THE ALIEN’S TORMENT

Dhevieth Warriors Series Book 3

LUNA KINGSLEY

B&N Publishing

Copyright © 2021 by Luna Kingsley

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Epilogue

Acknowledgments

Coming Soon!

About the Author

Also by Luna Kingsley

Chapter 1

My lungs begin to burn, the weight of the bloated wallarb carcass growing heavy on my back. Somehow even in the murky depths of the water, the rotten stench of the decaying beast surrounds me. The time of the night combined with the algae filled water makes it nearly impossible to see where I’m going as I kick my limbs—just not too fast to draw attention to my position. I must rely on my instincts to guide me to the shore.

The water shallows, bringing me naturally closer to the surface. I rise only enough to inhale deeply, the wallarb keeping me hidden from the guards patrolling the research lab where Willa is being kept. We have no available intel on her location, but they’ve increased their security here at the research lab. The rift between our kind was caused because they see these females as an experiment. Something to use as a means toward the advancement of our race. Surrogates for dhevieth young.

I understand all too well how ruthless the alphas can be to make sure only the strongest and fittest of our kind thrive. Carrying the weight of this dead wallarb on my back reminds me of everything I went through to be able to call myself a warrior of dhevieth in the first place. Those of us at the bottom always had to work harder to be seen as anything other than expendable.

Something nudges my leg. Moments later a sharp jolt of pain slices into my calf. The wallarb has done its job of keeping the predators lurking in the depths away but my luck is running out. Now instead of creatures keeping their distance, they’ve come to feast.

Time for me to lose my cover.

“Rot has made it to the shore again.” The voice comes from in front of me, not too far away, signaling my proximity to the bank.

“Floating there,” a different voice says. “A carcass, just off the shore.”

“The second one in a week.” This voice sounds put out like it exceeds his job description to have to deal with things that show up along the water bank.

“The smell is atrocious and it’s massive. We need to chop it up and burn it before the stench gets any worse.”

Heavy footsteps sound while I float just beneath the surface of the water, the carcass holding me in place. When the sounds of the guards disappear, I push out from under the dead weight of the blubbery sea creature. Not only was it keeping me hidden, but warm as well. As soon as I lose its heavy blubber, the cold of the night accosts my wet skin. A quick scan of the empty shore and I’m sprinting out of the water before the guards return. My pants cling to my skin, my waterproof pouch still slung sideways across my bare chest, keeping my supplies dry and protected.

The one thing I didn’t bring along for this mission is my plasma blaster. It’s a one warrior mission which means I’m not looking to draw any attention to myself. Slip in under the cover of a sea beast, slip out with Willa once I create a distraction. My body may look sculpted and strong now, but there was a time when I had to rely on my intelligence—not brute strength. And since Willa falling into enemy hands again is my fault, I’m here to fix the problem.

I hurry to the side of the building. My one advantage is the familiarity of my surroundings. Before we chose sides and drew new territory across the mountain, this was my home too. I’ve walked these shores and worked guard shifts at these buildings. It only takes seconds for me to gain access to the building and slip inside. The layout is familiar, but it’ll take time to figure out where they’re keeping Willa.

At the first sign of more guards in the hallway, I cut into the closest room to keep me out of sight. Once it’s quiet again, I continue on my way. Through process of elimination, I check the same floor and room the females were held in the first time the elders wanted to use them for their experimentation.

But it’s empty.

Instead, I listen for the noise and activity, assuming she’ll be kept wherever the guards are congregating. I find them on the highest level of the building.

Next step…distraction.

It’s here I wait, hidden out of sight. Nearly twenty minutes pass before a lone guard passes my position, giving me the opportunity to strike. Before he can make a sound, my hand clasps around his mouth as I use my strength to pull him into the alcove with me. I inject him within seconds, his body going limp and sliding to the ground. It won’t kill him, just let him sleep so I can have the time I need to get to Willa and get out without causing a scene.

I strip him of his uniform and most importantly, take his comms unit. Once his body is hidden where he won’t be discovered until I’m long gone, I raise the communication device to my lips.

“All security personnel report to the shore to assist with clean-up. Again, all security personnel.”

The confused rumbling begins at the end of the hallway as soon as my order comes through. But, like any good warrior, they do as they’re told. They won’t question it once they get outside and are struck by the smell and see the clean-up crew already busy with the task.

Soon my path to Willa is clear.

After disabling the door, I step inside, unprepared for what I’m about to see.

Willa is indeed inside. She’s strapped down to a flat silver surface, her body completely bare. Her legs are bent, open wide and strapped to the table. A machine beeps and whirs by her head, tubes delivering liquid protruding from her arms. Her chest rises and falls, her eyes closed, her mouth covered by some sort of breathing device.

Why all the guards when there’s no possible way she’d ever escape this?

I’m frozen just inside the door, and it takes the click of the lock behind me to get me moving. When I do, I’m determined to free her of these tubes and restraints. My blood boils as I stride across the room, stopping when I reach her side.

Thoughts of, “this is all my fault,” bombard me. If only I had kept a tighter grip on her when we were flying back to the mountain. If only I hadn’t dropped her. Who knows what they’ve done to her now?

I’m not a medic and for the first time since I agreed to come on this mission, I realize it would’ve been a good idea to bring Kraal along. But since I’m running out of time, I gently take the first tube between two of my fingers and tug until it slides free of her skin. A dot of blood, staining her pale skin red, follows the needle.

I keep going.

One needle after another, pulling until she’s no longer hooked up to the machine. Her skin is streaked with blood but nothing too significant that can’t be treated once we’re free of this place. I remove her restraints and then finally the clear mask covering her mouth and nose. She looks so small and frail on this table—helpless.

A quick rifling through the cabinets and I find a thin set of pants and a short sleeve top to cover her with. It’s too cold to sustain her in this, however, so I wrap her in a blanket like a cocoon. Then she’s in my arms and I’m carrying her from this place.

