Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Three

Chapter Twenty-Four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Six

Epilogue

Author’s Note

Other Titles

About the Author

Hanna and the Hitman

Alien Abduction Book 8

Honey Phillips

Copyright © 2020 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 Lyss Em Editing

Chapter One

Aidon walked through the Port Eyeja market, keeping a wary eye on his surroundings. He still wore the form of a Kaisarian priest, and most of the crowd automatically tried to avoid him. Hothrest was far enough from Kaisar, the ruling planet of the Kaisarian Empire, that his presence was somewhat unusual, but the Empire had a long arm and no one would bother him in this guise.

He had assumed this form in order to infiltrate a hidden lab far to the north and eliminate a scholar responsible for causing multiple deaths as the result of a cruel experiment. Aidon had succeeded, of course, and the credits had already been transferred to his account, but it had taken him longer than expected and he was running dangerously short on time.

Leaving the main thoroughfare, he turned into the warren of narrow streets leading to the spaceport. The ground was more treacherous here—the ever-present snow packed into dirty, icy ruts. Despite the bitter cold, many of the storefronts were open to the street to allow the tantalizing aromas of roasting meat or spiced liquor to tempt passing customers. They mingled with the chemical smell of the small heaters that also hung in many windows and the smoky tang of sarlag dung from the braziers used by the less prosperous shopkeepers.

His hunter’s instincts automatically identified and tracked each scent, constantly alert for any indication of trouble, but nothing slowed his stride until he neared the end of the long street. An exotic floral scent, as out of place on this icy world as he was, drifted through the air, reminding him of his jungle home. He had been away from Pardor for too long. Much too long, he thought as the skin on his arm flickered briefly with his distraction, but he still slowed his steps, looking for the source of that lush, mysterious scent.

A large cage hung in the open front of the nearest shop, a red-furred animal huddled in the bottom, and he felt a fleeting pang of sympathy for the trapped creature. Not a shop, he realized as he peered into the narrow interior, but a bar. A long, scarred counter ran down one side with a few mismatched tables on the other. Only a few patrons populated the place at this early hour, slumped over the bar in solitary misery.

“Can I help you, Your Worship?” The bartender came hurrying up, wiping his hands on a stained apron. He was an Aalzz, a race Aidon despised on principle. Short orange fur covered a stocky body with too many limbs, but it wasn’t the appearance of the male that bothered him. Rather, it was his race’s tendency to lie and cheat and take pleasure in their deception. “I am Maakin, the host of this humble tavern.”

“I was just passing by,” Aidon said dismissively.

“It’s a cold morning. I can offer you some fine Foldaran brandy to take the chill off.”

It was an offer designed to appeal to a Kaisarian, but somehow, he doubted that this seedy establishment actually carried a genuine version of the rare liquor. Before he could shake his head and move on, Maakin looked over his shoulder and scowled. He picked up a long stick and poked the creature in the cage.

“Sit up! You’re not going to attract any customers like that.”

As the creature stirred reluctantly and obeyed, Aidon realized that what he had taken for fur was actually hair, a long, tangled mane of red hair that only partially covered a very dirty, very naked, and very female body. As she moved, more of the delicious fragrance washed over him, and his cock—his true cock—responded. Hastily forcing it back down, he raised an eyebrow at Maakin, deliberately keeping his tone casual.

“What is that?”

“They’re called humans.” The host scowled at the female. “I thought she might attract attention to my place, but all she does is huddle there.”

“Perhaps she’s cold.”

“I put her right over the brazier,” Maakin said indignantly.

Since they were standing next to the small fire now and he could barely feel the heat, he suspected it did little good, but she wasn’t his responsibility. He had already lingered too long.

“A bad investment,” he agreed and started to move on.

“Wait! Maybe Your Worship would be interested in taking her off my hands? I have heard that females are used in some of the rituals praising your god.” The male gave Aidon’s fine robes an appraising look. “I’m willing to accept a very reasonable amount.”

“I have no need for a female.”

Once again he started to turn away, but at Maakin’s words, the human had raised her head, and now their eyes met. Hers were as wide and blue as a saachi flower. That’s what her scent reminded him of, he realized, the rare exotic flowers that lived in the highest reaches of the trees on his home world. She didn’t speak, but he could see the tension in her narrow shoulders.

“A very reasonable amount,” Maakin pressed, seeing him hesitate.

“I am leaving the planet today.” He should already be on his way. Why was he still lingering?

“Even better. A…companion for the journey.”

The male gave him a lewd wink, and disgust filled him. He shook his head and took a step.

“Please…”

The soft whisper just reached him, but he looked back to find the female staring at him with painful intensity. Her hands gripped the bars of her cage so tightly that he could see the fragile bones beneath the dirty skin. Fuck. He knew what it was like to be trapped and caged.

An almost forgotten compassionate impulse had him opening his mouth before he could reconsider. “I’ll take her.”

“Excellent.” Maakin rubbed his hands together in greedy pleasure. “Now about the price—”

He tossed him a Kaisarian ducat—solid gold and sufficient to buy his whole establishment—and the male’s mouth dropped open.

“Does she have any clothing?” Aidon asked.

“A few items, but of course that would be extra.”

He growled, the low angry note of his true form, and Maakin’s eyes widened.

“Yes, Your Worship. I’ll just get them for you.”

The male hurried away while Aidon waited impatiently, annoyed at yet another delay. He would have moved on if he believed for a single moment that the bartender would honor their deal without his presence.

“Here they are.”

Aidon cast a disgusted glance at the handful of ragged, stained items but decided the matter wasn’t worth arguing about. “Release her.”

“Yes, Your Worship.” Maakin thrust a long piece of leather at him. “Her leash.”

He simply stared at the male until he coughed and turned away, fumbling nervously with his keys until he found the one to open the cage. As soon as the door swung open, the female jumped free, landing awkwardly. Aidon took a half step toward her, but she had already recovered and headed for him, keeping a wary eye on Maakin.

“Here.” Aidon thrust the bundle of clothing at her, then turned and walked out of the bar.

Once they were around a corner, he turned and looked back. She was right behind him, those striking eyes enormous in her small face. Something about her was remarkably tempting despite the dirt and the unpleasant aroma that mingled with that lush fragrance. His eyes traveled down over a rosy-tipped breast peeking through all that hair to the small patch of fiery curls between her legs before his usual sense of self-preservation kicked in. No. He had neither the time nor the resources to deal with a female right now.

“You are free now,” he said gruffly. “Stay away from the Aalzz in future.”

“But I didn’t—”

Her words trailed after him as he turned and walked away. He made it less than half a block before she called out.

“Wait. Please wait a minute.”

Even though he knew he was making a mistake, he paused and let the girl rush up to him. Gods, she was a tiny thing. In his true form, her head would barely reach his chest. Her eyes were wide and frightened, but he noticed approvingly that she’d had the sense to pull on the odd assortment of clothing and secure her distracting hair in a tight knot. At least she had some survival instincts.

“What is it?” he asked brusquely.

“What do I do now?”

“Find meaningful employment.” Even as he said the words, he realized how empty they were. He sighed. “Do you have any marketable skills?”

“I am—I was—a florist. Somehow, I doubt there’s much demand for that here. Especially since”—she fingered her ear with a disgusted expression—“this translator bug they put in my ear doesn’t extend to written language.”

“Try the local tavern,” he suggested impatiently even though a part of him cringed at the thought of this small creature in one of those rowdy establishments.

“And put myself at the mercy of some other asshole? Maybe this one won’t be satisfied with just displaying me.”

He sighed again, then pulled out a card with a tavern symbol. “Try here. The owner is decent enough. He won’t try and prostitute you—but he won’t object if you want to earn some credits that way.” He forced himself to shrug dismissively despite his warring emotions. Part of him roared with anger at the thought of anyone laying a hand on her; the other part wanted to take her for himself.

She gasped indignantly, but he forced himself to shrug and turn away. With surprising speed, she darted in front of him and laid her fingers on his arm. The feel of those small, soft fingers sent an unwanted surge of lust through his body. She had been staring up at him, and now she gasped.

“Your eyes—they changed to solid black.”

Fuck. He usually had more control, but it had been a long year, and he was tired. He preferred not to speculate on why her touch had been the one to break his disguise.

“Let go of me,” he growled, but despite the fact that he could have removed her fingers—literally—in less than a second, he didn’t force her away.

“Wait just a minute. Please. Where are you going?”

“Home. As soon as I get paid.”

“Is your home here? On this planet?”

“Gods, no.”

“Then will you take me with you?”

“With me?”

“Yes. I hate this place. It’s dirty, and it’s cold.” She shivered, and he realized that her lips were turning a shade of blue he suspected was not natural for her species. “I don’t trust anyone here. I trust you.”

“Me?” He couldn’t have been more shocked if she’d pulled out a blaster. She had no idea who she was dealing with. He opened his mouth but found himself curiously reluctant to disillusion her.

“Please? Take me with you. I’m a hard worker and a fast learner. Surely there’s something I can do.”

“I thought you didn’t want to prostitute yourself,” he said.

Her shoulders slumped, and he noticed for the first time that her hand was shaking. Instinctively, he covered it with his own.

“Is that your price?” she whispered through trembling lips.

“No. I prefer willing partners.” On the rare occasions he let himself indulge. He did his best to ignore the fact that under other circumstances, he would have definitely chosen her as a partner. As he looked down at her pleading face, he remembered something his grandfather had said—that by saving a life you took on the responsibility for that life. Of course, his grandfather had been talking about a bird he had rescued, not another person, but the sentiment was the same. He really couldn’t leave her here to fend for herself, but what was he going to do with her?

“There is a place that might suit you,” he said reluctantly. “It’s a planet called Sherae. Slavery is not permitted there, and it is my understanding that they are sympathetic to humans.” And it was on his way back to Pardor. It wouldn’t require more than a short additional delay.

“Is it like this?”

“No, it’s a water world, and the temperatures are very mild.”

“That sounds very nice.” She gave him a shy glance. “Will you be there?”

“No.”

She actually looked disappointed. Perhaps her survival instincts weren’t that strong after all. “I can’t come with you instead?”

He had the oddest desire to let her accompany him, but he shook his head. “No.”

“Why not?”

“It is not your concern. Do you want me to take you off this planet or not?”

“Yes, please. Thank you.” A shy smile broke out over her face, lovely despite the blue lips.

“Come. I wish to finish my business and leave before you freeze to death.” He started to turn away, then paused. “What’s your name?”

“My name is Hanna.”

“I am Aidon. Come with me, Hanna, and remember our deal.”

Chapter Two

Hanna stared after Aidon for a brief second, then gathered the oversize garments closer and hurried after him. She did her best to keep up with the big red alien even though the boots Maakin had begrudgingly given her were not designed for human feet. The icy ground made it even more difficult, and she shivered, trying to pull the assortment of ill-fitting clothing more tightly around her. She hated this planet—hated the cold, hated the aliens who either leered at her or treated her like a dumb animal, and hated Maakin most of all.

But she didn’t hate this alien. When their eyes had met, she had felt an almost physical warmth—as if he’d reached out and touched her. Despite his forbidding appearance, something about him made her feel safe. It was more than just the width of his shoulders and the muscled form apparent even in the ornate robes. Perhaps it was his confident bearing and his controlled response to Maakin’s offer. Whatever the reason, she was strangely disappointed that she couldn’t accompany him to his home planet. With his red skin and dark hair, not to mention the small dark horns springing from his brow, he resembled the traditional Earth image of the devil, but she had been away from Earth long enough to know that appearance meant very little.

How had this happened? she wondered, not for the first time. One minute she had been gathering wild roses by the lakeshore, and the next, she had woken up naked and confined in a small cage.

The space was approximately four by four feet, with enough room to sit down but not to stretch out. Two bowls were fastened to the bars at the front of the cage, and a small stream flowed beneath the back. Two long rows of other cages stretched away on either side of a metal walkway. Her head aching and her stomach churning, it took her several minutes to understand just how much her situation had changed.

A snarl came from her left, and she looked over to see an…animal that couldn’t possibly exist. It was built like a big cat with stocky, powerful limbs, but it was covered with feathers in shades of blue and crimson and its pointed head ended in a beak rather than a muzzle. How could something like that exist?

Her mind still reeling, she looked to the right. At first she thought the cage was empty, but then she spotted a small animal rather like a prairie dog—if prairie dogs were three feet tall and covered with long, silky white fur. It took her a moment to realize that it had a hand extended through the bars to the next cage and was clutching the hand of another of the same species.

A horrible, unbelievable suspicion surfaced. Could it be that she was no longer on Earth? She had never seen anything like either of these creatures before, and as she peered through the bars, looking further down the row, her suspicions grew. Nothing looked familiar. Then at the far end, just as the curve of the corridor made it hard to see, she thought she caught a glimpse of curly dark hair and tan skin. Another human female!

“Hey! Can you hear me?” she yelled, and the cramped space erupted in a cacophony of growls, squeals, and a few strange-sounding voices telling her to shut up.

“Please. You must be quiet.” The soft little voice came from right next to her, and she looked down to find the prairie dog creature eyeing her anxiously, twisting its hands together.

“You can talk.” The shock momentarily distracted her from the thought of another human on board.

“Of course I can talk. But you need to listen—”

“How can I understand you? This must be a dream.”

“It’s not a dream, and if you don’t be quiet, it’s going to seem more like a nightmare.” The little creature cast a nervous look over its shoulder. “They don’t like it when we make noise.”

“Who doesn’t like it?”

A roar came from the distance, and the creature darted back to the other side of its cell, grabbing its companion’s hand through the bars as it huddled into as small a space as possible. The noise had already begun to die off, but there was another roar as a new being came into sight, and Hanna lost the ability to speak. There was no way that this was anything other than an alien. His body was basically humanoid, but the proportions were slightly off—the arms too long and the legs too short. Red eyes gleamed from a blue-skinned face, and a crest of dark hair ran back across his scalp.

He strode down the walkway, jabbing what looked like a stick at anyone still making noise. In the increasing silence, she could hear the harsh buzzing that came from the prod and the pained cry when it connected. She too huddled down at the back of her cell, making herself as small as possible, but it was no use.

The alien stopped in front of her, leering at her naked body even though he couldn’t have seen much more than her knees and her hair.

“Did you start this ruckus?” he growled, revealing pointed yellow teeth.

All she could do was shake her head.

“What a shame. The captain lets me take care of the troublemakers personally.”

He grabbed his crotch, his meaning all too clear, and she shuddered with revulsion but still didn’t speak.

“Fuck. I can tell you’re not gonna be as much fun as the other one.”

With a disgusted noise, he walked away as she collapsed into a shaking heap. A small hand reached through and patted her back.

“You did very well,” the prairie dog said soothingly. “I am Khuda, Daughter of Khara. What are you called?”

“I’m Hanna,” she said weakly, still staring after the alien. “How can you say I did well? I didn’t even try to find out what’s going on or why I’m here.”

Khuda gave her a look of what could only be described as pity. “We are on a Derian slave ship. What do you think is going to happen?”

Slave ship? The words rang in her ears.

“Slavery is illegal. Who are the Derians?” she asked stupidly.

“You are not familiar with their species?” When she shook her head, Khuda sighed. “I see. You are from a pre-spaceflight planet?”

“We have spaceflight.”

“Beyond your own system?”

She shook her head, and Khuda sighed again.

“Gathering specimens from primitive planets is not allowed, but I doubt that anyone is going to stop them. I have heard rumors that the new Emperor is making an effort to enforce the laws but…” Khuda cast a worried look over her shoulder at the other animal. “In the long run, it makes little difference where you came from. We are all subject to the same fate.”

“Being sold?” Her lips felt numb as she forced out the words.

“Yes.” Khuda gave her an appraising look. “You should fetch a good price. You appear to be young and healthy.”

“Is that supposed to make me feel better?” she asked bitterly.

Khuda shrugged. “You value your more expensive possessions. Hopefully that means your owner will be less likely to damage you.”

Hanna shuddered at the unpleasant speculations that immediately crossed her mind, but she forced herself to remember that she was not the only victim here. “What of you?”

“We Kheer have a gift for fine metalwork. Many races value that.” She looked over her shoulder again. Her companion was now slumped against the back wall, unmoving. “I am more concerned about Khira. She has never been strong, and I’m not sure she will survive if we are separated.”

“They’re going to separate you?”

“It seems inevitable. Two sales are more profitable than one.”

Hanna couldn’t decide what was worse—to be as utterly alone as she felt right now or to be with a loved one, knowing that you would be torn apart. Not that she had any loved ones to worry about. Since her aunt had died the previous year, she had spent all her time learning to run the small business she had inherited.

“You said that they weren’t supposed to take me. If some authority found out, would they take me home?”

Khuda shook her head, her eyes sympathetic. “Interaction with pre-spaceflight worlds is forbidden. You would be freed from the Derians, but you do not seem like a fighter. Without a protector, I suspect you would soon find yourself enslaved again.”

“A fighter?” A half-hysterical laugh escaped Hanna. “No, I’m not a fighter.”

She hated even verbal confrontations. Terrified and overwhelmed, she turned her back on Khuda and curled into a ball, tears slipping down her cheeks. She must have cried herself to sleep, but when she woke, hoping that it had all been a terrible nightmare, nothing had changed.

Time passed in a monotonous blur. The lights over the cages never dimmed, so the only way she could measure the passage of time was when one of the Derian guards came by to fill the food and water bowls. The food consisted of tasteless gray pellets, but she forced herself to choke them down. The purpose of the stream beneath the back of the cage became horrifyingly apparent after several large but unmistakable turds floated by. Her cheeks flamed with embarrassment every time she had to use it, but she had no other choice.

She looked for the other human but never caught sight of her again. At least Khuda would sit and talk to her, distracting her from both her misery and the ever-present fear of what would happen to her next.

The ship stopped twice. Each time, a group of cages would be hoisted out of position and disappear down the corridor. They didn’t return. Fortunately, Khuda and her sister were not among those who vanished.

Less than one feeding cycle after the second stop, the ship stopped again, and two of the Derians came hurrying down the corridor.

“I don’t like it. We’re never going to make a profit selling her here,” one of them said.

“Captain’s order,” said the other. “He says that Imperial cruisers are inspecting ships in this sector. You know what will happen if they find her. At least we made a good profit on the other one.”

To her horror, they started fitting the hoist to her cage.

“Khuda!” she cried as the cage rose off the ground.

Her friend watched her sadly. “Have courage, my friend.”

“Courage?” She choked back a hysterical laugh. “I don’t have any courage.”

“I think you have more than you realize, but I will pray to Napisten that you find a kind master.”

One of the Derians laughed. “Maybe a whole bunch of them if one of the whorehouses wants you.”

At least that fate had not befallen her. Instead, she had been dumped out in a huge, freezing warehouse. After a quick, unenthusiastic auction, Maakin had won her. And she had gone from one cage to another.

But then Aidon had come along and freed her. She gave a grateful look at the big warrior striding along in front of her as she remembered Khuda’s advice about finding a protector. Perhaps the Kheer’s prayers had worked after all.

Chapter Three

The female was still following Aidon when he reached his ship, and a certain begrudging admiration filled him. He had not set an easy pace, and even though he had known that she had slipped several times, she didn’t complain or ask him to slow down. Instead, she scrambled to her feet and kept going.

He reached in his pocket for the controls to unlock the ship, but as he did, two of the planet’s natives stepped out of the shadows surrounding the ship. Tall and broad-shouldered with shaggy white fur and long nails and claws, they made an impressive display. He had no doubt that he could take them, but it would be a long and vicious battle. His blood pumped eagerly at the thought, and he prepared to change form.

Then he heard a slight gasp from behind him, and a small, cold hand grasped his arm. The female was looking to him for protection? He couldn’t remember the last time anyone had expected anything from him unless they were paying him. And if there was a battle, she would undoubtedly be hurt. He sighed.

“Why have you blocked my path?” he asked, using the supercilious inflection common to a Kaisarian priest. “You have no reason to stop one who is about the business of his God and his Emperor.”

“You are no more Kaisarian than I am,” the lead Hothian said calmly.

They had detected his true identity? He would have sworn that that was impossible.

“I have no idea—”

The leader shifted position, glowing blue eyes burning into his, and Aidon abandoned the attempt to prevaricate.

“What do you want?” He discarded the smooth, cultured tones of the priest and used his natural cold growl. He felt rather than saw the female look up at him, but she didn’t step away. If anything, she moved closer.

The Hothian followed the slight movement. “You are taking the human off world?”

“She has arranged for passage with me.”

“Really?” A vast depth of disbelief was rendered in the single word. The Hothian looked at Aidon’s female. “Do you leave of your own free will?”

“Yes.” Her voice was soft but utterly determined, and Aidon looked down to see her raise her chin defiantly. An unexpected pride filled him, and to his astonishment, he found himself putting his arm around her and pulling her closer. She didn’t hesitate to burrow into his side.

“Very well.” The leader shook his head and looked back at Aidon. “We have need of your services.”

“I’m not available. I’m leaving today.”

“And I am afraid that won’t be possible. It appears there is an issue with your ship’s registration.”

A growl erupted before he could call it back. “There’s no problem with my ship.”

“Unfortunately, there is. We anticipate the delay will last approximately one week. By an extraordinary coincidence, the task we wish you to perform could take place within that time frame.”

This time, Aidon made no attempt to suppress his growl. “You can’t make me take a job for you.”

“You are quite right, of course. But the delay will occur in any case. Wouldn’t you rather earn some extra credits while you wait?”

“I have plenty of credits. That is not the only reason I take jobs.”

“I know. And that is why we have chosen you for this one.”

The leader’s eyes flicked back to Aidon’s human. “Perhaps we could discuss it inside, in a climate more suited for your…passenger.”

Fuck! Aidon should have realized that she was huddled next to him for warmth rather than a desire to be at his side. Removing his fur-lined cloak, he wrapped it around her thin shoulders and nodded abruptly at the other male.

“Where do you wish to talk?”

“This way.”

The male led the way across the landing field, apparently unconcerned about Aidon’s presence at his back. Of course, his companion fell in step behind Aidon. Aidon kept his senses alert for any hint of trouble, but aside from that, he ignored him.

They paused in front of a heavy metal door, and the Hothian entered a code before gesturing inside as the door opened. “After you.”

“I don’t think so. You lead the way.”

The male laughed, a surprisingly pleasant, low rumble. “I grow even more convinced that you are the right male for the job.”

He passed through the large opening into a darkened room. Aidon automatically adjusted his eyes to take in his surroundings as he followed him. The second male remained outside.

The room was not what he had expected. Low couches covered in a velvety fabric circled the walls, with small tables placed in front of them. The leader moved to a central firepit, and a moment later, a warm, flickering glow lit the room.

Unlike the off-world braziers, the firepit actually emitted a reasonable amount of heat, and he felt Hanna’s shivering stop. Rather to his surprise, she made no attempt to move away from him.

“Will you be seated?” the leader asked, sprawling on one of the couches. Despite the other male’s relaxed posture, Aidon did not make the mistake of believing him to be off guard. He gave an abrupt nod and sank down on another couch, where he could keep an eye on both his host and the door. Hanna came down with him, sinking to her knees at his feet. He could feel her body pressed against his legs, and another flare of unexpected arousal went through him.

“What are you doing?” His voice came out gruffer than he intended.

“Humans are not permitted on furniture,” she said softly, her head bowed.

His arousal was replaced by anger. He knew what it was like to be treated as little more than an animal. The wealthier races of the inner Empire regarded all other species as lesser.

He put a finger under her chin, her skin like delicate silk beneath his touch, and lifted her face to his. Those incredibly blue eyes looked up at him trustingly.

“You will sit beside me.” Without waiting for her response, he lifted her easily up next to him, her slight weight barely noticeable. Once again, she surprised him by not moving away but snuggling closer. Forcing himself to ignore the soft curves pressed against his side, he turned his attention to the Hothian. The male was regarding him with what Aidon suspected was amusement.

“What is this job?” he growled.

“I am Njkall of the Arac Cave. And you are?”

He debated giving the male his assumed identity, then gave a mental shrug and went with the truth. “My name is Aidon.”

Njkall waited expectantly, but Aidon had no more to add. He no longer claimed any family or tribal associations.

After a brief pause, the Hothian continued, “You are a Pardorian, are you not? One for hire?”

Aidon wasn’t entirely surprised, based on their previous conversation, but it was still disconcerting to be revealed so easily. When shifted, all aspects of his being assumed that of the person he was mimicking.

“What makes you think so?”

“You do not smell like a Kaisarian,” Njkall said calmly. He raised a hand before Aidon could respond. “It’s a subtle difference. Most species would not be able to detect the anomaly, but our…history has resulted in an exceptionally keen sense of smell.”

Since very few Hothians ever left their planet, their ability to detect his true form was most probably not a threat, but he made a note to be cautious of them in future and turned to the second part of the male’s assumptions.

“Why do you think I’m for hire?”

“Perhaps I should mention that I am employed as a guard at a certain research facility in the north.”

Aidon barely managed to mask his reaction. This Hothian knew about his activities?

“Is that supposed to mean something to me?” He raised a casual eyebrow.

“I detected that same difference in scent at that facility—which leads me to suspect that you were sent to infiltrate that location. Under the circumstances, I do not believe that your motives were either innocent or unrewarded.” Njkall waved his hand again. “I neither know nor care about the specifics. I simply wish to hire your services.”

“And I wish to return to my planet.” Need to return.

“Such a shame that your ship will be impounded for at least a week. Of course, if you were to complete our request more quickly, I might be able to…hurry that along.”

Aidon snarled, allowing his true nature to emerge, and saw the Hothian tense, although he made no other move. Hanna also tensed but once again, moved closer to him rather than away.

“I do not respond well to blackmail.”

“I understand. Under other circumstances, I would not pursue such a course, but time is short and we are desperate.”

He suspected that it had cost Njkall to admit how much they needed his help, and he relaxed slightly.

“Go on.”

“There is a female—a much beloved member of our cave. But she is young and as the young often are, foolish. She has abandoned her cave and taken up with an alien male.”

“You want me to hunt down a runaway girl?”

Njkall’s claws tapped together. “If she truly left of her own accord, we would be concerned but we would accept her decision. But in this case…”

“Young females do foolish things. Why do you think this is more than that?”

“Because she is with Chotgor.”

The name dropped into the room like a stone in a still pond. Although Aidon had never met him, he knew of Chotgor. A former gladiator who had battled his way to wealth, he had become a notorious slave trader, famous for his fighting pits. His fighters were usually slaves, the fights were always brutal, and they were always to the death.

“Why is he here?”

“Supposedly, he is trying to recruit fighters. I suspect he was attempting to see if he could steal some of our people. We have a certain reputation for fighting skills.” Njkall bared his teeth, and Aidon had to suppress the instinct to respond in kind. The male would be a worthy opponent.

“Why would your female go to him?”

“We heard a rumor that one of us had been encountered in a fight pit. He is Zemma’s brother. She may have been foolish enough to think she could get information from Chotgor.”

“Why don’t you go and get her back?”

Njkall tapped his claws again. “We have a contract with the Empire. Port Eyeja is a free zone operating under Imperial rule. In return, they leave the rest of Hothrest under our control. If we breach that contract, they could attempt to exert their rule over the rest of the planet. We would fight, of course, and we would cause great loss, but in the end, we would lose.” Glowing blue eyes met Aidon’s. “If I knew for sure that she was being held against her will, I—we—would take the chance, but it is possible that she is there of her own accord. He has a reputation for great charm.”

“I’m not a godsdamned nanny.”

A small, cold hand crept into Aidon’s. He looked down to see Hanna biting her lip.

“It’s a terrible thing to be a slave, to be taken away from everything you know,” she whispered.

He covered her hand with his own. “I know.” The memory of those first few months after he’d left Pardor for the first time washed over him. Fuck.

“You just want me to get her out of there?”

“If she is willing to go.”

“Don’t worry. If she’s foolish enough to want to stay with a bastard like Chotgor, I’m not going to risk my neck for her. Where is he?”

“He rented a large establishment on the outskirts of town. You should have no difficulty gaining entry—he holds a party every night. Gambling, females, liquor. Anyone with sufficient credits is welcome, except for Hothians, of course. We already tried a more conventional approach. I doubt he would take kindly to a Kaisarian priest either.”

“That won’t be a problem.” Or at least, he hoped it would not.

“What of your female? She is welcome to stay here with us.”

“No!” Hanna’s hand tightened around his. “I want to go with you.”

“They will assume you’re my slave.”

“I don’t care.”

He didn’t like this. Based on Njkall’s brief description, he already knew it was not the kind of place he wanted to take her.

“You would come to no harm with us, human,” Njkall said quietly.

“Thank you, but…” She looked up at Aidon, big eyes pleading. “You’re the only alien—the only male—who has treated me as a person. You make me feel safe.”

“Safe?” Didn’t she realize that he could kill her in ten different ways without leaving his seat? No one came to him for protection. They came to him because they wanted their enemies eliminated. But something about her instinctive faith in him caused an unfamiliar warmth in his chest. He sighed. “You won’t like it.”

“But you’ll take me? Oh, thank you.”

For a brief moment, she threw her arms around his neck, pressing her soft little curves fully against his body. His cock sprang to attention with unexpected enthusiasm before he pushed it back down and gently disentangled her.

“If you intend to appear wealthy enough to attract his attention, those clothes will not do,” Njkall said calmly.

“Agreed. Looks like we’re going shopping, pet.”

“If I may make a suggestion? I expect your female would like to bathe. I can arrange to have suitable attire brought here while she cleanses herself.”

Pink washed over Hanna’s cheeks and down her chest. Fascinating. He had no idea that humans could change color.

“I’m sorry. I know I’m dirty, but there wasn’t anywhere to wash, and I didn’t want to be clean for that bastard anyway.”

“You did well,” he assured her. “But it’s time for a different kind of disguise.”

She nodded meekly. “Yes, Aidon.”

“You mentioned a bathing facility?”

“This way.” Njkall led them through the door at the rear of the room and through a set of tunnels that sloped gently downward.

Somewhat to Aidon’s surprise, they were dry, warm, and softly lit by small collections of glowing crystals. Not crystals, he realized on second look as the cluster shifted. Some type of living organism instead. Despite the circuitous path, he would have no trouble retracing his steps, and he gave Hanna’s hand a reassuring squeeze when she looked up at him anxiously.

The Hothian finally led them into another chamber, much larger than the entrance chamber but similarly attired with low couches, small tables, and a central firepit.

“The bathing rooms are through there. She will be undisturbed.” Njkall looked at him. “You have my word.”

Hanna hesitated, giving him a pleading look. “Can’t you come with me?”

A brief vision of her naked body, gleaming with water, danced through his head, and once again, he had to force his cock under control. He never had this much trouble restraining himself around a female, and his voice was harsher than he intended when he spoke.

“No. Go cleanse yourself.”

She looked so stricken that he immediately regretted his words.

He put a hand on her cheek and softened his tone. “Go on, pet. You’re safe here. No one will get past me.”

Her small shoulders straightened, and she nodded, heading for the archway Njkall had indicated.

“Do you need assistance with the controls?” Njkall asked.

“No, thank you. I’m quite capable of using an indoor bathroom.” Her chin lifted, and he felt another flash of pride. Despite her obvious fear, she faced the Hothian directly. Then she disappeared through the archway with her head held high.

Njkall also nodded approvingly as he turned back to him. “That one has courage.”

“No doubt. But she is not your concern,” he growled. “I will also need clothing.”

“Very well. How do you intend to disguise yourself?”

Keeping a watchful eye on the opening through which Hanna had departed, he allowed himself to be drawn into a discussion about the advantages of various personas.

Chapter Four

As soon as she was out of sight, Hanna leaned against the rock wall and forced back a sudden wave of tears. Damn, she was tired of this. Of feeling so helpless. But was it any better to place her trust in an unknown alien, no matter how kind he had been to her so far?

Perhaps it was because when their eyes had first met, she’d felt as though he’d truly seen her. He was the first alien to have done so since the day she’d been captured. Even Khuda, as kind as she had been, had only seen her as another slave. But it was more than that—he made her feel safe. Despite his gruff words, she had absolutely no doubt that he would stand between her and whoever threatened her. She also had no doubt that he would do so successfully.

Her thoughts traveled back to his broad shoulders, long, strong legs, and the big hands that closed so comfortingly around hers. To her shock, she felt a warm flutter of desire low in her stomach. Up until today, she would have sworn that she would never have felt the least interest in any of the endless variety of aliens who had poked, prodded, and leered at her. She had been supremely grateful that it hadn’t gone further than unwanted touches. Thank goodness Aidon had come along. Maakin had started making noises about selling her to one of the local brothels even though he didn’t seem to think she would fetch much. Every night when he’d placed her back in her small cell, she had been grateful that at least he had shown no sexual interest in her.

The sound of water penetrated her unhappy memories, and she was suddenly desperate to get clean. Following the sound, she turned the corner and gasped in astonishment. The room appeared to be hewn out of the native stone, the walls left rough and unfinished. A wide variety of mosses and ferns grew in the cracks of the rock, and more of the small lights were scattered among them. A waterfall cascaded down over the back wall before landing in a rocky pool carved out of the cave floor. The water steamed gently, and the air was full of the scent of growing things.

A second wave of tears threatened. She had missed this so much. Even before she had taken over her aunt’s florist shop, her life had always been full of plants. But the barren metal of the spaceship had been followed by the icy wasteland of the planet, and this was the first time she had seen living plants since she’d been taken.

As enticing as the pool looked, she had other pressing needs to attend to first. After a short search, she found a surprisingly modern facility hidden behind one of the rock outcroppings. The controls were not quite as easy to decipher as she had hoped, but she persevered, feeling a flash of triumph when she managed to get everything working.

Throwing aside the ragged clothing Maakin had unwillingly provided, she stepped under the waterfall. The heated water poured over her head, and she tried to let it wash away not only the surface dirt but the horror of the last month.

A long time later, she finally thought to look around for soap and found a depression in the rock filled with purple berries. Some plants had naturally cleansing properties, so she picked up a berry and cautiously crushed it between her fingers. A minty scent arose as it dissolved into lavender foam. Perfect.

