KYRIS

CAPTURED BY ALIENS: BOOK FOUR

A.G. WILDE

Kyris

Kyris © A. G. Wilde 2020

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, businesses, or locales is coincidental and is not intended by the author.

This book is dedicated to Phoenix.

Keep that flame burning. Never give up.

CONTENTS

Disclaimer

Keep in Touch

Kyris

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Epilogue

Next in the Series

Another note From the Author

Acknowledgments

Keep In Touch

If you enjoyed this book…

About the Author

DISCLAIMER

This work of fiction is intended for mature audiences only.

All sexually active characters portrayed in this book are eighteen years of age or older.

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KYRIS

Being captured by aliens changes everything for Song.

One moment, she’s about to complete school with her whole life ahead of her; the next, she is thrown into an out-of-this-world nightmare.

On a world where she is hunted, she leans on the one constant that has been there from the start…

Him.

Kyris.

Her guardian angel…

Or so she thinks.

What he wants from her is far from holy…

PROLOGUE

THE ESCAPE POD was falling hard. So hard and fast that everything outside was just a blur.

There was a loud beeping in the small vessel, one that made panic rise within her as she tried to focus not on the fact that she was falling through the sky, but that she was escaping…escaping from something more terrible than falling through thin air at a speed that meant certain death.

“Descent unstable,” the pod’s AI said. “Engage manual landing controls.”

Just moments before, she’d been safe in a spaceship with four other human women and the five alien soldiers who’d rescued them from what would have been a life of slavery.

She’d thought that the terror she’d experienced after being torn from her home on Earth had been over. She’d thought that the horror of being locked up on an alien slave ship was the epitome of terrible things that would happen to her.

But she had been wrong.

Escape—freedom—had been in her grasp but like a mirage, it was ripped away from her and replaced by the cruel reality that life would forever and inescapably be the opposite of what it had been on Earth.

“Descent unstable,” the AI repeated and she wanted to scream.

They’d been rescued. They’d been safe.

Even now, the attack that happened just minutes before didn’t seem real. It had happened all so fast. The first hit of the missile impacting the spaceship. The vessel shuddering under the impact. The aliens who’d rescued them shouting orders as they fought to save the ship. More shuddering. Alarms blaring.

She’d been unable to respond, unable to react, not wanting to let go of the mirage of safety, but it had floated away nonetheless.

Everything else had been a blur.

She’d been hustled into an escape pod and shot out into space towards the planet whose surface was now coming towards her far too quickly.

“Descent unstable. Engage manual controls.”

Her breath was coming in harsh gasps as she tried to make sense of what the AI said.

Manual controls.

Did this thing expect her to fly it?

She could hardly operate anything bigger than her Kei car and nothing nearly as strange and alien as this.

As she hyperventilated, what she assumed was the manual controls moved upwards from some compartment she hadn’t noticed.

“Engage manual controls.”

It was beginning to sound like a broken record but focusing on what the robotic voice commanded was difficult when all she could think about was the fact that she was alone and falling in an escape pod that seemed to be malfunctioning because it was telling her to engage controls!

Everything was happening too fast, and the surface…she could see it so clearly now.

What had first appeared as a flat nondescript brown canvas was slowly gathering shapes and forms. She could see dunes, hills, valleys…

And the detail was becoming sharper by the second.

The pod was falling too fast. Too fast. Too fast.

It was going to crash into the surface if it didn’t slow down.

Breath coming harder, she felt as if her heart was going to give out.

It was only glass. The pod was only glass. Logic shouted at her that it couldn’t be mere glass but fear’s voice was louder, and the bitch was screaming.

She was going to die.

But this wasn’t supposed to be how it happened.

She was supposed to finish university, get a real job, get wooed by the man of her dreams, buy a house, have kids, grow old, and then die.

Such was the order of things.

She hadn’t intended to start university then skip to the end!

The tears in her eyes blurred her vision as she fought to control the panic filling her being.

“Engage manual controls.”

The incessant beeping in the pod seemed to grow more insistent as the surface drew closer.

“Engage manual controls.”

With blurred vision she gripped the controls and sobbed as she pulled hard, barely aware that now, with her hands on the controls, the beeping stopped.

All she could hear was her own heartbeat pounding in her ears.

All she could see was the brown surface of the planet approaching.

And all she could feel was her own fear creeping over her like thick liquid.

She didn’t want to die.

This wasn’t how she wanted to die!

Too fast—a scream ripped from her throat as the pod slammed into the planet’s surface.

As her body lurched upward from the impact, a sudden harsh pain in her head reminded her that she was still alive.

It was either that or she’d hit her head on death’s door.

The world stilled as she realized she was no longer moving, no longer falling, but there was an unmistakable feeling of something thick and warm creeping down her forehead.

As she brushed her fingers against it and brought her hand in front of her eyes, a deep red stain greeted her.

Blood.

The pain in her skull echoed and thrummed as she tried to lift her head. But it was as if her body couldn’t move. Her limbs were like jelly and the pain in her head…

Her vision blacked out before returning for a split second.

The pain…

She’d landed. On a dead alien world. She’d landed.

As her eyes closed despite her best efforts to keep them open, the world around her dimmed. But at least she was alone. Safe. Away from the horrors that’d been chasing her.

However, as the pain in her head called a darkness that crept over her and her senses faded, the silence was interrupted by a loud hiss followed by a high-pitched screech.

It was the last thing she heard before her eyes closed. The last thing that chilled her bones before she lost all consciousness.

There was something out there—something terrifying—and it was coming for her.

1

THE HUMAN.

Where was she?

Kyris’ pod was coming in hard, falling toward the planet so quickly he had little time to grab the controls to slow his descent. But his mind wasn’t on the fact that he was about to crash into the desert planet’s surface or the fact that his descent was dangerously fast.

It wasn’t the first time he’d landed on Muk under less-than-favorable circumstances. However, the other times had been planned. Training sessions, if you will. This time, it wasn’t training. It was the real thing.

As his pod fell, he knew that by now, the Elysium was probably blown to pieces in space. Soon, debris from the ship would begin to fall. Soon, there would be nothing left of it.

It had been hard abandoning the ship and, even now, a shudder vibrated through his shoulders and down his wings at the thought.

“Descent unstable. Engage manual controls,” the AI said, as a loud beeping echoed through the pod.

The command only brought one thought to his mind.

The human.

The dark-haired human he’d rescued.

The human who was somewhere close by, falling towards the desert planet’s surface as he was.

If the AI was instructing him to assist with the landing, there was no doubt the human female was getting the same prompt.

Qrak.

He was as confident as the wings on his back that she wouldn’t know what to do.

At least, he doubted she would.

He knew enough about her planet to know space travel, shuttles, escape pods, falling towards a planet’s surface…all that was alien to her.

HREX4X1, or Earth as the humans called it, was embryonic in its development. It was a planet that had been discovered but one that was off limits to exploration or visits. Human society was still too new…too defenseless.

It was why she’d been chosen.

It was why the Tasqals had instructed the Isclits and Hedgeruds to defy interplanetary law and abduct beings from the planet.

Who would report their crime? Certainly not the humans. Defenseless, the beings of HREX4X1 wouldn’t even know what hit them. Defenseless, the Tasqals could gather as many “samples” as they wanted from the planet for their breeding experiments. Defenseless, the humans would probably not even know they’d been invaded if the Tasqals did it right.

Qrakking Tasqals and their minions.

They disgusted him.

They had no honor.

They were vermin.

Preying on defenseless targets was their game plan.

“Descent unstable. Engage manual controls,” the AI repeated, breaking into his thoughts even as his wings quivered with the ire that was growing within him.

As he grabbed the controls, his eyes scanned the sides of his escape pod as it fell with a blur through the atmosphere.

He couldn’t see her. Dark hair…dark eyes…the dark-haired human was nowhere in sight.

He must find.

He must protect.

Deep within him, from a place he hadn’t yet discovered, the fierce need to protect her swelled and grew. He didn’t know where it was coming from and he didn’t have time to question it. Not when he was falling through the sky. Not when she was in danger.

He only knew.

He could only feel.

And his hearts were beating with that fierce need that felt like it was burning through his blood all the way to his wing tips.

The human.

Defenseless, she was.

Where was her pod?

Before they’d abandoned ship, he’d paired her pod to his. It should be close, at least somewhere in his line of sight.

But it wasn’t.

The human.

Like a mantra, it repeated in his head. He needed to find her. Protect her. It was consuming him, this need, and he realized he’d felt it before.

He’d felt it before at a time that now felt like ages ago.

It’d been the first time he’d seen her. That first day when she’d been thrown in his cell on the Isclit slave ship.

In his ten orbits fighting for the Restitution, he had stormed countless Tasqal ships and rescued innumerable slaves. When the Tasqals had hired the Isclits with their large fleet of carrier vessels, he had encountered and freed even more slaves. When they’d hired the Hedgeruds to protect their operations, he’d still fought and freed slaves.

But never had a slave caught his attention. Never had one consumed his mind as this human was consuming his. Never had it happened, because he was a Vaen. Never had it happened, because it wasn’t something his people had the propensity for. Never had it happened…because it was impossible.

Until now.

“Descent unsta—”

As he pulled on the steering mechanism in the pod, the loud beeping stopped within seconds. The sudden lurch of the vessel was enough to take his thoughts away from the past for a few moments as he got control of the vessel and slowed it down.

Streaks of small fiery lights erupted around him as small bits of the Elysium fell towards the surface and burned up before landing.

Right.

There was still a battle going on behind him. Somewhere in space, his brothers were abandoning the fight for the moment. Somewhere in space, their ship was being destroyed.

He needed to remain focused…he needed to remain focused and alive.

As his pod reached the surface, it was like slamming headfirst into a wall. The sudden impact almost threw him out of his seat—the force so strong it jolted him hard, and he felt an immediate pain in his shoulder, one that echoed straight down one of his wings.

Qrakking devils from Polvrak’s nest.

That hurt like a mother-qrakker.

Outside, a thin cloud of sand floated into the air, disturbed by his sudden arrival.

And again, despite the pain in his shoulder, the mantra repeated in his head.

The human.

Kyris’ movements were smooth, almost catlike, as he activated the release button and the pod opened with a hiss.

The air was still thick with sand, causing him to cough as he took a breath and hopped out of the round vessel.

Eyes narrowed so he could focus through the dust around him, he took in his immediate surroundings with practiced precision.

Years serving as a sentry proved useful and, as he scanned the area, he noted every detail around him within a few seconds.

The human.

She wasn’t there.

Eyes to the sky, he searched the expanse above him for a sign her vessel was still descending.

Maybe he had entered the atmosphere before she had?

But even as he looked, he knew. Her pod wasn’t up there.

There wasn’t even an indication that somewhere in space above the planet, the brutal attack that had forced them from the Elysium was still taking place.

The Hedgerud guards had already taken down the Elysium’s turrets and the engines had been compromised when he’d abandoned the ship. If the Hedgeruds decided to bring down the Elysium, which he was certain they would do, he was sure the Tasqals would send them after the escape pods as well.

The vermin would leave no stone unturned.

After all, he and his brothers has just destroyed one of the Isclit slave ships and “stolen” their precious slaves. He was sure the Tasqals would want revenge.

Reaching his hand to his back, Kyris felt for his blade. It was sheathed and nestled perfectly against the length of his spine. Closing his hand around the hilt felt like a confirmation.

Confirmation that he was a rebel. A fighter. A member of the Restitution.

If they came after them, he would fight.

If they came after her, he would slay them.

The human.

Again, that fierce need to protect ran through his veins and Kyris frowned slightly. It had been a feeling alien to him but now it was becoming as familiar as the rage he felt when he thought about the Tasqals. He’d been fighting it, trying to keep it hidden since he’d first seen her. But the circumstances were overriding his logic.

He needed to find her pod.

He would find her, protect her, take her to the outpost, and complete this part of the mission.

This mantra in his head, the anxiety in his hearts whenever he allowed his mind to focus on her…whatever was happening within him was just because he was devoted to his mission.

The need to protect was because of his dedication to his ethics, his code, all the values of the Restitution and what they were fighting for.

This need to protect that was slowly flooding through is veins…it wasn’t turning into an obsession. It wasn’t because of something else that was growing within him…something he was afraid to face…something he had to ignore.

It was because of his duty.

That was all.

Duty.

It wasn’t anything else.

It was impossible to be something else.

2

IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE.

Even now as he looked above him for sight of her pod, he couldn’t lie to himself.

Whatever it was had taken root within him from the very first time he’d lain eyes on her.

Call him crazy but he hadn’t been imagining it. And he wasn’t imagining it now.

It was a feeling unlike any other…indescribable…a want within him that was taking hold. It was the basis of that mantra that was thrumming in his head.

He remembered it clearly.

He’d gotten captured, and a Tasqal had promptly bought him and thrown him in a cell on the Isclit ship. They had believed he was exiled and had thought themselves lucky. A Vaen slave. It wasn’t something to be seen every day.

Little had they known the capture had all been by choice. His choice. It had all been according to plan.

He had counted the days waiting for the right moment when he and his brothers could complete their mission and destroy the slave ship.

But when the human been thrown in his cell…the look in her eyes…the terror that was there…it had changed something within him. Something deep. Something he hadn’t yet had the time to dissect.

Because…what he’d seen in her eyes had been clear. It hadn’t been her choice to be there. She’d had no say in the matter, and though he knew this was what the Tasqals did…though he knew they captured and enslaved others…though he’d even rescued and befriended many of the slaves they’d captured…something about this slave was different.

Dark hair…dark eyes…she was striking.

Something about the way she’d looked at him when she was thrown into his cell…something within her wild, terrified gaze had caught his attention and kept it there. And now he was having trouble looking away.

He’d thought the feeling would leave after he and his brothers had completed the mission. After they’d rescued the humans and brought them back to the Elysium…he’d thought that would be it.

They would bring them back to the base. The humans would have the option of staying there or heading to the interplanetary hub where they could make a life for themselves in a new world.

But it hadn’t been that simple.

It seemed as if the brief taste of freedom with her on the Elysium had only exacerbated this feeling flooding through him.

And here he was now…yearning to see her again.

That troubling thought lingered and, as he raised an arm to block the glare from Muk’s twin suns, another sharp pain shot through his shoulder.

He was injured from that jolt he’d gotten in the pod. That was clear. Pain didn’t linger otherwise.

Yet, apathy could be his alter ego because he couldn’t find the effort to care.

He could forget about the pain.

Pain was negligible. It was inconsequential to him at the moment.

He’d experienced worse.

His only thought was her.

The human.

The human with the dark hair and the dark eyes. The one who called herself Song.

When no sign of her pod turned up in the sky above, Kyris turned his gaze once more to his surroundings. Visibility on the ground was improving as the sand settled, allowing him to see further, and his eyes caught something in the distance.

A little way off behind some dunes, a thin plume of smoke was making its way toward the sky.

His twin hearts gave anxious thumps at the sight.

The plume of smoke in the distance only meant one thing. It had to be coming from her pod. The vessel must have been damaged when it landed.

Muk was notorious for its thin atmosphere and chaotic weather. There was hardly any atmospheric resistance to slow the pods but that had been expected. He’d experienced falling through the planet’s atmosphere too many times to count. At least they hadn’t landed in a sandstorm or a sand twist. Now that would have been undesirable.

Despite the bad landing, even if her pod was damaged, he knew it was sturdy. She would be safe. After all, it had belonged to the Elysium and the Elysium was one strong aircraft. Yce had made sure of that.

At the thought of his brother, his eyes moved to the sky again.

Yce loved the Elysium. It was his ship, after all. Kyris only hoped his brother had decided to abandon vessel at the last moment. The last time he had seen him, just before he’d rushed to the escape pods, Yce had been heading to the Elysium’s bridge.

He trusted his brothers to survive, all four of them, but it would be days to confirm their status so he would just have to wait till he saw them again.

Turning back to his escape pod, Kyris reached in and grabbed the escape pack from underneath the seat, briefly taking note that his pod had landed mostly in one piece. That was a good sign. Despite the plume of smoke, hers should have too.

Searching the escape pack to ensure it was fully stocked, he turned toward the plume of smoke, his steps sure.

With each step, his boots sunk a few centimeters in the loose sand. The sand seemed looser than he remembered and the only time he’d noted the looseness of the sand was when he and his brothers had been training on the eastern side of Muk.

Such loose sand usually meant nesters lived in the area and he’d rather not encounter any of those. Their poison was highly toxic.

As a soft wind floated around him and played underneath his wings, Kyris walked forward.

She was just over there, probably waiting outside her pod for him to show up, and his hearts beat with anticipation as he grew close, a certain obsession slowly filling him, slowly overriding his consciousness.

He didn’t have much experience with humans. Heck, he didn’t have any experience with them. She was the first human he’d been in such close contact with—the very first human he’d seen—and the similarities between her and the women from his world were uncanny.

The physiology was the same except for two things.

The human, Song, had impossibly dark hair. And she was wingless.

Everything about her, from her straight dark hair, her dark eyes, and her rosy lips, to her pale skin—it was all burned in his memory.

Taking a deep breath, he tried to put her image behind him as he rolled his shoulders, ignoring the ache that was there.

This…this fascination with her…

He had a lot to think about, but not now.

Now, the goal was to get to the outpost and send a message to the Restitution for pickup.

He was almost on top of the dune now and he knew that over the ridge, he would see her pod nestled somewhere in the sand. He’d retrieve her, find somewhere to spend the rest of the day, and then they could travel when it was nighttime.

But as he planned their next steps, somewhere ahead of him, a single screech pierced the air.

Kyris froze.

He knew that sound.

He’d heard it before on many occasions when he and his brothers had visited the planet.

The screech only meant one thing.

Nesters.

Taking off at a run, he was on top of the dune in a few seconds.

Down below, the scene that greeted him made a shiver run over his shoulders and through the blades of his wings, causing his edge feathers to stand on end.

Sand nesters.

Many of them, their scaly curved tails pointed upward, ready to strike at any moment as they screeched and hissed.

They were swarming over something, their large bodies covering the surface so much he almost couldn’t see what it was.

The escape pod.

Her escape pod.

He could hear their bug-like legs hitting the pod’s outer surface as they crawled all over it, trying to find a way in.

The human.

One bite from one of the creatures was enough to put a male his size out of commission for days.

A bite on a person of her stature...

It could be fatal.

Qrak.

Hand already reaching for his blade before he even had the conscious thought to do so, Kyris felt his hearts move within him once more.

Anxiety. Stress. Fear. A surging need to protect.

Emotions he wasn’t used to feeling with such frequency. But even as he looked at the swarm of nesters crawling over the pod, he knew.

It wasn’t because of the danger they posed why he was feeling those emotions.

No.

The reason was far more interesting…far more supple…far more alien…far more female…

The reason was her.

3

RAGE VIBRATING THROUGH HIM, fueled by some foreign emotion, Kyris unfurled his wings and launched into the air, swooping over the pod.

There were so many nesters.

He wasn’t sure he’d ever seen so many in one spot before.

The creatures were hunters, finding their prey by the smell of blood. But even as he flew towards them, he couldn’t see any fluid staining the sand outside the vessel. No blood had been spilled outside the pod. So why had they come up from their underground burrows?

And where was the human female?

One thing was for sure, though: she wasn’t outside the vessel.

There were no marks in the sand leading away from the pod and, now that he was airborne and could see even better, there were no signs of her anywhere close by.

That only meant one thing.

She was still in the pod. She had to be.

The screeches and hisses of the nesters grew louder as they worked themselves up into a frenzy. He knew they were only going to get louder till they sated themselves. And they weren’t going to sate themselves today.

Swooping down, blade unsheathed, his weapon moved through the air so smoothly, it seemed to cut the air itself.

The sand nester he’d targeted stopped its screeching abruptly and froze in mid-motion, its front legs raised and its claw-like mouth open.

It was as if it was frozen in time for a second while the others moved around it. In the next heartbeat, the nester separated in two, sliced clean down the middle, its purple blood pooling over the surface of the pod as both halves of its body fell in separate directions.

The smell of the blood of one of their own seemed to anger the rest of the creatures and their hisses increased in intensity.

Agitated, they raised their curved tails further into the air, exposing the barbs they hid under their scales—hooked sharp things that could easily puncture and poison prey.

He’d have to stay high, seeing as there were so many of them.

If they began spitting at him, he risked getting poisoned and being rendered motionless while they drained the blood from his veins.

Swooping down from the air again, Kyris took out two more of the creatures before climbing into the air once more.

His hearts were thumping hard in his chest and it wasn’t because of the exertion.

Why had so many of them come up from the sand?

And why was the human so quiet?

Swooping once more, he took out the last three nesters and the sudden lack of sound was almost jarring.

Landing as light as a feather, Kyris settled his boots in the sand, kicking part of a body of one of the nesters out of his path. These ones were freakishly large, about as long as his leg, and he frowned at the carcass as he moved past it.

Sheathing his blade, he moved over to the vessel.

Why was the human so quiet?

Was she scared?

They hadn’t had much time to get to know each other on the Elysium before the Hedgeruds had attacked. Before that, he reckoned she’d only become accustomed to him out of the sheer need for survival while she was locked in his cell on the Isclit slave carrier.

Everything must be so…strange and terrifying to her.

Hastening to stand over the pod, Kyris brushed away the light layer of sand feathering the transparent screen, his hearts thumping with increasing intensity as the sand cleared.

It wasn’t long before her face was revealed and two things hit him immediately.

First, another jitter ran down his spine at the sight of her and there was that surge of intense feeling within him again. But that didn’t last long because following right after was dread.

There, on her forehead and leading down to her cheek, was a thick red line.

It could only be one thing. Blood.

Dark lashes fanned over her round, rosy cheeks and her dark hair framed her face.

Dark hair…dark eyes…

In another circumstance and excusing the line of blood on her forehead, he’d have stopped to admire her strange beauty.

But at the moment, the line was all he could see.

“Song?” Her name rolled off his lips as he tried to control the slew of emotions suddenly coursing through his entire being.

“Song!” Her name sounded like something he’d been saying forever. It came so naturally and that was probably because he’d been repeating her name in his head from the first day she’d told him what she was called.

Song.

A name for which his translator sent images to his mind that meant music.

A beautiful, unusual word for a name.

Song.

The woman who’d held his attention from the first time he’d seen her.

Panic set in as he shouted her name again but it was as if she couldn’t hear him.

She wasn’t responding.

Was she…dead?

Kyris gulped, panic rising in his veins.

Had the impact killed her?

She was small. Delicate. Defenseless.

It was possible.

But he was shaking his head before he even realized he was doing so.

No.

Something inside of him snapped.

Slamming his fist against the pod, Kyris gritted his teeth, his eyes now wild as he stared at her peaceful face.

She couldn’t die…not before…

Not before what?

Where were these thoughts taking him?

Where were these feelings coming from?

He would have to investigate them later but at the moment he needed to give her some first aid.

But he couldn’t get into the pod without her activating the release button from the inside. That was the failsafe, in case one landed in a hostile environment.

Stupid qrakking failsafe.

The only way he could get inside was if he could find some way to pry the glass lid open.

Beads of moisture covered his skin and it wasn’t because of the heat from the suns.

He could feel the panic deep within him as he moved frantically around the pod, eyeing the round vessel, searching for a weakness. There must be some way to get in.

But even as he searched, circling the pod like a maniac, deep down he knew the truth.

There was no way to access the pod from the outside. All he had right now was brute strength—no tools, no other technology, nothing—and his strength alone wouldn’t work.

His gaze was focused on her face as he slammed his fist against the pod again.

First, the sand nesters and now this.

Then it hit him. The sand nesters only hunted when they smelled blood and though the pod was airtight, they’d smelled her blood.

There must be some breach in the escape pod. How else would the smell have escaped?

Running his fingers along where the lid met the rest of the body of the vessel, it was a theory he hoped was true. Gaze fastened on her face as he circled the pod, his hearts were now thumping so hard in his chest with each second that passed that he could feel them swell and contract.

But as his fingers ran along the lid, they picked up no anomalies. He couldn’t find it. There was no breach.

“For all that is Polvrak and mighty!” His curse was loud in the quietness of the desert.

He shouted her name to try rousing her again but nothing changed. If he could just get her to wake up, she could press the release button and he could get her out.

He was still circling the pod, searching along where the glass met the rest of the pod’s body, when his fingers went over a slight deviation in the panel.

It was small, but the impact had caused the lid to shift just a little. The space was enough for him to slip the tip of a finger in but not nearly enough for him to do anything else.

He needed to get in.

Pulling his blade from its sheath along his spine, it glinted in the light as he slid it into the small gap.

He’d have to cut along the perforation or maybe he could use the blade as a sort of lever to pry the pod open a little more.

His blade was made of the same material that made his brother Xul’s spear. As a matter of fact, the blade had been a gift from Xul after he’d saved his life on a particularly dangerous mission orbits ago. It was made of rare metal. Rare and ridiculously strong.

There was a possibility the blade could pry the pod open, though he wasn’t completely sure.

Pulse rising, he put pressure on the blade, bearing down on the hilt as he used his weight to increase the upward pressure.

Gritting his teeth, a grunt escaped him with the effort. The pod was resisting. After all, it wasn’t meant to be opened this way.

Exerting more pressure on the handle, he felt the gap give a little and that was enough encouragement.

But as if Polvrak was watching him, when he bore down again, the gap ceased moving.

Glaring at the small opening, Kyris kept his blade in the space as he braced into the pod.

His gaze fell on the human’s face again and he felt something wring in his chest.

Dark hair…dark eyes…

She was still just sitting there. Peaceful. Seemingly sleeping.

She had no idea what was happening around her.

Running a hand through his hair, Kyris frowned at his own reflection coming off the pod’s surface.

His eyes were afire with something he’d never before seen in his own reflection.

There was annoyance…frustration…and something else.

Slamming his fist against the glass, the pain in his shoulder pulsed as if to remind him that he was injured.

It only served to annoy him.

But as he glared inside the pod, the yellow button that should be pressed to open the vessel came into his field of vision.

It was right across from where he stood.

Glancing at the tip of his blade and then back at the button, he knew exactly what he needed to do.

The gap was enough for his blade to slide through it. He just had to hope the blade was long enough to get to where he needed it to go.

Sliding the blade through the space and further into the pod, he slid it across her body, praying to Polvrak that she didn’t jerk awake at that moment.

The last thing he wanted to do was slice right through her.

As he angled the blade toward the button, a grunt left his throat as he pressed his body against the vessel for ultimate leverage.

Almost.

Almost there.Just a little more.

But the hilt of the blade was flat against the pod now and there was no more give.

It was lined up with the button. There was only about a centimeter left to go and qrak! The darned thing refused to go farther.

A surge of frustration welled within him.

Balling his hand into a fist, he slammed it against the handle of the blade, ignoring the jolt of pain and the beads of blue liquid that rose slowly from his knuckles.

The next sound was something he never thought he’d be so happy to hear.

As the blade moved the extra centimeter and depressed the button, the soft hiss of the escape pod releasing was like music to his ears.

It couldn’t open fast enough. Sheathing his blade, he was already crawling into the small space before the pod could open fully.

Touching the wound on her head, Kyris swallowed hard.

“Song?” He turned her name over on his tongue. There was a little buzz inside him when he said her name, one that surprised him, causing him to say it again.

“Song?”

Her lack of response was worrying.

Her skin was cool. So cool, that it felt strange in contrast to the heat of the desert.

Pressing his hand firmly against the right side of her chest, his palm covered a round, soft mound and his eyes widened slowly as he froze, unable to remove his hand as he realized just what he was touching.

Even in that way she was like Vaen women…

Was she similar in all ways?

He wasn’t trying to touch her indecently but...qrak.

Thankfully, her eyes remained closed.

Willing himself to focus on what was underneath the soft, supple thing he was touching, he realized that what he was feeling for was not there.

Her heartbeats. Her heartbeats were missing.

No heartbeats meant…

No! He refused to even think it.

Maybe, just maybe, her hearts weren’t in the same spot his were?

She was another species after all.

Human.

She was human.

Different from his own people, the Vaens.

Maybe humans’ hearts were located somewhere else on their bodies. Qrak, he didn’t even know if she had hearts or maybe she only had one heart behind her chest?

This was getting complicated.

Gulping, he removed his hand from the mound on her chest, glancing at her face again and thanking Polvrak she hadn’t been awake to see the qrakking blunder he just did.

Possibly, his best bet would be to check if she was breathing.

Moving his face close to hers, Kyris stiffened again. He’d never put his face this close to hers before. He could smell her skin and she smelled…so good. Too good.

It was a scent that made him pause as something arose within him…something so consuming it made him stop for a moment.

Should he dare go closer?

What if she awoke and found him centimeters away from her face?

She’d probably deposit one of her tiny fists square into his jaw and he’d deserve it.

If he wasn’t so distressed by her non-response, he would have smiled at that thought.

Well, her fist in his face was worth the risk, wasn’t it?

He needed to know if she was alive. So far, there was no indication that she was.

He knew nothing about humans but she wasn’t moving and he’d felt no heartbeats.

He would just have to do it.

As he moved his face close to her nose, a soft brush of air blew across his skin and a rush of relief followed immediately. She was breathing. Breathing so softly, it was hardly even noticeable, but breathing nonetheless.

The bang she’d gotten on her head had probably knocked her out cold. He’d have to tend to it and hope there were no lasting effects.

How did she manage to bang her head anyway?

Glancing down at her seat restraints, the answer greeted him.

Her restraints hadn’t been fastened correctly.

No doubt, the harsh landing had propelled her into the roof of the pod and back down into her seat.

If it had given him such a jolt that his shoulder was injured, she must have hit her head pretty badly.

Even though he knew nothing about human anatomy, he knew the wound on her head had drawn blood and head wounds, regardless of the species, were never good.

Reaching for the escape pack stashed within her pod, he grabbed the first aid kit and set to work.

Adding cleaning solution to some gauze, Kyris’ fingers brushed over her skin lightly.

Dark hair…dark eyes…

She still looked peacefully asleep and, for a few moments, he didn’t realize he was staring.

Dark hair…dark eyes…

Her features were...exceptionally beautiful. Captivating even.

Dark against light.

The contrast of her dark hair against her skin was striking.

It had been the second thing he’d noticed after her gaze had locked on him; the first being that look in her eyes that had awakened something inside him.

Back on his home planet, dark hair was something no one had. It just didn’t run in the gene pool.

She was...beautiful.

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, a quiver ran through his furled wings as he set to work on her wound.

As he added various solutions to the injury, she still did not awaken, and that was worrying.

By the time he was finished, he gave the wound a critical eye. It looked okay for now, just a bit red. He hoped it would be enough.

But the fact that she was still unresponsive…

Qrak.

Releasing a sigh, he leaned against the controls of the pod, brows furrowed as he watched her.

All he had to do was wait.

She would wake up.

She had to.

4

TIME WAS MOVING RIDICULOUSLY SLOWLY.

He was a few steps from the pod, pacing up and down so much he’d made deep tracks in the sand. Every few glances at the vessel told him the situation hadn’t changed.

He couldn’t count the number of times he’d checked whether she was still breathing.

But apart from her slow constant breaths, there was nothing else to tell him that she was alive.

As the minutes ticked by, his worry grew, enveloping him until his pacing became frantic.

This wasn’t good.

When Xul had given the order to split up in the escape pods and protect a human, he had taken her away with him. Something about one of his brothers looking after her had made that strange emotion he’d been feeling surge.

But now that he had her, maybe it hadn’t been the best idea.

She was possibly in critical condition and he had no clue what to do.

If it had been Kyro, he’d have known what to do. Kyro was a walking encyclopedia and he’d spent time researching humans after they’d realized they would have to rescue the women as part of the mission.

All that knowledge would have been helpful right about now.

Cracking the bones in his spine along where his wings connected, he cast a glance at the pod once more.

Maybe he should force her awake by shaking her?

Would that even work?

Cracking his backbones again, he strode toward the pod. He would shake her awake, even if it meant scaring the hell out of her.

But as he moved closer, he heard it.

It was faint, but his ears caught it anyway.

A soft feminine sound that caused him to pause in his tracks.

Eyes wide, he froze for a second, casting expectant eyes in her direction.

Her brows were furrowed and a burst of relief hit him like a strong wave.

She was waking up.

He was at the pod in a second and, as he climbed in, the fact the pod was meant for only one occupant was painfully obvious.

“Human? Song?”

A tentative touch to her cheek and expectant eyes on her face, Kyris felt his hearts thump in his chest with the growing intensity within him.

Song emitted another groan—an almost torturous feminine sound—and her eyes fluttered open slowly.

It took a moment for her to focus on his face before her eyes darted around them, panic evident in the dark irises.

“Wh-where am I?” Her voice was so soft, so timid, it was almost as if she was whispering.

“We’ve landed.” He knew she could understand him. Thankfully, the Isclits had implanted translators on all the humans they’d abducted. That was probably the only good thing they’d done.

Song’s eyes closed again and her frown deepened.

He found himself watching her every movement as if he was a child discovering something new.

“My head,” she murmured.

Yes, her head must be aching.

Unfortunately, the first aid kit had nothing to help with that. There were no pain relievers.

Watching her frown deepen, Kyris shifted uncomfortably.

It would have been much better if he had been the one in her situation. He could bear the pain.

She though...she was small…so defenseless he wondered how it was that her species survived on her planet.

“My head,” she murmured again, raising one of her small hands to touch her forehead.

He didn’t know what to say so he said the only thing that came to his mind.

“I’m sorry.”

Song groaned again, brushing her fingers over the wound.

When another groan left her lips, it was clear she was not well.

He needed to get her somewhere comfortable so they could rest and regroup.

Judging from the twin suns, they still had a few hours of daylight left and then the cold would come. That meant she’d need warmth as well.

When he’d been pacing, he’d spotted the telltale rock formations in the distance that were a sure sign they’d landed on the eastern side of Muk.

If he was right, the closest outpost was roughly a day’s flight. He could carry her, but that wasn’t happening.

Not that something within him wasn’t yearning more than anything to do so.

The problem was his wing.

The pain was still there. He’d need to test it before he took flight with a passenger in his arms. The last thing he wanted to do was take up the challenge and end up stranded somewhere on Muk with him injured and unable to protect her. The planet was too unpredictable.

The other option was to walk.

That would take about ten days and she was ill.

As she groaned again, he could feel the hairs on his skin stand on end.

Something was happening to him. Even now, every instinct within him was telling him he needed to…

Protect.

And as her scent lingered in the small space between them, there was another thought.

Right underneath that, there was the thought to…

Claim.

It was so clear now, coming to him with such force he had to ball his hands into fists lest he roar and frighten her.

…but it was impossible.

There was no way his instincts could be telling him to do that. Not when he hadn’t been chosen.

Not when there had been no mating cry…no mating ritual.

A concerned frown knitted across his brow as he watched the human’s eyes flutter closed again.

Whatever this was, he needed time to think.

“I must find you shelter.” He said it more to himself than to her, his thoughts still a murky puddle.

She opened her eyes then, her lids low as she focused on his face, and for the first time, he wondered what she saw when she looked at him.

Judging from her size, human men were small…shorter than he was. Hopefully, that was to his advantage. Maybe she would see him as a potentially good mate…someone to give her young that were tall and strong.

Such thoughts…

It was impossible for him to be thinking about such things…wasn’t it?

There’d been no mating ritual.

Forcing the thoughts away for later deliberation, he flexed his shoulder, rolling out the pain that was still echoing there.

“I will carry you.” He was speaking as he adjusted the escape pack to a more comfortable position across his shoulders. He needed to get outside of the cramped space of the pod. He needed to do something…anything to clear his thoughts so he could focus on reality.

Something about being so close to her was clouding his brain, making him feel things it was impossible to feel. Making him think of things it was unheard of to think about outside having been summoned by the mating call.

“No...” Her soft voice floated upward as she winced and tried to rise. “I can walk, I think.”

For some reason, the rejection cut him more deeply than it should have.

Right, he definitely needed to get outside the pod. Her scent.

It was making him mad.

He watched as she tried to rise and realized she had thought him carrying her had been a suggestion.

He was carrying her. It wasn’t up for debate.

In an effortless movement, he bent and lifted her into his arms. Her soft, pliant body was against his in the next instant and Kyris resisted the urge to revel in the feeling.

If she was going to protest, she obviously thought against it because her mouth opened and closed the next second.

Instead, she closed her eyes and turned her face towards his chest.

Such an innocent movement but it turned his insides into water.

Her little movement against his chest and the soft whimper she released as she snuggled into him was making his hearts thump like he had taken adrenaline enhancements.

Qrak.

It wasn’t good the way she was affecting him. It shouldn’t be possible.

The way she snuggled into him brought back images of when she’d first snuggled into him on the Isclit slave carrier.

The Restitution’s mission had been simple enough.

They would let the Isclit slave ship capture them. Xul would get hired as a guard. He’d kill one of the main Tasqals while in transit to another spacecraft and return later to lay the bombs to take down the slave carrier. While on the ship, he, Crex, and Yce would gather information on how the Tasqals operated while Kyro would remain out of bounds on the Elysium as a link between them and the Restitution. Xul would then return and they would complete the mission by detonating the charges Xul had set.

It had been a clear-cut mission.

But when the Hedgerud guards had thrown Song into his cell, everything had changed.

When she’d immediately collapsed and cowered, crawling into a corner with wide, innocent eyes on him, that’s when he’d first felt it…this…need.

He didn’t know what else to call it.

She’d spent most of the time in the cell whimpering underneath the music that flowed from her lips. As fluid ran from her eyes down her cheeks, she’d sung. A sad song. He could tell. He didn’t need to know what the words meant to understand the melody.

It had taken time, but she had finally begun to trust him, resting against his chest in the nights as she was doing now.

It had been platonic—at least, he’d thought it was. Ignoring the feeling had been much easier then. So he’d held her. He’d held her close just as he was holding her now.

She trusted him. That he knew. And he cherished that trust.

It meant he needed to figure out what was happening to him because, just like the escape pod falling toward Muk, the pace at which it was developing was out of control.

Never mind that it should be impossible.

Such feelings only manifested in Vaens when they joined together as one…and she wasn’t his mate.

She was his…

She was his charge.

And that meant his protection should only apply on that level. Not the searing, possessive fire that was starting to grow within him.

5

HOPPING out of the escape pod with Song nestled in his arms, Kyris raised his head to survey the sky. Something was brewing. A sandstorm perhaps. But there was a slight breeze and that was good.

It would give him some lift and he could glide more easily over the sand without expending much effort or aggravating that pain in his shoulder.

Unfurling his wings, he stretched them for a second as he let the breeze brush over them. It was a warm breeze—one that was not comforting in the least. But he knew that would change as soon as the twin suns left the sky.

Then it would be cold and near freezing.

Glancing at the human, he was happy to see her eyes closed as she squeezed them shut tight.

He was almost afraid that she could hear his internal monologue.

Stretching, the thin upper layer of the sand surrounding them blew to the side with the sudden gust his wings created.

With another strong flap, he thrust them into the air, holding her close as they went airborne.

He’d always felt good in the air. It was where he belonged.

Back on Vaenus, his family lived high above the low-level clouds in an ensa tree. Diving from that tree as a boy coming of age had been one of his favorite past times.

Now, as he went higher into the cloudless sky, he felt Song grip his arm and his gaze fell to her face once more.

Dark hair…dark eyes…

Her eyes were squeezed tightly shut, as if she was too scared to open them.