I backtrack, stopping when I reach the guard still passed out from the injection I gave him. Bending down, I take his weapon.  When I agreed to be the one to rescue Willa, I wasn’t going to hurt anyone if I could help it. Not because I’m against that, but because it makes our escape easier. But after seeing what they did to her and how the guards were okay with it…I’m not against using violence to get us out of here anymore.

We make it out of the building without incident, into the cold, dark night. The change in temperature causes Willa to stir in my arms. Whatever they sedated her with must finally be starting to wear off.

Down by the shore a massive fire blazes, black smoke billowing into the sky. The scent of death lingers on the air as I move in the opposite direction. It won’t be long before they discover what I’ve stolen from them. But she’s mine now and anyone who tries to take her again won’t live to see the dawn.

Chapter 2

A pleasant warmth and unusual comfort greet me with consciousness. Something so foreign to me since I’ve been taken I don’t want to open my eyes. It can only be the remnants of a dream, a hallucination so strong it feels real. But then the soft fibers of a blanket brush against my chin just as the unmistakable crackle of a fire reaches my ears. I breathe in deeply, sputtering when the smell reaches me.

I finally find the courage to open my eyes because my senses are telling me I’m no longer in that cold, sterile room. Except, I don’t understand how that’s possible.

“Drink this.” A deep voice that vibrates through my body surprises me by its closeness. After his body comes into focus and I’m able to accept the canteen, he moves away, watching me from a distance.

“Ondin?” I ask after I’ve quenched my thirst.

He nods. His expression is intense, serious…his eyes never leaving my face. I want to ask him what’s wrong, why he looks so upset, but I’m sure it’s just because he drew the short straw and had to be the one to come after me.

“Is it just you?” When he doesn’t offer any information, I work to get a little more from him. My head is still fuzzy from being sedated and I don’t actually know how long I’ve been kept in the lab. From what I can remember, I’ve been asleep for most of it.

“Just me.” He moves forward to take the canteen when I finish with it before moving again so there’s distance between us. It stings for some reason. I know how big of a flirt Ondin can be and now he can’t get far enough away from me. My head begins to feel like the weight of a bowling ball on my shoulders, so I ease it back down, snuggling into the blankets.

“Where are we?” I haven’t bothered looking around beyond the obvious that we’re surrounded by rocks, most likely hidden away somewhere while we wait to be rescued.

“Not far from the research facility. They discovered you’re missing faster than I anticipated. It’s best we hide out here instead of trying to outrun them.”

“They won’t find us here?”

“I’ve learned to trust my instincts over the years. Tonight, they’ll assume we ran for the mountains. When it’s safe to move, I’ll get you home safely.”

“Okay.” I still haven’t moved from my comfortable position by the fire, wrapped in this warm blanket. In fact, I’m ready to close my eyes again and drift off to sleep until Ondin says it’s time to go. I may not have been conscious during a lot of my time in the lab, but I was aware how uncomfortable it was.

“Do you need anything while we wait? I have food and more water.”

It’s already difficult to hold my eyelids open. Now that I know I’m here with Ondin, warm and safe while he keeps watch, I’m ready to drift off again. “I don’t need anything. Just tired.”

“Rest then. I’ll be here.” His voice is like warm caramel over my frayed nerves. There’s so much I should be worried about, but now, I can’t force myself to care. It’s the physical toll on my body since my confinement. Whatever they did to me in there took a lot out of me. It isn’t long before I drift off again.

Walking up the street, my backpack slung over one shoulder, my stomach drops when I see my stepdad’s car already parked in the driveway. He’s supposed to be at work so the fact that he’s home just means he got fired from another job. I check the mailbox but it’s empty. Another reason my stomach twists with anxiety. Acceptance letters to colleges are starting to be delivered. My best friend Angela got her acceptance letter to the state university yesterday. I’ve been eager to get home all day to see if my letter arrived, too. The only thing…I wanted to get to it before Paul.

The screen door slams shut behind me. After a quick check of the table and then counter, I make a beeline for my bedroom. I’ve almost made it without incident when something catches on my backpack, pulling me backward and off balance.

Paul suddenly crowds me in the tiny hallway, standing over me and stinking of booze. His eyes are red and bloodshot, a crumbled letter in his hand which he now thrusts into my face.

“What the fuck is this?” he asks, slurring his words.

When my mom married Paul, I quickly learned that keeping my mouth shut around him was the best way to handle these types of situations. It doesn’t matter what I say, he has a horrible temper, and the sound of my voice seems to set him off. What makes it worse is I know my mom would defend me if she were home. But she’s always working. Doing the one thing Paul can’t do—hold down a job.

“You think you’re better than us, Willa? Think you’re going to take off when you finish school like you don’t owe me for giving you a place to stay and keeping food on the table?”

“No, of course not.” I shake my head, doing whatever I can to appease him. All I want to do is get him to leave me alone so I can lock myself in my room until my mom comes home. Most days after school I’m lucky enough to get to go into work so I’m out of the house. Unfortunately, I’m not on the schedule tonight.

“No, of course not,” he says, mimicking me with a high-pitched voice. “You’re no better than me, you little brat. Just like your damn mother, thinking she’s too good.” He quiets when he says the last comment, almost like he’s talking to himself. But then his volume increases again when he focuses back on me. “You’re going to pay your way around here. You understand? No more free rides!” He crumples the letter and throws it giving me the opportunity to slip into my room and lock the door behind me.

“You’re worthless, Willa!” he says, banging on the door. “Fucking worthless!”

When I wake up Ondin is carrying me.

“You must have been dreaming,” he says. “You were talking in your sleep.”

I often dream of my life before. Growing up in such an unstable environment imprinted on my soul, leaving piles of trauma for me to deal with. “Sorry,” I say, embarrassed at what I might’ve said while remembering my dream. They aren’t always specific things that happened to me, but they often feature Paul, red faced and screaming in my face. I never did learn how to stand up to Paul. Instead, I ran away. Flew across the galaxy in search of a fresh start. He still finds me in my dreams even though he can’t reach me in person anymore.

“Don’t apologize.” His grip tightens on my body, his tone sharp.