She scrubbed her body until her pale skin was flushed and glowing and then proceeded to work the foam through her long hair. The foam actually helped smooth out some of the tangles, but she really needed a comb. Or a pair of scissors, she thought ruefully. At least the length of her hair had provided some concealment.

She gave the pool a longing glance, but time was passing, and she didn’t want to take the chance of Aidon leaving without her. As she stepped out from under the waterfall, she searched for a towel. Just as she was about to give up and use her discarded clothes, she spotted a stack of thin cloths. Each one was barely larger than a hand towel, but as she passed the material over her wet skin, it completely absorbed the moisture. It was even more miraculous on her hair, wringing all the wetness from the long strands, and she decided that it must be perfectly suited for drying fur.

“Hanna?”

She squeaked and tried ineffectually to cover her body with the skimpy towel as Aidon appeared at the entrance to the bathing room.

“I have the clothes—” He broke off abruptly at the sight of her. Once again, his eyes turned solid black as they drifted down over her body.

He’s seen you naked before. But the reminder didn’t make it any less unnerving. Unnerving—and yet she could feel her nipples thrust against the small towel and felt that same pulse of desire deep inside. He took a step toward her, and she waited, an odd combination of nerves and excitement fluttering in her stomach. When he stopped and placed the clothing on a rock, she was almost disappointed.

“Here.” His voice had the same low growl he had used earlier, and it sent another wave of desire through her. “They’re more revealing than I would have chosen, but they’re better than being naked. You will look the part.”

Her voice seemed to have abandoned her, and she could only stare at him. He took another half step toward her, then turned abruptly.

“Wait,” she called, finally managing to speak. “Do you know where I can find a comb?”

“There is one with the clothing. Also some jewelry. It’s your choice if you choose to wear it.” He hesitated a moment longer, his back still to her, then disappeared back the way he’d come.

She went to investigate the clothes, frowning thoughtfully. He was attracted to her; she was sure of it. Not only had the heat in his eyes been unmistakable but so had his erection. She had felt the heated length of it against her when she had impulsively hugged him earlier, and now she had seen the unmistakable and very large evidence. When the Derian on the ship had shown her his nowhere near as impressive erection, she’d felt nothing but disgust. It wasn’t disgust she was feeling this time.

Still pondering that thought, she sorted through the clothing Aidon had brought her.

“He wasn’t kidding when he said it was skimpy,” she muttered as she held up a handful of blue silk too minimal to be called a dress. But he was right that it was better than being naked. What was more, as she slipped the thin silk over her head and figured out how to fasten the delicate gold chains, she felt surprisingly happy. It was nice to be clean and to feel attractive again—and with Aidon around, she wasn’t concerned about someone taking advantage of her.

The comb turned out to be more like a three-pronged rake, but it worked well enough, and she twisted her almost dry hair into a long braid. The jewelry consisted of sparkling clear and blue stones set in bronze-colored metal. She placed a delicate circlet around her head, a blue gem dangling over her forehead, then stacked bracelets up both wrists. The last thing in the pile was a pair of fragile bronze sandals. She gave them a longing glance, but in the end, she opted for the ill-fitting boots. They might spoil the outfit, but at least her feet wouldn’t freeze.

Taking a deep breath, she headed back to the main room, conscious of the silk caressing her breasts and fluttering around her legs. When she reached the door opening, she froze. The Hothian was still present, but standing next to him was a complete stranger. A tall, muscular alien with dark-blue skin and curving horns was standing there, wearing nothing but a leather loincloth and a furred cloak fastened on one shoulder with an enormous gemstone. Barbaric metal jewelry circled his wrists and his horns, while rows of metal studs pierced his ears, his lip, and his nipples.

Scared and confused, she started to back away, but then her eyes met the stranger’s, and her breath escaped in a relieved sigh.

“Oh, it’s you, Aidon. I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you.”

“How do you know it’s me?”

“Your eyes.” Still dizzy with relief, she darted over to him and tucked her hand in his arm. He was even taller in this form. Even though she had always considered herself tall for a woman, her head barely reached his chest.

“Between the two of you, it seems I have no secrets left,” he said ruefully, shaking his head. But despite his gruff tone, his hand closed over hers.

“I’m pretty sure that how you change your appearance is rather a big secret.” She supposed that she should have been more disconcerted by that, but after everything she had seen over the past month, she was less surprised then she probably should have been. “Do I look all right?”

Those black eyes drifted over her once again, and she felt herself respond to the heated caress of his gaze, but then he scowled.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s too revealing.” The color rushed to her cheeks, and he immediately tugged her closer. “I don’t wish to share your beauty with anyone.”

“A Sarranian warrior would not hesitate to show off his slave,” Njkall pointed out. “You would only cover her if you were concerned about your ability to protect her.”

“Then it’s fine,” she said immediately. “I know Aidon would never let anything happen to me.”

She couldn’t tell which of the two of them looked more astonished, but she raised her chin and stared back at them defiantly.

“Very well.” Aidon looked down at her feet. “But those will not do.”

She wanted to please him, but… Gathering her courage, she blurted out, “I don’t want my feet to freeze.”

“Of course not. There is a cloak and footwear to accompany the outfit.”

Once again, she gave in to impulse and hugged him. “Thank you. I should have known that you would look out for me.”

The heated bar of his cock pressed briefly against her stomach, and her eyes widened. Apparently he was just as large, if not larger, in this form. But before she could give in to the urge to rub against him, he gently set her away from him.

After she replaced the ugly boots with the pretty little sandals, he handed her clear knee-high boots that did nothing to hide her legs or feet but still enclosed them in warmth. Fortunately, the cloak he fastened around her shoulders was fur-lined and did conceal her skimpy outfit.

“We will be watching,” Njkall said grimly. “If Zemma desires to leave, all you need to do is to get her outside the grounds. We can take care of it from there.”

“Without violating your contract?” Aidon raised an eyebrow.

Njkall shrugged. “We have no control over disappearances within the port.”

Aidon grinned, showing an impressive array of teeth and—were those fangs?

“I can see that one has to be very careful about the terms of a contract with you.” The grin disappeared, and he frowned at the other male. “Don’t attempt to play those kinds of games with me.”

“I believe you to be an honorable male. We treat fairly with those who treat us fairly.” Njkall hesitated. “And if you can either free Zemma or assure us of her safety, we are deeply in your debt.”

The Hothian extended a hand. The two males clasped forearms, then Aidon turned to Hanna.

“Are you ready, pet?”

She reached inside for the courage that had been so lacking recently and nodded firmly. “I’m ready.”

Chapter Five

Aidon strode back toward town, this time choosing the main thoroughfare. Some effort had been made to smooth out the icy streets, and it would be easier for Hanna. He deliberately moderated his steps so that she could keep up, but despite his urgency to return to Pardor, he found he was in no hurry to confront Chotgor.

“Is there anything I should know?” Hanna asked. Her voice trembled slightly, but she was not lagging behind him.

“I suspect it will look like a party—a very drunken, unrestrained party—but it is not. Someone like Chotgor is here for only one reason. He’s collecting fighters for his stable. And if he can’t entice them with promises of wealth and fame, he has less pleasant ways of acquiring them.”

“What do you mean?”

“There will be gambling, and it’s very easy for a youngster to lose so much that his only alternative is to sell himself.” He shrugged. “Or someone might drink too much and wake up in one of Chotgor’s cells. And of course, there’s always outright kidnapping.”

She shivered and pressed closer to him, and he found himself putting his arm around her even though he knew that a Sarranian would never care as much for his slave’s comfort.

“Is that what happened to you?” he asked gently.

She nodded and tried to burrow even closer. “I was hired to provide the flowers for a wedding, and the bride wanted me to use wildflowers. I went down to the lake to gather wild roses. That’s the last thing I remember until I woke up in a cage surrounded by other cages filled with animals, people I didn’t recognize.”

He growled. “Who took you?”

“Khuda—she was in the cage next to me—said that they were Derians.”

“Did they…harm you?” He immediately regretted the words. Of course they had harmed her. But she understood what he meant.

“No, not like that. They threatened it enough, but Khuda said the captain wouldn’t let them hurt me unless I misbehaved.” She looked up at him, her eyes miserable. “I didn’t have the courage to try and fight. I’m almost positive there was another human woman on board, and I think she did fight. I only caught a glimpse of her once, and then she disappeared.”

“You did the right thing,” he said sincerely. Just the thought of her fragile body overcome by a Derian male had his natural form threatening to break through. He forced it back, but it took more effort than normal, and he felt his Sarranian disguise falter for a second. Fuck. He couldn’t afford this kind of weakness now.

“Are you all right?” Hanna was still looking up at him, but her misery had been replaced by concern. Concern for him. His chest ached. When was the last time anyone had shown any concern for him?

“I’m fine,” he snapped, and she started to pull away. He immediately drew her back under his arm. “I’m sorry. It’s been a long time since I was on my planet, and it makes me difficult to deal with.”

She smiled up at him. “I understand. I’m homesick too.”

Homesick? He supposed it was true in at least one way—he would be sick unless he returned to Pardor—but that planet had never been his home.

They continued down the street in silence, with Hanna darting interested glances around at the variety of wares on display. Despite its undesirable aspects, a lot of credits flew through Port Eyeja, and almost everything was for sale. Her eyes widened at the sight of a naked Tatvar reclining in an open window, a male drinking from each of her four nipples, their faces lost in ecstasy. The Tatvar, on the other hand, simply looked bored. A line of males waited their turn in front of the establishment.

Two blocks later, Hanna almost stumbled to a halt when a snake-like male undulated his head out of another window.

“Care for a bite, pretty lady? Guaranteed to bring pleasant dreams.”

Aidon knocked the male’s head away and drew her closer.

“What was that?” she asked, looking back over her shoulder.

“Mogrol,” he said briefly. “Their bite is addictive.”

More questions erupted as they continued down the street, but he found her wide-eyed curiosity entertaining. The short day was already turning to afternoon, but the pale sun had broken through the clouds, the air was crisp and cold, and he felt almost normal. Like any male escorting his female through town.

That pleasant illusion disappeared as soon as they turned down the street leading to Chotgor’s opulent residence. He might only be renting the place, but he had already marked it with his presence. Large video screens on either side of the entrance gate displayed a continuous loop of famous fights. Hanna gasped as she watched a huge dark-skinned Sardoran launch himself through the air and bury a knife in the back of an even larger Chulun.

Aidon turned to her and unwrapped one of the delicate gold chains from around her waist before fastening it to his cuff.

“In here, you are my slave. Can you do that?” He heard her breath catch, but she nodded. “It’s not too late,” he added. “I can take you back to Njkall.”

She took a deep breath, then lowered her eyes and bowed her head. “No, Master.”

Even though he knew it was an act, her submissive posture called to all his innate dominance. His cock throbbed, and this time he didn’t attempt to force it down. Instead, he curved an arm around her slender waist and yanked her up against him, deliberately rubbing his erection against her soft body. Her eyes widened, and he waited for her to pull away.

“Are you sure, pet?” he growled.

“Yes, Master,” she repeated, and he caught the sweet tang of arousal deepening her already luscious scent. Fuck. His instincts urged him to carry her away from this wretched place and explore her interest in private, but he had made a commitment. He refused to think about the fact that this was the first time he had ever been tempted to break a contract.

“Follow me,” he ordered, “but stay close. Tug on the chain if someone attempts to bother you.”

She bit her lip and nodded, falling into place behind him, her fingers clenched in the fur of his cloak.

Two guards waited outside the entrance. Both of them were Bukharan—big, brown-furred warriors with impressive horns and deadly hooves.

“State your business,” one guard demanded, surveying Aidon rapidly, his eyes lingering on his expensive adornments.

“Just looking for a little entertainment. So far, Port Eyeja has been somewhat of a disappointment.” He flipped a credit to each of them. “I heard that things are livelier here.”

“Are you armed?”

“Just a little knife.” He flipped back the cloak to show the large ceremonial dagger holstered around his waist. It was not, of course, his only weapon, but it was large and gaudy enough to divert attention.

“No blaster?” the second guard asked suspiciously.

“Never saw the need for them myself. I prefer to take care of things up close and personal.” He bared his teeth and took a step forward. The second guard bristled, but the first one laughed and shoved his companion back.

“I think you’ll fit right in.” He flicked an appreciative glance at Hanna. “Is your slave armed?”

“Of course not.”

“Maybe I should examine her to make sure,” the second guard said, still giving Aidon a resentful glare.

“No one touches my property,” he growled.

The tension thickened between them, and this time the first guard didn’t seem inclined to intervene. Aidon’s hand dropped to the hilt of his knife, but before he could challenge the guard, Hanna stepped forward and threw back her cloak. Her slender body, barely covered with blue silk and chains, gleamed in the shadowed street. Both guards stared at her hungrily, and Aidon tightened his hand on the hilt of his knife, driven by a primitive impulse to cut out the eyes that dared to look upon his female.

“I’m not armed,” she said quietly, and her soft voice reminded him of his purpose.

“Cover up, pet. They’re not worthy of your beauty.”

“Yes, Master,” she said obediently and pulled the cloak closed.

The two guards were still staring at her, and he took advantage of their distraction to usher her through the doorway and into an arched entrance tunnel.

“Well done, Hanna.”

“It wasn’t worth fighting over—” Her voice came to an abrupt halt as they emerged on the other side of the tunnel and she took in the scene awaiting them.

An enormous bonfire roared in the center of a large courtyard. Two males were wrestling in one corner, a small crowd yelling insults and advice. Nearby, three males were fucking a Xynic female, also surrounded by a vocal crowd. A long bar occupied one side of the courtyard, and drinks were flowing freely. Vid screens behind the bar showed a variety of fights, and he saw credits changing hands as the observers bet on the outcome. Two males shoved each other, and he caught the flash of a knife and a spurt of green blood before the loser collapsed and disappeared beneath the crowd. The cloying scent of landil weed hung heavy in the air.

Hanna pressed close against his back, her fingers tangled in his cloak again. “I don’t think I’m in Kansas anymore.”

He didn’t recognize the place, but he understood the sentiment. He had felt the same way the first time he had been introduced to the fighter lifestyle.

“No, you’re not,” he said grimly. “Stay close. We need to find Chotgor.”

While Hanna had been bathing, Njkall had reviewed the plans of the mansion with Aidon, as well as the security measures the Hothians had noted. If that information was correct, his quarry lay deep within the building. The usual pleasure of the hunt was dimmed by his concern for Hanna, but he still found himself grinning fiercely as he went in search of his prey.

Hanna kept as close to Aidon as she could, her fingers clenched in the fur of his cloak. He strode confidently through the crowded courtyard, but there were enough occupants to slow his pace, and she peeped at her surroundings from under her eyelashes.

Nothing in her admittedly limited experience had prepared her for this.

Before her college career had been cut short by her aunt’s illness, she had once gathered up the courage to attend a fraternity party with a friend. When Aidon had said that this would be a drunken party, she had half expected something similar. And perhaps it was similar in some ways—if the fraternity brothers had been massive, aggressive aliens and sex and fighting had been on public display.

Aidon paused to talk to another one of the bull-like guards. A female with blue-scaled skin sank to her knees, pulled out her owner’s two cocks, and proceeded to give him a blow job not more than two feet away from Hanna. She didn’t realize she was staring until she heard a coarse laugh and looked up to find the alien leering at her.

“I got room for another one,” he laughed. The other female hissed as he reached for Hanna with a clawed hand.

She yanked frantically on the chain attached to Aidon’s cuff. He turned with a growl, his knife appearing in his hand with almost magical speed before he pressed it against the other male’s throat.

“You do not touch my property.”

The alien raised his hands. “No offense intended. You interested in a swap? My slave’s got a mouth like a slargar trap.”

Hanna looked over in time to see the look of despair crossing the blue female’s face and shivered. She suspected she had come very close to the same fate herself. She tried to give the other female a sympathetic look, but she only hissed again and returned to working the alien’s two cocks with feverish intensity.

“No,” Aidon said as he holstered the knife. “This one is still in training, and I prefer to keep her attention focused on me. Perhaps another time.”

His casual tone sounded forced to her, but it obviously satisfied the other male. He grinned and grabbed his female’s head, forcing her deeper.

“Gotta train ’em up right,” he agreed with a satisfied groan.

Aidon gave a noncommittal grunt as he moved off.

“Can’t we—” Hanna started as soon as they were out of earshot.

“Not now, pet,” he said abruptly, and she realized that they were approaching a giant set of doors at the rear of the courtyard. The doors stood open, but four guards surrounded the entrance. Once more, she and Aidon were examined and a few credits changed hands before they were allowed to enter.

This room resembled a garish casino, all bright lights and clashing colors. Multiple game tables were spread throughout the room but, just as in the outer courtyard, sex was equally on display. A fight broke out next to one of the tables, and this time a guard appeared immediately, grabbed the two combatants, and threw them back outside. Even over the noise of the room, she heard a sharp crack and an aborted cry.

“Is he here?” she asked softly, clutching Aidon’s cloak even more tightly.

“One more barrier,” he muttered, “but we don’t want to appear too eager.”

For the next thirty minutes, he wandered around the room with a deceptively casual air. She trailed behind him, almost tripping over his heels. Several of the males in the room eyed her speculatively, but they always backed off after a good look at Aidon. He lost a large handful of credits at a gaming table, won more on the outcome of a fight that was so brutal she had to close her eyes, and spent several minutes chatting with a bartender as he downed three drinks in rapid succession. When he stood up, he seemed to stagger, but she was quite sure that it was an act.

As they headed back over to one of the gambling tables, a guard appeared.

“Master Chotgor would like you to join him in his quarters.”

“Oh yeah?” Aidon said belligerently. “I’m not doing anything wrong.”

“Not at all,” the guard agreed. “He thinks the entertainment there might be more to your liking.”

“Well, why didn’t you say so? Come along, pet.”

They were one step closer to their goal, but as they turned to follow the guard, her stomach curled with dread.

Chapter Six

Hanna tried to keep from shaking as they followed the guard through two small antechambers. As they passed through the second doorway, a fine mist washed down over them. She shivered as the cool damp touched her skin, but Aidon ignored it, so she did as well.

The final set of doors opened to reveal a completely different interior than she had been expecting. Here the lights were soft and soothing, the colors muted, and the fabrics quietly luxurious. The center of the room consisted of an ornate fountain dancing with sparkling lights. The ceiling over the fountain appeared to be wide open to the darkening sky, but the room was far too warm to actually be uncovered. A number of raised daises surrounded the edges of the room, and on the highest one, directly in front of them, lounged an enormous alien with gleaming pale-blue scales, giant tusks, and brilliant gold eyes. Even reclining, his size was obvious, and she suspected that he was at least a head taller than Aidon. This must be Chotgor.

Aidon didn’t hesitate, heading for Chotgor with a slightly unsteady swagger. She followed meekly in his wake, keeping her eyes down, but she saw enough to realize that the surrounding platforms were also occupied by one or more big warriors and at least one female.

Chotgor’s presence was so overwhelming that it wasn’t until Aidon came to a halt in front of him that Hanna saw the white-furred female kneeling at his side. This had to be Zemma. Unlike the male Hothians, her short fur flowed sleekly over an obviously female body. A jeweled belt circled curvy hips, and more jewels cascaded from her neck. The tips of the fur on her head were tinted a shocking pink, and Hanna suddenly remembered that Njkall had indicated that she was very young.

“Welcome!” Chotgor’s voice boomed out. “I understand you’re looking for some entertainment.”

Hanna could hear the hint of irony in his words, and she knew that Aidon must be able to as well, but he grinned and took them at face value.

“Always looking for entertainment. Can’t say this godsforsaken planet has impressed me much so far.”

“Then why did you come here?” Chotgor’s voice was still smooth and casual.

“Eh. I was bored. Just picked up a new slave, and I heard I could see some good fights here.”

“Are you a fighter? Or just an observer?”

Hanna suspected the question bordered on insulting, but Aidon ignored it, baring his teeth at the other male in what could have passed for a grin.

“I used to fight. I won a few fights and made enough credits that I decided to retire.” He shrugged. “Civilian life turned out to be less interesting than I expected. Still, it has its rewards.”

Aidon threw off her cloak and casually cupped her breast. She managed to hide her shock and leaned compliantly into his touch.

“Very nice. But she looks a little fragile for my taste.” Chotgor reached over and stroked Zemma’s head, and she, too, leaned into his touch, but Hanna caught a glimpse of her eyes, and they were far from compliant. “This is my latest. She knows how to take a real fucking.”

“Mine is still in training, but I don’t have any complaints,” Aidon said, tightening his fingers around her nipple. She caught her breath and breathed into the exquisite pinch. His grip was just on the edge of pain, but it sent a spike of heat straight to her clit.

“What name did you fight under?” The question appeared casual, but Hanna suspected it was anything but.

Aidon shrugged. “They called me the Hitman.”

Chotgor stared at him, then threw back his head and roared with laughter. “A few fights? It was a hell of a lot more than that. No wonder you looked familiar. I lost a lot of credits betting against you.”

“You shoulda bet on me instead.” Aidon gave a cocky grin, and Chotgor laughed again before waving to the lounge next to his.

“Have a seat. I’d like to know more about some of those fights.”

Aidon threw himself casually on the reclining couch, and Hanna knelt immediately at his side, mimicking Zemma’s position. A plump, frightened-looking little alien came rushing over and offered them a tray of beverages. Aidon considered the options before choosing a goblet filled with golden liquid that smoked gently. He took a sip, then nodded appreciatively.

“Foldaran brandy. Very nice.”

“I want the best, and I’m willing to pay for it.” Chotgor grinned, displaying even more teeth. “Unless I can get it for free, of course. This came from a trader who tried to cheat me. That’s his wife over there, servicing the Rarg.”

Hanna barely managed to avoid looking, but when the conversation resumed over her head, she snuck a peek in that direction and saw a small female bent over one of the couches while a much larger male pounded into her from behind. God, she hated this place. She shivered, and Aidon’s hand cupped her breast again. Despite the obvious sexual nature of the move, she recognized it as an attempt to comfort her, and she nestled closer against his legs.

When she looked over, Zemma was studying her intently from under her eyelashes. Since neither male appeared to be paying attention, she gave the other female a quick smile and saw her eyes widen. Aidon tugged on her nipple, and she realized that he had seen. She looked up at him, hoping her face was sufficiently devoted.

“Yes, Master?”

“Take a sip, pet.” He extended the goblet toward her.

“You’re wasting Foldaran brandy on a slave?”

Aidon shrugged. “I think she would be an amusing drunk.”

Heeding the hidden warning in his words, she took the smallest sip possible, but even so, the warmth of the liquor filled her stomach and curled through her veins. She slumped against his legs and heard Chotgor laughing through a golden haze.

“Not too amusing if she’s asleep.”

Aidon laughed also and picked her up, tucking her between his legs. He was hard again, and she tried to wiggle against his erection, but her body didn’t want to respond. He placed her hand over his cock and held it there. Enough awareness penetrated her daze that she realized the move probably looked more aggressive than it felt. She tried to close her fingers around his shaft, but it was too large, and all she could do was knead it slowly as she drifted in and out of consciousness.

At one point, she woke up enough to realize that the fountain had been replaced by a stone circle and two males were fighting. Still dazed, she watched as one of them tore out the other’s throat. Underneath her stupor, horror awaited, but she let the liquor overtake her once more. As she slipped into golden darkness, she realized that Aidon had given her the drink deliberately to make this easier for her.

The next time she was aware of her surroundings, two silvery aliens were dancing in the center circle. No, not dancing. They were fucking, but their moves were so slow and graceful that it was easy not to notice it at first. As she watched the male twirling the female gracefully on his cock, she felt an answering flush of desire. Aidon’s cock was still beneath her hand, and she squeezed it. He jerked at her touch, and his hand tightened over hers warningly, but she ignored him.

Enough of the liquor remained in her system to give her the courage to slide her hand beneath the leather of his loincloth. Hot flesh filled her hand, rock-hard yet cloaked in velvety smoothness. She ran her fingers up and down, exploring. Unlike a human penis, his didn’t have a single smooth column of flesh. Instead, thick veins formed a tantalizing pattern. What would that feel like inside her? she wondered dreamily and wiggled closer, trying to rub her breasts against the hard muscles of his thigh.

“Looks like your pet is finally feeling the effects.” The booming voice was muffled by the aftereffects of the liquor, but she felt Aidon tense.

She tried to give him a soothing pat but accidentally brushed against his cockhead, and her fingers came away damp. Curiosity drove her to lick one, and she hummed happily as the sweet liquid coated her tongue. Determined to taste more of him, she buried her head beneath the leather and took him in her mouth. Oh yes, that was even better.

His girth stretched her mouth wide, but she ignored the slight ache, sucking eagerly, determined to get more of that delicious taste. His hand clenched in her hair, and even though his voice urged her on, she suspected he was trying to pull her away. She ignored his efforts, delighting in the way he quivered beneath her touch as she did her best to take more of him. As he reached the back of her throat, she hummed again and swallowed around him. He erupted in her mouth, filling her with his delicious taste as she gulped him down.

With one last lick, she emerged from under the leather flap and smiled up at him. To her dismay, his face was harsh and strained. She bit her lip uncertainly, but he gave her head a gentle stroke, and she relaxed.

A loud roar came from next to them, and she looked over to see Zemma mimicking her position. As Chotgor withdrew from her mouth, he too gave her an approving pat. Zemma nestled into his touch, but Hanna could see her face, and the other female didn’t look happy.

The full impact of their position rushed over her as the last of the golden haze vanished. Her pleasure disappeared, and she had the sudden desire to burst into tears. Aidon’s fingers tightened in her hair again, and she welcomed the slight tug, the reminder that she was not here alone in this terrible place.

“She might not be trained, but she’s got good instincts.” Chotgor laughed, and Aidon forced an answering grin. Every instinct he possessed was screaming at him to take Hanna out of this place. To his shame, he had been unable to resist her sweet mouth closing around him and had given in to temptation. He couldn’t even remember the last time he had allowed his body to control his behavior. But even coming in her mouth hadn’t been enough. Thousands of years of predatory instinct urged him to flip her over and bury his cock in her sweet little cunt, to prove that she belonged to him, to plant his seed—plant his seed? What the fuck was he thinking? He had no intention of ever fathering a child, of subjecting an innocent to the rejection that had haunted him.

Hanna seemed to sense his tension, her eyes worried as she looked up at him, but when he stroked her head, she gave him a shaky smile and settled back against him. Her face was nestled on his thigh, and he could feel the heat of her breath through his loincloth. His cock started to stiffen again, but this time he managed to keep it under control.

Chotgor yawned and stretched. “Let’s talk. I have a proposition for you.”

Aidon suppressed a groan and nodded encouragingly. After three hours of listening to the bastard talk, of watching his depraved floor show, all Aidon really wanted to do was plunge his knife into that grinning face. But he had a mission, and perhaps this would give him an opportunity to get the male alone. He had seen enough over the past few hours to be convinced that Zemma wanted out. She smiled and nodded and acted appropriately submissive, but he could see the frustrated rage in her eyes.

“What do you have in mind?”

Chotgor looked around, then shook his head. “Not here. Come with me.”

As he rose to his feet, Chotgor pushed Zemma to one side, not roughly but with the casual dismissal of an unwanted pet. Once again, Zemma’s eyes flared before she ducked her head.

Aidon rose to his feet as well, but he drew Hanna up next to him.

“No need to bring the females along,” Chotgor said dismissively.

Aidon raised an eyebrow, looking around the room that had dissolved into an open orgy with the last show.

“I have no desire for someone to make the mistake of thinking my property is available.”

“Perhaps you’re right. She can’t fight them off the way my pet can.” Chotgor summoned a guard. “Take these two back to my room. If anyone lays a hand on them, remove it.”

He could feel Hanna trembling against his side, and he tried to think of a reason to object, but before he could speak, she straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin. She brushed her fingers lightly against his back before stepping closer to Zemma.

His fists clenched involuntarily as he watched the two females leave with the guard, Hanna’s head still held high. He hated letting her out of his sight, but for all their faults, Bukharans had a reputation for obedience. The guard would look after both females. And getting them away from the rest of the crowd would make it easier to get them both out.

Chotgor had already turned his back on the trio and was heading for a concealed door at the back of the dais. On the other side, a surprisingly businesslike office waited. It lacked both the overblown gaudiness of the outer part of the residence and the over-the-top luxury of the fountain room.

Chotgor settled into a well-worn chair behind a big, scarred desk and folded his hands together, studying him thoughtfully. The jovial drunk of the previous few hours had disappeared, replaced by a cold, sober businessman.

“Now. Why don’t you tell me who you really are?”

Chapter Seven

Hanna felt like a child as she followed Zemma and the guard. The other female must be well over six feet and the guard another foot taller. As much as she had bemoaned her height growing up, she suddenly understood why her shorter friends had been equally dissatisfied.

Her head ached, and her stomach churned, partially from the aftereffects of the liquor but also from embarrassment. Everything about this situation, not just finding herself in this alien universe, was new to her. She had never felt such an intense and overwhelmingly sexual attraction to a man before. She had dated, of course, and had had a few mild relationships. She had even been considering marrying her aunt’s accountant. John was a kind older man who had shepherded her through the miserable days after her aunt’s death and who wanted nothing more than to take care of her. But she had never wanted to throw herself at him, never wanted to climb his body or take his cock in her mouth with a desperate hunger. She couldn’t even honestly blame the liquor. By the time she had gone down on him, her inhibitions might have been loosened, but she’d known very well what she’d been doing.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t notice another alien approach until a furred hand grabbed her arm. She gasped, and the guard whirled, a sword appearing in his hand. A second later, there was a yowl of anguish, and the hand lay twitching on the ground. The guard had taken Chotgor’s order literally. Her stomach churned, but then Zemma grasped her hand and tugged her quickly away.

“Don’t react,” Zemma whispered. “Don’t show any sign of weakness.”

Thick saliva filled Hanna’s mouth, but she managed to choke down the sickness and keep pace with Zemma as she moved on without a backward look. They passed through a maze of corridors before the guard opened a set of double doors and ushered them inside.

Another quietly luxurious room, but she couldn’t help noticing the massive bed dominating the rear of the room—and the chains dangling from its posts. Zemma moved to a built-in bar area and took off one of her necklaces. It looked as if it was simply a big blue crystal dangling from a chain, but Zemma twisted it open to reveal a small vial. She let a drop fall into a small glass of liquid, then returned and handed the glass to Hanna.

“Drink this. It will help.”

“What is it?”

“Just a healing remedy. It won’t harm you.”

Hanna studied the strange, white-furred face but saw only concern in the other woman’s eyes. With a shaky smile, she lifted the glass and drank. The cool liquid had a faint herbal taste, and it flowed easily down her throat, calming her still unhappy stomach.

“Oh, that’s much better, thank you. I’m Hanna. Are you—”

“Strax, would it be all right if I showed Hanna the garden?” Zemma interrupted, shooting Hanna a quick warning look.

“Yes, Mistress.” The guard bowed his head, then opened another set of doors that led to a small garden. Like the fountain room, it appeared to be open to the starry sky above, but the temperature was as warm as the bedroom. A high wall surrounded the space, and small decorative lights indicated a path through the greenery. After a brief inspection, the guard bowed his head again and let them enter. He gave Zemma a quick, almost longing look, then closed the doors quietly behind them.

“Mistress?” Hanna asked, wondering if she had misinterpreted Zemma’s desires after all.

“It is a courtesy that the guards offer me. Chotgor allows it because it amuses him.” The bitterness in Zemma’s words was only too clear despite her low voice. “As long as you keep your voice down, you may speak freely out here. I suspect the bedroom is monitored.”

“Njkall sent us,” she whispered. “To see if you want to leave?”

“Leave? Of course I want to leave! But one fighter and his slave aren’t going to be enough to get me out of here. I’m such a fool.”

“Aidon is more than he appears,” she said as confidently as possible, although she couldn’t help but wonder what he had in mind. Guards were everywhere in the mansion. “How did you end up here?”

“Like I said, I am a fool.”

Zemma started pacing along the path leading through the garden, and Hanna fell into step beside her. Despite her concern for the other woman, part of her couldn’t help noticing the graceful design of the garden and the delicate beauty of the plant life.

“I met Chotgor at a party he gave—not one of these parties, but one designed to appeal to some of the more respectable merchants. Can you believe I actually sought him out? I was trying to find out what happened to my brother. He went off world many years ago, and we recently heard that he was a fighter. Chotgor knows everyone on the circuit, and I thought he could help.”

“You went to him for information?”

“Yes. In my naivety, I thought perhaps I could seduce some answers out of him. Instead, he seduced me.” A wry smile twisted her lips. “I actually thought he was exciting. He can be very charming, you know.”

Hanna thought back over the part of the evening she remembered and the male’s booming laugh. She supposed it was possible.

“Did you get the information you were looking for?”

“Yes and no. I know my brother is alive and that he is still fighting. I don’t know if he doesn’t want to return—or if he’s not permitted to return.” Zemma sighed. “There was a terrible argument when he left, but if there’s a chance that he is being held against his will, perhaps I can convince our Elders to investigate. If I get a chance to see them again.”

“You will,” Hanna said quickly, but the other female simply bowed her head and kept walking.

“Where are you from?” Zemma asked suddenly.

“From a planet called Earth.”

“Do they allow females their freedom there?”

“I suppose so, although it varies.”

“The Hothians don’t,” Zemma said bitterly. “Females are rare and precious and treated like these flowers—enclosed by walls and protected from all strangers. It took two years of pleading to be allowed to visit Port Eyeja. Chotgor was the first male I ever met who didn’t act as though I was too precious to touch, and I liked it. He could—and he still can when he chooses to—bring me great pleasure. It wasn’t until after he brought me here that I realized the reason he didn’t treat me as someone special was because he didn’t value me. He’s simply amused by the thought that he has a rare Hothian female in his bed.”

They had made a complete circuit of the small garden, and Zemma slumped down on a decorative bench outside the bedroom doors. Hanna sat down next to her and waited silently.

