be mated.

“I’ll have to ask him first.”

Ultana shook her head. “I was only teasing. I’m happy to give them to you.”

“I’d rather give you the money to replace them. I’m sure Kaiyo won’t mind, but I still want to ask first.”

“Then let’s go see if they’re still playing.”

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

When Nancy returned to the lounge with Ultana, she found the game had ended in a draw. All that time and there hadn’t even been a winner? Neither Kenithe nor Kaiyo seemed perturbed by the fact, and they were diligently rehashing many of the moves.

“I hate to interrupt the instant replay, but can I speak to you for a minute, Kaiyo?”

“Of course, mafiti.”

He rose at once and they returned to their cabin.

“Is something wrong?”

“Not exactly.” She twisted her fingers together, finding it unexpectedly difficult to broach the subject. “But I was wondering about money, I mean credits.”

“What about them?”

“Do you have any?”

Those swirling gold eyes laughed at her. “Yes, mafiti. I have quite a lot, as a matter of fact.”

“In that case, would you mind reimbursing Ultana? She offered to give me some of her clothes when I said I wanted something more practical.”

“Of course. I’m sorry we did not have time to go shopping before we left.”

“I know we didn’t, but this is fine. I just wanted to make sure it was okay with you first.”

He took her hands and drew her down on the couch next to him.

“You understand that we are mated, correct? That means that everything I have is yours.”

“But it’s only pretend mating,” she whispered.

He opened his mouth to say something, then closed it again. The end of his tail had wrapped around her calf, and she could feel it vibrating against her.

“We are declaring to the world that we have mated,” he said finally. “That means we should always act as if it was true. Do you think you can do that?”

“I can try.”

“I have an idea, but let me think about it first. In the meantime, feel free to buy anything you want.”

“The only thing I want is some other clothes.”

“Such a shame. The only thing I want is to remove all your clothing.”

The end of his tail moved slowly up her leg, the vibrations intensifying as he neared her inner thigh.

“They do seem unnecessary right now,” she agreed breathlessly.

THE NEXT MORNING, Kaiyo disappeared soon after they woke, and returned a short time later with breakfast and news.

“I have arranged for Captain Ultana to perform a mating ceremony for us,” he informed her.

“I don’t understand. Why?”

“So that you will feel more confident in our mating.”

“Is it… legally binding?”

“Yes,” he said, meeting her eyes directly. “Is that a problem for you?”

Was it? The only reason it would matter was if she wanted to be with someone else. Looking at Kaiyo, she knew that wasn’t going to happen. She just wished she was a little more confident that he wouldn’t turn to a Nagaran female once they were on his planet.

“After the ceremony, we wouldn’t be able to mate with anyone else?”

“No. So I’ll ask again, does that represent a problem for you, Nancy?”

That faint mocking note was back, but she knew him well enough by now to realize that it was a defense mechanism.

“No,” she said quietly. “Is it a problem for you?”

“No, mafiti. There is no one else I want.”

“Then let’s have a mating ceremony.”

THEY GATHERED in the lounge as the ship’s clock marked the evening shift. Despite the worn surroundings, the crew had done their best to give the room a festive air. Thynmirr had made banners of small pieces of metal hung from silver wires, and they sparkled as they caught the light. Kenithe presented Nancy with an intricately cut paper flower to carry. Ultana had set the viewscreens to an image of the sun setting over the desert, and Kaiyo proudly led his mate to the simple arch they had erected in front of it.

She wore the sheer golden gown, but she wore it over a delicate white undershift she had borrowed from Ultana. Her dark curls were gathered on top of her head and fastened with an ornate pin that Kenithe had provided. She looked so beautiful that it made his chest ache.

“I’ve never done this before, so I’m going to keep it simple,” Captain Ultana announced. “Are you ready?”

They both nodded, Nancy a little more slowly.

“Kaiyo, do you bind yourself and your property to this female? To remain with her through good times and bad, until death separates you?”

“I do.” With all my heart.

“Nancy, do you bind yourself and your property to this male? To remain with him through good times and bad, until death separates you?”

She hesitated, and his chest started to ache again, from fear this time. Was she really so unsure about being mated to him? But then she looked up at him, her amber eyes intent on his face. Whatever she saw there seemed to reassure her.

“I do,” she said, her voice firm.

Triumph roared through him. She was now his in every way that mattered. Except one, he reminded himself. She had yet to give him her heart.

The crew had prepared a small selection of delicacies, and he knew it would be rude not to stay, even though all he really wanted was to be alone with his mate. The ceremony shouldn’t have made a difference, but it did. The fierce possessiveness it had awakened in him would not subside, and he ached with the need to claim her. He found himself following her hungrily with his eyes as she laughed at something Ultana was saying.

“Why do you not go to your mate?” Kenithe asked, appearing at his elbow.

“She is enjoying herself.”

“Perhaps. But she is watching you as well. We have traveled with a newly mated couple before. No one will be surprised if you return to your cabin. Or if you stay there for the remainder of the trip, for that matter.”

It was a tantalizing thought, but…

Kenithe sighed. “Go.”

He stopped fighting his instincts, crossing the room, and sweeping his mate up into his arms before she had a chance to object. She called out a goodbye, and frowned up at him.

“That was rude.”

“Undoubtedly.”

“Then why did you do it?”

“Because if I had waited much longer, I might have ended up taking you in front of all of them. I need you, mafiti.”

The scent of her arousal filled the air, and she relaxed against him.

“In that case, you probably did the right thing.”

As soon as they entered the cabin, he placed her on her feet. He was vaguely aware that a lantern glowed softly in the corner and someone had added a colorful throw to the bed, but all he could see was his mate.

“Remove your clothing.” His voice was hoarse.

She gave him a provocative look, but let the golden cloth shimmy to the ground. The white undershift floated over her slender body, her nipples already thrusting against the thin cloth.

“If you want to return that to Ultana, you had best remove it now.”

He saw her swallow, but she lifted it over her head, and now nothing prevented his access to her perfect body. He wrapped his tail around her waist and yanked her up against him, letting her feel the bulge of his dotras, so close to the surface.

“My mate,” he growled.

“Yes.”

He used his tail to lift her higher, high enough that he could feast on her sweet, sweet mouth. The kiss started off gentle, almost tentative, but his hunger was too great. He demanded more, devouring her as his tail found the slick heat between her legs. She writhed against him, her desire rising to meet his own, and he couldn’t wait any longer. This was no careful seduction, just raw hunger. He pressed her back against the wall, holding her open, and thrust his upper dotra into her in one long, hard stroke. She cried out, and he almost hesitated, but then he felt her convulsing around him, and any hope of restraint was lost. He plunged wildly, seeking more, needing more, until she was completely open to him, and his climax roared over him.

His tail actually weakened, and he collapsed down to the floor, still keeping her impaled on his dotra, as her sweet little cunt continued to flutter around him. Thank the gods that he’d at least had enough control to use his smaller dotra.

As their breathing slowed, she tilted her head back against his arm and smiled up at him.

“Maybe we should have a mating ceremony every night.”

“I’m not sure that my heart could take it,” he said honestly. “Was I too rough?”

“No. Just hot and needy and perfect.”

“I do need you, mafiti.”

“I need you too.”

The air hummed between them, and she deliberately tightened her channel around his still buried dotra.

“Kenithe told me that a newly mated couple is not expected to leave their cabin,” he said solemnly.

“Really? Then we wouldn’t want to disappoint them.”

“All I care about is not disappointing you.”

“You never have, Kaiyo,” she said softly. Then she pulled his head down for a kiss and there was no more talking.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Nancy stared out what looked like a window but was actually a viewscreen, according to Kaiyo. They hadn’t spent the entire trip in their cabin, but they had spent enough time there that she had a pleasant, lingering ache between her legs. They had emerged from their hideaway in time to watch as Nagara came into view. One large continent dominated the surface, the rest of the planet covered by ocean. As they grew closer, she could see a long mountain range running down the length of the land, dividing it into two different sections. One side was rich in greens and blues, the other a muted gold.

“Each side is so different,” she said.

“Yes, the eastern plains are mainly desert while the western lands consist primarily of jungle. The Royal Palace rests in the mountains between, surrounded by the city of Mahoat.”

Kaiyo had arranged for the ship to land at a small, private landing field located on the palace grounds. The palace itself was a sprawling complex of golden stone, topped with multiple domed cupolas in a variety of sizes. The intimidating sight made her pulse pound, and she automatically moved closer to Kaiyo. The end of his tail came up to circle her waist, but he continued to stare out at the palace.

“I spent so much time here growing up. It still feels shockingly familiar.”

“Like home?”

“Home? I’m not sure that’s the word I would have used. I said familiar, not comfortable.”

His voice had turned sardonic, and she gave his tail a soothing pat. It vibrated softly against her fingers, and she had to fight down a sudden flush of remembered lust. He looked down at her, his tongue flicking out to taste the air, and she knew he scented her arousal.

“You have the most delightful ways of bringing me back to the present, mafiti,” he murmured.

“Good. Just keep that in mind until we’re alone again.”

“You can count on it.”

His tail tightened momentarily, and then he led her to the landing ramp. After a warm goodbye to Ultana and the crew, they descended to the ground. Only one person was waiting for them—Sachout, the mentor Kaiyo had told her about. He was the only one who knew about Kaiyo’s location, and he was also the one who had sent the message for him to return.

Contrary to Kaiyo’s claims about the Nagaran lack of interest in clothing, Sachout was elaborately dressed in a purple tunic with metallic gold stripes and gold fringe. His skin was patterned in shades of gray, and his eyes were a sickly yellow rather than golden. Nancy disliked him on sight.

His smile was far too wide as he bowed obsequiously in front of Kaiyo. Her mate seemed genuinely pleased to see him, but something about the other male made her skin crawl. She also didn’t like the dismissive glance he gave her as soon as he finished greeting Kaiyo.

Even though she had acquired a few more practical items from Ultana, she was wearing one of the whorehouse outfits—a dark red satin gown with a neckline cut down almost to her navel. Fortunately, her breasts were small enough that it revealed very little, but Sachout’s eyes lingered there longer than she appreciated.

“You have acquired a female pet, Your Highness? It may not have been the wisest choice to have her accompany you.” He tittered. “You know how conservative Nagaran society can be.”

Kaiyo frowned. “She is not a pet. She is my mate.”

The ingratiating smile actually disappeared for a second. “Your mate? But, Your Highness…”

“Yes?” Kaiyo asked, his tone forbidding.

“Are you sure that is the wisest decision? As an unmated male, you have the opportunity to arrange for a very advantageous joining. And what of Lady Lulain?”

Lady who? Nancy’s heart skipped a beat when Kaiyo stiffened. They had never discussed previous relationships, and although she was quite sure he hadn’t been a saint, she had assumed that he’d never had a serious relationship.

“What of her?”

“You did have an… arrangement before your unfortunate departure.”

“Which she was only too happy to bring to an end. But that is in the past. Nancy is my future.”

He tugged her closer with his tail until she was standing next to him, and he could wrap his arm around her shoulders.

“Yes, of course, Your Highness. And I am not suggesting that you put her aside completely. It is certainly not uncommon to have an exotic concubine.” He tittered again.

“Enough, Sachout. Lady Nancy is not a pet, and she is not my concubine. She is my mate.”

Sachout finally seemed to realize that he might be trying to push Kaiyo too far. He immediately swept a deep bow and apologized profusely. Kaiyo willingly accepted the apology, but she didn’t believe a word of it. However, she decided that two of them could play that game and gave Sachout a vapid, insincere smile as she assured him that she understood. She suspected that he wasn’t fooled either, but he bowed to her, then turned and led the way into the palace.

Kaiyo balked again when Sachout came to a halt in front of a pair of elaborate doors.

“No. Absolutely not.”

“But, Your Highness, these are your rightful quarters now.” Sachout’s expression was one of earnest entreaty.

“I am not staying in my cousins’ quarters.”

“But—”

“No.”

“Very well,” Sachout agreed, sighing, but as he turned away, Nancy caught a glimpse of what looked like triumph on his face. Before she could decide, he made another suggestion, his voice carefully neutral. “Would your father’s residence be more acceptable?”

Based on the few things he’d let slip about his relationship with his father, she doubted it was, but Kaiyo nodded grimly.

“It will do.”

Just like on the trip to their original destination, Sachout seemed to choose the most circuitous route possible, leading the way through long, empty corridors of the same golden stone as the exterior. Arched ceilings towered over her head, and the smoothly polished floors were inlaid with mosaic tiles. Since they only saw a few other people in the distance, she decided he was trying to keep the news of Kaiyo’s return as quiet as possible. But why? Especially if his role was so important?

Given the shocked looks on the faces of the few people they did encounter—and assuming they were as prone to gossip as most humans—she suspected that the news would be all over the palace in an hour anyway.

“I’m afraid that very little has been changed since your father’s death,” Sachout murmured, as they came to a halt in front of another pair of doors.

“I know what it’s like.”

Given the harsh note in his voice, she expected the worst, but when Sachout threw the doors open, she was pleasantly surprised. A spacious entry hall opened into a large lounge with a garden beyond. With the exception of a heavily carved, throne-like chair, the furniture was covered in soft, neutral fabrics. An arched hallway to one side offered glimpses of additional rooms.