She was frightened?

Well, his little human had no wings. She could not fly.

He could understand how it might be frightening.

He was sure she could love it, though, if given the chance.

Who wouldn’t?

In the sky, the ground far beneath him, he was free.

He couldn’t imagine life without his wings. Losing them would rip away one of his greatest joys in life: flying.

As he rose higher into the air, that thought stuck with him.

The only wingless Vaens he’d heard of were the ones who lived Below.

Those who had done such heinous acts they had brought shame to themselves and Vaen society.

Most of them had lost their wings as the ultimate punishment for their deviance.

Losing one’s wings was not taken lightly.

As he flapped his own wings now, rising higher, he could see what looked like the rock formations he’d spotted before.

They were his best bet for shelter.

He could find something suitable and inconspicuous for them to rest in.

Below, his shadow crossed over the desert with speed as he headed in the direction of the rock formations. If he was lucky, he could find a crevice large enough to set up base till Song was feeling better.

As he neared the first formation, he eyed it from above, circling it once before moving on.

The formations were remnants of large mountains of rock that were worn down by the planet’s incessant wind, turning the rock to sand over millennia. It meant the rock was carved into various shapes but it also meant that finding a spot suitable for a camp was a bit difficult.

There were many rocks but most were worn thin over the years, with gaping holes and arches.

As he flew over more of the formations, Kyris frowned.

He’d seen quite a few that could have worked but there was a need inside of him to find the best one. If it had been him alone, he’d have settled already.

But he wasn’t alone. He was with her. And whatever was warming him from the inside demanded that he find something suitable enough for her.

Circling the closest rock formation, wings splayed as he slowed down to eye it from above, Kyris’ frown deepened. This one wasn’t suitable either.

It was going to take him a while to find something and the wind was picking up around them.

That wasn’t a good sign, but another glance at the human settled against him set his mouth into a hard line.

She trusted him.

Even now, when it was just him and her alone. She trusted him.

And that meant he was going to find somewhere suitable for her to rest. He must be going mad because he was going to do it even if it meant flying around searching for one all night.

THEY WERE AIRBORNE.

Even with her eyes shut tight, it was hard to block that out, because she could feel what she couldn’t see. Every time he swooped or circled something, she felt her insides do a somersault and she was trying really, really hard not to grip onto his very naked and very hard chest for dear life.

This alien guy, this alien who’d shown her nothing but kindness since the first day she’d met him, he was carrying her as if she weighed as much as a two year old, and she whispered silent prayers that he wouldn’t let her fall from his arms.

It wasn’t the first time he’d flown with her, though, so it hadn’t been startling as the first instance. Still, it took some getting used to.

The fact that he was an alien and she was on an alien world was going to take some getting used to.

The pain in her head throbbed and she squeezed her eyes tighter. She must have hit her head pretty badly. When she’d come to inside the escape pod, he’d had a panicky look on his face that even a non-alien could have recognized. But that look had been quickly wiped from his features to be replaced with a look she couldn’t read.

The first time he’d flown with her, he’d grasped her around the waist, lifted her into his arms, and flown over the battle below them as his friends and the other human women had fought their way out of the slave ship.

She didn’t know why he hadn’t left her to defend herself. The other human women had been putting up a fight. And they were no longer trapped in a cell together. He didn’t have to offer her comfort anymore and he certainly didn’t have to offer her any protection.

He didn’t know her and he certainly had no reason to care.

Nevertheless, as the shock of what was happening around her had caused her to freeze, all she knew was that she was swept above the chaos and brought to a shuttle for safety and extraction. He didn’t seem concerned that his friends were fighting. He’d seemed confident in their abilities to not get killed. As a matter of fact, the one thing she remembered clearly was the intense focus on his face as he had taken her above and away from the fight.

Now, as he held her close, the familiarity of his warm skin against her cheek made her swallow hard.

Somehow, it felt different being held like this now. Back on the slave ship, when she’d allowed him to come close and she’d snuggled into his arms, her mind had been frayed. Everything had been scary, everything horrible, everything much worse than she could have ever imagined.

From the horrible, reptilian guards that looked like alligators walking upright, to the slugs that were in charge, to the big, fat toads with cysts all over their bodies, every single alien she’d seen had been terrifying.

Every single one except him.

He was the first one that had looked even remotely human.

She wasn’t very religious but he looked like a tennin, an angel if you like, with his wings wide and iridescent. In her state of shock back then, the image had been comforting.

She’d been in a state of panic as the horrible guards that looked like walking gators had forced her to watch things she’d rather forget.

It was a form of torture she had never experienced before. The first time they’d activated the wall at the back of the cell, so she could see what was happening on the other side, everything from her last meal on Earth had vacated her stomach.

A big, bulbous toad-like alien had been on the other side, its long white robes discarded as it had thrust inside a human female. The woman had been tied up, unable to move, her legs splayed as the monstrosity had taken pleasure from between her thighs.

The woman’s screams had been jarring at first as she’d begged to be spared, remnants of the mascara she’d been wearing before she’d been abducted running down her cheeks. But the toad hadn’t stopped. It had kept on going and others had joined it. Over and over they’d used her until there was nothing left.

When they finally released her body from the constraints, she’d fallen to the ground, limp.

She could still see the image replay in her head and it made her shudder.

She’d lived in fear as the rape and torture went on for days on end, a new woman each day, and each day it had ended the same.

She’d been forced to watch, the gator-guards holding her head towards the screen and forcing her eyes open even as she too had she’d begged and cried.

The torture wouldn’t stop.

One of those same toads had bought her and she’d been sure she would end up like one of those women. She’d been sure of it.

Her only respite had been him. Her guardian angel. Kyris.

When they’d release him from the shackles that held him chained each day, he’d approach her and let her cling to him.

He’d been the only thing that had kept her sane.

That and the lullaby her mother used to sing.

Now, as he soared above the surface, she shuddered in his arms. The wind was picking up but that wasn’t the cause for the shudder. Her thoughts were still on the chaos they’d left behind.

Nevertheless, his arms held her closer still and she couldn’t help but keep her eyes closed and relax against him.

At least, for a little, things were going to be alright.

6

HE WAS RIGHT.

A sandstorm had been brewing.

He could see it approaching from the north and it was coming in fast.

There was little he could do about it.

He still hadn’t managed to find a suitable rock face, so sheltering in a cave was out of the question.

As he circled another set of rocks, he eyed the fast-approaching storm. It was going to reach them before he could find a cave. No doubt about it.

Glancing down at his human—no, the human—, he found her dark eyes on him and her gaze caused a jitter to run down his spine.

Dark hair…dark eyes…

He hadn’t realized she’d been watching him.

She didn’t say anything, but he could see the slight worry in her gaze.

It was a look that he immediately wished he could tear away and the thought made him want to have a conversation with himself. But he had to tackle one problem at a time.

“What’s that sound?” she whispered, her eyes searching what she could see of their surroundings.

“Something insignificant.” Why was he lying? The sandstorm raging towards them was anything but insignificant. It was a raging wall of dust and particles that rolled with anger assaulting everything in its path.

Even to him, it looked like something from a nightmare—a tall wall of swirling sand that was headed their way, blocking out the light in its path like some hungry monster summoned by the old sands of Muk. She didn’t need to see it.

“Is it bad?” Her voice was just a whisper and as he glanced down at her it was impressed upon him that she was so defenseless…so fragile.

The fear in her voice reminded him of how she’d been broken in that Isclit slave carrier and it tugged at his hearts for another reason. She was still traumatized from being on that ship. Any normal being would be. But not him. He’d seen too much of the Tasqals’ monstrous acts to be surprised by what they’d done behind that screen.

It was why they were vermin.

To her, everything outside her planet was terrifying.

But that wasn’t the case. The universe was beautiful and incredible. His home planet, for one, was nothing like this horrible desert world.

It would be nice to show her someday—to see someday joy in those dark eyes, not fear.

But regarding her question of whether the storm was bad, it certainly wasn’t as bad as the horror she’d seen on that slave ship.

“It’s a sandstorm,” He finally answered her question, circling another set of rocks, his gaze raking over the formation quickly.

He knew exactly what he was looking for, so it didn’t take him long to scout the rocks, and again, this one was unsuitable.

“A sandstorm.” Her voice quivered a bit but registered comprehension.

He guessed she had sandstorms on her planet then.

“It’s loud.” Her gaze rose to meet his again.

“It is close.” He tried to make his voice sound even, level. He didn’t want to alarm her but from the looks of it, when the storm hit them, it was going to be bad.

He’d have to land.

Swooping down as graciously as he could, his feet touched the sand lightly, but the pain in his shoulder pulsed with renewed vigor.

Rolling the aching joint, he glanced around them. There were some uneven rocks and arches. The rock wouldn’t provide much shelter but it would help.

“It will hit soon,” he answered the question she didn’t need to ask.

“Will we be okay?”

Her question caught him off guard and he couldn’t help the furrow that creased his brows.

If she was worried about him protecting her, he was more than capable of doing so.

He had spent many orbits fighting for the Restitution and before that, he had sparred with many young Vaen his age atop the ensa trees on the perimeter of the barracks.

But as she blinked up at him, her dark hair framing her face and those dark innocent eyes, he realized she hadn’t been questioning his ability to keep her safe.

She was genuinely worried about their safety, not just hers, but his as well.

He didn’t know how he could see that in her eyes, but he could. He could see it clear as day and it silenced him.

As the sandstorm came up behind them, that look behind her eyes stuck in his mind, pulsing alongside the mantra that was already echoing there.

HER HEAD WAS POUNDING and she was still finding it difficult comprehending what was happening around her. Nevertheless, her eyes widened slightly as huge iridescent wings covered them both. Like a large winged canopy, they cast a shadow and blocked out the light from the setting sun. Mildly confused as to what he was doing, she had little time to understand before she heard the roar around them.

Even though she couldn’t see what was happening outside the thick canopy, she could tell it had gotten darker—almost as if the sun had been blotted out by something else.

The sandstorm.

But she was well-protected. No sand was getting in between the thick knit of his wings.

He was covering himself from the storm...well…no.

He was covering her.

His eyes were closed, a slight frown creasing his forehead as if he was concentrating on something and she realized immediately what that was. His body was taking the brunt of the sandstorm now raging around them.

The particles had to sting something fierce.

If it was anything like sandstorms on earth, being uncovered and unprotected was a recipe for disaster.

Yet, he was covering her. Covering her and leaving himself to bear the brunt of the storm against his back.

Why?

His unexpected kindness again surprised her and a feeling of gratitude crashed through her. He was nothing like those aliens on the slave ship…at least, nothing he’d done so far seemed even relatively close the terror of the captors.

It made her gratitude swell even more but right underneath it, a feeling of helplessness followed.

It was all she’d been feeling since she’d woken up on the alien ship and realized she hadn’t been dreaming. One moment she’d been walking back to her dorm after pulling a late one at the university library and the next she’d woken up bound and chained in a living nightmare.

And even after escaping the alien slave ship, the feeling was still there. That crushing feeling of helplessness.

She’d been helpless then and she was helpless now.

As the painful thought lingered in her mind, she raised her eyes to look at him and was happy to see his eyes were still closed.

And with his eyes closed, she let her gaze wander. She knew that under his closed lids, striking violet eyes were set underneath his sculpted brow. His golden blond hair was cut low, the sides shorter than the top and the strands looked so soft, she wondered what they felt like to the touch. His nose was straight, pointed, and underneath it was a set of full lips that had a cupid’s bow.

His jaw was sharp, leading to a strong chin and as he shifted in the sand, she felt the muscles in his chest flex, reminding her of just how strong he was. With his arms still holding her close she was very aware she’d need both hands to grasp just one of his biceps.

Yet, he was tall, lean…it reminded her just how small she was.

Being so close to him, his scent was like a unique blend of sugar and spices, and if she allowed herself to concentrate on it, she was sure she would snuggle against his chest and stay there.

He exuded such strength and calm…

It was a bit jarring, because he looked as if he was around the same age as her. But he seemed to have experienced so much already, while she had experienced...nothing.

She wouldn’t think about it. It would only make her depressed.

Now, as the storm raged around them, the shadow of his wings highlighted his bone structure. It was as if he was sculpted… she could imagine that when God was making him, he’d accidentally used all of the bottle of gorgeousness and hadn’t bothered to start over.

It was surreal—as if he had no flaws at all.

Was it an alien thing or…

Song let out a soft huff of a laugh. It certainly was not an alien thing.

If the other aliens on the slave ship were anything to go by, humans were way off when they imagined little green men with big heads. She’d have given anything for little green men with big heads.

Her short laugh must have caught his attention because now, striking violet eyes were focused on her and she almost inhaled sharply.

“Something amuses you.” His gaze flicked over her face once more and she realized he was trying to read her.

“No.” She shook her head slightly as she answered and realized the words were lost to the loud roar of the storm around them. “No!” She tried again, raising her voice this time. “I was just thinking about something.”

“What? What were you thinking about?”

Song hesitated. It wasn’t anything particularly juicy or funny. She didn’t think he needed to hear. Nevertheless, she opened her mouth and began talking.

“I was thinking you’re nothing like the little green men I imagined.” It was a half-truth but it was close enough.

“Little men?” His brows furrowed.

Song huffed out another laugh through her nostrils. “Never mind. You wouldn’t get it.”

His brows remained furrowed as he studied her for a few more seconds before he closed his eyes again.

As she sobered, she stared at him, the roar of the storm still raging around them. As she listened to it, a sadness overcame her that she knew all too well.

She’d felt this sadness before on so many occasions. It was like a constant reminder that she was alone.

She knew what he was doing was just out of duty. He was just obeying others but she was thankful nonetheless and before she could stop herself, the words slipped from her lips.

“Thank you for this, Kyris.”

Something in his face changed and he tensed around her but he didn’t respond.

But he didn’t need to respond. Duty or not, he was being kind to her, and it was more than she’d expected from anyone.

She’d take it and treasure it for as long as it lasted. For it would run out. And when it did, she only hoped she had enough strength to stand on her own two feet by then.

From what she’d seen on that alien slave ship, kindness was as scarce as gold.

Kyris though...he’d been nothing but kind.

As a matter of fact, he was like a guardian angel.

The fact he had wings only added to that.

Was he really a tennin? Maybe she was imagining him.

Maybe he wasn’t real.

The thought crashed into her and caused a chill to run down her spine. But, when she looked up and into his eyes, he was looking down at her again and there was no way what she was seeing there wasn’t real.

Or...maybe she was indeed imagining it.

There was fierce protectiveness shining through his violet gaze and, as far as she knew, there was no way that protectiveness was directed at her.

He had no reason to be protective of her. He was only here because of his duty to his mission and his captain.

She was nothing to him and although she’d have loved if that wasn’t the case, it was reality.

And she’d learned the hard way that reality was nothing like the image she had in her mind.

Reality sucked.

7

AS THE STORM raging around them died, Kyris pulled back his wings. Without a word, he rose and went airborne again so quickly Song found herself gasping for air as her heart lurched.

He glanced down at her to check if she was alright before he kept ascending, going so high she was sure that if she looked down now she would surely piss herself.

The sun was almost setting. She could tell from the dim glow in the sky and looking up into the emptiness above them now, she could almost pretend she was back on Earth.

It was getting colder too and along with the chill, the pain in her head seemed to increase. It felt like the seven dwarves were digging for gold and jewels on her cranium.

“There,” she heard him say as he swooped lower and his wings flapped, creating a loud thrashing sound as they displaced the air around them.

They were large wings; large, strong, and iridescent. She’d never seen a bird like him before.

But he wasn’t a bird, was he? He was a...

She didn’t know what he was.

That’s why he’d surprised her so much when she’d first seen him. Who’d have ever thought men with wings existed anywhere in the universe?

She was sure only fairies had wings and she was tempted to think of him as such.

Except, weren’t fairies small?

Her thoughts were interrupted as he landed lightly on his feet, his wings folding behind him with such practiced precision that it was art-like.

Still holding her against him, he eyed the rock formations.

The boulders were huge, uneven structures pushing up from the sand.

Following his gaze, she saw him eyeing a particular one.

It had a large opening and looked almost like a handle-less mug that had fallen on its side. The opening was just big enough for him to stoop and get in.

Setting her lightly on the sand, the words “wait here” left his lips.

When she nodded, he crept toward the giant mug. His hand was poised over a sheath that was settled against his spine, right between his wings.

Before she knew it, he crept inside the cave.

There was no sound and as the seconds ticked by, her anxiety rose.

She was just about to rise from the sand when she saw him exit the cave, sheathing what looked like a sword along his spine.

“It’s safe,” he said as he approached her. “No sand cats, though there shouldn’t be any. Not on this side of the planet.”

He was crouching to lift her again.

“Sand cats?”

“Big wild beasts.” She could feel his intense violet gaze on her and it only made her cheeks warm. “But they won’t harm you. They are not here.” Once more, he made to lift her but she touched his arm as he bent and his gaze seemed to zero in on her hand against his skin.

“I can walk.” She felt a bit woozy but she tried to give him the best smile she could, ignoring the awkwardness that was making her cheeks redden. “You’ve been carrying me for so long now.”

“I don’t mind,” his reply came just as he swept her off her feet before she could offer another word of protest.

He lifted her so easily, as if she weighed nothing. It was strange being carried around like this but she found she couldn’t argue with him about it. She couldn’t offer any resistance. Somehow, his actions rendered her speechless.

As they entered the dark space of the cave, the cold seemed even greater.

She must have shivered because his arms tightened around her.

“You are cold.” It wasn’t a question.

Before she could reply, he rested her on the sand, his head turned to look out of the cave opening. “You will need food and bedding to keep warm.”

He glanced back at her then and she realized all she could do was look back up at him.

Was he telling her so she knew to go find those things herself?

She didn’t want to rely on him for anything else. He’d already done so much but she knew fully well what the result of her trying to fend for herself would be. She had no idea how to get those things. She’d never been the outdoorsy type.

Back on earth, her definition of a day outdoors had been going shopping with her dorm mate.

Earth.

If she’d been thrown in the wilderness on Earth, she was sure she’d have died within a week. What did that mean in relation to being stranded on a desert alien planet?

It probably meant that she wouldn’t survive for more than a day without Kyris’ help.

“Sh-should I go and try to find some?” Her wide eyes focused on the cave opening as the words left her lips.

Please, don’t say yes. Please, don’t say yes.

She hated relying on him for so much. Heck, she was relying on him for everything, but until she got her bearings she didn’t really have a choice.

Still, there was that little niggling feeling that made her aware of everything he was doing for her. That niggling feeling said that one day his patience and kindness would run out. She needed to prepare herself for that day.

Just…not right now. She could start tomorrow. When the sun was high in the sky again, not retreating as if it too was afraid of whatever lived on the planet below.

When he didn’t reply, she looked up at him.

Again, he was looking at her as if bewildered by her question.

He was standing over her—tall, masculine, and shirtless, with violet eyes and freakin’ wings. He was definitely not human. Yet, the bewilderment in his eyes was such a human-like emotion she felt the warmth in her cheeks increase.

“Some food and something to make a fire?” she continued. “Should I go try to find some?”

The bewilderment in his eyes disappeared immediately, only to be replaced with what looked like disbelief.

“Qrak no.”

“Huh?”

“I will hunt some zehmips for you and bring back their skin. They will be your food and your bedding.”

“Ah...okay.”

She had no idea what a zehmip was and she really didn’t want to imagine what it looked like either.

It sounded as if it was some kind of animal and seeing that she’d failed at even dissecting a bug in high school biology, she doubted she’d be able to kill a zehmip. She’d probably have headed out in search of one only to return empty-handed. Then it would have been zehmip one point; Song Tanaka zero.

Resting her head against the cave wall, she closed her eyes briefly.

Her head was still pounding. She must have hit it really badly.

“I’ll be back soon,” she heard him say.

He was so tall and looked so strong. She couldn’t imagine what she must look like to him.

Small and weak, she bet. Just like she felt.

Probably that was why he was going to hunt on his own.

As Kyris exited the cave, her eyes followed him till his wings unfurled and he was gone.

She kept her gaze in that direction and realized she could see the setting sun...

Wait...Song blinked as she squinted.

There were two suns—one a bit larger than the other.

Setting suns. Plural.

The planet had two suns.

Closing her eyes, she pulled her knees up to her chest and tried to ignore the pounding in her head.

Two suns.

If that wasn’t proof she was far away from Earth, she didn’t know what was.

And the thought was not comforting in the least.

8

IT WAS dark outside and the cave was cold. Still hugging her knees toward her chest, she couldn’t help the worried frown as she stared out in the darkness.

It was dead silent out there. So silent, it was almost creepy.

But apart from cementing how strange the place was, it also underlined that she was alone.

Kyris had been gone for a while and as the minutes ticked by, her feeling of desolation increased.

What if he was thinking exactly what she’d been thinking?

What if he’d just said he was going to get them supplies when, in truth, he was flying away somewhere without her—some place where he wouldn’t have to deal with the deadbeat human he’d been lugging around for hours.

She was but a human; one lost somewhere in space. Duty or not, if anything happened to her, it was of no consequence to him. She wouldn’t put it past him to ditch her.

She had no family out there and the only friends she had were probably the other four human women who’d been abducted as well.

But even now, they weren’t there.

She had no idea if she would ever see them again and with how unpredictable everything had been so far, she wasn’t putting much hope on it.

Just as she had no idea if she would ever see her family again.

Her father. Her mother. Her older brother.

To think that she’d been a week away from mid-term break. She could even see the plane ticket back to Tokyo sitting on her dorm room bookshelf.

She’d been so excited to return home, if only for a short time.

Her family had been living in the United States for ten years but when her parents had gotten homesick, they’d decided to move back to Japan and she would follow after. She’d only had to complete her studies and she’d had one year left.

One measly year.

That year had seemed like it would take forever.

Now, that might just be the case.

Forever.

It had only taken one unlucky instance, but she’d lost her family forever.

The thought made tears well in her eyes but she pushed them back. She’d cried enough while on that slave ship, shed so many tears, and it hadn’t gotten her anywhere.

Sniffling, she let her forehead fall into her palm.

After Kyris had flown off, she’d realized he’d left a sort of fabric bag behind.

She hadn’t meant to be nosy but after waiting for a while, she’d opened the bag to take a look at the contents.

It looked like it had a first-aid kit, several pouches of something that she assumed was food, some rope, a small blade similar to a ratchet knife, and a large brown pouch that looked like animal skin. She assumed that last one was like a waterskin, but she didn’t dare drink its contents even though she was thirsty.

She didn’t want to poison herself accidentally.

She’d ask him when he returned...if he returned.

There were also some strange-looking hard tubes in the bag and she had no idea what those were. They all had the diameter of a regular candlestick and about the same length but there was no wick and they weren’t made of wax.

There was nothing in the bag that could make a fire so she just had to curl up against the stone wall, eyes turned to the entrance, hoping he would return.

Oh how she wished he would.

She wasn’t going to lie. This whole experience had been terrifying so far.

She only wished she could go back home and by home she meant Tokyo, not even her dorm room in California.

She missed California, but she missed her family more. They were everything to her.

What she would do to see her mother’s face right about now, to feel the warmth of her father’s embrace, to curl up under the kotatsu with her brother watching movies, and drink her mother’s homemade butajiru...just...for things to go back to the way they were and to know that everything was going to be alright.

She didn’t have much experience with the world; she knew that.

For her, life was just starting out and she’d been in the process of finding herself and her independence.

It had taken a lot of convincing to get her parents to leave her alone in the U.S. They hadn’t wanted to return without her. It was only after months of pleading that they’d agreed. She had to grow up sometime and it had been the perfect opportunity.

But not even a full year had passed since her parents had left and she’d found herself where?

In. Fucking. Space.

And where in space?

She didn’t even know. Nowhere near Earth, that was for sure.

What did she want? Independence.

What happened when she got it? She was abducted by aliens.

Talk about epic fails.

Ha!

She couldn’t even make it up.

The worst thing she’d imagined happening after her parents had left was running out of the money her father had given her and having to juggle retail jobs to get by. Well, hadn’t she grossly underestimated her future or what?

Still looking toward the cave entrance, her worry grew.

Kyris had been gone for really, really long.

The sky was dotted with stars, constellations she’d never seen before, and if she wasn’t in her particular predicament, she’d have stopped to be awestruck by the view.

Crawling toward the entrance on hands and knees, the slight pounding in her head was still there but the wound that was on her forehead was closed.

She didn’t know what he’d done or what he’d given her to make the wound close so quickly but she was thankful for it.

She was thankful for all he’d done so far.

So, so thankful.

And that was why, even though she would completely understand if he abandoned her, she sure wished he hadn’t.

He and the other aliens on his team were the only good things to happen to her since she was taken from Earth—them and the fact that she wasn’t the only human that was abducted.

It was sort of a sick thought, but she was happy she was one of five women who made it out alive. At least, she wouldn’t be so alone. She couldn’t imagine what it would feel like to wake up in space and find out that along with being abducted she would never see another human being again.

It was an unpleasant thought.

Letting out a sigh as she reached the cave entrance, Song stared out into the darkness.

A slight breeze played with her hair, throwing the dark strands over her shoulders.

Swallowing hard, she peered out into the night. There was still a little visibility but the darkness was coming in fast.

She was cold and the temperature was dropping further. She needed to do something.

If he’d left her, she needed to find a way to keep warm, at least until morning when she could see better and find a way to get food.

A feeling of hopelessness washed through her as she shuddered against the cold.

She couldn’t do this.

Images of the other human women who had also been abducted flashed through her mind and she wondered if they were having the same self-doubt as she was.

Probably not.

They all seemed so much stronger than she was. So much surer of themselves.

She’d tried to be brave, but all she’d done was end up crying.

She wasn’t ready for any of this.

Underneath it all, she felt…incompetent.

At her twentieth birthday party a few months before, it had felt like she had her whole life ahead of her. She’d had plans—and none of those plans had included this.

She guessed it was the same for the other women. But they seemed so much more resilient than she was.

They were.

But if their resilience taught her anything so far, it was that if she was going to survive, she needed to get her wits about her and be strong.

Maybe that was what she needed to do now.

She was alone.

Cold. Alone. Hungry.

As she waited a few more minutes, the reality that he wasn’t coming back took root, and she knew if that was the case, she needed to fend for herself.

And she would.

She would, or she would die trying...

Hopefully, those wouldn’t be her famous last words.

9

THE CHILL in the air brought on by nightfall was comforting. He much preferred the cold to the heat. Heat irritated his wings and made him feel like he was going to molt because of the furnace his feathers naturally created.

But, even though he appreciated the cold, he knew it was probably not the same for his human.

His human?

Qrak.

There was that invading thought again. That thought!

It was why he’d had to leave the cave so quickly.

He’d needed to get away, to sort through the madness that was now in his mind.

His human? He didn’t have a human. He didn’t have anyone.

But even as he said this to himself, another set of whys counteracted his argument.

Why then was he feeling so possessive over her, with the slightest thought of her coming to harm filling him with anxiety and rage?

Why then did he want to touch her at every possible moment, even going the extent he pretended it was because he needed to carry her?

Why then were his hearts beating so hard when he was with her that he had to focus intently on what he was doing just so that she didn’t consume his mind?

Why then was her scent so intoxicating that crouching with her in his arms during the sandstorm had him struggling with his own cock, so much so he’d had to close his eyes to block out her image while he focused on keeping himself soft.

A low growl left his lips as he headed back to the cave.

He shouldn’t be flying. The pain in his shoulder was slowly spreading through his wing, which meant he was agitating the injury. Yet, he’d flown so far away from the darned cave, struggling with himself all the way, trying to gain control of whatever was pushing him over that edge towards her.

He couldn’t succumb.

It was not the Vaen way.

These feelings…this growing possession, this need, such feelings could only be acted on if she chose him. Not the other way around.

That was the Vaen way. Vaen females were the ones who initiated interest. They were the ones who chose which male deserved their affections.

He remembered the first time he witnessed the mating rituals. He’d been a young male, about five orbits old. For the ritual, it was three Vaen males and competing for the chance to be chosen. It was a great honor for them to complete the set of trials for the female, showing their worth and strength as her best potential mate. To compete, she had been the one to choose which males she wanted to have the honor and after the ritual, she would choose again. This time, choosing the one who she thought deserved her affection.

It was how it was and how it had been for millennia.

Vaen females chose.

They chose which males even had the right to look upon them with want and need emanating from their very pores.

Without the ritual, a male had no right to view a female with lust in his eyes. It was deviant.

And deviance belonged Below.

Kyris rolled his shoulders as he flew, ignoring the pain as the thoughts lay heavy on his mind.

This human…every second he spent around her it was as if he was forgetting this moral code. Even now the scent of her lingered in his nose.

She’d already been looking a little better before he’d flown off to gather the zehmip skins. Maybe the health kit had done the job.

Now returning to the cave he’d found for them, he gripped the woolly zehmip skins tightly.

They would keep her warm and then she might be well enough after some rest to start the trek to the outpost. This flight for the zehmip skins had been enough to tell him his wing was injured enough; he needed to get some medical care lest he damage it more. Even now, with him trying to mostly glide on the wind current to take the pressure off, he could still feel the pain.

Glancing at the dark sky above, he flapped and narrowed his wings as he cut through the air.

It was taking a while to get back and it wasn’t because his wing was injured. It seemed he’d actually gone farther than he’d realized. But the zehmip skins were the only thing he knew could keep her warm in this cold. There was nothing else to use in the desert.

Well…a frown creased his brow as the thought slowly crept in. He hadn’t needed to get the zehmip. He could have easily kept the human warm by allowing her to sleep against him with his wings wrapped around them both.

There was pleasure along with that thought, so strong he had to shake his head to ignore it.

He could see the cave now and as he approached, there was a sinking feeling in his chest.

It was pitch black inside.

Qrak.

In his haste to leave, he had forgotten to show her how to use the fire sticks. He hadn’t shown her the food pouches either.

Qrak. She was no doubt freezing. Hungry and freezing.

As his feet touched the sand, Kyris popped his head through the cave entrance, his brow still knitted in a frown.

Something was wrong.

He didn’t even need to call her name to know she wasn’t inside the cave but he did it anyway, trying to ignore the stiffening of his shoulders and the uneasy feeling brewing in the pit of his stomach.

“Song?”

There was no response.

Stepping into the cave, he all but threw the zehmip skins to the side as he walked further into the darkness.

She wasn’t there. Only her sweet scent lingered.

Eyes narrowing, unease grew within him, causing a quake to move through his wings.

Where was she?

His pupils were dilated to their fullest extent and he could see tracks in the sand covering the cave floor. Vertical lines like she’d crawled toward the cave entrance.

Stooping to investigate them further, he brushed his fingers over the faint indentations.

It was dark, but from what he could see, there were no signs of a scuffle.

There were no sand cats in these parts, but he knew there were other things in the desert he didn’t want her to encounter alone.

Had something caused her to exit the cave only to be hauled away?

The quakes that sent quivers down through his wing blades increased as he stood and hastened toward the cave entrance.

She was somewhere out there.

Cold and alone and probably in danger. But most of all, she was defenseless.

He should have known better than to leave her on her own.

She wasn’t a Vaen female. She had no wings to fly away if there was a predator and her bones were so soft they would easily break if she was attacked by anything.

It was no doubt why Xul had ordered that he and his brothers each take a human under their care.

Humans were fragile.

He needed to remember that.

Violet eyes focused out into darkness as he exited the cave. Her scent still lingered. She hadn’t been gone for long.

Wings flapping as he rose into the air, he hovered just above the cave as he narrowed his eyes to focus through the darkness, his ears perked for any sound.

And then he heard it.

It was low, almost indecipherable, but the melody was one he’d heard many times before.

A sad tune.

That same sad tune she’d sung while on the Isclit slave carrier.

It was coming from somewhere off to the left of the cave.

Following his ears, it didn’t take him long before he saw the small figure a few meters away, crouched in the sand.

The relief that hit him came out as a huge breath. Floating back down to the ground, his feet touched the sand lightly and he closed his wings in silence.

He could only catch a few words as the translator chip relayed the tune to him but the melody seemed to seep into his very soul.

I would quickly quit here and go back

To my parents’ home over there

IN THOSE WORDS was her pain.

Her sadness.

Her distress.

And it pulled at him in a way that made him feel helpless.

It was clear what those words meant.

She wanted to go home.

It made him feel...sad? Disappointed?

Her feelings were only natural but...his feelings, his feelings were utterly confusing.

It was completely and utterly selfish, but he wanted her to stay.

Dark hair…dark eyes…

It was deviant, these feelings.

It was wrong.

There was no mating call. No competition. No mating ritual…These feelings belonged to those who lived Below.

But he wanted her to stay. He wanted…her.

The realization hit him like a brick and he froze in the sand, his eyes widening as he listened to her sing.

It was dishonorable. He knew it. He could feel it.

Yet, he craved it. Craved it like nothing he had ever craved before.

He wanted her…

Dark hair…dark eyes…captivating.

He was moving toward her before he even realized what he was doing. She must have heard him approach because her wide eyes flew in his direction and her song stopped abruptly on her lips.

It was almost as if she was holding her breath, eyes still wild as she stared in his.

“Song?” He tried to keep his voice level, even as saying her name made pleasure spike within him.

This was wrong.

What he was feeling was wrong.

Deviant.

Wrong!

Yet, as her shoulders visibly relaxed and a smile passed over her face, he couldn’t deny the pull.

Dark hair…dark eyes…

He was becoming obsessed.

Even as he sorted the feelings bubbling within him, as if finally happy to be free, he noticed that though she was smiling, she looked as if she was about to burst into tears.

“You came back.” The quiver in her voice was clear.

Of course, he came back. Did she think he would have left her alone in this wilderness?

“Did you think I’d left?” He watched her gaze fall to the sand. “Abandoned you?”

He watched her small lips work as she worried them between her teeth, the movement catching his attention and holding it there.

“I—I thought...” She trailed off and adjusted the full bag of sand that was leaning against her legs.

She was sad...hurting...and it was making something wring within his chest.

He needed to change the subject.

If her eyes leaked again, it would be his fault and that would probably break him. He hated seeing her fluid-filled eyes—absolutely hated how it made him feel inside.

“The sand. What are you doing with it?”

“Oh, this?” She patted the bag and even in the darkness he could sense her embarrassment. “I was, um, trying to get enough into the cave...”

He couldn’t think of a reason why she’d want to do that. Why in Polvrak’s name would she want more of the pesky substance inside the cave? It was coarse and got everywhere. He was sure he’d have to spend days back on base just trying to rid the particles from his wings.

“Why?” He hadn’t meant for the question to come out so...derisive...and as soon as the word left his mouth he regretted it.

Song seemed to shrink even further into herself.

“I...” She trailed off and once again he got the impression that she was embarrassed by something.

He was being insensitive. Maybe she needed the sand for some human reason? Xul had mentioned that his human, Athena, had been especially strange in the beginning.

“It...it’s stupid. I needed it for a stupid reason.”

“Stupid? Let me decide.”

She glanced over at him and paused as if contemplating whether to tell him what her intentions were. “It’s cold so I was going to bring enough in to bury myself to...” She trailed off again.

Ah…

“I—I was cold and...I...”

Something wrung in his chest again and it made him swallow hard.

He didn’t like seeing her like this.

“That was a smart idea.” It was a smart idea. It was probably what he would have done in her situation. “I probably wouldn’t have thought to do it.”

He didn’t know why he said that but the look in her eyes when he did, the relief and slight pride, made the lie worth it.

“Stupid idea, you mean.” Her chuckle was soft as she patted the sand-filled bag.

“No. Smart.”

It was smart, and brave. If he was a small female, with thin skin and easily breakable bones, he doubted he’d have ventured outside the cave. He’d have probably stayed in the cold and froze to death. He wouldn’t have thought to risk going outside in the darkness to save himself.

She hung her head again, but didn’t reply.

Curious.

He had a lot to learn about her.

“I’m glad you’re back,” she murmured, casting him a sideways glance. “Though I don’t know if I deserve your protection. I’m not contributing anything or doing anything to deserve it.”

What did she do to deserve it?

She dared to exist.

But somehow that answer seemed inappropriate.

So, he settled for one that sounded more…agreeable.

“Just doing my duty.”

It wasn’t just duty, though, was it?

He’d keep that to himself for now.

10

AS A SLIGHT BREEZE troubled his wings, he noticed her shiver.

Right, she was cold.

“Let us head back to the shelter.” He made to outstretch his hand toward her but thought against it.

Reaching instead for the bag of sand, he gripped it and waited for her to rise.

She was so small. The top of her head didn’t even reach his shoulders.

“Do you wish for me to carry you back to the cave?”

The laugh that left her lips was a nervous one.

“No, no.” She raised a hand and shook it slightly in a gesture he didn’t recognize. “I’m fine.”

Smoothing her palms against her trousers, she flashed him a smile.

The walk back to the cave was a silent one. He could tell she was deep in her thoughts.

Was she still thinking of home? Was she thinking of him?

He would give several of his feathers to know.

Setting the bag of sand down as Song hovered at the entrance, he fished in the items she’d deposited against the cave wall for the fire sticks.

Cracking them in his palms, the sticks lit up to create a soft glow.

“Wow,” he heard her breathe. “What are those?”

She was beside him now, staring at the fire sticks still in his hands.

“Fire sticks. Vaen technology.” He stretched one out to her, which she took without hesitation.

The glow from the sticks was increasing now to the point where the light they provided lit up her face.

The look of innocent awe that was there lifted his spirits.

“I can feel the warmth.” Her brows furrowed as she turned the stick over in her hands. “But it isn’t burning my fingers. How is that possible?”

He didn’t know what she meant by that. The fire sticks were common Vaen technology. He’d never really thought much about how they worked.

“They give light and heat. But no, they do not burn.” That was the best answer he could give and a smile slowly grew across his face as he watched the curiosity grow on hers.

It was nice seeing a different emotion cross her features.

As he stacked the fire sticks into a pile in the center of the cave, he watched her through the corner of his eyes and she sat in front of them, still turning the one she held in her hand.

“This technology is...amazing,” she breathed. “I mean, I’m studying video production so I’m no tech guru but as far as I know, we don’t have anything like this.”

He listened to her speak, savoring every word formed by her soft, lilting voice.

“Nothing like this on your planet?” He moved to stretch the zehmip skins he’d gathered near the fire sticks. He’d gathered enough to create a soft bed and he hoped she found it comfortable. It was the closest thing to bedding in the wild on Muk.

Back at the base, she could have been treated to his large bedding area. He’d have bought soft pillows and coverings made from Vaen silk. But for now, this would have to do.

The thought of her lying in his bed almost made him rumble with anticipation and his wings quivered in response.

“Yes. On my planet. Earth.” She frowned at the stick, smoothing her fingers over the length of it. “Well, we have glow sticks, but those don’t provide warmth. How did you turn it on?”

She glanced up at him then and the breath caught in his throat.

She was even more beautiful now with her eyes filled with wonder. Her face was highlighted by the fire sticks’ glow and her dark eyes seemed to twinkle in the light.

Dark hair…dark eyes…

It took him a moment to reply but when he finally did, his voice sounded strange, even to his ears. “By force.”

Deviant.

This wasn’t right.

Turning, he grabbed the pieces of zehmip stalk he’d brought back and set to creating a barrier at the cave mouth. It would be enough to keep any critters on the outside. Luckily, the back of the cave was sealed by rock

“Huh? What do you mean by force?”