“He won’t let me talk to anyone outside the compound, and he’s made it pretty clear that I can’t leave,” Zemma finally continued. “I tried to play along, hoping that he’d get tired of me and let me go, but he’s begun talking about taking me with him when he leaves.” She shuddered. “I have to get away from him!”

“We’ll get you out,” Hanna said, trying to sound confident.

Zemma snorted. “How?”

That was when the sky lit up.

Chapter Eight

“Why do you think I am anything other than what I am?”

Aidon kept his voice calm, but inside his boots, his natural claws started to extend. Fuck. He forced his body back under control before he could rend the leather, barely managing to prevent a shift back to his natural form. His time was running out.

“You’re no more a dumb aging fighter than I am. Remember that I’ve seen you fight. You can learn a lot about someone from how he fights.”

Aidon wondered if Chotgor realized the irony of that statement. He had seen the other male fight as well. He was strong, fast, and brutal—and he fought dirty, using any trick necessary to win the match.

“You used your wits as well as your strength,” Chotgor continued. “So tell me the real reason you’re here.”

He abandoned his own pretense of drunkenness and said calmly, “Retirement has not been as interesting as I had hoped. I am, quite frankly, bored. I did come here looking for entertainment, but I’m also looking for an…investment opportunity.”

“I see.” Chotgor tapped his claws on the desk. “Tell me. What did you think of my companions tonight?”

Aidon hesitated, then went with honesty. “Half of them are devoted to you, and half of them hate your guts.”

“Half?” Chotgor tilted his head. “I would have guessed one-third, but perhaps you are right. Sometimes I miss the fight pits. Life was much simpler then—kill your opponent before he killed you.”

“You don’t seem to have suffered from hanging up your weapons,” he said dryly.

Chotgor laughed and abandoned his attempt at nostalgia. “Perhaps not. Let me show you something.”

Chotgor’s hand disappeared beneath his desk, and a moment later, the wall behind him slid open. Interesting. That had not been on the plans. Aidon kept his face impassive as he followed Chotgor through into what could only be a laboratory. Tables cluttered with equipment were scattered about the room, an assortment of liquids bubbling quietly. It must have been the original ballroom, he decided, but the tall, arched windows that lined one wall had been covered with black paint, and the inlaid floor was marred with scratches and chemical stains.

“Drugs?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. “They can be profitable, but the production and distribution is quite tedious.”

Chotgor barked a laugh. “You are partially right, but you need to think more expansively. What is Hothrest’s number one export?”

“Sothiti,” he said immediately. The healing drug had an almost miraculous ability to work on a wide variety of species. “But no one has ever been able to synthesize it.”

“No. And as a result, the Hothians have been permitted a great deal of independence from the Empire. If that were no longer the case, that protection could be withdrawn and there would be an entire planet of fighters ripe for the pits.”

“Not to mention the value of the drug itself,” Aidon said dryly.

“Of course. The possibilities are almost limitless, but the supply would need to be controlled. If it were too easily available, it would lose its value.”

“Agreed. But why are you telling me this?”

“I believe we are close to succeeding in reproducing it. It was always theorized that sothiti was derived from plants. Instead, it appears to be created from a parasite. We managed to obtain a very small sample at great cost. If our testing proceeds as my scholars anticipate, we could be only a few months away from experimenting on live subjects.”

“Congratulations.” He forced his face to remain calm even though the male’s words horrified him. “I’m still not sure how I come into this?”

“It has been an expensive process, and I don’t expect to be able to reap the rewards for some time. I need to return home for the next fight season to make sure that the fights provide sufficient income to continue the project, but someone must remain here to oversee.”

“You’re asking me?” Aidon didn’t bother to conceal his astonishment. “You have a room full of males.”

“As you pointed out, only half of them are loyal, and the loyal half lack intelligence. Unfortunately, it’s the intelligent ones who hate me.” Chotgor bared his teeth. “You are intelligent and you have no reason to hate me. And loyalty can be bought.”

“How much?”

Chotgor laughed. “You see? An intelligent question. Ten percent of the profits from the drug.”

“Twenty percent. As you said, it will be some time before you can reap the rewards, and I will be confined to this planet until then.”

“Fifteen percent to begin, but I will increase the percentage each year for five years as long as you remain loyal.”

Aidon paused as if considering the offer. “That is acceptable,” he said finally.

Despite Chotgor’s earlier words, the other male obviously didn’t place a high value on his intelligence. Aidon was quite sure that Chotgor had no intention of sharing any of his profits. He would leave Aidon in charge for as long as he needed him and then dispose of him before he was required to pay out.

During the negotiations, Aidon had been surveying the lab. It would have to be destroyed. He had no intention of letting an entire race be sold into slavery.

“When are you leaving?” he asked.

“Within the next day or so. I intend to take the Hothian female with me, and she is already restless.”

“Why take her? I’m sure you have other…companions.”

“I do, and I begin to grow tired of fur. But she would make a good reward for one of my fighters. Or perhaps…” Chotgor’s eyes gleamed. “Perhaps I would make her a fighter.”

Once again, he forced his face to remain calm. For all the brutality of the fight pits, none of them had yet used females as fighters.

“Which reminds me.” Chotgor gave him a speculative glance. “I will have need of a new slave. Yours seems quite…enthusiastic.”

Anger roared through Aidon, and he clenched his fists before his claws could emerge. “I thought you said she was too fragile?”

The other male shrugged. “It would make a pleasant change from the Hothian female. Sell her to me.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Why not?” Chotgor frowned at him.

“I have no inclination for Hothian females either. I will need someone to warm my bed while I’m here.”

“You can have your pick of my other females. Choose two, even.” Chotgor’s voice hardened. “Don’t forget who’s in charge here. What matters is what I want, and I want to see all that pretty red hair wrapped around my fist while I ram my cock down her throat. See if she’s as good as she looks.”

The thought of this bastard abusing his sweet Hanna filled Aidon with rage, and this time, he couldn’t control his transformation. He felt his vision change and forced himself back under control, but it was too late. Chotgor stared at him.

“You’re not the Hitman. Who the fuck are you?”

“I’m just here to retrieve something that doesn’t belong to you.”

“The Hothian bitch?” Chotgor didn’t wait for a reply, prowling toward him. “Doesn’t matter. Neither of you will be leaving this place. And your little slave is going to pay for the deception.”

Chotgor launched into a flying kick as he finished speaking, aiming for Aidon’s groin. The other male was lightning fast despite his retirement, but Aidon managed to dance back before the foot connected. He used his momentum to spin around and aim a kick of his own. It caught Chotgor’s knee with a satisfactory crack. The male staggered but recovered quickly, abandoning any attempt at finesse for a brute-force attack, trying to lock Aidon in his grip where his weight and bulk would give him the advantage. Aidon let him get close, then slipped past him with another blow to the same knee.

The deadly dance continued. Aidon caught a vicious blow to his ribs but managed to avoid being trapped in Chotgor’s arms. He led the fight to the far side of the room, his body aching as more of Chotgor’s punches connected, then aimed one final kick at the weakened knee. This time the kneecap shattered, and Chotgor went down with a howl of anguish.

“You will never lay hands on my female,” he said as he turned away, his voice ice cold.

“You’re going to pay for this, you bastard.”

“No. You will.”

As soon as Aidon reached the other side of the room, he let his hand shift, transforming to his true form. His nails clicked against each other, natural flints, and with one sharp strike, he drew them across the stone surface of a lab table. A series of sparks followed the path of his nails, and a second later, a beaker exploded. Another one followed, and then the whole lab went up in a roar of flames. He heard an outraged bellow and caught a brief glimpse of Chotgor’s face before the wall of fire separated them. Glass shattered as he threw himself at the nearest window, hoping that the plans had been correct.

He landed on hard-packed snow, the impact jarring his body even as he rolled into the landing. As soon as he regained his footing, he checked his surroundings. The plans had been partially right. He was outside the main portion of the mansion, but an additional wall surrounded the grounds. No matter; he could scale it easily enough.

More explosions sounded behind him as the fire spread, but he ignored them, racing along next to the interior wall as he headed for the owner’s suite. He had to get to Hanna before the fire reached this part of the building. Another wall jutted out into the enclosed area, and he saw the faint glow of a force field over it. Good, this should be the garden outside Chotgor’s quarters.

The claws on his feet threatened to extend again, and this time he let them, allowing the claws on his hand to emerge as well as he started up the wall. He used the slight depressions between the blocks to assist his climb, taking the wall as easily as he had taken the trees of his childhood. His vision wavered, and for a second the bark of a tree seemed to appear over the surface of the wall. He swayed dizzily, then focused on the climb again, moving more deliberately now.

The force field was designed to keep out weather, not bodies, and he slipped through it, dropping silently to the ground below. Once again his vision flickered, and he saw the lush growth of a Pardorian jungle before he blinked.

“Aidon?”

Hanna rushed over to him, throwing her arms around his waist, and he lifted her into his arms, burying his face in the scented warmth of her hair. His cock throbbed angrily, and the need to mate pounded through his veins. Retracting his claws, he thrust his hands under her dress, blindly seeking the sweet heat between her legs. She gasped as he found her core, wetness flooding his fingers before her voice finally penetrated.

“Aidon, stop. We have to get Zemma out of here. Remember?”

Fuck. His need for her still raged in his blood, but he forced it back with every particle of self-control he had managed to gain over the years and lowered her to the ground.

“Yes, of course.” His voice sounded strange, hoarse and dazed, and he realized grimly that the sickness had begun.

Zemma was studying him warily. “This is your idea of a rescue?”

“You’re welcome to wait for the next one. We’re leaving. Are you coming?”

Her face hardened. “Damn right. What’s the plan?”

“Over this wall, then over the outer one. Your clan is waiting.”

“You make it sound easy,” she muttered as the three of them headed for the back wall.

“With any luck, everyone is too busy worrying about the fire to check on you.”

Flames were now shooting high enough to give the sky an orange glow, but even as he spoke, the doors to the bedroom opened. A Bukharan stood there, and Aidon growled, crouching into a fighting pose. Zemma touched his arm.

“Wait.” Stepping past him, she looked at the guard. “Please, Strax. I can’t stay here.”

For an endless second, the male didn’t respond, and Aidon prepared to spring, but then Strax dipped his head.

“I know, Mistress. Go quickly.”

“Thank you, Strax. I—”

“Go,” he repeated and stepped back inside, closing the door behind him.

Zemma stared after him until Hanna took her hand.

“He’s right. We have to leave now.”

The three of them raced to the wall. He lifted Zemma over his head so that she could grasp the top of the wall and pull herself up. She straddled the surface and reached down as he lifted Hanna up to her. His vision blurred again as Hanna’s body rested briefly against his, but he gritted his teeth and retained enough control to release her to the other female. As soon as both females were up, he scaled the wall. They reversed the process on the other side.

The outer wall was taller, but it was also rougher, and Zemma grinned.

“I can handle this.” She started to climb, then looked back. “Do you need help, Hanna?”

“I’ve never been much of a climber,” Hanna said hesitantly.

“I can carry you.” He bent down. “Climb onto my back.”

“Are you sure?

“I’ve been climbing since before I could walk,” he said truthfully.

Unfortunately, he hadn’t counted on the effect of her closeness on his rapidly deteriorating body. He spent the entire climb fighting the urge to swing her around and take her the way his ancestors had taken their mates. To his surprise, Zemma didn’t rush ahead but stayed close, snapping his attention back to the present several times.

When they reached the top of the wall, he could see a line of Hothians waiting below. Zemma gave a quick sob, but even on the descent, she stayed with them, waiting until they were close to the ground before racing ahead and throwing herself into Njkall’s waiting arms.

“I’m so sorry, Elder Njkall.”

“Be at ease, young one. You are returned to us. That is all that matters now.” Njkall kept his arms around her as he turned to Aidon. “You have earned your fee, but you have also earned our gratitude.”

“I just need my ship,” he growled. His body trembled, fighting the sickness.

“Wait,” Hanna said, gesturing at the flames now shooting into the sky behind them. “What about all those people in there? Not the fighters, but the slaves.”

“We are forbidden to interfere,” Njkall said reluctantly. “Unless there is a breach of contract.”

Aidon’s thoughts felt thick and slow, but he remembered Chotgor’s plan.

“They’re attempting to synthesize sothiti, using some type of stolen parasite,” he managed. “Is that a breach?”

“Yes.” Njkall grinned fiercely, his fangs gleaming, and turned to his men. “Go. Free as many of the slaves as possible.”

“Don’t hurt the guards,” Zemma added. “They’re just doing a job—and one of them helped us escape.”

“Indeed?”

“His name is Strax. I would like to…thank him.”

Njkall sighed and shook his head. “I suppose I must as well.”

“Thank you, Elder.”

“Your ship has been released.” Njkall studied Aidon. “Do you need assistance returning to the spaceport?”

No. An instinctive need to hide his weakness made him shake his head.

The Hothian hesitated, but a loud cry from further along the wall distracted him. “Very well. Go to the end of the street and turn left. You will find a service road. It is the fastest way back to the spaceport. Go in peace.”

“Thank you.” He forced out the words through clenched teeth, trying to prevent them from chattering.

“Yes, thank you,” Hanna added.

He bit back a protest when she slipped free from his grasp long enough to give Zemma a quick hug and whisper something in the other female’s ear. Zemma lifted one of her necklaces over her head and placed it around Hanna’s neck. When Hanna turned to Njkall, Aidon’s patience disappeared. He snatched her back against his side, and she gave him a startled look.

“You’re burning up,” she murmured.

“Have to get back to the ship.”

She didn’t argue, waving to Zemma and Njkall before the two of them headed in the direction the Hothian had indicated. He only prayed they would make it back to his ship in time.

Chapter Nine

Aidon’s skin burned against Hanna’s side as she put her arm around him. Something was obviously wrong, but she had no idea what to do. She cast a quick look over her shoulder, but Njkall and Zemma were already walking away. Flames continued to shoot into the sky, and she could hear people yelling over the roar of the fire. She paused uncertainly.

“Do you need help? Should I call Njkall back?”

“No. I just need to get back to the ship. The only thing that will help is returning to Pardor.”

Aidon seemed determined to leave and started down the street, tugging her along with him. It wasn’t until they reached the turn onto the utility road and the wind swept over them that she realized she no longer had her cape or her boots. The icy breeze sent shivers over her body, and she clung to Aidon. Although she didn’t think the heat he was omitting was healthy, it did help to offset the biting wind. Unfortunately, it did nothing for her feet, and her steps grew slower as the bitter cold penetrated the thin sandals.

Aidon had been moving steadily, although not quite with his usual confident stride, and he frowned down at her as her pace slowed.

“Is something wrong?”

“J-just c-old. I’m s-s-sorry.” The words were almost unintelligible between her chattering teeth, but he seemed to understand them. With a muttered curse, he lifted her into his arms, placing a big hand over her frozen feet. The heat was almost painful, but she didn’t complain as the feeling started to return to the numb flesh.

“I’m sorry, pet. I didn’t think of that.”

“That’s all right. I know you’re not feeling well.”

This close to him, it was even more apparent. In addition to the fiery heat radiating from his body, a series of fine tremors skated across his skin. Even though he no longer had to moderate his pace to account for hers, his speed didn’t significantly increase. She would have been concerned that her weight was slowing him down, except she already knew how easily he could carry her.

“Are you sure you’re all right?” she asked.

He looked down at her, his eyes black, and she realized that they had remained that way since he had come for her.

“Your eyes—they’re still black.”

He swore, and for a moment, they flickered to the pale blue of his original appearance, but then they returned to black. He shook his head.

“I’m losing control over the shift.”

“Is that bad?”

“Dangerous,” he said grimly, casting a quick look around. The road was deserted. One side was flanked by what appeared to be warehouses and an occasional tall fence. The other was nothing but icy tundra rapidly rising into snowy foothills. “At least there’s no one else here. But we must hurry.”

He started to move more rapidly, but as he did, the tremors across his skin increased. She was looking up at him, studying his face anxiously, when his horns disappeared, and she gasped. It had been one thing to emerge from the bathroom and see him in a different form; it was very different to see the change sweeping over him. His short dark hair was replaced by long, waving strands in shades that ranged from green to gold to brown. She lifted her hand and touched one wayward lock. It didn’t feel like hair exactly but rather like strands of ultrafine velvet.

“Is this your real hair?”

He swore again as he lifted a hand to his head. She tried not to notice how much it was trembling.

“Fuck. Yes, it is.” Those black eyes burned down at her. “No one has ever seen a Pardorian in his true form and lived to tell about it.”

“I would never tell anyone.” Tears sprang to her eyes. “I don’t even have anyone that I could tell.”

“Hush, pet. I wasn’t trying to threaten you. I just need to make sure that no one sees me as we return to the ship.”

“I understand,” she assured him, relieved that he trusted her.

The lights of the spaceport were coming closer, and she tried to remember their previous trip. Had it only been that morning? It seemed so long ago now. From what she remembered, his ship had been parked along one side of the landing field with few other ships around. Her sense of direction wasn’t good enough to know if they were arriving on the same side.

Just as they came within a few feet of the outer band of lights, she felt another tremor ripple across his chest, and this time his skin changed as well. Gleaming blue skin was replaced by soft suede in a swirl of colors that echoed those in his hair. Beneath the velvety skin, his muscles seem to expand, growing even larger and harder, and she realized that he was taller now. Each time he changed, he seemed to get bigger, she thought and had to suppress a half-hysterical giggle.

He staggered as the change washed over him, and blue skin ebbed back and forth as he fought to hold his original form. His arms shook, probably with the intensity of the battle, and she realized that holding her must be diverting his strength.

“Let me down,” she urged. They had reached the hard surface of the landing field, and her sandals would no longer have to contend with the icy ruts of the utility road. He started to object, but he staggered again. Reluctantly, he let her slide down his body.

Oh my. His muscles weren’t the only things that had gotten larger. His fully erect cock pressed briefly against her stomach.

Would he still taste the same? she wondered and then was immediately ashamed of the question when he was obviously suffering. The shame didn’t prevent a quick rush of arousal as she remembered their encounter at the mansion.

He growled, and she gave him a startled look as his hands clamped down on her ass and pulled her back against him, letting her feel every massive inch.

“Need to mate,” he grunted, his hands kneading her ass as he rubbed against her. He felt so good that for a moment she leaned into him, no thought of denial in her mind. One hand came up to cup her breast, tweaking the sensitive nipple with the perfect pressure to send a fiery line of heat straight to her suddenly throbbing clit. But then his hand trembled, and she remembered where they were and what they needed to do.

“We need to get to the ship,” she reminded him breathlessly.

“Need you.”

He wasn’t listening.

“Aidon, please. I need you to protect me.” Her plea was a shot in the dark, but it seemed to penetrate his lust, and he raised his head. “I need to leave this planet, remember? You promised to take me on your ship.”

He shook his head, not in denial but as if to clear it, then looked around. “My ship is there.”

She followed his gesture and sighed with relief when she saw that it was close by. Only a couple of ships stood between them.

He blew out a few breaths, then dropped his hand and took two steps back. The rush of cold air almost took her breath away.

“I’m sorry, pet. I need to try and change form one last time, and I can’t do it if I’m touching you.”

“I understand.” She did her best to hide her shivers as she watched. He closed his eyes, and his skin trembled. Once again, blue fought for dominance, and this time he managed to resume a facsimile of his former appearance. The color was not quite right, and his horns were smaller and oddly transparent looking, but from a distance, she thought it would work. His skin glistened, damp with sweat, and she could see his arms shaking.

“Go,” he ordered. “As fast as you can. I’ll follow behind.”

She didn’t try to argue but took off for the ship. Fortunately, the sandals molded to her feet well enough that she didn’t lose her footing. She had never been much of a runner, but she did her best even though her breath was coming in rapid pants by the time she reached the ship. The distance had been further than it appeared. As soon as she reached the shadows beneath the ship, she turned to check on Aidon. He was close behind, striding rather than running, but she saw his horns flicker just as he joined her in the shadows. His breath was coming as quickly as hers, but he raised a shaky hand and manipulated a hidden control panel.

A ramp descended, and she made her way up it as quickly as possible. He was right behind her, and she heard him sniffing the air, followed by another low growl. By the time they were both on board, he was fully Pardorian again. He started to advance toward her, his steps predatory. She scrambled away, searching desperately for the controls. A large chair at the front of the ship looked promising, and she raced for it. He prowled after her, continuous low growls coming from his lips. She had no doubt that he could have caught her at any second, but when she snuck a glance at his face, he was obviously enjoying the chase.

“I can’t fly the ship,” she said breathlessly as he trapped her against the big chair. “You have to get us off the ground.”

Thankfully, her words seem to penetrate. He snatched her into his arms as he sat and quickly manipulated the controls. As they rose into the air, a Hothian voice demanded their identity. Aidon complied, his voice hoarse but legible. As soon as he did, the Hothian granted them permission to leave.

“Go in peace with our gratitude.”

Aidon growled a thank you, his hands—his clawed hands—already busy at the controls. Then they were rising into the dark skies, and he abandoned the instruments to focus on her.

“Autopilot,” he grunted, already reaching for the thin silk of her dress. She heard it rip as a big, hot hand closed over her breasts. “Now you’re mine.”

A tremor of nervous excitement rippled over her, but she wasn’t afraid. She reached up to cup the cheek of this new face, studying him in the dim light of the ship. He had a strong, angular jaw and high cheekbones, but his nose was flattened and almost muzzle-like, and gleaming fangs descended from each side of the wide mouth. They almost made her hesitate, but the black eyes watching her so intently were already so familiar. She lifted herself higher in his arms, brushing her lips softly against his. She heard him groan.

“What is this?” he began, but as he spoke, his mouth parted, and she took the opportunity to stroke her tongue inside. He tasted just as delicious here, and she hummed happily as she explored, carefully avoiding the sharp points of his fangs. She had barely gotten started when he seemed to catch on, and he immediately took over. He buried his hand in her hair, holding her in place as he plundered her mouth, his own much rougher tongue sending waves of excitement through her body as he demanded a response.

She felt a slight prick, then caught the hint of copper and realized he must have nicked her lip. He kissed her even more hungrily, using his other hand to rub her against the massive bar of his erection. The only thing separating her damp pussy from that heated length was the leather of his loincloth, and she tugged at it impatiently. When she finally encountered bare skin, he roared, and a sudden flood of heated liquid bathed her hand. Her immediate flash of disappointment was eased by the fact that he was still rock-hard beneath her hand. But then his body went still.

Could he have fallen asleep so quickly? She raised her head to look at him. His eyes were closed all right, but his head lolled to one side, and she realized that he wasn’t asleep. He was unconscious.

Chapter Ten

Panic assaulted Hanna as she scrambled quickly off Aidon’s lap. What had she done? She had known he was sick. How could she have attacked him that way? Not even a trace of liquor remained in her system to excuse her actions, but even without the alcohol, the attraction burned just as strongly. Pushing that knowledge aside to deal with later, she put a hand on his chest, his heartbeat reassuringly steady, as she tried to decide what to do.

For the first time, she took a good look at the ship. Calling it minimal would be an understatement. One side was lined with lockers, framing a bare desk with a video screen above it. The other side contained some banks of equipment she didn’t recognize. Two closed doors were on the back wall, behind where the landing ramp had folded up into the floor.

With an anxious look at Aidon, she went to explore. The first door opened into a narrow room that was recognizable as a small but functional bathroom. The other door opened into a bedchamber, the large built-in bed stretching the width of the ship. A large window was centered over the bed, and she could see distant stars whirling past. Could she get him back here? He would have to be more comfortable than slumped in the chair.

After returning to the front of the ship, she tried talking to him, shaking him, and even lightly smacking his face, but nothing she did caused a response. She tried lifting him further up in the chair, but after a few minutes of exertion, she had to give up. He was far too heavy to move.

Her next inspiration was to try reviving him with a wet cloth. She found another one of the towels in the bathroom and figured out how to work the controls enough to create a small trickle of water. The damp cloth didn’t work either, but when she flicked water on his face, his eyes finally opened, and she almost cried with relief.

His eyes were dazed, the normal solid black clouded with gray, but he blinked a few times and seemed to focus on her face.

“Saachi,” he murmured, a surprisingly sweet smile crossing his face before his gaze heated again. Her heart sank. He didn’t know who she was. The name he called her—was that his girlfriend? Perhaps even his wife? Everything had happened so quickly she had no idea if he was in a relationship or not. Shoving aside the surprisingly painful disappointment, she reminded herself of her purpose.

“Can you stand up? I think you would be better off in bed.”

The flames in his eyes intensified.

“Bed,” he agreed.

He tried to stand, but his legs wouldn’t hold him, and instead he collapsed forward, his head landing between her breasts as she tried to support him.

He made an odd sound, almost like a purr, and that rough tongue swept out to lick at her naked skin. The silk he had ripped earlier was no barrier as he nuzzled closer. She started to push him away, but then he found her nipple, lapping at it eagerly. The brush of his tongue across the sensitive flesh sent a pulse of desire through her body, and her hands tightened involuntarily on his shoulders. He purred again and drew the aching peak deep into his mouth, each long pull sending a corresponding tingle straight to her clit. She started to tug him closer, but her previous thoughts resurfaced, and the heat of his skin reminded her of his illness. The very fact that she managed to push him away indicated just how much it had affected him.

“Bed,” she reminded him.

He grunted and tried to stand again. This time she managed to wedge herself under his arm. Her knees almost collapsed with his weight, but somehow, they managed to make it across the cabin and into the bedchamber. He collapsed onto the bed, his weight pulling her down with him so she was half under his big body.

She started to wiggle away, but he tugged her closer until his cock rested between her legs, the heavy weight pressing against her needy center. She half expected, half dreaded that he would resume his pursuit, but instead he buried his nose in her hair and purred again. Despite the rigid heat of his erection, he seemed content simply to hold her. As the minutes passed, she relaxed into his touch, and it wasn’t until she heard a soft rumble next to her ear that she realized he was asleep.

This seemed more natural than his previous unconsciousness, and she carefully wiggled free, trying not to wake him. He muttered something unintelligible as she slipped out of bed, but then he settled back down, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

That sense of relief disappeared as the hours wore on. Aidon never regained consciousness. Brief periods of natural-seeming sleep were the only respite from much longer periods of restlessness. During those times, he tossed back and forth as changes flickered across his skin in rapid succession. Even with what she had seen since she had been taken, she was shocked by the variety of aliens that he briefly transformed into. He even turned into a Derian as she was trying to bathe his forehead. She jumped back with a frightened cry, but his eyes flickered open when she cried out to reveal not that heated red glare but a familiar black gaze. A minute later, they closed again, but she was no longer afraid.

During his brief periods of restful sleep, she explored the rest of the ship. She took a lightning-fast shower, leaving the door open so she could hear him if he needed her, and replaced the torn silk dress with an oversize shirt from one of his storage lockers. His wardrobe seemed to consist entirely of black.

At first she was able to call him back when the spasms were the worst, but it finally reached the point where he no longer responded to the touch of her hand. In desperation, she even tried kissing him. For a brief second, he responded, but before she could feel relieved, his mouth went slack and his restless movements resumed.

One of the machines in the main cabin turned out to be some type of food replicator. Unable to read the instructions, she only succeeded in having it produce a sickly green wafer. Hunger drove her to take a cautious bite, but as soon as she swallowed, her stomach rebelled. Concentrating on her breathing, she finally managed to overcome the nausea, but her stomach felt horrible. As she bent over the sink, trying her best to avoid getting sick, she heard a soft clink as her necklace touched the metal. Her necklace! She opened the vial and put a drop on her tongue, giving a thankful sigh at the immediate relief.

As she replaced the stopper, a thought occurred to her. While it was true that Aidon’s problems didn’t seem to be digestive, Zemma had said only that it was an herbal remedy. She hadn’t restricted it to upset stomachs.

When Hanna returned to the bedroom, Aidon was once again thrashing restlessly. This time his skin had turned deep green, and a second set of arms wavered in and out of view. She looked at the bottle in her hand. What if she made the wrong decision? What if it turned out to be harmful?

But then Aidon gave a tortured cry. Gathering her courage, she collected another drop. His head rolled back and forth, but she kept her hand on his cheek until he finally stilled.

“Open your mouth, Aidon,” she urged. She had to repeat herself twice before the words finally seemed to penetrate and his lips parted. She immediately inserted the dropper between his lips. Her heart pounded as she waited for a response. Then his mouth closed around the slim glass tube, and he sucked eagerly. She pulled it away, afraid to let him have too much, but then his eyes opened, black and clear, and his skin changed from the dark-green scales to the velvety swirl of colors.

“You’re better!” And she burst into tears.

Aidon’s thoughts tumbled over each other as if they were falling a long distance. Memories flickered in and out, but only two things were clear—Hanna saying that she needed him and the feel of her in his arms, her mouth pressed against his, the delicious taste of her blood against his tongue. Her blood? His gaze flew to her mouth, but he saw no sign of damage. Tears were flowing down her cheeks, drowning the saachi blue of her eyes.

“I bit you.” His voice sounded hoarse and unfamiliar.

“What? No, you didn’t.”

“I tasted your blood.”

“You mean when we kissed? You just scraped me with one of your fangs. That’s all.”

“Kiss?” The word meant little to him.

Her cheeks turned pink. It seemed to be her only way of transforming, but it was delightful enough that he could not complain.

“When we pressed our mouths together.”

“And our tongues.” He remembered that as well. Her impossibly soft flesh probing shyly at his.

“Sometimes that’s part of a kiss as well.” The color on her cheeks darkened even further as she glanced at him from under her eyelashes. “Do you not kiss?”

He had never had the opportunity to become intimate with a Pardorian female, but he was quite sure that they did not. Their fangs would make it impossible.

“I do now,” he said firmly and watched as a fresh wave of color swept over her face. His thoughts were beginning to clear, and he wrestled himself into a seated position. She rushed to assist him, but as soon as she touched him, an intense wave of lust flooded his system.

“Don’t,” he said hoarsely.

She flinched away, her eyes wide and hurt.

“I am not myself. The shifting sickness still has me in its grasp, and it’s difficult for me to control my need for you.”

“Oh.” Blunt little teeth worried her lower lip before she burst out, “Who is Saachi?”

“It is a flower, a rare flower that grows on Pardor. Why?”

Her eyes dropped, and she played with the hem of her shirt. No, not her shirt—his. He wanted to roar with satisfaction at the sight of her wrapped in his clothing, but he focused on his question.

“You called me that. I thought perhaps you had confused me with another woman.”

“I could never confuse you with another female,” he said honestly. “Your eyes are the color of the saachi in full bloom, and your scent reminds me of them.”

She looked up and gave him a shy smile. “I like that. It’s prettier than ‘pet.’”

“I seem to remember that you quite enjoyed being my pet.”

Her teeth worried her lip again, but then she took a deep breath and looked straight at him. “I did.”

It took all his self-control not to reach for her, not to reward her for her honesty, and not to show her just how enjoyable it could be between them, but his self-control was still shaky. In fact, it was a miracle that he had any at all. The few times he had encountered the shifting sickness, the only thing that had revived the victims was returning them to Pardor.

“How did you bring me out of the sickness?”

“It was this.” She held up a small crystal bottle dangling from a chain around her neck, and he recognized the necklace the Hothian female had given her. “Zemma offered it to me to help me recover from the aftereffects of that drink, and then she gave me the necklace when we parted. I didn’t know if it would help you, but I didn’t know what else to try.”

He licked his lips and detected a faint herbal taste.

“Sothiti? She gave that to you?”

“Yes. Is that bad?”

“Not at all. It’s a very valuable gift. The Hothians produce it as their main export. No one else has been able to synthesize it, although that was Chotgor’s intention.” He shook his head grimly. “I don’t know how close he was to succeeding before I blew up the lab, but if it is possible, any protection the Hothians currently enjoy from Imperial rule will vanish.”

“Imperial rule?” A startled laugh escaped her lips, and she immediately looked embarrassed. “I’m sorry. It just sounds like something out of a movie.”

“A movie?”

“Fictional entertainment on a screen,” she explained. “You have those, right?”

“Of course. We call them vids.”

He could feel the sickness still waiting at the back of his brain, like an arslan waiting to pounce, but he had things to do before it emerged. He swung his feet to the ground and forced himself to his feet. His knees shook with an entirely unacceptable weakness, and Hanna started to dart toward him. He growled, and she stopped, immediately twisting her hands together.

“I hate not being able to help you.”

The ache in his chest that he had experienced before when she expressed concern for him returned. No one helped him. He had learned early to help himself.

“It is my job to take care of you,” he muttered, then softened his tone at the look on her face. “It is my privilege as a warrior.”

He spoke the truth—it was a warrior’s privilege to care for his mate—but he had to remember she did not belong to him.

Using the walls to support his body, he made his way first to the sanitary facility and then to the pilot’s console to check their course. Thankfully, although he remembered little about their departure, he had apparently been sufficiently coherent to set the autopilot correctly.

“Could you show me how to use the food machine?” Hanna asked shyly. “It made this green thing before, but it made me feel sick.”

He closed his eyes in horror. “That bar is designed to feed livestock. No wonder it did not suit your system.”

The machine was simple enough, and she picked it up quickly, but before they could eat, a wave of sickness swept over him. When it retreated, Hanna was staring at him.

“You changed again. I thought you were better.”

“I told you the truth before—the only cure is to return to Pardor.” He managed to stand, then started wobbling toward his bed. If he collapsed out here, she would no doubt try and get him back to bed, and he didn’t know if he would be strong enough to resist her touch.

She followed behind him, her hands twisting again. “Do you want another drop?”

He didn’t answer her until after he was back on the bed. “How much remains?”

“About half a bottle.”

His mind didn’t want to cooperate, but he forced it to calculate.

“Six days.” The words sounded distant and far away.

“I don’t understand.”

“Until Pardor… Only when necessary…” The room was spinning around him. He felt her soft hand against his face as the world went dark.