“Just the same,” Kaiyo muttered, looking at a statue on a table in the entry.

It took her a moment to realize that it represented a Nagaran couple having sex. Not only extremely explicit sex, but it didn’t appear to be consensual. What kind of male would have chosen to greet his guests with that?

Sachout gave a discreet cough. “I will send a servant to attend to you and leave you to settle in. I will return later and accompany you to King Hurain.”

“Thank you, Sachout. You have always been a good friend.”

Nancy barely kept herself from snorting, especially when Sachout shot her a triumphant glance. Play the game, she reminded herself. At least until I know what’s going on.

“Yes, thank you so much,” she gushed, doing her best to sound like one of her sillier friends from university.

She didn’t think she was fooling him either, but he bowed and left. Thank goodness. She snuck a look at Kaiyo, who was frowning around the living room.

“You seem to think a lot of Sachout,” she said tentatively.

“I have known him for a long time. He did his best to support me when those accusations were made in the past. He’s actually the one who suggested that it would be easier for me if I left, and he helped me get away.”

It may have been easier for him to leave, but had that really been the best decision? Maybe if Kaiyo had stayed, he could have found out who had really been behind the attempt. Looking at his pensive expression, she decided now wasn’t the best time to raise questions.

“Are you all right?” she asked softly.

“This place doesn’t have the happiest of memories.” He moved restlessly through the big room and into the neatly kept garden. None of the plants looked particularly impressive, but a rich variety of scents filled the air, and a small stream trickled pleasantly along one side.

“Because of your father? You never talk about him much. Or your mother.”

“My father was a bastard. Not literally, of course, but he bitterly resented the fact that he was the younger brother and he took it out on everyone. He was cruel and selfish, and his only saving grace was that he was too self-indulgent to be more than casually malicious.”

She had no idea what to say so she rubbed her chin against his arm, the same way he so frequently rubbed his chin against her. He shot her a startled look, but she wasn’t sure why. It seemed to be an affectionate gesture.

“As I said, you always know the best way to distract me,” he murmured, pulling her closer.

Although she intended to change the subject, curiosity got the better of her.

“What happened to your mother?”

“She left us. Just like your mother, although I assume she had far more reason to leave. It was never a true mating. From the little I understood at the time and what I found out later, he was not only cruel but unfaithful.” His arm tightened around her. “I have bad blood in me, mafiti.”

“Nonsense. You are nothing like him.”

“I can be cruel.”

Yes, she could believe that. But she also believed that he would never be cruel to someone who didn’t deserve it and she told him so.

He shook his head, but bent down and kissed her. His tongue stroked hers, sending little sparks of excitement through her veins, but just as she was about to ask the way to the bedroom, a bell chimed in the outer room. He gave her a rueful smile and went to answer it.

A young Nagaran female waited outside, clothed in a simple white tunic. For a startled moment, Nancy wondered if females were already starting to chase Kaiyo, but then the female bobbed her head.

“Lord Sachout sent me,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “To assist you.”

Kaiyo frowned, then nodded. “Very well. I want you to stay with Lady Nancy while I’m gone.”

“Gone?” He was leaving her already? She fought back the momentary panic and kept her voice neutral. “Where are you going?”

“To see the king. If he hears of my arrival from another source before I present myself to him, he will be most displeased.”

So that was Sachout’s game. She was quite sure that he had arranged for them to be seen just enough for the rumors to start flying, assuming that Kaiyo would remain in these rooms until he returned. Perhaps the Kaiyo he had known before would have waited. But even though Kaiyo had changed, he still didn’t seem to realize that the other male was trying to manipulate him. Or maybe she was being unnecessarily suspicious.

“You should go to the king,” she agreed. “Do you want me to come?”

“Yes, but I suspect this conversation may be… uncomfortable. I would prefer to get it out of the way before I present you to him.”

She smiled as serenely as possible. “I understand. I’ll wait here with…”

“Pyit, my lady.”

“Take care of her,” Kaiyo ordered the girl, and then he was gone.

Nancy looked over to see the girl giving her a wide-eyed stare, but she immediately dropped her eyes.

“I’m sorry, my lady. I’ve never seen a two… that is, an alien… I mean…”

“Don’t worry about it, Pyit. I’d never seen a Nagaran before I met Kaiyo.”

“Really?” The girl gave her a shy smile.

“Really. So you’ll have to tell me everything you can about Nagara.” She looked around a little uncertainly. “Why don’t we start with you telling me what you usually do?”

“I wash dishes. And help with the laundry.” Pyit bobbed her head again. “I’m afraid I’ve never served a great lord and lady before. Usually, one of the upper servants would be assigned to you. I was shocked when Master Sachout told me to come here.”

Ah. No doubt it was intended as a deliberate insult on Sachout’s part, but this one didn’t bother her at all.

“I think it’s going to work out perfectly,” she assured the girl. “Now, I want to see what we can do to make this place look different before Kaiyo returns. Let’s start by getting this dreadful statue out of here.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

As Kaiyo made his way along the back corridor to the king’s chambers, he was tempted to change his mind, return to Nancy, and then get the two of them the hell off of Nagara. His relationship with his uncle had always been strained, tainted by his father’s animosity. And, of course, he had been blamed every time the twins got into trouble, even though they were quite capable of misbehaving without his influence.

But he had already decided on this course of action. He wasn’t going to back out now.

He knocked on the back door reserved for family members.

“Enter,” his uncle commanded, but he barely recognized his voice.

When he went inside, he was even more shocked by the change in his uncle’s appearance. Hurain had mated later in life, but he had always seemed as useful and energetic as a much younger male. Now he looked every minute of his age. His scales had a dull pallor, and his eyes were cloudy. Grief had destroyed him—or was it more than that? The scent of sickness hung heavy in the air. But despite his condition, he surveyed Kaiyo with his usual intelligence.

“Didn’t take you long, did it?” Hurain said bitterly. “I suppose you came running as soon as you heard.”

“Sachout sent for me. I should have known that I would be met with such an enthusiastic reception.” He tried for the casual mockery he had perfected so long ago, but even he could hear the hurt in his voice.

Hurain sighed, seeming to lose some of his aggression.

“You weren’t here for the funeral.”

“I didn’t know or I would have been.” He turned and moved over to the window, staring unseeing at the familiar sight of the city cascading down the side of the mountain to the desert far below. “You never believed me, but I cared for the twins very much.”

Hurain sighed again. “They told me as much, but I always thought you were too much like your father to really care about anyone.”

That brought him back around, meeting Hurain’s eyes directly. “I am nothing like him.”

“I want to believe that.” Hurain studied his face. “Why did you come when Sachout contacted you?”

“Uncertainty about the heir is bad for Nagara. Whether you ask me to stay or strip me of my title and send me away, at least it will be an answer. I believe the people will be happier with that knowledge.”

“Do you really care about them?”

“Yes,” he said slowly.

“Why?”

“Because in spite of my attempt to escape it, this is my home, this is my blood.”

“I am glad to see you recognize that at last.”

Silence fell between them, but for once it was not an uncomfortable silence.

“I will let the Council know that you are back,” Hurain said finally. “And set up meetings with my top advisors to bring you up to speed.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet.” The flash of humor on Hurain’s face reminded him so much of the twins that his chest ached. “It means that you are in for a lot of long and boring meetings.”

“I wasn’t referring to the meetings,” he said softly.

“I know.”

Kaiyo bowed his head, and headed for the door. Just as he put his hand on the knob, Hurain spoke again.

“Aren’t you going to tell me about your human mate?”

He found himself smiling as he turned back.

“I should have realized that you would know. You always did know everything that went on in the palace.”

“Almost everything,” Hurain agreed.

“What do you want to know about my mate? As you said, she is human.”

“Why did you choose her?”

“Because she is small but fierce. Because she’s beautiful and smart and determined. Because I could not imagine my life without her.”

Hurain regarded him thoughtfully. “An advantageous mating to a daughter of one of the older Houses would help to quell the objections that will no doubt arise from your return.”

“No doubt it would,” he said pleasantly. “But it is never going to happen. I have already chosen a mate, and she has chosen me.” At least I pray she has.

“I believe you mean that.”

“I do.”

“Another reminder that you are not like your father. I will endeavor to remember that,” Hurain promised.

Kaiyo felt lighter as he returned to his quarters. The meeting had gone much better than he had expected. Although he was quite sure that Hurain was not completely convinced of his worthiness—for that matter, neither was he—at least his uncle was willing to give him a chance.

The first thing he noticed as he entered their rooms was the missing statue. He stared at the graceful arrangement of long-stemmed flowers that had taken its place for a long moment before he moved into the main living area. This too had changed. Most of the furniture remained, but it had been rearranged, organized to focus on the garden instead of the now absent throne. The tasteless works of art his father enjoyed had also been removed. The room felt lighter—still familiar, but no longer as oppressive as it had felt when he entered earlier. A little more of the tension he had been carrying seeped away.

“Nancy,” he called, eager to find his mate and thank her for her efforts.

She appeared in the archway leading to the main bedroom. She had changed into one of the simple black outfits she had purchased from Ultana, her hair up in a loose knot of curls, and her face and arms smudged with dirt.

“This reminds me of our original meeting,” he drawled as he went to her. “You do seem to have an affinity for dirt, mafiti.”

She huffed at him. “You try rearranging furniture without getting dirty.”

“You could have sent for someone to do it for you.”

“I didn’t need to. Pyit and I managed just fine on our own. Do you like it?”

“More than I can possibly say. I didn’t realize until I came through the door and saw the changes how much I didn’t want to stay here. But this is better. It no longer feels as if the past is weighing me down. Thank you, mafiti.”

Cheeks pink with pleasure, she smiled up at him.

“Good. Does that mean that I can have my wicked way with you later?”

“You can always have your way with me.”

She laughed. “I know better than that. But maybe just for tonight…”

Her fingers traced the length of his slit teasingly, causing his dotras to stir in anticipation. He was tempted to carry her off immediately, but he heard the sound of the maid not far away. Unfortunately, they were no longer free to enjoy each other whenever they wished.

“Do you need any help?”

“I have a few questions, but first, how did the meeting go with your uncle?”

“Better than I expected. He seems willing to give me a chance—although he warned me that it would be extremely tedious. I’m sure he remembers how much I hated protocol.”

“Then let’s talk about more interesting things. Where do you want to sleep tonight? There’s a very large bedroom with some, err, interesting additions.” He winced, but she waved a hand. “Don’t worry, we’re getting rid of them. Is that enough of a change, or would you prefer the smaller bedroom? Was it yours?”

“No, it was my mother’s. I think I would prefer that one.”

“Did you have a room here?”

He took her by the hand and led her along the corridor to the small room. Somehow, he was not surprised that it was now filled with discarded items.

“This was your room? I thought it was a storage room.” Her face was outraged. “Your father was a bastard, Kaiyo.”

“I didn’t spend much time here,” he said, not in an attempt to defend his father but to ease his own hurt. The small space had been his refuge many times.

“Then let’s not spend any time here now.” She urged him away from the door and farther down the corridor. “Is this all right?”

How could the room still smell like his mother all these years later? He barely remembered her—just a vague recollection of a beautiful, sad face and the perfume that still seemed to haunt the air.

“I used to come here after she left.” The long windows overlooking the valley were just as he remembered. He remembered standing there, wondering if she’d flown away.

“How old were you?”

“Three, or perhaps four. My father just told me that she’d left me.”

“If he weren’t already dead, I’d be tempted to kill him myself. Are you sure you want to stay here on Nagara? You don’t seem to have many happy memories.”

Was she right? But despite being the unwanted son of a universally disliked father, there had been other times.

“Oddly enough, I do. Most of the people who worked in the palace were very kind to me.” Probably because they felt sorry for him, but they had been kind nonetheless. “I remember nights in the desert when we were on a hunting trip far from the palace. Hiding in my uncle’s office and listening to him talk to his councilors. My cousins playing practical jokes on me.”

His breath caught, and she immediately put her arm around him.

“I’ll pick another room. Hell, we can sleep on the couch.”

He looked around again, noticing the sunlight streaming through the windows and the balcony beyond that looked out over the city. He liked the soft green on the walls, and the fact that they could see more than just the palace.

“No, I think this will work very well.” He shook off the reminiscent mood and smiled down at her. “Although I think the bed is smaller. You will have to stay very close to me.”

His tail pulled her closer as he spoke. He heard her breath catch and saw her nipples press against her shirt. “Perhaps we should test it out…”

“Lady Nancy.”

The maid’s call was followed by her appearance at the door to the bedroom. She swallowed and bobbed her head at the sight of him.

He sighed. “Yes, Pyit, what is it?”

“I think there’s been a mistake,” she said nervously. “My friend Suera brought some more cleaning supplies, and she told me that there is a formal dinner this evening. She seems to think that both of you will be there, but no one told me. I don’t know if I have enough time to get Lady Nancy ready.”

The girl looked close to tears, and looking at his beautiful but bedraggled mate he understood why. To his relief, Nancy looked more annoyed than concerned.

“How unfortunate that Sachout didn’t think to tell us,” she said sarcastically.