When he turned around, he realized she was still watching him and it didn’t help that nothing had changed in the way she looked.

The fire sticks’ light was still illuminating her face in a way that made him want to stare and the expression on her face was only now tinged with a little confusion.

And her gaze...so innocent.

If only she knew the thoughts in the back of his mind, she would be looking at him in horror; they were anything but innocent.

If not stranded on a desert planet, would she have wanted to report him to the Vaen plutocracy? Would she have wanted his wings stripped and him banished Below?

Rubbing a hand across his throat, Kyris rolled his shoulders for a second, grimacing slightly at the pain that was still there.

“Hit it to activate it. Hit it to deactivate,” he answered her.

Was it the light? The shadows? The intimacy of having her all alone and to himself?

He’d never had trouble controlling himself before, but the more he looked at her, the more he was finding it hard keeping his distance.

He watched as she slapped the stick against the wall and the light within it promptly died.

“Ooh.” Her mouth formed a circle, her lips coming together in a near pout and Kyris found he couldn’t look away.

Hitting the fire stick against the wall again, a smile broke across her face as the stick began to glow.

It was good she wasn’t looking in his direction. He thanked Polvrak for that for he knew that every emotion he was feeling was written right across his face and he wasn’t sure she was ready to be confronted with any of them yet.

Heck, even he wasn’t ready.

“This is so cool!” Her voice echoed in the cave, interrupting his thoughts as it bounced against the stone walls.

It wasn’t cool…it was hot…but whatever. As well as being strange, humans also said strange things that made no sense.

It didn’t matter, though, and he didn’t bother to correct her. There was too much on his mind but at the forefront was the growing realization of one thing…

These feelings weren’t in his imagination.

They weren’t impossible, for here they were.

And there was no way he could ignore them.

There was only one option…he had to make her choose him.

And make her choose him he would.

11

THE FIRE STICKS were making the cave a little too warm for him but he resisted the urge to sit outside. He’d had the choice of doing that or sitting across from her and, of course, he’d chosen the latter.

“I have food.” Reaching for one of the food packets, he checked the label. He wasn’t hungry but he bet she was. And she needed energy to get better.

She hadn’t complained but he saw her wince and rub her head a few times, which meant her head must still hurt.

Reading the label on the food packet, he opened it and stretched it out to her, watching her reaction.

A furtive glance at him and she raised her hand to smooth her dark hair behind her ear almost nervously.

But she didn’t take the packet.

“You should eat.” He gently thrust the packet in her direction again.

It took her a few seconds to take it from him. But still, she didn’t eat.

“Is there enough for you?”

He was sure she was starving. Why would she care if he ate or not?

Thoughtful, she was. It made something move within him.

“There is enough.” He watched her pause. “Eat.”

“Thank you.” Her whisper was almost inaudible as she took the opening of the packet into her mouth.

When her eyes lit up and she took a more generous portion of the food into her mouth, her delighted and surprised giggle made his cock twitch.

The food packets impressed her, too?

It was strange, but charming in an innocent kind of way.

Things he took for granted made her so happy.

“What is this?” She took another large gulp.

“Fruit.” He knew he was eyeing her like a predator watching its prey but he couldn’t help it. That giggle. He wanted to hear it again. “Try this one.”

She took the other packet without question and squeezed the contents into her mouth.

“Oh god...” She groaned and her eyes rolled over in her head in a way that had him staring at her, speechless. It took everything within him to not let his mouth fall open.

That look. That groan. It was a look of pure ecstasy. The exact way he imagined she would look on her back, writhing in ecstasy.

Shifting to the side, he turned his groin away from her.

He was already hard and she would undoubtedly see it pressing through his trousers.

“This is so good.” She groaned again. “It tastes like...” Taking another gulp, her eyes rolled over again before she smiled at him. “It tastes like papaya. God, I love papaya.”

The name she had for the fruit didn’t translate to anything in his language.

Glancing at the packet again, he realized it was zenoju, a fruit found only on his home world. He made a mental note of that.

Once they got picked up by the Restitution, he was going to hoard all the zenoju packets on board.

He would even order a shipment of fresh zenoju to his address at the base. That is, if he managed to get her to stay with him. She’d only stay if she chose him.

If she liked the tasteless packaged zenoju so much, she would absolutely orgasm from the real thing.

Orgasm.

It was his turn to groan and when she looked over at him, he had to pretend he was clearing something in his throat. The thought of her having an orgasm made his cock throb.

Ultimate pleasure…

…and he wanted to give it to her.

Every. Night.

And day, too, if she allowed him to.

As she finished eating the packets and wiped her lips, he held out his hand with some more but she shook her head.

“No, thank you. There’s quite a bit in one packet. I think I’m full.”

Kyris frowned.

If that was all she ate, he was going to have to remember to keep food with him at all times. There was no way she would survive the trek to the outpost on so little food.

“Are you sure? You badly hit your head. You may need to eat and rest more than you think.”

She smiled at that, first meeting his gaze before her focus drifted to the side. But she didn’t answer.

Shifting uncomfortably, she stared into the light of the fire sticks.

“Can I ask you something?” Her voice was low, the words coming out in an almost whisper but her tone made his edge feathers stand on end.

“Of course.”

“Why are you being so nice to me? From the start. Why have you been so nice to me?”

The question was one he hadn’t expected and it took his mind off the problem in his trousers for a second. It was a question he didn’t know how to answer.

“You were being hurt.”

She glanced at him then. “Yes, but...why did you care?”

He took a moment to contemplate this. What should he say? He’d helped her because he’d seen the terror in her eyes? Because he hated the Tasqals and those who worked for them?

Or should he tell her the truth? That he’d never wanted for anything in his life before, that he’d had everything he’d needed.., until he saw her?

He sat contemplating this, the revelation something he hadn’t put into words previously. But his human was here asking him for an answer and he needed to give her one.

“At first...it was out of duty. The Tasqals...they are a scourge. I could not sit by while they tortured you.”

“At first?”

Kyris closed his eyes momentarily. He’d hoped she hadn’t caught that but this little human was smarter than he was giving her credit for. He swallowed hard.

“Yes...at first.” He watched her closely, wanting her to ask more but terrified at the same time that she would. What would she think if he told her the truth? That he intended to have her, that he intended to keep them in this desert for as long as possible so she would start to see him as a likely mate, that his aim was to have her choose him.

It was an...obsessive and selfish mission.

There were no other males to compete with him for her affection. She had no pool of potential mates to choose from. There would be no ritual.

Her soft voice cut into his thoughts like a gentle reminder that she was innocent...so pure in all of his deviant thoughts.

“And now? Why are you being nice now? Duty?”

“No.”

She raised her eyes to his then and even though he knew his raw emotions were displayed there, he couldn’t hide them.

It wasn’t out of duty. It was out of selfishness.

He wasn’t going to deny it anymore. His cock certainly wasn’t.

It knew what it wanted. And it wanted her.

He wanted her.

Sooner or later she would realize this and it worried him how she would react.

It was unheard of for a male Vaen to choose a female for himself, unheard of for one to impose themselves upon a female.

If he had tried such a stunt while back on Vaenus, he would have brought shame to his entire family.

She thought he was nice...but was he really?

“It’s getting late.” Her voice brought her from his deliberation as she placed a hand against her forehead and winced.

Rest. She needed rest.

“I have made a bed for you. It should be comfortable...and warm.” He motioned to the zehmip skins and watched as her eyebrows rose a little.

“Oh...th-thank you.” There was a pink tinge against her cheeks. Crawling over to the woolly skins, she patted them before resting on the pile. “It is comfortable. Thank you.” She smiled at him again and rested her head on her arm.

“I’ll try to rest.” Even as she spoke, her eyes were already fluttering closed. “I’ll rest so I won’t be a burden on our journey tomorrow. I know you have a mission to complete.”

Kyris grunted a response.

Mission? Deviant or not, his only mission right now was to gain her affection.

The guilt of his decision weighed on him as he watched her eyes close.

SONG’S EYES JERKED OPEN, anxiety and terror flooding through her veins. They were holding her arms back and forcing her eyes open. In front of her, images of a brunette being...being...she was being used...used by the big toad-like alien, a Tasqal. Her cries were echoing from the other side of the screen.

Bolting upright, she could feel the sweat covering her brow.

The woman’s cries were still in her head, clear as day.

But...she wasn’t on the slave ship anymore.

She was in a cave.

She was warm.

She was comfortable.

There were no gator-guards. No toad-like Tasqals.

It was over.

That part was over.

The glow from the fire sticks still lit up the cave and her eyes slowly adjusted to the light. But her breaths were still coming hard, and she willed her heart to calm.

Turning her head to the side, Kyris’ huge form came into view.

He was lying on his side, his back toward the cave wall and his face toward her.

The sight of him almost took her breath away.

Even with his eyes closed, he still looked…ridiculously attractive.

If he wasn’t a male model on his home planet, he should have been. His rich, golden hair fell in place automatically, as if the strands obeyed his every word and not one dared to disobey.

Lying on his side as he was, the muscles in his arms and chest were bunched up, pressing outward against his skin.

If she had seen him while on campus, she’d have been drooling over him while giggling with her dorm mate in embarrassment.

If a guy like him had approached her, she honestly didn’t know what she would have done.

She didn’t have much experience with men. Heck, she didn’t have any experience with men. With an overprotective father and older brother, dating hadn’t played a big role in her life.

They’d made sure to keep the wrong type of guys away. And the right type of guys? Well, probably they were too scared to even approach her. She hadn’t gotten past first kisses and tentative touches. That meant, at twenty, she still hadn’t had the pleasure of feeling a man writhe between her thighs. Many of the girls living in her dorm had experienced such pleasure more times than they could count and long before even reaching university.

She’d hid that fact from her dorm mate but she assumed the girl had known about her innocence anyway. They just hadn’t talked about it and Song had been thankful for that.

But, even with her inexperience with men, she was sure she wasn’t being totally naive when it came to Kyris.

She’d seen it in his eyes when he’d spoken to her and whenever he thought she wasn’t looking.

There was something there.

Something that made her feel embarrassed and self-conscious—as if he was stripping her naked and devouring her every time he looked at her for any stretch of time.

He was being respectful, though, so maybe she was wrong. She wasn’t exactly sure. After all, they weren’t in a situation that bred love and romance. It might just be her inexperience and overactive imagination.

And…he was an alien. Why would he be interested in her?

Maybe her head wound was more serious than she thought and she was hallucinating.

Now, looking across at him, her eyes roved over his torso.

From the front, he looked like any normal male. But his wings...for Pete’s sake, he had wings.

They were made of gorgeous large feathers that overlapped in rows and rows and, right now, they shimmered purple as the light hit them.

As she watched him, it took her a minute for her to realize that he was frowning in his sleep and his entire body was flushed a bluish tint.

Rubbing her eyes to get rid of the remaining sleep, she squinted in his direction.

Moving closer, she realized that she wasn’t seeing things. There was indeed a bluish tint under his skin, all over his entire body to be exact—almost as if he was slowly freezing to death.

He hadn’t looked like that earlier.

No. He definitely hadn’t.

She could see even now that his skin was getting bluer as the seconds ticked by.

Was he sick?

The thought made her anxious.

She had no idea how to take care of him if he fell ill.

Before she realized what she was doing, her hand reached out and brushed over his skin lightly.

His skin was smooth but his chest was hard and, as she touched him less tentatively, heat radiated underneath her fingers.

Alarmed, she placed her hand flat against his chest, only to remove it almost immediately.

He was burning up.

It was as if there was a fire raging underneath his skin.

It was like touching a furnace!

Panic flooding through her veins, Song glanced around the cave.

It was still dark outside and there was no water or anything damp she could use to cool him down.

Her gaze landed on the fire sticks.

Gripping them, she cracked them one at a time over her knee, dousing the lights one by one. Leaving the last one activated, she moved it to the other side of the cave before scrambling back over to the hunky alien.

He was still frowning and in the dim light, she could see that his skin was still blue.

From what she knew, blue skin usually meant hypothermia...but he was burning up.

Was he dying?!

It took a few minutes before the temperature in the cave slowly began to fall and in that time, all she could do was stare at him while worrying her bottom lip between her teeth, hoping to see some kind of change.

“Kyris?” She touched his chest again, noting that his skin didn’t feel as hot as before.

It was working. He was cooling down.

“Kyris?”

He wasn’t responding and that was making the panic rise within her even more.

“Kyris?!” She shook him now, eyes wide and panic getting the best of her. Moving her head close to his face, she tried to sense if he was breathing.

Not realizing it, her face was so close to his that when he spoke, she could feel the faintest brush of his lips against her skin.

“Song?”

Jerking back, cheeks flushed, she sat back on her haunches.

That slight brush of his lips had sent a shiver underneath her skin and it wasn’t because the cave was getting cold.

Swallowing hard, it took her a moment before she could speak. “Are you okay?”

“What do you mean?” He was easing up on his elbows now and she could see that he was looking around the cave, no doubt noticing that it wasn’t as well-lit as before and was getting colder by the minute.

“The fire sticks. What happened to them? Are you not cold?”

Shaking her head, her shoulders relaxed as she watched him squint. His violet gaze was hooded under his long blond lashes, almost as if he was still half-asleep.

“You’re hot.” The minute the words left her mouth she felt her cheeks burst into flames. She didn’t mean for it to come out like that.

“I mean, you were hot.”

That wasn’t helping.

“You were burning up,” she sputtered. “Your skin was turning blue.”

Now, as her eyes raked over him, she realized his skin was turning back to its usual fair complexion.

“Ah.” He rolled his shoulders, pausing mid-movement as a slight grimace passed over his face as if the movement was painful.

“I thought...” she trailed off. She’d thought he was dying. But seeing him now looking normal again, saying that felt a bit silly.

Maybe nothing had been the matter with him? He was an alien after all. For all she knew, getting hot and turning blue when he was sleeping was normal for him.

“It was the warmth.” He seemed a bit embarrassed by the admission as he shifted his position to sit upright.

“You were burning up.”

His lashes fluttered upward as his violet gaze hit her squarely.

For a second, she couldn’t breathe.

Again, there was something heavy about his gaze and in that moment, it was clear.

He was male. Undeniably so.

It was as if she could feel it in the way he looked at her.

He was a young, hot, half-naked male.

“Burning up?” He seemed to shrug. “I suppose I was.”

Clearing her throat, she tried to move past where her mind was taking her. “The...the warmth was causing you to turn blue?”

“Bringing blood to the surface of my skin releases more heat.”

What?

“Your blood is blue?” She stared at his skin, trying to imagine what that looked like.

“And yours is red.” His gazed moved to the wound on her head before falling back to her face.

Just then, a slight breeze moved through the spaces between the slats in the barrier he’d put at the entrance and caused her to shiver.

“You should reactivate the sticks. You will be too cold for the rest of the night.”

No. She wouldn’t be selfish. Bringing blood to the surface of one’s skin was weird, but she didn’t need to know his biology to figure out that it probably meant the heat really wasn’t healthy for him.

“I’ll be ok.” She flashed him a small smile before moving back toward the bedding he’d made for her. Settling against the woolly material, she let her eyes wander back over to him, her gaze moving slowly from the sandy cave floor, up his sculpted torso, up to his pecs…

As her gaze reached his face, she realized he was still looking in her direction and she felt her cheeks warm.

Oh God, he’d caught her staring.

Another slight breeze came through the thin space between the slats, breaking her attention and causing her to shiver once more. She was close to the singular fire stick she’d left activated, but unless she managed to wrap herself around it, she would be shivering all night. It wasn’t enough on its own to keep her warm.

Kyris seemed to note this and, rolling his shoulders again, he was on his feet in an instant. Again, she marveled at how tall he was. And his wings. They were massive, too. Even folded right now, their tips stopped just above his ankles. In the dim light, his feathers glistened in their iridescence.

Moving over to the fire sticks she’d put aside, he took them up.

Jerking upright, Song reached over and grabbed his arm, stopping him.

“Please, it’s ok. You don’t have to.”

“You are cold.”

“I’ll be fine.”

His eyes seemed to narrow then soften as his gaze fell on her hand grasping his arm.

He seemed to contemplate something as he stared at her hand, and for some reason, she couldn’t move her hand away.

“What if I tell you there’s another way I can keep you warm...without the fire sticks?” That same intensity she’d seen in his eyes earlier was there again.

It made her throat parched and Song swallowed hard. She was suddenly thirsty but it didn’t feel like drinking water right now would help.

“H-How?” She was almost afraid to ask—almost too afraid to speak.

He seemed to hesitate a bit then uttered something that sounded deceptively like a curse underneath his breath.

Running a hand through his hair, a movement that was so relatable, so human-like, he dropped the fire sticks.

“Move over a little.” His voice seemed deeper now, thickened by some emotion she couldn’t grasp.

As she moved and he settled beside her, he rested on his back and opened his wings slowly.

Her already wide eyes grew even wider as she watched him.

He was settling himself, and when one of his wings brushed against her back, she realized there was no place for her to go except...

Gulping, she stared at him.

Did he want her to do what she thought he was suggesting?

“Rest here.” That intense gaze was still there as he motioned to his chest. “I generate enough heat that will keep you warm.”

Gulping again, she could feel her cheeks redden.

Surely, this was inappropriate.

She could just imagine her father frowning at the thought of her doing such a thing. But what was the difference in doing that now after they’d been through so much already? After she’d spent nights crying while he’d held her on the alien slave ship. After she’d spent hours in his arms as he’d flown around looking for a cave for them both.

What was so different about it now?

She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but it definitely felt different this time.

Now it felt...intimate.

He seemed to go still as he waited for her to move and when she finally did, moving to rest her head against his chest, she realized he’d been holding his breath.

As his wings closed over her, she couldn’t help but sigh.

He was right. Underneath his wings was warm. Oh, so warm. And comfortable.

If she allowed herself, she would get used to this and want it all the time.

But she couldn’t get used to it because this was all an illusion.

As soon as this mission was over, as soon as they weren’t running for their lives anymore, everything would change.

12

SONG INHALED DEEPLY and buried her face deeper into the bed. It was warm, comfortable, safe.

It was the first time she’d slept properly in days. She wasn’t waking up in a panicky sweat. There were no Tasqals having their way with women. No screams. And she wasn’t next.

It almost felt like home.

Eyes fluttering open, two things hit her at once.

One: she wasn’t resting on a bed.

Two: He was awake and was watching her carefully.

Shit. She’d slept all night in his arms.

She’d intended to slip out of his grasp once he was asleep but it seemed she’d been too comfortable.

Attempting to ease off of him, she felt his arms tighten around her.

“Don’t move.” His voice had that deepness it had the night before and Song froze.

“Ok,” she whispered. “But surely, you’re uncomfortable...” She shifted a bit, trying not to rest on him fully.

As she continued to wriggle, his arms tightened around her some more.

“Please.” His voice sounded strange. “Your movements are...”

Song stilled, not quite understanding why he didn’t want her to move. Surely, her weight on his chest for so long was uncomfortable. She had half-expected to wake up back on the woolly skins he’d used to make the bed. Not on his chest and surely not so—

Something jerked against her leg, breaking her train of thought. Something hard…and long.

It happened again—a pulse, almost. Something hard was pulsing underneath his pants.

It took her a few moments to realize just what it might be and then she was freezing, not because he’d asked her to but because she was in shock.

Holy hell.

He was hard.

Shit, that was right. Human males got morning wood. Apparently alien males did, too?

Shit.

Turning her wide eyes to stare at the underside of his wing, she waited for him to say something. She couldn’t meet his gaze. Not when she was pressing against it.

But he didn’t continue speaking.

As a matter of fact, he was so very silent she could hear her own breaths coming out of her nose.

Shiiiit.

What should she do?

Should she pretend it wasn’t there? Should she acknowledge it? And if so, how? How does one acknowledge the presence of penis...dick...what should she even call it?

The thoughts were making her embarrassment grow but she didn’t dare move.

Another twitch against her leg made her stiffen again. Maybe it was the fact she was still underneath his wings but the long, hard rod pressing against her was so incredibly warm. As it twitched again, she felt herself respond. Between her thighs, she could feel the start of arousal in her clit.

Shit.

Noo.

She was getting turned on by this? It couldn’t get more embarrassing. At least he wouldn’t know. Right? He wasn’t like a wolf or something. He couldn’t smell her scent and know she was getting worked up at the feel of him.

It was in times like this that she wished she was more experienced in such things. Then she could do what was appropriate rather than sit still and awkward.

Clearing her throat, she opened her mouth to speak but Kyris beat her to it.

“It is daylight. I must find you food.”

Good. Something to take her mind off the fact that she could feel his man parts and the fact that her female parts were so sex-starved the little jerks were making her horny.

“Should—” She cleared her throat. “Shouldn’t we be heading toward the outpost? I don’t eat much and I’m not hungry. We can get going. No need to hunt.”

He took a while to respond and she wondered if what she’d said had somehow offended him. She knew nothing of his customs.

Still, she refrained from looking up at him and again she wished she had more experience dealing with men.

Was it customary for one to do something or say something when confronted by morning wood in his culture?

When he didn’t reply after a few heartbeats, she risked an upward glance.

“The outpost. Shouldn’t we be heading there? I don’t eat much. I can live on the food packets.”

His face was set, his jawbone moving, as if he was thinking about something.

Maybe she had offended him.

Oops.

“Have I said something? If I’ve offended you in any way, I—”

When his gaze hit her, the intensity in those violet circles cut her off. There was no anger or annoyance in his eyes.

“You didn’t upset me, huma…Song.” He paused. “We cannot head to the outpost. Not yet.”

That made a frown knit across her forehead.

“Why not?”

He seemed to contemplate his words for a second before he answered. “I will not travel while you are ill.”

It was her turn to contemplate his words.

She wasn’t ill but the headache she’d had from the day before was still there. She didn’t know how he knew that.

“I’m fine, truly.”

“I do not believe you are.” His wings slowly unfurled and the coolness of the cave hit her immediately.

“I will retrieve food. You must remain here, in the cave. I will return.”

Taking that as indication that he was about to rise, Song eased off him and sat with her back against the cave wall, keeping her gaze high.

“I can’t help with the food gathering?”

“No.” His answer was gruff, a little too gruff, in a tone she hadn’t heard from him in the past. But before she could reply or even think of it, he emptied the sack that was on the other side of the cave, opened the barrier, and left.

Song stared at the barrier in silence.

Was he angry at her? What had she said or done?

Maybe she should have acknowledged the dick.

HE’D LIED TO HER.

He hated the taste it left in his mouth, but what choice did he have?

Flapping his wings, the harsh downward thrust of air propelled him forward and upward.

Her being ill wasn’t the reason for him not continuing the trek to the outpost.

It wasn’t the reason at all.

But he needed more time with her. Time alone. Time to think.

Last night had been...beautiful. It had given him such pleasure...more than he’d anticipated.

He’d laid there for hours, his cock straining against his trousers, wanting to be touched as her soft body had nestled against his.

He’d reveled in the feel of her body rising and falling rhythmically as she slept.

She’d felt so right.

It had been nothing like the times he’d comforted her while on the Isclit ship. This time had been different.

This time, she hadn’t been leaking from her eyes all night. This time, she’d been nestled so peacefully against him, as if she was meant to be there.

She was meant to be there.

Everything about it had felt so right.

But now, he’d lied to her.

He couldn’t tell her that he planned to keep her away from the outpost for as long as it took to win her hearts. What would she think of him if she knew the truth?

Surely, she would try to run away.

Surely, he would lose her before even really having a chance to be with her.

Thumping his wings once more as disgust at himself swelled within him, he rose higher into the air.

What he was doing was wrong and he hated himself for it.

He was...deceiving her.

But this wasn’t about honor.

Even now, the thought of her sweet feminine smell wafting up into his nostrils was making it difficult to focus on flying when his cock was getting hard again.

Last night, it had taken every ounce of strength not to spill all over himself as she’d squirmed in her sleep.

What would it be like when he tasted her for the first time?

What would it be like when she was squirming because he was between her legs?

Frowning, his face set with purpose.

He had to do it.

Selfish or not.

He had to.

For now, he would hunt her desert serpents and make sure she was fed, warm, and comfortable.

He would find ways to make her smile and laugh.

He would make sure she was safe and without worry.

And maybe, in time, she would realize that he could be the perfect male, deserving of her affection.

Maybe she would choose him without needing a mating ritual and without putting out her mating call.

It was deviant but it was worth a try.

13

KYRIS WAS GONE for maybe an hour when the first pain came.

A cramp.

One that went down her midsection and caused her muscles to tense for excruciating seconds before easing up.

Breathing rate increasing, Song curled into a fetal position.

She knew what this was.

But, in all the confusion of all that’d happened, she hadn’t even remembered about it. It hadn’t been on her mind.

Of all the times to come, this had to be one of the worst.

Another cramp rocked through her midsection and Song groaned in pain. As her American friends liked to call it, Aunt Flo was about to visit. And she wasn’t welcome.

She knew what was coming. The worst cramps of her life.

Hers only lasted about four days but the cramps were excruciating. It felt like everything from below her belly button to between her thighs was suddenly fighting a war and she would not win.

They were the reason she was terrified of ever getting pregnant and having to experience childbirth.

If just shedding the line of her uterus was this much pain, then imagine shedding it when a screaming little fat thing was trying to claw its way out of her body.

Not the greatest of images.

If she was back on Earth, she’d have been heading to the nearest pharmacy to get some ibuprofen or something.

She didn’t have that option here.

The first aid kit was still there and she stared at it hopefully. Maybe there was pain medication in there that could help?

As another cramp hit her. Song gripped her stomach and screamed into the woolly bedding.

This was not good.

This was really not good.

She didn’t even have sanitary napkins or tampons! What was she going to do?! Free bleed?! With an alien male in close proximity?!

The thought of Kyris made her groan into the bedding once more.

Shit.

She had to hide it from him. The embarrassment alone was too much. Plus, she didn’t even know how he’d respond. Would he be disgusted to be around her?

He’d already seemed a bit annoyed when he’d left.

Her American friends had always been so open about their periods. She’d been amazed the first time they’d all just discussed it in public, with boys around, as if it was nothing.

She couldn’t do that.

She doubted her father and brother even knew she had a period. Her mother had been the only one to support her during those times at home and when she’d left to live in the dorm at university, her dorm mate had filled that void.

Now, though...now, she was alone.

She had to figure out a way to do this on her own.

But how?

There wasn’t exactly a guidebook on navigating one’s period without supplies on a desert planet while stranded with a hot alien.

Maybe it was good that he thought she was ill.

Maybe she could play that up. Maybe she could pretend and hide the real fact from him. She’d need at least four days.

There was no way she was fit enough to walk for days in the hot sun while her period passed.

Oh God. Why now? This was going to be so hard.

Another cramp rocked through her belly and her stomach muscles clenched.

There was a sudden gush between her legs and she could almost cry.

Shit!

She usually had a few hours before the bleeding actually began. This time, though, it looked like she hadn’t been so lucky.

Raising herself on all floors, she scrambled toward the first aid kit.

Back turned to the cave entrance, she hurriedly opened the little box, her eyes raking over the contents.

There was some gauze and a few colorful teardrop-shaped sacs filled with colorful liquids.

Song bit her lip as she eyed the contents, contemplating what to do next.

The gauze might help.

As for the teardrop-shaped things, she had no idea what those were.

Running through her options, or lack of, she stiffened as the undeniable sound of large wings swooping down reached her ears.

Kyris.

No. No. No.

Not so soon.

But before she could scramble and hide her predicament, another cramp gripped her, causing her to double over.

She heard as he moved the slats of the barrier he’d made and Song squeezed her eyes shut, willing the tears that were forming there to recede and wishing the pain would just go away so she could hide herself before he noticed.

And if things couldn’t get worse, he said the two words she didn’t want to hear.

“You’re bleeding.”

Oh God, please let this be a bad dream.

In her pain, she missed the concern lacing his voice.

All she knew was one thing: she wished the cave floor would open up and just swallow her whole.

THE PRECIOUS SAND snakes that he’d hunted and picked through meticulous selection, trying to find the best and fattest ones for his Song, didn’t seem so precious now as he threw the sack to the cave floor.

In a second, he was by her side.

She was bleeding.

The whole backside of her pants was stained red.

And she was curled up into a ball, her eyes leaking again and her face contorting in pain.

He felt the fear and anger rise within him immediately and he did nothing to hold it back.

Glancing around the cave, he looked for the most likely culprit.

Sand nesters.

It must have been a nester. One must have come into the cave and bitten her when she didn’t expect it. Perking his ears, he tried to listen for the telltale hiss of the creature as his eyes searched the cave, his hearts and mind becoming frantic.

If it bit her, he needed to get the poison out before she became paralyzed or, worse yet, dead.

But they weren’t small things and he could see none in the cave. The sand in the cave wasn’t deep enough for it to burrow underground either.

Gripping her by the waist, he pulled her toward him, ignoring her effort to protest as she gripped her midsection, her eyes pleading with him.

She was in pain. So much pain. And all he could feel was the mounting panic within him.

Drain the poison.

Kill the nester.

Make Song better.

MAKE SONG BETTER.

Pulling at her trousers, he just about pulled them halfway down her buttocks so he could see the wound when her arms gripped his.

“No!”

Confused, his gaze flew to hers and he saw her swallow and cower a bit as if afraid of him.

There was anger in his eyes, yes, but it wasn’t intended for her. He was angry at himself.

He should have checked the cave more thoroughly before leaving so hurriedly earlier.

Now, she was bitten and the poison was already going into her bloodstream, judging from the pain manifesting on her face.

“The poison! I have to get it out!” He knew he was raising his voice but panic was riding his veins. Pulling on the trousers again, it slid over her buttocks but her hands still gripped his.

“No! Stop!” Her voice was trembling and it made his brows furrow. But his eyes weren’t on hers anymore. They were on her buttocks and, from what he could see, there was no bite, no wound, just stained blood.

Confusion setting in, his arms relaxed on her trousers as he stared at the wound…or rather, the lack of one.

Her skin was unbroken.

Did it bite her somewhere else?

He didn’t understand.

“Where is it? Where did it bite you?” His gaze was roving frantically from her, to around the cave, and back again.

He still couldn’t hear the nester. He didn’t even see it.

It was unusual for them to hide once they locked on to their prey. Something must have scared it off. But what?

Didn’t matter.

No matter where it hid, he would find it and slay it.

“Where did what bite me?” She seemed to take his confusion as an opportunity to wriggle away from his grasp, pulling her pants up over her shapely rump in the process.

Cheeks now as red as the blood that stained her skin, she refused to meet his gaze.

“The nester. Where is it?” He tried to speak evenly but there was still adrenaline pumping within his veins and it was hard keeping his tone level. She didn’t know how dangerous nesters were. And if one had bitten her, they were wasting time conversing and not tending to the wound.

He still didn’t hear any hissing. Where the qrak was the bastard? Had it escaped outside?

“The nester, Song. It bit you. The poison—”

“What?”

“The nester. The thing that bit you. It’s poisonous.” He rose in one movement, unsheathing his blade as he stalked toward the cave entrance.

Blood was pumping in his veins, and surfing on it was the urge to avenge her.

He was going to slay the creature and he was going to do it slowly. He would watch it suffer.

“Nester? Nothing bit me. I—I’m not bitten. I’m fine.” Just as she said that, he heard her grunt and he spun just in time to see her crumple on the cave floor again, her face riddled with pain.

He didn’t understand.

She wasn’t bitten?

But she was bleeding and she was in pain.

She harmed herself somehow.

“You’re bleeding.” His hand fell with the blade as he walked back over to her, his free hand outstretched toward her in a movement that was automatic.

It took a few moments before she could focus on him again.

“Yes. But I wasn’t bitten. This is...normal.” Her gaze trailed off as she gathered her legs toward her, almost as if she was trying to make herself as small as possible.

It was something he only saw small prey animals do in the wild on Vaenus and seeing such a response from her tugged at something within him.

Was he making her scared?

And why was she bleeding?

Her explanation only left him more confused.

“This is not normal.” He sheathed his blade as his other hand rested on her thigh. “I have seen your eyes leak before and it is always when you are in pain…or sad.”

Her small frame shuddered as she took a deep breath.

“I know. But, this is normal. At least, for me.”

He still didn’t get it.

How could bleeding and obvious excruciating pain be normal?

He had to admit, there was a lot he didn’t understand about humans. But this?

This was...

Incomprehensible.

“Why? How? How can this be normal?”

She sunk even further into herself as she replied but he didn’t catch what she said.

“Song?”

Lifting her eyes to his, the pain, distress and obvious embarrassment shone through her dark irises.

“I said,” she paused, “my body is fucking punishing me because I’m not pregnant.”

Huh?

The world seemed to swirl a little as he stared at her, unable to word a response. For though she had said a full sentence, all he seemed to be able to remember was one word.

Pregnant.

14

IT TOOK a while to explain to him that she wasn’t pregnant.

She didn’t know why that was the one thing he seemed to get from all that and despite that his overall response was confusing, she was more overwhelmed by the embarrassment of the whole situation.

“It happens every month. It’s okay. I’ll be okay.”

She could see that he was confused. He still didn’t understand that it was just her period.

Maybe women of his kind didn’t have periods?

As he stooped in silence watching her, waiting for more of an explanation, Song sighed.

Could this situation be more uncomfortable? She could feel her cheeks were flaming about as red as the blood that covered her trousers and ass.

Oh God...he’d pulled her trousers over her butt. He’d seen it.

If ever there was a time for her to die, now would be it.

Yet, as she looked at his face, there was no disgust there. No revulsion.

Only concern.

Confusion and pure concern.

“I don’t understand.” His gaze was focused between her thighs now and Song crossed her legs.

“Doesn’t...doesn’t this happen to females where you’re from?”

The confusion didn’t leave his eyes. “Doesn’t what happen?”

How should she explain it?

It was clear he had no idea what she was talking about.

“Their period...”

A slight frown knitted his brow. “Their time?”

“Yes.” Good. Maybe he did understand. “Human females have a certain time of the month…”

He blinked a few times, brows still knitted. “Males from my planet have the same amount of time as the females do...”

Okay, so maybe he didn’t understand.

A sigh shuddered through her shoulders just before another cramp hit, causing her to squeeze her eyes shut and scream with her mouth closed.

He was holding her then, his hands grasping her shoulders firmly as he crouched over her.

“Song!” His voice sounded worried, almost frantic. “Let me help. How can I help?”

She was shaking her head before the pain left and when she finally opened her eyes to meet his violet gaze, she realized that he was close. So close.

And he looked terrified.

An embarrassed chuckle left her lips and it only served to confuse him more. She could see it play across his face as bewilderment flooded his features.

“I’m not sure you can help me.” Though she wished there was some way he could. Being female right now was a bit of a curse.

Well, being a human female was. As far as it looked, females from his planet didn’t have to go through this.

Lucky. Them.

“I can help...I will. Whatever you need me to do. I will do it.”

Seeing him so bewildered tugged at her heart a little. He was obviously concerned and not providing him with an explanation was a tad heartless.

“It’s my period. I get it every month. Every month I bleed and with it comes pain.”

The confusion didn’t leave his eyes. “You...bleed with pain every month?”

When she nodded, he continued, “And this is normal?”

When she nodded again, he went silent.

Her gaze fell back to her crossed legs and she bit back a groan as another cramp rocked her insides. She couldn’t face his gaze as embarrassment flooded through her.

But as the silence became unbearable, she chanced a glance in his direction only to find the same expression on his face.

Confusion...and something else...something that looked curiously like helplessness.

“Why? Why does this happen?”

Because her uterus was an evil bitch that went raging once a month? Because the universe hated her? Because life couldn’t just be simple?

She couldn’t use any of those answers. The truth would have to do.

“It happens to get my body ready for...”

Should she even say it? But the look on his face forced her to continue. He was genuinely confused. He seriously wanted her to explain.

“If a human woman doesn’t get pregnant, this happens. Usually, it happens every month…unless the woman gets pregnant.” And some women even bled through their pregnancies…and then there was also menopause—but he didn’t need to learn the intricacies of it all.

As another cramp stiffened her stomach muscles, she watched as understanding slowly dawned over Kyris’ features.

He was looking at her now with an expression she didn’t recognize.

A month ago, if someone had told her she’d be teaching female biology to a winged alien, she’d have thought they were talking about some foreign mosquito who’d come to suck her blood.

She couldn’t have anticipated this.

“You...bleed if you’re not…mated?”

Mated? The way he said the word made her cheeks flush.

Mated sounded like “fucked” and that was not what she’d meant at all. Sex doesn’t stop it from happening. If he were human, he’d know that. But he wasn’t human so…

She opened her mouth to correct him but decided not to.

It didn’t matter. He didn’t need to know the details of it all. A mild understanding was enough. Plus, the more they discussed it, the more uncomfortable she felt.

He was a man…well, a male, after all.

She found it strange even discussing Aunt Flo with female friends.

When she didn’t respond, Kyris continued. “The pain goes away if you are mated?”

Song’s eyes widened as the sentence automatically translated to something else in her head.

Does the pain go away if you’re fucked?

No, it didn’t.

But if she said yes, was he offering? Would he fuck her if she said yes?

Her cheeks were flaming now and she knew she needed to answer him. But with the direction her train of thought had gone, discussing it further made her, well, mortified.

Still, she pressed on. “No. It’s not that simple.”

His tone was laden with interest and…something else. And that something else made her cheeks flame harder.

“Look, can—can we discuss this some other time?” She squirmed. Possibly, like, never ever again?

He seemed to shift uncomfortably and she noticed a sort of shiver run through the wings along his back.

“As you wish.” His voice was a deep rumble as he regarded her, all golden blond and violet eyes and looking like a snack she couldn’t eat.

Damn.

Had being abducted by aliens made her hornier than usual or was it that she had really, really hit her head badly?

Her thoughts were never this forward before.

But then again, she’d never been put in a situation like this before. There was no one to judge her. No societal expectations.

There was only Kyris.

“What do human females’ mates do when this...period...is happening?”

There was that ‘mate’ word again.

Why did it seem so…dirty?

When he said ‘mate’ all she could think of was…sex.

Hot. Dirty. Sex.

“Do they also have a time?” He squinted his eyes as if he was trying to imagine it and it almost made her laugh.

The fact that he was interchanging the word ‘time’ with ‘period’ was also funny. But she had to wait to answer as another cramp rocked through her.

He was gripping her hands as she squeezed her eyes tight and tried not to let on just how bad it was.

“Males don’t have a period. Only females,” she managed to grunt out.

Kyris was frowning when she opened her eyes once more.

“That seems…”

“Unfair. I know. Trust me. I know.” Another small laugh escaped her and it dawned on her the type of conversation she was having with him so easily.

It was…refreshing. He still didn’t seem grossed out or disgusted or anything.

“So males do nothing?” He eyed her and the corner of his lip turned up a little.

There it was. The disgust she’d expected to see. Only, it wasn’t directed at her.

It wasn’t directed at her at all.

“Oh, uh...some do nothing.”

When the look of surprise and disapproval shot one of his eyebrows up, she sputtered, “Well, uh, some do...help.”

“Help. How?”

Why did he care? It wasn’t exactly the time or place to satisfy his curiosity about the human species.

As another cramp made her face contort, she groaned but she couldn’t ignore the seriousness in his gaze.