Chapter Eleven

Two days later, Hanna prowled impatiently from one end of the small cabin to the other. At least, she thought it had been two days. The lights on the ship automatically darkened periodically, and she had decided they indicated the end of a day. Aidon’s symptoms were getting worse again, but the level in the sothiti bottle was dropping quickly. Each time, it seemed slightly less effective. So far, she could still bring him around enough for him to go to the bathroom and have something to eat, but he seemed less and less capable of carrying on a conversation, and she could tell that he was getting weaker. What was she going to do?

The memory of those last days with her aunt haunted her. She had felt just as helpless then as her beloved relative faded away.

Aidon cried out, and she hurried into the bedroom. He was thrashing restlessly again, but if she had any hope of making the sothiti last until they reached Pardor, it would be hours until she could administer another dose.

At least he still seemed to respond to her presence, so she tried talking to him. Usually the sound of her voice quieted him, even when she was just telling him humorous stories about some of the more outlandish requests at the flower shop. This time he didn’t respond.

He had warned her repeatedly against touching him, but she couldn’t stand to see him suffering, and she reached over to stroke his brow. His eyes flew open.

“Mate,” he growled, the word barely intelligible.

Before she could move away, he grabbed her and pulled her down next to him, burying his face in her hair as he had done the first time she had put him to bed. Hoping that her presence would soothe him enough to let him sleep, she didn’t resist but let him nuzzle against her as she ran her fingers through the tangled waves of his hair. He arched into her touch, and she grew bold enough to stroke down across his shoulders. Such massive shoulders, hard muscles rippling beneath that soft and velvety skin.

He made that odd purring noise again, and then he moved with surprising speed, rolling her over and burying his face between her breasts. He snarled at the cloth blocking his access to her skin and ripped it away with a sharp tug of his teeth.

“Aidon, wait—oh.” Her protest died as his mouth closed unerringly around her nipple. He felt so good, working the small bud with feverish intensity and sending little sparks of excitement to her clit.

I should make him stop. The words rang in the back of her mind, but he seemed stronger now, his muscles no longer trembling. Perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to let him taste her. She let her hands move back to his shoulders, not to push him away but to pull him closer as he moved from one taut peak to the other. She arched against him as her excitement continued to build, and she realized that she could come just from his mouth on her breasts. But just as her body started to tense in anticipation, he raised his head. She almost cried out with disappointment, but maybe it was for the—

The thought disappeared as his mouth returned, not to her breasts this time, but straight to her aching clit. The first stroke of that rough tongue across her exposed flesh sent her shuddering into a fast, hard climax. He didn’t even pause, his tongue lapping eagerly at the liquid heat flooding her thighs, then thrusting impossibly deep into her clenching channel before returning to circle her still pulsing clit.

Time had no meaning as he drove her from one climax into the next, leaving her limp and breathless but unable to stop herself from responding to his touch. He finally threw back his head and roared before collapsing onto the bed, his head nestled against her thigh. She started to panic, but then she realized that his breathing was slow and even and his body relaxed.

Still feeling guilty, she worked her way out from under him and then realized that he had come as well. An unexpected quantity of golden semen flooded the sheets beneath his cock. Maybe she hadn’t taken advantage of him after all. He had obviously enjoyed himself, and he did seem easier now.

After cleansing him as best she could, she found another shirt to replace the torn one and settled down to wait. He awoke several hours later, but he still seemed much calmer.

As soon as his eyes opened, they flew to her.

“I had a dream. Did I touch you?”

She smiled bashfully. Her clit was still swollen and tender, throbbing pleasantly at the memory of just how he had touched her.

“You could say that.”

“Did I hurt you?”

“Not at all.” She started to reach for him, and he flinched away. For a moment she was hurt, but then she saw the anguish on his face and refused to back down. Her hand closed over his much larger hand. He shivered, and she saw the heat start to build in his eyes.

“You didn’t hurt me,” she repeated. She could feel the color washing her cheeks, but she kept going. “You made me feel really good.” After a quick peek at him from under her lashes, she added, “I didn’t mean to take advantage of you, but it seemed to ease you as well.”

Shock covered his face, then he closed his eyes almost sparingly.

“Did I do something wrong? Should I have stopped you?”

“This is not your fault. I have heard that mating can relieve some of the symptoms of the shifting sickness.”

“Mating? You mean…sex?” Why was it so hard for her to say the word? It certainly hadn’t been hard for her to enjoy his touch. She looked up to find him studying her face.

“That is what mating means to you?”

“Yes. Is there another meaning?”

He hesitated, then shook his head. “It’s the only meaning you need to worry about. I didn’t intend to force myself on you—that’s why I told you not to touch me.”

“I know, but my touch seems to help.” She bit her lip and looked away again. “And you didn’t force me. I wanted you to touch me.”

“I’m glad that I didn’t take advantage of you, but you mustn’t let it happen again.”

An unexpected pain surged in her chest, but she forced herself to smile.

“I’ll be more careful next time. Let me get you something to eat while you clean up.”

She whisked herself out of the room, determined not to cry.

Aidon stared after Hanna, fighting the urge to follow her. He had seen the look of hurt on her face, but how could he tell her what she had done? The mating bond had been initiated. Even knowing that she was only a short distance away, he longed to be closer. From her innocent response to his statement, it appeared that humans did not suffer from mating bonds. She could never know that he was becoming bonded to her. Their joining might relieve the shifting sickness, but nothing would be able to replace her loss. She couldn’t stay on Pardor, and he would always be drawn back to it. Despair washed over him, but he climbed to his feet and prepared to join her for a meal. She must never know.

Chapter Twelve

An uncomfortable silence filled the air between them as Hanna and Aidon shared a meal. She knew it was wrong, but when he had been touching her, focusing on her so intently, she had felt so close to him. And then he had shut her away.

Stop that, she scolded herself. He was delirious.

And yet it had felt like more. It had felt like he needed her, and no one had ever truly needed her before. She always seemed to be the person in need. Even during her aunt’s illness, her aunt had frequently been the one reassuring her.

She managed another fake smile, resolutely pushing the memory aside. At least Aidon was still awake and she had a chance to ask him about something.

“This translator the Derians gave me.” She gestured at her ear, still reluctant to acknowledge the slimy warmth deep in her ear canal. “It’s only good for speech. Is there something equivalent for written language?”

He rubbed his chin thoughtfully and started to shake his head, then stopped.

“Nothing directly equivalent, but I do have a learning tablet. It won’t be instantaneous like the translator, but I believe you could learn from it.”

“Please show me how to use it?” she asked eagerly. “There’s not a lot to do while you’re sleeping.”

Their eyes met briefly, and from the heat in his, he was remembering their earlier encounter. He started to lean toward her, and she waited breathlessly, but then he abruptly pushed away from the table. After a quick search, he returned with a tablet and showed her how to use it, keeping a careful distance away.

Determined not to show her hurt, she gave him another bright smile.

“Thank you. This will be a big help.” She took a deep breath, already prepared for rejection. “Since you seem to be feeling better, can you tell me about Pardor?”

“It’s a jungle world,” he said briefly.

She waited patiently for him to continue, and eventually he sighed.

“It has two suns, so the surface temperatures are consistently warm. Plants—and animals—grow to a great size.”

“And flowers?” she asked before she remembered their earlier conversation.

His face softened. “Yes, Hanna. A wide variety in an endless combination of scents and colors. But the saachi is the most beautiful of all.”

Once again, the tension thickened between them, but before he could say anything else, his face flickered to blue. They both sighed. She had hoped that this longer period of calm meant that he was no longer ill.

“I’m going to take another shower before I get too weak,” he said abruptly and disappeared into the bathroom.

The water ran for a surprisingly long time, but when he emerged, he didn’t look any more refreshed.

“Are you all right?”

“Don’t worry, saachi. I’ll make it. I have to,” he added quietly as he turned away, and she wondered if he had intended for her to hear his words.

His head bowed, he headed for the bedroom, then stopped in the doorway and turned back to her. “Where have you been sleeping?”

She really hadn’t been, but she wasn’t about to let him know. “I just curl up in the pilot’s chair.”

“Is there no end to my selfishness? You should have the bed.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. You need it much more than I do, and I’m perfectly comfortable up there.”

It wasn’t a lie—the chair was comfortable and so large that she had no difficulty curling up. She didn’t mention that she had rarely slept because she had been too anxious that he would take a turn for the worse. Every sound from the bedroom caused her to go and check on him.

“We could, perhaps, share,” he said slowly.

“You said not to get too close to you.” She stared at him.

He muttered something under his breath. Did he say it was too late? Before she could question him, he shrugged.

“I seem to be feeling better. I can control myself now.”

“Maybe,” she said noncommittally. He might be able to control himself, but she wasn’t sure that she could. Even now, she found herself battling the desire to climb into his lap, throw her arms around him, and explore his strange, tempting mouth.

He hesitated as if he was about to say something else, but in the end, he just shook his head and entered the bedroom.

When she checked on him a short time later, his face was to the wall, his body tense. She could tell that he wasn’t asleep, but even though she waited to see if he would roll over and talk to her, he didn’t acknowledge her presence. Her heart sinking, she returned to the main cabin and tried to bury herself in learning a new language. It was slow going, and trying to make the connection between the words in her head and the words on the page made her head ache, but she made enough progress to be confident that she would eventually be able to read.

She put down the tablet and rubbed her aching head, debating taking a shower, when a strangled groan came from the bedroom. She rushed to the door to find Aidon flinging himself from one side of the bed to the other. It was still too early to give him a dose of sothiti. She couldn’t stand to see him like this. Remembering their earlier encounter, she took a deep breath, then slipped his shirt over her head and climbed in next to him. He reached for her immediately, but all he did was bury his head in her neck, clinging to her with his big arms. His body softened into a more natural sleep just as the ship’s lights dimmed. It looked as though she would be spending the night in his bed after all.

The night passed surprisingly peacefully. Aidon grew restless several times, but each time she was able to calm him again. She relaxed enough that she too got some much-needed sleep. She was so sound asleep that she didn’t immediately realize that she wasn’t dreaming the mouth between her thighs. She startled awake from a deliciously erotic dream to find that it wasn’t a dream at all. Aidon was once again lapping eagerly at her damp folds, but she still felt as if she was taking advantage of him.

“You don’t need to do that,” she said gently. “Just let me hold you.”

At first, he resisted her urging, but then he let her pull him up her body, dragging all that warm velvety skin over her sensitive flesh. Despite her protests, her excitement started to build again. He kissed his way up her stomach, lingering for a long time on her breasts before he found her mouth. A distant part of her mind tried to insist that they should stop, but she was too lost in his kiss. Her passion seemed to spur him on, and she could feel the heated length of his cock rubbing against her clit.

“Need,” he groaned and flipped her over on her stomach, pulling her hips up so she was kneeling in front of him. Confused by the sudden change, she looked back over her shoulder. He knelt behind her, his black eyes focused between her legs, his gaze so hungry that her breath caught. He fisted his massive cock in one big hand, and she could see golden drops shining on the swollen head.

“Need mate,” he grunted, his voice so guttural she could barely understand him.

He needed to have sex with her? Remembering how much it seemed to ease him to come, she didn’t want to deny him. And—she wanted him just as much.

“Yes—” The word barely left her mouth before he plunged into her in one long, hard stroke.

Oh my God. Tears sprang to her eyes as her body tried to cope with the overwhelming sensation of being stretched to the limit. He filled her so completely that she could feel every one of those ridged, twisting veins against her tender flesh. Her breath came in rapid pants as she tried to adjust—and then he moved, and one of those ridges rubbed against a place deep inside her that made her see stars. She cried out as a small, sharp climax rolled over her, her pussy fluttering widely, trying to clench down on the cock that already filled every inch.

He groaned in satisfaction and started thrusting into her, hard, primal strokes that demanded her surrender. His hand slipped beneath her stomach, unerringly finding her clit and pressing against it each time he entered her. Even though her body was still trying to adjust to his size, pleasure began to spike again. His speed increased, and he bent down over her back, enclosing her in the warmth of his body, as his mouth went to her neck, licking and sucking the tender flesh. Her body quivered beneath him, perched on the edge of climax as he drove into her one last time, his fingers clamping down on her clit and his mouth clamping down on her neck, sending a shock wave of pain and pleasure through her system as she exploded into a long, shuddering climax while he filled her with a flood of liquid heat.

As his seed left him in endless heated pulses, Aidon’s thoughts cleared. The need that had driven him, the need to mate, to claim, finally eased enough for him to realize what he had done. Oh fuck, what had he done? As he lifted his head, he saw the bite, the red imprint of his fangs clearly visible against her pale skin. He resolutely pushed down the immediate primal surge of satisfaction. His mating mark, his claim, meant nothing without her agreement. The last hours were a jumbled blur, but he remembered their previous conversation. She didn’t understand a mating bond.

He pushed himself away, suppressing a groan as his cock reluctantly left the sweet, tight confines of her body, but as he did, the marks of his possession were ever clearer. The imprint of his hands was clearly visible on her hips, and her delicate folds were flushed and swollen, glistening with his golden seed. Her head was turned to one side, her eyes closed and her cheeks flushed.

“Hanna?” he whispered. “Are you all right?”

“Hmm?” Her voice sounded lazy, almost drugged, as she rolled over to face him.

He closed his eyes in despair at the sight of still more marks covering her breasts and neck.

“Aidon? What’s wrong? You said you needed to mate. Did I…did I do something wrong?”

“You?” His eyes flew open to see her watching him worriedly, her teeth chewing on an already swollen lip. “No, of course you didn’t. But I’m concerned that I was not…gentle with you.”

“Gentle?” The worried look disappeared, and she smiled up at him. “Oh no. You weren’t gentle. You were amazing.”

She raised her arms and stretched lazily. The position lifted her breasts, and even though he would have sworn he was completely drained, his cock stirred. But then she winced.

“What’s wrong?” he demanded.

“I might be a teeny bit sore,” she admitted. “You’re not exactly a beginner’s model.”

Horror filled him. “This was your first time?”

A pink that had nothing to do with his abuse swept over her cheeks. “I wasn’t a virgin, if that’s what you’re asking. But I’m not exactly experienced.” Her lashes swept down, veiling the deep blue of her eyes. “Was it…okay?”

Fuck. Now he was making her doubt her appeal.

“Saachi, if it had been any more ‘okay,’ as you put it, I would have been rendered unconscious.”

“Oh.” A small, satisfied smile played around her lips before she looked up at him again. “You seem better. Did it help?”

“With the shifting sickness? Yes.” He couldn’t bring himself to tell her that he was now bonded to her.

“You’re cured?” she asked eagerly.

“No, saachi. I must still return to Pardor.” The same restriction that had chained him his entire adult life. “And I suspect that the sickness will return.”

“Oh no. But we will have some sothiti left. Maybe it will be enough.”

“Perhaps.”

“And if it isn’t, maybe we could try this again,” she said shyly.

“You would be willing?” Desire roared through him, and his body responded, but he forced himself not to react. Each time they were together would make it harder for him to let her go.

“Oh yes.” She reached up and touched his check, then winced again. “But I might need to take a break first.”

“Stay here,” he ordered as he went to fetch a cleansing cloth.

“It’s probably just as well that we are from two different species,” she said as he washed away the remnants of his seed. “I don’t have to worry about getting pregnant.”

His hand froze, his whole body seized with longing at the idea of her ripe with his child. The longing was immediately replaced by sorrow. It would never happen. He could never allow it to happen.

“That is not necessarily a barrier,” he said as calmly as possible. Her eyes went wide, and a look he couldn’t read flashed across her face. “But in this case, you don’t have to worry. I cannot father children.”

“Why not? Did something happen to you?”

“After I left Pardor, I had a procedure to prevent it as soon as I had enough money to cover it.”

“You mean you decided you didn’t want to have kids? Ever?”

To subject another to the pain of his childhood? The fleeting image of Hanna pregnant with his child danced across his vision again, but he shook his head.

“No,” he said firmly and pretended he didn’t see the questions in her eyes as he stood.

“Come. A shower will help to ease you.” He lifted her into his arms, glad that his strength had returned to the point where her slight weight didn’t trouble him. She didn’t protest but relaxed against him with a contented sigh. He knew that he would pay for what he had done, but for now he allowed himself to enjoy the feel of her sweet body in his arms and the pleasure of caring for his mate.

Chapter Thirteen

By the time Pardor came into sight on the ship’s viewport, Hanna could have sobbed with relief. The trip had grown increasingly stressful as Aidon’s condition deteriorated.

For a full day after they had made love, he had seemed to be his normal self. Well, as normal as a seven-foot-tall, shape-shifting alien could be. They had spent a lot of time just talking, and he had, reluctantly, told her more about Pardor. Despite his initial hesitation, the way he described the planet was not that of a male who hated the place.

He had been telling her about some of the more terrifying wildlife that occupied one of the great rivers of his world, but he sounded knowledgeable and admiring rather than concerned. He had been looking off into the distance as he described a vine-like plant that concealed most of its body beneath the water when he looked down to find her watching him.

“What is it?”

“You sound like you’re very at home on the planet.”

He shifted beneath her. She was perched in his lap—his previous warnings to stay away from him apparently forgotten—and she could see that he looked uncomfortable with her observation.

“It’s not my home.” Then he sighed. “And yet it is. I grew up there.”

“When did you leave?”

“As soon as I could change my form.”

“How old were you?”

“Too old.” At her inquiring look, he sighed again. “Pardorians naturally begin to change form in minor ways even as children. I did not. It was…difficult. Because we are forbidden from revealing our true forms, I didn’t even have the option of leaving. As soon as my abilities appeared, I took a job on the next freighter out of there.”

“Didn’t your parents object?”

“They were both gone by then.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be. I barely knew them. My mother…died when I was a child, and my father didn’t last long after that.”

“But who raised you? Who took care of you?”

“My grandfather. It was a…difficult relationship.”

“I understand. My aunt raised me—my great-aunt actually. She was very kind to me, but she had an old-fashioned way of looking at the world, and I always felt a little out of place with the other kids.” She fingered the hem of his shirt and gave him a rueful smile. “I’m sure she would have been shocked at my unladylike behavior recently.”

“The age difference was not the problem with my grandfather. I was simply a disappointment to him.”

“Because you couldn’t shift?”

“Among other things. I wasn’t big enough or fast enough or ruthless enough for him. I think I failed most of his tests.”

“No wonder you wanted to leave.” She gave him a quick, sympathetic hug. “What did you do then?”

“Hired on as a fighter. I may not have been good enough for my grandfather, but I won most of my matches. I stayed away for almost two years before the sickness hit me and I had to return.”

“What did your grandfather say when you came back?”

“Nothing,” he said shortly. “I didn’t talk to him. After that, I stayed in the city when I had to return until I had enough credits to build my own house. I made a lot of credits as a fighter, but I didn’t want to spend my life doing it, so I looked for alternatives. I decided I preferred less obvious challenges.”

“What kind of challenges?” she asked tentatively.

“People hire me to remove their problems.” He looked down at her, his face hard. “I am an assassin, Hanna. A very well-paid assassin.”

Given the events leading up to their presence on the ship, she wasn’t entirely surprised, but she still shivered.

“You kill people? For money?”

“Yes. I prefer to think that I act on the side of justice, but make no mistake. I am a killer.”

His face was still set in that ruthless expression, but she caught a hint of worry in his eyes. He cared, she realized. He cared what she thought of him.

“Okay,” she agreed and snuggled back into his arms.

“That’s all you have to say?”

“It wouldn’t change anything that’s happened if I objected, would it? And besides, I lo—care for you. I trust you.”

Her heart beat rapidly as she realized that she had almost blurted out that she loved him. It was ridiculous. It was too soon. But no matter how much she tried to deny it, she didn’t doubt her feelings. Yet this was supposed to be a temporary arrangement. He wouldn’t want to be saddled with a helpless human, would he?

She snuck a peek at him from under her lashes. He looked shocked at her words, but she could also see the heat growing in his eyes. She half expected him to carry her back to the bed, but instead, he brushed an all-too-brief kiss across her lips and asked her about her childhood.

When they went to bed that evening, he curled his body around her and buried his nose in her hair, but he made no attempt at anything more. The slight soreness between her legs had faded, and she wanted more of his touch, but she didn’t quite have the courage to ask him. He adjusted his position, and the heavy weight of his cock—his very erect cock—came to rest between her buttocks. She waited expectantly, but he didn’t move again, and eventually she drifted off to sleep.

The next few days followed the same pattern. Aidon would resist touching her until he was overcome by tremors and would finally give in—attacking her with a relentless, passionate determination that always left her satisfied, sore, and confused. As soon as their lovemaking was finished, he would be clear-eyed and oddly sad. He always treated her affectionately, holding her on his lap and wrapping himself around her as they slept, but he never initiated sex until the illness weakened his control. She tried to gather the courage to talk to him about it, but it was obvious that his condition was deteriorating. The lucid periods became shorter and shorter, and neither the few remaining drops of sothiti nor her touch helped for long. Now, as the planet finally came into view, he had been unconscious for a full shift.

She watched anxiously as Pardor grew ever larger, the surface a swirling mass of blues and greens and golds that was both close enough and different enough from Earth to cause a pang of heartache. She would never see her planet again, but right now, that seemed less important than the big male tossing restlessly in their bed.

The ship descended with astonishing speed, and she prayed that the autopilot would actually bring them in for a landing, since she didn’t have the slightest idea how to land a spaceship. To her immense relief, it did, setting the ship down on what appeared to be a large stone slab surrounded by jungle. Why had he chosen to come here? she wondered as she peeped cautiously out of the window. She had expected to land at another spaceport like the one on Hothrest, but there was nothing here. No other ships, no buildings. No people, she realized with a sinking heart. Who was going to help Aidon?

Checking on him, she found him lying quietly for a change, but he was shivering, and an endless stream of colors danced across his skin. For all the times he had mentioned the need to return to Pardor, she suddenly realized he’d never told her just what he would need to do once he arrived to cure his sickness. She had foolishly assumed that just being on the planet would be enough.

Was it something in the environment? The air, perhaps?

Returning to the main cabin, she took another peek out the window but still saw nothing but the empty jungle surrounding them. Remembering some of his more frightening tales, she hesitated for a long moment, then finally lowered the landing ramp. The scent of the jungle rushed in, rich and humid and lush with the scent of growing things. She hadn’t realized how sterile the air on board the ship was until it was replaced by the air of Pardor. She took a deep breath, savoring the difference, but when she checked, Aidon didn’t appear any different.

The next most obvious thing she could think of was water. She didn’t see any break in the jungle, but from the thick humidity of the air, water couldn’t be far away. Looking at the opaque wall of green-and-gold vegetation, she shivered, but she also had an idea. In a jungle habitat, you could often find water trapped among the leaves. Rather than actually entering the jungle, maybe she could try gathering water that way.

After strapping on her sandals, she gathered a drinking cup from the small galley and took a cautious step down the landing ramp. The air was thick with noise—rustling leaves, the small buzz and chitter of what she assumed were insects—but then a sudden shriek split the air, and everything stilled. Her hands clenched on the railing as she froze in terrified silence. A few seconds later, the normal sounds resumed.

What had made that awful noise? It sounded so close. She retreated back into the ship and started to raise the landing ramp, but then Aidon groaned. He was tossing around again, or trying to, but he didn’t seem to have the strength to move. She had to do something.

The landing field was still clear, and the edge of the jungle didn’t seem that far away. It would only take a minute to dash over there and sluice some water off the leaves…

Her feet didn’t want to move, and she cursed her fears. If only she had a weapon. She hadn’t seen anything on the ship other than the knives they used for eating—knives! What had happened to the knife that Aidon had been wearing? She dashed back inside and found it underneath the bed, the massive blade easily as long as her forearm, but it was a lot better than nothing. A long leather belt was attached to the holster, and she had to wrap it around her waist three times before it would stay on, but the heavy weight reassured her as she gathered her cup once more.

The jungle noises continued as she crept to the bottom of the ramp and looked around. Nothing seemed out of place, but what did she know about this kind of environment? Only the memory of Aidon writhing in the bed was enough to make her take the first step out from under the shadow of the ship.

The two suns beat down on her head, the air like a thick, wet blanket around her body. She could feel the heat of the stone through her thin sandals as she walked cautiously toward the jungle edge. The closer she got, the more she felt as if she was being watched. Her pulse fluttered madly in her throat, and each step was harder to take than the last, but as she approached the wall of vegetation, she could see water caught on the leaves just as she’d hoped.

Her hand shook as she reached for the closest leaf, a blue-veined oval easily as big as her thigh, and she tipped it carefully over her cup. A trickle of water flowed down, half filling the cup, and she breathed a sigh of relief. The jungle sounds hadn’t changed, but she still felt as if she was being watched. If she could just find one more big leaf, she could flee back to the ship.

She stood on tiptoes to reach the next leaf, but just as she started to tilt it toward her, a huge, clawed hand fastened around her wrist.

Chapter Fourteen

Hanna’s throat choked shut—she was too frightened even to scream—as a huge alien stepped out of the jungle. He was as big as Aidon, but he had dark green scaled skin, long green hair woven into braids, and yellow eyes that studied her as if she was some type of insect. A patterned cloth in shades of green and gold wrapped around his hips, leaving the rest of his muscular body on intimidating display.

“Who are you?” he demanded. “What are you doing here?”

“I…” The words wouldn’t come, and he shook her arm impatiently, the strength of his grip almost knocking her sideways.

“Speak, female. Where is your master?”

Frustrated indignation finally gave her the courage to speak. “I don’t have a master. I’m here with a…friend.” She hesitated, well aware that she might be making a huge mistake, but so far, the male hadn’t hurt her. Maybe he was the reason Aidon had chosen this place to land. “But my friend is sick. Can you help him, please?”

“Sick? What kind of illness do you bring to my planet?” The bright-yellow gaze burned even hotter.

“It’s not like that. He said this was the only place that could cure him.”

“Cure him? He is Pardorian?”

“Yes.”

As soon as she agreed, the male turned and strode off toward the ship. Since his hand was still fastened around her arm, she had no choice but to accompany him, almost running to keep up. She was afraid that if she fell, he would just drag her along.

As they reached the bottom of the ramp, he stopped abruptly, and his nostrils flared before he rounded on her.

“What is your friend’s name?”

“A-Aidon.”

“Damn the boy.”

With an impatient snarl, the male started up the ramp, but he moved so quickly she lost her balance. He snarled again, but he caught her and held her upright until she regained her footing, then dropped her arm and stalked up the ramp. She hurried after him, not at all sure she wanted him alone with Aidon. She arrived in time to see him lifting Aidon’s body over his shoulder.

“What are you doing?”

“I can’t heal him here. I need to take him with me. You stay here.”

“No! I’m not leaving him.”

“This is no place for you.” He brushed past her and started back down the ramp, Aidon’s body limp in his grip.

“No!”

She chased after him. Burdened by carrying Aidon, he wasn’t quite as fast, and she managed to dart in front of him. Finally remembering the knife, she pulled it out with a shaking hand.

“I’m not letting you take him away from me.”

The male sighed, obviously unimpressed by the weapon. “Don’t be a fool, female.”

“I’m not afraid to use this,” she warned, hoping that her voice didn’t shake.

He gave an impatient grunt, then moved almost too quickly for her to see as he wrenched the knife out of her hand and glared at her.

“I said, don’t be a—” He stopped abruptly, his eyes focusing on her shoulder.

The wide collar of Aidon’s shirt had slipped down during the brief struggle, exposing her skin from her neck down to her elbow.

“What is that?” he demanded.

“What’s what?” Confused, she put her hand to her shoulder and felt the slight ridge left by Aidon’s bite. Her cheeks heated. “It’s nothing. He just got a little enthusiastic.”

“Nothing?” he growled. “He’s as much of a fool as you are, determined to repeat his father’s mistakes. You’d better come along. Stay close.”

He thrust the knife at her and started off again while she was still gaping at him, but she shook away her stupor and followed him. Nothing he’d said made much sense, but at least he was letting her accompany him, and that was all that really mattered.

“Thank you,” she started, but he had already resumed walking. “Wait! Who are you?”

“Name’s Tanor,” he muttered without looking around.

“I’m Hanna.”

His only response was a grunt as he headed for what looked like a solid wall of jungle. She hurried after him, afraid that if he disappeared into the thick vegetation, she would lose sight of him. He pushed aside a branch, stepped over a log, and parted a curtain of leaves before emerging onto a narrow but well-kept path. Huh. She would never have known that such a well-marked trail existed behind what appeared to be an impenetrable wall of foliage.

At first the pace he set was too fast for her to do anything other than hurry along in his wake. Between the thick, warm air and the rapid journey, sweat was soon dripping down her body. Aidon’s shirt felt heavy and uncomfortable, and she even had a flash of nostalgia for Hothrest’s icy wastelands.

But Tanor eventually slowed to the point where she was no longer gasping in his wake, and she could look around enough to appreciate her surroundings.

Huge trees draped with vines rose all around them, but they were supplemented by an astonishing array of other plants. Just as she would have guessed from seeing the planet from space, the majority of the foliage was in shades of blue and green and gold, but from down here, she could also detect a surprising variety of partially hidden flowers. Everything from small red blooms no larger than her thumbnail to white flowers bigger than her head lurked among the greenery.

There were some surprising resemblances to Earth plants, but others were completely alien. She watched in astonishment as a long blue vine reached out and snatched a small flying creature out of the air before burying it in its trunk as the creature squeaked hopelessly. She gulped and took a step closer to Tanor.

Who was he? she wondered, and why had he been at the landing site? Had Aidon been coming to meet him? She studied him curiously. With his dark-green skin and long straight hair, he didn’t resemble Aidon in any way. Maybe he wasn’t even Pardorian.

“Are you from here?” she asked and then immediately bit her lip. He hadn’t exactly been friendly, and she didn’t want to offend him. To her relief, he simply barked out a harsh laugh.

“Never been anywhere else. Never wanted to go either.”

She thought she detected a hint of strain in his voice and suspected that carrying Aidon’s weight was beginning to wear on him. The thought of suggesting they rest flitted through her mind, but one look at Aidon’s limp body changed her mind. He needed help and the sooner, the better.

After they had walked for what she thought was perhaps a half hour, they emerged from the jungle into a wide clearing set along the bank of an enormous river. Emerald-green water swirled and tumbled, and she caught a brief glimpse of a vine snaking through the water. Remembering Aidon’s story, she moved as far away from the bank as possible.

Instead of continuing along the path, Tanor turned and headed inland to the far edge of the clearing. Once again, the foliage looked impenetrable, and once again, he simply walked through it. He was halfway up a set of steps before she realized that they were even there. As she blinked and followed him, she suddenly understood that he was entering a house. A wide front porch framed by curving trunks was almost indistinguishable from the surrounding jungle, as were the walls woven from the native vines. He stalked through an almost invisible front door, across an open living room, and through another door before placing Aidon on a bed built into the wall. He straightened up with a sound too quiet to be called a sigh of relief.

“What now?” she asked.

“Now I get some food down this young idiot’s throat.” Tanor scowled at her. “May need you to help.”

“Of course. Whatever he needs.”

“Stay here. Don’t touch anything.”

Tanor disappeared back into the main room, and she sank down on the mattress at Aidon’s side. He was so limp and still that her heart skipped a beat. She placed a gentle hand on his chest, relieved to feel the slow beat of his heart and the slight rhythm of his chest rising and falling with his breath.

“We’re here, Aidon. You’re back on Pardor. You’re home.”

Even though she hoped for a response, she didn’t really expect one, and she was shocked when his eyes flickered open. Dazed and cloudy, they cleared a little as he tried to focus on her face.

“Not home,” he rasped.

“Yes, you are. We’re on Pardor. You made it.”

His hand moved, trying to reach for her, and she took it between her much smaller hands. The corner of his mouth lifted.

“Home.”

Relieved that he seemed to understand where he was at last, she smiled at him and lifted his hand to her lips, pressing a gentle kiss against the velvety skin. His hand tightened around hers, then he suddenly snarled. With unexpected strength, he yanked her down on the bed next to him.

“What’s the matter?” she asked.

He was gazing over her shoulder, his teeth bared, and she twisted around to find Tanor standing at the entrance to the room.

“It’s all right, Aidon. This is Tanor. He’s going to help you.”

“Never,” Aidon spat.

Tanor sighed and entered the room. He was carrying a tray with a tall glass of red liquid and a bowl filled with multicolored cubes.

“Of course I’m going to help you, boy. Don’t be so stubborn.”

“I don’t trust you, Grandfather.”

Grandfather? This alien male who looked so different and seemed so young was the one who had raised Aidon? She gave Tanor a shocked look, and he barked a laugh.

“Yes, he’s mine. For my sins.”

Aidon’s hand shook in hers, and she could tell that he was losing his strength, but that didn’t diminish his glare.

“Don’t hurt her,” he gasped, and then his eyes fluttered closed.

“Help him,” she pleaded as his entire body went limp. Even his normal swirl of colors was starting to fade into a single gray hue.

“Damn fool left it for too long,” Tanor muttered, but she could hear the anxiety in his voice. “He needs to drink.”

He sat down next to her and lifted up Aidon’s head, supporting him against his chest as he reached for the glass of liquid. He held it to Aidon’s lips, but they remained closed as the red liquid dribbled down his chin.

“Dammit. Drink, boy.”

There was no response, and Tanor looked at her, his eyes full of pain. “I can’t help him if he won’t drink.”

“Let me try.” He had responded to her voice before; perhaps he would again. She leaned closer and whispered, “Please, Aidon. You have to drink.”

His head moved a little at the sound of her voice, but his lips still didn’t part. Panic raced through her veins as she tried to think of some way to revive him. The first time he had been unconscious, he had responded to her kiss. Maybe he would this time as well.

Ignoring his grandfather, she leaned even closer and brushed her mouth across his. Did it move beneath her touch? Praying with all her heart, she stroked her tongue across his lips, silently urging him to open. At first, nothing happened, but then they parted—only a fraction, but maybe it was enough. She dipped her finger in the red liquid and pressed it to the seam of his mouth. She almost sobbed with relief when his tongue touched her finger. After repeating the gesture until he was suckling eagerly, she finally pulled her hand away and placed the glass at his mouth. He choked on the first sip, but then he swallowed.