He frowned. It wasn’t like the usually efficient advisor, but no doubt he was dealing with the repercussions of Kaiyo’s return.

“It doesn’t matter. We still have time—and it’s always better to make an entrance than to appear too eager. Pyit, help Lady Nancy to prepare. The blue dress, I think. Please,” he added when she gave him an exasperated look.

“Oh, all right.”

“I have a few preparations of my own, and then I’ll be back.”

He dropped a quick kiss on her lips, ignoring the maid’s startled gasp, and hurried off. He couldn’t wait to introduce his mate to Nagaran society.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Nancy stood next to the entrance to the dining hall and did her best not to keep checking that the necklace Kaiyo had given her was still around her neck. The reason for his request that she wear the blue dress had become clear when he returned and fastened it around her neck. Deep blue stones were fastened in an intricate web of smaller sparkling stones.

“I can’t wear this,” she had protested when he placed it around her neck before they left their rooms.

“Of course you can. It is traditionally worn by the mate of the heir. And it suits you very well.” His eyes heated as he surveyed the blue dress, then ran a finger across one silk-clad breast to tease her nipple. “Although I look forward to seeing you wear it later, without any other clothing to detract from your beauty.”

“I’m supposed to be in charge, remember?” she said breathlessly.

“Yes, mafiti.”

From his tone, she didn’t think he thought that would last long, but dammit, she had plans. Before she could get too distracted by those plans, she took a final look in the mirror. The necklace really was the perfect accent to the dark blue silk of the dress. Fortunately, the neckline, while low cut, didn’t plunge to her navel. High slits on each side of the skirt revealed flashes of skin when she walked, but she didn’t feel quite as exposed.

Pyit had done an amazing job in the limited amount of time they’d had to get ready. She’d arranged Nancy’s hair in a carefully casual updo, then swept a shimmering gold powder across every inch of exposed skin. She’d even applied tiny glittering drops to Nancy’s freckles, assuring her that the pattern was most attractive. A mask-like band of blue shadow swept from one temple to the other, making her eyes look huge and mysterious, and dark red lipstick accentuated her mouth.

“I guess I’m ready.”

“Don’t be nervous. You outrank everyone there except the king. And me,” he added, flashing her his wicked smile.

He too had dressed for the occasion, wearing a dark gold kilt that draped gracefully across his tail and was secured by a wide gold belt. Two jeweled daggers were fastened to an elaborate harness of gold straps across his broad chest. He looked fierce and barbaric, and he took her breath away. She still found it difficult to believe that he was her mate.

In name only, she reminded herself, and tried to ignore how much that was beginning to bother her. Instead, she plastered a smile on her face and offered him her hand.

“Then let’s go.”

Now they waited for the servant to announce them.

“His Royal Highness, Prince Kaiyo of House S’Ainlay, and his consort, Lady Nancy.” The sonorous tones rolled through the reception room as the servant threw open the doors.

The low hum of conversation came to a complete halt as everyone turned to look at them. She wanted to run and hide, but then she caught a glimpse of Sachout’s shocked face and straightened her spine. The advisor had come by earlier, full of apologies for failing to convey the invitation sooner. She hadn’t seen him, but she’d heard the oily satisfaction in his voice when Kaiyo warned him that they might be a few minutes late. Somehow, she doubted he had expected them to make such a poised entrance.

A dome inlaid with glittering mosaic tiles arched over the huge, circular room, full of Nagarans in an astonishing variety of skin colors and patterns, all of them richly dressed. Kaiyo definitely understated their interest in clothing, she thought grimly, but at least she looked the part. As conversation resumed, she realized that her first impression had not been entirely correct. Several members of other species were present as well, and that made her feel a little better.

A large male with deep orange scales came forward to greet Kaiyo. He clapped Kaiyo on the shoulder, then bowed over her hand without batting an eye.

“Prince Kaiyo always did have exquisite taste,” he said jovially. “I am Lord Mawse. Welcome, my dear.”

He seemed sincere enough, and she smiled at him. “Thank you. I’m delighted to be here.”

A parade of others followed, all of them smiling, although she was quite sure that not all of them were as enthusiastic as they appeared. A few made some rather barbed remarks to which Kaiyo responded with icy civility.

One of the last to greet them was a rather plump little Nagaran, much shorter and fatter than any other male she had seen.

“So good to see you again, dear boy,” he said enthusiastically, grasping Kaiyo’s forearm. “I have often thought of you.”

“Shinsa attempted to teach me ancient Nagaran,” Kaiyo explained to her, an affectionate smile on his face. “Not that I was much of a student.”

“Not at all. You were perfectly capable of learning the material. You were just distracted by that female most of the time. Constantly sneaking off to meet her,” he continued happily, completely oblivious of the fact that both Kaiyo and Nancy had stiffened. “Now what was her name again?”

“Lulain.” Kaiyo’s voice was completely neutral, but Nancy recognized the name.

“Are you talking about me? I’m touched,” a deep, seductive voice purred.

This was Lulain? Nancy’s heart sank as she studied the female who had joined them. She was stunningly attractive. Her deep bronze scales shimmered under the lights, while her eyes were a hypnotic combination of bronze and gold, accented by a band of dark red eye makeup. A long filmy tunic in a matching shade floated around her body, gathered at the waist by a Y-shaped gold belt.

With a startled glance, Nancy realized it was designed to draw attention to the other female’s sexual organs, even though they were concealed within her body. Now that she thought about it, many of the other females were wearing a similar belt, none of them quite as provocative as Lulain’s.

“Lulain,” Kaiyo repeated, his voice as neutral as ever.

“In the flesh. I see you are looking as… fit as ever,” she drawled, slowly surveying his body with a seductive smile that made Nancy want to scratch her eyes out. “But I always did like you dressed in gold.”

“Really? I am devastated to have to tell you that I don’t remember your preferences.”

The icy mockery would have chilled most females, but Lulain’s smile only broadened.

“And is this your little… mate? Why, Kaiyo, she’s quite charming.”

Somehow, she made it sound as if Nancy was a pet dog.

“She is charming,” Kaiyo agreed. “And refreshingly honest.”

Lulain laughed melodiously. “Oh, dear. I feel as if I’ve been insulted.”

“Only if you’re usually less than honest,” Nancy said sweetly.

Lulain laughed again, less artificially this time. “I can see that we’re going to have to become better acquainted.”

“I will be devastated to miss that opportunity, but my schedule is very full.” She couldn’t quite manage Kaiyo’s smooth mockery, but she thought she came pretty close. Unfortunately, the wretched female’s smile only broadened.

“Oh, I’m sure we can work something out.” Before Lulain could continue, a series of bells chimed. “Ah, time for dinner. Shinsa, will you accompany me?”

The tutor, who had been standing there looking miserable during the entire conversation, stuttered a response. Nancy wasn’t quite sure it was an agreement, but Lulain paid no attention, putting her hand on his and urging him towards the adjoining room.

“I’m sorry,” Kaiyo said quietly. “I should have thought to warn you that she might be here.”

“I think there’s a lot more that you need to tell me,” she snapped, then sighed. “But I suppose now isn’t the time.”

“If you want to leave, then we will leave.”

For a moment, she was tempted, but then she saw Sachout looking back at them from the next room and shook her head.

“No, I’m not going to let her run me off. But we’re having a long talk later,” she added, poking his chest.

“I thought you had other plans for later.” His voice dropped, turning low and seductive, and despite her annoyance, her clit gave an excited little pulse. His tongue flicked out to taste the air, and he gave a satisfied nod before taking her hand and leading her into the next room.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the dining room did not contain a standard table and chairs. Instead, low banquettes were arranged in clusters around small individual tables. The clusters seem to be arranged in some type of formal order and Kaiyo led her directly to the central grouping. The orange male who had been the first to greet them was there. Unfortunately, so was Lulain. The only bright spot was that Sachout was with an adjacent group.

She gave the low couches an uncertain look, but Kaiyo settled gracefully on the padded surface, pulling her smoothly down beside him and supporting her back with his tail. As soon as he was seated, the other diners reclined as well and with a start, she realized they had been waiting for him. For the first time, she was truly conscious of his new status.

Biting her lip, she looked up to find Lulain watching her. The female raised an eyebrow. “Quite something, isn’t it? Everyone moving into place like obedient little puppets.”

Despite the mocking note in her voice, her smile was not unsympathetic. When Kaiyo turned to speak to the male on the other side of him, Lulain leaned closer.

“Although you’ve made it quite clear that the idea doesn’t thrill you, we really should become better acquainted.”

“I—”

“I’ll come around in the morning, not too early, and we’ll have tea. And a nice little chat.”

She turned away before Nancy could think of a tactful way to refuse. Kaiyo bent down to ask her a question, and the moment was lost.

The rest of the meal proved to be more enjoyable than she had anticipated. The food was delicious, and the wine flowed freely. In spite of her doubts, Lulain proved to be an entertaining companion, keeping their group amused with her witty stories and dry insight. Kaiyo didn’t say much, and she realized he was observing the people around them. Whenever someone was bold enough to ask him a direct question, he responded with that cool arrogance that seemed to come so naturally.

Despite the attention he was paying to the other guests, he never ignored her. He pointed out tidbits that she would enjoy, made sure that her glass was filled, and most of all, he was always touching her. At first, she thought it was to reassure her, but as the dinner went on she wondered if perhaps she was the one comforting him.

“Are you all right?” she asked softly when the rest of the group was diverted by the entrance of a musician.

“That is a difficult question to answer, mafiti.”

“I think that means that you aren’t. How much longer do we need to stay?”

“There will be dancing after this, but we can leave without providing offense.”

Dancing? Despite Kaiyo’s grace—the graceful movements of all the Nagarans for that matter—she couldn’t quite envision how dancing would work.

“Can we stay long enough to see one dance? If you don’t mind?”

He looked down at her, his eyes warm with affection. “Of course, mafiti. Whatever you wish.”

She rubbed her chin against his arm, and something flared in his eyes, something that made her breath catch. He started to bend his head towards her, but as he did, Lord Mawse spoke to him. He gave her a rueful look and turned away to respond. As he did, she saw Lulain looking at her, an oddly thoughtful look on her face.

CHAPTER TWENTY

The dance had been worth staying for, Nancy decided as they finally headed back to their rooms. The Nagarans advanced and retreated in astonishingly intricate patterns, their tails twining together and separating in a complex series of movements. And it wasn’t just two people dancing—they would form patterns of four or six or even more.

“Do you miss that? Dancing, I mean,” she asked Kaiyo. He had been silent since they left the reception, but his arm was a warm, comforting weight over her shoulders.

“Not particularly. Why?”

They reached their quarters, and after escorting her inside, he went to pour a drink.

She shrugged uncomfortably. “I don’t know. It’s just that—I couldn’t do that. I don’t have a tail.”

Back on Yangu, it hadn’t seemed to matter very much. But now that they were here, surrounded by other Nagarans—and perhaps in part because of Lulain’s presence—she was more conscious of her differences. What if he decided he preferred a Nagaran female after all?

“I have noticed,” he said dryly, then seemed to realize her distress. “Mafiti, haven’t I proven to you how much I adore your delightful little body?”

He abandoned his drink and glided towards her. His big body loomed over her in the dimly lit room, eyes glowing, and excitement shivered over her skin. “Perhaps I need to prove it again.”

He scooped her up in his arms and undulated through the corridors and into their room before she could catch her breath. Placing her on her feet, he put her hand over his slit.

“Can’t you feel what you do to me?”

The thick bulge of his dotras pressed against her hand, still locked within his body.

“I can feel it,” she whispered, then bent over and licked the length of the sensitive flesh.

His dotras sprang free, already hard and glistening with arousal. Her mouth went dry as she took a step back and lifted her hands to her shoulders. Perhaps by design, the dress was extremely easy to remove. She undid the catch at each shoulder and it slithered to the ground, the cool silk caressing her body as it fell. She kicked off her glittery sandals and stood naked before him in the moonlight, her only adornment the necklace still fastened around her neck.

“I miss nothing,” he said hoarsely. “You are perfect exactly as you are.”

The sincerity in his voice reassured her, and a smile curved her lips.

“In that case, go and lie on the bed.”

“Why?”

“My turn, remember?”

From the way his dotras jerked, he didn’t have a problem with the idea. She followed him over to the bed, then knelt on the mattress next to his body. For a moment she was content just to look and admire the strong muscles and the gleaming scales, but looking wasn’t enough for long.

She slid her hands across the smooth planes of his chest and down the ridges of his abdomen, so similar to a human—to where his dotras emerged—and so completely different. But she thought he was perfect as well.

His breath caught as she lightly circled the ridges of his pleasure dotra, loving how sensitive he was to her touch. His mating dotra preferred a firmer hand and she gave it a hard stroke as she bent closer. Because of the protrusions and his size, she couldn’t do much more than lick the head of his lower dotra, but his pleasure dotra was a different matter. She circled it lightly with her tongue and then sucked as much as she could of him into her mouth. God, she loved the way he tasted. She continued stroking his lower dotra as she sucked on the upper one, waiting until all of his muscles were tense with anticipation before she raised her head.

“Mafiti,” he groaned.