Has he grown tired of carrying me such a long way? This entire rescue is no doubt taking a toll on him and here I am forcing him to carry me like a damsel in distress. No wonder he’s being short with me. My worst fear of becoming a burden again is happening, even if it wasn’t my fault that I was taken in the first place.

“You can set me down. I’ll be able to walk by now.”

His grip relaxes but he doesn’t put me down. His gaze is burning into me, but I’m not prepared to analyze what I see when I look at him, so I keep my focus elsewhere. Namely on how safe it feels to be held in his arms. I won’t let myself indulge in it, but after being alone and helpless, wondering if I’d ever see my friends again, I’m going to let myself have this moment.

“I will set you down if you have the strength. The terrain isn’t easy, though, and you’re lighter than I expected.”

His tone has softened a bit, easing some of the worry I had that he’s completely put out by this situation. “If it’s not bothering you, I’ll take the lift for a little longer.”

At this time of night, it’s difficult to see around us. I’m not sure where we are, where we’re going or even if I’ve been this way before. But again, I don’t want to bombard Ondin with a million questions when he’s gone out of his way to save me. Even if it would ease my nerves to know how long of a trip we have before we make it back to safety over the mountain pass.

“Was it awful being kept back there?” Ondin asks a short while later.

“Initially. They kept me sedated for most of it, but I distinctly remember being filled with panic when they first strapped me down to the table.”

“But you don’t remember anything after that?”

“Not really…no.”

“It’s just that—“ Before he can say more, he abruptly stops talking. While I wait for him to finish, the muscles in his body go rigid and hard. His senses become more alert to our surroundings causing my blood to pump that much quicker in my veins.

“What is it?” I ask, keeping my voice to a whisper.

“I’ve caught a scent.” He doesn’t make any sudden movements or even attempt to take us from our current path. “Stay calm. We’re being followed.”

Chapter 3

At first it wasn’t anything more than a feeling. The scales along my back began to pulse with awareness but I mistook the sensation as a reaction to holding Willa in my arms.

I catch the scent suddenly. A shift in the night breeze brings it to my nose only seconds before it’s gone again. But it’s all I need to know. On alert, my senses heighten. We’re far enough away from the charred scent of wallarb carcass that I’m able to isolate other scents, enough that I’m able to decipher we’re only being followed by one tracker. Whoever it is, they’re clever. Cleverer than the others who fell for all of my distractions.

“Should we find somewhere to hide?” Willa’s voice isn’t more than a whisper, but I can still make out the fear in her tone.

“Try to stay calm and give me a little more time to see who we’re dealing with.” My arms tighten around her body even though the last thing I want to do is cause her any more pain. After seeing her in such a state on that table, she needs safety without any more incident. She doesn’t deserve to be put through anything else. I’m already amazed at her ability to remain composed through all of this. I wouldn’t think twice if she fell apart, but she seems so much stronger than that.

Nothing gives away our stalkers position. Not the sound of footsteps, the shuffling of leaves or cracking of branches. It’s the shift in the air along with my instincts that I’ve come to rely on because they’ve never let me down before. We walk for ten more minutes before I grow agitated and stop, setting Willa on her feet so I can turn and face the threat at our backs.

“What’s happening?” she asks as I push her behind me. Before I can answer, the shadows move and I’m hit from the side. Instead of going down, I react, my arms wrapping around my attacker. He’s strong and familiar, a foe I’ve fought before.

“Aeh’ers,” I growl under my breath.

His talons slice through the most vulnerable section of my skin, under my wings along my side. My mind registers the pain just as his fist connects with my face. I’d stumble backward if he didn’t have such a solid grip on my arm.

“Ondin!” Willa shouts.

The sound of her voice snaps Aeh’ers out of his blood lust for me, sending his focus back to her. He drops me and lunges for her, but she’s quick, evading his grasp. I grab him from behind, my talon catching into the thickness of his wing.

It slows him down. “Run, Willa!”

She doesn’t hesitate. All I see is her wild hair, the blanket billowing behind her as she disappears into the darkness of the trees.

Aeh’ers growls and tries to follow, but he can’t escape me.

“I should’ve known you’d be the one to find me,” I say. My arms grip him so tightly from behind my muscles burn and pull with heat as he fights against me. All I can think about is helping Willa get as much distance between us as possible.

“You know I’m as good of a tracker as you are. Always have been, Ondin. But you’ve never liked to admit it, have you brother?”

Instead of giving in to his baiting, I get straight to the point. “It doesn’t matter what you believe, you can’t have her.”

Aeh’ers bursts his shoulders wide, extending his wings sending me backward. Instead of hunting Willa down, he turns and postures over me. It won’t work, though. From the moment Willa slipped through my fingers on our way to safety, she’s been my responsibility. I won’t fail her again.

“You have no idea what you’re starting, Ondin. Think long and hard about your actions because they start a full-on war.”

Ignoring his implications, I get to my feet. “So, I should hand her back over to you?” I shake my head slowly, allowing the disgust that has settled in my core for the actions of his side show clearly on my face. “I have seen what you would do with her. How dare you call yourself a dhevieth after allowing such treatment.”

I could be mistaken but he hesitates for the slightest moment where I have to wonder if he’s questioned the tactics of the elders as well. But it would mean he’s changed from the arrogant, conceited youth who enjoyed tormenting me when I was young. I don’t have it in me to believe he’s changed that much.

He drops his head and then fixes me with a determined stare. “She’s the future, Ondin. The future of the dhevieth could be growing right now in her womb.”

Adrenaline is pumping through my body. I still struggle to control the constant urges to pummel Aeh’ers into the ground but his words are a dose of reality shot straight into my veins. “What are you talking about?”

He doesn’t smile or smirk. There’s no boasting or trying to get under my skin when he explains what they did to her in their lab. “While she was sedated in the lab a fertilized dhevieth egg was implanted in her womb.”

I have no words. “Does she know?”

He shakes his head twice. “She was never conscious once the procedures began. They didn’t know how her body would tolerate it so they kept her under.”