His mouth closed again, and she had to repeat the process twice, using her finger to drip liquid into him before he would take a drink, but eventually he accepted the glass and drained the rest of the contents. As soon as it was empty, he slumped back against the pillows, but his skin was once again a velvety swirl of colors and his breathing was deep and even.

“Is he better?” she asked anxiously.

Tanor studied her face. He had been silent throughout the process, simply helping to support Aidon and making sure that the glass was ready whenever she reached for it.

“It’s a good start. He should wake soon. When he does, he needs to eat the jinsar fruit.” He gestured at the bowl of colored cubes, and her stomach rumbled.

She blushed and dropped her eyes. “I’m sorry. I’ve been too worried to eat.”

Tanor studied her again, then nodded sharply. “You should eat some.”

“I can’t do that. You said he needed them.”

He shrugged. “The fruit is plentiful. It will only take a short time to prepare more. Go on,” he urged. “Try some.”

The fruit did look tempting, especially after the hot walk, and she reached for a bright-pink cube that looked a little like watermelon. The heady scent wafting from the tempting morsel made her mouth water as she lifted it to her lips.

Just as she was about to pop the piece of fruit in her mouth, a hand reached out and struck it away. Startled, she looked down to find Aidon’s eyes wide open and full of rage as he glared at his grandfather.

“How could you, you bastard?”

Chapter Fifteen

Aidon swam back to consciousness slowly, but for the first time in longer than he could remember, he didn’t feel weakness tugging at his veins. He could taste flovat juice on his lips and knew that he’d made it back just in time. He should have been relieved. Instead, all he felt was the weight of the chains binding him to this planet.

Even before he opened his eyes, he caught Hanna’s lush scent and started to relax, knowing she was close by. He could tell that his grandfather was there as well, but no matter what his faults, he didn’t believe the old man would try and hurt his mate. But then he heard his grandfather offer Hanna something, and he opened his eyes in time to see her raising a piece of jinsar fruit to her mouth.

Horrified, he struck it away and glared at his grandfather. How could he do such a thing?

“I should have known I couldn’t trust you,” he said bitterly.

His grandfather wore the public form, the one that all Pardorians assumed when dealing with outside races, but he looked the same as always. Arrogant and untouchable.

“I was only doing what needed to be done,” the old man said.

“I don’t understand.” Hanna looked between the two of them. “Was something wrong with the fruit?”

“No, saachi. It simply has some…unpleasant side effects.”

“Unpleasant?” His grandfather snorted. “Don’t you mean necessary? Life-giving?”

“For a Pardorian,” he said firmly. “Not a human.”

“For a mate,” his grandfather said, equally firmly.

Aidon’s eyes flew to Hanna’s face. This was not the moment he would have chosen to make such an announcement, but to his relief, she merely looked confused.

“I don’t understand.”

“I’ll explain it to you later,” he said, reaching for her hand. As soon as their skin touched, a wave of desire washed over him, and it took all his control not to snatch her into his arms. The shifting sickness still ran hot in his veins. He forced his gaze away from her and found his grandfather watching, a scowl on his face.

“You don’t have to repeat all your father’s mistakes.”

“Just shut up,” he said impatiently and started to sit up. “We’re leaving.”

“Aidon, are you sure? Are you that much better?” Hanna’s big blue eyes were warm with concern.

“I’m sure, saachi,” he said quickly even though he could still feel the lingering weakness.

“At least eat the damn fruit, boy,” his grandfather growled.

It galled him to take anything from the old man, but he needed to be alert and strong when he guided Hanna through the jungle. He reached reluctantly for the bowl of fruit.

“It’s okay for you to eat that?” Hanna’s eyes followed him as he lifted the cube of jinsar to his mouth, and she licked her lips. Fuck. She was hungry. As much as he hated to do it, his pride was not as important as seeing that his mate was fed. He glared at his grandfather.

“Will you bring her something to eat? Something safe?”

His grandfather studied his face, then nodded, turning to leave the room. A muttered “fool” floated after him.

“Aidon, what’s going on?” Hanna whispered. “Is he really your grandfather? And what was wrong with the fruit? Was he trying to hurt me?”

“No,” he admitted reluctantly. “He may even have been trying to help, but as usual, he only sees things one way.”

A way that he would never force on her. He tore his eyes away from her anxious ones and looked around. It had been many years since he had been here, but his room hadn’t changed at all.

“How did I end up here?”

“You were unconscious when we landed, and I didn’t know what to do.” Her hands twisted together in her lap. “There wasn’t anyone around, and you never told me what you needed once we got here. I tried opening the landing ramp, but that didn’t seem to make any difference. Then I thought maybe some water would help, so I went to collect some—”

“You went into the jungle?” Horror filled him. “Don’t you know how dangerous that is?”

“Well, no, not really. But I wasn’t going to go in,” she added hastily when he groaned. “I was just collecting some water off the leaves when your grandfather appeared. Although I didn’t know that’s who he was. He never said anything.”

“He’s a secretive bastard.”

Hanna’s brows drew together. “But he did help you, didn’t he? You seem so much better. Or is this like on the ship and you’re going to get worse again?”

“Don’t worry, saachi. As long as I eat properly, I won’t get sick again.”

“Thank God,” she sighed and gave him a watery smile. “I’ve been so worried.”

“Everything is going to be fine now,” he assured her. At least, he was determined that it would be fine for her.

She blinked away a tear, then leaned forward and pressed her mouth against his. A kiss, she called it. He remembered it from their time on the ship, and his control weakened. With a muffled groan, he drew her closer, forcing her soft lips apart and delving into the sweet temptation of her mouth. She melted against him, and he was lost. Just as he started to strip the clothes from her body, he heard a sound from the doorway.

His predatory instincts erupted, and he pushed her behind him with a snarl, his claws extending, prepared to fight to the death to defend his mate.

“I’m not going to hurt her, boy.” Only his grandfather stood in the doorway, but he still had to force his body to relax. Apparently unconcerned by the threat, his grandfather leaned casually against the doorframe, but Aidon saw his hand clench around the bowl he was carrying. A male in the grip of mating frenzy was always dangerous.

“You’re scaring her,” the old man added.

He looked over his shoulder and saw Hanna crouched behind him, her eyes wide.

“I’m sorry, saachi. I was still having trouble controlling my instincts.”

“I’m fine,” she said immediately. “I wasn’t scared of you—I’ve never been scared of you.”

“Then you are a—” his grandfather started to say, and Aidon growled at him.

“What did you bring her?”

“Nalla porridge.”

The dish consisted of a type of nut, ground and then cooked. It would do.

“Very well,” he muttered.

Hanna frowned at him as she reached for the bowl, then smiled at his grandfather.

“Thank you, Tanor. I appreciate it.”

She took a cautious bite, then smiled happily. “Oh, this is delicious.”

She dove in enthusiastically, and Aidon nodded reluctantly at his grandfather.

“Now eat, boy,” the old man said gruffly.

Knowing that he needed to regain his strength, he obeyed. With each mouthful, he could feel the change in his body, feel his strength returning, feel his skin settling into place. But despite that, he was also conscious of a bone-deep exhaustion. He had been fighting the need to return Pardor for far too long, and he was paying the price. As soon as he finished the meal, he could feel fatigue sweeping over him. He had intended to leave as soon as he’d eaten, but it would be reckless to take Hanna out into the jungle until he was sure that his full capabilities had returned.

He frowned at his grandfather. “We need to stay here tonight,” he said reluctantly, the words clogging his throat. When he had left at eighteen, he had vowed never to return.

“Still your home,” the old man muttered.

Waves of tiredness washed over him, but he forced his eyes to remain open long enough to fix them on his grandfather. “Take care of her.”

“She’ll be safe enough with me.”

“No…more…tricks.”

He heard the old man sigh.

“No. I’ll let you make your own mistakes. Just like I always did.”

Aidon’s lips started to curve, but then darkness overtook him, and he slipped into sleep.

Hanna looked anxiously at Aidon’s grandfather as Aidon’s eyes closed again.

“Are you sure he’s all right?”

“He will be. He just needs to rest and eat lots of fresh fruit.”

That reminded her of how angry Aidon had been that his grandfather had offered fruit to her. “Why can’t I have any?”

Tanor opened his mouth, then closed it and shook his head. “Ask the boy when he wakes up. I suspect he would rather tell you himself.”

Her stomach chose that moment to rumble again, and he frowned at her. “Are you still hungry?”

“I’m sorry.” She was blushing again. “I really didn’t have much chance to eat on the ship. I was too worried.”

“You don’t need to be worried anymore,” he said gruffly. “Come with me, and I will make you something else to eat.”

Torn, she glanced from him to the bed. Aidon still seemed to be sleeping soundly, but should she leave him?

“Leave the door open if you want,” Tanor snapped before turning and stalking out of the room.

Had she offended him? Even though Aidon didn’t seem to get along with the older male, she didn’t want any bad blood between them because of her. With one last look at Aidon, she followed Tanor into the main room.

She had been too anxious when they’d entered to pay much attention to her surroundings, but now she took an appreciative look around the large main room. Big windows openings were centered in each wall. There was no glass in the openings, and she could see that night had fallen outside. Tanor was closing the shutters across each of them when she entered.

The floor was made from polished wood, and the few comfortable-looking pieces of furniture almost seemed to grow out of the flooring, their frames carved from twisted vines and their pillows in shades that matched the natural hues.

A big kitchen area took up one corner of the room, and once Tanor was through with the shutters, he pulled out a bowl and started chopping ingredients. A little cautiously, she wandered over to join him. He didn’t speak as he worked, but he seemed more relaxed than he had since they’d met.

He ignited a fire in a small metal stove and started sautéing ingredients. A delicious smell filled the air, and her stomach rumbled.

He added something that looked like eggs—pale-green eggs—to the pan, and she had a sudden hysterical urge to giggle. Here she was on an alien planet about to eat green eggs. Was the other ingredient some type of ham? She choked back a laugh, and Tanor frowned at her.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. This is not how I expected my life to go.”

“What did you expect?”

“I run—that is, I ran—a shop that sold flowers.”

“Sold flowers? Why would anyone want to buy them? All you have to do is go and pick them.”

“My planet is not as rich in plant life as this one, at least not in most places.”

He snorted and returned to his pan. A few minutes later, he tipped the green omelet out of the pan, cut it in half, and put each half on a plate, then handed her one. She carried hers to a small table, and he joined her a moment later, carrying two glasses of pale-blue liquid. He handed her one, and she looked at it a little doubtfully.

“It’s safe,” he muttered. “Gave the boy my word.”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have doubted you.”

“Nah. It’s always good to be careful.”

He dug into his plate, and she followed suit, almost moaning with appreciation. The food on the ship had been fine, but this was the best meal she’d had since she’d left Earth.

“This is really good. Thank you.”

He grunted, but she thought he looked pleased. She took a cautious sip of the blue liquid, then hummed with pleasure. It tasted like a light, fruity wine. By the time they finished, her stomach was full, and she had a very slight, pleasant buzz from the wine.

“Can I wash the dishes?” she asked as Tanor cleared the table.

“I got it.” He opened a drawer and put the dishes inside, and she realized that he was actually loading the dishwasher. The rustic surroundings made it easy to forget that this was a civilization advanced enough to have spaceflight.

“How did you know we arrived?” she asked.

He didn’t answer directly but pressed a small button. A big screen and an elaborate control panel slid out of an interior wall. She recognized the image as a map of Pardor. Small, glowing lights were scattered across the surface, most of them clustered in two large central areas but several of them isolated. He tapped on one of the solitary lights.

“This is Aidon’s ship. We monitor all traffic on and off the planet. I knew as soon as he entered the atmosphere that he was coming. But when you walked out, I thought I had made a mistake.”

“But why were you hidden? Why didn’t you come out to meet the ship?”

He pressed the control, and the screen disappeared again.

“He doesn’t come here to see me.”

“But you were going to watch for him anyway?”

He shrugged and busied himself in the kitchen.

“What happened between the two of you?” she asked.

“Nothing worth talking about.” He rejoined her at the table, handing her a second glass of wine. “So how did you go from selling flowers to being…to nursing my grandson?”

“I don’t really know. I was out collecting flowers on my planet, and the next thing I knew, I was in a cage on a Derian ship.”

“Those bastards. They shouldn’t be allowed to get away with it.”

“Slavery, you mean?”

“Slavery isn’t forbidden, but taking slaves from primitive planets is prohibited.” He sighed. “Not that the restriction stops them. That was our first encounter with the Empire.”

“They tried to enslave you?” she asked, horrified. As much as she hated being taken, the thought of the Derians trying to take over a whole planet was even more horrifying.

“They tried.” Tanor bared his teeth, fangs on full display, and she shivered, suddenly reminded of just how big and threatening he had appeared when they’d first met. “We made it hard enough that they decided to trade with us instead.”

“You traded with slavers?”

“Of course not. But there were other merchants who were interested, and we took advantage in order to gain technology.”

“You don’t seem to use much of it,” she said cautiously.

“We prefer to live the way we’ve always lived.” He shrugged. “We learned what we needed to in order to protect ourselves and our planet. The rest doesn’t matter.”

They sat in silence, sipping their wine, and she thought about what Aidon had told her.

“Why did Aidon leave?” she blurted out.

Tanor rubbed his temple, and for the first time, she thought he looked old.

“Stupidity. On both our parts,” he added when she frowned at him.

“And the two of you have never reconciled?”

“Today was only the second time I have spoken to him since he left.”

“What was the first time?”

“Surprisingly similar to today, but that time he was with a male companion who simply dumped him on the landing site.”

“I don’t understand.”

“When he left, the boy vowed never to return. I don’t think he expected the shifting sickness to affect him, and it didn’t, for several years. When it finally did, he paid someone to bring him back here.” Tanor looked off into the distance and sighed again. “He was so angry. And he wasn’t as sick that time, so he refused to let me help him. He just went off into the jungle. Whenever he came back after that, he went his own way.”

Cautiously, she put her hand across the table and patted his. “I’m sorry.”

For the briefest second, his hand covered hers, then he coughed and stood.

“I have work to do. Do you need anything else?”

“No,” she yawned. The exhaustion of the trip and the excitement of the day were beginning to catch up with her. Combined with a full stomach and two glasses of wine, she was ready for bed. “Is there a bathroom I can use?”

“There’s always the jungle,” he said blandly, then snorted at the look on her face. “We had indoor plumbing even before the traders arrived.”

The door next to Aidon’s room opened into a spacious bathroom, which once again looked rustic but concealed some very modern features. She cast a long look at a tub of gently steaming water surrounded by a curved wall of woven vines, but exhaustion was dragging on her, and she really didn’t want to leave Aidon for much longer. After she took care of the necessities, she went back into the main room. Tanor was bent over a tablet, writing steadily. Despite his industry, the huddled figure looked…lonely. Giving in to impulse, she crossed the room and kissed his cheek. He looked utterly astonished.

“Why did you do that?”

“I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for helping us. Good night.”

She could feel him staring after her as she returned to Aidon’s room and closed the door behind her. Aidon was still sleeping heavily, but as soon as she climbed into bed next to him, he rolled over and tucked her against his body. He didn’t seem to wake up as he buried his head in her hair in his favorite position. She snuggled into his arms, closed her eyes, and went peacefully to sleep.

Chapter Sixteen

Aidon awoke feeling strong and refreshed. That was the blessing—and the curse—of Pardor. The planet rewarded its inhabitants with health and strength, but it exacted a heavy penalty. This morning that penalty didn’t seem so hard to bear, especially with Hanna cradled in his arms. With his mate cradled in his arms. He would pay a penalty for that as well, but this morning he couldn’t regret the cost.

The soft golden glow of early morning was seeping through the shutters, and he cautiously lifted his head. He didn’t want to disturb her, but he couldn’t resist the opportunity to look at her. In this light, her pale skin was kissed with gold. Her glorious red hair was tangled across the pillow and down over her breasts, half concealing the ripe little mounds. A rosy nipple, paler than her hair, peeked through the silky strands. He carefully brushed away the tendrils blocking his view, suppressing a groan when the impudent little bud responded to his touch.

Unable to resist, he bent down and stroked his tongue across her tempting flesh. She mumbled something, but when he looked up, her eyes were still closed. There was something exquisitely tantalizing about pleasuring her body while she slept. He licked her again, then closed his mouth around the taut peak, sucking gently. She arched against him, but her eyes were still closed, and he slid his hand down over the slight swell of her stomach and through the small patch of silky curls. Damp heat greeted him as he separated her folds, pulling them apart with two fingers so that his third had unrestricted access. He explored slowly, cautiously, circling the small entrance that seemed too tiny to have taken him the way he remembered. Their times on the ship had been a confused blur of heat and need, and he was determined to take his time. Even now, his cock was hard and aching, but he had regained enough control to linger.

A small nub of flesh at the top of her slit grew at his touch, and she shivered. He remembered licking her there, sucking the tiny bud into his mouth as she climaxed delightfully. He released her nipple, intending to repeat the experience, but when he looked up, her eyes were open, wide and blue in the morning light.

“Good morning, saachi.”

“You seem even better this morning,” she said happily.

“I feel like a new male.”

“I hope not too new. I rather like the old one.”

His heart thudded in his chest. “Do you, Hanna?”

“How can you even ask me that?” Her hand came up and cupped his cheek. Her hair fell away from her neck with the movement, and he saw the claiming bite. The redness had faded, but the ridged scar would never disappear. Pride and pain mingled as he reached out and traced the outline of his mouth with a gentle finger. She shivered and bit her lip.

“It’s so sensitive.”

“Am I hurting you?” he asked, appalled.

“Oh no. It’s the good kind of sensitive, like you’re touching…other parts of me.” Her cheeks flushed pink, and the color washed down over her chest.

“You mean when I do this—” He ran his finger more firmly across the scar. “—it feels like this?” He used the same pressure to glide across her clit.

“It’s not exactly the same, but—oh!”

She gasped as he closed his mouth over the mark and sucked gently. His hand was still between her legs, and he felt her quiver against him. He sucked harder as he circled the swollen pearl of flesh, then scraped his fangs along the bite mark. A rush of liquid heat met his fingers as she convulsed in his arms.

His cock throbbed eagerly, and he started to turn her into the mating position, but as he did, he caught the sound of his grandfather moving around in the outer room. Fuck. The reality of the limitations of his life—and how ill-suited that life would be for her—flooded him.

“We should be on our way,” he said firmly and pretended he didn’t see the confusion in her eyes as he pulled away from her and stood.

“So soon? Don’t you want to spend some time with your grandfather?”

“Why would I want to do that?” He had no desire to remain with the male who had made his childhood so difficult.

“Because he saved your life?” she said tartly, and he couldn’t suppress a pang of guilt.

“I’m glad he has some sense of family.”

“Aidon, it’s not just that. I think he’s lonely.”

“He has no one to blame for that except himself.”

Her eyes were troubled, and she was worrying her lip again, but she finally nodded. “I don’t understand, but if you want us to leave, then I won’t argue.”

“It’s for the best,” he said shortly.

Hanna didn’t protest again as Aidon wrapped a loincloth around his narrow hips and tied the knife to his belt. There were obviously some very complicated feelings between him and his grandfather, but she couldn’t help feeling that he was making a mistake. She and her aunt had had some disagreements in their time, but she had always known that the older woman was there for her.

She pulled Aidon’s shirt over her head with a grimace. After yesterday’s fast walk in the jungle heat, it wasn’t the most appetizing garment. It didn’t seem to bother him—his eyes heated when he turned and saw her wearing it.

“Did I mention that I like seeing you clothed in my shirt?”

“I’m glad you like it, but we need to get another one from the ship.” She wrinkled her nose. “Or find a washing machine.”

“Perhaps it’s not the most suitable fabric for the jungle.” He hesitated. “I wish that I could shower you in the finest luxuries, but I would prefer to avoid a trip to the city. I do have some things we can adapt at my house.”

“I’m sure that’s fine. It’s better than naked, right?”

His eyes flared, and he curved an arm around her waist, pulling her up against his body. “Naked is always preferable.”

“Not when there are other people around.” She remembered that he had never really talked about his home. “Do you live in a village or alone here with your grandfather?”

“Alone?” He frowned at her. “My grandfather is chief of this village.”

“There’s a village here?” she asked, astonished. But then she remembered how the house blended into the jungle. “How many people live here?”

“Perhaps one hundred households. I haven’t kept track.”

“There isn’t anyone you want to see while you’re here?”

“I would be perfectly content if the entire village was swallowed by the river.” His voice had turned hard, but she saw that elusive flash of pain in his eyes.

“What did they do to you, Aidon?”

“I don’t wish to discuss it.”

He spoke so abruptly that she jolted back, almost as if he had slapped her, and his face immediately softened. He pulled her back against him.

“I’m sorry, saachi. I don’t like to think about my childhood.”

She hugged his waist. “I won’t try and make you talk—but sometimes talking helps. If you ever do want to talk about it, I’m always willing to listen.”

He returned the hug, dropping a kiss on her head.

As he led the way into the outer room, she found herself admiring the broad width of his shoulders, the strong muscles of his back and legs. He looked like the warrior he was—strong, confident, and powerful. The swirling patterns on his velvety skin and the multicolored strands of his hair made him look like part of the jungle. A dangerous part of the jungle.

Tanor was waiting for them, seated at the table just as he had been when she’d gone to bed the previous evening. Had he been up all night?

“There are fruit and juice on the counter. Porridge for Hanna as well,” he added when Aidon shook his head impatiently.

Aidon sighed and turned to her. “Are you hungry?”

She knew he was ready to leave, but when she looked at Tanor, his shoulders were stiff and his face a stern mask. He obviously expected his offer to be rejected, and she didn’t have the heart to do so. Besides, she was hungry.

“I would like some breakfast,” she said tentatively, searching Aidon’s face for signs of anger.

“Very well, saachi. We will eat.” His tone was less than gracious, but neither she nor his grandfather protested.

Tanor brought the prepared food over to the table, and they ate in uncomfortable silence for a few minutes before the memory of her aunt’s instructions on being a polite guest wouldn’t let her be silent any longer.

“Aidon said you’re the chief of this village,” she said politely. “I didn’t even realize there was a village.”

“Good. Our buildings are designed to blend into the jungle—just as we are.” Tanor darted a look at Aidon from under his brows. “And I am no longer chief.”

“What?” Aidon finally looked up from his bowl. “Why not?”

Tanor shrugged. “I am getting on in years.”

Aidon snorted. “You don’t appear any older. Who is chief now?”

“Ralard.”

“That idiot? Do you remember when he tried to bring back a flovat flower and got himself entangled in a spirin web? Took four of us to get him out of there.”

“He has changed somewhat since then,” Tanor said dryly. “He formed a mating bond with Laara.”

Aidon snorted again. “I’m sure she’s settled him down.”

The two males continued to discuss various people from the village, and Hanna congratulated herself on the success of her effort to get them talking. But she didn’t really pay attention to their conversation, her thoughts still caught on what Tanor had said about the two Pardorians having formed a mating bond. That sounded like more than just sex. When Aidon said he needed to mate, had he meant more? And did he want more from her, or was she just the only convenient female?

“And his grandfather didn’t leave him out in the jungle all night.” Aidon stood, knocking his chair aside with a crash, and she jumped.

She had been too lost in her thoughts to pay attention. What had happened?

“Because he knew that Ralard wasn’t strong enough. I knew that you were—and the rest of the village needed to know as well.” Tanor stood too, his body as stiff as when they had first emerged from the bedroom.

“I didn’t need to be strong. I needed to know that someone cared.”

The words hung in the air between the two males. Tanor started to step forward, but Aidon ignored him and turned to her.

“Are you ready to leave?”

One look at the expression on his face convinced her that there was no point in trying to get him to stay and talk to his grandfather. She pushed her bowl aside and stood, much less dramatically.

“I’m ready.”

Aidon took her hand and started for the door.

“Hanna is not Pardorian. You should assume the public form. For her sake, not yours,” Tanor added quietly.

For a moment, she thought that Aidon would ignore him, but then he sighed and a tremor ran over his body. Instead of velvety multicolored skin, he now had the same sleek green scales that his grandfather wore. His hands turned smooth and dry in hers. As many times as she had seen him flicker through changes on the ship, it still startled her to be so close to him when he changed.

“That’s amazing,” she whispered.

“It is natural,” Tanor said, but Aidon’s face hardened.

He started to pull her toward the door, but she tugged on his hold until he released her hand. She turned back to Tanor.

“Thank you for everything.”

He dipped his head in acknowledgment, and she went up on tiptoes and kissed his smooth green cheek. Aidon growled from behind her, but she ignored him and smiled at his grandfather.

“I hope I see you again.”

“Don’t count on it,” Aidon snarled and grabbed her hand.

This time she didn’t resist and followed him out of the house and down the short path to the jungle edge. She glanced back over her shoulder once, but even knowing that it was there, she could barely make out the outlines of the cabin. Only the tall green figure standing in the doorway made it visible. She lifted a hand in farewell before the curtain of vegetation fell between them.

Chapter Seventeen

Aidon stalked down to the river in frustrated silence. Hanna’s obvious sympathy for his grandfather both annoyed him and woke a specter of guilt. The old man’s words haunted him. He remembered that particular night so well.

One of the other boys had taunted him into spending the night in a cravan’s nest.

The eggs were on the verge of hatching, and he spent the entire night crouched in the thorny branches that made up the huge nest with his hand on his knife. If the eggs hatched, he would be facing five hungry cravans, their razor-sharp beaks and claws more than enough to rend the flesh from his bones. While his natural coloring provided some protection, his inability to shift meant that he would be clearly visible to the hatchlings—or to the parent cravan when she returned. Twice he heard the mother call out, but she did not come back to the nest, spending the night hunting for her offspring instead.

When day finally broke, he scrambled down from the tree and made his way back to the village. He was tired, cold, and hungry, but he was also proud that he had made it through the night. But when he returned, his grandfather was crouched by the fire with the other village elders and instead of praising him, scolded him for not completing his chores and sent him to gather jinsar.

He had seen it as yet another instance of his grandfather’s disappointment and lack of interest in him. Could there have been more to it then he had assumed?

“Aidon, please slow down,” Hanna called out from behind him, and he was immediately consumed by guilt. He turned to look back at her and saw that her pale skin was flushed and dampness trickled down her face.

“I’m sorry, saachi. I was lost in my thoughts.” He smiled ruefully. “I’m not doing a very good job taking care of you today, am I?”

“You started off very well.” Her cheeks turned pink as she smiled at him. “But I must admit it’s gone downhill since then. I wish you would talk to me.”

He knew she was right. As much as he hated to drag up the past, the encounter with his grandfather had proven that he had not escaped it as much as he’d thought.

“I will,” he promised. “But let’s get back to my lodging first.”

He slowed his pace, holding her hand in his as they walked along the path beside the river. The water swirled, sparkling in the morning sun, and although he kept a wary eye out for usan vines and other dangers, he found himself relaxing. As much as he resented being tied to Pardor, being here had its benefits. But the most important benefit was the small female walking so trustingly beside him.

Instead of making the turn off to the landing pad, he continued along the path beside the river. He would return to the ship later to gather some of his belongings, but there was no reason to make Hanna walk the extra distance.

The jungle came closer until only the thin path separated it from the edge of the water. Hanna’s steps slowed as she exclaimed in wonder over various plants. Her enthusiastic curiosity delighted him until she reached for a pitchat plant.

“No!” He snatched her hand back before she could touch the delicate silver blossoms.

“What’s the matter?” She looked at him in shock.

“The pitchat is very poisonous.”

“I wasn’t going to eat it.”

“Not just to the stomach. The oils in the flower petals will cause your skin to bubble and blister.” And eventually melt away, but he didn’t mention that part.

The color drained from her already pale skin. “I should have thought of that. Even on Earth, some plants are toxic. Just because it’s pretty doesn’t mean it’s safe.”

“Exactly.”

“Will you teach me?” she asked eagerly, and he didn’t have the heart to deny her.

Their steps slowed even more as she bombarded him with questions about almost everything they passed. He hadn’t thought about his surroundings in a long time, but he found that he remembered more of his lessons—his grandfather’s lessons—then he expected.

“So many of them are dangerous,” she said sadly.

“Pardor is a dangerous place.” His chest ached as he agreed. It was no place for a fragile human.

“Is there anything that’s just pretty?”

“A saachi flower,” he said softly as she looked up at him.

“Can I see one?”

He pointed up at one of the towering trunks. “They grow in the very tops of the trees. It’s a hard climb to get there.” She looked so disappointed that he couldn’t resist. “Perhaps one day I can take you there. Before we leave.”

Her lashes dropped, veiling the deep saachi blue of her eyes.

“And what then?”

He would take her to Sherae and make sure that she was safe, and then he would take on as many contracts as he could, putting the credits aside for her, until the sickness overcame him. But this time he would not return to Pardor.

“We’ll see the sunrise from up there,” he said, willfully misunderstanding her question. To his relief, the path opened up again and his house was waiting. Hanna’s eyes widened.

“This is very different from your grandfather’s house.”

Exactly. He had constructed the modern glass and steel building in open defiance of Pardorian tradition. They had turned their back on him, and he had chosen to turn his back on their ways. His house rose from the boulders along the riverbank on heavy metal legs—legs he had to recoat every time he returned to avoid the jungle eating them away. A sharply angled prow projected out over the river, while a corresponding metal deck at the rear cut into the jungle.

“It’s amazing,” Hanna said softly.

“And not at all Pardorian.”

“I don’t know. It’s definitely different, but the glass reflects the colors of the water and the leaves. And the legs are like tree trunks.”

Shocked at her appraisal, he took another look. He had built it so defiantly that he never really thought about it anymore, but now he could see the truth of her words. It was not a traditional Pardorian village cabin, but somehow it looked as if it belonged.

As he led her inside, he realized that even here, he had unconsciously followed the pattern of his grandfather’s house. The large, open living area, the bedrooms tucked away to one side, even the bathing room—the materials might be different, but the feeling was the same. Fuck. He couldn’t get away from who he was.

But somehow, watching Hanna dart around delightedly, stroking a cushion and admiring the view of the river, his exile did not seem as harsh as it usually did. And she looked so right here in his home, her pale skin gleaming and her long red curls warming the sterile surroundings. Only the heavy black of his shirt looked out of place.

“Shall we find you something else to wear? Unless you’d rather be naked?”

She laughed and shook her head. “Why don’t we start with clothes?”

He hunted around until he found some of the leftover barkat cloth he had used to make curtains. Woven out of fibers from the barkat vine, it was soft, lightweight, and slightly sheer.

“That’s only a little better than being naked,” she teased when he held it up and the sun shone through the thin cloth. “But the colors are so pretty. Is that natural?”

“Yes, it is an undyed fabric.”

“I think I can make it into a kind of sarong. But maybe shower first?”

He led the way to the bathing room, already anticipating her delight. Like all the rooms, it faced the river, but it projected out over a small sheltered cove. The floor was translucent glass, and it seemed as if the water was actually flowing across the floor. Sparkling glass tiles formed a curved wall behind the bathing pool and the adjoining shower. He went to start the shower, and when he turned around, his shirt was on the floor. Hanna stood there naked, her slender body glowing and her cheeks flushed pink. As he stared at her, too awestruck by her beauty to speak, the pink spread down her neck and reached her luscious little breasts. Her lashes dropped to cover her eyes, and he recognized the gesture as one she made when she was nervous. Before he could reassure her, she took another step toward him.

“Will you shower with me?”

Chapter Eighteen

Hanna’s voice was soft, almost hesitant, as she lifted her eyes and looked at him. He could see the uncertainty in her eyes, and he knew how much courage it had taken for her to ask him. How could he, even for a moment, let her doubt his commitment to her?

He knew their time together couldn’t last. He couldn’t subject her to either the dangers of the jungle or the different but equally vicious dangers of his profession. He had to take her to where she would be safe even though it would kill him to do so. But for right now, she was here, and she needed him, and he could have no more prevented himself from going to her than he could have prevented his heart from beating.

He crossed the distance between them in two strides and lifted her up into his arms, groaning as the sweet, damp heat of her naked cunt settled against his stomach. Her legs went around his waist as she reached up and put her arms around his neck, giving him a shy smile.

“You don’t mind showering together?”

“I can think of nothing I would enjoy more,” he said sincerely as he carried her over to the water now streaming from the overhead showerhead.

For a moment, he was content just to hold her, to feel their bodies pressed together as the water poured down over them.

“Mmm, this is nice. Like being under a waterfall. Do you have waterfalls?” she asked, her voice dreamy. Then she peeped up at him. “I mean ones that aren’t out to kill you?”

He laughed. “Perhaps I have been a little insistent on that point. But Pardor is a dangerous place, and I couldn’t stand it if you got hurt.”

Her eyes darkened to deep-blue pools, and her little pink lips parted. Half afraid of what she was going to say, he hurried on. “There is a waterfall not far from here. The path is dangerous—”

“Of course,” she snorted.

“—but the waterfall itself is safe enough. I could take you if you would like to go.”

She tilted her head to one side. “Does anyone else go there?”

“Occasionally, perhaps. But we are a long way from the village, and I wouldn’t expect company. Why?”

“Because if other people were going to show up, we couldn’t do this.” She slid her hand down his damp stomach and beneath his loincloth, firmly grasping his cock. Her eyes sparkled, delighted with her own daring, and he thrust involuntarily into her hand.

“You have a very talented touch, saachi.”

She blushed but nodded, then wiggled impatiently to get down. He reluctantly let her slide free, but to his shock, she kept going, dropping to her knees and removing his loincloth on the way.

“Hanna…” Whatever he was about to say vanished as she took his cockhead in the tight warmth of her mouth. Just as when she had done this at the party, she hummed appreciatively, sending ripples of sensation up his cock and vibrating through his body.

When she pulled back, he almost demanded that she return. But she didn’t move away. Instead, she looked up at him, her eyes wide and blue.

“Will you…change back? Back to your true self?”

“You don’t like the public form?” he asked, shocked. His skin color might be different, but in this form, he more closely resembled what he assumed a human male would look like.