“Don’t worry. I’m not going to leave you like that.”

She climbed astride his tail just below his slit. His tail was as thick here as a man’s waist and she had to spread her legs wide enough that her clit rubbed against the thicker scales of his tail. She rocked back and forth, the slight roughness creating sparks of excitement with each movement. She actually thought she could get off with nothing more than the pressure of her body against his, but she wanted more.

She moved higher up his body until her pussy was poised over his mating dotra, then slowly started to lower herself onto him. As she did, his upper dotra slid up over her clit, its thick width separating her folds and exposing every part of her to him. As ready as she was, her body still had to adjust to his size, but with each inch the pleasure increased until at last he was fully seated inside her and her body quivered on the edge of climax. Triumph mixed with her arousal as she grinned up at Kaiyo. His eyes had been fixed on her face the entire time, his fists clenched at his sides. She knew that he had wanted to take over, but he had let her do this on her own.

“What do you think? Do you like letting me be in charge?”

KAIYO DID his best to keep his face solemn. His little mafiti thought she was in charge? He lifted his tail, just the smallest amount really, but it was enough to drive his dotra even deeper into her perfect little cunt. She gasped, and tried to glare at him, but her voice was breathless.

“Stop trying to take over!”

“Yes, mafiti. But if this is what you wanted, you only had to ask.”

Even in the moonlight, he could see her cheeks color. Ah, she had been embarrassed to ask. He had been taking it slowly, giving her a chance to adjust to their differences, but if she had an adventurous streak, he was more than happy to oblige.

“Do you know how perfect you look, sitting on my dotra?” The moonlight through the windows illuminated her slender body. His jewels were around her neck, and her eyes were still shadowed and mysterious. He raised his hand to the small mound of her breast, then paused with his thumb not quite touching a rosy little nipple.

“Is it all right if I touch you?” he asked innocently. “Since you’re in charge?”

“Yes, oh, yes.”

He obliged, feeling her sweet cunt tighten around his dotra as a shiver ran through her.

“More?”

“You’re teasing me,” she muttered.

“I believe it would be more accurate to say that I’m teasing both of us.”

But nonetheless, he lifted his other hand and began working both sensitive little buds. As he did, he encouraged her to lean forward so that she was pressing more firmly against his mating dotra and would feel it rubbing against her every time she moved. Her legs were spread wide by the width of his tail, and he decided to see just how adventurous she was feeling.

He brought the end of his tail up, circling the place where they joined and gathering their moisture before teasing her delicate bottom hole. She startled, and her instinctive tightening almost caused him to explode. He gritted his teeth and stroked her breasts until her body relaxed again. He also continued to circle her pucker, and when her body softened, he slipped the very tip into the tiny entrance.

“Oh my God,” she whispered.

“You wanted to try something new,” he murmured provocatively. “Just relax for me, mafiti.”

She took a deep breath, and when she released it, he slid deeper. Gods, she was tight. And hot. He had to fight the impulse to plunge ruthlessly into her body. Instead, he urged her down against his chest, wrapping his arms around her as he began to move. His tail and his dotra worked in harmony, moving in and out of her body in a slow sensual rhythm until she began trying to hurry his strokes.

He obeyed, clasping her hips in his hands as he stroked harder and deeper. Her clit was so swollen he could feel it like a burning brand against his pleasure dotra, and he knew she hovered on the edge of climax. His tail started vibrating where it was buried in her sweet little ass, the vibrations moving through both dotras in a rush of sensation. He heard her cry out and felt her tighten around him until he could barely move. The exquisite torture of her grip triggered his own climax, his tail thrashing wildly as his seed erupted endlessly into the body of his mate.

When he finally regained enough strength to move, he gently lifted her free and went to find a cleansing cloth. She was almost asleep when he returned, and he gently wiped her swollen folds before discarding the cloth and returning to the bed, pulling her back into his arms.

“I can see that I shall have to let you be in charge more often.”

She opened one eye. “You know you took over.”

“Do you object?”

“How can I? I love… what you do to me.”

He caught the slight, almost imperceptible pause. Had she intended to say something else? He was being a coward, he decided. He should tell her how he felt—that this wasn’t a fake mating. It was real.

But by the time he had made his decision, her breathing had deepened and he knew that she slept. Perhaps it was just as well. He was still uncertain about his position here. For that matter he was equally uncertain how she would feel about life at court. She’d had only the smallest taste of it so far, but he had grown up here. The constant intrigues and the petty jealousy over the smallest sign that one person was favored over another did not make for a comfortable environment.

Still, it could have been far worse. Many generations ago, the disputes had been violent more often than not, and treachery was usually fatal. These days, a sharpened tongue was the main weapon employed. And that was a weapon with which he was extremely familiar.

A weapon that so far he had not had to use. The day had gone far smoother than he had dared to hope. His uncle seemed willing to accept him, and the court had shown similar indications. He was quite aware that speculation was running rampant beneath the surface, but at least they had been polite to his face and they had treated his mate with respect.

Even—somewhat to his surprise—Lulain. The thought of her brought a frown to his face. They hadn’t gotten around to the subject tonight, but tomorrow he needed to tell Nancy what a fool he had been. He wasn’t particularly looking forward to that, or to the endless meetings that had already started appearing on his communicator. But lying here with his mate in his arms, the familiar landscape of Nagara outside the window, he was unexpectedly content. He had no illusions that it was going to be an easy path ahead, but with her at his side, he was starting to look forward to the journey.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

“Lady Lulain is here,” Pyit announced.

Nancy bit back a groan. She wasn’t prepared for this meeting. Although she had intended to talk to Kaiyo, she had fallen asleep after their lovemaking, and he had been gone when she woke this morning. Pyit had passed on his message, telling her that he had an early meeting and hadn’t wanted to disturb her. She had been sitting peacefully on the balcony, anticipating his return, when Pyit found her. She was tempted to put off the meeting, but it was probably too late now.

“I suppose you’d better show her in.”

“What a gracious welcome, to be sure.” The cool mockery reminded her uncomfortably of the tone that Kaiyo could adopt.

“I meant right here, Mistress,” Pyit said apologetically.

“I understand. Why don’t you fetch us some tea?” She turned back to Lulain and forced herself to smile. “Won’t you join me on the balcony?”

Lulain nodded, moving over to the railing to stare out over the city below. The other female was depressingly attractive even in the full light of day, but as Nancy studied her face, she realized that the other female was older than she had first assumed.

“I had forgotten that these rooms have exterior balconies,” Lulain said as she turned to face her.

“I suppose it’s a benefit to being part of the royal family,” she said as lightly as she could, ignoring the pang it gave her to know that Lulain had been here before.

“Not exactly. The palace is a peculiar place. Being on the edge is not a valued position. Did Kaiyo not tell you that his parent was frequently, shall we say, in disgrace with King Hurain?”

“Yes, he mentioned it.”

“How interesting. In my day, he preferred never to discuss him.”

“Or maybe he only wanted to discuss it with someone who truly cared for him.”

Lulain laughed, and took a seat at the small table with astonishing grace, curling her tail beneath the chair. The Nagarans seemed to have no trouble navigating regular furniture, Nancy noticed ruefully. She was still having a hard time adjusting to the low, backless benches they preferred.

“You know, I do like you. I didn’t think that I would.”

“Why not?”

“Because you stole Kaiyo from me,” Lulain said dramatically, clasping her hand to her chest.

“If I understand the situation correctly, you discarded him.”

Lulain waved a dismissive hand. “Irrelevant. If you weren’t around, I’m quite sure he would come back to me.”

Would he? The more she thought about it, the more she became convinced that the other female was underestimating him, just as Sachout underestimated him. They all seemed to assume he was the same male he had been when he left. She suspected that the last decade had changed him far more than they realized.

She looked at the beautiful older female and wondered if she had been trying to convince Nancy—or convince herself.

“If you say so,” she said politely, instead of voicing her doubts.

Lulain’s eyes flew to hers, and something passed between them before she shrugged.

“And now we’ll never know. He is clearly enamored with you.”

The cursed heat rose to her cheeks. Dammit. Why was she blushing now?

“And you appeared to be equally enamored,” Lulain continued. “Perhaps it is just as well. He needs someone who will put him above everything else. And not because of his position.”

She couldn’t resist. “Is that why you were attracted to him?”

“It was a factor. They would never have let me near the twins. But of course he is also very attractive, as you know.”

Pyit returned with the tea tray before they could continue. Her hands shook as she placed the cups on the table.

“Is something wrong?” Nancy asked softly.

“No, Mistress. I mean, yes. I… I had some bad news.”

“I’m so sorry. If there’s something you need to do, you don’t need to stay here.”

Pyit gave her an oddly desperate look, then nodded. “Yes, Mistress. I… I wish you well.”

The girl turned and fled. Lulain frowned after her.

“Why is she here? She seems rather untrained for a personal servant.”

“Sachout assigned her to me.”

Nancy kept her voice carefully neutral, but Lulain laughed.

“Ah, I see. The sneaky little worm is playing tricks again.”

“You don’t like him either?”

“Not in the least. Do you know he once tried to blackmail me into having sex with him?” Lulain shuddered. “Can you imagine?”

“I’d rather not. How did he try and blackmail you?”

“He threatened to tell the male I was seeing that I was also seeing someone else. So I took care of the situation.”

“How?”

Lulain’s mouth curved in a slow, sensual smile. “I invited them both over at the same time and introduced them to each other. It proved to be a most… satisfying evening.”

Nancy couldn’t help laughing. In spite of everything, she was starting to like the other female.

“So why did you dump Kaiyo before? When he was falsely accused?”

Lulain raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure the accusations were false?”

“Absolutely. Did you believe them?”

“No,” Lulain admitted. “He may have his faults, but he has always been extremely loyal. He loved his cousins, and he would never have harmed them.”

“So why?” Nancy took a sip of the tea as she waited for the other female to answer. It had a slightly bitter aftertaste, but it wasn’t bad. She couldn’t help wishing that coffee was a part of this new world.

Lulain sipped her own tea, gazing out over the valley again.

“I could give you a number of reasons, but I suppose in the end it came down to two. One, I enjoy my life. I enjoy having status and wealth and the finest clothing and the best meals. I had no intention of giving that up.”

“And the second reason?”

“He didn’t love me.” She looked directly at Nancy. “I don’t know if he ever truly thought that he did, but I knew for certain that he did not.”

“Did you love him?”

Lulain shrugged. “A little. I love all my males a little bit. But I love myself more.” She took another sip of tea, then pushed it aside impatiently. “If we must have heartfelt conversations at this hour of the morning, then I insist on a proper drink. I assume you have such a thing?”

“There is a cabinet in the living room.”

“Excellent. I will return with something more stimulating.”

The other female disappeared back inside, while Nancy leaned back in her chair and drank some more tea. As far as she could tell, Lulain had been telling her the truth. What’s more, she found herself enjoying their conversation. She might be as self-indulgent as she had indicated, but Nancy suspected that the main reason for her visit was to reassure her.

A chill skated across her skin, and she gave the sky a puzzled look. No clouds obscured the sun, but it no longer felt as warm. She took another sip of tea, but it too had cooled. Her hand shook as she went to place it back on the table.

“Success!” Lulain exclaimed as she reappeared, holding up a dusty bottle and two glasses. “One hundred-year-old Foldaran brandy, no doubt being saved for a special occasion. I decided this qualifies. Nancy? Is something wrong?”

“I… I’m so cold.” Her teeth were chattering so hard the words were barely intelligible.

“Let’s get you back inside.”

Lulain put down the bottle and reached for her, but just as Lulain’s hand touched her arm, her stomach cramped in a wave of agony. She doubled over, only Lulain’s grip keeping her from falling to the ground.

“Oh, God, it hurts.”

“Where does it hurt?” Lulain’s cool voice finally penetrated the pain streaking through her.

“Stomach.” A second cramp left her weak and shaking. “Kaiyo. I need Kaiyo.”

KAIYO LEFT THE MEETING ROOM, doing his best not to slam the door. The fact that he had managed to keep his temper during the meeting was nothing short of a miracle. The Council of Elders were the chief intersection between the Royal House and the Parliament. They had only a few direct responsibilities—not that that ever stopped them from voicing their opinion about everything under the sun—but one of those was to oversee the line of succession and to ordain the next king.

He had thought the meeting was to brief him on the events of the last few years most relevant to the Royal House. Instead, it had been an opportunity for them to cross-examine him on every detail of his life, both before and after he left Nagara. By the time he’d had enough and stalked out, Lady Haungg was accusing him of having stolen fruit from her orchard when he was six years old. She was correct, of course, but it hardly seemed relevant.

He looked at his communicator and decided he had just enough time to return to his quarters before the next meeting—which would probably also revolve around his shortcomings. Hopefully a few minutes with Nancy would help him regain his composure.

He glided around a corner and almost slammed into Pyit. She was clearly distraught, clinging to his arm with trembling fingers.

“Lady Nancy…” she gasped. “She’s sick.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I-I don’t know. But you must go to her as fast as you can.”

He disengaged her fingers and raced for his quarters, raising his communicator and calling for help on the way.

“Nancy!” he yelled as soon as he entered.

“Out here.”