The burden of guilt is strong as I think of her sprinting through the woods, getting as far away from us as possible. No matter how far she gets, it won’t be far enough. With this knowledge, she’ll never get away. They’ll never stop hunting her because of what she represents for the future of our kind.

My stomach turns as my body goes cold. This is all my fault.

“Now you understand why you have to take her back.”

I snap.

I launch myself at him, leading with my talons and hoping they find purchase in the depths of his worthless soul. He goes down under the weight of my anger and guilt, transformed into attack after attack against the one warrior who deserves every ounce of suffering I can give.

He fights back. But I can’t stop myself even knowing the rest of the guards from the facility have been sent out after us. This is years of retribution being handed out by my body. I’m possessed, hypnotized with bloodlust as we exchange hits, our blood spilling from our bodies and splattering to the forest floor.

But then, Willa screams. Her voice snaps me out of it. The sound of her terror gets my feet moving without hesitation in her direction, leaving Aeh’ers forgotten behind. Within minutes I track her, only to find more guards swarming her. Fueled with bloodlust and adrenaline, she’s in my arms and we’re in the air, our location no longer a secret so flight is an option again. In full warrior mode, my senses are alert. The guards have our location and they’re on us now, moving fast behind.

“Hold onto me tightly, Willa. I might need my arms.”

She clings to me, her entire body is pressed to mine. All exhaustion from my fight with Aeh’ers is forgotten. My only focus is getting us to safety. I weave in and out through the tops of the trees, thankful for the darkness. All the while, my eyes search below, waiting to find the perfect place to hide. As soon as I find it, we drop into the shadows and I cover her with my body, my hand covering her mouth to keep her quiet. We’re inside a raised cave hidden in some rocks, the guards flying right over.

After listening for the sounds indicating we’ve been discovered, but nothing happens, I glance down to see Willa’s eyes are huge, staring up at me. Slowly, I remove my hand where it was still covering her mouth. Our bodies are pressed together, my arms locked tightly around her. It only takes a minute to shift from warrior mode to remember what Aeh’ers said about what she’s been through in the lab. She might not want me in her personal space like this. Pushing our bodies together like this, holding her like she’s my mate.

Her eyes are wide and searching. She’s genuinely scared and it takes a moment to realize she might be afraid of me.

I loosen my hold in an attempt to give her space while keeping us hidden. She’s trembling. From the cold? Or from being held by me? Maybe we all terrify her now after what she’s been through.

I cringe knowing what some of my kind are capable of. Living their entire lives locked away from the rest of the world has dulled their sense of empathy toward those who are different. They’re so consumed with the conservation of the pure dhevieth species that they’ve forgotten their humanity.

“We’ll stay here a little longer until it’s safe to move. We’re well hidden and no one can track as well as I can.”

She nods. I rearrange her blanket to make sure she’s covered and warm. This would be a perfect time to tell her what Aeh’ers said. She deserves to know. So why am I having such a difficult time getting the words out?

I don’t want her to see me as one of the monsters once she knows. But knowing will change everything. How could it not?

I’ll tell her, when we make it back safely.

“Close your eyes—sleep. I’ll keep watch. No one will hurt you while I’m here.”

Chapter 4

I’m completely shaken, adrenaline still pumping through me after running for my life. There’s no possible way I’m falling asleep right now. I crave Ondin’s warmth, but he’s moved away closer to the entrance, keeping watch.

It’s dark all around us but because of his particular shade of silver, he’s visible to me. His wings are pressed tightly to his back, his bulk impossible to hide within this crowded space. His hand is pressed tightly to his side as he glances out to check our surroundings.

“Are you hurt?”

He signals for me to be quiet. Even though I whispered, the dhevieth have incredible senses. He can hear things I can’t even though all is quiet to my ears for now. Never in my life have I been able to count on someone else to take care of me like this. I can’t explain it, but I trust Ondin to get me over the mountain pass and back with my friends. He may be a flirt but he’s serious about his work. I’ve seen his dedication many times over since we’ve arrived in this place.

Drops begin to land on the ground beneath where his hand is pressed. His chest rises and falls heavily but he’s not making a sound. He’s been hurt defending me. Warmth spreads through my insides knowing he’s got my back, standing between me and anyone who wants to take me against my will.

Time passes, and I doze off. It’s the rustling right next to my head that awakens me with a start.

“Shhhh, it’s me. Go back to sleep.”

Ondin has moved closer to me again, further inside the cave. Outside is complete blackness, sounds of chirps, howls and yips echoing through the night. He’s struggling to hold a small light to his side long enough to treat his wounds.

“Here, let me help you.” I scoot around so I’m sitting on my knees in front of him. “Hold the light so I can see. Do you have healing plaster?”

He hands it to me without a word. The small light the size of a pen illuminates a deep tear in his skin still oozing blood. I rest my right hand on his abdomen as I move in closer, causing him to jump from my touch.

“Sorry,” I whisper, “does that hurt?”

I look up and our eyes collide as he gently brushes his fingers over mine. “No, you surprised me.”

I nod, trying to focus myself on his wounds instead of his piercing blue eyes that glow in the dark. “Okay, hold still.” The healing plaster only takes moments to apply and dry, forming over the wound and stopping the bleeding. “Anywhere else?”

We’re only inches away from each other when I turn to glance at him again. His eyes are still on me, his tongue darting out to wet his lips.

I shake myself. Here I am, falling under the same spell so many other females have fallen under with Ondin. As soon as he answers me, explaining the rest of his wounds are superficial, I hand him back his supplies and put more space between us. I need to keep a clear head and remember that I’m a mission for Ondin, nothing more.

Once I remember what happened to me in that research lab, I’m going to need therapy. The last thing I need is to add a broken heart to the list.

Ondin keeps us in the cave for a day so it’s the dead of night when we reach the mountain pass that creates the border between enemy territory and safety. Exhaustion weighs me down in a way I’ve never experienced before.

“How long was I in the research lab before you found me?” Ondin leads me along a thin uphill path. I can’t figure out where exactly we’re going to get to the other side of these massive rocks, but I’m crossing my fingers we don’t actually have to climb all the way to the top. At this time of night, being completely out of gas, I’d never make it.