When her roommate had been on her period, her boyfriend had brought her food and a hot water bottle. Funny she remembered that now. The guy had only done it once and it had been so long ago.

“Some mates...boyfriends...bring tasty food and hot compresses.”

“Food?”

“Yes. All this, erm, loss of iron makes us very hungry.”

He seemed to nod and stood.

Turning, he headed back toward the cave entrance to retrieve the sack he’d discarded there.

He had his back turned as he worked on something and Song took the opportunity to reach for the first-aid kit.

The gauze that was there wasn’t nearly enough. It would make pads that would last maybe two days at most.

A sigh shook her shoulders as she worried her bottom lip between her teeth. She could feel the tears making their way to the forefront of her eyes, but she couldn’t cry.

She wouldn’t let her eyes “leak,” as he termed it.

She needed to be strong. Wasn’t that what she said she was going to do?

Strength.

She needed to exude strength.

She needed to make the gauze last, otherwise, she was in deep shit.

Then it came to her. Tampons.

The realization almost made her roll her eyes at herself.

It wasn’t like she had underwear to hold the pads in place anyway. But tampons, she could do that.

Glancing across at the bedding on the floor, she eyed the material. She could use it to make a wrap skirt maybe and she could tie the kinda-tampons on the underside of it by her waist for easy transport.

Smiling at the fact that she had found a solution, she set to work.

She was going to overcome this. She’d just view it as her first challenge. And as far as it went, it was challenge accepted.

She would overcome.

15

AS THE HUMAN busied herself with something in the back of the cave, Kyris set to work cleaning the sand serpents he’d hunted.

She needed food and hot compresses, she’d said. He would do that for her.

Whatever she was doing, she didn’t want him to see because her back was turned and she was mumbling words to herself. He was too far away to hear what she was saying but he found the fact amusing.

He would let her have her privacy.

In the meantime, he would clean the sand serpents and get them ready for her.

As he worked, stripping the striped skin from the serpents to prepare them for her meal, what she said came back to him.

Actually, it didn’t come back to him for the thought hadn’t left. It was all he’d been able to think about as he’d hunted the sand serpents.

This…period. It was a sign of her fertility.

It was a sign her body was getting prepared for mating and if she didn’t mate in the next month, it would prepare again.

A quiver went through his wings.

This was alien to him. It wasn’t something Vaen women experienced.

This was…new.

Did human women do a mating call during this time? Was there a ritual?

There were no other males around. She would only have one person to call…one choice. Him.

As his thoughts swirled, he had his own reason for turning his back toward her, too. The thought of her bearing young...it had caused him to stir and now, he was again nursing a hard one in his trousers.

Closing his eyes briefly, Kyris held back a groan.

The image of her with a rounded belly because of him…

He’d take great pleasure in this biological dance she had, aiming to impregnate her each month until successful. Until she bore his young, he would make her scream, her face contorting in pleasure from his cock buried deep inside her and not from pain...or maybe a little pain. She was very small and he was...well, he wasn’t going to boast but it was possible she would feel some pain when they finally came together.

But he’d make it good. He’d make her so ready for him the pain would be minimal and shortly replaced by pure ecstasy.

As he cleaned the last of the serpents, he fished in a pocket of his trousers and pulled out the firelighter.

It was lucky that he’d grabbed it before they’d abandoned the Elysium. Now he could prepare something tasty for her and she wouldn’t have to live on food packets or cold zehmip flesh.

He would spend his days hunting food and bringing it to his human. She would be well fed for as long as this...period...lasted.

He didn’t even ask how long it lasted but the longer it lasted the better for him. It meant they were definitely not going anywhere, so the outpost would have to wait.

The only problem was her pain.

He’d have to find a way to ease her pain.

Grabbing the water satchel, he rinsed the serpent meat and lit the firelighter.

It was a flat metal disk and the flame formed a circle around it. Spearing a piece of serpent meat with the small blade from the bag, he roasted the meat till it was golden brown.

The smell wafted up to his nostrils and he could feel his mouth water.

It was good meat. He hoped she liked it.

A shuffling sound behind him had him glancing back in her direction and the sight that greeted him made his eyes widen slightly.

There, crawling on all fours, was a half-naked Song. Her trousers were off and her round, delicious rump was in the air as she crawled over to the bedding.

Taking the top layer off, she rose on her knees and looked it over. Then seeming to think it suitable for whatever purpose was in her head, she wrapped it around her waist.

She just about raised her eyes to look in his direction when he looked away quickly.

His cock throbbed in protest and the smell of burnt meat wafted into his nostrils at the same time.

Qrak.

He’d burnt the meat.

Cursing underneath his breath, he put the burnt piece to the side and began roasting another.

When he chanced a glance in her direction again, she was sitting on the bedding, having made a sort of covering that draped around her hips and hung over her lower section.

He wished he could tell her she didn’t need to cover herself.

He’d much prefer for her to walk around the way he’d just seen before.

Rounded rump and all.

Gathering the meat together on a makeshift tray made of zehmip stalk, he rose to bring the meal over to her when an ear-splitting screech echoed outside the barrier.

Kyris’ head snapped in the direction of the sound, pausing only long enough to see Song’s eyes widen as she froze.

That sound.

On this planet, that sound only came from one thing…

Sand nesters.

THE SCREECH WAS SO LOUD, it made her cover her ears.

It was followed by another sound, something like a hiss and, for a second, she couldn’t breathe as she listened.

The sound came again and her eyes flew to the barrier at the entrance of the cave.

Kyris was already moving, the food or whatever he was preparing forgotten as he drew his blade.

His immediate reaction only made her shiver down to her toes. It was obvious from the sound that whatever was outside the cave wasn’t friendly but seeing him go into battle mode seemed to make it even more serious.

As whatever it was screeched again, it was as if all the hairs on her skin stood on end. The sound reverberated against the stone walls, making it even the more ominous.

Sitting upright, she gripped the woolly bedding, her heart in her throat as she saw what was making the noise.

It was...something. She couldn’t see it quite well through the small slats in the barrier but she knew one thing for sure: it wasn’t friendly.

Another hiss entered the cave as the thing paced in front of the barrier, obviously looking for a way in.

Oh hell.

“Stay back,” Kyris’ warning found her through the noise of the screeching and hissing.

If he thought she was going anywhere, he needn’t worry. She wasn’t even sure if she could move.

Even with his back turned, she could see that his gaze was focused on the creature. As the thing paced, his head followed it as if he was tracking it with his eyes.

Whatever it was, she didn’t want it anywhere close. From what she could see, it had a sort of long, scaly tail that curved into the air and the sight of that alone sent shivers down her spine.

The thing seemed agitated and suddenly the barrier shook as it slammed itself into it.

Kuso.

Whatever you are, be a good alien and stay outside.

Again, the barrier shook as whatever it was slammed itself against it once more with determination.

“Qrak.”

She didn’t know what that meant, but from Kyris’ inflection she assumed he’d just cursed. His blade was drawn but he didn’t attack. Instead, he watched the creature move as he tracked it. He was so still, if she didn’t know he was alive she’d have thought he was one of those angel statues you usually see in religious places.

It only made her afraid to move.

Was it one of those animals that couldn’t see you if you didn’t move? Must be.

It hissed again and then let out a screech that was so loud it made her eardrums complain.

That was no normal screech.

Either it was much bigger than she could see or it had the voice box of a giant cicada.

If it was a giant cicada, it wouldn’t be that bad, right?

Cicadas didn’t eat meat…did they?

Images of the lovely insects she’d often try to find as a child floated in her mind. Their telltale screeches had been a hallmark of summer in Japan, and she’d often loved playing the game of ‘find the cicada’ with her older brother.

They’d see who could find the most cicadas in the park, just by following the insects’ piercing calls.

But this right now was no game.

Giant cicada or not, the screech was loud and terrifying.

As the thing screeched again, Song squeezed her hands over her ears tighter. It felt as if it made the air within the cave vibrate and when the barrier shuddered again, Song found her heart in her throat.

Kyris was still frozen, blade in hand, as he watched the thing assault the barrier.

Maybe if they kept still, didn’t move, hardly breathed, ceased to exist somehow, it would go away. It would go away right? Eventually? She could wait.

But as if the universe was trying to punish her, the creature slammed into the barrier yet again.

A part of her died.

There, where the creature had just slammed, she was sure she saw the barrier bend a little...almost as if, should enough pressure be put in that exact spot, the slat would break in two.

No, she was imagining it.

The barrier would hold and the creature would go away. Kyris wasn’t doing anything so that must mean they were going to wait it out.

She could do that.

But as the thing slammed against the barrier again, there was no denying that one of the slats was growing weak.

Oh God, no.

“There are many. About a dozen,” Kyris finally said.

Say what? Song gulped.

Kyris turned to glance at her, his violet eyes holding a hardness she hadn’t seen before.

“They will break the barrier if I don’t attack. You must stay back.”

Song nodded.

Again, she wasn’t going anywhere.

There was nowhere to run.

There was one entrance, one exit. Behind her, was a solid rock wall, to her sides was rock, and in front was those things.

There was a sharp snap, one that echoed straight into her core, as the creature slammed into the slats and one bent and pointed inwards.

Kyris cursed underneath his breath again and then he was moving.

He sliced through the slats, his blade going through them as if they were paper. In that one movement, she heard the thing screech and something fell to the ground.

It was a black, segmented, curved tail. Purple fluid flowed from it and filled the sand.

The creature was thrashing about now and then she heard the others behind it. The sound was deafening. It was as if the injury of the first one was making them crazed.

Something pushed through the barrier on the other. Jagged rows of teeth lined the dark mouth...well, she assumed it was the thing’s mouth for if it wasn’t the mouth, that meant the creature had teeth in its butt and she didn’t know which was more terrifying.

The creature screeched and strings of dribble swung from its lips to land in the sand beneath.

It seemed to wriggle and hiss as it shook and pushed against the barrier. But Kyris was already moving out of the cave.

He moved so fast, she could hardly keep track.

He was cutting them down, left and right, limbs and body parts being sliced off, purple blood staining the sand, and hisses and screeches everywhere as the creatures launched their attack.

He was magnificent and, for a moment, she had to just stare.

His wings were folded back, his muscles tensed as his blade sliced through them. On his face was pure focus as he cut them down, the sand around him stained a deep purple.

It was a frenzy.

The one stuck in the barrier was still trying to push itself through.

Below the tooth-filled jaws, a set of legs pushed through and then another and Song’s senses began to scream. There were one too many legs. From what she could now see, there were even more legs. It was like a demon centipede.

They were big, disgusting things. About the size of an adult bicycle, not measuring the long, curved tail.

Even as she watched in terror and her skin crawled, it was evident what was happening.

The thing was trying to get in and, so far, it was succeeding.

Kyris was being swarmed by the others. She needed to do something.

Glancing about her, anxiety pulsing through her blood, her bottom lip trembled as she bit down on it.

What the hell could she do?

She wasn’t a fighter. She wasn’t resourceful. For Pete’s sake, she was just a video production student. She had no idea what to do.

Another screech hit her and Song fought the urge to cover her ears and curl up into a ball as anxiety overtook her.

The thing’s jaws snapped and she was treated with a view of the teeth closing, scissoring over each other.

It was going to eat her alive.

Those teeth would rip her to shreds.

And she couldn’t even move.

She was frozen in fear.

As the remaining slats broke, the creature’s flat head pushed through followed by its body and a million legs. Then came the dark, curved tail, swishing in the air.

Dark beady eyes focused on her and before she knew it, the thing started making its way across the sand toward her.

Oh shit.

A scream lodged in her throat as she scrambled backward, trying to put some distance between her and the thing. Sand scraped her hands and legs, getting deep into her fingernails as she pulled herself backward, unable to stand quickly enough to run.

It screeched at her as it approached, mouth snapping, and terror spiked within her. She needed to get away. There were no weapons, nothing to defend herself. As her back hit the stone wall behind her, a chill ran down her spine.

There was nowhere else left to go. She’d ran out of room to run.

It was almost upon her now and it stood, raising itself on its back legs, bits of drool dripping from its lips as it snapped and reared over her.

Death was in its eyes.

But as it screeched once more, its high-pitched call died on its lips as it was split in two. A hot warm fluid splashed all over her face and hands as she screamed but the next thing she felt was strong, sure hands surrounding her.

“Are you alright? Did it hurt you?”

He was holding her away from him now as he assessed whether she had any injuries and it took her a moment to realize that the hot fluid that had splashed on her wasn’t some kind of acid the creature had spit; it was the creature’s blood.

Kyris’ arms enveloped her once more as he held her close, his chest like a rock she could lean on.

“Song?” He smoothed his hand down her hair. “Song? Are you alright? Were you hurt?”

She was mildly aware that she was shaking her head.

Beside them, her vision picked up the shiny, scaly body of the thing…well, half of the body. It had been split in two right down the middle.

“What the hell is that thing?”

She pushed away from him slightly to stare at it.

Fuck, it had almost eaten her.

“Sand nester.”

The name didn’t make it less terrifying.

As she settled back against him to get her bearings, she took a deep breath.

At least that was over with. They were dead.

But even as she began to calm down, Kyris stiffened against her.

She was about to ask what the matter was when she felt it.

A low rumble.

And it was coming from the ground of the cave.

16

“QRAK.”

Kyris was moving before she even realized. As he stood, he pulled her up with him. Shielding his blade, he held her by the hand as he headed back to the entrance of the cave.

He only released her to stuff everything he had brought—the little blade, a round disk of some kind, the fire sticks, and the first-aid kit—into the sack.

Throwing the sack over his shoulder, he looked back at her.

There was worry in his eyes.

“We have to go.”

Fine with her. The ground beneath the cave was beginning to shake and with eyes as wide as ping-pong balls, all she could do was stare in terror.

“What’s happening?” She could hear her voice trembling even as she followed behind him. He was kicking bodies of the creatures out of the way and as she exited the cave to stand beside him, her hand flew to cover her mouth.

She knew he’d been fighting many but dear God…outside the cave was a massacre.

There was purple blood everywhere, dyeing the sand to a strange hue. And in the midst of that were bodies. Dark scaly bodies, dismembered and strewn all over the place. Even as she stared at one it seemed to jerk as whatever life was still in it left the host.

“Oh my God,” she breathed.

“We have to get moving. There will be more of them soon.” Kyris glanced at her then back into the cave. The ground was still shaking in there as if something was going to come up through it and she didn’t want to wait and see if she was right.

Why were they attacking? The desert had been so silent the night before, she hadn’t even thought it supported life.

Glancing up at Kyris, she wiped the purple fluid still running down her face and looked in the direction he was looking.

“We must head to the outpost. You will be safe there.”

Her?

She knew she didn’t have fighting skills like him. Sure, he could defend himself but the things didn’t seem partial to who they were attacking.

She nodded regardless, only glancing back once as they headed off.

As long as she was far away from those things, she’d be happy.

THE NESTERS.

They had smelled her.

It was imperative that they didn’t stay in one place too long. Otherwise, they would find them again.

They’d been walking for about half an hour now and, glancing behind him, he could see that she was relaxing more and more, obviously thinking the danger was behind them.

It wasn’t.

The nesters would find them again.

No matter where they went, the nesters would come.

They were tracking her and right now she was like a beacon to them, because they were only attracted to one thing: blood.

Mouth set into a firm line, he pushed forward.

He should fly them there. That would get them to the outpost quicker but he wasn’t sure he could make it with his wing injured.

Bad. Qrakking. Luck.

The Mukkians at every outpost installed a specific herb along the perimeter of the outpost that kept the nesters at bay. It was the only place he knew she’d be safe from them.

If he couldn’t fly them there, they’d just have to trek it and hope they got to their destination safely.

No. They would get there safely. He’d make sure of it.

As they walked, he could hear her mumbling to herself behind him and he almost stopped to ask what she was talking about. But he soon realized she was singing again. That same sad song she’d sung on the Isclit ship. Something about going back to her parents’ house.

Once more, the thought of her leaving made him feel…hopeless.

A whiff of something in the air caught his attention and he lifted his head to the heavens.

“Rain,” he muttered.

“Huh?” She wasn’t far behind him and caught up to him in just a second.

“Rain.”

She looked up then, her brows furrowed and her eyes narrowed slightly as she surveyed the sky.

“Are you sure?” She turned, her head still turned up. “I don’t see rainclouds.”

But just as she said that, a fat raindrop fell right on her nose.

The little yelp that escaped her lips made a smile tug at his.

“What the—” She touched her nose.

He pulled her into his arms then, folding his wings about them as the first of the raindrops began to fall.

Another little yelp escaped her as he pulled her into him.

“I will cover you. Keep you dry.” The rain was coming harder now, hitting his neck and running down his back.

Small streams of water ran down between them.

“When you said rain,” she glanced up at him, “I didn’t expect it to start falling so fast.”

“Muk is…unpredictable.”

She nodded and paused, glancing up at him before averting her gaze. It was as if she was almost afraid to look at him.

Curious.

As the rain began to fall harder, he had no choice but to close his wings some more, forcing her up against his body.

He could feel her breathe as her chest rose and fell against his. And he could feel something else.

Those soft mounds on her chest. They were rising and falling too.

The realization only caused a familiar ache in his groin.

They stood that way for a bit in silence before she stiffened.

“Did you hear that?”

“Hear what?” He didn’t hear anything. He’d been too focused on keeping his cock soft and his heart rates stable. “You heard something?”

But the next hiss was unmistakable.

A nester was near.

Qrak.

“Song?” He was about to tell her they were going to have to make a run for it but she was already easing off him, her eyes big and round in her face.

“Should we run?”

She must have seen the answer in his eyes because she nodded.

Yes. That was exactly what they had to do.

17

RUNNING IN WET, loose sand was difficult but there was no choice. As the heavy rainfall beat down on them, Song ran behind Kyris and tried to keep up.

She knew he wasn’t going as fast as he could have because his legs were much longer than hers and she was still managing to keep pace with him.

She couldn’t believe those things, the nesters or whatever he’d called them, were still after them.

They were like demon-possessed. They weren’t giving up.

They were running for so long, it felt as if her legs were going to give out soon and as she panted and kept on going, she almost lost her footing when a strong arm snaked around her and pulled her towards him.

As she hit his chest, she realized he’d stopped running and she hadn’t even noticed. Blinded by the rain and her own tiredness and fear, she’d just been focused on pressing on.

Never mind that her belly was still hurting, the pain was almost made unimportant as the fact they were being chased loomed at the forefront of her mind.

“We rest a little,” Kyris said, as his wings made that canopy thing he did.

Breaths coming fast, she couldn’t answer so she nodded instead. She was pretty sure this rest stop was for her and not him. He didn’t seem in the least bit affected by the strain of their run.

When she glanced up at him, he was frowning at her but not in anger. She could see in those violet eyes that he was…concerned.

“Maybe we should make camp.”

Her eyes widened. “Here?” It was in the middle of the desert. She hadn’t been paying a lot of attention but she was sure they ran in the opposite direction of the caves.

“Yes. I will make camp. You must rest.”

“I—”

But he was releasing her before she could finish speaking. As his wings retracted and the rain hit her once more, she shivered.

The water was cold, not warm as she’d thought it would have been, seeing that it was scorching just before and the twin suns were high in the sky.“Stay here. I must hunt a zehmip.” Violet eyes glanced over her and even in the rain she could see the worry in his eyes.

He seemed hesitant to move as he glanced about them, his eyes scanning the sand.

The nesters. He was unsure to leave because of the nesters.

“I can listen for them.”

With a jerk of his head, he paused for a second. “I cannot take you close to the zehmip. It is not safe.”

Song nodded. She could hardly see around them. She could hardly hear, for that matter.

All around them was gray, the rain falling so hard now she couldn’t see anything more than a few feet away.

“I will be okay.” Even as she said it, she knew she felt the opposite. She was absolutely terrified.

But looking up into his violet gaze, the rain soaking them both, she knew one thing: she trusted this alien. And it was definitely easier putting your life in someone else’s hands when you trusted them.

When he hesitated and still did not move, his eyes searching hers for some sort of reassurance, she smiled up at him. “I’ll be okay.”

With another jerk of his head, he glanced at her before stepping into the wall of gray.

As he disappeared, a jolt of fear rocked through her.

It was as if she was alone. If she didn’t know that he was somewhere close by, she would have thought that she was utterly and completely alone.

It hit her straight to her core.

She’d become used to his companionship so much that when he was gone, the space he left behind weighed down on her.

She needed him.

As Song gulped, wiping the rain from her face, she narrowed her eyes so she could try and improve the visibility. It didn’t help much but at least it stopped some of the water from getting into her eyes.

As she stood there waiting, the faint sound of tree bark stretching reached her ears and made her freeze.

Please don’t let that be another animal. Please. Please let that be Kyris.

But the sound didn’t stay for long.

Soon after there was silence again.

Turning in a slow circle, she looked about her.

The longer he stayed away, the more the desolation was creeping in; even though she was confident he would return.

Looking down, she bit her bottom lip and wrapped her arms around herself.

She was in a right state.

She was soaked from head to toe and shivering.

As she waited, she took the time to scrub her face and the shirt she was wearing, using her fingers to get rid of the purple stain left from the nester’s blood.

She was almost done when something caught her ear.

Freezing, her gaze darted through the gray.

Had she been imagining it? She thought she’d heard a hiss.

Not daring to even breathe, she strained her ears, but there was nothing. She was just about to relax, as much as she could relax in the middle of the desert in the rain, when the sound reached her ears again.

It was undoubtable. She’d heard it.

A hiss.

Her hand covered her mouth automatically, as if afraid that making any sound would draw attention to herself.

Maybe if she was quiet, the thing wouldn’t find her.

Visibility is low, Song, she tried to comfort herself. Maybe they can’t see you.

As if it weren’t true, there was another hiss. And this time, it sounded really close.

She was spinning in a circle now, trying to determine which direction it was coming from when she heard another hiss, and another.

Fuck!

Both hands covering her mouth now, they trembled against her lips.

She had nothing to use to defend herself. Nothing.

No knife. No sword. Not even a stick.

What the hell was she going to do?

A loud, ear-splitting screech sounded nearby and it took all the effort within her not to take off at a mad run.

She needed to stay put. Not only because she had no idea which direction to run in but because if she moved, Kyris might not know how to find her.

Shit. Shit, shit, shit, shit.

What should she do?

Another screech sounded close by and the terrifying thought hit her. Maybe they couldn’t see her, but they could smell her?

FUCK.

As the hisses and screeches seemed to come closer she couldn’t keep quiet anymore.

“Kyris!” hands gripping her makeshift skirt, she screamed his name. Turning in a circle as the skies rained down on her, the water mixing with her tears of fright.

“Kyris!”

She was trembling so hard she wasn’t sure if it was the cold or her fear anymore, all she knew was that she was being surrounded by monsters that belonged in the underworld and there was not one thing she could do about it.

As she screamed his name once more, something flashed past her close…too close.

It took her a moment to recognize the iridescence shining through the gray and a surge of relief flooded through her.

As the screeches stopped one by one, she watched him move. She could hardly see through the wall of rain but what she did see had her crying new tears, ones of relief and happiness.

He was working through them, his blade moving through the air as if he was a painter and the sand was his canvas.

When he finally approached, she stood frozen watching him, unable to move.

He was so beautiful; it seemed the whole thing happened in slow motion.

Rivulets of water streamed down his face and over his nose as intense violet orbs locked on her. His lips were slightly parted as his chest heaved, his muscles primed and stretching with so much strength she could almost feel it.

He was insanely attractive, and even though panic was surging within her, she couldn’t help but notice it.

He pulled her against him, his hand going to the back of her neck as she raised her head and looked up at him. As the rain beat down on them both, his forehead rested against hers.

“You’ll be ok,” he whispered. The sound of the rain was drowning out his words; yet, she heard him. “I am here.”

She didn’t know if it was just her, but it felt like their breaths were coming in unison in harsh gasps, their chests heaving against each other.

And in that moment, as their eyes locked, she felt it. Something strong was moving between them.

Something intense.

Something undefined.

18

HOLDING HER SMALL HAND, he led Song to the shelter he’d made. It had been difficult making it in the rain for he could hardly see what he was doing but he’d managed.

As he opened the slats and led her under the makeshift tent, he watched as her eyes widened. He had to crouch—the zehmip’s mouth was just not big enough to accommodate his full height—but she only had to bend a little to enter.

“Wow, you made this?” He could hear the awe in her voice and but underneath it there was still a note of fear.

“Yes. The zehmip’s mouth has spikes I’ve used to secure it to the sand. It will keep us dry for now.”

Securing the slats by the entrance, he turned to look at her.

She looked okay. The nesters didn’t get to her. They had been closing in, seven of them, and he’d heard them even before she’d begun screaming his name.

But when he’d heard her scream, his blood had run cold. Every instinct in his body was to get to her and make sure that she was safe.

Now that they were inside the zehmip tent, they could wait out the rain. No nesters should attack for a little while. The smell of their comrade’s blood should throw them off for a bit, which was good for she needed to rest.

Even now, inside shelter, she was still shivering.

“You grow cold. We must make you warm.”

She smiled at him and wrapped her arms around herself as she settled against the zehmip skin he’d spread on the wet sand. It too was wet but the water didn’t cling to it as it did other material.

“I’ll be fine, I think.” But even as she spoke, she shivered once more.

“You will catch a desert cold.”

Teeth chattering, she looked up at him.

“There’s not much I can do to prevent that.”

Plopping down beside her, he pulled out the fire sticks.

“You should undress.” When wide eyes hit him, he continued. “To keep warm. It is best.”

“I—”

Even in the dimness of the cave, he could see that her cheeks were tinged pink. But she made no move to take off her wet clothing.

He needed to take his trousers off as well but he would let her get undressed first.

As he activated the fire sticks and put them to the side of the tent, the light played across her face and he was struck once more by just how beautiful she was.

He watched as she raised her hand to put a lock of her hair behind her ears, that same pink tinge still coloring her cheeks.

As another shiver shook through her and she sneezed, she wrapped her arms around herself.

It was no good. The longer she stayed in the freezing clothes, the more the chances of her becoming ill.

He was about to open his mouth and say this to her when she gave him a sheepish look.

“Will you look away while I do it? I can’t when you’re looking at me like that.”

Kyris blinked. He wasn’t aware he was looking at her in a certain way. “Like how?”

“Like…” The pink tinge on her cheeks grew darker but she didn’t continue.

“I will look away then.” It baffled him as to why she’d want him to turn his back to her while she undressed but he’d do as she wished anyway. He could hear her shuffling behind him, and as he waited, it took much effort for him not to turn and look. Keeping his eyes averted was making his imagination run wild.

What was it that she did not want him to see?

Her pale naked skin? The round mounds on her chest? The gentle curve of her hips?

Swallowing hard his ears picked up her every movement. The shuffling had stopped now but just as he was about to turn around the lights of the fire sticks went off.

He turned then, his brows slightly furrowed, only to realize the fire sticks were in her small hands. She’d deactivated them.

“Just so…you know…for privacy.” Even in the dim light she wasn’t looking at him directly.

Curious.

But getting rid of the light didn’t prevent him from seeing her fully. Being a Vaen, his eyesight was precise. When flying high, it was useful for spotting small things on the ground.

As he looked at her now, the darkness his ally, he could see her…everything…and she was beautiful.

Her skin looked pale and soft. So thin, he was sure if he touched her, running his hand lightly over her, she would feel it right down to her bones.

Dark hair flowed just below her shoulders, the straight strands falling to rest just above those soft mounds on her chest. He could see the pink round buds that sat on top of them, almost like decoration on nature’s most delicate cake.

She was sitting with her legs pulled up underneath her so he couldn’t see much more. But this was enough. He could sit here staring at her for all eternity, drinking her in slowly.

“Kyris?”

Her soft voice brought him out of his daydream and he shook his head.

He’d been staring but with her head down she probably didn’t see.

Rising just enough for him to take off his trousers, he took them off and put them to the side.

“Wh-what are you doing?” Her wide-eyed gaze was on him now and he realized that maybe she could see him because her gaze was no longer on his face, it was lower…much lower.

As his gaze fell, his cock jerked as his gaze hit it. He hadn’t even realized he had grown hard but there it was, tall and proud, a ball of prizi beading at the tip.

“Y-you’re naked.” Her voice sounded breathless, as if her thoughts were far, far away.

“I must dry my trousers.”

She’d put the fire sticks down so he reactivated them and piled their wet clothes on top. That dimmed the light again but when he turned back to face her, it was as if her eyes had gotten even wider.

Another shiver ran through her frame and he frowned.

Right.

She had nothing to keep her warm. His wings radiated warmth so he would be okay. But she was defenseless.

She had nothing to protect her.

“You should let me warm you.” Even as he spoke to her, she didn’t raise her eyes to his face. Her gaze was still locked on his cock and the realization only made him grow harder.

Her reaction was surprising, though. Did humans not get naked together? They must.

Then why was she looking at him so?

Glancing down at himself again, he scrutinized his member. Was he different from human males?

Dear Polvrak…was he smaller than human males?

The thought made a deep frown crease his brow.

He doubted it. All the humans he’d encountered had been small in stature, Song included. He doubted with his size that he’d fall small on her radar…

Still, the way she was looking at it...

But as he looked at her, it was clear. The look in her eyes wasn’t one of scorn or ridicule…it was a look of wonder.

Another bead of prizi formed at his tip as his cock jerked and Song’s eyes widened a little more.

If she was so amazed by it now, he wondered how she would react if she knew what it could do to her.

19

“YOU SHOULD LET me keep you warm.”

His suggestion came off as so innocent but he was…naked. Very naked. And his cock…it was there. Like there. Right there. Hard and long.

There wasn’t much light underneath the little tent he’d made with what looked like a giant Venus flytrap, which in itself was worrisome but she would think about that later.

“Song?”

She heard him speak but it was as if he was in another dimension communicating to her through a glass wall. She was suddenly in a world on her own and even though the dropping temperature around her and the fact that she was sitting in the sand should let her know that she wasn’t dreaming, all she could do was stare.

It was so…BIG.

The biggest dildo she’d had was eight inches, and that had been large and adventurous. She’d only tried using it once and had given up. It’d been far too big.

But Kyris’ cock…his thick throbbing cock that was standing tall and throbbing was nowhere near eight inches.

It looked much, much larger than that.

This wasn’t even porno big. It was huge…my god.

As her thoughts swirled, his cock jerked and still she couldn’t raise her eyes to his.

Good god.

As her eyes travelled up his body on their own volition, she could make out that V that led into his torso.

He was bare except for his wings, it seemed. She didn’t know what she’d expected. Feathers on his crotch?

His stomach was taut, not an ounce of fat present and even now, beads of water still clung to his muscles.

She was hardly aware that she was licking her lips, maybe just to wet them because they were dry or maybe because deep inside her something was stirring.

“I should keep you warm.” His words still made no sense to her for now her focus was on what was happening inside her.

Her nipples had suddenly gone hard and she wasn’t sure if it was the cold or the fact that there was a fluttering in her stomach and between her thighs was a sweet insistence that she’d never felt before.

Sure, she’d been horny loads of times and many times she’d gotten herself off. She might be a virgin in the sense that she’d never had an actual warm dick before but she knew what it felt like to want it.

And she wanted it.

“Should I?”

Should he what? She had no idea what he was talking about but she knew it must be something practical. He was that type of guy.

“Yes.” Whatever she was agreeing to she doubted she’d regret it.

Lying on his side beside her, Kyris unfurled one wing and pulled her towards him.

The yelp of surprise was barely out of her lips before he tucked her against him and brought his wing down over them.

“What are you doing?!” Why did she sound more breathless than outraged? He’d just pulled her into his naked body and towards his very hard cock!

Did he think that she’d been inviting him to do something? Apprehension spiked within her. If it’d been a human male she would have rather risk catching a cold than take her clothes off. But Kyris wasn’t human. He was an alien that seemed to have at least some morals and values. For the whole time, he hadn’t made a pass at her. And apart from those very intense gazes he sent her way, he hadn’t said anything to make her think he would take advantage of her either.

Had he just been waiting to force her to—

“Warmth. Or you will still catch a cold.”

His voice found her ear and for some reason, the deep sureness of it made her calm a little.

“But…you’re naked…”

“I must dry my clothes as well.”

“So this isn’t…you’re not trying…you don’t want me to…” She didn’t know how to say it.

“Want you to do what?” His voice seemed to grow even deeper as it brushed against her ear and she swore the shiver that moved her shoulders travelled all the way down to her toes.

Swallowing hard, she wet her throat. She was thirsty.

“Rest now, Song. We have much further to walk as soon as the waters stop.”

There was no suggestion in his voice…nothing to tell her that this wasn’t normal to him.

Did birds cuddle?

She was trying to remember whether they did. She couldn’t recall seeing any birds ever cuddling.

But he wasn’t a bird. He wasn’t a bird man. He was just a guy who could fly.

Still, she lay frozen against him.

For what felt like minutes, she didn’t move, didn’t even dare to breathe but Kyris made no attempt to touch her naked parts. He didn’t rub his cock against her. He didn’t grab her breasts. And as the minutes ticked by, she slowly relaxed against him.

“I didn’t say it earlier. I guess I was too shaken up to do so.”

“Say what?” His voice sounded far away and she realized she was slowly falling asleep.

“I didn’t say thank you.” She sighed and snuggled further against him. “For killing those things.” She yawned. “You protected me.”

He didn’t reply. Instead, his arms tightened around her and Song smiled.

This felt nice. It felt good. She could almost forget that she was in the middle of the desert with no one but him for company.

As her eyes slowly closed, she was just about to allow herself to fall asleep, for just a little bit, when she felt his cock twitch behind her.

He’d been so careful, she’d almost forgotten about it, but that one movement had her eyes flying open.

And now she couldn’t stop thinking about it again.

20

IT SEEMED she’d fallen asleep after a while anyway because the next time she opened her eyes, Kyris was already standing, his trousers on, his blade unsheathed.

Something had woken her up and she didn’t know what. Outside, it was quiet; the rain had stopped.

Maybe it was the chill in the air seeing that her source of warmth was no longer there and she was naked.

Naked!

Glancing up at him, his back was turned to her and she made to scramble for her clothes.

It was time to get moving again.

But as she made to grab her clothes, Kyris outstretched his hand in her direction as if to stop her.

About to open her mouth to ask him what he was doing, the loud screech that split the air had the words freezing on her lips and a chill running down her spine.

Those things…they were still after them?

Another screech and a hiss came from somewhere close and Song reached for her clothes. She couldn’t help it; the Satan-centipedes terrified her.

Her bottom lip trembled as she bit down on it and, for some reason, her hands weren’t moving as fast as they should as she tried to pull the shirt over her head.

“Stay here. You will be safe.” His violet eyes were on her when she looked up, finally managing to pull the top over her head and she paused for a moment.

“We aren’t going to run?” She was already reaching for the wooly thing she’d used for a skirt before he replied, another screech splitting through the air somewhere outside the tent.

“There are too many.”

Too many? The thought couldn’t pass through her mind fast enough before a shrill shriek echoed too close to the tent. In the next second, something large, scaly and black pierced through the side of the small structure. On the curved end dripped green fluid, and Song realized with mounting horror that it was one of the creature’s tails.

As Kyris’ blade came down and sliced the tail off, the thick barbed end fell to the sand, oozing purple blood even as it twitched.

Another indignant screech hit the air, and Kyris glanced at her, his violet eyes emanating such intense and controlled fury that she wondered for a second if that fury was directed at her.

But when he turned, without a word, and stepped out of the makeshift tent, the brief glimpse of what was outside caught her eyes.

Scaly black skins. Multiple legs. Long, scaled tails rising into the air.

From that brief glimpse, there were at least six or seven of the things out there.

“Stay inside, Song. I will rid them from your presence.” With that, he buried his blade into the one closest to the tent. With admirable precision, he spun on his heels, burying his blade into another of the creatures and its screech died on its lips.

They came at him with speeds she didn’t know they possessed, but each time they attacked, their tails rising into the air and spitting that green fluid, Kyris dodged each hit to deal one of his own.

His blows were fatal, his blade moving through the air with practiced ease, the hilt spinning in his hands so easily it was clear he was one with his weapon.

But even as he cut them down, they kept attacking, and as Song watched the fight in front of her, frozen in awe and trepidation, she realized one thing.

They weren’t attacking him.

Every single one of the creatures was intent on heading in one direction.

Every single one of them seemed intent on heading toward her.

SHE WAS IN DANGER.

The longer they stayed in the desert, the more danger she was in.

He wouldn’t have it. He had to get her to the outpost as soon as possible.

Even as he killed the sand nesters that were heading towards where she hid, he knew it wouldn’t be enough. There would be more, and more, and more.

They would keep on coming and they would not stop until she no longer breathed.

They had locked onto her scent now, and would continue tracking her across the entire desert.

He shuddered to think what the outcome would have been had she been alone.

The nesters would have won.

Even as his blade cut through one of the nesters intent on getting into the tent, he glanced in her direction.

He could see her crouched in the tent, her clothing gripped about her as she watched the creatures die. The look on her face was understandable. She was afraid.

But she didn’t need to be. He was there.

He had to find a way to show her he was a suitable mate, but until then, he’d settle for keeping her safe.

And just like he’d held her while she slept, his cock straining for some release, some contact, he would continue to protect her—even from himself.

HE WAS BLOOD-SOAKED.

Purple streaks of the creatures’ blood covered his chest and his wings.

But, good God, it only made him look sexier and even as she stared at him as he walked back to the tent, fully aware the thoughts she was having shouldn’t be there, Song couldn’t help it.

He’d killed those things and he’d looked ruthless doing it. It made her slightly wary of the fact that he was so good with that darn sword of his, but she’d be lying to herself if she didn’t admit that underneath her fear, seeing him cut down the evil things made her more than a little warm inside.

Song squeezed her eyes shut for a second. She needed to clear her thoughts.

But opening her eyes once more, the thoughts returned as soon as he stooped to enter the little tent.

“Are you unhurt?” His gaze roved over her body for injuries and she couldn’t help but shiver a little.

“Cold?”

“No.” Her answer came out much too quickly and she felt her cheeks warm. “Here, let me…”

Unrolling one of the rolled-up pieces of gauze she’d made, she raised the gauze to his face and began wiping the creature’s blood away.

Kyris seemed to stiffen but she couldn’t meet his gaze to determine what he was thinking.

Instead, she focused on her hand as she wiped away the purple fluid. Raising her other hand, she touched it against his cheek to steady his head and she was surprised at how soft his skin was. Over the hardness of his jaw, his skin felt velvety almost.

The contact made her pause a bit and her gaze flicked to his only to find that he was watching her so intently she was sure he could see every pore in her face.

Eyes flicking away, she swallowed and focused on cleaning his face.

He’d ripped the creatures apart so viciously, she realized there was more blood than she’d first thought.

“Oh, I don’t have enough gauze to clean the blood that’s on your chest. I…maybe if we could get some water…”

“It will be fine. It will rain again soon.”

“Again?” Her incredulous answer had her raising her eyes with a frown to his only to realize his gaze hadn’t shifted even a millimeter. Immediately, her eyes fell to his lips and she swallowed again. Harder this time.

“I smell it on the wind. We must leave soon.”

With each word he spoke, as his lips moved, she couldn’t help but stare.

What was happening to her?

But even as she asked the question, she felt drawn toward him. Almost as if their heads were coming closer together on their own.