It was Lulain’s voice, not Nancy’s, and he raced out on the balcony to find her holding his female as she thrashed wildly.

“What the fuck did you do to her?” he demanded, snatching his mate into his arms.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I didn’t do anything. The last thing she said before she collapsed was that her stomach hurt.”

Nancy’s body convulsed in his arms, and he tightened his grip, trying to make sure that she didn’t hurt herself. Her skin was even paler than it had been when she was attacked by the ardiks, and fear sent an icy arrow to his heart.

“Nancy, open your eyes,” he pleaded. “Please, mafiti.”

For an endless moment, she didn’t respond, then her eyes fluttered open.

“Hurts,” she whispered. “Bite me. Please.”

Her voice faltered as another convulsion racked her slight body. Her mouth opened in a silent scream, her face a rictus of pain. He couldn’t stand to see her suffer and bent over her neck.

“No, Kaiyo. Wait.”

Lulain tried to intervene, but he had already struck. He breathed a sigh of relief as Nancy’s body relaxed, but to his dismay, her eyes didn’t reopen.

“I don’t think that was a good idea—” Lulain began.

“What happened?” Sachout’s voice interrupted as the older male joined them on the balcony.

“I don’t know. She was fine this morning.”

They both looked at Lulain, but she shook her head.

“I don’t know either. We were having tea and she was fine, but then I went to get some brandy. When I came back, she was complaining of being cold. I started to help her inside, and that’s when she collapsed.”

“Tea?” Sachout raised a brow as he looked at the table and then back at Lulain. “I never knew you to be a tea drinker, Lady Lulain. Are you sure this is not your doing?”

“My doing? What do you mean, you odious little male?”

Sachout slithered over to the table and picked up one of the cups, sniffing the contents.

“As I suspected. You poisoned her, didn’t you?”

Anger and disbelief warred for dominance in Kaiyo’s mind. While he knew Lulain was a lot of things, he found it difficult to believe that she would stoop to poison. But with his mate limp and helpless in his arms, it was hard to think rationally.

“I did nothing of the kind,” Lulain said scornfully. “I actually like the little female. Is this another one of your sordid attempts at blackmail?”

Blackmail? Sachout? The accusation made no sense, but he couldn’t worry about it now. Where the hell were the medics? He was afraid to move Nancy until they had seen her.

Sachout assumed a martyred expression. “Your Highness, I believe the circumstances are quite obvious. This female should be arrested for murdering your mate.”

“Murdering?” His heart skipped a beat.

“Most poisons are fatal,” Sachout said sorrowfully.

If he hadn’t already been on the ground, he would have collapsed. He couldn’t lose her now. He couldn’t.

“Please, mafiti,” he whispered. “Open your eyes. Come back to me.”

There was no response, but he could still see the gentle rise and fall of her chest.

The balcony was suddenly full of people. He was vaguely aware of Lulain cursing Sachout as two guards took her into custody, but his focus was on the medic kneeling next to him.

“You have to help her.”

“What happened, Your Highness?”

“She collapsed.” He forced himself to think, to remember what Lulain had said. “She was cold, and shaking, and then she said her stomach hurt. She was in so much pain that I gave her some of my venom.”

The medic frowned at him as he took Nancy’s pulse. “That may not have been the wisest decision, Your Highness. We cannot predict how offworlders will react.”

“She’s had it before. With no side effects. No bad side effects, I mean.”

“But there were other effects?”

“It made her somewhat… intoxicated. Does that matter?” he demanded impatiently. “You need to help her. Now.”

The second medic had retrieved the tea cup from the table and was placing it in a sealed bag.

“We’ll have that analyzed, in order to see what we’re dealing with and to determine if there’s an appropriate antidote. In the meantime, I suggest we give her a transfusion to try and cleanse her blood.”

“Do you have human blood?”

“No, but I should be able to use an artificial plasma.” The medic hesitated, and looked up at him. “We could take her to the medical facility, or if you prefer, she could remain here with you.”

The other male’s eyes were compassionate, and Kaiyo realized that he thought he was giving Nancy a chance to die at home. His throat threatened to close, but he nodded.

“Here. I want her here with me.”

For as long as they had left.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Nancy could hear Kaiyo calling her name, but he seemed so far away. She was floating in a pink haze again, but this one was so thick that she couldn’t find her way through it.

“Please, mafiti. Come back to me.” Kaiyo’s voice was as strained as she had ever heard it, the usual smoothness completely absent.

Her eyes felt heavy, too heavy to open, but if she could just touch him… She tried to raise her hand, but it too felt impossibly heavy.

“Her hand twitched. Did you see that?” Kaiyo demanded.

“I’m not sure, Your Highness.” The other voice was carefully neutral. “It could have been a muscle spasm.”

“It wasn’t a fucking muscle spasm. Mafiti, please. Move your hand again.”

He sounded so demanding, so urgent, that she did her best, even though the pink cloud was getting thicker.

“There. You see?” Kaiyo’s voice was triumphant, and she felt his hand surrounding hers just before the pink cloud carried her away.

KAIYO WAS STILL THERE the next time the cloud started to thin. He was arguing with someone, sounding much angrier than normal.

“I don’t give a fuck if he does disinherit me. I am not leaving my mate.”

“M… mate,” she whispered, or at least tried to, and his protests stopped immediately.

She heard him lean closer. “Mafiti, did you try to speak?”

“Mate,” she whispered again.

“That’s right. I’m your mate. And you are mine, do you hear me? You can’t leave me like that again.”

That didn’t sound right, and she tried to shake her head.

“Never leave you.”

“That’s right. Now open your eyes, mafiti. Let me see you looking back at me.”

Tired. She was so tired. But when he was in one of his bossy moods, it was better just to go along. With a great deal of concentration, she managed to force her eyes open. Kaiyo’s beloved face hovered over her, but he looked tired, his face sunken.

“Happened to you?”

“What happened to me?” His mouth curved in a shadow of his usual smile. “You almost died, mafiti. Someone tried to poison you.”

The memory started to resurface. She had been drinking tea with… Lulain.

“Lulain?” she asked. “Is she all right?”

“She’s under arrest,” Kaiyo said grimly. “She was the one who did it.”

She tried to shake her head. “No. No sense.”

“Your Highness, you should let her rest now.” She vaguely remembered hearing this new voice before.

“Nancy, this is Dr. Rossan. He’s the one who saved your… life.” Kaiyo’s voice stuttered over the last word.

“I already told you that she didn’t survive due to my efforts. Your venom counteracted the poison.”

“Bit me,” she smiled.

“Yes, after you ordered me to.”

“No fun this time.”

“The fact that it saved your life is far more important.” Then he bent down and whispered in her ear. “But as soon as you are well again, we can do it for fun if that’s what you want.”

“Mmm.” The pink fog was descending again, but she managed to hold it off long enough to smile up at him. “Promise.”

“I do.”

Those were the last words she heard.

THE NEXT TIME SHE RESURFACED, only silence surrounded her. Where was Kaiyo? The thought scared her enough that she forced her eyes open, and then sighed with relief. He hadn’t left her. His head was on the mattress by her hip and he was asleep.

“He hasn’t left your side for a moment,” a voice said quietly.

She looked up and saw a strange Nagaran male with a tablet in his hand, but she recognized the voice.

“You’re the doctor?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Thank you.”

“There’s no need to thank me. I’m not sure if you remember the last time you were awake, but I told you then. He saved you.” A smile flickered across his face. “Or maybe you saved yourself by telling him to bite you. Either way, it worked out for the best.”

She put a gentle hand on Kaiyo’s head. She didn’t want to wake him, but she wanted to touch him—to know that he was real and that they were still together. He mumbled a little, but didn’t wake.

“How long have I been out?”

“Almost two weeks. And just like I said, he never left your side.”

No, he wouldn’t have. Just as she wouldn’t have left him. She smiled at the doctor.

“Of course not. He’s my mate, and he loves me.”

So what if he had never said it? She knew it was true.

Kaiyo’s head stirred beneath her hand, and then he looked up at her, his beautiful eyes intent on her face.

“I do love you,” he said quietly.

“I know. And I love you too.”

“I was so afraid that I would never get to tell you. I should have known that you already knew.”

Her eyes were damp, but she smiled down at him. “It’s still nice to hear the words.”

“I shall say them every day,” he promised.

A soft click made her look up, and she realized that the doctor had left the room. The room… She frowned at their surroundings.

“Are we in your father’s bedroom?”

“Our bedroom now,” he said firmly. “It’s the largest room. The doctor brought in a lot of equipment.”

“No more bad memories?”

He shuddered. “The sight of you lying there and refusing to come back to me is the worst possible memory. Nothing else compares.”

“Has it really been two weeks?”

“Yes.”

“It just seems like yesterday I was out on the balcony with Lulain.” She hesitated as another memory resurfaced. “Did you say she was arrested for poisoning me?”

“Yes,” he said grimly. “It’s just as well she is locked up, or I might be tempted to take punishment into my own hands.”

The more she thought about it, the more she was convinced that it wasn’t true. “I don’t believe it. Not for a minute.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean I don’t think she did it. Why would she?”

“Sachout says she did it in order to get access to me.”

“Sachout?” She scowled at him. “I wouldn’t believe a word that came out of his mouth.”

“Nancy, he has been a good friend to me. To both of us.”

She shook her head, remembering Lulain’s comment.

“I know you’re loyal to him, Kaiyo, but I don’t think that’s true.”

He started to get up, but she grabbed his hand and he immediately stopped. “Just think about it. When we arrived, he told you to wait for him, even though he knew that people were already talking about your return and the king would be annoyed by the delay. And then he supposedly forgot to let you know about the dinner, expecting that we would show up rushed and inappropriately dressed. Those aren’t the actions of a friend. Those are the actions of someone who’s trying to sabotage you. And Lulain told me he tried to blackmail her.”

He was frowning, but she thought she saw a hint of suspicion on his face. “She’s hardly an impartial witness.”

“Why would you doubt her? What did she have to gain by telling me that? He hadn’t made any accusations against her at that point.”

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “But everyone in the palace is always looking for an advantage of some kind.”

“I don’t think she was. I think she came to visit me just to make it clear that there was nothing between the two of you.”

“Or to ingratiate herself with the consort to the future king?”

“Now who could have been malicious enough to suggest that, I wonder?” she asked dryly. As if there was any doubt. “I know she wasn’t trying to ingratiate herself.”

He started to say something, but she shook her head. “I know I’m not going to convince you, but at least think about it.”

“Very well.”

“Good. Now come and hold me. I’m getting tired again, but I want to fall asleep in your arms this time.”

He obeyed immediately, and she relaxed into his arms with a contented sigh, his scent surrounding her. There was nowhere in the world she’d rather be than right here. She snuggled closer, and his tail came up to wrap around her waist, holding her tightly.

“Go to sleep, mafiti. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

But when she woke up again, Kaiyo was gone and Sachout was there.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Reluctantly leaving Nancy asleep, Kaiyo hurried down the corridor to the King’s bedroom, already fighting the urge to return. If it had not been for the fact that she was clearly on the road to recovery, nothing could have dragged him away from her. But King Hurain was dying, and he had demanded Kaiyo’s presence at his bedside.

He knocked softly on the door, and a member of the King’s medical team admitted him. Hurain was reclining in his elaborately draped bed, and Kaiyo was shocked at how much further he had deteriorated over the past few weeks. His cheeks were sunken and hollow, and he looked as if the slightest gust of wind would blow him away. Only the lingering spark of life in his eyes remained. He raised a finger, beckoning Kaiyo to join him and he obeyed.

“Your mate?” Hurain asked, his voice weak.

“It appears she will live, thank the gods.”

That fierce intelligence was still there, despite the weakened body.

“Who?”

“Lady Lulain was with her when it happened,” he said reluctantly. He had found it difficult to believe Sachout’s original charge, but the evidence did seem to be overwhelming. His mate’s stout denial had reawakened his earlier doubts.

Hurain jerked his head. “No.”

His uneasiness grew. Whatever Hurain’s other faults, he knew the people in his court, and Kaiyo was inclined to trust his judgment.

“I will investigate further,” he promised.

“Good.”

A long silence fell, but despite his impatience to return to Nancy, Kaiyo didn’t have the heart to break it. Rain had been pouring down outside the windows, but it gradually came to a halt. A bar of sunlight crept into the room and fell across the colorful bed cover. One of the medical staff at the opposite end of the room went to close the curtain, but Hurain shook his head.

“Leave it.” He stretched a trembling hand out into the light, then smiled before looking back at Kaiyo. “The boys should have been here.”

“Yes.” He had never been religious, but he found it hard to believe that his cousins’ joyful energy was gone forever. “Perhaps they’re waiting for you instead.”

Hurain smiled. “Perhaps.” He took a deep, shuddering breath. “Time for you to go.”

“I can stay,” he offered, sure that Nancy would understand.

“No, but thank you for coming.” Hurain’s voice was a mere whisper, but the spark in his eyes was still there as he looked at Kaiyo. “Take care of our people.”