“No, no,” she said hastily. “You’re just as handsome like this, but…” She ducked her head. “I like you best the other way. The way you were on the ship when it was just the two of us.”

His chest ached. Other than when he was alone on Pardor, he never assumed his true appearance. Somehow, he had come to think of it as lesser, yet here was his woman, his mate, and she was not only accepting but encouraging the side of him that he had tried so hard to banish. Unable to speak, he shifted, and she gave him a happy smile before once again taking him in her mouth. The already intimate act took on a new level of meaning as she used her tongue to explore each of the branching veins, to lick and suck, making little moans of appreciation.

As lost as he was in her wonderful mouth, this wasn’t what he wanted—what he needed—right now. He needed to be inside her.

She frowned as he lifted her free, her mouth clinging to his cock until the last possible moment. He ignored her low murmur of protest, spinning her around so that her hands could grasp the low wall. Supporting her with one hand under her stomach, he slid his other hand down to check her readiness. The slippery warmth that met his fingers came from her, not the shower.

“Hold on,” he ordered, and as soon as her hands tightened on the wall, he shifted his grip to her hips, lifting them until they were aligned with his throbbing cock. As the liquid heat of her sweet little cunt closed around his tip, he almost hesitated. She looked so small compared to him. But then she pushed backward, and he was lost. With a roar, he plunged deep, the silken fist of her channel gripping him so tightly that he could hardly breathe. He could feel her tensing, feel her body already rising to a climax, but he couldn’t wait. He withdrew in a long delicious slide and thrust forward again. She tried to meet his strokes, urging him on with soft little cries, and he lost every remnant of control. He thrust wildly, overcome by the primal need to take his female, to brand himself on her, to fill her with his seed. Even knowing that he was barren, the thought of impregnating her threw him over into an endless, roaring climax, his body shaking as he buried himself completely in her. A distant part of his mind heard her cry out, felt her shuddering around him, but he was too lost in ecstasy to do more than cling to her.

When he finally regained his senses, he withdrew slowly, watching sadly as the water washed the golden remnants of his seed from her swollen folds. As soon as she was clean, he gathered her in his arms and sank to the floor of the shower. She nestled against him, giving his chest a quick kiss before she smiled up at him.

“I definitely like taking showers together.”

“I seem to remember that we were together on the ship as well.”

She attempted to give him an adorable scowl. “Not like that. You always resisted making love to me.”

Her eyes dropped back to his chest, and she circled one of his nipples. “Why was that? Why wouldn’t you ever touch me unless the sickness was overtaking you?”

“Because when it was strongest, I didn’t care about what was best. I only cared about what I wanted.”

“And you wanted me?” She peeped up at him from under her lashes.

“How did you ever doubt it?” His fingers went almost automatically to his mark on her neck. She shivered, and he saw her nipples tighten into rosy little peaks.

“Is there something special about the bite?” She hesitated. “When you said mate, I thought you meant sex. But is there more to it?”

“A Pardorian male bites a Pardorian female to initiate a bond between them,” he said reluctantly.

“A mating bond?”

“Yes.”

Her attention returned to his chest, and they sat in silence until she finally asked, “This bond you’re talking about…it only occurs between Pardorians?”

His chest ached again. How could he tell her that he was already bonded to her? That she was the only female he would ever want and that he would die without her? He couldn’t put that burden on her. He wasn’t a fit mate for a delicate female.

“Only a Pardorian experiences the bond,” he said evasively. He saw her mouth droop and knew that she had interpreted his words the way he had intended—as if the bond was only possible between two Pardorians.

“I see. What’s going to happen now?”

“I cannot leave until my strength is returned. If I don’t keep eating the fresh fruits, I will succumb just as I did before. I’m afraid your trip to Sherae is going to be delayed.”

“I don’t mind.” Solemn eyes stared up at him. “There’s nowhere else that I would rather be.”

He closed his eyes in despair, fighting the urge to tell her how much he wanted her to stay with him forever.

“If the fruits help you so much,” she continued after a minute, her voice determinedly cheerful, “why didn’t you want me to eat any of them? Are they poisonous?”

“That’s not it. We believe that it is the essence of the planet that gives us our abilities.”

Her eyes widened. “But that would be wonderful—to be able to change like you can.”

“You’re forgetting the price that must be paid. Once you eat from the riches of Pardor, you can never go without them again. You would be chained to this planet just as I am.”

She gave him a speculative glance from under his lashes, and he could swear he heard her thoughts.

“No, saachi,” he said firmly. “This is not a fit place for you. It is too dangerous.”

“Then teach me how to handle the danger.” She must have read the disapproval in his face because she hurried on. “Oh, not because I expect you to let me stay but because I don’t want to be afraid of everything.”

She had a valid argument. Not that he ever intended to let her run into danger, but he had enough experience to know that even the most careful guardians occasionally slipped up.

“And Aidon, no matter where I go, there’s going to be danger. I lived such a quiet life, a peaceful life, and I was snatched away from it while doing nothing more than gathering flowers. I know that nowhere is safe.”

Especially if you’re not there. The unspoken words hung in the air between them.

“Very well. I’ll do my best to teach you while you’re here.”

“Thank you.”

She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him, the sweet temptation of her tongue arousing his need once more. Her eyes widened as she no doubt felt his cock hardening between them, but then her lids went heavy, and she gave him a smile worthy of the most experienced seductress.

“Perhaps we should start our lessons with how to seduce one’s enemy.”

“Your seduction efforts are only for me,” he growled immediately. Despite what he had just said about their lack of a future, he heard the possessive note in his voice and saw her recognize it as well. But she didn’t point out his absence of logic. Instead, she licked her lips and rubbed her hard, little nipples against his chest.

“Then teach me how to seduce you,” she whispered. But as his mouth covered hers once more, he already knew there was nothing she needed to learn. He was hers.

Chapter Nineteen

That evening, Hanna stood on the deck that reached out over the water and studied the river. The last rays of the setting sun lit the surface, and it sparkled as the water rippled and swirled beneath her, both beautiful and mysterious. Much like Aidon, she thought wryly. He had so many secrets, so many hidden danger zones beneath the surface. Not dangerous to her but to himself. As angry as he had been at his grandfather, she suspected that it was pain rather than rage driving his emotion. What had happened to him as a child?

Two firm hands circled her waist, and she smiled happily as she leaned back against the massive warmth of his body.

“Kitchen all clean?” she asked. After making them a delicious dinner over a wood fire stove, just like the one his grandfather used, he had insisted on cleaning up and sent her out on the balcony with a glass of wine.

“It doesn’t take long to load the dishwasher and wipe off the counter.” He sounded amused as he dipped his head to nibble on her neck.

Mmm, even when he wasn’t directly touching her bite mark, the feel of his mouth awoke her need for him. Why had he bitten her? she wondered for the hundredth time. He had made it clear that the mating bond was only between Pardorians, but he had still marked her as his. Was it because she had been the only female around and he’d been in need?

He must have felt her stiffen because he abandoned the tantalizing exploration of her neck.

“What is it, saachi?”

She wanted to ask him, but in the last moment, her courage deserted her, and she returned to her original thought.

“Why are you so angry at your grandfather?”

It was his turn to stiffen, but then he sighed and rested his head in her hair. “My mother was not Pardorian.”

What? A thousand questions ran through her mind, but she didn’t want to interrupt him, so she simply waited for him to continue.

“I told you that she died,” he said finally. “But that wasn’t the entire truth. She left when I was ten years old.”

This time she couldn’t help herself. “She left you? What kind of mother leaves her child?”

“I asked myself the same thing for a long time. It wasn’t until after I left Pardor that I decided to investigate.” His arms tightened around her. “I didn’t know she had been a spaceship pilot. I did know that she had landed here and apparently fell in love with my father. She moved to our village to be with him, but I don’t think she was ever truly happy. I remember so many nights when I would see her staring up at the stars. She knew every one of them. I think she just couldn’t take being grounded anymore, and when she decided I was old enough to take care of myself, she left.”

“Did you go looking for her?”

“I did, but she died in a revolution on Russalt, trying to fly refugees off the planet.”

“I’m so sorry.” She put her hands over his, holding him against her. Only the sounds of the river filled the air as they stood in silence. Eventually she asked, “What about your father?”

“He didn’t even last a year after she left. Which meant that I was left with my grandfather. I knew he never liked my mother, and I never thought he liked me.”

“I don’t believe that for a minute. You know that he comes to watch every time your ship sets down? Just so he can see you?”

His muscles turned to iron beneath her hands. “You must be mistaken.”

“That’s what he told me, and I believe him.”

“He was always so hard on me. I thought it was because I couldn’t shift, because I wasn’t a true Pardorian.”

“Do you remember what he said? That he wanted you to know that you were strong? I know he didn’t go about it the right way, but maybe he was trying to prove to you that you were as good as any other Pardorian.”

“I don’t know.” He sighed, and his muscles relaxed. “When I think back on that time, I just remember feeling angry and hurt all the time.”

“I don’t know about Pardor, but on Earth, that’s pretty common when you’re a teenager,” she said gently. “You feel like the whole world is against you.”

He gave a half laugh. “You make me sound very foolish.”

“Oh no.” She turned in his arms and reached up to cup his face. “Never foolish. It may not be uncommon to feel that way, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt.”

“What about you, my ma—my saachi? Did you feel like that?”

Her heart thudded. He had been about to say “my mate,” she was sure of it. Maybe the bond between them was like his relationship with his grandfather—he just needed time to accept it. Ignoring the sudden swelling of hope, she smiled up at him.

“Of course I did. My aunt was a wonderful woman, and I never doubted that she loved me, but she was also very strict and very old-fashioned. I used to hide out in my room and listen to moody female singers and write depressing poetry.”

“I’m glad you eventually left your room. I’m sorry that you were taken from your home, but I’m not sorry that we met.”

“Neither am I.” Remembering the success of her earlier attempts at seduction, she ran a teasing finger down his chest and along the edge of his loincloth. The fact that his cock responded emboldened her. “You know what, I’ve never made love outside.”

Black flames danced in his eyes. “I believe we should remedy that situation.”

He started to spin her around, and as he did, her elbow caught her wine glass and sent it shooting over the rail and toward the river below. She looked on in shocked horror as a giant mouth emerged from the water to seize the glass. It disappeared into a huge cavity lined with teeth before the head submerged once more. It had happened so quickly, but she hadn’t even gotten a good look at the monster. All she had seen were those rows and rows of teeth.

“What was that?” she whispered.

“An akul.”

“It was so big. And it had so many teeth.”

“It’s the biggest predator in the water, or at least the largest found in fresh water. I keep trying to tell you that Pardor is—”

“Dangerous. I know.” She stared at the water below, dark now that the sun had dipped below the horizon, and shuddered.

“Perhaps we should leave our outdoor adventures for another time,” he suggested.

“I think that’s a good idea.”

“Don’t worry, saachi. I’m sure I can satisfy your desire for adventure from inside the house.” As he swept her up in his arms and carried her inside, she was quite sure that he could.

Once again, Aidon awoke as soon as the sun crept above the horizon. Today the light wasn’t blocked by leaves and shutters but flooded into his bedroom through the wide glass walls. Hanna was nestled against his chest, breathing softly, and he was filled with unexpected contentment. Normally he spent his time on Pardor pacing angrily at the necessity for his return or taking to the forest to practice his hunting skills. This morning he felt neither restless nor angry.

He breathed in Hanna’s lush scent and looked out over the river. An usan vine suddenly erupted from the water on the other shore, snatching up a small creature who had made the mistake of wandering into reach. The vine disappeared beneath the water, and the morning was quiet once more. This was Pardor, harsh and dangerous for the unwary, but it was the place where he had grown up, and for the first time since he’d left, he allowed himself to admit that perhaps it had not been all bad.

His conversation with his grandfather the previous morning played through his mind. For a brief moment, they had talked almost cordially as they’d discussed the village. He still couldn’t believe that his grandfather was no longer chief. For as long as he could remember, the old man had ruled the village with a firm hand. And Ralard as chief? Even though Aidon had called him an idiot, they had been friends once—they had gone on their first hunt together, and they had been allowed to spend their first night alone in the jungle together. Aidon’s inability to shift had finally forced a wedge between them. But how much of that had been his fault? he wondered for the first time. He had been so sensitive about what he saw as his failure that perhaps he had seen insult when none was intended.

“You look very serious.” Hanna’s soft voice interrupted his thoughts.

“I was just thinking about the past.”

“Bad thoughts?”

“New thoughts,” he said slowly.

“Do you want to talk about them?”

“No. I can think of far more interesting ways to occupy my time.” He bent his head and kissed her, delighting in her immediate response. This kissing was addictive. He loved the way she opened to him, loved the way her soft, little tongue played shyly with his, loved…

He froze. The mating bond had overwhelmed him—the heat and need driving him to claim her—but this was the first time he had truly realized how much more was involved than his instincts. He loved her. He loved her curious mind and her tempting body. He loved the way she changed color when she was embarrassed. He loved that even when she was afraid, she always found the courage to do what needed to be done.

She looked up at him, her face showing only concern—concern for him. He couldn’t tell her. His feelings made no difference. She still wouldn’t be safe on Pardor, and she was no more equipped for the life of an assassin than the delicate flower she resembled. He opened his mouth to change the subject, but instead, he found himself blurting out a version of the truth.

“I…care for you, Hanna.” He would have closed his eyes in despair, but he couldn’t tear them away from her face. Tears swam in those enormous blue eyes. “I don’t mean to upset you. I know it doesn’t change anything.”

“It changes everything.”

“No, saachi, it doesn’t. As soon as I can leave Pardor, I’m still going to take you to Sherae, where you’ll be safe.”

“But we’re not leaving yet?”

“No.”

“Then we’ll just have to take advantage of the time we have.” She reached up and stroked his face, the way she did so often. “I’m happy here with you, Aidon.”

The words settled over him like a healing rain. He could feel the warmth of them filling all the empty places in his heart. Unable to speak, all he could do was bend his head and kiss her, trying to show her with his mouth and with his hands how much he loved her.

The kiss grew increasingly frantic, and she was touching him just as eagerly. Her nipples were like tiny pebbles against his chest, and when he slipped his hand between her legs, she was wet and ready. He pulled back, intending to flip her over, but for the first time, she resisted.

“Why do you always do that? Take me from behind?”

“It is the way that is done.”

“It’s not the only way,” she said firmly even though her cheeks flushed with the words. “I want to look at you.”

Shocked and intrigued, he stopped trying to turn her over. She looked so tiny beneath him, but she smiled encouragingly, and he lifted her small hips over his thighs. Oh yes, he could see the advantages of this position. She was spread out before him, every inch of her perfect body open and accessible to him. He stroked his cock between her lower lips, coating it in her delicious wetness. She quivered at his touch, and despite his urge to enter her, he lingered, rubbing the swollen veins of his cock over the sensitive pearl at the top of her slit. In this position, he could also reach her breasts, and he lifted her upper body higher so that he could feast on each rosy bud.

Her body shuddered, and he knew that she was on the verge of climax, but he wanted to be inside her, wanted to feel her snug little channel pulsing deliciously around him. He probed gently at her entrance, so tight and hot, then pushed inside, slowly, so slowly, watching her face the entire time. Her eyes had fluttered closed, but they opened now, watching him, and the look on her face took his breath away.

“You know, saachi,” he said as he slowly withdrew, “I have the ability to transform specific parts of my body.”

“That’s nice,” she said absently, trying to lift her hips to follow him.

As he drove back inside, he transformed his cock to that of an Elginar and let it vibrate inside her.

Her eyes widened. “What are you doing?”

“Demonstrating the advantages of a Pardorian lover. Do you like that?”

He thrust slowly in and out of her as she arched her back. Soft pink spread down from her neck until even her breasts were flushed and glowing.

“Or perhaps you would prefer this?”

A Kaisarian cock had a furled tip that flowered within a female, opening inside her to stroke her innermost channel, and he used it now to add to the sensations inside her. She shuddered, and he moved his thumb to her swollen pearl, intending to bring her pleasure, but she put her hand over his as she looked up at him.

“I want you, just you. Please change back.”

He lost all control at her words, transforming back even as he began to plunge wildly. He heard her cry out his name, felt her convulsing around him, and he buried himself in her and exploded in an endless, heated rush. Her legs and arms clung to him as he dropped down over her, burying his head in her neck and drawing her just as close. When he finally raised his head, she was smiling at him.

“You see, other ways work just fine,” she said.

“It was very fine indeed,” he agreed, studying her face. “You did not enjoy the way I transformed my cock?”

She bit her lip. “They felt wonderful, but…”

“Go on.”

“They didn’t feel like you. And you’re the only one I really want, Aidon, just the way you are.”

His heart ached, full of the words he would not let himself say. All he could do was kiss her and once again, let his body speak for him.

Chapter Twenty

“What are we going to do today?” Hanna asked after they had eaten breakfast. “Is there anything you have to do while you’re on the planet?”

Aidon shook his head. “Normally I pace back and forth and curse my fate.”

“That doesn’t really sound like fun.”

“No, it doesn’t.” He smiled at her, looking surprisingly cheerful. Had she ever seen him look so happy and relaxed before?

“And sometimes I go hunting, but I don’t believe you would enjoy that.”

“I’ll go if you want me to.” Her stomach churned at the thought, but she did her best to look enthusiastic.

“If you really want to know how to take care of yourself, it would be a good thing for you to learn,” he said gently. “But why don’t we start with something a little easier?”

She didn’t think she did a good job of hiding her sigh of relief because he grinned at her.

“I thought perhaps we could take some food and I would show you the waterfall.”

“Oh, a picnic. That sounds wonderful.”

“A pick nick?” he repeated. Apparently the word did not translate.

“It’s what you described. You take a blanket and a basket of food and go somewhere scenic.” She felt a smile curving her lips as she peeked at him from under her eyelashes. “Sometimes you fool around a little.”

“I am not a fool.” He looked almost offended.

“That’s not what I meant. It’s an expression that means you do some kissing and, um, maybe some other things.”

“In that case, I definitely approve of this pick nick. I will prepare.”

A short time later, he was leading her into the jungle. He had a cloth bag slung across his shoulder, and he still looked happy.

“You don’t really hate Pardor, do you?” she asked.

“I do not like the chains it has on me.”

“I understand how much you resent that. But right now, you seem happy to be here.”

“That is because you are with me.”

Her heart did a funny little skip, but she ignored it, determined to make him see her point.

“And I enjoy being here with you, but I’m not at home here the way that you are.” At least not yet.

“At home?” He looked almost shocked, but then his gaze drifted over the surrounding trees, and his nostrils flared. “It is very familiar to me.”

“So maybe being here is not quite as bad as you thought it was in the past?” Leaving that thought to settle in, she changed the subject. “You promised to teach me about the plants and animals. Can we start now?”

He still looked bemused by her previous statement, but then he shook his head and smiled.

“Of course, saachi.” He bent down and pointed out a cluster of small, fern-like plants half hidden in the roots of one of the giant trees. “These are ynaah. The leaves are not poisonous to touch, but they are deadly to eat.”

“Of course they are,” she muttered.

“But it grows from tubers beneath the ground, and they are both nonpoisonous and delicious.” He dug carefully around the plants with his fingers and emerged with a bunch of small bulbs, rather like blue radishes. “We shall add these to our pick nick.”

“I can eat them?” she asked eagerly.

“As long as they are cooked. Anything that has been cooked or otherwise processed is safe for you to eat. As long as it is not—”

“Poisonous,” she finished for him.

He smiled and tucked her against his side. “You are already learning, my mate.”

The word hung in the air between them, but she refused to think about the future right now. Instead, she returned his hug, then asked him about a golden moss that climbed up one side of the vast trunk.

He spent the rest of the trip pointing out not only the plant life but a surprising amount of animal life. She hadn’t realized how much surrounded them because it was all so well camouflaged. Aidon seemed to have no trouble spotting the bright golden eye of a lizard-like creature sprawled along a tree branch or the twitching tails of what appeared to be tiny red mice.

“They’re adorable!” she exclaimed as she watched them scurrying around in the leaf mold. She took a step toward them, and Aidon firmly drew her back.

“They are also extremely carnivorous. While they are unlikely to bother you while you are upright and walking, if you fell and were injured, they would descend on you.”

As he spoke, two of the tiny creatures snarled, and as they leapt toward each other, she caught a glimpse of what was unmistakably bone beneath them. Her stomach churned.

“Okay. Stay away from the mice. Check.”

“Don’t worry, saachi. I will never let anything happen to you.”

“I know you won’t.” She smiled up at him and wondered if he realized what he was saying. How could Pardor be a danger to her if he was around?

The lessons continued as they made their way to the waterfall, and she gained a whole new appreciation for the jungle. It was both beautiful and terrifying. At first she’d been overwhelmed by how many ways it could kill her, but the more she learned, the more confident she felt. Not that she had any intention of braving it without Aidon at her side.

A loud roaring echoed beneath the other jungle sounds, and she crept a little closer to Aidon.

“What is that noise?” she asked nervously.

“That is your waterfall.”

He pushed aside a curtain of leaves, and she gasped in astonishment. When she had mentioned a waterfall, she had envisioned a trickle of water flowing down over some rocks, similar to the bathing cave back on Hothrest. Instead, she was confronted by a cascade of water at least fifty feet tall pouring down a sheer cliff in a thunderous plume. At the base of the falls, a large pool framed by massive boulders glistened pale green.

“This is beautiful. A little overpowering but beautiful.” She gave him a teasing smile. “I don’t think we’ll be showering under that.”

“Perhaps not. But the pool is safe to swim in.”

“What? No lurking dangers?”

His smile turned predatory. “Not unless you consider a Pardorian in search of a tempting, little morsel dangerous.”

“Very dangerous,” she whispered, swaying toward him. To my heart most of all.

He caught her in his arms and kissed her until she was limp and clinging helplessly to his broad shoulders.

“Is that the correct procedure for a pick nick?” he asked when he lifted his head.

“You forgot the part about eating,” she said breathlessly. His eyes heated even more, but to her disappointment, he reached for his bag and proceeded to lay out a blanket and the food he’d brought. With effortless ease, he even started a fire and set the ynaah tubers to roast.

“You’ll have to show me how to start a fire that quickly.”

“Of course, my mate. Would you like me to show you now?”

“That’s all right. We have plenty of time.”

She stretched out on the blanket, enjoying the warmth of the sun on her body and listening to the sounds of the jungle. She could already pick out the cry of a huja bird and the soft chittering of one of the insects that Aidon had shown her. Still trying to identify the other noises, she drifted off to sleep.

Aidon smiled as he looked down at his sleeping mate. Her pale skin and flaming hair contrasted sharply with the muted hues of the jungle, but she looked so right lying there—like a beautiful, exotic flower. A vast contentment filled him. Most of it was undoubtedly due to her presence, but he wondered about her earlier words. Was she right that he felt at home here? It was certainly true that he felt a certain element of ease in the jungle. Yes, danger lurked around every corner, but he knew those dangers, knew what to expect. Whenever he was away from Pardor, he was always on alert, always braced for unknown trouble.

Even when he was most angry about being forced to return, something inside of him relaxed as soon as he entered the skies above Pardor.

Still turning over her words, he left her sleeping and went to the edge of the pool before using his claws to fish for the small, delicious lake dwellers that skittered through the shallow water. Hanna would enjoy them.

By the time she awoke, he had them cleaned, spitted, and roasting over the fire.

“That smells wonderful.” Her cheeks flushed. “I’m sorry I fell asleep.”

“I’m not. You look most delightful when you’re sleeping. I was very tempted to join you.”

Wordlessly, she held out a hand, but before he could respond to the invitation in her eyes, he heard her stomach give a soft grumble.

“I will feed you first.”

They feasted on the roasted tubers and the delicate white flesh of the lake dwellers, along with the variety of cooked grains he had brought with him.

“Um, that was delicious. You’re an excellent cook, Aidon.”

Pardorians did not blush, but he suspected that if he had been in another form, color would have risen to his cheeks. When had anyone ever praised him for anything other than his ability to quickly eliminate an enemy?

“As long as it pleases you, I’m happy.”

She extended her hand again, and he lay down next to her, the two of them looking up at the vivid blue sky above the distant tops of the trees.

“What did you do at night?” she asked, her voice soft and lazy.

“What do you mean?”

“When you were here on Pardor before. I know you didn’t go to your village. Did you ever go to the city?”

“Only when I needed supplies.” He barked a laugh. “My grandfather would have been appalled. He may use technology when he has to, but he believes in the old ways. He taught me that anything we needed would be provided by the jungle.”

“What did you need that the jungle couldn’t provide?”

“Information, primarily, but I’ll admit I do have a taste for a few off-world items.”

He rolled over onto his side, lazily picking at the knot that held her brief garment together. Her nipples puckered beneath the thin cloth.

“What kind of information?”

“You asked what I did at night. If I wasn’t hunting, I would study.”

“Study what?”

“Everything. In my…profession, it’s important to keep up with political and economic affairs. If I knew where my next job was going to be, I studied everything about that world so that I could pass as whoever I was mimicking.”

“Did you enjoy that?”

“Yes,” he admitted. “If my life had turned out a different way, I suspect I might have enjoyed being a scholar.”

“That’s what I was going to do. Be a scholar. I wanted to study plants. But my life didn’t turn out the way I had expected either.” She waved a hand. “And I don’t mean the abduction. When my aunt became ill, I had to return home and run her shop. It wasn’t a bad life, but it wasn’t the one that I had anticipated.”

Yes, he could see his shy mate bent over a screen or investigating the life cycle of a plant.

“I wonder how many lives turn out the way we originally intend,” she murmured.

While they had been talking, he had unfastened the knot of her garment and spread it open to reveal her pale, delicious body. He circled a taut pink bud, and she arched into his touch.

“We seem to have drifted away from the fooling around portion of this picnic,” she said breathlessly.

“Then I must remedy that at once.”

His head descended, and there was no more talking.

Chapter Twenty-One

After Aidon made love to Hanna, so slowly and deliciously that she was still tingling, they talked some more. She told him some of her childhood adventures, and he reciprocated with his own much more dramatic incidents. As ostracized as he seemed to have felt, he spoke of his companions with lingering affection, and she wondered if he even realized how important they had been to him.

A new sound rose above the jungle noises—a harsh, almost burbling sound—and Aidon’s head lifted.

“What is it?” she asked nervously.

“A gakhal.”

“Is it dangerous?”

“Not particularly.” He turned to her with a speculative look on his face. “But it is good eating. I think you would enjoy having it for our evening meal.”

“You want to go hunting?” Once again, her stomach churned at the thought.

“Yes. It sounds as if it is just to the right of the pool.” A faint click sounded, and she looked down to see that his claws were extended and tapping against each other.

“We can go after it.” She forced herself to say, but he shook his head.

“I don’t think you’re ready for that, saachi. But perhaps…”

“Perhaps what?”

“You could stay here. You would be quite safe, and I won’t be far away. Just don’t go near the edge of the jungle.”

She sat up quickly, glancing nervously around the clearing. Certainly it had been peaceful enough while they were here, but the memory of everything he had shown her on the way played through her mind.

“What about those mice things?”

“They won’t bother you out here,” he said reassuringly. “Most of the jungle creatures avoid clearings like this one. They don’t like to feel exposed.”

“I’m not crazy about it either.”

“Then I won’t leave you.” Even as he spoke, the burbling cry came again, and she heard his nails click.

“No, it’s all right. I know you wouldn’t leave me unless it was safe. Go do your hunting.”

“You are sure?”

“I’m sure,” she said as firmly as possible.

He rewarded her with a swift, hard kiss, then disappeared across the clearing almost too quickly for her to follow. She tried to recover her relaxed attitude, but the jungle that had looked so peaceful only moments before now seemed fraught with danger. Every sound, every rustle of the leaves, made her jump. One sound repeated several times before she focused on it—a little whimper. The soft noise reminded her of a child’s cry.

Don’t be ridiculous, she told herself. No one would leave a child out in the jungle.

The sound came again, and she couldn’t ignore the distress in the low cry. Drawn to her feet despite her best intentions, she very cautiously approached the edge of the jungle. A leaf trembled, and then a tiny, ugly head poked through the vegetation. Big dark eyes, set in a flat-nosed face with tiny ears and a wide mouth, stared back at her. The little creature’s mottled skin fell in heavy wrinkles around its face, all the colors of the jungles mingling in the soft folds.

“What’s the matter, little one?” she asked. “Are you lost?”

Aidon’s warning echoed in the back of her mind, but it was hard to believe that this tiny little creature could possibly be dangerous. She went down on her knees and patted her lap encouragingly. It studied her out of those big black eyes, then suddenly darted out into the clearing, stubby little legs churning, and jumped into her lap. Its—no, his—whole body was quivering, and she gathered him close, murmuring reassuring noises. He was surprisingly heavy for such a small creature, but he was a reassuringly solid weight in her lap.

“Let’s get you something to eat,” she said softly and started to climb to her feet.

The leaves rustled again, and once more the vegetation parted, but this time, no tiny head emerged. Instead, a nightmarish creature reared over her. Its body was covered with short, spiky fur in murky greens and sickly golds. Six long, thin legs were matched with six bulbous yellow eyes and a mouth that gaped open to reveal multiple rows of teeth. As she gasped in horror, clear liquid dripped from its teeth and hissed as it fell on the surrounding leaves.

God, she was a fool. Why hadn’t she listened to Aidon? The little creature in her arms snarled, fierce despite his small size, and she started to scramble slowly backward. All six of the eyes seemed to focus on her, and a long, furry leg advanced into the clearing. The creature hissed as a shaft of sunlight fell across its leg, and she had a sudden desperate hope. If the light bothered it, maybe she and the animal in her arms would be safe in the center of the clearing. She scrambled faster, but despite its obvious distaste for sunlight, the creature kept advancing.

Why hadn’t she told Aidon that she loved him? In spite of her terror, that thought kept circling in her mind. He would blame himself, she knew, and any hope he had of making peace with himself would be gone forever.

The creature lifted its leg again, and she saw it ended in a single long, dagger-like claw. She curled her body around the small creature in her arms and bowed her head.

An angry roar echoed through the clearing. Oh God, another predator. She was almost too scared to look up, and her mouth fell open as Aidon raced past her. He flung himself at the nightmare creature, and their bodies came together with a loud crash. The creature hissed, and Aidon growled as their bodies tumbled together, their movements too fast for her shocked brain to process. One of the creature’s legs fell to the ground, oozing green fluid, and then another.

Too paralyzed to move at first, she finally came to her senses and scrambled away from the fight.

Seconds later, it was over. The dismembered creature lay bleeding on the ground, and Aidon turned to her, his eyes wild. He crossed to her in one stride before pulling her up in his arms and frantically checking her body for injuries.

“Hanna! Are you injured? Can you ever forgive me for leaving you?”

“I’m fine,” she said even though tears were trickling down her cheeks. “I was so scared, but I should have known you’d come for me. I love you, Aidon.”

His frenzied movements stopped, and he stared at her, his face expressionless.

Maybe I shouldn’t have—

Before she even had a chance to finish the thought, he was kissing her, his mouth hungry and demanding. He started to lift her up his body, and the little creature still cradled against her snarled.

Aidon drew back, his claws extended.

“Don’t hurt him!” she cried. “He’s just a baby.”

“A baby? That’s a war beast. Where did it come from?”

“Out of the jungle. I heard him whimpering—that’s why I was so close to the edge. I’m so, so sorry that I didn’t listen to you.” The war beast butted his head against her. “But at least we saved him.”

Aidon’s brow creased as he looked behind him at the jungle.

“You need to put him back. If his mother comes looking for him… Let’s just say, that’s a fight I don’t want to have.”

“But you said yourself he’s just a baby. What if he can’t find her?” She looked at him pleadingly, and he sighed.

“I doubt she’s gone far. They’re very protective mothers. I suppose I could take a quick look.” He pointed across the clearing at the rocks around the pool. “You go and conceal yourself among the rocks. I’ll see if I can find his mother.”

Reluctantly, she handed over the baby. He started to whimper again as soon as he left her arms.

“Don’t worry, little one,” she said, stroking his wrinkled little head. “Aidon will find your mama for you.”

“Now hide,” he ordered.

“Yes, Aidon,” she said obediently and hurried across the clearing. As she ducked down behind a large boulder, she saw him step into the jungle. Her heart pounded in her chest as she waited for him to return, but she didn’t have long to wait. He returned a few minutes later, the baby still snuggled against his chest, and she raced over to meet him.

“What happened? Couldn’t you find her?”

The little war beast wiggled happily at the sound of her voice, and Aidon handed him over.

“The mother is dead. It looks as though she had an injured leg, and the spirin”—he gestured at the body behind him—“must have taken her unawares. It normally wouldn’t have been a contest.”

She snuggled the baby closer. “Oh, you poor little thing. But don’t worry. We’ll take care of you now.”

“Hanna, they’re not intended to be pets.”

“But he’s an orphan. You can’t leave him out here to fend for himself. Please, Aidon.”

He sighed. “Why do I feel as if I am never going to win an argument with you?”

“Because you know I’m right?”

“All right. You can keep him—on one condition.”

“What condition?”

“Put him down now. We have things to discuss.”

The heat in his eyes sent a flare of nervous excitement racing through her body.

“But what if he runs away?”

“He won’t. He’s bonded to you as his new mother.” He stalked closer. “Put him down, my mate.”

Her mouth went dry, and she carefully placed the little creature on the ground. He trotted off happily to investigate the remains of their lunch.

“That food won’t hurt him, will it?”

“Nothing ever bothers the stomach of a war beast,” Aidon said as he stepped closer still, pressing the hard warmth of his body against hers. The heavy weight of his cock pushed against her stomach, and she felt a corresponding pulse of desire low in her stomach.

“You disobeyed me,” he growled.

“I didn’t go into the jungle,” she argued half-heartedly, her thoughts distracted by the increasing ache in her pussy.

“I’m not going to let you put yourself in danger. No matter what I have to do to get it through your pretty little head.”

“Um—”

“But we’ll come back to that. You said that you love me. Is that true?”

His face was hard, his eyes fierce, but she could see the pulse in his throat beating.