The blood was cleaned from his face, yet, her fingers lingered, her eyes still on his lips. And when he didn’t move or back away, she did what she had never imagined she’d ever do.

She pressed her lips against his.

As Kyris stiffened once more, it was as if her senses became super aware. She was suddenly aware of his breath against her lips, the heat of his body so close to hers, the sensation of their lips touching ever so slightly.

And without a sound, Kyris leaned in, forcing their lips together in a simple movement that sent a bolt of thin lightning straight down her spine.

It was just a brush, yet it left her wanting so much more and she realized the soft gasp of a moan that she heard within the tent must have come from her.

He was suddenly on her then, leaning into her so much that she had to recline fully, and when she opened her mouth and flicked her tongue over his lips in tentative exploration, she heard a deep rumble in his throat.

That one sound seemed to enter her body and go directly to the middle of her clit.

Wide eyes to his, there was that same intensity in his violet gaze, only now he was looking at her as if he wanted to pin her down and do some bad, bad things to her.

And for once in her life, she never wanted someone to do bad things to her more than how she wanted them now.

It must be something about their circumstances, because she’d never experienced such lust, such need, such surprising want before.

“What is this?” His voice had a huskiness that made her shiver and it took her a moment to realize what he was asking.

“This?” They were still so close that every word she spoke caused her lips to brush against his and it was still sending those little bolts of electricity through her skin.

“With our mouths…what is this?”

“It’s a kiss…”

His eyebrows rose slightly but he didn’t ask for further clarification. Instead, his heated gaze moved down her face till he was focusing on her lips.

He stayed there for a few seconds, as if not daring to move, as if not wanting to break whatever was holding them in that trance. And with visible effort, he raised his gaze back to hers.

There was a hunger there, one that made her gulp and swallow hard.

What was she doing?

She wasn’t on Earth. This wasn’t some hot senior she’d managed to snag from one of the fraternities. And this wasn’t a dream where the perfect guy she’d imagined was in her bed ready to devote his waking existence to her.

No.

She was far away from Earth.

This was an alien planet.

And the hot guy whose body was pressed against hers, the hot guy whose cock she could feel straining against his trousers even as she fought to get her breathing under control, the hot guy whose lips were brushing against hers…well, he was an alien and relationships with aliens, if anything, was probably taboo.

Kyris squeezed his eyes shut and when he opened them again, that raw hunger she’d seen just before seemed to be controlled.

But, as he lifted himself from off her, despite her thoughts, she couldn’t help but feel a bit of disappointment.

21

FOR THREE MORE DAYS, they travelled. Every night, Kyris stood guard outside the makeshift tents he’d make, killing the screeching devils that seemed to be constantly appearing. And every day, he did the same.

He didn’t mention the almost-kiss and she was too shy to bring it up. What would she say anyway? Every time she thought about it, she could feel her cheeks growing warm with embarrassment.

It wasn’t at the forefront of her mind, however. Her nerves were constantly on end.

More important things were on her mind—mainly the fact that it was as if they were being hunted.

The demon centipede scorpions were everywhere. Everywhere they went, one, two, or three of the creatures would appear, screeching, hissing, and heading directly toward her.

But Kyris was always there. Even in the rain, he stayed outside the tent, killing any of the creatures that dared to appear.

They never seemed to try to attack him.

Yet, she couldn’t help the level of safety that she was feeling.

She trusted him. He never let them get close.

Even now, he was outside the tent. Stretching, Song huddled into the wooly covering he’d set on the ground for her to rest on.

It was strange. She was getting used to sleeping like this. It was her new normal.

Through sleepy eyes, she looked at him sitting by the tent’s entrance. In the light of the rising suns, his wings shimmered in their excellence. They looked so perfect; so beautiful.

They were folded behind him, neatly tucked against his back, and she couldn’t help but marvel at just how celestial he looked.

Stretching once more, the bedding beneath her rustled and Kyris turned to look in at her. Even with that simple movement, her breath caught in her throat. She would never get used to how handsome he was. It was as if every time he turned away her mind tried to compensate for what she was seeing, telling her that there was no way one person could look so good, but then he’d look at her again and she’d be amazed once more.

“You’re awake,” he said.

“Mmhm.” Folding her arms over her chest, she offered him a smile.

“We have to leave soon.” His eyes slipped from hers to fall to where her arms folded over her breasts and she felt herself flush.

“Mmhm. I’ll just grab the bedding.” Her wide eyes stayed focused on him as he turned away and stood. She’d taken to bringing the bedding along with her during the days. She thought it was the least she could do so Kyris didn’t have to find new bedding each evening.

As soon as he turned away, she stood, rolled up the wooly bedding, and cradled it in her arms. By the time he popped his head into the tent, she was ready to go.

“Ready?”

Song nodded and moved toward him.

“This way.”

He’d been looking at her strangely ever since the almost-kiss and every time his intense violet gaze landed on her, her mind went back to how good his lips had felt against hers.

God. She’d kissed him. Coupled with the fact that he’d held her, both naked, his hard body against hers all night, it was by far the most romantic thing she’d ever done with anyone.

And she had to say…she’d liked it. Actually, she’d loved it. He was like, the perfect guy. The type of guy that she’d have believed only existed in books and in people’s fantasies. That’s the type of guy he was. The exact type of guy that she’d have dreamt of being with.

That’s what he was, though…a dream.

He was an alien, from another world. And although he seemed so human to her, she had to remember that.

There was no way for them to be together when they were from two separate worlds. Things like that just didn’t happen.

They were walking for maybe an hour when he stopped and handed her one of the food packets before continuing and, as she ate, she wondered if she should strike up some conversation with him.

The only thing was that he seemed to be in his head, contemplating something, and she didn’t want to disturb him.

Whatever it was that he was thinking about seemed important. So important that when the first hiss sounded across the desert neither he nor she heard it.

It was when the screech sounded again that Kyris froze in front of her, his head snapping in the direction she assumed the sound came from. To her ears, it could have come from anywhere in the vast expanse. She had no idea where the creature was.

“Stay close.” Drawing his blade, he stood by her side. “We must hasten. They will come.”

Shit.

Not again.

These things were so persistent.

Going into a light jog, she kept pace with him as they trudged through the sand. There was another screech from somewhere and Kyris stopped moving.

Before she could ask why he’d stopped, she heard another screech…and another…and another.

Turning around to look behind her, she gripped the bedding to her chest. Her back now against his, her breath began coming fast. It sounded like there were a lot—a whole lot of those things—but she couldn’t see them.

“Kyris?”

And then she saw it.

It looked like a dust cloud off in the distance. But as it came closer, she realized what it was.

That was no cloud.

It was nesters. A frickin’ swarm of nesters. She’d never seen so many of them before. To create a dust cloud that big, there had to be at least fifty of the things.

The horror made her freeze as she swallowed hard.

But Kyris didn’t move. Instead, he turned her around to face him and the look in his eyes only terrified her more.

He was worried. And if he was worried, that only meant she should be mortified.

Reaching into the sack still draped across his back, he took out the little blade and pressed it into her hands.

He didn’t need to say a word.

There was only one reason why he’d give her a weapon.

Fuck.

She might need to use it.

As the swarm came closer, their screeches and hisses got louder and then she realized why Kyris wasn’t moving.

All around them, in a wide circle, the ground seemed to be rumbling, almost as if something was trying to rise from the earth.

As the first spiked tails appeared through the sand, Song gripped the little blade.

He wasn’t moving because they were surrounded.

HE’D NEVER SEEN SO many nesters in one place. And there were more. He could hear them underneath the sand.

They were surrounded.

For three days and nights he’d fought. Killing them as they’d appeared. There had been some close calls but he’d kept her safe. He would always keep her safe.

Yet, now, he couldn’t help the sliver of worry that was snaking its way through him.

This was bad. This was very bad.

A black, scaly tail pushed through the sand. Erect, the barb was aimed in Song’s direction as the nester shot its poison. He just had enough time to knock her to the sand, his body covering hers, as he evaded the poison.

Even as he was getting back to his feet, another barb poked through and another shot of poison was aimed in their direction.

That one was easier to evade and as both creatures rose from the sand, Song’s labored breathing caught his attention.

All around them, nesters were coming up from the earth beneath. The sand shuddered and moved as if no longer solid but a thick fluid.

Her dark terrified eyes were on him as she gripped the small blade, her knuckles white.

Two slices of his blade through the air and he killed the nesters closest to them but he knew the fight was far from even started.

He needed to do something.

As one of the creatures launched from the sand, its body airborne and its tail pointed downward, the sharp end aiming for her, he pulled her into him, swinging her in his arms and out of the way effortlessly as his blade hand moved forward to deposit the sharp end of his blade straight through the nester.

The thing screeched and purple blood burst forward unto them and into the sand.

As Song gathered her bearings, the wind having been knocked out of her, another nester’s tail began pushing through the sand beside her leg.

She was trembling but before he could kill the thing, Song slammed the small blade into the tail. Pulling her arm back, her hand covered in purple blood, she stared at the blade. The nester she’d attacked screeched beneath them, irate as it rose, and for a moment he saw the fear manifest once more in her eyes.

Slamming his blade deep into the sand, he finished the creature off even as the screeching around them grew more intense.

All around, the sand shifted and pulled as nesters climbed up from underneath. The swarm was upon them too now and there was nowhere to run.

In every direction, the creatures stood, their tails flicking and swaying mercilessly in the air. One by one they came forward and Kyris’ blade swung.

Keeping her behind him at all times, he circled as he fought, his efforts mindless as he let his years of training with the blade take over. He didn’t have to think about his movements. All of his senses were focused on her. He could hear every breath that shuddered through her, every gasp, every whimper.

As he fought, the sand being bathed with purple blood, the nesters came. Their attack was relentless. No matter how many bodies fell to the ground, they came. Over and over they launched themselves at him and over and over he cut them down.

But it didn’t seem as if he was going to win this fight.

As soon as he killed one, there were ten to replace it.

They were surrounded, hundreds of nesters around them, their hisses and screeches going up into the air in a shrill song.

He couldn’t take them all out. It wouldn’t work. They would just keep coming. There was only one thing he could do…

He had to lead them away and there was only one way to do that.

Glancing down at Song, his blade still raised, he knew he had to do it.

“I’m going to lead them away.”

She was still trembling, her bloodied hands shaking, but in her eyes he saw her resolve. She could do this.

“I’m going to lead them away. When I do, you have to run in the opposite direction.”

“Okay.” She nodded.

“You can’t look back. You can’t pause. Just run.”

“Okay.” She nodded again then, as if his words finally hit home, her worried eyes reached his. “Wait…why are you saying it like that? What’s going to happen?”

The urge to pull her into him and comfort her hit him deep. But the screeches around them were louder. The longer they delayed, the more dangerous it would become.

Without another word, he unfurled his wings and her eyes widened into little pools. With a thrust of his wings, he was off. Rising into the air, he left the ground beneath him.

22

THE SCREAM that left her lips shook her core as she stood frozen, forgetting all that was about her as she looked above.

Blue blood streaked the entirety of Kyris’ blade and dripped to the sand beneath. Across his chest was a deep wound.

“Kyris!”

He’d cut himself. Right across his chest, he’d set his blade and sliced deep.

As if in slow motion, her hand that been holding the bedding let go, causing the wooly material to fall to her feet as she covered her mouth, her eyes wide in horror.

And she wasn’t the only one that noticed.

All around her, the sand nesters began converging at the spot where his blood fell to the sand. Their screeches went high as they clambered over each other to get to the blood soaking into the sand.

As she looked on in terror, from off to her side, one of the nesters raced in her direction. Her heart beat hard against her chest, ready to give out. Kyris had just slit himself in what looked like a suicide move and one of the things was coming to kill her.

No wonder she’d had a good night’s sleep. It had been the calm before the storm.

Entire body trembling, she gripped the small knife in her shaking hands and raised it. If it was going to attack her, she might as well try to harm it, too.

As the creature sped towards her, sand kicking up in its wake, Song readied herself. But the creature didn’t stop. It didn’t attack. Instead, it headed straight to the spot where Kyris’ blood fell.

Like a slow-rising sun, it slowly dawned on her.

Blood.

They were after his blood.

They were attracted to blood.

The slow realization made her feel sick to her stomach.

It’d been her all along.

All of this…all this hunting…it had been because of her.

The creatures had been tracking her.

And he…

He had known it. He’d known it all along. Yet, he’d remained vigilant, protecting her day in and day out, killing them whenever they got too close.

As the thoughts came to the forefront of her mind, she hardly realized all the nesters had converged in that one spot over where his blood was falling.

Over and over, they crawled atop each other, so high they made a small hill as they each tried to get to the source. Kyris.

Tails raised, they sent poisonous shots of fluid into the air, trying to bring him down but somehow he managed to evade them.

The creature-hill was so high now they could almost reach where he hovered, and as if the hunger consumed them, those that climbed to the top launched themselves at him, their barbed tails aimed and their legs spread outward to latch on to him.

And as they came, he cut them down, his blade working, the shiny metal bathed in both his blood and theirs.

She didn’t realize the tears were in her eyes till she raised her gaze to look up at him.

He was doing this for her.

He’d harmed himself, spilled his own blood, for her.

“Run, Song.” He was hovering, his face hardly reflecting what must be incredible pain. “Head that way. I will lead them away.”

Gulping, Song swallowed and willed the tears away.

He began flying in the opposite direction then and the nesters screeched and followed the blood running from his chest and falling to the sand.

It was like a pile of crawling scaly bugs rolling over in the sand as they tracked the blood and Song gulped once more.

Right.

He was doing this for her.

She needed to run.

But as she turned to move, a shrill screech hit her ears. It sounded close. Too close. And as the ground erupted behind her the blood drained from her veins.

HER LEGS REFUSED to move as she turned in slow motion.

She knew.

She knew exactly what was there but if reality could just be wrong this once…just this once.

They were even more terrifying up close and she realized she’d never been this close to one before.

It was more like a scorpion, except with more legs and infinite levels of terror.

It was huge. Much bigger than what she had thought and as it lifted itself upward, gnashing its teeth, its set of back legs clawed at the sand, trying to find some kind of grip.

Defend. She needed to defend herself. There was no use running. It was much faster than her in the sand. After all, this was its territory.

Thank goodness there was only one. From what she could see, it was a straggler, one that had latched on to her smell and had not followed the others. She couldn’t turn to see how Kyris was faring, seeing as she was staring at the devil incarnate but from the sounds of the screeching behind her, he had his hands full cutting the demons down.

Beady eyes focused on her as the thing screeched.

She could do this. It was just one. And even though it seemed as big as a car, she could at least wound it so she could run away.

She would aim for between the eyes.

That should be a sure way to kill the thing.

But as the thing approached, much faster than she anticipated, for a moment, she lost her resolve. The creature seemed to notice and began flinging its body from side to side as it charged.

No time for nerves. She could do this.

Oh God...

Her blood pressure was spiked so high, it was drumming in her head.

There was no time to think.

The thing launched itself at her and as its body landed on hers, Song fell back onto the hard, sandy floor, the wind momentarily knocked out of her.

It was stronger than she thought and to her horror, she could feel its many legs lengthening and wrapping around her in a vice grip.

As she struggled against it, it latched on to her so tightly that she could hardly breathe.

She could feel its scaly body against her and all the food packets she’d eaten earlier turned over in her stomach.

She was screaming now and as she twisted and turned, trying to free herself, she realized only one of her arms was free.

The knife! When the thing had knocked her down, it must have fallen from her hands.

As the creature screeched above her, she saw it happening...her life flashing before her eyes.

Her mother. Her father. Her brother. First kisses and misses. Things left undone and a whole lot of experiences she hadn’t even gotten the chance to encounter.

With tears now seeping from her eyes, she screamed as the creature gripped her tighter. Her entire body, from her shoulders down to her legs, was restrained, and as she beat against the scaly black body with her free hand, she turned her head away from the horror of its face.

She couldn’t look.

She couldn’t look as it devoured her.

But that one movement, just that turn of her head, saved her, for just as she turned her head, something slammed into the sand beside her.

Song’s eyes widened to see a long appendage sticking from the nester’s mouth right into the sand beside her head.

Holy. Shit.

It was long, dark, and fleshy. But there was obviously some hardness to it because it had pierced the sand beside her head with a force that told her it wasn’t just a tongue.

In her daze, as her eyes gathered tears and her breath came in chokes, something glinted on the sandy floor.

It took her a moment to focus.

The knife.

It was close.

Closer than she’d realized.

If she could only reach it.

As the thing retracted its mouth-spear, it shook its head and Song took the one opportunity, acting on basic survival instinct rather than her mind.

With all the strength she had within her, she jerked to the side, causing her body to shift just a little along with the creature holding her down.

The thing screeched, rearing its head in the air as its long neck swung from side to side.

The little bit they’d moved to the side was just enough for her fingers to touch the blade of the knife and as she squeezed the blade between her middle and index finger, her fingers trembling as she pulled the weapon toward her hand, the blurry form of the creature in her peripheral vision had her choking back sobs.

It was rearing to strike again.

It was going to hit her this time if she didn’t reach the—

As she pulled the knife within grasping distance, she grabbed the handle.

She didn’t need to think.

Her arm swung up, blade pointed, as she buried the knife deep into the creature’s torso.

A screech left the thing’s mouth, one very different from the other screeches she’d heard it emit and, for a second, it went silent, rearing its head once more as it thrashed from side to side, shaking her body along with it.

But before she could rejoice in her little victory, an indescribable pain hit her in the side.

Song inhaled deeply as the pain seemed to go through her entire being.

It made her gasp, her eyes widening as her body arched against the creature with a deep inhale.

As her eyes fell to the source of the pain, she saw it.

The creature’s tail.

It was embedded in her side.

As she fought for air, pain seemed to build from the wound in her side to the rest of her body.

But as the world suddenly grew dim, another sound reached her ear.

It was the undeniable sound of large wings descending and with it came a roar, one so tortured and vengeful that it hit her deep even as her eyes fluttered closed.

23

POWER, anger, and fury radiated through his very skin.

“Song!”

He’d been leading them away but there’d been one, just one, that hadn’t followed the others.

His vision was a blue haze as his hearts pumped blood frantically to curb the distress flooding his veins.

The nester had its head reared, its legs having already closed around her small body. It was ready no doubt to bury its piercing organ into her skull and feast. But something was wrong, and even as he brought his blade down, slicing the head of the nester clean from its neck, he realized the creature wasn’t moving.

It had been frozen in mid-animation. It was only as he took a second to breathe that he saw it.

The blade.

It was sticking out from the thing’s torso, purple blood running down the nester’s dark scales.

She’d killed it? His little, delicate, Song had killed it?

Even as he moved automatically, slicing at the nester’s legs as he worked on freeing her, a surge of pride went through him. Not wanting to focus on the fact that she wasn’t moving, wasn’t speaking, he focused on releasing her from the creature’s grasp.

That’s when he saw it.

The hooked tail.

“Song?” her name came out as a choke.

The poisonous hooked tail.

It was piercing her side.

“Oh, Polvrak.” the words came out as a whisper as his hearts shattered.

Dropping to his knees as he freed her, he gathered her into his arms.

Song.

His Song.

Rocking back on his heels, it felt as if the world had suddenly gone dark.

He’d failed her.

Nothing, not even the sound of the other nesters that were converging on them could bring him out of the ache that was pulling him down.

If his eyes could leak, they would be leaking right now. Instead, the feeling that was coursing through his mind and body manifested in his wings, as tremor after tremor ran through them.

Her eyes were closed, her mouth slack, her body limp.

The pain.

The pain that was hitting him was real. It made the tremors that ran through his wings shake his entire body.

She wasn’t moving. There was no response and when he glanced back down on the slain nester that had stung her, the rage that coursed through him almost manifested itself as a separate being.

He was angry at the nester.

But more so, he was angry with himself.

He’d failed to keep her safe. The one thing he’d been hell-bent on doing.

He was airborne in a second, flapping his wings hard as he pushed forward through the sky.

He knew what he had to do. He had to fly. Regardless of his injured wing blade. He had to fly.

It was the only way to get her to the outpost in time.

It was the only way to save her life.

As his wings flexed, bringing him higher into the air, the pain in his shoulder pulsed.

He was pushing it, something he shouldn’t do. It could lead to permanent wing damage.

But these thoughts, though coming to him with clarity, were overshadowed by the fact he didn’t care.

He didn’t matter.

A shudder went through him as he pressed forward, slicing through the air as fast as his wings could take him.

He couldn’t even look down at her.

He couldn’t face it.

This was supposed to have been a calm trip to the outpost. He’d had ten days to make her fall for him. Ten days to make her choose him.

Ten. Days.

And now he was on the verge of losing her.

It made something twist in his stomach.

But now as he pressed on, ignoring the pain in his shoulder, he steeled himself against the emotions hammering away at his senses.

He had to be strong to finish this.

His lust. His need. His want. None of that mattered anymore.

All that mattered was getting her to the outpost…getting her to safety.

IT’D BEEN about four hours.

Four hours in the air.

Under regular circumstances, he would have been okay. But at the time, his body was feeling the effect of the long flight.

He hadn’t eaten much of anything, only a few of the food packets Song hadn’t eaten, so he knew his energy was low. But apart from the twin suns draining the life out of him, the pain in his shoulder seemed to increase with each flap of his wings.

It was starting to become unbearable. But he would press on.

Gulping, he held her closer. Her soft, pliant body was nestled against his in the same position as when he’d begun flying four hours ago.

She hadn’t moved.

But, even if she was still alive, she wouldn’t be able to.

The nester’s poison had no doubt already spread through her system. The worst effect of such poison: death.

He just had to hope all that occurred from this was that she’d be paralyzed for some time. It wasn’t much hope but that was all he had, and he was going to cling to it.

He still could not look at her. He would pretend she was just closing her eyes, out of her element because they were above ground. Just as she always was when he’d flown with her before.

That was all this was.

As beads of sweat covered his skin, Kyris grit his teeth through the pain in his shoulder and wing.

He would do this.

Just a few more hours to the outpost.

He would get there.

And then she would be okay.

Dark hair…dark eyes…she’d be okay.

IT WAS BAD NOW. So bad that he could now feel the pain in his entire wing blade. It was spreading through his muscles like a fire.

Still, he pressed on, too afraid to stop and take a break, too afraid to even look at her face for fear of what he would see there.

As the pain coursed through his shoulder and wing, he felt himself dip through the sky in a spiral.

Falling. Falling.

He was falling.

Must. Keep. Altitude.

As he fell, he worked his one good wing to keep his altitude.

He had to work that one wing harder than the other for most of the journey now, lest they fall and crash into the ground below.

He couldn’t afford to continue.

It would no doubt cause permanent damage if he kept forcing his wings to carry them forward.

But he also couldn’t afford to stop.

If he did…Song…she wouldn’t survive.

He had to make it.

He had to get them to the outpost.

If he had to choose between flying, something that was second nature to him, something he’d enjoyed since he was a child, something that allowed him to be free…if he had to choose between flying and Song, the choice had already been made for him from the very first time he saw her.

He just hadn’t known it yet.

But now, he did know.

There was no choice to make.

He’d just have to lose his wings.

THE SUNS WERE GETTING LOW. He’d been flying now for what seemed like ages.

Time was moving so slowly and with each second that passed, he knew the chances of her surviving grew dim.

He had to make it.

But as he gave his wing one more flap as he soared through the evening sky, the pain that hit him was almost unbearable.

Never mind the pain across his chest from the open wound, the pain in his wing felt like he was tearing out his spine with his own hands. The pain blurred his vision so much he could hardly see in front of him.

But he had to do it.

He had to make it.

Ignoring the pain, he pressed forward.

The outpost was supposed to be just a few minutes away now.

If he could just...

But his wings couldn’t bear the weight of them both anymore.

As a heart-stopping pain pulsed through the injured wing, Kyris grit his teeth hard as all his energy left him.

Gripping her against his chest, he tried to keep them airborne, but it just wasn’t happening.

He was losing altitude. Fast.

Falling.

He was falling again.

Must. Keep. Airborne.

It wasn’t working. He was going down.

Down.

Down.

But as of it was a beacon of hope, as they fell through the air, he saw it. The tower.

The outpost tower in the distance.

He was close.

Closer than he’d thought.

The outpost was just a few more lengths…

It gave him renewed hope and strength.

It was breaking him apart from the inside out but he flapped his wings again, so hard he felt as one of his wing blades broke.

The pain that shot through him made him grunt and clench his jaw, but it wasn’t enough to stop their descent.

The pain was nothing.

He was a soldier. A rebel. A fighter.

He could deal with this.

No matter how painful this was, the pain of losing her would be worse.

Breathing hard, he caught a slight wind that was passing through his wings and flapped against it.

It would be enough for him to glide closer to the outpost.

It had to be.

THE OUTPOST WAS JUST AHEAD. He could even see the native Mukkians patrolling the tall glass walls.

He was coming in fast and hard, the pressure mostly on one wing as he narrowed them and dove.

There was no way this would be a gentle landing, not with one wing that was almost out of commission.

He’d land hard but the person cradled to his chest wouldn’t be hurt.

He would make his body take the brunt of the damage.

As he fell toward the ground, the pain in his shoulder and wing like a pulsating heat, he closed his wings in front to protect her.

It wasn’t the proper way to land.

Every Vaen knew, even young a few orbits old, that landing on one’s wings was asking for pain, suffering, and broken wing blades.

With his wings closed, it meant he had nothing to slow his descent. It would be hard and painful. But with one of his wings already so injured, he didn’t have much of a choice anyway.

Tucking his head under the canopy to shield them both, he finally let his gaze wander to her face.

Dark hair….Dark eyes…Song.

She looked so serene...so beautiful...and images of when she’d been stuck in the escape pod came flooding back to him.

Once more, it was almost as if she was asleep.

As he made impact with the sandy surface he kept his gaze on her face as pain ricocheted through his entire being. But her image held him together.

Looking at her beautiful face, he could endure anything.

He’d crashed head-first into the sand, gravity having done its job, and the momentum caused him to skid to a painful stop not far from the gates, stripping several of his feathers straight from his wing blades as they grated against the coarse sand.

As the pain of the impact pulsated through him, he could feel his blood leak from the new wounds on his skin.

Ignoring the strain on his body, he looked down at her.

She was unaffected. The fall hadn’t caused any bruises as far as he could see.

Good.

That’s exactly what he’d intended.

Around him, he could already hear the chatter of the native Mukkians as they approached him. Undoubtedly, they’d seen him long before he’d started to fall.

They’d recognize him, he was sure. He’d spent many orbits on their planet with the rest of his brothers.

When he finally opened his wings, the movement was painfully slow and the chatter around him ceased immediately.

They were all looking at the human now...his Song…the precious treasure still cradled against him.

He just hoped he wasn’t too late to save her.

24

THE WORLD WAS HAZY.

Everything was a blur.

And everything hurt.

There were voices, too. Voices she didn’t recognize in a language she couldn’t identify.

The creature! That disgusting oversized centipede-scorpion had gripped her with its long scaly legs extending to tighten around her entire body. It opened its mouth...opened it to…

It was going to kill her!

It was all coming back, her memory of the last moments before her eyes had closed.

She’d stabbed it; she remembered that. But it had wounded her. In her side. There’d been pain.

So much pain. Pain that had been excruciating.

But there wasn’t pain now. As a matter of fact, she felt blissfully at peace.

And...and...Kyris.

He’d been leading the creatures away but there’d been too many.

Terror gripped Song as she tried to lift herself. But her body wasn’t responding.

Kyris.

She hadn’t seen him after she’d turned around to fight the creature. Had he been alright? Had he made it?

Attempting to raise once more, a new level of terror flooded through her.

This wasn’t sleep paralysis.

This felt real.

She was frozen. She couldn’t move.

As the horror of the situation dawned on her, her heart rate picked up speed.

This was all too similar…

Too close to how it’d felt when she’d woken up on the Isclit slave ship…

Woken up to realize she’d been taken from the only world she’d known as home…

Abducted.

Those voices she didn’t recognize...

Was it the aliens?

Had they caught her again?

Was she back on the Isclit slave ship?

Those unspeakable things she’d seen them do in the videos...

Was it her turn this time?

As the panic moved through her and held her down with invisible hands, she could feel her brain straining to force her muscles to struggle, to move, to break free from whatever was preventing her from moving.

But it wasn’t working.

Her body refused to respond.

She’d never experienced anything like this before. This was…this was unquestionably worse than that first time she’d woken up on the slave ship.

But as her vision slowly cleared, the blurry haze dissipating, a large figure came into view.

Iridescent wings folded back, his head was down and his forehead was resting on her hip as he held her hand between his.

His eyes were closed and his brows were knit. Yet, even with his eyes closed and head down, she could see the utter torment on his face.

Kyris.

Kyris was here.

Was this some sort of weird dream?

Trying to open her mouth to call his name, she realized she couldn’t.

She was…paralyzed. Trapped in her own body.

As her vision cleared some more, the beings moving around her became clearer along with her surroundings. Yet, visibility was incredibly low; her eyes were almost shut. Lids so low, even her lashes were obstructing her view.

It took her a while to make out that she wasn’t on a ship. At least, it didn’t look like one. She couldn’t be sure, not without being able to open her eyes fully or turn her head.

But it looked as if she was in a room.

And the beings moving around her…they weren’t the slug-like Isclits, the toad-like Tasqals, or the gator-guards.

Whenever one came into view for her to decipher what they looked like, she saw that they looked like little monks.

All were dressed in brown robes similar to the color of the desert sand and they all looked to be about half her size.

Whatever had happened to her had rendered her almost completely immobile. She could move her eyelids but a fraction and she was breathing fine.

That was about it.

Trying again to move, to even say something, she realized she couldn’t.

But the little men with the bald heads and beady eyes that were moving and chattering about the room didn’t seem aggressive.

As a matter of fact, from what she could gather, they were tending to the wound on her side.

Gaze moving back to Kyris, she tried again to call his name.

Nothing.

She eyed the little men again as one of them came close enough for her to see him clearly.

They were still murmuring in a language her translator did not pick up and she wished she could understand what they were saying.

If she had woken up alone...if Kyris wasn’t there beside her...she’d have been freaking out more than she already was.

Gaze moving back to him, a sort of calm washed over her, despite the circumstances.

He was there with her and he didn’t seem alarmed by the little men’s presence. If he wasn’t anxious about their presence then maybe she didn’t need to be.

Throughout this whole ordeal, he’d always been there—always been that constant reassurance that had kept her sane, kept her hoping, kept her safe.

A few minutes passed as she watched him. He sat there, head resting against her, his brows knit as quiver after quiver went through his wings.

He’d saved her from that thing that had attacked her. She was sure of it.

Maybe he really was her guardian angel.

She was gazing at him when the face of one of the little men blocked her view and if she wasn’t paralyzed, the unexpectedness of it would have made her shriek.

His hand outstretched, the little man forced two short fingers between her lips to deposit something on her tongue.

She couldn’t move or protest as she felt whatever was put on her tongue dissolve into her mouth.

The little man then said something to Kyris before moving away and Kyris raised his head.

He finally looked at her then and the look he gave her almost took her breath away.

His eyes. His beautiful violet eyes. The pain there...the sadness...

He looked utterly tormented, as if he was feeling both physical and emotional agony.

For a moment, she was dumbstruck. She tried to say something to him, but once more, her body wouldn’t respond.

As he looked at her, the pain seeming to flood from his eyes and float all around him, she realized that he didn’t know she could see him.

Her eyelids were so low, she was barely seeing through her lashes, so she guessed he wouldn’t notice unless he came up close and stared straight into her eyes.

He said something to the little men, again in a language she couldn’t understand, and the little men all left the room.

Then he bent his head once more, his expression solemn as he looked at his hands grasping hers.

“I’m so sorry, Song.” his whisper was almost too low for her to hear and if the room wasn’t suddenly so quiet because the little men had left, she might have missed it.

“So sorry.”

Sorry for what?

What was he mourning?

The horrible thought that maybe he was mourning for her creeped inside her mind, and despite that she couldn’t move, her heart slammed against her chest.

Was he remorseful because she was going to be like this…forever? Was the paralysis permanent?

That thought horrified her.

25

ONE OF THE little men entered the room. His bald head was uncovered and his beady eyes were focused on Kyris.

The little man touched Kyris’ shoulder with what looked like a light touch but Kyris groaned loudly and it wasn’t a groan of annoyance…it sounded like pain.

The little alien was expressionless, beady eyes unblinking as it said something to Kyris.

She heard Kyris reply before he turned his head to look at her.

His eyes...still so tortured. So pained.

“Forget about my wounds. Just focus on tending to her.”

Wounds?

Ah, the cut across his chest when he’d sliced himself to lead the creatures away from her.

She wished she could see better. He should let them tend to him if they were offering to.

As the little man said something to him again, Kyris gripped her hand tight.

“Use all your resources to create the anti-venom. My wounds can wait. Forget about me!”

As if realizing he hadn’t replied in the little man’s language, Kyris closed his eyes as he began speaking in a language the little man understood.

The little man said something else that sounded like acquiescence and then he was gone.

A few moments passed and it was just her, Kyris, and the sound of his labored breathing.

Trying to speak to him was futile. Her body still refused to respond but his words floated in her head.

Use all your resources to create the anti-venom.

So she’d been poisoned. Maybe that was the reason for the paralysis?

That thing, that creature that had tried to kill her, it had poisoned her?

Another sigh left Kyris as he mumbled to himself.

“I should go send the message to the Restitution. The sooner I get you on the base, the better it will be.”

Lifting her hand once more, a little sliver of excitement hit her heart at the thought that he might repeat his kiss…but no slight brush of his lips came. Instead, he rested her hand softly by her side.

“I will be back shortly.”

Wait, he was leaving?

She felt her pulse rise a little as she watched him stand.

She didn’t want him to go. She didn’t want to be alone.

But, with another tremor in his wings, he rose and exited the room.

And then she was alone. Paralyzed and alone.

HE HADN’T BEEN GONE for long.

Soon, Song picked up his large frame as he walked over to her.

He came to sit beside her once more, took her hand in his, and he seemed to sigh as another quiver went through his wings.

“Get better.”

He was speaking again and she cocked her ears to hear him.

“You must.”

Another quiver went through his wings.

“You must survive...” His hand that was holding hers tightened. “I will not forgive—”

He trailed off and a deep groan left him, one that was neither pleasure nor pain but…distress.

He was distressed.

Because of her?

Her being ill?

“I will not forgive myself.”

Again, because of her?

Did he really care that much or was she misreading things?

He couldn’t really care that much…could he?

She was just…Song.

Him on the other hand…

He was...well, he was everything.

He was an intergalactic fighter. He was a rebel. He worked with a badass team of other alien kickasses that carried out secret missions and brought down the arm of justice.

To top it off, he was young, tall, striking, and gorgeous.

She couldn’t deny it. And even though she’d been trying to ignore it, these new feelings developing within her made it hard not to come to terms with the fact that he made her heart flutter more than chocolate ice-cream and a good movie.

The thought shook her.

A pairing between them was…

It...it wasn’t possible.

She knew Athena and Xul seemed to have something going but…that was only to help Athena cope till the situation changed right…it wasn’t for the long-term…was it?

They were too unevenly matched. They wouldn’t mix well.

He was an alien. She was human.

If he was oil. She was water.

He was like a bikini and she was unshaved pubes.

Heck, if he was knowledge. She was Jon Snow.

That’s why she needed to control her thoughts.

This longing wouldn’t get her anywhere except at a bus stop labelled “friend zone” waiting for the bus to Pityville.

Someone like him couldn’t look at someone like her and see anything except a regular girl who’d blended into the background all her life.

She wasn’t exactly Miss Congeniality.

To hope would be ludicrous and depressing.

Her inner monologue brought some despair as she settled into the sadness it left behind.

But she knew it was the truth.

She wasn’t someone he could ever be attracted to. He was an alien…a gorgeous one…and she was an Earth girl…a regular Earth girl.

One who had no experience in anything really.

Her thoughts were troubling...distracting. So much so that she almost didn’t hear the tune that began to fill the room.

It took her a few moments to realize that she knew that melody.

She’d sung it so many times while on the alien slave ship.

It was a song that reminded her of good times—the only song she seemed to have been able to remember when she’d wanted to block everything out.

It was the lullaby her mother used to sing.

At first, she thought she was imagining it. But she wasn’t.

She was hearing it and as before it brought a comfort that calmed her spirit and her thoughts.

Song’s eyelids flickered as her gaze landed on Kyris.

The lullaby.

The lullaby was coming from him.

26

AS THE HOURS TICKED BY, she went in and out of consciousness, falling asleep and waking.

Now, as she woke for the umpteenth time, she realized it was late. The darkness outside was evidence that time was passing by without her.

She was alone as well. Kyris wasn’t by her side and the place had fallen silent except for water running somewhere close. That she could hear.

It sounded like a shower and she imagined he was washing himself.

The more the water ran, the more thoughts of him naked, water running down his lean body…over his shoulders, down his pecs, down…down…

A sound reached her ear and Song tried to turn her head, but her body was still largely unresponsive.

As the cause of the sound came into view, the breath caught in her nose.

Kyris entered the room.

Wet hair hung limp on his head and beads of water still clung to his shoulders as if not wanting to let go.

His chest, too, was still damp, as were his wings. Across his chest was a large bandage that formed a diagonal cast that wrapped over his shoulder and back over his side.

That bandage, she’d expected. After all, he’d cut himself deep when he’d tried to lure the nesters away from her. But, across his body, were many other bruises…bruises all over his face, his chest, his arms, his torso…

What the hell had happened to him? She’d thought he had been evading the nesters’ attacks but she must have been wrong.

The lump in her throat felt like it grew larger and she was going to choke on it.

When he turned and headed across the room, his back turned toward her and tears brimmed into her eyes.

His wings.

His magnificent wings were…as her eyes roved over what she was seeing, her mind refused to comprehend.

One wing looked as if it was more damaged than the other. Instead of folding neatly, it slanted slightly to the side in what looked like an awkward position. There was a bandage across where it connected at the top of his shoulder blade close to his spine and, even with the bandage, she could see the area had gone dark.

It was like a massive bruise that ran into the blades of that one awkwardly set wing.

Apart from that, she could see that parts of both wings were missing, as if feathers had been ripped out.

It was almost as if he’d been tortured.

Had he really endured so much for her?

The thought was too much and she forced her eyes closed.

His wings. His perfect wings. They looked ruined.

The bedding she was on moved and she felt his warmth even before he settled beside her.

She heard him grimace as he made himself comfortable and it made her feel even worse.

“Kyris?” She felt him stiffen beside her.

“You’re awake.” He moved so fast she had to open her eyes.

He was leaning over her, one hand touching the side of her face in a soft caress. He was looking at her as if he could not believe what he was seeing.

“You’re awake.”

“You must thirst.” He ignored the look in her eyes as he let her go, his eyes and hand lingering on her a little too long, as if he didn’t want to release her.

Hopping off the sleeping area, he reached for a tall receptacle that swished with liquid.

“You can’t speak fully yet, can you? You must be confused...”

Song squeezed her eyes shut for a second. Looking at him hurt too much. He’d gone through so much because of her.

He looked like he’d entered hell and come back.

“Drink first. It will help your throat.” Lifting the receptacle of liquid, he brought it to her lips.

The liquid that touched her tongue was slightly tangy, almost like lemon-flavored water. It flowed down into her throat and she forced herself to swallow but ended up sputtering on the fluid.