“I will.” He rubbed his chin against his uncle’s hand, then left the room. As he did, the medical team were already surrounding the bed. On the way back to his quarters, he found himself thinking about the many bridges he had burned with his uncle over the years—and he was shocked to realize how frequently Sachout had been part of their disagreements. At the time, he’d seemed to be the voice of reason, and yet he’d never actually resolved their differences. Had he actually driven them further apart instead?

The suspicion that he might have been manipulated by Sachout the way Nancy had implied horrified him. But he realized now that the turmoil of his childhood would have made him an easy target.

He was still turning it over in his mind when he opened the door to his quarters and heard Nancy scream.

PANIC THREATENED to swamp Nancy at the sight of Sachout, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of showing her fear.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded. “Where’s Kaiyo?”

“King Hurain is dying.” There wasn’t a trace of concern in his voice. “And not even Kaiyo could resist the order to attend his last moments.”

She took her eyes off of him long enough to scan the rest of the room. They were alone.

“Where’s Dr. Rossan?”

“Tending to some of the matters that have piled up while he was so devoted to your care. Such a pity that the moment he leaves, you take a turn for the worse. I’m sure he will feel quite guilty about it.”

“I haven’t taken a turn for the worse,” she said warily.

“It’s only a matter of time.”

His words sent a chill down her spine, and she flexed her legs under the covers, trying to decide if she was strong enough to run. Since even that small movement took a great deal of effort, it looked like running was out. Instead, she surreptitiously started to search for a weapon. But the IV drip had been removed the previous day and there was nothing on the bed except sheets and pillows. She didn’t even have a glass of water next to the bed, only a basket of fruit.

“You know, your presence has been most annoying,” he continued.

“Good. The feeling is entirely mutual.”

Anger flashed across his face, then disappeared behind his normal sanctimonious mask.

“I have no idea what possessed Kaiyo to think that you would be a suitable mate. A two-legger.” He sneered the last word as if it were the worst possible insult.

“Why do you even care?”

“Because I’m not about to let a little two-legged whore ruin all the time and effort I put into grooming Kaiyo,” he snapped.

“Grooming him?”

“I knew he was loyal—I spotted that early on. And he was unhappy, which was only to be expected with a father like his. I was a sympathetic ear, a guiding hand. A safe place for him to pour out his tales of woe.”

“So he would listen to you.”

“Exactly. And trust me implicitly.” He frowned. “I knew the twins would be impossible to control. It was simply a matter of finding the right time to… eliminate them.”

“You were the one who made the first attempt, weren’t you?”

He smirked at her. “No one even suspected a thing. Unfortunately, I had to divert attention from myself, and Kaiyo was the obvious culprit. I thought that he would be safely out of the picture, until another opportunity arose. I didn’t expect you.”

“That wasn’t your only mistake. He changed while he was away. I don’t think you realize just how much. He’s never going to be your willing puppet.”

“Perhaps not now. But after he’s devastated by the loss of his beloved mate, I have no doubt that he will turn to an old friend. One who will be there to support him in the difficult days of his transition from a prince to a king.”

He practically purred with satisfaction, and she felt sick. Even aside from the danger he represented, she hated the thought of him preying on a vulnerable Kaiyo. She still suspected that Kaiyo would eventually recognize Sachout’s manipulations, but grief was a powerful thing.

“You’re not going to get away with this,” she hissed.

“Of course I am. Everyone knows that offworlders are fragile creatures, far inferior to Nagarans. Why would they expect anything else?”

She reined in her temper and forced herself to think. Whatever he had in mind would only work if no one suspected foul play. But if she could provoke him into losing his temper… It was a risk, and she knew it, but if things went wrong, maybe she could leave enough clues that Kaiyo wouldn’t fall into his trap.

“You know,” she said thoughtfully, “Kaiyo can speak that arrogantly because he has the strength and intelligence to pull it off. In your case, it just makes you sound like the pitiful loser you are, jealous of your betters.”

He snarled, his fangs dripping venom, and moved a little closer to the bed.

Come on, you bastard, she urged silently, but he paused there. Instead of attacking her, he reached into his robe and pulled out a small square of plastic.

“Do you know what this is?”

She warily shook her head.

“A type of molecular plastic that leaves no trace. Unlike, for example, the natural fibers in a pillow case.”

Her heart skipped a beat as she realized what he intended. He was going to smother her. He smirked as he saw the realization cross her face.

“Quite simple and effective, really. I would have preferred something longer and more painful, but…” He shrugged. “One must have priorities.”

“Murder always goes to the top of my To Do list,” she muttered.

As he continued to boast about his devious ways, she tried desperately to come up with a plan. If he intended to smother her, he was going to have to get closer to her. What could she do to make sure she marked him? Or, in the worst case scenario, to have him cause her visible damage? Her eyes darted around desperately, then returned to the basket of fruit. A paasa rested on top, a round fruit, similar to an orange but with the consistency of a green apple. The memory of playing baseball with her brothers popped into her mind. They had taught her to throw hard and fast, hard enough to accidentally knock Ned to the ground during one game. Her aim had never been that good, but with her recent efforts with the slingshot, she suspected it had improved.

I’ll only have one chance, she thought, trying to decide on a target. As much as she would have loved to aim for his male parts, they were not only hidden within his body, but any damage to them would not be visible. His head, she decided. A nice black eye ought to raise some questions.

The sun came out from behind the clouds, the light in the room brightened. Sachout automatically glanced at the window, and she took her chance. She dove for the basket, her fingers closing around the paasa as she turned to throw, hard and true, straight at his face. Instead of hitting his eye, the paasa smashed into his mouth, shattering his fangs.

He roared with pain and outrage, raising his hand to his mouth in shock.

“You fucking bitch,” he snarled, the words garbled, and leaped for her.

She screamed and tried to scramble away from him, but diving for the basket had already taxed her limited strength. He caught her, his hands closing around her neck as he cursed her. At least she’d achieved her purpose, she thought, as the world started to go dark. No one would ever believe this was a natural death.

And then Kaiyo was there, ripping Sachout off of her as she gasped in mouthfuls of precious, precious air.

KAIYO RACED into the bedroom to find his mate struggling in Sachout’s arms. The advisor was white with rage, his mouth foaming red, and he didn’t even seem to notice Kaiyo’s entry until he ripped him away from his mate.

“He tried to strangle me,” she gasped, clutching her throat.

He could see the red marks of the other male’s hands and his own vision went red. He hissed, turning to find the male sprawled against the far wall, his body jerking. Kaiyo bent over him, twisting his fingers in the advisor’s robe to haul him off the floor.

Sachout gave a horrible garbled laugh. “There is… another.”

“Another what?” he demanded, but it was too late. Sachout’s body continued to spasm, his eyes wide and unseeing, and then his back arched into a backwards bow and he went still. What the hell?

“What happened?” Nancy whispered, her voice strained. She had dragged herself into a sitting position, her eyes wide and shocked.

“Don’t try and talk,” he urged as he hurried back to her side, his pulse still racing. He gathered her into his arms, frantically checking her body for other injuries, but all—all!—he could find were the cruel fingermarks around her delicate neck. Thank the gods.

“You have to stop doing this to me, mafiti,” he murmured. “My heart can’t take it.”

She gave a hoarse laugh, and he pulled her closer.

“What happened?” she asked again.

“I don’t know.” He studied the fallen body and noticed the broken fangs for the first time, along with the bloody foam. “Did you damage his fangs?”

She nodded.

He hugged her again. “Good girl. I think you hurt his mouth as well, and the venom from his fangs entered his bloodstream. Essentially, he poisoned himself.”

“Oh.” She shuddered, and he rubbed his chin comfortingly against her shoulder.

“As usual, you were right about him, but now he’s never going to bother us again.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

“You’re looking better,” Lulain announced as she swept into Nancy’s sitting room a week later. Her short stint in prison had left no discernable trace, and she looked as stunning as ever.

“Tell that to Kaiyo,” she grumbled. “He’s still treating me like I’m made of glass.”

“You mean he’s not fucking you?” the other female asked bluntly, and Nancy laughed.

“You certainly have a knack for getting to the point.”

Lulain had been a frequent visitor since her release, and the two had formed an unlikely friendship. The other female shrugged.

“I’ve never seen much point in evading the truth. So what are you going to do about it?”

“Talk to him?” she asked doubtfully.

“Don’t be foolish. It’s not his conversation you need.” Lulain tapped her chin thoughtfully. “I think I should introduce you to my dressmaker.”

“Can she come here? I’m not supposed to leave the palace by myself.”

“For enough credits, she would meet you in the sewers. But she’s insanely talented. And if I remember correctly, she already has the perfect thing. Let me make a call.”

LATER THAT EVENING, Nancy scrutinized herself in the mirror, hoping she had the courage to go through with her plan. True to Lulain’s promise, Carrsa—the dressmaker—had shown up at the palace with a case full of options. The two of them had bullied and cajoled her into trying on a series of outfits despite her protests. They had both agreed that this was the perfect choice, and as much as she blushed at the sight of it, she had to agree.

One of the Y-shaped Nagaran belts circled her hips, dipping down across the top of her mound. After the other females had left, Nancy had impulsively shaved her curls, and the cool metal tantalized her newly bare flesh. Sheer panels fluttered provocatively from the front and back of the belt, teasing rather than concealing.

The matching top—if it could be called that—didn’t even pretend to conceal her breasts. It simply cupped them, framing them with metal straps that matched the belt as if offering them to the viewer. She wouldn’t have called it comfortable, but the combination of the restraints and the brush of air over her bare flesh had turned her nipples into tight little points. She brushed her finger across a beaded tip and shivered at the resulting sensation.

Lulain had done her makeup as well, just a light band of shimmering amber that matched her eyes and glistening red lipstick.

“He won’t be able to resist,” she promised. “Call me tomorrow and let me know how it went—but not too early. I have an engagement of my own tonight.”

“Who is it this time?”

“One of the prison guards. He’s very adept with chains.” Lulain laughed at her expression, kissed her cheek, and departed in a cloud of perfume.

Now she was on her own and the later it got, the more her nerves got the better of her. What if he really didn’t want her anymore? If he thought she was too fragile?

“I’m back, mafiti,” Kaiyo called from the living area. He sounded tired—which was undoubtedly part of the problem. Since his uncle’s death, he had been involved in a never-ending round of meetings that started early and ended late.

I’m being selfish, she thought suddenly. I should just let him rest.

She fumbled at the straps but hadn’t managed to figure out the complicated arrangement before he appeared in the bedroom doorway.

“Nancy—” He came to a halt, staring at her. There was nothing she could do but attempt to bluff it out.

“What do you think?” she asked, putting a hand on her hip.

“I think you’re going to be the death of me.”

His eyes were swirling pools of gold and she saw the hunger in them with a surge of relief. He tore off the robe that had been another one of the recent changes so that he was naked before her. She could already see the edges of his slit starting to part.

“Is this for me?” he purred in that dark, dangerous voice she loved.

“Maybe.” She flicked a glance at him from under her lashes. “If you’re still interested.”

His tail grabbed her and hauled up against his body so quickly that she squeaked.

“I am always interested, mafiti.”

“You haven’t acted like it.” She tried to sound provocative, but only managed to sound unhappy.

He sighed and dropped his head down to rest on hers. “I’m sorry, mafiti. I just keep remembering you in that bed. I’m scared of hurting you.”

“I do hurt.” He tensed and started to pull away, but she grabbed his hand and brought it to her breast. “My nipples ache for your touch.”

His face lightened, and he began to stroke his thumb across the taut peak.

“And your sweet little cunt? Does it ache as well?” The tip of his tail slid between her legs, already vibrating.

“Oh, yes.”

“You are very wet, mafiti. Were you thinking about me? About this?”

“I was.” She pulled his head down and he kissed her, his talented tongue playing with hers in the way that never failed to build her excitement. His tail stroked back and forth between her legs, lightly circling her clit, and her body already hovered on the verge of climax.

“And I had an idea,” she whispered when he finally raised his head.

“I always love your ideas.”

“Then come with me.” She led him over to the bed and climbed up on it, arranging her body over the pillows she had placed there so that her breasts were against the sheets and her hips raised and open, before giving him a provocative glance over her shoulder.

“Mafiti?” His voice was hoarse, but his hands were already stroking her butt and sliding between her cheeks.

“This way, you can have both your dotras inside me at once.” An intoxicating combination of excitement and trepidation shivered down her spine.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. And I want you to bite me.”

“Now? Are you afraid that I’ll hurt you?”

“Not now, but later. For fun.”

“I—”

“You promised.”

“I did indeed.”

She shot him a teasing look. “Then what are you waiting for?”

KAIYO FOUGHT to control his excitement as he studied his mate’s perfect body, the thin gold straps of her erotic outfit only accenting the long, slender lines. He gently pulled her legs further apart so he could see every exquisite inch.

“Your curls are gone,” he murmured, stroking the soft, bare skin.

She shivered. “Yes. Do you like it?”

“I love everything about you, curls or no curls. Do you like it?” He brushed the silky skin with his tail.

“I do when you do that,” she gasped.

He continued sliding his tail between her legs, only allowing brief brushes against her engorged clit, as he kissed a line of teasing kisses down her spine. He took his time, letting her excitement build, keeping her on the edge of climax, then slowly began working his tail into her tight little ass. When he was fully embedded and she was quivering around him, he cupped her bare mound and swiped his thumb across the exposed surface of her clit. She exploded, her body clamping down so tightly that he couldn’t move.