“It took a few days. Once the decision was made, I ventured after you, but I had to be careful to cover my tracks.”

Now that we’re close enough, an opening in the side of the mountain appears. A small flashing red dot caught my attention first, followed by the lengthy tunnel underneath.

“You have no memory of time while you were in there?” Ondin asks.

“No. I mean, they kept me under most of the time. Of course, I remember being taken to the lab and strapped to the table. That was unpleasant enough that I dream about it almost every night.”

We enter the tunnel, darkness surrounding us. A strong musty scent hits from stale air and dust. My throat tickles and I start to cough, covering my face with the blanket to avoid breathing the particles directly into my lungs.

After another few minutes, we emerge from the tunnel into more quiet and darkness.

“This seems so anticlimactic.”

Ondin stares at me, his expression one of confusion. “You hoped for more chaos?”

“No, but I didn’t think it would be this easy.”

He nods, understanding what I’m getting at. After the guards chased us and we hid in the caves, we made it to the pass without any more conflict. It’s unexpected. I imagined them waiting for us everywhere we turned, dragging me back to the lab.

“We’re not far now. Soon you’ll be safe and able to rest as long as you’d like.”

I’m actually worried that my legs will give out before we make it but there’s no way I’m asking him to carry me again.

I learned early on in my relationship with Paul what would happen when I asked for things. He never did anything to be nice or because I was a child who deserved to be taken care of. No, he’d make sure I knew how much it put him out to be asked and he’d want to know how I planned to make it up to him.

I still remember the time in third grade when my class was planning a field trip to explore caves. It was a normal tourist attraction that anyone could visit but I’d never been there before. We were learning all about stalactites and stalagmites, types of rocks and how caves are formed, so the thought of getting to see all of this in person was really exciting. The whole idea of getting out of classes for the day and spending it with friends instead is always appealing as a child. That’s as exciting as the field trip itself.

We had to take a form home for our parents to sign giving us permission to go on the trip and our families were asked to contribute five dollars toward the cost. Well, I was able to get Paul to sign the form, telling him it was for school, but when the topic of money came up, he became as confrontational as always. In the end, I turned in my form but didn’t have the money to go along with it. Thankfully, my teacher was amazing and told me not to worry about it with a smile and a side hug.

Back in third grade I learned that some people were willing to go the extra mile to make things happen for other people. Unfortunately, I was forced to spend so much more time with Paul over the years than people like my third-grade teacher Mrs. Fritz. I learned to keep my mouth shut and do things myself because it wasn’t worth asking for help if I was constantly berated for it.

“Now that we’re safe over the mountain, I can pick you up and fly us to the compound. If you’re okay with that.”

He waits for me to answer before he touches me. I’m so relieved to have him finally ask I have the overwhelming desire to burst into tears. “Yes, just get us where we need to go, please.”

He cradles me to his chest and lifts off the ground. My relief is instant. What seems like five minutes pass until we’re landing on the military base and slipping quietly inside. I would’ve thought everyone would be sleeping, but Drocrek is waiting for us, no doubt having seen us arrive on the security monitors.

“Welcome back, brother.” Drocrek and Ondin embrace once he sets me back on my feet. “Welcome back, Willa. Everything went smoothly?” Drocrek asks.

“We’re both alive. The lab is still standing. No casualties that I know of. I’d say it went well.”

“Excellent. Kraal and Maren will want to know you’re back.”

“Don’t wake anyone on my account,” I say.

“We’ve all been waiting impatiently for your safe arrival. If I don’t wake them, I’ll never hear the end of it.”

Drocrek leads us to the sleeping quarters where the others are staying. Within minutes the lights are bright, and everyone is awake. Maren and Trinity have me surrounded while Ondin stands in a close circle with Drocrek and Kraal.

“You’re sure you’re okay? I mean, you look okay, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be looked at.” Trinity has pulled my blanket away from my shoulders so she can examine me closer. Aside from the needle marks on my arms, I really do look fine.

“I’m fine, just really exhausted from everything.”

“Okay,” Maren says. “We were really worried about you, Willa.”

The three of us embrace again and it is a relief to be back with my friends instead of cold and alone in that sterile room.

“Now that you’re back, Stux’an will have a ship ready to leave tomorrow if you want,” Trinity says. “We’ve been making arrangements while you’ve been gone so we’d be ready to go as soon as we got you back.”

This information drops into my stomach and just sits, making me squirm on my chair. After everything that happened to me, I’m not ready to process the idea of leaving yet. “I’m really tired. Ondin and I haven’t slept in quite a while. Can I sleep now and talk later?”

“Take my room.” Ondin is suddenly by my side, taking charge. Without waiting for the girls to say anything, he leads me to his room and walks me to the bed. Once inside, he gives me the ten second tour. “Lights, bathroom. I’ll be next door if you need anything.” He points to each thing in order that he says it, keeping it short and simple for the level of our exhaustion and the time of night.

“Thank you, Ondin. For everything.” He stares for a second too long and I get the impression there’s something he wants to say. Instead, he nods and walks out the door, closing it behind him.

Chapter 5

“You told them you’re not leaving.” I’ve been waiting for Willa to emerge from her room all morning. Being apart has been strange…and unsettling. The desire to see her just to make sure she’s still here and okay is overwhelming. The images of her strapped to that table, unconscious with tubes protruding from her arms is burned into my brain. It was the way she was propped up naked with her legs spread that was such a violation, though. She doesn’t remember any of it but I’ll never forget.

“It’s such a sudden decision. I know it sounds strange, like I should want to get out of here, but it makes me feel like I’m giving up. Besides, there’s nothing for me to go home to.” Her small smile is sad today and even though she’s slept for the majority of the day, she still looks exhausted. I’m keeping my distance, leaning against the counter in the kitchen. I’m on my third glass of steaming fejiaper, not because I want anymore but I need something to do to keep myself occupied this morning.

“I’m behind whatever you decide. Did you sleep well at least?”

“I did.”

She pushes herself onto a stool at the counter, apparently not in the mood to speak too much more.