“Take your time. Your throat will become moveable soon.”

He tipped the liquid to her mouth once more and she tried again. This time, the fluid went down but swallowing felt like trying to force shards down her throat.

“You must be wondering where we are...” he paused to study her, an uncertain look on his face. “We’re at the outpost.”

The outpost.

How long had she been unconscious? Days? He’d said the outpost had been far away from the rock cave. She knew they’d been walking, trying to lose the nesters, but she hadn’t thought they’d walked that far.

Alone, he could have covered more ground but with her, not so much. She’d been aware she’d been slowing him down.

“You were stung by a nester…It poisoned you.” Some of the pain she’d been seeing in his eyes earlier was returning but when he looked at her it disappeared behind the intensity of his gaze—almost as if she’d been imagining it.

HE PAUSED. “You are lucky to be alive.”

No. It wasn’t luck.

She knew it was because of him. He’d saved her.

His injuries said it all…if it hadn’t been for him she’d have…

“The Mukkians are good at producing the anti-venom, though it is time-consuming. They are the only reason you’re alive.”

The Mukkians. She assumed he was talking about the little brown bald-headed men.

But they weren’t the only reason she was alive.

“No.” Her voice was more of a croak than she had wanted but it was clear enough for him to understand what she’d said.

She was alive because of him. He hadn’t left her behind...hadn’t given up on her.

“No?” His hands paused midway to her mouth with the receptacle.

“Oh, Kyris.” She sniffled, trying to keep her tears at bay.

She couldn’t look at him without her eyes welling up. He’d been hurt so badly. So, so badly.

“Your eyes are leaking again.” He put the receptacle down and leaned over her, using a finger to wipe one of her tears away. “I make your eyes leak.”

“No. No, you—” She sniffled, turning her face into his hand that was against her cheek.

All she wanted to do was hold him. He’d always been there. From the start, he’d always been there, giving her more than she’d ever deserved.

“Song?”

“Can you just do one thing for me?” She sniffled. She knew he’d already done so much but at that moment there was just one thing she needed from him.

“Anything.”

“Hold me.”

27

SHE’D ASKED him to hold her and that’s exactly what he’d done. He’d climbed back atop the bedding, settling so as not to put pressure on his injured wing and then he’d pulled her into his arms.

Luckily, he’d taken some kooli paste for the pain of his injuries. He couldn’t feel anything and he was happy for that fact.

He could hold her without being distracted by his own pain.

She’d sniffled then and snuggled into him, the movement obviously returning to her body. He was happy for that.

The worst was over. She’d been spared.

Despite his failure at protecting her, she’d been spared.

He thanked Polvrak for that.

Now, he stared down at her, unable to look away.

Dark hair…dark eyes…

He watched as she slowly fell asleep.

Even after everything, she hadn’t turned him away. She’d still wanted him close.

The fact made his hearts swell with hope.

If it had been a Vaen woman he’d failed to protect…he would have been cast from her presence.

But not Song. Song wanted him closer.

She didn’t know it, but she’d given him the greatest gift by asking him to hold her.

It was a second chance.

And as he held her, watching her sleep, he knew that whatever had stirred inside him as a pure need to win her affection had turned into something else.

He cared for her. More than he’d cared for anyone else in his life.

As Song stirred, he heard a soft groan from her throat.

She was waking.

Closing his eyes, he willed her back to sleep. He wasn’t ready for her to leave his arms just yet.

“I can move…” the disbelief in her voice came as a light whisper and the bedding shifted a little as she rose up on her elbows.

“Oh my God…I can move!” her voice was a little louder now and as the bedding shifted again, he had the distinct impression that she was looking at him.

“Kyris?”

Should he answer? Maybe not. He wanted her to go back to bed. If she was asleep then he could continue his shameless staring. He just wanted to look at her for a little bit more as he sorted his thoughts.

As she rested back down on the bedding, he felt her weight shift and her soft breath against his skin told him she was facing him.

“Kyris?” it was a whisper again. But he didn’t answer. Instead, he held his breath, waiting to see what she would do.

And then he felt it.

It was tentative at first but then he was sure of it. She was brushing his hair from his forehead. Her light touches sent tingles through his body and straight to his cock and it took every ounce of strength to not grasp her by the arm, pull her into him, and confess how much he wanted her.

Her other hand moved to trace the muscles on his chest and he could hear her breath rate increase.

His trousers stretched as his cock began to strain at the torture. If she kept on touching him like that, there was no way he was going to be able to keep on pretending to sleep.

If he didn’t end up pinning her down beneath him out of pure instinct, his cock would no doubt give him away and he willed his manhood to calm.

But before he could open his eyes, he felt her moving again.

As she slipped off the bedding, he opened his eyes enough to see as her legs wobbled.

He was about to forget his whole pretense of sleep when he heard her speak.

“I can do this,” her whisper was so low even in the silent room.

“I can do this,” she repeated as she gripped the wall and held on tight.

His instincts to lift her lest she fall screamed at him but he fought them back.

She needed to do it on her own, and for once, he quelled the need to go to her rescue.

His muscles tensed, though, ready to spring into action at the least sign that she was going to lose her footing.

“Bathroom must be this way...” she still whispered to herself as she moved slowly to the back of the room.

He heard when she entered the cleansing area and breathed out a breath of relief.

Luckily, he’d left the lantern lit in there. He wasn’t sure she’d have known how to ignite it.

Ears cocked, he rose up on his elbows and listened.

Maybe he should show her how to turn on the tap.

But as the sound of running water reached his ears, he forced himself to stay put.

“God, I’m filthy,” she was speaking to herself again and it made him smile. He loved hearing her voice. So soft and high. Higher than the other females’ voices, he was sure. He’d heard all of them speak and Song’s voice had been the most beautiful.

“So warm…”

Her moan as the warm water touched her skin made him shiver. Another throb echoed in his cock. It was straining against his trousers so hard, he wasn’t sure if the fabric would hold.

“Mm…so good,” Song whispered.

He could think of a few things that would feel even better.

Him, all over her body.

His tongue. His mouth. His lips.

Qrak.

If he continued like this, he’d have to relieve himself in privacy without her knowing about it.

Either that or his cock would find relief on its own.

At the time, he felt like if he even touched it, he would spill his seed all over his trousers.

“Soap. They must have soap somewhere.”

Bath berries. She must be looking for those.

There was silence then he heard a sound of surprise.

“What the hell are these…” There was a pause. “Oh.”

She must have found them.

The next sound he heard had him jumping out of the bedding.

The undeniable sound of something hard hitting rock echoed into the room and, all pretense aside, he rushed to the cleansing area, throwing the barrier to the area open only to be stopped in his tracks by the sight in front of him.

“Kyris?!” She spun to face him and he stood frozen, his gaze changing from intense concern to what could only be described as intense lust.

He could feel it, knew his eyes were now clouded with it, and there was nothing he could do about it, for she was standing there, naked.

So very naked.

“THAT SOUND...I THOUGHT YOU FELL.” his voice was a deep rumble and, for a second, Song forgot that she was standing before him naked.

With a shriek, one arm flew over her chest and her other hand covered her privates. It was reflex; she didn’t even know why she reacted in such a way. He’d seen her naked before so many times.

This time, though…his gaze…his gaze was like a violet fire that scorched her with the heat of need in the way he was looking at her.

And it didn’t matter that her hands were there.

He’d already seen her.

And the way he was staring at her, it didn’t matter that she was hiding herself. It was obvious he wasn’t seeing her hands. It was as if the image of her nakedness was imprinted in his mind.

“You didn’t fall?” Even though his words were logical, the look on his face didn’t correlate to what he was saying. His words communicated concern while his eyes communicated something else. It was as if only a small percentage of his mind was relaying the words while the rest of his mind was focused on something else: her.

At that time, with the way he was looking at her, it was as if she was staring into the eyes of something wild…not an angel, but something wanton and primitive.

He was no angel.

Kuso—it was like staring into the eyes of a wolf...and she was his prey.

Shouldn’t that make her feel afraid? Apprehensive? Then why was there that strange feeling between her thighs instead?

The shower was still raining down on her, running water down her head and over her body, but she couldn’t even move to shut the tap off.

Movement caught her attention and when her gaze fell, she inhaled deeply.

It was there, clear as day. Printed against his trousers was a thick rod and it was twitching, throbbing even as the rest of him stood rigid.

Before the shock of what she was seeing registered, her breath held in her throat as he was suddenly upon her.

With one hand, he hit the valve of the tap and shut the water off. The other hand, he used to cage her in and she could do nothing but stare up at him.

The funny thing was, despite the predatory look that was in his eyes, despite that she was naked and he was suddenly looming over her, she didn’t feel danger. She wasn’t even scared.

Instead, she’d gone...breathless?

Memory of their chaste kiss heightened the tension between her thighs and she raised her head to look up at him, wanting whatever was about to happen so badly and yet afraid of it at the same time.

“Kyris?” her voice came out barely above a whisper and, even to her, it was like an inviting caress.

She wasn’t meaning to be a tease but it was as if she was drowning in his gaze and the scary thing about it was that she didn’t want to come up for air.

He was staring at her deep in the eyes as his head lowered. They were so close now. So close their foreheads met.

The thought of his lips against hers again caused a throb in the center of that heat between her thighs and she was sure her heart decided to retire because she could no longer feel it in her chest.

Instead, her pulse was roaring in her ears.

But she wasn’t the only one affected by their sudden proximity.

His chest was heaving as he took ragged breaths and his wings quivered behind him with each lungful.

“Kyris?” as she said his name again, his wings did a huge quiver and she watched him swallow hard.

“I shouldn’t be here,” his voice was thick, laden with something heavy, as if he was fighting to control something.

“N-no. You shouldn’t be here. No.” She was agreeing but even to her ears, she didn’t sound convincing at all. She was saying no; yet, were their bodies even closer now? Was she leaning closer even as the seconds passed?

“I should leave.”

It was her turn to gulp. “Yes, maybe that’s best.”

There was something crackling in the air between them. Something that was volts stronger than the electricity she’d felt when he’d touched her while she’d been paralyzed. Volts stronger than the electric shocks she’d felt when they’d kissed. No, this was much, much stronger. So strong, she felt like if she dared breathe too hard, she would find herself electrocuted and paralyzed by something else she had yet to define.

“Yes...I should...” His breathing was getting shallower and, even as he spoke, his head descended slowly.

“Kyris...”

Tilting her head upwards, she closed the distance between them and planted her lips against his.

She was right.

There was something between them.

Something so strong it was pushing them together like opposite sides of a magnet and he was the positive charge—that positive presence in her life since this had all started.

The kiss was tentative, with both their lips slightly open as they paused.

But it didn’t take him long to react and then it was as if her senses were imploding.

Suddenly, she was against the wall, a large hand grasping her neck firmly but not enough to hurt as her head was tilted back and his mouth was upon hers.

This kiss was different, different from their first kiss and different from any other kiss she’d experienced before.

It was almost as if he was tasting her and reveling in the feel of her lips at the same time. As he sucked her bottom lip into his mouth, she couldn’t help the moan of pleasure that seeped from deep within her.

Lifting his head from hers, he stared down at her, his eyes now more wild than they had been before. It made a shiver run down her spine, and not because the look terrified her. It was the exact opposite.

It fucking delighted her.

“Do that again,” his voice was thick, hoarse and she felt a familiar clench between her legs.

“Do what?”

“That sound...do it again. I want to hear you purr like that again.”

She could feel her cheeks growing warm, as if her mind had only just now realized exactly what they were doing.

“I-I can’t moan on purpo—”

His head fell and his mouth smashed against hers again. The feeling was so intense, so, so good, that the moan that rumbled through her was immediate.

She felt an answering growl vibrate against her lips as Kyris’ wings quivered.

He was just as affected as she was.

He wanted this just as badly.

As she opened her mouth to him, giving him just as much as he was demanding of her, his tongue brushed against hers and another growl vibrated against her lips.

His growls were doing something to her.

They made her want to lift her legs to wrap around his waist.

Made her want to cling to him like her body had lost its will to stand on its own, just so he could carry her back to the bed and take from her till she screamed his name.

The thought made her freeze.

What if he wanted to continue? What if he wanted to take her back to bed right now?

Suddenly, her rapid breaths changed from ones of ecstasy to ones of fear.

She wanted it to happen…wanted it so bad, but…

“Song?”

“I…I…”

As he fought to regain control, he loosened his hand from around her neck and pulled her against his body.

“Do you want me to stop?”

God, no. She didn’t want that at all. She wanted to go wherever this train was taking her.

She wanted to ride it straight to the end of the track. She was just scared of that first time it entered the tunnel, that was all.

“I…no. No, don’t stop.”

That was all he needed to hear and before she knew it, she was being lifted in his arms, her legs around his waist as his hands cradled her ass.

He flattened her back against the wall as he supported her thighs, his midsection keeping her steady in one place.

The movement made her gasp and she wrapped her arms around his neck for further support.

His mouth was on hers again, sending tingles through her entire being and a quiver in her belly as he kissed her so hard, his lips absolutely ravishing hers in a kiss that was leaving her limbs weak.

She’d never been kissed like that before and it was hard to believe that a few days ago he hadn’t known what a kiss was.

Maybe it was because it was as if he couldn’t get enough of her lips, her taste, her smell. He was taking her lips with hungry, unhindered kisses and when one of his hands reached up to fork into her hair he must have hit the tap by accident because water began raining down on them in a light spray.

But he didn’t move to turn the tap off; maybe he didn’t realize and she didn’t care. The heat growing between them was far too warm anyway.

It was burning her up, and even as he ravaged her lips, she couldn’t get enough.

It was as if her entire sense of self was seeping from her and she was melting underneath him. Her bones and everything within her was turning into sweet warm honey and all she could do was surrender to him.

As their gazes met, she could drown in the intensity of his eyes and, for the first time, she ran a finger down his cheek.

The water from the shower ran down his face in tiny rivulets and as she followed the path of one down to his lips he turned his head to nip at her finger in a movement that made her eyes flutter.

“Kyris…”

He was so drop-dead gorgeous, his face alone would have made her panties disappear if she’d had any.

Moving his head to the side of her face, he whispered her name.

“Song.” But it came out like a growl—so wild, so wanton, it made her go weak even more. He was nibbling her neck now, the water from the shower running over them both, unable to cool the heat his kisses left behind on her skin.

“I’ve wanted you for so long…” he whispered, his voice merely a deep rumble coming from his chest. “So long.”

She was vaguely aware that his trousers were falling to the floor. It was only when something hot pressed between them that she realized he was naked.

He was hot. Hot and hard.

Glancing down, she couldn’t help but gulp.

A thick bluish mushroom was between them, a streak of precum already running down the head as it throbbed between them.

It was right between her legs, its length pressing through the entirety of her folds and her eyes fluttered in her head as he growled and thrust upward, sending his hard rod up against her clit towards her belly button.

It was hard to tell how thick he was but all she knew was that he covered her folds and all and as he began kissing her again, grinding himself against her, she felt her eyes roll back into her head.

How could it feel this good when he wasn’t even inside her yet?

It shouldn’t feel this good.

Her dildos certainly never felt this good.

This was…This was…

Kyris growled into her mouth as he grinded his cock against her heat and, unwrapping her hands from around his neck, he held them above her head.

His eyes were intense as he looked into hers almost as if he was saying one thing: I’m going to take you. I’m going to fuck you and I’m going to make you mine.

It was absolutely impossible for her to be nearing climax with just him grinding his cock through her folds and against her clit, but somehow she was. Somehow, she was breathless, living on his kisses and the feel of him between her legs and she didn’t want him to stop.

“Kyris…”

“Mmm,” it was a growl as he nibbled on her neck, his lips moving to her ear to say one thing. “Sweet, Song. Grind that hot cunt on me.”

Fuck.

She almost came then.

“I…I’ve never…” She took a deep breath. Why was it so hard to speak? It was as if she couldn’t even form the words. “Kyris…You’d be my first.”

He had a rhythm now, grinding his thick length against her as he nibbled her all over, and he didn’t pause as he spoke, caught up in the same trance that she was.

“Your first?” His voice was deep, so thick. “Your first what?”

When she didn’t answer he took a moment to meet her gaze and as he looked at her, he slowly froze as realization dawned in his gaze.

28

KYRIS GULPED, his breathing coming in short and uneven as he fought to control himself.

Her first.

The thought gave him intense pleasure, so much so he had to constrain his emotions lest he pin her harder against the wall and claim her.

His Song. Wholly his.

“Do you want to stop?”

She was utterly beautiful. The most beautiful thing in the universe. And as the water ran down her dark hair and down her shoulders, he took a moment to look at her.

What did he owe Polvrak for him putting her in his life?

He watched as she took her bottom lip into her mouth and shook her head.

“I don’t want to stop.” Her voice was so small but her eyes were trusting.

She trusted him…trusted him with this first experience and, apart from the fierce possessiveness it made rage within him, there was reverence as well.

This was something to be cherished, not something that should happen in a shower stall in the middle of the desert.

He wouldn’t take her like this.

Not for the first time.

But that didn’t mean he couldn’t make her come.

He wanted that more than anything.

“I won’t stop, then.”

She gulped as he said that and he could feel the slight tension in her limbs. She wanted it but she was scared.

He’d have to show her there was nothing to be scared of.

As the water from the shower fell down on them, sending rivulets down her perfect skin, he couldn’t help but stare.

“You’re…beautiful.” His voice was low, husky, as he began to become intoxicated by her again.

On her chest, the two perfect mounds had droplets of water running over them and the pink buds that nestled on top pointed forward, hard and ready for his mouth.

Dark lashes fanned over her rosy cheeks as she held part of her bottom lip between her teeth. Watching her only made a growl rumble within him and his cock stiffened some more.

He wanted to take her.

Right now. Right here.

He wanted to hold her narrow hips, position her hot cunt over his cock, and drive himself deep inside her warmth while she squirmed and screamed his name.

But he could be patient. He’d been patient all this time. He could be patient for a while longer.

Right now, though, he had to at least bring her to ecstasy.

“We can wait,” he growled by her ear and the fact that she shivered but didn’t pull away only excited him more. Thrusting between her folds, he felt the tip of his cock go through her softness straight up to her belly.

“We can wait…but I still want to hear you scream.”

Her body shivered and he pressed his body against hers, forcing them against the wall.

“There’s so much I want to do to you…So much I’ve been dreaming of doing to you…”

His cock throbbed between them and he started a slow rhythm, grinding his length between her folds in sweet torture.

“Like what?” She squirmed against him; her breath came in shallow gasps with each of his thrusts. “Things like what?”

Her question brought images he’d had roving through his head since he’d brought her to the rock cave. Images he’d had to keep locked down for so long and the fact that she asked had him nipping at her ear as he pulled backward and thrust himself against her again.

“I want you on your knees, Song. I want your sweet cunt in the air just waiting for me to taste.” A deep rumble left his throat as the image manifested in his mind. So hot. So perfect. He wanted nothing more.

“I bet you taste so qrakking good…” And as if to test, he ran his tongue from her shoulder in a torturous slow path up to her ear as he continued.

“I want to grip your sweet ass in my palm, hear you scream my name as I suck on that little bud between your legs.”

A shudder went through her as she gave a little yelp.

Her eyes were closed now and as he grinded into her, her back arched off the wall toward him.

“I want to feel you go limp against me as you come over and over again on my tongue. I want—”

“Oh, God…” Another little yelp left her sweet mouth as she squirmed against him some more.

“Do you want me to stop?” He nibbled on her ear as he asked, his voice so low he wasn’t sure she heard it, but when she whimpered and clung on to him tighter he smiled against her skin.

“Don’t stop. Tell me more.”

Mmm.

“Right now, I want nothing more than to hold your hips and spread your lips,” he said, adjusting his hands so one was holding both of hers above her head while the other moved beneath her lifted hips.

“Like this,” he whispered, as his fingers skirted over her hot entrance. The touch made her shiver as her eyes rolled over in her head.

“Kyris…”

“Do you know?” he asked, grinding himself against her folds. Painfully slowly, he moved, making her feel every inch of him slide through her.

“Know what?” Her voice was almost inaudible as her word came out as a pant.

“How much I want to bury myself inside you?”

Her answer was a pant as she began to quiver.

“I want to spread this hot cunt. I want you to take all of me.” He nibbled her ear again as he slipped two fingers into her warmth.

“Like this…” he whispered.

As she shuddered against him, her body quivering uncontrollably as she reached her climax, he thrust one last time as his seed burst forth, bathing her stomach with his spend.

HE’D SHOWERED with her afterward and when they’d both washed off, Kyris had left to go and fetch something.

He’d been gone for a few minutes but she had been stalling exiting the shower room.

She’d never climaxed like that before. It was new, riveting, and even the memory of it already had her yearning for more.

It was scary, almost, the way her body responded. He hadn’t even penetrated her. He hadn’t needed to.

“Song?” His voice sounded so close it startled her.

He was out of view, standing somewhere outside of the shower room, but lost in her thoughts, she hadn’t heard him approach.

“Is everything alright?” he asked. He sounded almost normal again, the only giveaway of what they’d just done being that his voice still held a husky note to it.

“Yes, everything’s fine.” Playing with her bottom lip between her teeth, she held back a nervous grin.

Oh, God. She didn’t know how she was going to face him without blushing for days.

“I have more kooli paste.” He paused. “For your pain.”

Oh, right.

The pain reliever.

She needed that.

The wound in her side had clotted over but it still looked red and angry. The paste the Mukkians had made seemed to be doing the trick, though. Apart from the visible wound, it was hard to remember she’d been injured. There was no pain there.

Exiting the shower room, she realized Kyris was standing right outside it, and as soon as her gaze landed on him, her cheeks flamed. It didn’t help that she was still naked and he was looking at her as if he wanted her to retrace her steps into the shower room and continue where they left off.

“Come. Sit on the bedding. I will give you the kooli.”

As she perched on the edge of the bed, she watched him walk over to the glass table and take up a little bowl.

Dipping his finger into the bowl as he walked back over to her, her eyes fell to his pants, to the exact spot she’d seen his cock imprinted earlier…the same cock she’d just grinded herself on with no care for the world or anything in it.

There was no thick length pressing through and making its presence known anymore. His entire being seemed calm.

But, when she looked into his eyes, the predatory look was still there. It made her throat dry, and water wouldn’t fix it.

When he came close, he extended his finger toward her mouth.

“Open.”

Her mouth fell open independently and he rested his finger on her tongue. She could feel the kooli paste melting even as his finger lay there.

He was staring at her mouth as if in a trance and, without even thinking, she closed her mouth around his finger.

She could almost see the violet fire flare within his eyes.

Fuck.

There was so much they needed to discuss. What they were doing was…

What were they doing?

Where was this leading to?

His smile communicated warmth and innocence…his eyes communicated dark, dark promises. Promises that she could hear whispering in her ear without him even saying a word.

There was only one thing to do now. With his finger in her mouth and her mouth closed, she couldn’t help it. As his finger slowly slid from her mouth, she sucked—not too lightly, not too hard, just enough for him to feel her tongue and the warmth of her mouth around him.

The groan that echoed in the room wasn’t hers. Their gazes locked and it was evident they had unfinished business.

Whatever had happened in the shower room had just been the start of it.

“More?” It was almost a croak. He was just as affected as she was.

Nodding slightly, she focused as his finger dipped into the kooli paste again.

As she opened her mouth and let him slip his finger between her lips once more, she did the same thing. Closing her lips around his finger, she gave a soft suck and this time, his groan sounded more like a growl.

He closed the distance between them, painfully slowly, and Song found herself moving backward, not away from him but only to allow him to crawl over her onto the bed.

He was over her now on all fours, his knees on either of her sides and his hands planted on either side of her head. He’d put the bowl of kooli paste somewhere away from them and now his fingers were threading through her hair as he stared down at her.

“Your side injury...how is it?”

Her side? With that look in his eyes he still had time to think about her wounds?

A stick of guilt formed within her.

He still had bruises all over his body. Bruises because of her. Yet, his thoughts were on her single wound.

“It’s better.” She wasn’t meaning to whisper but with him over her in such a dominant position, it was hard not to.

He was taking her breath away.

His whole being exuded strength and power…almost like a promise of what he could do to her, of the fact that he could have her squirming against his hard cock in only a few seconds.

“Good.” His gaze dropped to her lips and, just like that, her lips parted as if in invitation.

He didn’t need more of an offer.

As his lips fell to hers, his kiss was soft, delicate, like a feather, and it made a shiver run through her spine.

“Song,” he breathed. “You know...don’t you?”

“Know what?”

What was he talking about? She couldn’t think when his mouth was so close, making her body shiver with every slight touch.

“You know...about me. My feelings for you.”

“Feelings…you have feelings for me?”

He pulled back so suddenly her eyes flew open and she hadn’t realized she’d closed them.

His gaze was searching hers as if trying to find something he hoped was there.

“More than you know.”

She blinked at him. “I…”

She couldn’t process it all. It was all too much. The feelings he was causing to go through her body, mentally, emotionally, and physically…she couldn’t focus…

“You don’t mind that I’m human?”

The way his eyebrows rose answered that question.

“Do you mind that I’m Vaen?”

Did she? No, she didn’t.

Shaking her head, she bit her bottom lip.

“You don’t mind that I’m a virgin?”

He stared at her then, silent, his eyes growing so dark they didn’t seem violet anymore.

“You have no idea how hungry that makes me.”

“Hungry?”

Kyris groaned. “So hungry. It makes me want to have you beneath me so I can see every emotion on your face as I take you nice and slow.”

That’s it. The Sahara Desert just migrated from Earth to take residence in her throat.

Song opened her mouth to speak but she couldn’t.

Her heart was beating hard, her skin suddenly felt clammy, and her lungs were working in overdrive.

“Kyris…” she breathed.

“Now that I’ve tasted you, I don’t think I can hold back any longer.”

29

SHE LAY QUIVERING BENEATH HIM, the tremors going through her body not brought on by fear but from the promise of pleasure.

“You’re a bit too good to be true.” Song blinked up at him before raising one of her hands to touch his cheek lightly. Turning his face towards her palm, he inhaled deeply.

He loved it when she touched him.

He was intoxicated by her.

“It’s almost like I’ve died and gone to heaven and you’re my guardian angel. It would explain the wings...You’re an angel aren’t you?”

“An angel?” He could hardly pay attention to what she was saying. His senses were being overpowered as all of his nerves seemed to send signals straight to one place and it wasn’t to his brain.

Song was beneath him. Her scent was in his nostrils, a strong, heady spice that made him unable to think clearly. All it made him think about was the taste of her lips and the heat of her cunt over his fingers.

“Yes, an angel. A servant of God. A being that is completely good. A holy being.”

A growl escaped his lips. “If you could hear the thoughts I’m having about you right now, you wouldn’t call me holy...or good. My thoughts are anything but…clean.”

Her cheeks turned that rosy tint they usually did when she was embarrassed and he had to resist the urge to plant a kiss there.

“Why me, Kyris? There’s nothing exceptional about me. You, on the other hand, there’s so much to like about you...love, even.”

“Love?” He could hear his voice crack, a sound he had never heard his voice do before. “You could...love me.”

She bit her bottom lip and nodded.

Oh, Song.

“I just don’t get why you care so much about me. I’m just...me.” There was worry in her eyes and he hated to see it there.

Couldn’t she tell?

He found her extraordinary.

“On that Isclit ship, when they threw you into my cell...I saw you. I wanted you. So I decided I was going to have you.”

“But—”

He bent his head then and covered her mouth with his.

She tasted so sweet, like a type of nectar he’d never tasted before, that his eyes rolled back in his head when he thought of what her center would taste like.

A groan rippled through his chest at the thought.

When his lips left hers, he could still see the confusion in her eyes.

“But…” Song continued. “I don’t get it. It didn’t seem as if you felt that way…”

“I know. I’ve had a lot to think about. But when that nester took you down, it all became clear. There was only one thing that mattered.”

“What’s that?”

“You.”

SONG BLINKED, the gravity of what he’d said slowly weighing down on her.

This alien…this man…he was in love with her?

As his head descended once more and his lips brushed against hers a sound so loud it seemed to vibrate the air around them blasted through the room.

Kyris froze and, with wide eyes staring up at him, her sudden fear grew as she saw his skin go pale.

“What the hell is that?”

Whatever it was, she knew it wasn’t good and the fact that she heard little feet suddenly stampeding not far away made her worry grow.

Suddenly, her heart was in her throat and when two little men ran into the room with what looked like little spears in their hands, she could almost feel the blood drain from her skin.

Kyris turned just as the little men rushed in and, as they conversed hurriedly in whatever language they spoke, it didn’t take her to be a linguist to understand that whatever was happening outside was urgent.

Kyris was off the bed before the little men left the room and his sudden movement left her feeling naked and cold with him no longer above her, despite that she was fully clothed.

He was moving swiftly about the room now, as if searching for something and she watched him with panic mounting her as if she were a horse.

“Kyris? What’s happening?” She could hear the fear in her voice and the fact that tremors were starting to make his wings quiver didn’t offer her any calm.

The fact that his entire demeanor seemed prime and ready to fight, with even the muscles in his arms and back going tense, made it evident that whatever was happening outside equated to one thing: danger.

“They’ve found us.” He turned eyes on her that had gone cold. Gone was the lust that had just been burning through them both as he looked at her, resignation in his gaze.

She didn’t need to ask who “they” were and the thought that the Tasqals, Isclits, or those horrible gator-guards were somewhere outside made her want to dig a hole and hide.

He was handing her something that took a while for her to focus on with her tear-blurred eyes and when her vision finally cleared and she realized what it was, her eyes widened.

“Use it if you have to. Though, I hope it doesn’t come to that.”

In his outstretched hand was undoubtedly a pistol of some kind.

“Take it, Song.” His tone was urgent and, as her hand closed around the cool metal, her fingers trembled.

“Stay here. Don’t leave this room. If you have to use it...point and shoot.”

She nodded without replying.

It was all happening too fast.

As he paused by the exit, he turned to look at her and in that one glance was a thousand words that were left unsaid.

30

THE CHATTER from the natives of the planet was loud, so loud it sounded as if there was a large crowd of them outside. She could hear what she assumed were orders being shouted, and as she stood frozen in the room, an alarm of some kind started blaring.

Behind that sound was the sound of something big. It was a deep hum, like a massive engine of some kind.

Outside, the commotion was getting louder and then she heard it, a sound she had wished she’d never hear again—the snarl of a gator-guard.

THEY WERE BACK.

Her captors.

They’d found them.

They’d come to take her back to that hellhole—come to take her back to slavery where she’d be taken, taken against her will in ways that made bile rise to her throat.

As a tear slid down her cheek, her feet pulled her toward the door. She had to see. She had to confirm it. She had to confirm that it was indeed the monsters that were back.

Peeking outside, she tried her best to remain hidden.

The settlement was beautiful. It was circular and surrounded by what looked like a tall glass wall. Within the camp, little round huts with openings dotted along the perimeter and she realized she was probably in one of those.

In the center was what would have been a clearing but now it was utter chaos.

Little men were everywhere, spears raised as they fought, and among them were the horrible gator guards.

They looked even more terrifying now that she was seeing them again.

Long thick tails lashed behind them as they jumped from above to land in the compound. Their snouts opened as they snarled as soon as they hit the ground, brandishing spears, knives, and other weapons.

But the little men were fighting, much better than she’d have expected beings of their size to fight.

They seemed to be able to jump and launch themselves higher than normal into the air.

The gator-guard closest to where she hid snarled loudly as one little man launched himself in the air and held on to his chest.

With a shout of something in their language, the little man buried his spear into the gator-guard’s eye. The thing let out a roar as it grabbed the little man and threw him off.

But as the little man hurtled through the air, another of his brethren launched himself at the same gator-guard, burying his spear in the guard’s neck as another flung himself on the gator-guard’s back, pulling the gator-guard’s head back till there was a snap.

As the body fell, lifeless, they didn’t miss a beat. They were off to the next victim.

Somehow, she’d thought there were few of the little men around, but as she looked now at the scene in front of her, it was evident there were at least fifty of the little men, and they were doing a great job attacking the guards.

But the guards kept coming, and as she raised her eyes to the sky, a gasp held in her throat.

The loud hum, the cause of it was above them, for hovering above the compound was a massive black ship. It was shaped like a V with an oval attached to the top, and from an open door or hatch, gator-guards kept appearing as they jumped from the vessel to land in the center of the compound.

There were many...too many. The little men would be overrun.

The sound of the gator-guard’s snarls filled the air and, as she watched, terror flooding through her veins, it was as if the tide of the battle began to change.

The little men were being cut down one by one and the number of gator-guards remaining standing was increasing.

It was then that one of them turned, as if alerted by something she did not know, and their gazes locked. Yellow eyes bore into hers and a snarl left the beast’s mouth.

As it stalked towards her, blade in hand, Song stood frozen, fingers trembling over the cool metal in her hands.

The flash of iridescence in front of her vision was quick and, suddenly, the guard wasn’t approaching anymore.

It took her a moment to raise her eyes only to see the guard dangling from the air, his tail lashing as the sound of powerful wings displacing the air reached her ears.

Kyris gripped the guard by the neck. It snarled and gripped his arm and she saw Kyris grimace.

His wounds.

He shouldn’t be out there fighting.

Even now, as he hovered in the air, one of his wings was definitely out of commission. He was dangling without much balance, dipping and rising as he struggled to keep him and the gator-guard above ground.

The gator-guard, seeming to notice the injuries, was putting force on the damaged wing, and Song felt her heart wring in her chest.

It was a battle of strength between the two and, despite what must have been incredible pain, Kyris kept himself in the air.

But it was evident he couldn’t do exactly what he wanted to do, which was to possibly strangle the guard he had dangling with him. The pain in his arm was too much.

Song found herself unable to look away as the struggle ensued. She needed to help him.

As her fingers tightened around the gun in her hands, Song swallowed hard. She couldn’t use it. If she tried to use the gun, she risked shooting Kyris as well.

Watching the struggle in front of her, she wished—prayed—Kyris would win the battle of strengths.

It was a cruel thought, to wish death upon something. A few weeks ago, it would have been an alarming thought. But now, it came to her with clarity.

She wanted to see Kyris break the guard’s neck. She wanted to see it go limp and the beast fall to the ground. She wanted it dead.

But, as Kyris’ powerful wings flapped, he did something she didn’t see coming.

Rising into the air with speed she didn’t think was possible, Kyris shot up into the sky, his hands still locked around the gator-guard’s throat.

As they rose high into the air, her heart beat hard in her chest. If the guard managed to damage his wing further, Kyris wouldn’t be able to keep himself airborne and falling from such a height…

Anxiety rose in her throat.

Kyris went so high, he and the gator guard became small dots, but as they began appearing bigger and bigger, she realized they were heading back down.

But Kyris wasn’t easing up.

She could see he still had his hands around the guard’s throat but they were coming toward the surface upside down.

He was nosediving, and he was coming in fast.

There was no time to think.

He was going to crash headfirst into the ground. He was going to smash his skull if he didn’t ease up.

“Kyris!” the scream came from her lips as she saw him make impact with the ground. And, as a cloud of dust enveloped the area so she could see nothing, her eyes widened as her heart beat in her throat.

It seemed as if the minutes were ticking by slowly...too slowly, almost as if time stood still as the cloud of dust rose into the air. She had to keep her feet planted using conscious thought to prevent herself from rushing into the foray to check if he was okay.

She couldn’t see him.

Had he...?

Please, no...

As her knees gave out and she fell by the doorway, the dust started to clear and he was standing there, wings unfurled and a look on his face she’d never seen before.

There was so much rage, so much hatred, so much disgust and the sight made her tremble all the more.

But when his gaze locked with hers, even from the distance, she could see deep into his violet depths and it was as if she could hear his voice.

He was Kyris. It was just Kyris.

Her Kyris.

Everything was going to be alright.

A loud snarl to her right had her turning, a chill crawling up her spine. The other guards had spotted her and were heading her way. But, before she knew it, another flash of iridescence caught the light as Kyris flew into action again.

Behind him, as the cloud of dust settled, lay the gator-guard he’d had in the air. The creature was unrecognizable. What had been its head was now crushed in as the impact had done quick work of it.

His blade unsheathed, Kyris was cutting the guards down one by one, ducking beneath their swords as they tried to slash at him. She didn’t know how he was doing it, didn’t understand how he managed to move so fast, didn’t understand how he was still standing. But, as he cut through the guards, it was evident that although he was cutting them down, there were too many.

One of their blades sliced into his leg and he went down.

In her peripheral vision, she could see other guards approaching her but for some reason, she couldn’t move.

“Kyris!”

Her eyes were only on him as she watched him struggle in the sand, fighting the beasts that were now crowding him. And somehow, he was still taking them down. But another of their blades sliced his arm and his blue blood gushed forth, painting the sand. He was surrounded, maybe by about six of them, and they were going to kill him if she didn’t do something.

She needed to do something.

For once in her useless, ordinary life, she needed to do something!

The guard that had been approaching her was close now and it snarled at her in a way that made her think it was actually sneering.

“You qrakking humans. So qrakking troublesome. Come quietly. I will make your journey painless,” its voice grated on her senses.

Their speech sounded unnatural coming from their long faces and it was as if her mind could not compute that the beast approaching her was the thing that had spoken to her.

One more glance in Kyris’ direction and she saw he was on his feet, ignoring the pain in his injured leg and, despite that he was surrounded, he was turned in her direction, fighting his way toward her.

He was fighting his way toward her.

He’d been fighting for her all along.

Mouth set, Song gulped hard, allowing the feeling that had been underneath all her fear and worry to rise.

Anger.

She could feel it boiling within her as she looked at the gator-guard and all the memories of the torture she’d endured on the Isclit ship came flooding back to her memory.

This. Was. It.

She was done with crying.

Another glance in Kyris’ direction and her heart lurched.

His wings were streaked with his own blood, yet he fought, cutting down guards around him as if they were flies.

In the background, the little brown men were doing the same.

They were all fighting.

Everyone except her.

I can do this.

Gripping the cold metal of the pistol in her trembling hands, she raised her teary eyes to the gator-guard approaching her.

“Release the weapon, human. Do you think I am afraid of your pistol?”

As she raised her eyes to meet the guard, whatever it saw in her gaze caused its sneer to fall from its beastly face.

“No…but you should be.”

Raising the gun, she pointed and pulled the trigger.

31

THE RECOIL MADE her lose her balance and Song fell backward, the sound ringing in her ears.

It was much like guns on Earth, it seemed, except whatever she’d shot at the guard wasn’t a metal bullet but a straight beam of light. As the guard fell in front of her, the undeniable smell of burnt flesh filled her nostrils.

But she didn’t have time to rejoice over her small victory because three more guards were heading her way.

Pointing the gun again, she fired, but her aim was off. It had been easy hitting the target when it was so close but now that they were a little way off, aiming was proving difficult.

As she fired again and missed, she found herself crawling backward on her ass, trying to put distance between her and the guards fast approaching.

“Song!” It was Kyris’ voice and when her eyes found him, he was still fighting his way toward her. The fear on his face made her heart lurch—that fear was directed at her. Ignoring the fact that he was being cut down, his fear was directed at her—he was afraid for her.

As she scrambled to her feet, still clutching the pistol, she spun around to face the room, wide eyes searching for somewhere to hide.

The only place was the shower room, and as she ran toward it, the heavy footsteps of the gator-guard behind her sounded close. So close.