“Of course it’s true. I’m sorry it took me so long to realize it. I’m even more sorry that I didn’t have the courage to tell you until now. But I do love you.”

“Thank the gods. I love you too, my mate.”

His head descended again, and this time he didn’t stop kissing her. He didn’t stop as he carried her down to the ground. He didn’t stop as he lifted her body to his. He didn’t stop as he buried himself so far inside her she couldn’t tell where he ended and she began. And he didn’t stop as she climaxed in an endless shuddering wave. It wasn’t until his own climax overtook him that he left her mouth, roaring out her name as he exploded inside her in long, pulsing waves of heat.

He collapsed down over her, enclosing her in the warmth of his body, and she clung to him with her arms and legs, pressing soft kisses to his chest and neck and anywhere else she could reach. She had barely caught her breath when he lifted his head, his eyes still fierce and hungry.

“I need to claim you again. The traditional way.”

She didn’t argue as he flipped her over onto her hands and knees. Despite his urgent lovemaking, his still-hard cock stretched her open as he slid into her, and she gasped.

“You look so beautiful like this, saachi.” He traced a finger down her spine, and she could feel the faint edge of his claws, sending a pleasurable shiver over her body. “How do your people discipline disobedient females?”

“They don’t,” she said defiantly. Or at least she tried to. His fingers were now dancing around her swollen clit, and that was all she could focus on.

His hand moved, circling the place where they were joined, gathering their combined wetness, before he reached the puckered star of her anus. Her breath caught. His touch was both arousing and slightly threatening. No one had ever touched her there before. He teased the sensitive flesh, awakening nerve endings she had never known existed. By the time he pressed inside her, she was writhing beneath him. His entrance into her body caused a burning stretch that only added to her arousal. The additional fullness from his finger increased the already overwhelming stretch of his cock. Her whole body shuddered, perched on the edge of climax.

“Come for me, saachi,” he ordered as his other hand firmly pinched her distended clit.

Helpless to do anything but obey, she convulsed in his arms as he lowered his body over hers. He filled her, surrounded her, until she was lost in him. His hips thrust forward, slowly at first but rapidly increasing in speed as his mouth went unerringly to the bite mark on her neck. His finger was still buried in her dark channel, adding to the shocking fullness every time he entered her, and she was already balanced on the edge of another climax.

His frantic thrusting increased until he was pounding into her, and she tried to meet every stroke. His arm came up under her, grabbing her shoulder and holding her in place as he drove even harder into her helplessly overwhelmed body until he roared. Then his mouth clamped down on her neck, sending a shock wave of pain and pleasure through her body. Her vision sheeted white, and she was lost in helpless pleasure.

His body collapsed over hers, and she welcomed his heavy weight enclosing her in the warmth of his protection. Every part of her was raw and vulnerable and happy. She didn’t realize she was crying until a wet tongue licked away the tears. It took a moment for her to realize that Aidon’s head was still buried in her neck, and she opened her eyes to find her little war beast watching her anxiously.

She laughed, sending a delicious shudder through their still-joined bodies. “I don’t think he knows what to make of this.”

“Then he needs to learn. I intend to repeat it as often as possible.”

Aidon slowly withdrew from her body, sending another shiver of pleasure through her. His eyes heated, but he shook his head.

“I suspect you need a chance to recover. Would you like to swim?”

Now that they were separated, she was conscious of just how damp and sticky she was. Her hair hung in tangled tendrils around her face, and she could smell their combined essence. She wasn’t entirely sure she wanted to lose that, but she couldn’t deny that the thought of being clean was very appealing.

“A swim sounds wonderful.” She smiled up at him.

He picked her up and carried her to the pool, and if he didn’t quite give her a chance to recover, at least she was clean again the third time he took her.

Chapter Twenty-Two

“You called Trouble a war beast?” Hanna asked doubtfully as she watched the little creature sniffing around the edges of the room. Aidon had bestowed the name on him after an unfortunate earlier incident. After cleaning up the mess, he’d provided a box filled with leaf mold, and Trouble seemed to understand exactly how it was to be used.

“That’s what the offworlders called them. We used to call them artan. Many generations ago they would often accompany us on our hunts.”

They were sitting on the floor of his living room, and she was leaning back against the solid warmth of his body. She could feel the tension in his muscles.

“What happened to the war beasts?” she asked softly.

“They were one of the first victims when the planet was discovered. They were hunted or taken away to fight wars. We rarely see them anymore.”

Trouble came scampering back over to her and climbed up in her lap.

“But war beast? He’s so friendly.”

At that moment, Trouble yawned. His mouth opened almost as wide as his head, and she could see the serrated rows of teeth filling his mouth. She gulped.

“Oh. Why do so many Pardorian animals have so many teeth?”

“Survival, of course.”

Trying not to disturb Trouble, she twisted around to look up at Aidon. “But you don’t have them.”

“I could.” He opened his mouth, and she watched in horror as a second row of teeth appeared behind the first.

“No! If you ever want to come near my pussy again, you’d better keep those hidden. Forever.”

“A very powerful threat.” He laughed, and the teeth disappeared before he bent down to kiss her. Would she ever get used to this strange world? But the question reminded her of something she had been thinking about all afternoon.

“I want to eat some fruit,” she said softly.

“Why would you want to do that? You know it would chain you to Pardor.”

“Don’t you understand? I’m already tied to it because I’m tied to you. I love you, Aidon, and where you go, I go. You’ll have to return, and I will return with you. I don’t want to have to worry about what I can eat.”

He stirred restlessly, and she could tell he wanted to get up and pace, but she snuggled firmly against his chest.

“I don’t want to tie you to this place,” he said at last.

“Aren’t I tied to you?”

He growled, and his arms tightened around her. “Of course you are.”

“You see? Ties aren’t necessarily bad. I love you, and I’m learning to love Pardor. I think you already love it.”

He shook his head, but he didn’t argue any longer. The next morning when she sat down to breakfast, there was a bowl of fruit at her place.

“You know that you don’t have to do this,” he told her. “I love you no matter what.”

“I want to do it.” She picked up a piece of jinsar and popped it in her mouth. The sweet taste exploded across her tongue, and she sighed happily as she quickly consumed the rest of the bowl. After she was finished, she stared at her hand, willing the skin to change colors.

“What are you doing, saachi?”

“I was trying to see if I could change my form.”

“It’s a little soon,” he laughed. “And there is no guarantee that it will ever happen. It makes no difference to me.”

“I suppose it doesn’t really matter to me either. I just thought maybe I wouldn’t feel so helpless.”

“I have been considering that as well. I don’t think knowledge is enough—you need to be trained to defend yourself.”

She eyed him doubtfully. “I don’t think I’m much of a fighter.”

“You don’t need to be. But you should at least know enough to have a chance of escaping.” She must not have looked convinced because he added, “And I intend to teach you how to use weapons as well.”

“That might be kind of interesting,” she admitted.

“Then we will begin this morning.”

Trouble made a funny little bleating noise and pawed at her leg. She laughed as she picked him up. “It looks like Trouble agrees with you.”

A week later, Hanna gave a triumphant cry as one of her darts embedded in a target she had been aiming at. Aidon’s attempt to teach her to use weapons had not been entirely successful, but she had displayed a surprising aptitude for the small, heavy darts he had created from the thorns of a vicious-looking bush. The darts might not be fatal on their own, but their ends were dipped in a poisonous fluid that she had extracted from pitchat plants. So far the only victim of her darts had been one of the little red mice, but it had been horrifyingly effective. The little body had given a single spasm before collapsing. Even knowing that they were predatory scavengers, she had felt sick to her stomach. Aidon had gathered her close.

“I don’t want to kill anything,” she had whispered.

“I know, saachi. If the gods are willing, you will never need to do so. But if you are called upon to defend yourself, I want you to be ready.”

So the lessons had continued, although she confined herself to stationary targets.

“You did very well, my mate,” Aidon said.

Trouble made a soft bleat of agreement. He had been sitting at her feet, seeming to watch as she practiced, and now he gave her a pleading look. She laughed and picked him up, snuggling his warm little body against her as he licked her cheek enthusiastically.

“Sometimes I think he gets more of your kisses than I do,” Aidon complained.

“Since you won’t let him on the bed with us, I’m sure that’s not true. Didn’t I kiss you enough last night?”

“It’s never enough.” His eyes heated, and he leaned toward her, then froze.

“What—” Hanna started to speak, but Aidon put his hand over her mouth and pulled her close as he listened.

Her eyes were wide and startled, but she remained still as he extended his senses, scenting the air. A harsh odor, not part of the jungle, drifted past. Offworlders. And although he hoped he was wrong, the fact that they were so close to his home made him suspect that he was the target.

“There’s someone here,” he whispered in her ear. “Strangers.”

She gave a quick nod, but he felt her trembling. Trouble started to squirm in her arms, but she pulled him closer, scratching beneath his almost nonexistent ears, and he settled down.

Aidon listened for a moment longer, tracking the scents and sounds of the jungle, and decided that there were two males present. They were heading toward the river, below where his home was located, but much too close for comfort.

“I’m going to draw them away from here,” he said softly. “As soon as I’m out of sight, head back to the house. Lock the doors the way I showed you and hide until I return.”

“But what about you?”

“I only detect two of them.” The blood rushed through his veins, and he felt his lips curl into a fighting smile. “I can handle them.”

“But what if something goes wrong?”

“Saachi, I’ve spent the last fifteen years fighting in one way or another. I don’t lose.”

“Maybe they’re not here to cause trouble,” she said hopefully.

“The only time strangers come into the jungle is when they intend to cause harm.” He gave her a quick, hard hug, then transformed into his public form. “Now remember what I said. As soon as I’m out of sight, head straight back to the house as quietly as you can. Can you find your way?”

She bit her lip but nodded.

“Good girl. Don’t worry—everything is going to be fine.”

Despite the fear he could see on her face, she nodded again, and when he turned away, she didn’t attempt to call him back. He took one last look over her shoulder just before the jungle closed around him. She was standing where he left her, her face pale but determined as she raised a hand in salute. He lifted his hand in return and started his search.

The jungle was thick around him, vines hanging heavily, but he had been slipping through these vines since he was a child, and he moved silently. The two strangers were up ahead, carrying on a loud-voiced conversation, and he shook his head in disgust. If they were trying to camouflage their presence, they weren’t doing a very good job.

As he got closer, he could tell that they were arguing about the right way back to the river. Fools. They deserved what he was about to deliver.

He thought he heard a faint sound behind him, but when he whirled around, there was no one there. Fuck. He hadn’t hunted in far too long if he was no longer capable of separating prey and predator. Beneath the normal sounds of jungle life, he caught the distant rush of the river. Good. He would take them on the riverbank.

As the water drew closer, he closed the distance between them. Trees were beginning to thin, and he could see the rocky bank that made up this portion of the river shore. Intent on catching up with his prey, he slipped more quickly through the trees. It wasn’t until the ground beneath him disappeared that he realized what a fool he’d been. His last thought as he tumbled into the pit trap was of Hanna.

Hanna stared after Aidon as he disappeared into the jungle. He didn’t seem concerned—he had even looked excited at the prospect of facing whoever was in the jungle with them—but her heart beat a scared pulse. What if there were more than two of them?

Should she go after him? Her fighting skills might have improved under his tutelage, but she suspected they would be completely inadequate against a trained fighter. As she stood there, trying to decide what to do, she caught the sound of another body moving through the jungle. Something big and heavy was following in Aidon’s path. Was it another spirin? But even as she wondered, she knew that no native Pardorian animal would ever make so much noise. She had to go after him. She couldn’t let him be ambushed from behind.

As soon as the sounds faded, she slipped into the jungle. Trouble peered over her arm, his whole body quivering, but he remained unusually silent. He seemed to understand that they were on the hunt. She tried to step the way that Aidon had shown her, looking for harder surfaces that wouldn’t rustle beneath her feet, sliding between vines rather than pushing through them. Each time her foot disturbed a leaf or she heard the vines scrape together, she quivered, sure that she was telegraphing her presence to anyone else in the jungle. Her hands were damp with sweat, and her knees shook, but she kept going. When she heard the sounds of the river up ahead, she slowed down, stopping to listen between each step.

A loud cry echoed through the jungle, and her heart skipped a beat. That didn’t sound like Aidon. She wanted to race forward, but she forced herself to maintain a slow approach.

When she heard voices in front of her, she ducked down behind the nearest bush. Trouble gave a low growl, almost too quiet for her to hear, but she could feel his body vibrating. He knew there was something wrong.

As cautiously as possible, she peered through the branches. Her heart thudded against her ribs as she saw four huge males standing around a pit in the ground. She had a sinking feeling she knew who was in the pit. What was more, she had the uneasy feeling that she had seen these males before. Their coloring and weaponry reminded her of the occupants of Chotgor’s mansion back on Hothrest.

Her suspicions were confirmed a moment later when Chotgor came stalking up from the riverbank. He was almost unrecognizable—one side of his head and one arm were heavily scarred, the flesh looking almost melted, and she remembered the terrible fire at the mansion.

A Pardorian in the public form walked behind him, and her heart sank even further. If Aidon’s own people had turned against him, how could she help him?

Chotgor and the Pardorian stopped at the edge of the trap and looked down. Chotgor laughed triumphantly, but she thought a flash of dismay crossed the Pardorian’s face.

“You said you wished to hunt for arslan,” he said quietly.

“You didn’t really think I went to all the trouble of kidnapping your female just for a stupid animal, did you?”

The Pardorian didn’t answer, and Chotgor turned his attention back to the trap.

“Is he conscious?”

“I don’t think so, sir. He hit his head on the way down.”

A lightning streak of fear made her shiver, her arms tightening instinctively on Trouble. He gave a muffled whimper, and she could have sworn the Pardorian looked in their direction, but his expression never changed.

“He better not be dead yet,” Chotgor snarled. “I intend to take my time with him before I kill him.”

“No, sir. His chest is still moving.”

Oh, thank God. Relief made her almost dizzy, but she forced herself to concentrate on the conversation.

“Good. Use the net and get him out of there. We’ll take him to our camp and see if we can wake him up.” Chotgor laughed, the sound sending a shiver down her spine. “I want him to be conscious when I get started.”

She watched in trembling silence as they threw one of the spirin’s nets down into the hole and then hauled up Aidon. The net had already pulled tight around his body, but he hung limply in its strands, so still that for a dreadful moment she thought they had been wrong about him being alive. Chotgor apparently agreed because he approached and pressed a scarred hand to Aidon’s neck. He grunted, then smacked Aidon’s face. His body rocked back from the blow, but he didn’t react.

“Bring him,” Chotgor ordered.

Two of his henchmen strung Aidon’s body between them, and the whole party headed for the riverbank. The Pardorian cast a last look over his shoulder, and she could have sworn he was looking directly at her. Was he trying to tell her something?

Her body still trembled, and her mind raced in frantic circles as she tried to figure out how she could help Aidon. As much as she wanted to charge after him, she didn’t stand a chance against six males, and if Chotgor captured her, she had no doubt he would use her to hurt Aidon.

She needed help. Help…his grandfather! He had helped her before, and despite Aidon’s doubts about how much he cared, she was sure he would help her again. He was only one man, unless she could persuade him to bring others with him, but he was the only hope she had.

As she retraced her steps through the jungle, not moving as cautiously this time, she realized that the light was fading. She would have to make the trip to the village in the dark. All the things that Aidon had warned her about, everything that she had seen over the past week, floated through her head. Her hands were shaking so badly that she almost dropped Trouble. But despite her terror, this was the only way that she could think of to help Aidon. She had to do it.

As soon as she reached the clearing and was back on familiar ground, she headed for their house at a run. Trouble whined, and she let him down to run next to her. He stayed glued to her side.

When she reached the house, she hesitated momentarily, her breath rasping in her lungs as she tried to think. She knew Aidon kept weapons here, but the only ones she could use were the poisoned darts. Could she take them and go back after him? She stared out at the lengthening shadows as she tried to decide and finally concluded that it wasn’t a sensible option. No matter how good her aim, she didn’t think she could drop six males before they stopped her. Instead, she quickly placed the darts in her wrist sheath and headed for the door. Trouble whined when she tried to get him to stay in the house.

“I have to go to the village. You can’t come with me.”

But despite her best efforts, he managed to slip past her when she opened the door, then hovered just out of reach. She didn’t have time to chase him down, and to be honest, having him at her side made her feel a little better. Urgency was a drumbeat in her veins. Taking a deep breath, she set off at a run.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Aidon snapped back to consciousness with a start, but he was too well trained to reveal that he was awake. His head ached, and he could feel dried blood matting his hair, but it was a minor injury. He would heal. He was tied to a tree, his arms stretched painfully behind his back by the rope connecting them. More rope circled his waist and pulled his feet apart. The tight knots dug into his skin, but he should be able to slither free of them as soon as he evaluated the situation.

His head had sagged forward over his chest, and he left it there, using his other senses to gauge what was going on. How could he have been such a fool as to be captured by a simple pit trap—and how had the strangers known enough to create one?

His first thought was of Hanna, but to his great relief, he couldn’t detect her sweet scent. Instead, he caught the acrid smell of the intruders. Teasing apart their individual scents, he could detect four—no, five. His heart sank as he recognized Chotgor and realized why they were here. Apparently the bastard hadn’t died in the fire after all.

Another scent drifted past, and he almost flinched—Chotgor had a Pardorian with him? Aidon would have sworn that no Pardorian would ever assist an offworlder against one of their own. Perhaps with his mixed blood, they didn’t consider him to be a true Pardorian. There was something elusive but familiar about the Pardorian’s scent. Could it even be someone that he knew?

“I don’t understand why we don’t just take over the bastard’s house. I hate this fucking jungle.” The harsh voice came from close by, but Aidon remained limp in his bonds.

“You heard what that Pardorian said—that he would have set traps.”

“Yeah, well I think I’d rather take my chance on some theoretical trap than face another one of those things that took Deerel.”

“He said we would be safe here on the beach.”

“We’d better be. I don’t like the green son of a bitch.”

“Just be patient. You know Chotgor will let us take care of him as soon as we’re back in the city. Him and his bitch.”

The first man laughed. “As long as we get to play with her first. It’s been too long.”

“You go two days without getting your dick wet and you think it’s too long, Chindek.”

“Well, it is.”

The ribald jokes continued as the two males moved away, leaving Aidon to consider their conversation. If they were avoiding his house, that meant that Hanna should be safe. Although he didn’t understand why they would think he had extensive security measures. Why had the Pardorian told them that? For that matter, why had he suggested that they set up camp here? While the clearing beside the river was safer in some ways, it could also be far more dangerous if they attracted the attention of one of the river predators. Had the Pardorian known that? It certainly sounded as if he was not assisting them voluntarily if they were threatening his female.

Even as Aidon thought that, a hand brushed against his where they were tied behind the tree. Three slow taps. A hunter signal to indicate that he should wait.

“Hey, you.” A new voice, harsh and angry, cut through the night. “What are you doing with the prisoner? Get away from him.”

“I was simply ensuring that his bonds were still tight.” The Pardorian’s voice also sounded oddly familiar.

“Oh yeah?”

A rough hand jerked on the already tight ropes, causing them to cut into his flesh, but he forced his body to remain limp and motionless.

“I reckon they’re tight enough, but you stay away from him.”

“If that is what you want.”

“Yeah, that’s what I want. And if you don’t want your female to come to any harm, you better pay attention to what I want.”

The Pardorian did not respond, and both males moved away. Aidon couldn’t detect anyone else close to him, so he chanced a look from under his eyelashes.

The tree he was tied to was at the very edge of the jungle, and he recognized the long spit of rocky land beside the river. They were downstream and around a bend from his house. As long as they stayed away from it, Hanna would be safe until he could return. Night had fallen while he was unconscious, the river and surrounding jungle veiled in darkness. A large bonfire roared on the beach a short distance away, and he counted the figures he could see in the firelight, confirming his earlier estimates. Even from here, he could recognize Chotgor despite the terrible scars revealed by the flickering flames. There was no doubt the other male was here for revenge.

The males passed a bottle back and forth as they sat by the fire. The Pardorian kept his distance, his back to the fire so as not to hinder his ability to see his surroundings. Aidon tried to identify him, but the light was too uncertain and it had been too long since he had seen the other members of his village.

One of the males staggered away from the fire, moving over to the river to take a piss. Aidon saw the Pardorian watching him, but he didn’t warn the fool. The male groaned with relief just as an usan tendril snaked up out of the water, circled his waist, and dragged him under. He didn’t even have the chance to scream, but the splash aroused the attention of the other males.

“What the fuck was that? Where’s Jivet?” Two other males approached the riverbank, but unfortunately, they were smart enough not to get too close. They called for their missing colleague a few times, then returned to the fire. One of them stalked over to the Pardorian.

“What the hell just happened?”

“I warned you that the river was dangerous,” the Pardorian said calmly.

The male snarled. “We’re pretty dangerous too. You’d best remember that.”

“Of course. How could I forget?”

Frustrated, the male stomped back to the fire. “I’m tired of this, Chotgor. Can’t we just kill him and get it over with?”

“No, Chindek. I’m not just going to kill him; I’m going to make him pay. He destroyed my operation and left me to die in that fire. I will have my revenge!” Chotgor’s voice reached an unstable pitch as he yelled at Chindek.

Aidon saw the other males exchanging glances and wondered if they heard that note of insanity as well.

“Are you sure that this is the right male?” one of them asked tentatively. “He doesn’t look the same.”

“Damn Pardorians can disguise themselves. My contact traced him here. I know he’s the same one.”

His contact? Who would have the knowledge to identify Aidon to Chotgor, let alone know enough to send him to his home? Aidon picked up his jobs through a central guild, but they were committed to maintaining the privacy of their employees. If that were no longer true or if they had a traitor in their midst…

His attention snapped back to the fire as Chotgor stood.

“I’m tired of waiting. Wake him up.”

“How?”

“I don’t know,” he said impatiently. “Throw water in his face.”

Chindek looked to the river and shook his head. “I’m not going near that in the dark.”

“Fool,” Chotgor snapped. “Aren’t any of you brave enough to fetch water?”

His males looked at each other, but none of them stepped forward. One of them suddenly groaned and clutched his stomach.

“Pretending to be ill doesn’t excuse your cowardice.” Chotgor started to turn away just as the male bent over and vomited up the contents of his stomach. The other males stepped back in disgust, but the first male’s spasms didn’t cease. He dropped to his knees, still retching, and Aidon saw the bile turn to blood before the male collapsed.

The other males stared at him in shock. Even Chotgor seemed stunned at the rapid demise before he turned to the Pardorian with a snarl.

“What happened to him?”

“He must have eaten something that disagreed with him.”

“He had the same thing we did.”

“It wouldn’t take much—if the wrong kind of leaf or berry fell in his food, it could easily be fatal.” The Pardorian stared at Chotgor, his face impassive. “I warned you that the jungle was dangerous.”

“And I warned you that if you wanted your female to live, you would provide safe passage.”

“Three of you are still alive. You are faring much better than most offworlders who enter the jungle.”

“You’d better pray that the odds remain in our favor.”

Chotgor turned his back on the Pardorian and rejoined his two remaining followers. The three of them huddled by the fire, their low-voiced conversation too quiet for Aidon to hear. When he looked back at the Pardorian, the male moved his hand, sending another hunting signal: Now.

Praying that he was doing the right thing by putting his trust in this unknown male, he groaned and raised his head.

Chotgor immediately strode over to him.

“I know who you are,” he snarled. “And you’re going to pay.”

Aidon briefly considered playing innocent, but there was no point. Even if Chotgor believed him, he would simply kill him more quickly.

“If you are still alive, then I must be losing my touch. But I’m flattered that you thought me worth the chase.” He deliberately let his gaze travel to the body crumpled by the fire. “You seem to have lost one of your followers.”

“I don’t care as long as I have you begging for mercy.”

Behind Chotgor’s back, Aidon could see his two remaining males exchange glances. The Pardorian stood to one side, and Aidon caught a slight movement as he flicked something at the nearest male. The scent of surat berries reached him, and he almost smiled. The male was about to discover just how attractive surat berries were to certain small but vicious flying insects.

“You don’t believe me?” Chotgor loomed over him and raised a knife. “Will you believe me when I’m stripping the skin from your body an inch at a time?”

“I don’t believe you’re going to get the chance.”

The male who had received the berry juice suddenly yelled and slapped his arm. Chotgor looked over his shoulder, and Aidon took advantage of his distraction. He changed his form to that of a Thurdal—a tall, slender race with remarkably agile bodies—and slipped free of his bonds. Chotgor was still staring at his follower, now frantically trying to reach his back. He dropped to the ground, trying to grind himself against the dirt, but Aidon knew that would only make the insects more vicious.

Aidon stepped to one side and transformed again, this time to his true form, and melted back into the jungle. The Pardorian mirrored his actions and joined him. Together they watched as Chotgor ignored his injured male and turned back to the tree. He roared in outrage when he saw the empty ropes.

“Find him!” he bellowed.

His one remaining follower was crouched next to the now unmoving body of the first male. He stared up at Chotgor.

“How? Everyone is dead except for us. We don’t even have your guide anymore.”

“Are you going to let the jungle take care of them?” the Pardorian asked softly.

“No. This ends here.” Aidon darted a look at the other male. Something about him still seemed familiar. “Do we know each other?”

A smile twisted the Pardorian’s lips. “I’m Naiz.”

The memory snapped into place. They had been friends when he was a child, but Naiz and his family had left the village before Aidon had hit his troubled teens.

An outraged bellow drew their attention back to the clearing. Chotgor and his remaining companion were fighting. The knife flashed in Chotgor’s hand, and then he was alone on the beach as the other man crumpled to the ground.

“Your grandfather used to say that rage was the enemy of reason,” Naiz said.

“He always did have a way with words,” Aidon admitted.

“I’m going to find you!” Chotgor roared. The knife in his hand dripped blood as he gazed into the jungle.

“Do you need assistance?” Naiz asked.

“I think you provided enough of that. Why did you? I know they have your female.”

Naiz’s face turned grim. “They took her while I was at the market. Chotgor told me that they wanted to hunt an arslan even though it’s forbidden. I didn’t like it, but I was willing to go along to keep her safe. It wasn’t until we arrived here that I knew they were after you.” He shrugged. “I wasn’t going to let them hurt a fellow Pardorian, especially not you, my friend.”

“Thank you. As soon as I take care of Chotgor and make sure that my female is safe, we will return and rescue yours.”

Naiz clasped his forearm, then Aidon stepped into the clearing. He didn’t bother to change his form—Chotgor would never live to tell the tale.

Chotgor’s eyes widened as Aidon emerged from the jungle.

“Who the hell are you?”

“I’m the one you’ve been hunting.”

“How did you disguise yourself so quickly?” Chotgor asked suspiciously.

“It’s not a disguise. It’s who I am.”

“I don’t care what you look like. As long as you die.”

Chotgor raised his knife and ran at him, his fighting skills obliterated by rage. Aidon waited, letting the other male come to him. Just before he reached him, Chotgor staggered and slapped a hand to his neck. A dart lodged there, and he fell to his knees even as he pulled it free.

Aidon stared in disbelief as Chotgor collapsed. Leaves rustled, and then Hanna stepped out of the jungle.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Hanna ignored the bodies lying on the ground, only interested in Aidon. Blood trickled down the side of his beloved face, but he was alive, alive and healthy. She threw herself at him, and he caught her as she burst into tears.

“You’re all right. Oh God, Aidon, I’ve been so scared.”

“Hush, saachi. I’m just fine. But why are you here?”

“Because she didn’t believe me when I told her you could take care of yourself.” Tanor stepped out of the jungle, and Aidon stared at him as the rest of the villagers who had accompanied her joined them.

“I don’t understand. What are all of you doing here?”

“Hanna said you needed help. So we came.” Aidon’s grandfather snorted as he looked around the clearing. “I see we were too late to join the fun.”

“Fun?” Hanna sniffled. “Chotgor was going to kill him!”

“You went to the village? By yourself?” Aidon still looked stunned.

“Not exactly. Trouble went with me.”

“I told you to go to the house and hide! Don’t you know what could have happened to you? I just watched three males die because they didn’t respect the jungle.”

She gulped, glad she hadn’t known that before she’d left. The run along the river path had been terrifying enough.

She ran as far as she could, walked long enough to catch her breath, then started running again. As night closed in, the familiar sounds of the jungle became strange and threatening. She worried about Trouble, but he kept close to her side. Once he growled and came to a halt, peering out over the dark water. She paused next to him, her heart pounding in her throat. A slithering sound came from the darkness, followed by a quiet plop as something disappeared beneath the water.

She waited anxiously as Trouble sniffed the air, but he only looked up at her, his tongue lolling, and started trotting up the path again. She followed behind him, her hands shaking, and took a firm grip on the blue pipe.

They were almost at the turnoff for the landing pad when an eerie cry came from ahead of them. Trouble stepped in front of her, peering into the darkness. His small body somehow looked larger as a long, challenging moan came from his throat. The cry sounded again in response, and Trouble looked ready to leap into the darkness.

Despite the terror racing through her veins, she couldn’t let him tackle whatever was hiding there. She bent down and gathered him up in one arm, gripping her dart in her opposite hand. Trouble quivered, straining in her arm, but she wasn’t about to let him free. Another cry, and then a strange, lizard-like creature landed on the path ahead of them. It wasn’t large, no bigger than a small dog, but as it opened its mouth to let out another cry, she could see the multiple rows of teeth so common on Pardor. It prowled toward them, seemingly unconcerned by the increasing crescendo of growls from Trouble. Yellow eyes gleamed, and moonlight reflected off its scales, mottled in a shifting pattern of light and dark.

She took a deep breath, praying that her hand wouldn’t shake, and let the dart fly. Her aim was true. The sharp point buried itself in the creature’s eye. She fought back a wave of sickness as the creature screeched and collapsed to the ground, but she had no time to succumb to weakness. Keeping hold of Trouble in case he decided to investigate the body, she stepped carefully over it. As soon as it was safely behind them, she let Trouble down and ran again.

A gasp of relief escaped when she reached the wide clearing where the village was located. She thought she detected the soft glow of lights deep in the jungle, but it could just as easily have been moonlight reflecting off the leaves. Still panting, she headed for where she thought Tanor’s cabin was located, but as soon as she stepped into the jungle, doubt assailed her. It looked like she was alone in the moonlight-splattered jungle.

God only knew what was happening to Aidon while she hesitated. She didn’t have time to search for his grandfather. Instead, she did the only thing that she could think to do.

“Tanor,” she called. The first cry was almost too soft to be heard, but she cleared her throat and tried again. “Tanor!”

This time her voice echoed through the jungle, and everything suddenly went still.

Her hand went back to her darts as she prayed that Aidon’s grandfather had heard her. The shadows around her seemed to shift, and she desperately tried to see any sign of a response. Then the vague, shadowy forms consolidated, and she realized she was surrounded by a group of Pardorian warriors, all of them in their true forms.

Her mouth went dry as she remembered Aidon’s words and Tanor’s warning.

“Who are you?” a voice asked. Even now she knew that they were there, they seemed to blend into the jungle, and it felt like the jungle itself was talking to her.

“I’m Hanna. Please, I need help—Aidon needs help.”

A muffled whisper echoed through the group, and then a tall figure stepped forward. Her hands shaking, she raised a dart.

“Please don’t come any closer. I don’t want to hurt anybody, but I have to speak to Tanor.”

A hand clamped down on the wrist holding the dart, and she struggled wildly.

“Easy, girl. No one is going to hurt you.”

She sobbed in relief, and she recognized Tanor’s voice.

“Chotgor captured Aidon,” she said desperately. “He’s going to torture him and then kill him. Please, you have to help him.”

“Who is Chotgor?”

“He’s a terrible man—I mean a male. Aidon thought he was dead back on Hothrest, but he’s not. He’s here, and he’s going to hurt Aidon.”

“Offworlders?” one of the shadowy figures said with a snarl.

“Careless of the boy to let him live,” Tanor said disapprovingly. “I taught him better than that.”

“Then you can tell him I told you so—but you have to rescue him first.”

“How many offworlders?” It sounded like the same voice from the shadows.

“I saw five.”

Tanor snorted. “He won’t need our help.”

“Didn’t you hear me? I said there were five of them. Oh, and a sixth who looked like a Pardorian.”

Another muttered whisper filled the air around her, and this one sounded angry. She shivered.

“No Pardorian would ever side with an offworlder against one of our own,” the male in the shadows said, and there was a hum of agreement.

“Please,” she repeated. More shifting and murmurs came from the shadows, but no one stepped forward. Tears sprang from her eyes, but she dashed them away with an impatient hand. Why had she even tried? If she had stayed, maybe she would have been able to help. Lifting her chin, she started to turn back the way she’d come.

“Where are you going?” Tanor asked.

“To help Aidon, of course. I really thought you cared for him. I guess I was wrong.”

Tanor drew back as if she had slapped him. “Of course I care for him. I just think he’s quite capable of dealing with this himself.”

“Just like you thought he was capable of spending the night in a cravan’s nest by himself?”

“Yes,” he said without hesitating. “And he was.”

“But he thought it was because you didn’t care. You should have told him that you were proud of him.”

It was hard to tell in the shifting shadows, but she thought he looked uncomfortable.

“Perhaps you’re right.” He sighed. “I suspect that he would prefer that I keep you here and safe, but if you insist, I will accompany you.”

“We will accompany you.” Another male stepped forward, and she recognized him as the previous speaker. “Aidon is one of us.”

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“You should still stay here,” Tanor insisted.

“I’m going with you,” she said, glaring at him.

He sighed again, but he parted the curtain of vegetation and followed her out into the rocky clearing. More Pardorians streamed out behind him until at least ten of them were gathered around.

Now that they were in direct moonlight, Trouble was clearly visible, and she heard more murmurs.

“You have a war beast?” one of the warriors asked, clearly shocked, and started to bend toward Trouble. Her pet snarled, revealing all those rows of teeth. The warrior immediately stepped back.

“He’s just a baby,” she said quickly. “He doesn’t mean any harm.”