As her shudders subsided and her body softened, he pulled free. Then he pressed the tip of his upper dotra against her small pucker and pushed. Loosened by his tail, she flowered open around him. She gasped as his first ridge entered, and he paused.

“Are you all right?”

“Yes? Yes,” she repeated more firmly.

“I’ll go slowly,” he said, reminding himself as much as her.

Inch by inch, he worked himself deeper into the dark channel, so tight it was almost painful. Fine tremors skated across her skin, but she urged him on until he was completely embedded. He looked down at the erotic sight, his muscles taut with strain.

“You’re so beautiful, mafiti.”

She looked back at him over her shoulder, her face flushed and her eyes heavy with passion. “Now your mating dotra,” she demanded.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. I want you filling me completely.”

He withdrew until only the head was inside, then adjusted his position so that his lower dotra was aligned with her sweet cunt. This time when he pushed forward, both dotras entered her at the same time. A hoarse cry escaped her lips, and her channel fluttered wildly around him, a fresh rush of heat easing his way. With a control he wouldn’t have believed himself capable of achieving, he continued the achingly slow process until at last she surrounded him completely.

They were both shaking, but she turned her head again and smiled at him, her face radiant.

“Now bite me,” she demanded.

He bent over her and obeyed. As soon as he did, she began climaxing in long, rolling pulses and his body jerked, thrusting wildly into the impossibly sweet haven of her body as his own climax roared through him. He collapsed onto the bed, barely finding the strength to keep his weight off of her.

“Was that what you imagined?” he asked, when he finally regained the ability to speak.

“Mmm.” She gave him a satisfied smile. “Perfect.”

He gently cupped her face. “I’m sorry if you thought I was neglecting you.”

“Not neglecting me, but treating me as if I would break.” She shivered happily. “I don’t think I can make that complaint now.”

“I think I needed this as much as you did,” he admitted. “It’s so easy to get caught up in all the politics, but you are the most important part of my life.”

“You’re just saying that because you have your dotra in my ass.”

He gave her a shocked look, then burst into laughter. “It certainly does keep my mind off of politics.”

“Good.” She wiggled against him, sending a shockwave of pleasure through their joined bodies. “Let’s see how long we can keep it that way.”

It never crossed his mind again.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

The next morning, Nancy was smiling to herself over breakfast when a soft knock sounded on the door. She looked up in time to see Pyit slip through the opening. The girl was wrapped in a thick cloak and carrying a basket. Even from across the room, Nancy could see she was trembling.

“What’s wrong? Did your family situation get worse?”

She hadn’t seen the girl since the day of the poisoning, and based on the girl’s pallor, she was afraid that things had not gone well.

“I-I don’t know. Is it true that Sachout is dead?”

Her voice had a desperate urgency, and remembering Lulain’s story, Nancy was suddenly horribly afraid of what he might have done to the young girl.

“Yes, he’s dead. He can’t hurt you anymore.”

“It’s not me.” Pyit finally came closer and handed Nancy the basket. “Look inside.”

When she lifted the lid, a tiny Nagaran infant blinked up at her. His shimmering skin was a delicate pearl white and his eyes an unusual lavender blue.

“He’s—”

“She. Her name is Alaia.”

“She’s beautiful.” She glanced up at Pyit. “Is she yours?”

The girl shook her head. “She was my sister’s.”

A tear sparkled on her cheek.

“Oh, Pyit, I’m so sorry. Who… who was the father?”

Pyit twisted her hands together and didn’t answer immediately. Oh, God. Please don’t let it be Sachout.

“Is that why you asked about Sachout?” she asked gently. “Was he the father?”

“Oh no.” Pyit bit her lip and moved back a little, looking longingly at the door. “It was Kyee.”

It took a moment for her to recognize the name. Kaiyo usually only referred to his cousins as the twins, but she was sure one of them had been named Kyee. Perhaps it was a common name on Nagara, but from the way Pyit was trembling, she suspected it was not.

“Do you mean Prince Kyee? The one who was killed in the accident?”

Pyit nodded miserably. “My sister was with them too, but they kept it out of the news. He kept it out of the news.”

“You mean Sachout kept it out?”

“Yes. But he found out who she was. He found out about the baby.”

Pyit moved back again as Nancy thought back to that dreadful fight. What had he said? As he was dying? That there was another. He must have meant this baby. And if she was Kyee’s daughter, she was the rightful heir.

Her eyes flew to Pyit’s.

“Does this mean she’s the new queen?”

“I don’t know.” The girl wrung her hands together. “They weren’t officially mated. My sister worked in the laundry too.”

Did that matter? She had absolutely no idea, but Kaiyo needed to know as soon as possible.

“I need to tell Kaiyo.”

“I know. If you… if he… wants to keep her secret, I’ll never tell.”

“Neither of us would do that. I think Kaiyo might even be relieved.” She gave Pyit an encouraging smile. “Thank you for bringing her to us.”

“You’re absolutely certain that Sachout is dead?”

“I was there. I’m sure.”

“Then there’s something else you need to know.” Pyit squared her shoulders. “I was the one who poisoned the tea.”

“You?” Nancy stared at her in shock. “But why? What have I ever done to you?”

“Nothing.” Tears were flowing down Pyit’s cheeks in a constant stream now. “You were wonderful to me. But Sachout knew about Alaia, and he told me that if I didn’t do what he told me to do, he would kill her. And she’s just a baby.” Pyit squared her shoulders again. “He told me it would just make you very sick, but I… I knew it was worse than that. I can never forgive myself.”

As betrayed as Nancy felt, she could understand why the girl had acted as she had. She looked down at the innocent face of the baby, happily waving her chubby little arms, and couldn’t imagine having to make such a choice. But…

“You could’ve come to me,” she said. “Or Kaiyo. Is that why you went to get him afterwards?”

The girl nodded miserably, and Nancy realized she was all the way over by the door.

“You don’t have to run away. No one is going to hurt you.”

“It’s not that. I just… I’ve tried, but I can’t live with it. I have to seek forgiveness.”

“Forgiveness? Where?”

“I’m entering the Temple of Napisten. Look after her.”

With the lightning-fast speed of the Nagarans, the girl whirled around and fled. Either by accident or design, she slammed the door behind her and the noise startled the baby, who immediately began to cry. Dammit. Nancy had started after Pyit, but she couldn’t abandon the baby. She bent down and picked her up, snuggling her against the curve of her neck as she headed for the door. But by the time she got there and poked her head outside into the corridor, it was empty except for the guard who was always posted there now.

“Did you see where Pyit went? The girl who was just here?”

“That way, my lady. Towards the city entrance.” He looked from her to the baby, not quite able to hide his curiosity. “Should I send someone after her?”

Her initial reaction was to say yes, but she was worried about Pyit’s mental state. The girl had seemed so fragile, and if she thought she was cornered, Nancy was afraid of what she would do.

“No, I don’t think so. But I need to see my mate. Do you know where he is?”

“He is still with the Council of Elders.” The guard rolled his eyes. “That bunch loves to hear themselves talk. Meaning no disrespect, my lady,” he added hastily.

“None taken. My mate has indicated the same thing.” For a moment, she was almost tempted to take the baby to the Council and dump the whole thing in their laps. But Alaia was nuzzling sleepily at her neck, her tail wrapped around Nancy’s arm, and she didn’t have the heart. Besides, she thought that she and Kaiyo ought to discuss it first.

“Please send a message asking him to return here as soon as the Council meeting is over. It’s very important.”

“Yes, my lady.” From the way the guard looked from her to the baby, she suspected that another rumor was in the offing, but it was too late to worry about it now. As soon as Kaiyo returned, they could decide what to do.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

“Absolutely not,” Kaiyo said flatly, glaring at Elder Myat. “I will not put my mate aside under any circumstances.”

“But you have to recognize the issue,” Elder Santam said soothingly. “The ability to continue the line is one of the requirements.”

He leaned back in his chair and raised a mocking eyebrow, despite the rage boiling beneath his skin. “And you have no way of knowing whether or not that will occur. I don’t recall you requiring pre-existing children before other coronations.”

“That was different. Those were Nagaran males mated to Nagaran females. In the rare circumstance where the male could not fulfill his duties, there were alternatives.”

“There are alternatives for you too, boy,” Lady Haungg cackled. “Take a concubine. Get her pregnant. Problem solved.”

“I have no intention of being unfaithful to my mate. Not now and not ever.”

She rolled her eyes. “You used to be far less discriminating.”

“And aren’t you grateful that I have changed and I’m now worthy of this honor?”

She rolled her eyes again, but he saw her lips quirk. Unfortunately, it didn’t do much to ease the anger still simmering in his system.

“And you do not know what is going to happen,” he added. “It is quite possible that we could have a child.”

Myat and Santam exchanged glances before Santam sighed. “We do know. Dr. Rossan took blood samples while he was treating your mate for her illness—”

“You mean the effects of her being poisoned.”

Santam nodded an acknowledgment. “As you say. But the point is that her species and our species are incompatible when it comes to having children. Our anatomy is just too different.”

His chest ached, but he refused to acknowledge it. They had never discussed having children, but the knowledge that it wasn’t a possibility hurt more than he would have expected.

“I assure you, we are entirely compatible,” he said defiantly.

“Don’t be obtuse,” Myat said impatiently. “I’m truly sorry, Prince Kaiyo, but unless you take a Nagaran mate, or agree to impregnating a Nagaran female in some other fashion, we cannot proceed with the coronation.”

“Fine. Then I will abdicate the position.”

There was an immediate uproar at his declaration. It spoke volumes as to how little they wanted his third cousin Poehaut on the throne that they were so eager to keep him around. But their eagerness didn’t change anything. He prepared to leave them to their argument and depart, but before he could reach the door, Santam came to join him.

“I really am sorry, Kaiyo. We have all heard the rumors that human females have proven to be breeding compatible with a variety of species, and I hoped that it would be true for you as well.”

He started to make a sarcastic remark, then sighed. The other male’s remorse seemed genuine.

“I’m sorry too. I think my mate would have enjoyed having a family.”

“And you?” Santam asked shrewdly.

“Let’s just say that my experience with families is not entirely positive.”

“I understand. But please don’t make any rash decisions. Talk to your mate first.”

“You mean ask her if I should get another female pregnant with my child?” This time, he couldn’t withhold the sarcasm.

“The process does not have to require the physical act,” Santam said tartly. “A surrogate would be perfectly acceptable.”

“I will discuss it with her.” It was as far as he was willing to commit.

Would Nancy accept a surrogate? Would he, for that matter? He had to admit that it was a potential solution, but he wouldn’t even consider it unless he was sure that she was in full agreement.

When he entered their quarters and heard the sound of a baby crying, for a moment he thought he’d been worrying about the matter so much that he was hallucinating. But then he heard Nancy’s voice, frantically trying to calm the baby.

“Oh, please stop crying. I don’t know what you want, and I’m afraid to tell anyone until I talk to Kaiyo.”

“Talk to me about what?”

He entered the bedroom and stopped dead at the sight of his mate cradling a beautiful Nagaran infant.

“Oh, thank God you’re here. She won’t stop crying, and I don’t know what to do. I didn’t want to call anyone for help until after I talked to you.”

“She’s probably hungry.”

“What does she eat? Milk?”

“Don’t be disgusting. If I remember correctly from when my cousins were babies, they had bottles of some type of fruit juice.”

“Any type of juice? Can I call for some? Where can I get a bottle?”

His mate looked frantic with worry, and he suspected that her agitation was increasing the child’s distress.

“Here, give her to me. Then take a few deep breaths and try to calm down.”

She gave him a watery smile and passed the baby over. He automatically lifted the little girl to his neck the way he had seen his uncle hold his cousins. Her tiny chin nuzzled against him, and to his utter shock, she quieted.

“You’re like the baby whisperer,” Nancy said, her eyes wide. “And I’m an idiot. I was holding her like that originally, but when she started to cry I cradled her like a human baby instead.”

“You’re not an idiot,” he said firmly. “You’re just not used to Nagaran infants.” And she will never have the chance to learn. “Now tell me, who is she and how did she end up here?”

“Her name is Alaia, and I think she’s actually the rightful heir,” his mate blurted out, then bit her lip and gave him an uncertain look.

He couldn’t hold his laughter in, startling Alaia, but he quickly patted her back until she calmed again.

“I don’t understand. What’s so funny?”

“You’ll understand once I tell you about the Council meeting. But this little one isn’t going to be quiet for too long. From the way she’s nuzzling my neck, I do think she’s hungry.” He thought for a moment. “Send for Hyet. She’s one of the cooks and has about a dozen children. Plus, I trust her to be discreet.”

Nancy hurried off to make the call, and he wandered out onto the balcony with little Alaia still tucked against his neck. The warm little weight felt surprisingly natural there, and he had a fleeting memory of being allowed to hold his cousins when they were babies. Maybe he wouldn’t have been that bad at fatherhood after all.

“What happened to the Council meeting?” Nancy asked as she came back to join him.