As she headed toward the shower room, she knew it didn’t make sense.

There was nowhere to run. And as she reached the barrier to the small room, something cold and scaly grabbed her arm, stopping her from going further.

As the thing pulled her, she fell back towards the force of the pull and collided into the chest of the guard.

Above her, a low snarl escaped a long snout and the guard spun her to face him.

“Troublesome jekin,” it said.

The word didn’t translate but the way the guard said it, she knew it wasn’t a compliment.

“Your master wishes for you to return alive,” it snarled in her face.

Song gulped, she couldn’t help it. Those snarls had been in her nightmares and here she was facing them again.

But it only took a moment for her to recover.

She would rather die than be taken back into captivity.

“My master?” She bared her teeth at the beast in front of her. “I think you’ve made a mistake.” There was conviction in her voice, and wherever it was coming from, it was giving her confidence.

“What’s that, jekin?” the guard spat.

Song smiled.

The guard had underestimated her. It was a common mistake.

Just because she was small, human, and “inferior” it didn’t think to disarm her before accosting her.

The knowledge and surety of the pistol still in her free hand almost made her delirious as she directed her hatred to the guard that held her.

Raising the pistol, she pressed it against the guard’s chest before the beast could react.

“I have no master.”

Looking the guard straight in the eye, she pulled the trigger.

The other two guards that had been pursuing her burst into the room then, just in time to see their comrade fall as the stench of burnt flesh filled the air.

She had never been violent before, but somehow with each guard that fell, it felt like she was killing the demons that chased her in her dreams.

“Qrakking jekin,” one muttered.

“I told you these humans were qrakking trouble,” said the other.

As she raised the weapon and pressed the trigger again, she wasn’t so lucky. It happened in a split second but the guard had been expecting her to fire.

Song’s eyes widened as the guard she was aiming at moved out of the way just in time. Tail swishing as the guard spun, the end of the tail bone hit her square in the midsection and the wind was knocked out of her as she flew across the room to land against the side of the sleeping area.

Falling limp as pain she’d never felt before rocketed through her, she could see them approaching through her suddenly blurry vision.

The pistol.

It had fallen from her hand but it was just about a foot in front of her on the floor.

If she could just reach it.

But as she tried to breathe through the pain and crawl at the same time, hope was taken away from her as the other guard kicked the pistol out of reach.

“Qrakking jekin,” it said again. “If your master didn’t want you back in one piece we would take you here and now to make you pay for killing our comrade.”

“I’ve always wondered what human cunt felt like,” the other piped in, its mouth twisting in what could only be a sneer.

Her vision was clearing and she looked up at the one that spoke last with utter hatred in her eyes.

“Go. To. Hell.”

As the words left her mouth, the gator-guard’s eyes widened to large pools of yellow as its gaze fell to its chest. The reaction was one she didn’t expect and, as Song’s gaze fell as well, her own eyes widened as she saw the cause of its shifted focus.

There, in its chest, the length of a blade pushed all the way through.

As the guard fell forward on its face, the other guard was caught unaware and Kyris took the opportunity to raise the pistol he’d grabbed from the floor.

Pointing it right at the guard’s head, he growled so fiercely, she felt the air around them vibrate.

“Leave,” he said, his teeth gritted so hard she could see the tension in his jaw. “And tell your master one thing. He doesn’t own this human.” He paused, his eyes a liquid pool of danger. “She belongs to me.”

The gator-guard blinked, glancing about him.

Outside, the commotion had died down considerably and as five of the little brown men entered the room, bloodied but standing, the guard obviously realized the battle had not been in his favor.

“This is not over, Vaen,” it said, as it inched toward the exit.

As it walked past, one of the little brown men raised its spear and jammed it into the guard’s leg, raising its fist and shouting something as the others ganged the guard, beating their fists against the beast.

But it was obvious they weren’t going to kill him; she’d seen how capable they were of doing that.

They were letting him go.

He was an emissary with a message that needed to reach its destination.

As soon as the guard left, Kyris turned to look at her and offered her a soft smile. But before she could even return one of her own, she watched him fall to his knees on the floor.

“Kyris!” She was beside him in an instant, her hands hovering over his wounds as she took in his condition.

He was in even worse a state than he had been before.

“You’re safe now,” he murmured.

She flung herself against his chest, and as his arms surrounded her he winced as he pulled her into him.

“Oh, Kyris.” And then the tears came and they came hard. But as his weight increased, it felt almost as if he wasn’t keeping his body upright anymore.

“Kyris?” And when he didn’t answer, her pulse rose in her chest. “Kyris?!”

As his arms fell limp from around her, she could hardly breathe as the world felt as if it was standing still once more.

“Kyris!”

32

THE LITTLE BROWN men had helped her lift him onto the bed and it was only then that his injuries were fully evident.

He’d gotten sliced several times while he’d been swarmed by the guards but the worst of the cuts were on his arms and midsection.

There was also a massive wound deep in his leg.

He’d lost so much blood his wings looked like they were decorated with blue graffiti.

The little men kept speaking but she had no idea what they were saying and they soon gave up trying to tell her what they were doing. Instead, they worked in unison, tending to his wounds while she gripped his hand.

It was not long ago that she was in his position, being tended on that same bed by the little men while he’d stood by her side.

Now the tables had turned.

The little men created a paste with what looked like some flower petals, and after she helped clean the sand and dirt from his wounds, she watched them apply the paste to his wounds.

They’d made another paste as well, one she recognized and one of the little men pushed the bowl into her hand.

As she took a bit of the kooli paste, she used the wooden stick they’d used to mix the paste and slowly fed the entire contents of the bowl into Kyris’ mouth.

He’d need all of it, she supposed. He would be in incredible pain when he woke up.

Because he would wake up. She wouldn’t leave his side till he did.

She’d never seen anyone lose so much blood and survive before.

And yet, he’d still managed to come and take care of the two remaining guards who were trying to take her away.

The body of the guard he’d killed had been removed from the room and she was grateful for that. The little men had even cleaned Kyris’ blade and placed it by the bed.

As they finished wrapping his wounds, one of them asked her a question, but she still had no idea what the little man was trying to say.

She watched as the alien exited the room only to return shortly after with a bowl filled with warm water and a towel.

As the Mukkian started cleaning Kyris’ wings, she interrupted him.

“No. I’ll do it.” Outstretching her hand, the alien’s little beady eyes connected with her own and she could swear the little man smiled.

Then he was gone and she was alone with Kyris.

As she wet the towel and began wiping down his wings, a sob escaped her lips.

“This is all my fault, Kyris.” Another sob left her as her eyes clouded with tears.

“You kept blaming yourself for me getting hurt, but truth is, it had nothing to do with you. You only felt guilty because...because for some stupid reason you care about me.”

She sobbed again.

“But this...this is actually my fault. Those guards wouldn’t have come after you if it hadn’t been for me. They were coming for me. Because they see me as property. And you could have died because of it.”

She sobbed again and paused cleaning his wings to rest her head against his chest.

She could hear his heart beating but the beat was very different from her own. It almost seemed to echo, his heartbeat, and she settled for listening to it beat for a bit.

“You could have died because some vile oversized toad thinks he owns me. I wouldn’t have forgiven myself if that had happened, Kyris. You’ve come to mean...you mean everything to me.”

She knew he couldn’t hear her. The words were mostly for herself.

She’d been denying it for far too long but it was evident. She needed him.

And not because he fought to protect her and had been fighting for her for so long.

She might have thought that he was way out of her league but her heart didn’t care. There was a hole in her heart right now, and only he could fill it.

THE DAY WENT on for ages. Time seemed to be moving more slowly than it had ever moved before.

Even when she’d been bedridden by the paralysis, time hadn’t moved so slowly.

But sitting and watching Kyris with no visible sign of change in his condition, time was playing tricks with her mind.

She’d only moved to relieve herself once and even in those few minutes she’d been away, her anxiety spiked.

She didn’t want to be away from him.

The Mukkians were good. She assumed many of them had been injured in the fight but they still took the time to bring her a receptacle of the tangy drink.

They cast their beady eyes on Kyris whenever one of them entered the room, but apart from checking his wounds and applying more of the paste they’d made, they did nothing else.

She was not sure what more they could do.

It was not like they had state-of-the-art medical facilities in the middle of the desert.

Plus, they’d known what to do to make her better when she’d fallen ill. So, she at least trusted them enough to do the same for Kyris.

As she held his hand and waited by his side, she could only hope that it was enough.

KYRIS LOOKED AROUND, slightly confused.

He was back on Vaenus. He could tell from the tall ensa trees and the selgy that had come to play by his feet.

But he couldn’t be back on Vaenus. He was on Muk. He was certain of it.

Glancing down at his body it didn’t surprise him to see no injuries. Even his wings felt back to normal.

That meant this was either a dream…or he’d died.

As he sat by the root of one of the towering ensa trees, its thick whip-like branches leading up toward the sky, he sighed.

He needed to get back to Muk. There was someone waiting on him there.

Someone important.

It’s a pity he couldn’t remember who or why they were of such importance to him. He only knew that he needed to get back.

The pull of Vaenus was strong, though. It was hard to rise from the ensa tree.

Something was calling him from above and if he just let go and relented, he could fly again.

He should go.

He should go above and be free to fly again on the wind.

Still, the memory of Muk held him at the tree’s roots.

There was someone he was forgetting…a reason he needed to get back.

Someone important.

33

SONG’S BLOOD suddenly went cold.

She knew that sound. She’d heard that sound just the day before.

The alarm.

The alarm that had sounded when the gator-guards had attacked. It was blaring once again.

Gripping Kyris’ hand, her hand shook against his. His condition still hadn’t changed.

He needed to heal. There couldn’t be a fight for their lives right now. He needed to heal!

This couldn’t be happening.

She heard one of the Mukkians enter the room and a part of her didn’t want to turn and face him. She didn’t want to see urgency or terror on the little man’s face.

But she had to look.

The little man began speaking even before she turned her head to look at him. But his words were like gibberish in her ears.

“I can’t understand you,” as she said the words, she motioned to her ears and the little man stopped speaking, what was no doubt a look of frustration passing over his features.

“That alarm. A-Are they back?”

He couldn’t answer her. He probably couldn’t understand what she was saying either.

Setting her mouth in a thin line, she released Kyris’ hand and stood.

Lifting Kyris’ blade, she swallowed her fear and headed to the entrance to the little room, each step feeling like she was walking closer into the unknown.

If the gator-guards were back, then there was no choice.

They’d have to fight. She’d have to fight.

The Mukkians were badly injured. Kyris was unconscious and nursing injuries, but she would fight.

For him. For her. For them.

She would fight.

She would rather fight than let them take her back on that slave ship to be molested and abused.

But as she exited the room and raised her eyes to the sky, her bravado fell.

It looked like the same ship that she’d just seen the gator-guards hopping from just a day ago. It was still fresh in her memory.

The ship hovered over the settlement and, in the corner of her eye, she could see the little Mukkian men taking defensive positions behind a network of sand walls.

They looked like kids hiding behind mounds of snow during a snowball fight. If only this was as innocent as that.

As she stared at the ship, steeling herself for what was about to come, there was a sort of pull in her head.

The feeling was strange, a bit like how her head felt when she’d wake prematurely from her slumber. Almost as if something was pulling her back to sleep while her conscious mind was fighting to remain awake.

“Song?”

She didn’t know the voice but it sounded familiar. Whipping her neck to stare at Kyris, she realized he was still lying on the bed unconscious. But she was certain she’d heard somebody call her name.

“Do not be alarmed. We are friends.”

Song’s eyes widened as she looked around, gripping Kyris’ blade in her hands.

She couldn’t see whoever was speaking. Had some of the guards already exited the ship? Were they trying to deceive her?

But even as she gripped the sword and looked around, she was certain there were no gator-guards in the settlement.

As the door of the ship opened, the pressure in her head increased. If it was a headache, it was choosing a helluva time to make its appearance.

But as the ship opened, the large reptilian-like beasts were not what appeared.

Instead, she saw white hair. White hair blowing in the wind, and blue skin. She knew that person.

It was Yce. Kyris’ psionic brother. And beside him was…

Song gulped as she saw the red-headed woman grin at her and wave, gripping Yce’s hand in delight as she did so.

Surely she was dreaming.

Was she going into a state of shock that altered her reality?

She couldn’t be seeing Diana.

The last time she’d seen the woman had been when she’d been escaping from the Elysium while it’d been bombed. It felt like ages ago now. Diana had stayed behind…

But here she was…

Kyris’ blade fell from her hand to land in the soft sand and Song sunk to her knees. Tears flooded her eyes as she looked at the two at the entrance of the ship.

“We will come down to you!” Diana cupped her hands over her mouth and shouted down.

The deep, booming voice appeared once more and only then did she realize that the voice hadn’t been coming through her ears. She had “heard” it in her mind.

“Be at rest. We are here now,” he said.

It was Yce. He was talking to her in her mind.

As her tears fell, she watched as two more people joined Yce and Diana at the entrance to the ship and she choked on a sob.

Piper waved as she stood beside another of Kyris’ brothers, Crex. Song remembered the alien from when he’d fought on the slave ship. She couldn’t see it now, but she remembered he had strange fin-like things coming from his back. Frankly, even from so far away, she could feel his eyes lock on to her.

The four stood at the door of the ship, surveying the settlement as they conversed with each other.

Soon, a large round disk floated in front of them and she watched as all four stepped on the disk. As the disk lowered to the ground, the little Mukkians moved toward the center of the settlement, spears high in the air as some form of salute rose in a chorus.

The disk was hardly on the ground before Diana and Piper were rushing to her side.

“Song!”

“Oh my God, you’re alive!”

She didn’t know which one said which only because her eyes were now so clouded with tears that she couldn’t see.

She couldn’t believe it.

They were here.

This wasn’t a dream?

Her shoulders slumped as she finally allowed herself to relax.

Help was here. She wouldn’t have to fight.

Kyris would be okay.

As Piper gripped her shoulders, Diana crouched and used something to wipe away her tears.

“Song? Song!” Piper was shaking her. “Are you ok? Are you hurt? Where is Kyris?”

A next set of tears threatened to burst from her eyes but she held them back.

“Give her a minute. I can’t imagine how much this is right now,” Diana said.

Piper nodded but that didn’t remove the worry that was in her eyes.

Behind the two women, Kyris’ brothers had approached and they stood as if waiting, giving her time to compose herself.

“Can you still not sense him?” The one with the fins in his back turned to Yce, his brows furrowed.

“I can. He is here. But his tether is weak.” Yce’s white eyes focused on her and for a moment she was frozen in awe. The white irises seemed to glow and, once more, she felt that pulling in her mind.

But she still could not speak.

“He is injured,” Yce said, averting his gaze to the direction of the bed. “She believes he is close to dead.”

It was weird having someone read her thoughts but, at the time, she was still too shocked to care. At the time, it was welcome. She didn’t have the energy to explain everything in her head.

“You have to save him.” Her eyes pleaded with them and she hoped they could see the desperation in her gaze.

“Where is he?” Crex seemed to sniff the air before looking back at her and the coldness of his gaze almost made her shiver. But even though his eyes seemed to have no feeling, it was clear from the tension in the way he and Yce stood that they were on edge.

They were just as concerned about Kyris as she was.

Moving to the side, she motioned inside the room and the two men were moving immediately.

Piper pulled her into her arms. “Oh, Song. What have you been through? You’re shivering like a leaf.”

A shaky laugh left her then as she accepted the woman’s hug. Slightly teary eyes moved to Diana who she found was giving her a comforting smile.

“I’m okay now. You guys found us.”

“Well, we could have found you earlier but it seems Kyris was blocking Yce’s attempts to locate you.” Diana frowned slightly.

“Ah…yes.” Kyris had mentioned that. It was when he’d been too hard on himself about her getting hurt. “Long story.”

Crex appeared at the door then, and she watched as he and Yce carried Kyris’ limp body toward the hovering disk.

There was no sign of life, his body was so limp, and Song covered her mouth to prevent her sobs from becoming vocal.

Piper must have seen her reaction because she pulled her closer. “Come. Let’s get out of here.”

34

THE INSIDE of the ship was just as sleek as the outside, not what she would have expected the ugly toad-like Tasqals to use for their guards at all.

Everything had round edges and was made of a dark, shiny metal that glistened when light touched it.

Kyris was promptly taken to the medbay where little robots began working to repair his wounds. She’d never seen anything like it before and she stood there, mesmerized, even when the others had left the room.

As the ship’s medical AI did its work, Song stayed by his side, her hands clutching his as if afraid that if she let go, he would slip away.

She didn’t know how long she was in the room. Time didn’t seem to matter anymore.

A soft sound at the door caught her attention and, when she lifted her head, she realized Piper was standing there.

The rainbow-haired woman gave her a sad smile as her gaze drifted over to Kyris.

“Do you want me to get you something to drink?” she asked, her voice low as she entered the room to stand by her side.

Song shook her head. “No, I’m ok.” She offered the woman a soft smile but she could feel it didn’t reach her eyes.

“His brothers, Crex and Yce…they say he’ll be okay now that he’s in the medbay.” Piper offered another reassuring smile as she rested her hand on her shoulder. “Yce did mention that we had to get him back to the Restitution’s base, though. Apparently, there is special medicine he needs there that will help his blood clot and his wings heal.”

A sigh shuddered through her and Song nodded.

“Are you sure we can trust this equipment, though? This is an enemy ship…” She trailed off. “How did you guys get an enemy ship anyway?”

Piper let out a short laugh, her eyes glassing over as she stared into space. “Ah, that’s a fucking story to tell. I’ll sit you down and we can talk about it when everything cools down and you’re settled in.”

She focused on Song once more. “But yes, we can trust these bots. They’ve healed many of us already.” She smiled. “AI isn’t evil. Living, breathing things are.” She sobered at that, obviously thinking about something that happened before, and the two fell in silence.

As Song watched the bots work, she drew comfort from the sounds of the bots working.

They were working. That meant he was still alive. He was still hanging in there.

Staring at his face, it seemed so unreal. If she just focused on his face and didn’t let her gaze stray, then she could pretend that the rest of him wasn’t suffering from injuries that looked so severe she wasn’t sure he wouldn’t stop breathing at any moment.

“You must think this is strange,” she said suddenly. “Me sitting here, waiting like…like I’m attached to him or something.” She let out a sad, short laugh.

“You must be thinking I am mad to care so much about someone so different from our species. He is an alien, after all…you must think I’m crazy.”

When Piper didn’t respond and Song lifted her gaze to the woman’s, she was surprised to see understanding in her eyes.

“I don’t think you’re mad.” Piper smiled. “I know exactly what you’re feeling right now and if you care about him as much as I care about my Crex, I know you’ll be staying by his side for as long as it takes him to wake up.”

Song’s eyes widened as she tried to process what the woman just said.

“Crex? You and Crex are…”

Piper beamed at her and nodded. “You’re not the only one, Song. Diana and Yce, too.”

As Song’s eyes widened into little pools, Piper chuckled.

“We all understand, Song.” Piper patted her back before turning to leave. “Every single one of us does.”

THE WIND RUFFLED his wings as he sat underneath the ensa tree.

The sun was going down slowly and he watched it move.

Had he really been sitting here for so long? When he’d come, the sun had just been making its way into the sky.

As Kyris looked up, the call he’d heard before seemed to whisper along the vines of the ensa tree and down to his ears.

Come up, it said. Come to me. Fly again.

He wanted to.

He wanted to soar among the heavens again.

So why didn’t he go?

What was keeping him here, at the root of the tree, unable to move?

There was something he was forgetting.

Someone.

He had the feeling someone was waiting for him on Muk…but he couldn’t remember who.

As the wind whistled in the ensa tree, he closed his eyes and listened to the tune.

He would wait a little longer then he would go.

35

IT WAS three days before she left his side for a few moments to stretch her legs.

As she entered what looked to be the communal area, she felt slightly awkward when she walked in to find all four of the ship’s other passengers sitting around a dark, round table having some sort of discussion.

“Song!” It was Diana who saw her first and she was on her feet in a jiffy. “Come, sit here.”

Without waiting for a word, she guided Song over to the table and planted her right beside Piper while she sat on her other side.

Song sat without protest.

There was a numb feeling within her, almost as if something within her was dead.

Kyris’ condition hadn’t changed much, at least, not outwardly. Some of his wounds and bruising seemed to be healing but he was still unconscious.

She’d stayed by his side eating only when one of the women brought her food and only leaving to use the lavatory within the medbay.

She’d even slept by his side, curling up beside him on the gurney at night. That was the best time. When she was asleep.

She could feel his warmth and it was just as if he was awake and had his wings covering them both.

“You’ve come just at the right time.” Diana smiled.

Song smiled back weakly and waited for Diana to continue.

“Yce has found both Evren and Athena…well, he’s found Xul and Kyro. He couldn’t really track Evren and Athena…something about having to create a tether first to make it more effective,” she shook her head as if she didn’t really understand, “but he’s picked up on their bio signs.” She grinned.

Song moved her gaze to Yce and found his white eyes glowing as he looked at her. If she wasn’t feeling so dead inside, looking at him would have startled her. There was something so ethereal about him.

“We’re heading to pick them up now. The good thing is they are not far from each other,” Piper added.

“Are they alright?” She couldn’t help but ask. “Kyris and I were attacked at the outpost.”

A deep rumbling sound moved across the space as Crex’s eyes narrowed and she watched as Piper rested her hand on his leg, patting it as if to make him relax.

When he spoke, his cold dark eyes were pointed at her and, again, if she wasn’t feeling so dead inside, she was sure it would make her shiver.

“They attacked you at the outpost? Are you certain the ones that attacked were working for the Tasqals?”

Song nodded. She was more than sure. She’d been there. “Positive.”

Crex’s narrowed gaze moved to Yce and something passed between them.

“I’m positive. Two of them were telling me about how they were going to take me back to my master.” The memory of it made her want to throw up. To think she’d been that close to going back into captivity again. If Kyris hadn’t been there…

Tears threatened to come forward but she held them back.

She needed him to get better so badly. So, so badly.

“What is it? Why are you two looking at each other like that? Are you having a mind discussion?” Diana narrowed her eyes at Yce. Yce turned his gaze on the redhead and Song could swear his eyes changed colors for a second.

“I dare you to say that out loud,” Diana said, a shocked expression on her face and a telling pink tinge on her cheeks.

“Hmm. Only if you can make me submit,” Yce’s voice was a deep rumble and a smile teased at his lips but before Diana could respond, Piper interrupted.

“Honestly, you two.” Smiling, she rolled her eyes before turning to Song. “Try living in close proximity to these two. You’d swear you’re living in a live spinoff of WWE.”

“WWE?” Yce turned to her then and Piper folded her arms and leaned back on Crex’s chest.

“Mmhm…let Ms. Kickass explain that to you later,” Piper replied. “Now,” she looked up at Crex. His gaze was still narrowed and he seemed as if he was deep in thought. “Tell me why the Tasqals attacking the outpost caused you to get so cold.”

Crex’s gaze fell on Piper and the room went quiet.

“Muk is a protected planet in the Interplanetary Union because life on it is slowly dying.”

“You mean like, it’s going extinct?”

“Yes. The outposts are the only places on the planet where the natives now live and survive. Attacking an outpost on Muk is a serious crime. It breaks several oaths of the Interplanetary Union.”

“I don’t understand. What does that mean? What effect does that have on us?” Diana’s eyes narrowed as she tried to understand where Crex was going.

Yce’s eyes glowed white as he picked up the conversation. “An outpost is a safe zone for all who dwell within. It means the Tasqals are no longer adhering to Interplanetary Law. They will no doubt attack the other outposts in search of the rest of us.”

“Athena and Evren are in danger, then,” Piper whispered, leaning back in her seat.

“Yes,” Crex agreed.

“Well, that means we need to extract them as soon as possible.” Piper glanced at Diana as she spoke and the other woman nodded.

There was a moment of silence when Yce cocked his head, his eyes glowing so bright that Song could only stare.

“There is something else. Something we missed,” he said.

“What do you mean, brother?” Crex leaned forward.

“I do not know yet. It is just a hunch. The Tasqals wouldn’t break Interplanetary Law unless something was at stake. Five slaves would not be enough for them to do so.”

“Well, fuck me. Here I was thinking I was important.” Piper grinned, sitting upright. Then, as if his words suddenly made sense, her eyes went wide.

“Yce, are you suggesting there are more slaves out there somewhere on Muk? That when you guys destroyed that ship there were more slaves on it that got sent to Muk’s surface and the Tasqals think you guys have them?”

“It is possible,” Yce replied. “But just having more slaves wouldn’t be enough proof to bring the Interplanetary Militia down on them. There are many Tasqals in high places in the Interplanetary Union. It would be the type of slaves that mattered, not only the number.”

“What do you mean?” As Diana asked the question, you could almost see her shoulders tense.

Whatever Yce and Crex were getting at didn’t sound good. It didn’t sound good at all.

“HREX4X1, Earth, is an off-limits planet,” Crex answered. “Visiting Earth is a serious crime. Taking samples is even more serious.”

A rumble went through Yce’s throat, as his eyes glowed. “Proof of a large sample of slaves from such a planet would not only cause chaos in the Interplanetary Union but would leave Interplanetary Militia no choice but to take action against the Tasqals.”

“Oh no,” the words left her lips before Song even realized she’d spoken out loud.

She knew exactly what the men were getting at.

“Humans,” she whispered. “There are more human slaves.”

36

IN THE NEXT two days that passed, they focused their efforts on locating the others. In that time, Kyris still remained unconscious—a testament that his wounds were far more extensive than she’d even thought.

On the third day, Xul and Athena were picked up unharmed and on the next, they’d found Kyro and Evren. It was a huge sigh of relief to find that only the outpost where Xul and Athena were staying had been attacked.

They spent the next few days discussing their next moves but Song was far too preoccupied to even care to pay attention. That’s why she stayed in the medbay.

She couldn’t think about anything much except the fact that Kyris’ condition didn’t seem to be improving.

The good thing was that he didn’t seem to be getting worse either.

The only thing that lifted her spirits a little was the fact that whenever she went to the communal area, there was always some kind of banter and camaraderie. If Kyris wasn’t ill, she would have enjoyed it.

They all visited his bedside daily and, as the days went on, she was beginning to become relaxed in their presence.

They all seemed to care for him probably as much as she did—like a family would. And she realized that’s exactly what they were…a family.

That’s the warm feeling that enveloped the communal area. They were a blended family.

As she watched the medbots change Kyris’ plasters, a shadow fell over her.

Looking up, she realized it was Xul. He stood over her, his massive frame blocking the light coming in from the corridor as he looked down at Kyris.

A snort of warm air came from his nostrils, the gold ring that was pierced through his nose moving only slightly before his gaze finally fell on her.

“How is he doing today?”

“Same.” Her voice was low.

Unlike Kyris’ lean frame, Xul was thickset and his most identifying feature were the horns that rose from his head.

Coming from a place where the existence of aliens was still a big question, it still took some getting used to that there were so many different types of beings living outside of Earth.

Xul grunted at her answer, his eyes falling back on his brother.

“It seems he pushed himself to the limit,” he said after a few moments before looking down at her again, something passing behind his eyes before she could read it. “He must have had good reason to do so.”

Song gulped. She wasn’t sure about that.

If Kyris died…

How could she continue life as usual?

Day after day she waited for some change. And day after day it seemed as if he wasn’t getting better. His external wounds were healing but his wings still looked as damaged as before and he remained unconscious.

“Of everyone else, you stay by his side every day,” Xul said, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Song offered a small, sad smile. “I’m not sure if it’s making a difference or not.”

Xul grunted once more before folding his arms.

“We must get him to the base as soon as possible. A transport from the Restitution will rendezvous with us in six hours. We will transfer him then.”

Her eyes widened with a little hope. “Will he get the medicine he needs there? At the base?”

As he spoke, he seemed to study her further, his eyes narrowing again. “Kyro has already contacted the base. The medicine will be there when we arrive.”

A shot of relief went through her, making her shoulders relax a little.

“Oh, thank God.”

Slight amusement passed over Xul’s gaze. “You humans and your spirits.”

“Babe, you really have to stop referring to us as the ‘humans,’” a female voice floated into the room as Athena walked in.

Her blonde hair was pulled back in a low ponytail as she smiled up at Xul before turning her attention to Song.

“Oh, Song, I hope he hasn’t been boring you. These aliens can go on and on about how soft humans are when really and truly they are just as soft as we are.” She grinned, a mischievous look in her eyes.

Xul opened his mouth to answer then closed it.

“Have you eaten today?” Athena’s kind eyes radiated warmth as she handed Song a glass of liquid Song hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

“I—” She didn’t remember. She thought she did but that might have been yesterday.

“Oh, hey! You’ve got company.” Evren walked in, her eyes showing a little surprise as she gripped the glass of liquid she was holding. “I brought you something to drink…”

Evren’s eyes fell on the glass already in Song’s hands.

“Ah, I see you already have some.”

“No, bring it in. She can have it later.” Athena smiled and motioned Evren into the room.

Song couldn’t help but smile.

They were all trying to hide it so well but it was clear they were not only concerned about Kyris, they were concerned about her as well.

“Thanks, ladies.” She took a sip of the sweet fluid before her gaze wandered back to Kyris.

“No change, huh,” Evren said as she went to stand on the other side of the gurney.

Song shook her head.

“Well, hopefully, when we get to the base things will turn around.” Athena placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it lightly.

“We’re ditching this ship in, what, six hours?” Evren asked.

Athena nodded.

As Song glanced back at her she couldn’t help but voice the question that was suddenly on her mind.

“Athena, can I ask you something…personal? Like girl talk?”

“Sure.” Athena grinned, her brows only slightly furrowed as she seemed to wonder where the conversation was going.

Xul scratched the back of his neck. “I’ll be on the bridge,” he said quickly, his eyes lingering on Athena a little before he exited the room. Athena’s grin only widened.

When she was certain he was gone, Song continued, “You and Xul…is it…like…does it work?”

Athena’s cheeks turned a little pink as her eyes widened slightly. “Does what work? Do you mean like…sex?”

“Oh, Lord.” Evren giggled.

“No!” Song could feel her cheeks flame as she laughed nervously. “I mean. Like. Relationship-wise. He’s an alien. You’re not…” She sobered. “I guess I’m just wondering.”

“Oh.” Athena chuckled. “I get what you’re asking and yes. It’s great.” Glancing at Kyris, her knowing eyes fell back on Song. “You’re worried, I guess.”

Reluctantly, Song nodded. “I guess I’m just scared. Scared he won’t pull through and scared that if he does…” She choked on the next words. It was as if saying it would make it real. “…I’m scared he’ll wake up and everything that’s in my head is a dream…”

“It’s not.” Athena held her hand. “If you staying by his side is any indication, I’m sure he’s in there fighting to stay with you.”

As she nodded, a single tear escaping her eyes, another shadow blocked the light from the corridor.

Raising her gaze, Song realized it was the brother named Kyro. Just like his brother, he filled the doorway, his dark gray skin almost seeming to shift over his muscles as he folded his arms.

“Change of plans,” he said, his gaze locked on Evren. “The Tasqals have located this ship and we are sure they are sending fighters.”

It was almost as if the temperature in the room fell.

“We leave now,” he finished, his gaze still locked on Evren as he spoke even though it was evident the message was for them all.

With one last squeeze of her hand, Athena was moving out the door with Evren not far behind.

Kyro watched Evren leave, his gaze following her till she was out of sight and Song felt she had to clear her throat to catch his attention.

When he turned back around, he finally looked at her then at Kyris.

“We will move Kyris. The Restitution vessel will be here soon,” he finally said.

Song nodded, her hands gripping Kyris’, but she couldn’t stop the fear riding on her spine.

She just had to pray the Restitution reached them before the Tasqals did.

37

AS EVERYONE KICKED INTO GEAR, Crex soon appeared on his own to take Kyris from the ship.

His cold eyes never lingered on her for more than a second and Song wondered how Piper didn’t feel terrified in his presence.

Even though he was being relatively calm, she had no doubt he could snap and rage at any second.

He’d lifted Kyris’ limp body over his shoulders and carried him over to the shuttle they would take to the Restitution’s ship waiting in orbit above the planet.

“What are you going to do with the Tasqal ship?” she asked as they boarded the shuttle.

Xul glanced at her from his seat at the helm. “We will leave it to the Mukkians to do as they like. It is not usual for them to get such undamaged goods.”

Sure enough, in the distance she could just see the little men arriving on what looked like some gigantic black snakes.

The creatures made her shiver immediately. And she’d thought the nesters were the only terrifying things living on this planet? Good thing she never encountered those, whatever they were.

As Crex strapped Kyris’ body down to a flat surface in the shuttle, Athena counted that everyone was on board and then they were off, rising high and leaving the sands of Muk behind.

“You’ll get them to get M’Hul on board, right?” Piper whispered to Crex but with everyone silent the whole shuttle heard anyway.

“Another shuttle is on its way to retrieve him,” Crex answered.

“M’Hul?” Song frowned. “Who’s M’Hul”?

“The T-Rex.” Piper smiled at her as her eyes widened.

The what?

“We found him wandering on Muk. We put him in cryo on the Tasqal ship.”

“What?” The confusion must have been in her eyes as Piper grinned.

“Long story.”

Blinking and storing the questions away for later, she turned to Kyris.

As she held his hand, she touched the other to his handsome face. Even in all this, he looked so calm, so handsome.

The shuttle reached space in a matter of what felt like seconds and soon it was as if they were floating.

Ahead was a huge grey ship, so big the shuttle seemed dwarfed by its size.

It was shaped like the teat of a baby’s bottle with turrets and guns to boot.

She was sure she wasn’t the only one in awe as the other women around her also had wide eyes.

“That’s the ship?” Evren breathed.

“That’s the ship.” There was a level of pride in Xul’s voice. “Yce, status on the surface?”

“The Hedgerud guards have found the ship, Captain. The Mukkians and them are now engaged in battle.”

Diana’s eyes widened. “Should we help them?”

“No,” Yce spoke up. “They do not want us to. They want revenge for the attacks to the outposts.”

Xul chuckled. “Little brutal men. We will leave them to it then.”

Crex grunted.

As the planet grew small beneath them and Song looked ahead, it was clear to her that her life would never be the same.

She was in space once again, in a spaceship, no less, and the man of her dreams was by her side.

As she looked ahead, she only hoped the medicine at the base would be enough to bring him back to her.

AS THE WIND rustled the leaves of the ensa tree, Kyris stood and looked up.

His wings were unfurled and he was ready to go to the top, towards that call.

Still, something made him hesitate.

He just couldn’t remember what.

As the wind moved around him, the melody of the breeze flowed into his ear and it took him a moment to realize something…

He knew that tune.

It was a tune about wanting to go home…sung by one of the most captivating voices he’d ever heard.

As he focused on the tune, the wind moving around him and through his wings, he closed his eyes and listened.

It came black slowly, almost like a fleeting image.

Dark hair…

Dark eyes…

His reason for hanging on and the root of the tree.

The reason he’d felt the need to wait.

The reason why he couldn’t answer the call to go away.

His eyes opened suddenly and he knew. How could he have forgotten?

Dark hair…

Dark eyes…

It was coming back to him now.

The person waiting for him.

His person.

His Song.

He couldn’t leave without her.

He had to get back.

38

THE INTERIOR of the ship was just as impressive as the outside.

They were given a wing to themselves for the journey back to the base and it seemed as if everyone was making themselves comfortable.

As she sighed now, resting against the side of the bed on which Kyris lay, she sung the lullaby her mother had sung to her as a child. It was the same lullaby she’d sung on the Isclit slave ship, the same one Kyris had memorized.

It calmed her and made her feel connected to him. She’d taken to singing it whenever they were alone and each time she did, it felt almost as if she was calling him back to her.

As she sung the last few notes, a sound by the doorway had her lifting her head to see who’d entered.

The big frame that filled the doorway paused.

“Kyro?” He wasn’t the person she’d expected to see standing there.

“May I enter?” Kyro asked.

“Sure.”

As he entered and took a seat on the other side of Kyris, Song realized his gaze was still on her and not on his brother. He seemed to be studying her and she wasn’t sure why.

“Is something wrong?”

“No.”

Ok. Well, this was awkward.

When he didn’t continue, she almost felt her cheeks redden. Was something on her face?

“Though he is an idiot, you care for my brother,” Kyro finally said.

Song opened her mouth to reply but instead her mouth fell closed.

“I do.”

“He will awaken tomorrow, if not sooner.” Despite that Kyro struck her as being so strange, she could hear the note of kindness underneath his voice. In that bald, gray head of his, he was being nice to her.

“How—how do you even know that?”

“Yce told me his brain pulses are strengthening. He said he will regain consciousness soon.”

Ah.

Her eyes widened some more but she couldn’t help the grin that filled her face. She didn’t understand Yce’s powers but she believed Kyro. Why would he lie and bring her hopes up for nothing?

Gripping Kyris’ hand, her gaze fastened on his face. She couldn’t wait to see his violet eyes looking back at her with their intensity again. Couldn’t wait to hear the sexiness of his deep voice. Couldn’t wait to see him move.

“You are so relieved. I can see,” Kyro continued. “I am not surprised. I, too, have felt the pull…”

He was still looking at her but his gaze was focused somewhere far away. She didn’t know what he meant by that but she didn’t care enough to question him about it.

All she could think about was the fact that Kyris was coming back to her.

“You are his all,” Kyro said suddenly, his gaze finally focusing on her once more.

Song blinked.

“What do you mean?”

Kyro sighed and leaned forward.

“Kyris is from Vaenus, a planet in orbit in a system not far from yours,” he spoke slowly and Song had the distinct impression that what he was about to tell her would be of extreme significance.

She was almost holding her breath as she waited for him to continue.

“His people are thought to be some of the most beautiful on this side of the universe.” His words held no note of disdain or sarcasm. He was just stating facts.

Glancing at Kyris, she couldn’t debate that, but her gaze went back to Kyro as he went on.

“They are skilled with making some of the most useful technologies and are an esteemed member of the Interplanetary Union but…”

“But?”

“Their mating games are thought of to be…archaic by some.”

“What do you mean?” She found herself searching Kyro’s gaze, trying to find the answer before he even continued.

“There are not many Vaen women. It has been that way since the start of time. To mate, a Vaen woman chooses among a group of suitors and puts them against each other in a series of games. The suitors must protect her above all else as they go through certain trials. Whoever wins gets her heart and her bed.”

Song swallowed as she glanced at Kyris. What did that have to do with them?

“I see the confusion in your eyes.” Kyro paused. “The female chooses, Song. It is the Vaen way. The males never choose. They are chosen. And if they win, they get the prize.”

“It sounds a bit sexist.”

A deep rumble of a chuckle vibrated through Kyro’s chest as his shoulders shook.

“It is illogical but it is their way. Would you rather the male chooses suitors and the females compete?”

When he said it like that, it sounded horrible. Not the life she would ever want to live.

“I don’t understand what you’re saying, though. Why are you telling me this?”

He took a few moments before he replied and she found the way he studied her unnerving. But she needed to know what he meant.

“There is no denying you care for my brother.” It seemed as if it was a question and Song nodded, her eyes drooping.

It was an admission to herself as well.

She cared more about Kyris than she even wanted to admit.

Kyro leaned forward, his eyes locked with hers.