It’s unsettling.

I want her to open up to me and explain to me how she’s feeling. I want to know what she needs, how I can help her. My experience with women is small because I spend most of my time with other warrior males like myself. And even with them I often find myself to be the outsider. Most of all, this is the perfect time to tell her what I know. Instead, I can’t get the words out.

“Why don’t I take you to see the doctor today? Make sure you’re doing okay after everything you’ve been through.”

She immediately stiffens, making me regret suggesting it so soon. Like the coward I am, though, if the doctors discover the pregnancy then I’m saved from having to be the one to deliver the news. I’m so far out of my element right now. I need someone else to carry this burden for me.

“You must have more important things to do than worry about me. I’m sure Stux’an wants you back at work today.”

I take a minute before I answer. Her dismissal stings but I understand if she would prefer to have one of her female friends take her to the medical center.

“Trinity is still here if you’d prefer to have her take you. If you decide to go.”

Before we say anymore, Trinity enters the room from the main door.

“You’re awake. Feeling any better?” The tension is high as she sweeps past me to grab a glass out of the cabinets above.

“Somewhat. Look, Trinity. I didn’t mean to get in the middle of anything before, but I can’t make such a huge decision right now. You caught me off guard last night.”

Before Willa can explain further, Trinity cuts her off.

“You don’t have to explain. You’ve been through a lot, and it wasn’t right of me to dump that on you as soon as you walked through the door. We can talk about it again once you’ve had a chance to recover.”

Then she turns to me.

“What are you still doing hanging around, Ondin? Stux’an didn’t want you back in the control room this morning? That’s where all the other guys are at,” Trinity says.

“Are you worried about me, Trinity?”

She rolls her eyes and laughs. “No. Just figured you had enough time off and Stux’an would be ready to put you back to work.”

I take another sip of my drink, the thick taste becoming stale after so many glasses. “I wouldn’t exactly call it time off.”

Trinity stops what she’s doing and looks between the two of us. “You’ve found someone else to bother. This brings me great joy, Ondin.”

“I’ll always have time for you, Trinity. Don’t become jealous now.”

Willa suddenly climbs off the stool, standing awkwardly before the two of us before saying, “I’m going to go clean up.” Without grabbing anything to eat, she hurries away and disappears in her room again.

“What was that all about?” Trinity asks.

“She’s been through a lot over the last few days.”

“I understand that, but at the same time I don’t want to push her to open up and talk about it if she isn’t ready.”

I debate whether or not I should fix her something to eat and have it ready for her when she finishes her shower while Trinity continues to stare me down…waiting for more information.

“From what I saw of it, she doesn’t know what happened to her in that research lab. They had her sedated for most of the time.”

“Then we should take her to see someone today. Have her examined to make sure she’s okay. Who knows what they did to her in that place?”

“I agree with you. But, as a male I did not think it my place to push this on her. As her friend, I suggest you encourage her to seek out our medical professionals. Whatever they’ve done or tried to do, humans are virtually unknown to our kind.”

Trinity shakes her head, her forehead pinching together between her eyebrows. “Nothing good has come from this place.” She busies herself with mixing her drink. “At this point I think it’s best we just throw in the towel and leave…but I’m not going to leave my friends behind.”

I frame my words carefully before speaking. “We’ve discovered that humans are rare all over Strorix. Your safety cannot be guaranteed unless you were to return to Earth.”

“I know,” she says, her shoulders dipping in defeat. Then as if she’s tired of taking about this, she takes her mug and heads for the door. “I’m going to find Stux’an and then I’ll be back to check on Willa again. He’s going to want to talk to you.”

“I plan on meeting with him soon. I didn’t want to leave Willa alone and Kraal and Maren are out this morning.”

“That’s good. Stay with her, make sure she’s okay.”

She leaves after giving me my instructions. Little does she know; I don’t need any guidance when it comes to Willa. I’ve already committed myself to making sure she’s safe and looked after whether she wants me to do this or not.

Willa has always been the quietest of the human females who never wanted anything to do with me. I spoke with her more over the last few days than all the rest of the time she’s been here. She avoids the attention from the males, keeping her head down, saving her shy smiles for her female friends. Now that we’ve spent time together, regardless of it being forced, I’m intrigued by her strength and want to get to know her better.

Finally, I decide to fix her something to eat. While she finishes her shower, I work in the kitchen.

“You’re still here,” she says when she emerges a little while later.

“I fixed you something to eat. You must be famished.”

She approaches the counter in the kitchen with caution, like I’m going to pounce on her from across the table.

“There is no reason to be afraid of me,” I say, pushing the plate of food toward her.

She looks at me for the first time, really looks at me, like she’s offended I would even suggest such a thing.

“I’m not afraid of you,” she says.

“Wary of me. Unsure of me? You don’t want to be around me now that we’re back. Now that I’ve delivered you here safely.”

“That isn’t true.” She’s tense as she begins to eat, taking small bites though she must be starving. I want to figure out why she’s so hesitant around me, but my words only succeed in making her more tense.

For now, I drop it. I’m impatient by nature and want to understand her hesitancy, but I don’t need to solve all our problems right this moment.

“When you’ve had enough to eat, I’ll take you to the doctor.”

Stux’an arrives then before we can say anything else in private. “Well done, Ondin, I knew I could count on you for this mission. It’s good to have you back, Willa. I know I speak for all the warriors when I say how regretful we are that you were taken at all. We’ve heightened our security measures in order to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Now, if it’s alright with you, I’d like to borrow Ondin for a moment in order to discuss a few things with him.”

“That’s fine,” she says quietly with her shy, polite smile.

“I’ll be right outside if you need anything.”

She nods before going back to eating while Stux’an and I slip out the door.

“We haven’t had a chance to talk about how the mission went,” Stux’an says when we station ourselves outside the door, leaning against the wall. “What can you tell me about it?”

I fill him in on the security of the facility as well as how I found Willa. Aeh’ers attack in the forest and what we found out about the procedure to implant a fertilized dhevieth egg. Willa’s secrets are safe with me but there’s no keeping things from our alpha. Stux’an needs to know everything so he can be prepared for the backlash that is bound to come within the next few weeks.