“Let’s wait until Hyet gets here and we get this little one settled. I suspect it will go better without an interruption.”

She shot him a curious glance but didn’t press him. Instead, she leaned against his other side and let Alaia grip her finger. They felt like… like a family, and his chest ached as he realized that this was what they would never have.

He wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or disappointed when Hyet bustled in.

“You sent for me, your highness? Oh my goodness. Who’s this precious little lady?”

“That’s an excellent question, Hyet. Can you attend to her while we try and find out? Without anyone knowing?”

Hyet raised her eyebrows, but she nodded, reaching for the baby. He was curiously reluctant to hand her over, and her absence left his neck feeling cold.

“If you want to keep her presence quiet, it would probably be best for her to stay here in your quarters. If you will permit me to send for some supplies? Yaarin could get everything I need, and you know that he would never tell.”

He smiled. The old gardener was notoriously taciturn.

“Very well.”

“I’ll make the arrangements.” Hyet looked between the two of them. “We’ll be in the next room. I won’t let anyone interrupt you.”

“Thank you,” he said sincerely, but he still watched anxiously as she left with the baby.

Nancy was biting her lip again. “Do you think Alaia will be all right with her?”

“I do. Now let’s sit down. We need to talk.”

“You know, I’m not sure that anything good ever started with those words,” Nancy said severely, but she followed him back inside and settled down in his arms.

“Tell me why you think Alaia is the royal heir.”

By the time she was finished, he wished he could kill Sachout all over again. What a despicable male—to threaten an innocent child. And as for his cousin, he was stunned that Kyee would have fathered a child without telling anyone. Had he at least taken responsibility for her? Since the mother had been with him, he hoped that he had.

“Does it matter?” Nancy asked. “That they weren’t formally mated, I mean?”

He shook his head. “No, that doesn’t make a difference. The Council will require a genetic test, but I have no doubt that Pyit’s story is true. Alaia has Kyee’s eyes.”

“So what does that mean? That you’re not going to be king any longer?”

“No, thank the gods.”

The weight he’d been carrying since he first heard about his cousins’ death rolled off of him and he breathed a sigh of relief. They would be free to do anything they wanted, go anywhere they wanted. Although perhaps, remaining on Nagara was not a bad option.

Nancy was still frowning. “But she’s just a baby. It’s not like she can actually rule the planet.”

“No, they’ll appoint a regent until she comes of age.” A regent. Fuck. He groaned as the realization hit him and their theoretical freedom floated away. “I will give you three guesses as to the most likely candidate.”

“You?”

“I’m afraid so.” At least it wasn’t as bad as being king. He would have fewer ceremonial duties, and his main focus would be on making sure that Alaia was safe and happy and educated in her duties.

“I wonder…”

“Yes?” Nancy asked when he didn’t continue.

“I wonder what you would think about adopting her.”

She looked startled, but then she smiled. “I think it’s a wonderful idea. Although we’re going to need someone to help us, at least to start off with. But are you sure? You’ve never mentioned having a family.”

His heart ached at the hopeful look on her face, but he couldn’t keep the truth from her.

“I hadn’t really thought about it. You know my family was not exactly a great example. But as it happens, it came up today.” He took a deep breath. “One of the requirements for a Nagaran king is not only that he be descended from the royal line, but that he can perpetuate that line.”

“You mean he has to have a child?”

“Exactly.”

She gave him a puzzled look, and then her mouth quivered.

“Why are you telling me this, Kaiyo?”

“They took blood tests while you were ill,” he said gently. “I’m so sorry, mafiti, but our scientists say it will be impossible for us to have a child together.”

“I see.”

As well as he knew her, he couldn’t read the expression on her face.

“I’m sorry, mafiti.”

“They’re wrong,” she said suddenly.

“I wish they—”

“They’re wrong,” she insisted. “We already have a child, and she’s waiting for us in the other room.”

He looked at her, and then he laughed. “You’re right. I should have known that my beautiful mate would have an answer. If you’re sure you want her?”

“I’m absolutely positive. That is… they can’t stop us from adopting her, can they?”

“I won’t let them,” he promised. “Even if I have to bring every one of my old acquaintances from Yangu here to help us.”

She laughed and started to stand. “I hope that’s not necessary. Now let’s go find out how to care for our daughter.”

MUCH, much later that night, he looked down at his sleeping daughter. She was curled up against the neck of his exhausted mate. How had he never realized the amount of work that was needed to care for one small infant?

Their bedroom was cluttered with an astonishing variety of supplies, and even some preliminary gifts. His father would have been appalled, but Kaiyo had never felt as at home in these quarters as he did right now—with his mate and his daughter.

Earlier that day, he had forced himself to leave Nancy and Alaia in Hyet’s capable hands while he went back to the Council. He told them about Alaia and informed them that he and Nancy were going to adopt the baby. When they balked, as he suspected they might, he reluctantly offered to be Regent. Even though it required another hour of discussion, their agreement was never really in doubt.

He moved quietly around the room, dimming the lights, then climbed into bed on the other side of Alaia. Big lavender eyes opened, and she looked at him. For just a minute, he could clearly see the resemblance to Kyee, and his heart ached. Her eyes fluttered shut again, and he made a silent vow to his cousin. She would grow up the same way Kyee had—full of laughter, and knowing that she was loved.

And then he curved his tail protectively around his mate and his daughter and went peacefully to sleep.

EPILOGUE

One year later…

“I HAVE A SURPRISE FOR YOU,” Kaiyo announced.

“What kind of surprise?”

“The good kind.”

“I’m still sore from last night’s surprise,” she informed him, but she couldn’t stop herself from smiling. Hyet had taken Alaia to the country for a few days, and Kaiyo had taken full advantage of their time alone. As much as she loved their daughter, she could be exhausting—and demanding—and completely irresistible.

He laughed. “Not that good. At least I hope not.”

The first thing she saw when he led her out into the garden was a giant bull-like alien. She had learned enough over the past year to recognize him as Bukharan, but she didn’t understand why he was here.

He was cradling a small child against one enormous shoulder, and she started to give Kaiyo a puzzled look when she heard an excited squeal. A female—a human female—appeared at the Bukharan’s side. A pretty little blonde with an innocent face and curves for days, she clapped her hands together and then threw herself at Nancy, hugging her fiercely and talking the entire time.

“I’m so happy to meet you. Sendat told me that Kaiyo had found a mate, but we were in hiding, and by the time we were free to come visit you, you’d already left the planet. And then I was pregnant and he didn’t want me to travel, but we decided that Likat was finally old enough and here we are. Lily would have come as well, but she’s mated to a Tajiri, and Kaiyo wasn’t sure how you feel about that. I am Miri, by the way.”

A little dazed by the flow of information, she gently disengaged the blonde’s arms and took a step back. Miri grinned at her.

“I’m sorry. I’m talking too much, aren’t I? I’m just so excited to meet another woman. I’ve heard that there are others, but Lily and Kate are the only two that I know.”

“Lily and Kate?”

“They were abducted with me. But it all worked out in the end.” Miri gave her a sunny smile. “Lily is the one who is mated to Leo. He’s Tajiri. Kate married a prince, of all things. With tentacles—can you believe it? Oh, and that’s Sendat. He’s my mate,” she said proudly. “And that’s our son, Likat.”

Nancy started to laugh. Miri didn’t seem to mind, just smiling back at her.

“I think that was the fastest update I’ve ever heard. And I have a ton of questions. I think we’re going to need a lot more time to talk.”

“We can talk as long as you want,” Miri promised. “Unless Likat gets hungry. Or Sendat needs me.”

The name finally rang a bell. “Sendat? He’s the one who went to the mines for us, isn’t he? To find out if I was wanted?”

“That’s him.” Miri smiled over at the big male, who was watching her with patient amusement. “He’s such a good male. I knew it the moment I met him, even if he was buying me at the time.”

“Buying you? No, wait a minute. Let’s get comfortable first.”

She sent for refreshments, and then led Miri over to the comfortable seating area next to the pool. The other woman spent the rest of the afternoon recounting her adventures and the adventures of her friends, and by the end of the day, Nancy felt as if she had known her all her life. The other couple would be staying for a week or so, and she couldn’t wait to introduce Miri to her daughter.

Kaiyo had also spent a good bit of time talking to Sendat, and from what she could overhear, their paths had overlapped before. When they finally had to excuse themselves to prepare for a state banquet, she hurried through getting ready so she could spend a few minutes with Kaiyo before they had to leave.

She found him on the balcony, looking out over the lights of the city.

“Hi,” she said softly, and he turned to face her.

“You look especially beautiful this evening, mafiti.”

“I’m glad you like it. She’s a young designer, but I think she has a lot of talent.” It hadn’t taken her long to realize that everyone paid attention to what she wore, and she tried to use that to showcase new designers. Never in a million years had she thought she would be in this position.

“Very talented,” he agreed, tracing the low-cut neckline of her dress.

“Are you admiring the dress, or my breasts?”

He flashed her his old wicked smile.

“Can’t it be both?”

“They’re not very big,” she muttered, remembering Miri’s lush curves.

“They are the perfect size,” he assured her.

“Thank you. But believe it or not, I didn’t come out here to talk about my breasts.”

“It is always a delightful subject.” He stroked his thumb across her nipple and smiled when it hardened to his touch.

“Stop it. I’m trying to be serious.”

“What is it, mafiti? Did I make a mistake in bringing Sendat and his mate here?”

“Not at all. I loved meeting her. And I think I would like to meet her friends, even the one with the Tajiri mate.”

“If it helps, I have followed his activities over the past year. I believe he is a good male.”

“It does help. I know it’s wrong to judge a whole planet based on my interactions with only a few people. But I was listening to you talk to Sendat, and I wondered…”

“Yes?”

“Do you miss it? Your life back there? Not having to deal with all this ceremony?”

“Sometimes,” he admitted. “I remember the satisfaction of solving problems, of creating a life out of nothing, of being free to do anything I could get away with.”

He pulled her closer, and rubbed his chin across the top of her head. “But it is easy to remember the good things. And it’s easy to forget the times when I was hungry, or in danger, or forced to do things that were not worthy actions.”

“So you don’t regret coming back?”

“No. Do you?”

“It’s hard to complain about living in the lap of luxury after you have spent hours digging through piles of dirt,” she said dryly. “But it’s hard knowing that we are watched all the time.”

“I know. I couldn’t do it if I didn’t have you, and Alaia.”

“I couldn’t either. I wish she was home. I miss her.”

“I do too, but we agreed that it was good for her to experience life outside the palace. She’ll be back tomorrow.”

“Then I suppose we should take advantage of our time alone,” she murmured, tracing her finger down the ridges of stomach muscles to where his dotras stirred at her touch.

His eyes lit with the hunger that never faded.

“Indeed. May I escort you to the banquet, my lady? The sooner we arrive, the sooner it will be over, and I can have you all to myself again.”

But in spite of his words, he pulled her close and kissed her. The city lights sparkled below them, and the stars twinkled above them, and for that moment, they were alone and it was enough.

AUTHOR’S NOTE

Thank you so much for reading Nancy and the Naga! I loved exploring the secrets behind Kaiyo’s cynical exterior, and, of course, an entirely new heroine in direct, tomboyish Nancy. I hope you enjoyed getting to know them as well!

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 always, I have to thank my readers for joining me on these adventures! Your support and encouragement make it possible for me to keep writing these books.

And, as always, a special thanks to my beta team – Janet S, Nancy V, and Kitty S. Your thoughts and comments are incredibly helpful!

We’re leaving the Alien Abduction universe for a little while, but there are still plenty of naughty tails (hehe) in store! Next up is A Home for the Alien Warrior, the next book in the Treasured by the Alien series!

Can a lonely alien warrior claim the family he’s always wanted?

Click here to order A Home for the Alien Warrior!

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OTHER TITLES

The Alien Abduction Series

Anna and the Alien

Beth and the Barbarian

Cam and the Conqueror

Deb and the Demon

Ella and the Emperor

Faith and the Fighter

Greta and the Gargoyle

Hanna and the Hitman

Izzie and the Icebeast

Joan and the Juggernaut

Kate and the Kraken

Lily and the Lion

Mary and the Minotaur

Nancy and the Naga

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

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

Cyborgs on Mars - Boxed Set 1

Treasured by the Alien

with Bex McLynn

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

Standalone Books

Jackie and the Giant - A Cosmic Fairy Tale

Krampus and the Crone - An SFR Holiday Tale

A Gift for Nicholas - An SFR Holiday Tale

Anthologies

Alien Embrace

Pets in Space 6

Claimed Among the Stars

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

USA Today Bestselling author Honey Phillips writes steamy science fiction stories about hot alien warriors and the human women they can’t resist. From abductions to invasions, the ride might be rough, but the end always satisfies.

Honey wrote and illustrated her first book at the tender age of five. Her writing has improved since then. Her drawing skills, unfortunately, have not. She loves writing, reading, traveling, cooking, and drinking champagne - not necessarily in that order.

Honey loves to hear from her wonderful readers! You can stalk her on her website at

www.honeyphillips.com

Or at any of the following locations…

Table of Contents

Title Page

Contents

Copyright

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Epilogue

Author’s Note

Other Titles

About the Author