“I have studied his culture. I know more than the others do.” He paused. “I have never seen Kyris put himself in such danger the way he has for you. He has already chosen you. Now, you must let him know that you have chosen him. For his sake.”

39

SHE DIDN’T WANT to admit why she was doing it but she was doing it anyway.

The warm shower she’d taken had lightened her spirits.

She’d washed her hair and Athena had given her some lotion she’d gotten from the ship’s commissary to moisturize her skin.

Now, as she pulled on fresh clothes and headed back toward the medbay, she twiddled her fingers nervously.

Kyro’s words had been repeating in her head all day yesterday and she’d waited anxiously for Kyris to awaken.

She’d only left for a few minutes to shower just so she could be there, fresh and clean, when his eyes opened.

As she walked through the corridor from the quarters she’d been given, Evren was heading down in the opposite direction.

She smiled at Song but that smile didn’t reach her eyes.

“Mmm, I smell that lotion Athena bought. It’s good, isn’t it?” Evren paused a bit.

“It is. Makes me feel so much more…normal again.” Song glanced in the direction of the medbay. Though she would love to converse, she didn’t want to miss Kyris waking up.

Evren must have seen the urgency in her demeanor so she smiled again and once more Song noted the sadness underneath that smile. But she didn’t have time to ask the woman about it now. She’d have to catch up with her later, though.

“I know what you mean. I can see you’re busy, though. See you around.”

Song nodded and grinned as she turned and continued down the corridor.

She was feeling in high spirits today and she knew exactly why.

She was walking so fast, she almost collided into Kyro’s tall, gray frame at the end of the corridor.

“Oh, whoops.”

He didn’t even seem to notice her and, when Song turned to see what he was looking at, she saw just as Evren’s back turned around a corner.

Was he stalking Evren?

She couldn’t help but give Kyro a wary look as she scooted around him.

Kyro only glanced at her before his eyes focused back down the corridor as he turned sideways to let her pass. But as he turned, she didn’t miss the piece of folded paper he hid behind his back.

Even as she turned to walk away, Song frowned.

“Is everything okay, Kyro?”

It took a few moments for his focus to turn to her and he seemed to pause, fiddling with the paper behind his back.

“Tell me,” he said, “what do you think of this line of witticism?”

He brandished the piece of paper and handed it to her.

Frowning slightly, she took the paper and unfolded it.

“Knock knock,” she read as she glanced up at Kyro, “who’s there? Atoms and particles possibly making some form of matter. The knock on the door was a solid one, which suggests whatever is knocking must have some solid form.”

Song frowned as she reread the paper to herself.

“Is this…” She stared at the paper. “Is this supposed to be a joke?”

Kyro tilted his head to the side. “I have done much research. Radio waves picked up from your planet had witticisms about knocking on doors and answering cleverly.”

It took her a moment before she huffed out a laugh.

It was a joke. A strange one.

“This isn’t exactly how a knock-knock joke would go.”

“Ah,” Kyro’s gaze became thoughtful as he took the paper back from her, his focus once more moving down the corridor where Evren had disappeared. “I must try again.”

She would have loved to continue the conversation but there were more pressing thoughts on her mind.

“See you later?”

Kyro didn’t even seem to hear her so she made her way down the corridor.

As she rounded the corner on the medbay, her heart jumped in her chest as she stopped dead in her tracks.

The door was open.

Rushing to the entrance of the medbay, she felt something heavy weigh down inside her as she looked in.

He wasn’t there. As a matter of fact, the room looked like he had never been in there.

The medbots had put the equipment away and the room was deathly quiet. Even the medbots were nowhere to be seen.

Sounds in the communal area caught her attention and Song turned and headed in the direction of the commotion.

As she walked down the brightly lit corridor in the direction of the sounds, she could make out laughter and words communicating relief and happiness.

Her heart, slowly migrating to her throat, made it hard for her to breathe. Even as she neared the communal area, her footsteps became slow as her pulse beat in her ears.

She was almost afraid…almost afraid to see him standing once more, his violet eyes shining with intensity, his mouth twisting into a smile…

She’d spent so many days by his bedside praying for this day and now that it was here, she was almost too afraid to face it lest it not be true.

As she came into the doorway, she paused, her heart stopping for just a second as she saw him.

He was standing without help. His wounds were healed. His wing, though still missing feathers in some places, didn’t have the darkened color spreading through it anymore.

It still hung awkwardly, though, evidence that he was still not fully healed.

If she hadn’t been by his bedside the entire time, she wouldn’t have believed he’d gone through such an ordeal.

He was surrounded by everyone; his brothers were all grinning and patting him on the back while the human women stood by them, also congratulating him on his recovery.

As she stood in the entranceway, unable to move, it was as if he felt her presence for he immediately turned to look in her direction.

And time froze.

In that moment, it was just she and him.

As their eyes met, a slow soft smile spread Kyris’ lips and even though she wished she could, her smile was less elegant.

Hers was more like a strange twisting of her lips as her eyes welled up. And though she didn’t want to cry, hadn’t planned to, the sight of him across the room, alive and well, was too much for her fragile emotions.

The others turned to see her standing there and, with knowing glances, Piper and Athena somehow managed to usher everyone from the room, leaving Kyris standing there alone.

In times before, she would have blushed at the women doing such a thing, but in this moment, she didn’t care.

All she could see was him and for the first time, she was really, really seeing him.

40

“YOU’RE BETTER.” Song swallowed hard. Her voice, still thick with emotions, sounded almost like a croak and she saw Kyris’ face contort.

With movement too fast for her eyes, he was in front on her in a second, his hand hovering above her cheek as a tear rolled down her face.

“Leaking eyes,” he muttered.

Song nodded and smiled through the tears that were now starting to fall too hard for her to keep them under control.

“Yes, leaking eyes, but I’m not sad.” As she moved into him and wrapped her arms around his torso, she held him there, her cheek plastered against his hard chest, and for a few moments, she relished in the feel of him.

Kyris stiffened at her sudden movement and she felt him inhale deeply before his body slowly relaxed.

“What are you doing?” His voice sounded strained, as if he was trying to control himself and for once she knew why. Now she understood everything. There was no reason to hold back anymore.

He was her choice.

“I’m hugging you.” She smiled into his chest and she felt as he inhaled deeply once more.

“A hug…” He paused. “What does it mean?”

Song smiled again. It felt so good to hear him speak.

“It means I missed you. It means I’m glad you’re back.”

As she looked up at him, she realized he was looking down at her with a gaze that held so many things: hope, anxiety, happiness, and one more thing…one she could pinpoint with certainty…lust.

“I want you, too, Kyris.” She looked him deep in the eyes, not breaking her gaze. For the first time in her life, she felt brave. Because for the first time in her life, she was absolutely positive in what she wanted. “I want you to be mine. I choose you.”

Kyris blinked, his eyes widening slightly, but before he could respond, Song held him by the hand and led him down the corridor to her private quarters.

He was silent as she led him down the corridor, but she was sure he had many unanswered questions.

Those she could always answer later, but right now, there were more pressing things to attend to.

As she opened the door to the quarters and stepped in, she paused as the room illuminated.

The room was large and luxurious. There was a poofy raised platform with soft bedding for sleeping and off to one side was a round tub, large enough for at least five people to fit in.

“This is ours.” She stopped by the doorway and smiled.

“Ours?”

The slight surprise in his tone made her look back at him, a blush feathering her cheeks immediately.

“Yes.”

“You wish for me to share your quarters with you?”

“Yes.”

A quiver ran through his wings and his gaze was slowly getting that predatory look she’d seen him have so many times before.

“You want me to stay?”

“Yes.”

“In here. With you.”

The intensity in his eyes was growing and it was making her breathless.

“Yes.”

“Alone.” He let the word hang in the air between them.

Damn, his gaze. She felt like a bunny or some other soft animal in the scope of a large predator, but instead of fear all she could feel was anticipation.

She could almost feel her mouth starting to water.

“Yes.” The word was hardly out of her mouth before he stepped through the doorway and into the room, the door sliding shut behind him.

He was so close to her that there wasn’t even air between them.

“Song…before…you said…”

“I said I choose you.” The heat between them was building and yet she couldn’t move. Didn’t want to move.

“Kyro told me…about the mating rituals of your people. Kyris. I want you, too. I want you to take me. I want you to—”

She didn’t need to say more because all of a sudden, she was in his arms, her head falling back as his mouth claimed hers.

41

THIS KISS WAS different from the others. This time he wasn’t holding back. Couldn’t.

His self-control had been pushed to its limit.

She tasted so good. Sweet, like the zenoju fruit that she loved so much.

As she opened her mouth to him, Kyris couldn’t stop the primal growl that erupted within him.

He needed to have her. Needed to have her now.

He could wait no more.

Lifting her off her feet, her legs wrapped around his waist as she locked her arms around his neck.

Song.

She was his. This beautiful flower.

As he released his trousers and they fell to the floor, he stepped out of them as he gripped her to him.

Rock hard, his cock bobbed tall and strong to brush against the curve of her buttocks.

Regardless that she was still clothed, the slight brush caused him to growl again and his wings extended behind him. Gripping the curve of her ass, he pulled her harder against him.

He heard her gasp and, when he looked at her, the look in her eyes almost sent him over the edge.

She was looking at him as if she was surrendering herself to him, as if she wanted him to take her just as much as he wanted to. But there was something else in her gaze, too...something that looked a lot like fear.

“Kyris,” she whispered, his name like a sigh on her lips.

“Song?”

“Go slow, okay?”

As if it had a mind of its own, his cock bobbed against her ass again.

Was that what was causing the fear in her eyes? Fear because this was her first time?

The thought that she hadn’t given herself to anyone before, that the honor to be her very first was being bestowed on him...she had no idea how it made him feel.

It only made his body ache more. Ache for her.

“Are you afraid?” He closed his eyes briefly. If he didn’t control himself he was going to take her on the floor and he didn’t want to do that. He needed to be slow. Gentle.

Dropping her dark gaze, she nodded slightly. “A little.”

The admission hit something deep in his hearts that felt like an ache. “It’s just me.”

Lifting her chin, he looked her deep in the eyes. “It’s just me.”

She visibly relaxed against him, tension in her shoulders seeming to seep away as her body became more pliant against his.

Despite that his body felt out of touch and despite that it felt as if he had been to hell and back, one thing was sure. He hadn’t forgotten how this felt—this coursing need to claim her and make her his.

That hadn’t changed.

It was there, burning through him even now.

Walking over to the raised bedding area, he set her down lightly, his breathing getting shallower as he looked at her from head to toe.

She was looking at him, too.

He watched as her eyes swept down his body, pausing as she ran her gaze down his midsection only to stop when she reached the V between his thighs.

He knew what she was seeing. There was no reason for him to look down himself.

His cock was there. Tall. Thick. And very, very hard.

It was bobbing to hit against his chest, her gaze only getting him more excited by the minute.

But he had to take it slow. He wouldn’t rush it. Not only because it was her first time but also because this was their time.

He’d waited too long to be hasty.

He watched her, every fiber in his body tensing as she finally looked him in the eyes.

He expected to see fear there.

His own fist could close around his shaft, but hers wouldn’t. Her hands were small and so was the rest of her. If he were her, his cock would probably look monstrous.

And he was right. In her eyes, there was fear. But in front of it, overpowering it, was undeniable lust.

She wanted him.

It made his wing blades vibrate in anticipation as his cock jerked, a ball of prizi forming at the smooth tip.

As he leaned over her to take her lips against his once more, his hands fumbled to release her top. She was wearing standard Restitution kit: a dark blouse and trousers and he couldn’t wait to get them off her.

He wanted her bare. Completely bare beneath him.

Growling as he stripped her clothes, he inhaled deeply. She smelled good, as if she’d just taken a bath, and he sent a silent prayer of thanks to Polvrak that the medbots had cleaned him up just before he’d awakened.

Clothes discarded, she lay before him, her top bare, and without his lips leaving hers, Kyris let his hands roam, cupping the mounds on her chest as he closed his eyes, committing them to memory.

She was perfect.

Soft. Beautiful.

His cock jerked again, a string of prizi stretching from the tip to land on her trousers.

Those weren’t too difficult to get off, and as his fingers hooked in the waist and pulled them down, Song gasped against his lips, her chest shuddering slightly.

She was naked.

From head to toes, her pale skin looked so inviting he had to grip the bedding on either side of her as he felt another ball of prizi form at his tip.

“Polvrak...” He called to the God of Fate. His mouth was watering for her. “You’re so...beautiful.”

Her cheeks flushed. “I am?”

“More than you seem to know.”

He couldn’t take his eyes off her.

Perky buds on her breasts looked hardened and he wondered what they would feel like against his tongue.

His eyes fell lower, down to her stomach, which had a strange little button in the middle of it. His tongue would investigate that, too.

Her stomach looked soft, flat, and the thought of her belly one day rounded with his young...it almost made him groan and his cock jerked again.

His gaze fell even lower, falling to the triangle of dark hair between her legs and his cock jerked once more.

He knew what was hidden there and he couldn’t wait to taste it.

Bending his head to hers, he ran his tongue over her lips before continuing the kiss they’d broken earlier.

“You taste so good,” he groaned.

“You do, too,” she gasped.

As his hands cradled her ass, he ran his hands over her skin, reveling in how soft she felt underneath his palm.

“So soft...” His groan morphed into a deep growl and he felt her shiver against him.

He wasn’t meaning to scare her but...

Gripping her buttocks, he squeezed them hard and when she moaned into his mouth he couldn’t stop the train that had started to barrel downhill.

His lips were on the soft curve of her neck as he inhaled her scent.

“Taste so good. Smell so good...”

As he nibbled down her chest, he ran his tongue around one of the mounds on her chest and she arched against him, letting out the most feminine sigh he’d ever heard.

It was obvious she liked that so he did it again, moving slower this time as he watched her arch again, her mouth forming an O as her eyes fluttered.

He was going to enjoy this.

Her obvious pleasure would be enough. He didn’t even need release. Just seeing her so turned on when he hadn’t even touched her core yet was driving him wild.

His hot mouth covered the little bud sitting atop the mound on her chest and her hands fisted the bedding, drawing it up with her as her back arched.

She was staring down at him, her gaze hot as she watched him run his tongue over her breast and her brows furrowed in pleasure as her head fell back.

Gripping the other mound in his hand, he squeezed it as his head dipped lower, his tongue running down the center of her chest, running over the little button there to pause above the triangle of curls.

“Kyris?” Her voice was a breathless question and he looked up at her. He wasn’t hiding his emotions behind a wall anymore and he knew she could see the hunger in his eyes.

Without saying a word, he buried his face into the dark triangle between her legs.

42

HER LEGS WERE SUDDENLY BEING OPENED and lifted toward her chest and before Song could gasp, the feel of his wet warm tongue against her had her crying out and gripping the bedding even harder than before.

It was unlike anything she’d ever felt in her life.

Sure, she had a vibrator back on Earth. She’d even used lube and played with it over her clit but nothing compared to this.

This was...

Her eyes rolled over in her head and vision was lost as she felt him suck hard on her clit.

“Kyris!” She turned her head and screamed his name into the bedding. Never had she ever felt so...

Fuck!

She didn’t usually curse but this was...

“Oh Godddddddd.” Her eyes rolled over in her head again as he opened his mouth so wide he covered her entire slit. Wet slurps reached her ear as he sucked on her and she felt the first tremble rock through her.

Hands flying to his head, she slid her fingers through his hair and fisted the strands.

His hair was soft, silky even, and through half-closed eyes, she could see the image they painted.

She was on her back, naked, her nipples hard and pointing upward, her legs raised, and the man of her dreams was between her legs, his wings outstretched as vibrations ran through them and his head buried between her legs.

If he was indeed an angel, she’d have to ask God to forgive her but this felt so fucking good.

Too good for her to stop now.

Too good for her to even form coherent thoughts.

It felt as if there was an explosion building within her, one that felt like an orgasm, but not like any orgasm she’d ever been able to achieve on her own.

No, this was different.

It felt like a tidal wave was approaching.

And as Kyris gripped her ass and pulled her closer, she held onto his hair, screaming his name as her entire body trembled again.

He was still sucking on her full-mouthed and as he released her, he ran his thick tongue from her entrance straight up to her clit, only causing her to shudder once more.

“Oh God. I can’t...I...I.” Tears were forming in her eyes because it felt as if her pussy was suddenly a pot of warm honey. All of her emotions and all the strength in her body was congealing there.

It felt too good. So good, she was afraid of the feeling building there.

It felt as if she was climbing something that was building within her, drawing her energy to that one spot just underneath her clit and she was nearing that point where that thing was going to burst and decimate her.

She would be dead.

She was going to die from pleasure.

“Yes, you can,” his growl against her pussy sent vibrations over her sensitive skin. “Accept it, Song. Accept me.” He growled again before running his tongue along her slit once more. “Let me taste you.”

She was trembling so bad now, she couldn’t keep still. His voice.

His growls.

His fucking smooth tongue.

Her eyes were open but she couldn’t see.

Large hands gripped her buttocks tighter, pushing her pelvis upwards and into his face.

And then he did it.

The thing that made her scream, her body shaking and her eyes rolling back into her head as her eyes twitched as she spasmed as if going into epileptic shock.

His tongue.

His thick wet tongue.

It was inside her.

He was...

Oh God.

He was fucking her with his tongue—the thick, wet muscle spreading her cunt as he moved in and out of her, his hands holding her ass in place as he moved his head forward and back.

Her scream was loud, so loud, it split the wet sounds coming from between her thighs and punctuated the room.

“Oh God. Oh God. Ky—Ky—Kyris!”

It happened then.

A feeling she’d never felt before.

As she reached her peak, her body riding a wave of an intensity she’d never ridden before, her body stiffened as her hands tightened in his hair and a stream of hot fluid squirted from her pussy to hit him in the face.

Kyris paused and lifted his head from her hot sex, the fluid still squirting from her pussy as he stared at in a trance.

What the fu—

If her legs weren’t so weak, if her body wasn’t suddenly so drained, if she didn’t feel like the life had just been sucked from her in the most pleasurable of ways, she would have tried to gather her legs and wriggle from his grasp to close her thighs.

That had never happened before.

No fluid like that had ever exited from her vagina before.

As she came down from her high slowly, she stared at him in horror, small aftershocks still making her body quake as she watched the fluid run down his chin.

But that telltale smell of urine was nowhere to be found.

She hadn’t peed.

That burst of fluid...it hadn’t been urine. She hadn’t relieved herself.

She’d squirted.

She’d only seen stuff like that happening in porn. She had never imagined—

Violet eyes locked with hers with such heat, she shivered in excitement, her eyes widening as she watched him lick his lips in the slowest of ways.

The deep rumble in his throat seemed to travel up her entire body, causing the hairs on her skin to stand on end.

But it wasn’t a vicious growl.

It was one of lust.

Kyris licked his lips, his face still moist from her juices as he looked at her and if there were ever such a thing as a violet fire, it would be there, in his eyes.

“Qrak...” His wings fanned out, vibrating so hard they were creating a low hum.

“I—I’m sorry. That hasn’t ever happened before. I—”

“So. Qrakking. Hot.” He licked his lips again and a harder set of vibrations went through his wings.

“You didn’t mind?”

Another low rumble echoed in his chest and another shiver of excitement ran through her.

“Mind? I want more.”

He was lifting her now as he carried her further onto the large bed.

“Qrak. Song. I—” He set her down beneath him, his arms planted on either of her sides as his wings fanned out and vibrated again. “I don’t know if I can hold back much longer.”

Her throat moved as she swallowed hard and her gaze dropped to his cock.

It was still bobbing between them, so hard it was planted straight upward against his midsection.

She couldn’t ignore it anymore.

How was he going to fit that fucking big thing that was his cock inside her?

It wouldn’t fit.

But despite that thought, she couldn’t deny the hunger she felt in her pussy for it. She wanted it.

She wanted him. Wanted him to take her.

For the first time in her life, she was going to feel someone thrusting within her, and despite that the size of him scared the hell out of her, that need was still there.

A burning hot need that could only be fulfilled in one way.

43

HIS COCK WAS BLUE, she assumed because all his blood was focused there, and the color only made it look more unreal.

To her surprise, the color didn’t turn her off.

Instead, she felt her tongue move over her lips in anticipation.

It had a gentle pointed tip that tapered into a smooth head. So streamlined and sleek, it was like the rest of his body. His torso. His chest. His broad shoulders.

He was like a work of art all over.

There were ridges too. Subtle ones. So subtle she almost didn’t notice them. There were like parallel columns of raised dots about a centimeter apart that followed a pattern around his entire shaft.

It didn’t look like the cock of an angel...more like that of a demon...and the way he was looking at her now, with a hunger in his eyes that was so clear, she wasn’t so sure she’d been right in thinking he was an angel all along at all.

He looked like he wanted to devour he right there and then, to take her soul and make it his...and the strange thing about it was that she wanted him to.

She had the crazy thought of telling him to fuck her...fuck her hard...fuck her till she cried out his name...fuck her till she couldn’t walk for days.

She didn’t mind it if hurt. She just wanted him to take her.

And it seemed as if whatever she was thinking was displayed clear as day in her eyes as Kyris groaned deep, his wings vibrating so hard now the hum became louder in the room.

“I can’t hold back anymore, Song.” His voice sounded strange...strained. “I need you. I must—”

“Then take me. Please...Kyris.” She swallowed hard to soothe the sudden dryness in her throat as the feeling within her clit started to build again, just because of the intensity of the look in his eyes.

He growled again. “I will try to be gentle but...”

It would hurt, and she wanted it to. She wanted to feel every inch of him. She wanted to share this with him and him alone.

This day, after everything, she wanted to seal her unspoken promise.

He was hers. And she was his.

“Fuck me.”

It was unlike her to speak like that but it was like she was in the same trance that was overcoming him. She couldn’t control herself. She didn’t want to.

Another growl left his body and caused him to shudder.

Climbing over her, he settled his lips against hers and she could taste her own juices on his mouth.

One hand touched her cheek gently as the other held onto her ass.

As his tip brushed against her slickness, that first touch was so intense that it made her shiver.

Another growl left him as he murmured against her, words she could hardly hear as he continued to stroke his tip against her wetness, running from the top of her slit right to the bottom, just like he’d done with his tongue.

She could feel the power within the hard thickness. She could feel the anticipation building within it.

“Kyris...” She groaned against his lips as he settled at her entrance. He was breathing hard, and it was obvious he was trying to control himself.

But she trusted him.

“It will hurt a little,” he groaned. “Your sweet cunt was so tight it gripped my tongue.”

His words were only making the feeling in her clit grow in intensity.

“My cock will hurt. I cannot escape that.”

“Kyris?”

“Yes, my sweet...”

“Just do it. Please...I need to feel you.”

He groaned again, gritting his teeth this time as he took another deep breath.

As he eased forward slowly, she felt the sleek, smooth head press against her and she stiffened instinctively.

“Relax for me, Song.” He kissed her again. “It’s just me.”

As she willed her breathing to calm, she opened her legs wider, accepting what he was giving her, and he eased down some more.

As the head slipped in, there was only slight pain, not as much as she thought there would be with his thickness and she realized immediately that it was because she was so, incredibly wet.

A moan flowed from her lips as he stiffened above her, his face searching hers.

“More?” he groaned.

“More. Please, don’t stop.”

He gripped her tighter then, holding her ass firm as he eased himself, inch by inch, deep insider her.

With each inch, her eyes rolled back further in her head.

He was going slowly, his jaw clenched as he took his time for her benefit, and because of the pace, she could feel them all...each and every ridge on his cock as they passed the mouth of her pussy to disappear deep within her.

A deep moan barreled from within her when she finally felt her ass hit flush against his thighs and through blurred vision, she looked up at him.

“Kyris...”

He started a rhythm then, a slow torturous rhythm that pulled the lips of her pussy every time he pulled out and stretched the inner cords of her clit when he went deep.

She was climbing that mountain again where all of her strength was being taken away and she screamed his name, gripping on to his shoulders as his mouth met hers and his rhythm increased.

“Kyris! I—I—”

She was coming again, reaching that peak and her entire body began to convulse, but he held her close, his rhythm increasing till there were wet, squelching sounds bouncing off the walls of the entire room.

As she came, he pummeled into her, giving her all of him as he gripped her to him. And as she fell off her peak and came crashing down, his violet eyes seemed to cloud over as he stiffened over her, pulling her even closer as he groaned her name.

As he reached orgasm, she knew then, and she could feel that he knew it, too.

She was his wholly and truly.

And he was hers.

44

THEY LAY WRAPPED in each other’s arms for what felt like hours, his wings still quivering every now and then.

Her face was against his chest but she could tell he wasn’t sleeping. She could almost feel his eyes moving over her still naked body.

“Kyris? You awake?” she asked anyway.

“I am not sure.”

Brows furrowing slightly, she raised her head to look up at him and his violet gaze captured her immediately.

He was looking at her strangely, his eyes slightly glassed over as he strung her hair through his fingers.

“What do you mean?”

He smiled a little before answering, “Looking at you, I am not sure if I am awake.”

His answer made her feel warm inside and she snuggled closer to him, pushing her buttocks further against him, a contented sigh making her body rise and fall.

“Your hair. So dark.” He was still stringing his fingers through her hair and she smiled.

“What about it?”

“It’s incredible. Before leaving my home planet, I never knew there were species with dark hair.”

She lifted her head to look at him, this time her frown one of slight disbelief.

“No one has dark hair on your planet?”

“No. No one.”

“You’re all blond?”

“Blond?”

“Your hair color. Does everyone on your planet have the same color?”

“Yes.” He paused.

“Kyris?”

“Yes?”

“You almost gave your life to protect me.”

His chest rose and fell as he sighed.

“I tried…” He trailed off. “I failed.”

In another circumstance, she would have laughed at that, but she knew he was serious.

“I am here, aren’t I?”

As she thought about it, she smiled.

“I never thought a guy like you would ever be interested in someone like me.”

Saying that caused him to move her so their faces were aligned.

“You are everything I’ve ever wanted.”

The truth emanating from his words was comforting.

As a knock at the door sounded in the room, both of them froze as her cheeks became immediately warm.

“Oh shit,” she murmured, pulling the bedding towards her, her eyes darting around the room. “They’re probably wondering where we’ve been so long.”

Glancing around the room, her clothes were nowhere to be seen.

As the knock sounded again, Kyris groaned.

Hopping out of bed, he stretched, giving her a good view of his firm ass as his wings stretched out for a second.

In a few steps, he was at the door and Song’s eyes widened as his hand reached out to touch a panel beside it, no doubt to open the door.

“Kyris!” it was a harsh whisper as she gaped at him, and motioned for him to return. “What are you doing?!”

He glanced back at her. “Greeting our visitor.”

“But you’re naked!”

He looked down at himself for a second, then the slightest evidence of a mischievous lopsided grin graced his features.

“Then maybe they will take the hint and leave.”

Without further ado, he pressed the panel and the door slid open.

After an uncomfortable pause, another deep voice flowed into the room.

“Kyris...”

Eyes widening further, Song sank deeper underneath the bedding, embarrassment warming her entire being. But a glance at the door and she realized Kyris had his wings extended, blocking view of her from the doorway.

“I am busy.”

“So, I can see.” The voice sounded like it came from Yce. “We must take shuttles to the base. This ship will not be docking. Everyone is getting ready as we will be within range soon. ”

Kyris turned his head to glance back at her, a smile on his lips.

“We’ll be out in a minute,” he answered Yce as he turned back to face him. “Or a few.”

As the door slid closed, Kyris turned and that look she was growing to love so much was growing in his eyes.

He stalked toward the bed, his eyes glued to hers as he crawled over the covers.

“Before we leave, there is something I want to do.”

“What?” Somehow, she had a good idea what it was and the heat was already kindling in her center.

Pulling down the covers so he could look at her, Kyris dipped his face into the dark triangle between her thighs.

“I want more.”

And as he extended his tongue and licked her, she cried out to him in surprise.

WITH WEAK LEGS, Song held on to Kyris’ hand as he led them down the corridor toward the common area. After two more rounds in the bedroom, she wasn’t sure how he was walking with so much energy seeing that he’d been bedridden for so long.

“How do you know where to go?”

There were no signs or markings on the walls to indicate which room was in which direction.

Kyris shrugged. “You get used to the layout of these ships after a while.”

Just then, the door to the common area slid open and Kyris stepped through as she followed along.

Around a table sat Crex and Yce.

Kyro was standing off to the side and Xul stood in the center of the room with Athena, his arms crossed.

Diana was perched on a seat by Yce and Piper was sitting in Crex’s lap as they all looked at Xul. As she and Kyris entered, she was sure they were interrupting something.

As the doors closed behind them, everyone turned to look in their direction and there was a distinct feeling they all knew what she and Kyris had just done.

Piper smiled at her, her gaze falling to Kyris’ hand which was still holding Song’s and Song watched as Piper’s eyebrows shot up a little before she glanced back at Crex and her smile grew.

“You were right,” Piper said to the alien, whose cold eyes focused on Kyris. “I guess I owe you, erm, that thing I promised.”

Crex grunted.

Song’s eyes darted from Piper to Crex and her brows furrowed.

“Huh?”

“These two made a bet.” Diana spun in her chair as she motioned to Yce and Crex.

“A bet?” This time it was Kyris who spoke.

Diana nodded.

“A bet about what?” Now she was looking from one woman to the other and, try as she might, she could not think of what they meant.

“They bet that you two were going to...” Diana moved her hands in a circular motion as if trying to find the right words, “...bond. Piper bet against it and that’s why she lost.”

Song could feel her cheeks warming. Was it that obvious to everyone?

Kyris’ shoulders rose and fell as he huffed out a soft laugh. “And you did not bet?” His question was directed at Diana and Diana shrugged.

“I’d be mad to bet against this one. He knows too much.” Diana gave Yce a playful poke and he seemed to roll his eyes at her. But even with that response, she could see the small smile he was hiding behind his lips and the mischief in his eyes.

Kyris laughed as he released Song’s hand to snake his arm around her and pull her close.

If the heat in her cheeks was any evidence, the conversation was heading in a direction she didn’t want it to. Clearing her throat, she glanced around the room. It was then that she noticed that everyone was there except for Evren.

“Where is Evren?” Her gaze automatically moved over to the tall gray alien in the corner. Kyro’s back was turned but she was sure she saw his ears perk up as soon as she mentioned Evren’s name.

“I think she’s resting,” Athena offered.

“Are you sure?” She couldn’t help but glance in Kyro’s direction warily once more.

“Positive.” Athena nodded as she answered.

Xul cleared his throat and turned so everyone in the room was in his line of sight.

“As you all know, we will be shuttling to the base. As soon as we get back, you are all dismissed from official duty until further notice. I think we all deserve it.”

Athena looked surprised as she looked up at the big bull-like alien. “Is that sort of like taking a leave?”

“A leave?” Xul frowned.

“Like a holiday,” Athena clarified.

“A bit.” Xul paused and glanced around the room and when he looked back at Athena, Song was sure she saw a mischievous glint in his eyes. “I think all of us would like a little time off to…bond.”

A murmur of approval went through the room and Kyris pulled her closer.

“What about our hunch, about the other human slaves possibly on Muk?” Piper raised the question.

“We will deal with that after we get on base. For now, we must get home, regroup and…bond,” Xul said, a mischievous glint falling in eyes as he looked over at Athena.

Despite her reddened cheeks, Song smiled and glanced up at the tall handsome alien beside her who had stolen her heart. Resting his forehead on hers, Kyris grinned, pulling her close.

“Would you like more time to bond?”

The implication of his words sent a rushing heat straight in-between her thighs.

Someone asked what the base was like and she vaguely heard someone else reply.

As the conversation continued around them, the world was beginning to blur as she stared into Kyris’ eyes.

When someone cracked a joke and the others laughed, the room filled with that same camaraderie that she’d noticed before.

This was just a snippet of what her life was going to be like and she couldn’t have wished for a better family or a better person to spend the rest of her life with.

It was just the start and they had so, so much more left to go.

EPILOGUE

THE BASE WAS NOT what she had expected. Instead of something like a set of tents on a military base, she was greeted with a set of small houses in what looked like an upscale holiday-home area.

There was even a lake.

It was hard to believe they were on a space station.

As Song stretched out on the several pillows Kyris had insisted on getting so she was comfortable, she smiled up at the ceiling.

Things had certainly calmed down since the month before.

Back then, she’d been running for her life from killer scorpion-centipedes and wondering if she was going to make it out alive.

Now she was relaxing in a place where, if she didn’t know better, could be a paradise planet itself.

She heard the front door unlock and she rose up on her elbows.

“Kyris?”

There was no response and she was about to go investigate when he walked into the bedroom, his arms filled with a strange-looking fruit and a syringe between his teeth.

“Hm.” He motioned that she should sit as he set the fruit on the side table.

“What the heck are those?” They looked like mangos but she knew better than that.

“Zenoju.” Kyris beamed at her as he took the syringe from his mouth and she couldn’t help but smile.

He’d gotten so much better since being back on base. Almost all his injuries had healed but his wings still had a way to go.

“I don’t know what that is.” She took one of the fruits in her hands.

“Remember on Muk, you tasted it in a food packet. Said it reminded you of…” He tried to remember. “Paya.”

“Paya?” Song chuckled. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Taste one.”

Ok.

Putting one into her mouth, she bit into the fruit and chewed. It was much chewier than she’d expected it would be and the flesh was red.

She was just about to put it down when the taste spread across her tongue and she squeezed her eyes and moaned.

“Papaya. You meant papaya.”

Kyris’ eyes lit up. “Do you like it?”

“Of course, I do.” Song took a bigger bite. “God, this tastes way better than the food packet.”

“It does.”

“It’s my favorite fruit! I can’t believe you remembered that.” Song moaned again as she took another bite.

“It was worth getting it shipped from Vaenus just to hear you moan like that.”

She felt her cheeks warm a little.

As she finished eating, Kyris held up the syringe and sat on the bed.

It was their little ritual.

Every day, she would inject the medicine into his wing. She felt she needed to do it; he’d sacrificed them for her, after all.

As she lifted the syringe and buried it into his wing, Kyris squeezed his eyes tight.

“Qrak,” he said. “I really think it gets worse every time.”

“Well, it must be working.”

His wing was straightening slowly and his feathers were even growing back.

As she rubbed the injection area and put down the syringe, Kyris reached behind and pulled her forward.

With a yelp, she fell into his lap.

“What are you doing?” She giggled as he nuzzled her neck.

“I’m hungry,” he spoke against her skin, causing a little shiver of pleasure to run through her.

“What are you hungry for? We could do dinner now.”

“Not that type of hungry.”

Oh.

In one movement, he threw her down on the bed and Song bounced in the poofy bedding with a giggle.

The next thing she felt was her legs being pushed up till she was in a kneeling position, her rump in the air.

“Kyris?”

His answer was a growl as his hot breath moved against her inner thigh.

Glancing down, a heat began to pulse in her clit as she saw his head between her legs.

“I have a question,” he said, nibbling her inner thigh lightly. As her eyes closed and she reveled in the feeling, she fought to answer him.

“Go ahead.”

Kyris groaned, his nose rubbing against the thin material of her underwear.

“Do you like it here? On the base. In my home.”

This didn’t seem like the time for such a conversation but she humored him anyway.

“I do.”

Another groan left him as he inhaled her, sticking his nose against her cunt. The action was so dirty it only made her panties grow wetter.

“Will you stay here with me?”

“Of course.” Was that even a question?

She was breathless, finding it hard to concentrate as he continued to bury his face against her cunt, but she wondered what he was getting at.

“Kyro researched a human custom. I think I should do it to you.”

“Mmhm.” None of his words meant sense and she could hardly think as he gripped her panties between his teeth and began pulling them down her legs.

“Will you marry me, Song?”

Song froze. Did she hear right?

“What?”

“Marry. Me.” His face was back at her cunt again, his nose brushing against her clit so slowly it was hard to keep herself steady.

A nervous laugh left her lips. Did he understand what he was asking?

“Do you even know what that means?”

“I know everything. Kyro told me,” he replied as he inhaled her once more.

It was hard to concentrate with him being so naughty between her legs.

“This isn’t the usual way people propose, you know.” Song chuckled as she looked down between her legs and she wished she hadn’t for when her eyes met his, the look on his face made her clit engorge.

He looked absolutely intoxicated. His lashes were low, his eyes hooded, almost as if he was high on drugs.

Down his nose and chin was a glistening wetness and he took the opportunity just then to lick her juices from his lips.

She felt her pussy clench.

“So, will you?” When his eyes finally focused on her, the look she saw there wasn’t a man confused. It was the look of a man who knew what he wanted.

“Will you marry me, Song?”

Swallowing hard, emotions of joy and anticipation swelled within her.

“I will,” she said.

And as soon as the words left her lips, Kyris gave her the sexiest lopsided grin she had ever seen in her life before his mouth closed around her clit.

With a squeal of pleasure, Song buried her face in the pillows.

She didn’t know about the others, but that was one helluva way to seal the deal.

NEXT IN THE SERIES

Kyro

Book 5 in the Captured by Aliens series

New city, new job, and then kidnapped by aliens?

—exactly the way Evren had seen her year going.

Not.

Add living on a base full of rebels and, well, whoever was in charge of her destiny was definitely having some fun.

She’d probably have to become an intergalactic rebel too…except, was that the path she was meant to take?

In the middle of figuring out her role in this new life, Evren finds herself drawing closer to a rebel that had rescued her: a tall, sexy alien named Kyro, whose presence makes her tingle in places that could get her in trouble.

He pulls her in a way she can’t understand—especially considering that he’s…strange.

He’s different from the others and that’s probably because he’s holding a secret—and not even his brothers in the fight know about it.

It’s a secret so deep, she needs to stay away.

For her safety and for his.

…But how can she resist when he keeps looking at her as if she belongs to him?

Find Kyro here

Read the rest of the series:

Xul

Crex

Yce

ANOTHER NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR

Dear reader,

I hope you enjoyed reading this book as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Kyris and Song reminded me of when I was much younger, when the world was at my fingertips and I discovered love.

Song is Japanese and although I lived in Japan for a short bit, I’m no expert on Japanese culture or language. I did some research when writing this book but if I messed up any of the phrases in any way, this is me asking for forgiveness :)

Kyris was book four in the Captured by Aliens series and there will be a book five with Kyro. He’s an interesting one and I can’t wait to get into his story.

After Kyro’s book, the series may or may not go on. I might continue it into a new series and branch out more into the universe. That will all depend on whether you would like to learn more about the Restitution, etc.

We’ll see how it goes! If you have any input, shoot me an email. I’d love to hear.

If you’ve reached this far, I guess you’ve finished the book. Hooray!

If you would like to leave a review on any of your preferred platforms, I’d appreciate it. If not, that’s okay as well :)

Keep an eye out for Kyro’s book!

Love,

A.G.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This one is for those readers who kept me going even when I doubted myself.

Love,

A. G.

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IF YOU ENJOYED THIS BOOK…

If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review, even if it is only a line or two. It would make all the difference and would be very much appreciated.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A. G. Wilde is an avid reader, a gamer, a lover of all things space, alien, and sci-fi.

She is addicted to intense romance, irresistible heroes, and deliciously naughty things.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Contents

Disclaimer

Keep in Touch

Kyris

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Epilogue

Next in the Series

Another note From the Author

Acknowledgments

Keep In Touch

If you enjoyed this book…

About the Author