“They’re going to want her back. If this pregnancy is successful, they’ll destroy us if they need to in order to get her back,” Stux’an says.

“There’s no question. Aeh’ers doesn’t make idle threats. Now that we’ve stolen her back, they’ll be planning something big.”

“We need to be ready. While I work with the rest of our warriors, you need to get her to the medical center so we know what we’re dealing with.”

Never one to dismiss a direct order from a superior, I head back inside preparing myself to force Willa to the doctor. There’s no way around it. We all need to know what we’re dealing with.

Chapter 6

“I can go by myself. It doesn’t bother me.” Ondin’s massive frame takes up most of the path as we walk from the military base to the medical center. After speaking with Stux’an, he came back into the room, determined to push his agenda through.

“You don’t need to go by yourself when I’m here, ready and willing to help you.”

Once again, his tone sounds agitated to me, and I can only assume it’s putting him out to have to play babysitter to me today. It’s suspect that he came back into the room so determined after speaking with Stux’an. If I had to guess, I’d say he was given an order to make sure I had medical attention as soon as possible.

He’d probably rather be flirting with Trinity, but instead he’s forced to take me on this errand. Not that I resent Trinity in the least. I’m used to having men notice everyone else but me. For whatever reason, this time it’s getting under my skin. Maybe because it felt nice to have Ondin taking care of me when he got me out of the lab. I’ve never had that before from a male and the attention was nice.

I should know better, though. There’s nothing about me that will keep a man’s attention for long. Not like some of my friends throughout school who would have the boys tripping over their feet to get their attention. I’ve never had that, so there’s no use in being jealous over something I’ve never experienced.

“You’re so quiet today,” Ondin says, interrupting my thoughts. “Are you nervous to visit the doctors? If so, I can assure you there is nothing to fear. I realize this is difficult for you to trust after your experiences, but Shura and Zudo will only want to make sure you’re healthy.”

“Shura and Zudo?”

“Yes. When the divide happened between our people, everything split. We have our military base on this side of the mountain, they have their military base on their side of the mountain. It is the same with medical facilities. Shura and Zudo are our medical experts. There is still much to learn about humans, of course, but they’ll do all they can for you.”

“I’m sure they will.”

The military base is located close to the mountains. Once we leave the building, we walk along a path that overlooks the rest of the immediate city below. The medical center is the second largest building to the military base and it’s opposite from the base. In between are lands with various buildings and structures built from here to there. One of the things I’m still not used to is the fact there are no roads on Bameh. They don’t need them because the dhevieth have wings making their own form of travel the most efficient.

Today, however, Ondin doesn’t carry me. We walk so I get a chance to take in our surroundings and get used to my new home.

“Where do you stay when you’re not at the military base?” I ask.

“My home was on the other side of the mountain. So, I stay at the base for now. Maybe one day I’ll pick a new place to build something more permanent, but the room I have is more than enough for now.”

“Is this what you’ve always done? Work for the military, I mean.”

“Since I was a young male I wanted nothing more than to be accepted into our military as a warrior. It’s the most prestigious position for the dhevieth males. Those who aren’t strong enough or qualified enough are given an alternative job. Usually something that requires sitting behind a computer screen or working indoors—all things that go against the true nature of the dhevieth. We desire to be free to stretch our wings and be active during the day.”

“Drocrek loves sitting behind computer screens,” I say.

“True. He’s an anomaly. But he also gets out by checking security cameras and installing cameras and going out when something goes wrong. He still manages to stay busy.”

As we continue to walk, I’m envisioning how Ondin’s species is like some of the animal species back on Earth that need to have the opportunity to be free to run every day. To get out and exercise is when they’re the happiest. The dhevieth seem to be like this too. Intelligent beings that can’t be caged.

He manages to keep my mind off what’s going to happen next with our conversation. It makes it all worse that I don’t remember any of it. Who knows what else they did to me while I was unconscious? Now that I’m on my way to the doctor, I’m going to have to face the truth.

We reach the medical facility and it’s a large dome-shaped building with a lot of windows. It’s inviting. Nothing intimidating about it except for the fact that I’d much prefer hiding from the truth for a little while longer.

The inside is colorless, all white walls and silver furniture. A large white desk sits in the middle of the space when we enter, a check-in area. The ceilings are high, stretching at least four floors. Large fans spin slowly from the ceiling, a clean, sterile smell filling the space.

It’s empty inside aside from one male behind the desk who is much smaller physically than Ondin and two dhevieth who sit in the silver chairs in a separate room behind the desk.

“We are here to see Shura or Zudo,” Ondin says, stepping right up to the desk. “Whoever is available. Please inform them I’ve brought the human Willa who was recently rescued from the research lab on the other side of the mountain.”

The “receptionist” scribbles a few notes while Ondin talks and then picks up a comms device before speaking quietly into it.

“Shura will be with you shortly,” the receptionist says.

Ondin thanks him and leads me into the area behind the desk where we both sit together to wait. My legs bounce while I glance around the building, doing my best to keep my nerves in chest. The other two males in the room steal glances my way, no doubt curious about me and what I’m doing here. It’s common knowledge about our presence here but we don’t roam about freely right now, not with the tension between the two sides. So there are still a lot of the inhabitants of Bameh who haven’t seen us in person.

I glance at Ondin to find he’s staring the other two dhevieth down. Within seconds of them noticing, they turn away without looking at me again.

“Ondin!”

I almost jump out of my chair when a female voice suddenly shouts out his name. A female dhevieth emerges from doors off to the side. She hurries to Ondin, throwing her arms around him. My chest prickles uncomfortably and it takes me a moment to remember to breathe. I assumed the doctors would be males because of their issue with the lack of females. But of course, we’ve discovered one of the few females and she’s quite fond of Ondin.