Tanor laughed. “I see you know as little about war beasts as you do about my grandson.” When she glared at him again, he held up a hand. “I apologize. You have obviously been more successful in reaching either of them then I could ever be.”

The party began the journey up the riverbank. They appeared to be moving at no more than a fast walk, but she had to run to keep up. After the long run to get here and the confrontation with the villagers, her legs trembled, and she could feel exhaustion wearing her down. She began to drop behind, but Tanor immediately came back for her.

“I will carry you,” he announced, reaching for her. Trouble growled, and he stopped.

“I can make it,” she insisted.

“Don’t be a fool, girl. That boy will have my head if anything happens to you, and it’s easy to make mistakes when you’re tired.”

The horror of her encounters on the way to the village was still fresh in her mind. She nodded reluctantly, then bent down to scoop up Trouble.

“Can you carry both of us?”

He snorted a laugh as he scooped up both of them, carrying her as if she was a baby. Trouble growled again, but she patted him reassuringly, and he settled down in her arms.

If she thought they had been going quickly before, she now realized how much they must have slowed the pace for her. They practically flew down the river path. No one hesitated as they passed the dead lizard creature, its bones now shining in the moonlight, but Tanor looked down at her.

“Was that your handiwork?” he asked. He wasn’t even breathing heavily despite their speed.

She shuddered. “I shot him with one of my darts.”

“An adequate kill,” he admitted, then sighed. “I am too used to the habit of faint praise. The gurvel are tricky and difficult to kill despite their size. You did well, girl.”

A flash of warmth filled her at his words.

“Thank you, Tanor.”

“I find that I am glad that my grandson found you.”

“Even though I’m an offworlder?”

“I don’t care where you come from as long as you don’t leave him. You would destroy him as his mother destroyed his father. No male can exist without his mate.”

“I have no intention of ever leaving him,” she said firmly. “I’ve started eating the Pardorian fruit as well.”

His eyes gleamed with approval, but he didn’t say anything further. The rocking motion of the run and the night air breezing past her cheeks would have made her sleepy if it weren’t for her constant anxiety about Aidon. She replayed Tanor’s words in her mind and almost bolted upright as she realized what he had said.

“If Aidon bonded with me when he bit me on the ship, doesn’t that mean he would have died if he let me go?”

“Yes. That’s why I tried to feed you fruit that first day. I wanted you to be tied to him as well.”

“That idiot,” she muttered. “He was still planning on taking me somewhere ‘safe,’ even knowing what would happen.”

“Your happiness was more important to him than his own well-being. It’s why his father let his mother go.”

“Aidon went looking for her, you know. But she died trying to rescue a group of refugees.”

Tanor sighed. “She wasn’t a bad female, but she never accepted Pardor—she never belonged here.”

Silence fell for a few moments, then she peeped up at him. “What happened to your mate?”

“I didn’t form a mate bond. I cared for my female very much, but we weren’t truly bonded. I have always regretted that, but perhaps it was for the best. It meant that I was around to care for Aidon after she died from a wasting sickness.”

There was a sudden scuffle from up ahead, and Tanor stopped in his tracks. Hanna looked on in horror as three enormous tentacles reared up out of the river, trying to snatch the Pardorians off the path. The creature seized one of them, but before it could drag him away, another warrior cut through the tentacle. It was like an obscene dance, the tentacles rising and the warriors ducking and weaving around them almost too fast to see. Another tentacle severed, and then all was silent as the creature disappeared back into the dark waters. She felt sick when she realized that this was where she had heard the noise from the river earlier. Apparently she hadn’t been enough to tempt the river monster.

By the time they reached Aidon’s house a short time later, her exhaustion had vanished in a rush of jittering nerves.

“Can you show us the way, or do we need to track them?” Tanor asked softly.

“Put me down. I can show you.”

To her great relief, she was able to retrace her steps even though the jungle looked strange and unfamiliar in the darkness. They reached the clearing where she had last seen Aidon just in time to see Chotgor roar and advance on Aidon, his knife in his hand. Without conscious thought, a dart was in her hand and she was throwing. She saw it hit Chotgor’s neck and saw him crumple, but she ignored him, flying past to throw herself into Aidon’s welcoming arms.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Aidon pulled Hanna more firmly against him, still shocked that she had made the dangerous trip along the river in order to bring help—for him. Despite his pride at her bravery, terror iced his veins at the many things that could have happened to her.

“You should have listened to me and hidden at the house,” he said firmly. “And you should not have brought her back with you,” he added, addressing his grandfather.

The old man snorted. “I would have had to tie her down to stop her.”

“I had to know you were all right,” she insisted. Her eyes were still wet with tears, but she didn’t back down.

He sighed and hugged her close. “You will make me old before my time, saachi.”

“Nonsense,” his grandfather snapped. “She is an excellent mate.”

“You approve of Hanna?”

“Why would I not?”

“She is an offworlder.” Like my mother.

“That does not concern me. As long as she cares for you—and is willing to commit her life to you—that is all that matters to me.”

Aidon stared at him. He had always thought that Tanor disapproved of his mother because she was an offworlder. Had the old man recognized all along that her restless spirit would not remain on Pardor?

“She is a fine female,” Ralard agreed as he came to join them.

The other villagers were disposing of the bodies by the simple expedient of throwing them in the river. He heard a slithering sound as an usan vine crept up on shore, looking for more food, but a watchful male sent it back again.

“It is good to see you, Aidon,” Ralard continued. “We have missed you.”

He stared at his childhood companion but saw nothing on his face except sincerity. Had Hanna been correct that it had been his own sensitivity rather than any actual disapproval of his inability to shift that had created a barrier between them? Something deep inside of him loosened, and he smiled at Ralard.

“I have been finding my way back here.”

“I hope you choose to stay. Both of you.”

Hanna looked up at him, her eyes hopeful.

“Is that what you want, saachi?”

“More than anything. I love it here—in spite of all the dangers.” She looked over at the river as another splash sounded. “Although I think people are far more dangerous.”

“No doubt you are right. We can certainly stay if that is what you wish.” But for the first time, he knew that his own desire to remain was every bit as strong as hers.

Naiz had been renewing his acquaintance with the villagers and assisting them in disposing of the bodies, but he rejoined Aidon and the others now. “I am anxious to return to my female. If you still wish to accompany me, could we leave at first light when it is safe to travel the river?”

“Hanna, I promised to return to the city with Naiz to make sure that his female is safe.” He hesitated, then looked at his grandfather. “Will you stay with her and look after her?”

The old man was too well trained to show more than the briefest flash of emotion, but Aidon saw first shock, then pleasure cross his face.

“I will,” Tanor said gruffly.

Gilten, another friend from Aidon’s childhood, came to join them. “Why are you all standing here so solemnly? We have a victory to celebrate. The fire burns high, and Inchin is hunting a gakhal for the feast.”

“Not much of a celebration without arki.” Aidon’s grandfather sniffed, and Gilten laughed.

“You know that Inchin always carries an emergency supply.”

Aidon bit back a grin. The fiery liquor brewed from surat berries was a part of every village celebration. He hadn’t tasted it since he’d left, but he remembered how much the old man enjoyed it.

Hanna yawned and leaned more heavily against him. He scooped her up in his arms.

“Come, saachi. We will sit by the fire.”

Hanna curled into Aidon’s lap as he joined the rest of the villagers by the fire. The fear and exertion of the evening were beginning to take a toll on her, and she yawned sleepily, half listening as the males talked. Trouble sprawled next to them, snoring gently.

Most of the conversation revolved around their shared childhood. Someone did ask what Aidon did off world, but when he refused to answer, they didn’t push it. She was almost surprised by how much he seemed to enjoy the friendly banter, his muscles at ease beneath her. Now that she knew he was safe, she could relax also, and she gradually drifted off to sleep.

Aidon woke her at some point to feed her small bites of roasted meat accompanied by a few sips of a sweet, fiery liquid. She coughed on the first swallow and shook her head at him.

“Are you trying to get me as drunk as you did the last time?”

His eyes gleamed down at her, and her cheeks flushed as she remembered that evening.

“It had its rewards,” he murmured, and her blush intensified. “But this is not the place. I just wanted you to be part of the celebration.”

“Thank you.” She smiled and snuggled in again.

The conversation continued as she drifted in and out of a light doze.

“And you chose to live in the city?” Aidon asked, waking her again.

“Hirogi’s work is there.” She opened one eye enough to see that the speaker was the stranger who had helped Aidon. “And indeed, I do not mind it. I miss the jungle, of course, but there is much to compensate. Do you not enjoy city life when you are off world?”

“Not particularly,” Aidon responded, sounding surprised. “I’ve never really thought about it. But being here—it feels right.”

“We are just as much part of the jungle as the spirin.”

“Not the example I would have chosen,” Aidon said dryly. “But I concede your point.”

“If it were not for the fact that I’m worried about my mate, I would enjoy this time.”

“We’ll leave at daybreak.”

“It is still a two-day journey,” the stranger said grimly.

“Two days?” Aiden swore. “I’m an idiot. We can take my ship—and we don’t have to wait for daylight for that. I simply have to get my mate home first.”

Enough of the conversation had penetrated that she opened her eyes. “I’ll be fine. Go ahead with…” She fumbled for the name.

“Naiz,” the stranger said. “You don’t object?”

“Of course not.”

Despite her protests, Aidon rose with her in his arms.

His grandfather immediately came to his side. “Is something wrong?”

“We decided to take my ship to the city. Can you stay with Hanna now?”

“I’m not a child,” she protested, but both males ignored her.

“Of course,” Tanor said immediately. “This lot doesn’t need me to enjoy themselves.” He called a farewell to the others as he bent to pick up Trouble. The war beast snarled at him, and he laughed, but Hanna noticed he waited until she reassured her pet before he actually picked him up.

They set off along the riverbank to Aidon’s house, her house now as well, and despite her protests, she enjoyed having Aidon carry her, feeling his muscles flex against her as she snuggled closer. She pressed a kiss against his neck, and then another, and he groaned.

“That is unfair, saachi. You know that I cannot respond until I return.”

“It will give you something to think about while you’re gone.”

“You will never be far from my thoughts,” he promised as they came in sight of the house.

A little shiver went through her as she realized how close Chotgor and his males had been. Aidon reluctantly let her down.

“I will return as soon as I can,” he promised, his arms still around her.

“I know.”

“You’ll be fine. My grandfather will take care of you.”

“Don’t worry, I’m not afraid.”

And she wasn’t, she realized. Even if he had been leaving her by herself, she wouldn’t have been afraid. As long as she and Aidon loved each other, she had nothing to fear.

One last lingering kiss and he was gone. Despite her newfound confidence, his absence left an ache in her heart. She sighed, turning to Tanor and smiling ruefully.

“Now I know how you felt all those years, watching him leave.”

“But you know he will return quickly.”

“I do. And we can keep each other company while we wait.”

He inclined his head, and the two of them went to start their vigil.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Even before Tanor looked up from his writing to say casually, “The boy’s coming,” Hanna knew that Aidon was on his way. She and his grandfather had been sitting on the deck over the river. Tanor was working on his journal. He had reluctantly revealed to her that he was documenting the history of the village. He recorded everything—hunts, harvests, folk tales. He had lineages extending back countless generations along with most of the births and deaths in the village.

She had decided to adopt his example, focusing on everything she was learning about the surrounding plant life. However, she preferred using Aidon’s tablet rather than writing everything by hand.

Restlessness had haunted her all day. Aidon had been gone for two days now, and she missed him more than she would have believed possible in such a short time. Even Trouble didn’t seem like his usual happy self. Perhaps picking up on her unhappiness, he prowled restlessly around the house and never settled anywhere for long.

But as they sat on the deck, something changed. It was almost like the jungle told her that Aidon was coming. Had she somehow caught his scent?

She didn’t care. All she cared about was that he was back. Flying through the house, she reached the edge of the clearing just in time to see him coming up the river path. He was running too, and he caught her effortlessly as she leaped into his arms.

“I’m so glad you’re back. I missed you so much. What happened? Is everything all right with Hirogi?”

“She’s fine,” he said shortly, then cut off her anxious questions with a hungry kiss, forcing her lips apart so that he could explore every inch. She writhed against him, already reaching for his hard cock, when Tanor coughed behind them.

“I’ll be on my way. Glad you’re back, boy.”

Heat flooding her cheeks, she pushed at Aidon until he reluctantly let her slip to the ground.

“I’m sorry, Tanor. We got a little carried away.”

“He’s going to carry you away all right,” Tanor said dryly.

“Thank you so much for staying with me. You’re going to come back and visit now, aren’t you?”

Tanor looked over her head at Aidon.

“You would be welcome,” Aidon said. “But I need a few days to reconnect with my mate first. Perhaps a week.”

The flicker of emotion that crossed Tanor’s face was almost too fast for her to catch, but she saw his thankfulness. He coughed.

“I’ll make sure you hear me coming. Just in case a week isn’t long enough,” he said gruffly.

She reached up and kissed his cheek, velvety and covered in swirling colors, glad that he no longer felt the need to conceal his true form.

“Thank you, Tanor.”

He cleared his throat again. “You’re welcome, girl. Glad you’re a part of our family.”

As he passed Aidon, Aidon extended his hand, and the two men clasped arms.

“Thank you,” Aidon echoed. He slipped his arm around her as they watched Tanor disappear up the path, then turned to her, his eyes gleaming. “Now, my mate. You’re all mine.”

“Wake up, saachi,” Aidon whispered, kissing the shell of her ear.

She pried open an eye and saw that it was still dark outside.

“It’s too early,” she groaned. Aidon had spent most of the night making love to her. In the few brief periods when they hadn’t been locked together, he’d fed her and they’d played with Trouble while he’d filled her in on what had happened in the city.

They had arrived to find Hirogi unharmed. One of her captors had already died from a mysterious illness, and they’d easily eliminated the other. Aidon had shaken his head admiringly as he’d recounted the tale.

“It seems as if Pardorians aren’t the only ones to use poison.”

“Hirogi isn’t Pardorian?”

“No, she’s an offworlder. They have to live in the city for now because she works at one of the medical centers, but she is obviously quite at home on Pardor.”

“So am I,” she’d reminded him.

If the rescue had gone so smoothly, she’d wondered why it had taken him two days to return to her, but before she’d been able to ask, he’d started kissing her, and the question had disappeared.

Now he was smiling down at her, and even in the semidarkness of predawn, she could see his eyes gleaming.

“Do I have to get up?” She yawned sleepily.

“I suppose I could carry you the entire way,” he said thoughtfully, and she laughed.

“As tempting as that sounds, I guess I can make the effort.”

She hurried through her morning routine and emerged to find him waiting for her, his travel bag over his shoulder.

“We don’t even have time for breakfast?”

“Once we get there,” he promised.

They walked hand in hand through the jungle, Trouble scampering around their feet. Aidon had tried to leave him behind, but he had whined so piteously that he had shrugged and agreed to let him come.

“You won’t be able to go all the way with us,” he warned the war beast.

A faint glow on the horizon indicated the coming dawn as Aidon stopped at the base of an enormous tree. Hanna’s extended arms barely covered one side of the trunk.

“Now we climb,” he said calmly.

“You have to be kidding. I couldn’t even climb a tree on Earth, let alone climbing this monster.”

“Don’t worry, saachi. I’ll carry you.” He bent over and motioned for her to climb on his back. She had done so once before when they’d been escaping Chotgor’s mansion back on Hothrest, but this tree was considerably taller, stretching up until she could barely see the top.

“Are you sure about this?” she asked.

“I would never let you fall, my mate.”

With a reluctant sigh, she climbed up on his back, putting her legs around his waist and winding her arms around his neck. He took hold of one of the big vines that reached the forest floor, and Trouble whined anxiously.

“I told you you wouldn’t be able to come the whole way,” Aidon said as he threw Trouble a bone almost as big as the pup. “We’ll be back in a little while.”

“He always seems to understand—oh!” She yelped as Aidon began to climb. He didn’t hesitate, scrambling nimbly up the vine until he reached the lowest branches of the tree. She realized that between the length of his hands and feet and his claws, he was perfectly suited for the climb and tried to relax.

“War beasts are renowned for their intelligence. That’s one of the reasons they were so desirable,” he said, his breathing as steady as always.

Only once did she make the mistake of glancing down. Despite the thick foliage, she could tell how far they had climbed already, and her stomach protested. After that, she squeezed her eyes shut and just concentrated on the secure feeling of Aidon beneath her.

There was a sudden jolt of movement, and then he straightened up as if he was on a flat surface.

“All right, saachi. You can let go now.”

“Are you crazy?”

“It’s fine, I promise. Open your eyes.”

She reluctantly opened them and gasped. They were on a large platform with nothing above them but the wide-open sky, already streaked with rose and gold. The ground beneath her feet felt soft and yielding, and vine-covered branches formed a chest-high barrier around the edge of the platform.

“What is this place?”

“It’s a cravan’s nest. An abandoned cravan’s nest,” he added hastily as her eyes widened. “They only ever use them for one hatching.”

Her pulse still beat rapidly as she went to join him at the edge of the nest, but the view that greeted her wiped away her fears. They were high above most of the trees, and the jungle stretched out before them like an ocean of green and gold, reaching all the way to a distant mountain range. The sky above them was growing steadily lighter, more colors adding to the glorious display until first one, then the second sun peeped above the horizon.

“So beautiful,” she whispered.

“Yes,” he agreed, but he was looking at her rather than the scenery. “Look around, saachi.”

She cast a confused look around the nest and saw little hints of blue start to appear. The blue spread, opening into a multitude of delicate blossoms until they were surrounded by flowers, beautiful blue flowers with a heavenly fragrance.

“Are these saachi flowers?” she whispered, almost afraid to breathe in case they disappeared.

“Yes, my mate. I promised you that I would bring you to see them.”

She stroked a cautious finger across one of the fragile flowers, delighting in the silky feel of the petal.

“I can’t believe that when you saw me in that cage, you thought of something so beautiful.”

“You are far more beautiful,” he said and kissed her.

As the sun rose, he made slow, careful love to her in the bower of blue blossoms, the petals falling on her naked body and their scent surrounding her. Afterward, they lay curled together looking up at the sky. The suns were high enough now that the rays fell across their bodies, striking golden sparks amid the fiery red of her hair.

I look like Rapunzel, she thought idly, remembering the golden-haired heroine. The gold in her hair seemed to intensify, and suddenly the red was gone. The fiery strands had been replaced by long golden curls.

“What did you do?” Aidon sat up and stared at her.

“I don’t know. I was just thinking that my hair looked blonde, and all of a sudden it was.” She stared at him in shock. “Does that mean I can change forms now?”

“At least a little.” He reached out and stroked her hair, then shook his head. “Change it back, please. I prefer seeing you as you really are.”

She blushed and concentrated on her hair. It was a little bit more difficult this time, but she managed to change it back.

“Much better.” Aidon rewarded her with a kiss and was starting to pull her down into the nest again when he tensed.

“What’s the matter?” she whispered.

“A muri. It’s only a small one, but they usually travel in packs.” As he reached for his knife, she followed his gaze to a sleek black head that was peeping over the edge of the nest. As their eyes met, it made an excited sound and started to climb in. Aidon’s hand closed around his knife just as she recognized the creature’s eyes, and she threw herself at him.

“No! It’s Trouble!”

He froze and watched in astonishment as the little catlike creature pranced over to her and rubbed his head against her stomach.

“He’s too young,” he said at last.

“You mean you knew that he could change form?”

“Of course. I just didn’t expect it to happen so soon.”

She rolled her eyes at him. “Trouble is an exceptional war beast, aren’t you, sweetheart?”

The muri purred and butted her playfully with his head, and she laughed.

Aidon watched his mate playing with her war beast and took a deep breath. He had one more piece of news for her.

“Hanna,” he said softly, and she looked up and smiled at him. “While I was in the city, I went to see a doctor.”

Her eyes widened. “What happened? Was the head wound worse than it looked? Are you all right?”

“I’m fine, saachi. I went to see him to find out if the operation was reversible.”

“The operation?” She frowned at him, and then tears sprang to her eyes. “You mean the one that made it impossible for you to father children?”

“That’s right.”

“What did he say?” she whispered.

“That if I want—that if we want—it can be completely reversed.”

“We could have a baby together?”

“Would you like that?” he asked, watching her face.

“Oh, Aidon. More than anything.”

She threw herself at him, covering his face with kisses and leaving him in no doubt about her desire to carry his child.

After that, there were no more words, and Trouble scrambled away to the far side of the nest with a disgruntled mewl.

His passion finally sated, Aidon rolled to his back and tugged Hanna against his side as he stared up at the wide blue arc of the sky. A vast contentment filled him. He had his mate next to him. He had the prospect of a child. But more than that, he had a home. This tiny female from another world had given him that. He was home at last on Pardor.

Epilogue

One year later…

“Your son is feeling greedy today.” Hanna laughed as Aidon swung up on the deck to join her.

She was sitting in the shade nursing Negel, Trouble sprawled at her feet, and, as always, he was filled with happiness at the sight of his mate and his son. The procedure to reverse his sterilization had been successful—so successful that she had become pregnant within a week after they had returned from the city. While they were there, they had stayed with Naiz and Hirogi, and even though she had said she enjoyed the company and exploring the city with him, she had been the one to suggest that they return home.

“You don’t wish to stay longer? Or perhaps, to live here?” he had asked.

“No. It’s nice to visit, and I’d like to come back, but I prefer our home and our jungle. Besides, I want to keep learning about the plants.”

And so they had returned. Even when it had come time for her to give birth, she had decided to remain in the jungle. At least she had agreed to go to the village for the delivery, and he had found surprising satisfaction in presenting his son to his people. People who celebrated with him, uncaring that his child was of mixed birth.

“How were Ralard and Laara?” Hanna asked now.

“Very well. They asked after you and Negel. I promised we would go and visit later this week if you’re feeling up to it.”

“I’m just fine.” She rolled her eyes at him. “Giving birth didn’t turn me into an invalid.”

“Of course not. But Negel is very demanding and it is the hot season.”

He stroked the soft head of his son, and the baby shot him a suspicious look as he suckled hungrily. Negel’s coloring was perfectly Pardorian, but his eyes—he had his mother’s saachi-blue eyes.

“Don’t worry, little one,” Hanna said with a mischievous glance up at him. “Daddy isn’t going to take away your milk. At least not now.”

He reached down and cupped her other breast, teasing the distended nipple until a drop of milk appeared, then carrying the sweet liquid to his mouth. He did enjoy the changes in her body brought about by childbirth.

“Later,” he agreed and saw her eyes heat.

“Now stop distracting me and tell me how your meeting went.”

He grinned. “They are in agreement.”

“That’s wonderful. This is going to be a great thing for Pardor.”

“It’s just a trial,” he warned.

“At first. I’m quite sure it will be successful.”

Ironically, Chotgor had been the one to give him the idea. Pardor’s chief source of trade was currently the raw materials that grew in such profusion in the jungle. It had occurred to him that some of the natural remedies made from other products of the jungle might represent an opportunity to diversify and bring a higher return.

Hirogi had developed a process for standardizing the ingredients while Naiz had made the initial contacts with a few trusted traders. Now some of the villagers had agreed to gather ingredients. It wouldn’t force any changes to their way of life, but it would help to provide them with what they needed to protect that way of life.

“And how was your day, my mate?”

“Your son decided to spit up on my latest drawing of the pitchat plant.”

Hirogi had introduced Hanna to a friend of hers who taught at the university, and Hanna was providing illustrations for a botany textbook the professor was publishing.

“Why is he always my son when he does something you don’t like?”

“Because my son is a perfect little angel, of course.”

“Just like his mother.” He bent down and kissed her, her lush fragrance and the sweet taste of her lips arousing his desire for her.

“My grandfather is joining us for dinner,” he added. Their relationship wasn’t perfect, but he found it difficult to hold any resentment toward a male who so clearly adored both his mate and his son.

“Mmm, that’s nice,” she said softly as she gently detached a now sleeping Negel.

“I asked him to spend the night.”

“I don’t mind, of course, but why? The river path at night holds no fears for Tanor.”

He scooped up his sleeping son and carried him to the cradle hanging from an overhead branch.

“Because Negel now sleeps for at least three hours after his evening feeding and I have plans for my mate.”

“With Tanor here?”

“Tanor will be here. We will not.”

Her face glowed with excitement. “Where are you taking me?”

“It’s a surprise.”

Hanna smiled at Aidon. “I love your surprises.”

He seemed to delight in showing her new aspects of Pardor, and she enjoyed their explorations just as much. Of course, his surprises could also be considerably more carnal. He would transform his cock from time to time, and although she enjoyed the sensations he provided, she always insisted that he change back to his true form. She suspected that was one reason he continued to do it, because he loved knowing that she wanted him most as himself.

Still, two could play at the surprise game…

After they shared dinner with Tanor, she fed Negel and then settled him in his crib. Trouble lay down next to him, and she bent down and stroked his head.

“You’re such a good boy. You watch over both of them while we’re gone.”

He gave a soft bleat of agreement, and she turned to her waiting mate.

Aidon led her through the moonlit jungle, and she followed silently. She remained alert to her surroundings, but she was familiar now with the quiet rustle of a muri making its way through the undergrowth and the harsh cry of a cravan far overhead, and the night no longer terrified her.

At first she thought he was leading her to the place where Chotgor had been defeated, but he led her past it. Further down the riverbank, a giant twisted tree crouched next to the water, moonlight gilding its branches.

He paused and let her look.

“What do you see?” he asked, and she gave him a puzzled look.

He had taught her this—how to study the subtle clues of the jungle, the change in scent or color or sound that indicated something different. It took a moment, but she finally spotted the curving line of the railing and the platform beneath.

She gasped. “You built me a treehouse?”

She had been telling him some of the stories she remembered from Earth, including The Swiss Family Robinson, and he had been as fascinated with the idea as she had been.

“Do you like it?”

“I love it!”

She threw her arms around him and kissed him. When their lips parted, his eyes burned black and intense. He traced a finger along the upper edge of her sarong, ripples of sensation spreading from that simple touch.

“I thought we could…test it out.”

She smiled up at him, then skipped back out of reach. “First you have to find me.”

“Three seconds,” he growled, and she squeaked and fled into the jungle.

Even after a year, her ability to transform was very limited. She could change the color of her hair—although Aidon always protested and wanted her to change it back—and she could make slight modifications to her skin tone, just enough to help her blend more easily into the jungle. She didn’t think her skills would improve much more, but she didn’t mind.

Aidon liked to challenge her to test those skills in games of hide and seek, but she suspected he had little patience for it tonight. After checking for any signs of danger, she hid between the roots of another tree and used her minimal abilities to camouflage herself. Her heart pounded as she waited, the sensation of being hunted no less thrilling because she wanted to be caught.

A stick snapped to her right, and she pressed closer to the trunk just as a big arm snaked around her waist from the left, lifted her off her feet, and slung her over a broad shoulder. She squealed, then laughed as he carried her back to the treehouse.

“That wasn’t fair.”

“Saachi, would I ever be careless enough to make that much noise?”

“Well, no,” she admitted.

“Exactly. A predator never acts like prey unless it’s a trap.”

“You can put me down now.”

His hand slipped up to caress her bottom. “I think I like you in this position.”

Her breath caught as he kneaded the soft flesh, and she stopped protesting. He carried her up into the treehouse with effortless ease before finally placing her on her feet.

“This is wonderful,” she exclaimed, looking around. A curved vine railing enclosed a big platform resting on one of the giant branches. The front half of the platform extended out over the river, while the rear half was shaded by the rest of the tree. Moonlight filtered through the leaves, creating dappled shadows that flickered across the floor, and the scent of taranna flowers hung heavy in the air.

As she leaned over the front railing to admire the moonlight sparkling on the water, Aidon stepped up behind her, caging her in the warmth of his body.

“You’re mine now, saachi.”

Anticipation skittered up her spine as she turned and gave him a sultry smile. “I have a surprise of my own.”

“What is it?”

She slipped the sarong off her body. Beneath it she wore nothing but a few scraps of blue silk and some delicate gold chains, an outfit she had carefully constructed from the remnants of her slave costume.

His eyes heated, and he stroked a thumb across the thin silk barely covering a nipple. “Why are you wearing this, my mate?”

“I have very few positive memories of Hothrest, but playing your slave is one of them. Even then, I knew you’d never hurt me.” She bowed her head. “Is there something I can do for you, Master?”

“You are sure?”

“Yes, Master.”

She saw his face change, saw the dominance he usually tried to temper around her come to the front.

“Bend over the railing,” he ordered.

Little tremors of excitement skated across her skin as she obeyed. The position caused her brief skirt to rise, revealing her naked pussy to his lustful gaze.

He stepped up behind her—huge, warm, hers—and cupped her already swollen folds.

“You are very wet. Have you been a bad girl?” His finger slid through her wetness, then circled the hot little bud of her clit.

“N-no, Master.”

“Then why are my fingers drenched in your sweet liquid?” He circled the swollen nub lightly, using just enough pressure to keep her on edge. Even though he wasn’t touching her anywhere else, she could come like this, she realized, her hips lifting almost involuntarily into his touch. Just from his body behind her, his dark, demanding tone, and that skillful finger.

She almost moaned as he left her clit, sliding back through her slippery folds to tease gently at her bottom hole. She loved it when he played with her there, although taking him could be challenging. He didn’t tease her for long before sliding his finger slowly but firmly inside her dark channel. As always, the slight stretch made her gasp.

“Breathe, pet.”

He stroked her back with his other hand as he waited for her to loosen her muscles. As soon as her body relaxed, he began a steady in and out motion, building her excitement. A second finger, then a third, and a wordless cry escaped. He shifted his other hand under her, pressing firmly against her clit to counteract the increasing pressure. Shivers skated up her spine.

“You’re ready, pet.” He didn’t ask permission as he withdrew his fingers and pressed his cockhead to her sensitive flesh, sending another shiver of excitement over her even though she knew he would stop immediately if she protested. But she didn’t cry out, and he continued the pressure until at last he breached the tight ring.

She gasped, hovering on the knife edge between pain and pleasure, and he strummed a finger across her clit as he pushed deeper.

“So tight,” he groaned when he finally buried himself completely.

She couldn’t speak, overwhelmed by the sensations battering her body, and he resumed his assault on her clit, still lodged deep inside her.

“Come for me,” he ordered, clamping down on the sensitive bud, and she was helpless to do anything but obey. The fullness inside her only increased the pleasure as she shook in his arms.

As the last ripples of her climax began to fade, he started to move in a slow, steady rhythm that sent fiery waves of heat over her body with each dragging withdrawal and faster thrust. He abandoned her clit, reaching under her to cup her breasts and tease her sensitive nipples. The tingling pressure of her milk-laden breasts added a new layer of sensation, and she felt her body climbing toward another climax.

He groaned as milk dampened his fingers and moved faster, no longer as steady as his urgency increased. Bending down over her, his hips began a pounding rhythm that sent shock waves through her body with each thrust. He pinched a distended nipple, and white lights danced in her vision as her body rushed headlong into another climax. He didn’t stop, continuing to claim her quivering body as she shuddered beneath him. His hands tightened as he pulled her closer to him, pressing frantic kisses to her neck.

As he made one final, impossibly deep thrust, his mouth closed over the claiming mark, and she felt him explode deep inside her, the rush of heated liquid sending a final climax shivering through her. Her knees shook, and if not for his arm beneath her, she would have fallen. As his own shudders ceased, he carefully slipped free, then cleansed them both before collapsing to the ground and pulling her into his arms.

They lay in contented silence, watching the stars through the leaves overhead. Her body felt limp and heavy, slightly sore but completely satisfied.

“Do I get to be the mistress next time?” she asked lazily.

“If you want.”

She laughed, rolling over to look at his face. “I suspect you’d last for exactly one command before you took over.”

“It would depend on the command.” He ran his fingers through her hair. “But I admit, I’m better at commanding than obeying. Does that bother you?”

“Since your commands just made me come three times in a row, apparently not.”

“My perfect mate.”

He bent his head and kissed her, and even though she would have sworn she was completely drained, she found herself responding. They were both breathless when he finally lifted his head.

“As much as I would like to continue our little adventure, our son will need you soon.” He lifted her to her feet and wrapped her sarong around her. “Are you ready to go home?”

“I’m ready to go anywhere with you. I love you, Aidon.” She smiled up at him. “Thank you for freeing me.”

“You freed me in return. I love you, Hanna.”

Together, they went to rejoin their family.

Author’s Note

Thank you so much for reading Hanna and the Hitman! I love being back in the Alien Abduction universe – it feels like coming home. It’s not always an easy place to be but there is always a happy ending waiting. And I think many of us can relate to Hanna as someone who doesn’t feel brave but still manages to find the courage and strength to do what needs to be done.

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 exploring this universe with me! Your support and encouragement make it possible for me to keep writing these books. As always, a special thanks to my beta team – Janet S, Nancy V, and Kitty S. Your thoughts and comments are incredibly helpful!

Up next – more Hothians in Izzie and the Icebeast! A jaded alien gladiator. A heroine who won’t give in. A battle worth winning…

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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

The Alien Invasion Series

Alien Selection

Alien Conquest

Alien Prisoner

Alien Breeder

Alien Alliance

Alien Hope

Cosmic Fairy Tales

Jackie and the Giant

Cyborgs on Mars

High Plains Cyborg

The Good, the Bad, and the Cyborg

A Fistful of Cyborg

A Few Cyborgs More

The Magnificent Cyborg

Treasured by the Alien

Mama and the Alien Warrior

A Son for the Alien Warrior

Daughter of the Alien Warrior

About the Author

Honey Phillips writes steamy science fiction stories about hot alien warriors and the human women they can’t resist. From abductions to invasions, the ride might be rough, but the end always satisfies.

Honey wrote and illustrated her first book at the tender age of 5. Her writing has improved since then. Her drawing skills, unfortunately, have not. She loves writing, reading, traveling, cooking, and drinking champagne - not necessarily in that order.

Honey loves to hear from her wonderful readers! You can stalk her at any of the following locations…

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