“Sorry to make you wait, come along.” She motions for us to follow so I stand up quickly and go along with them. The two of them walk side by side while I trail behind. They lean their heads close together and whisper as if they’re friends. Or what do I know…maybe they’re lovers or have been in the past. I hate myself for the instant pang of jealousy that makes itself known in the pit of my belly. It isn’t like me to care one way or another because I’m used to being overlooked.

And I’ve known all along that Ondin is like this. He’s always been overly friendly, his personality flirtatious with everyone he comes across. It’s why I’ve kept my distance from him because we may be on another planet, but men like him are always the same.

We reach an exam room and they both turn to look at me. It’s awkward at first because I don’t say anything to ease the tension. It’s not my fault they’ve been whispering like a bunch of middle schoolers passing along the most recent gossip between classes.

“I’ll see you after the exam then.” I step inside without waiting for a response. I don’t need him to pretend he cares. I’m used to doing this on my own and I’ll be fine to continue doing it on my own.

The inside of the room is so different from a typical exam room I’d find on Earth that my confidence falters for a moment. For a moment, I’m transported back to the research lab. To the sterile room with the steel table. Even the cabinets along the wall are similar with large equipment sitting unused off to the side.

“It’s okay. You’re just going to have a seat on the table.”

I want to do what she says. I want to show all of them that I’m strong and no one can really hurt me in this place. But the smell is too strong in my nose, causing me to struggle to get a deep breath into my lungs. My feet won’t move forward even though I’m sending the signal for them to from my brain.

“I…I don’t think…” Before I can get a full thought out of my mouth, my vision grows fuzzy around the sides, black dots speckling across my view. I squeeze my eyes shut in an attempt to get it to go away but the black continues to close in on me. A strangled cry leaves my lips in a gasp and before I can turn and bolt, my limbs turn to noodles and become unresponsive.

Strong arms wrap around me, lifting me from the floor before I lose all my strength and collapse.

“I’ve got you.” I’m conscious enough to register that it’s Ondin who’s speaking. It’s Ondin who’s reassuring me. And that’s enough that my brain shuts off and everything goes dark.

Chapter 7

“You’re still here.” Willa looks shocked when she leaves the exam room with Shura a few hours later. The color has returned to her cheeks and she’s steady on her feet. I’m on my feet and striding toward her, ready to offer my assistance if she needs it.

I look her over from head to foot, but she’s calm unlike when she went into the room. Whatever she’s learned from Shura hasn’t completely devastated her—at least not yet.

“Yes, I stayed. How are you? Everything is okay?” I glance back and forth between Shura and Willa but they remain tight-lipped. Willa glances around. It takes me longer than I want to admit for me to realize she’s not comfortable discussing things right here, out in the open. Maybe not at all with me, regardless of whether I want to be her confidant or not. “I apologize. We can talk more once we get back to the base.”

Shura zips a small pouch and hands it to Willa. “Everything you need for now is in here. You know where to find me if you have any questions. Otherwise, we’ll plan on seeing each other again in a few weeks.”

“Thank you for everything, Shura.”

Willa clutches the pouch to her chest as I lead her from the facility. She’s so calm it’s unnerving but  it could be shock coming off as calm. Underneath it all she might be fighting to keep herself together. I can relate to trying to make everyone believe I was unaffected by everything when really, I was falling apart inside. It was something all too common with my childhood.

As soon as we’re back outside and on our way back to the facility, she glances around while I wait for her to confide in me. Instead, she catches me off guard.

“Shura offered to let Trinity, Maren and me do some medical training at her facility.”

“She did?”

“Yes—since we can’t go back to Nedruinia to finish our program. I’m excited about it. It’ll take my mind off things.”

“Oh.” She’s caught me off guard. Instead of finally discussing what Aeh’ers told me, she’s not mentioning a thing. I filled Shura in on our walk to the exam room, but I couldn’t say too much. If Willa won’t tell me what’s going on, I’m going to have to get the information directly from Shura. “That will be a great opportunity for you. Shura and I have known each other since we were young. She will be a good one to learn from.”

Willa hugs the pouch Shura gave her to her chest. She’s calm but closed off to me. Keeping what happened and the knowledge she’s learned a secret.

“Did everything else go well? You’re healthy?”

“Yup.” She doesn’t hesitate to answer, and she doesn’t elaborate. Here I thought this would be the moment we could finally talk about it. The secret both of now know. But for now, it appears she’s going to keep it to herself.

“Good. That’s good.” I sound like a fool, suddenly at a loss for words. Not sure where we go from here. Then, like she can’t wait to get away from me, Willa takes off toward the base.

“I’m going to find Trinity and Maren so I can tell them about the opportunity with Shura. I’ll see you later. Thanks for going with me.” She waves, increasing her speed while I slow down, confused by her dismissal.

She’s pushing me away, but I want to help.

Her rejection stings, a sensation I’m not used to. I stare after her retreating form, trying to make sense of it all. Everything in me tells me to go after her, sit her down and talk this through until she understands my intentions. But then I question myself. She’s not like the other females I know. She’s never been interested in my attention when it didn’t have a purpose.

Maybe she sees right through me.

I wait until she’s a decent distance ahead before I follow her. I’ll give her space, but I won’t abandon her completely. It isn’t in my blood to do that. Not when I’ve made a commitment to look after her. She doesn’t know me well yet which means she doesn’t know how stubborn I can be.

Like I told her, I wanted to be a warrior from the time I was just a young dhevieth. But I wasn’t like my peers. I wasn’t as tall as them or as strong as them. Aeh’ers called me pyarr which is what we call the weakest animal of the pack when they’re born. The one not expected to survive the winter when survival of the fittest comes into play.

His names and cruel taunting only fueled my desire to prove to my tribe that I was worthy to be a warrior even if I wasn’t what they were looking for. When the first round of warrior training began, I was not allowed to participate. The troop left the main city, trekking far into the wilds of Bameh and I tracked them the whole way on my own.

They never suspected my presence.

At night I kept watch from a nearby ledge. My friends made camp below and after hunting for their dinner, settled in while only setting up watch points from their two vulnerable sides. But they didn’t pay attention to the stories the elders told of the braaqnans that hibernate in the mountains. They’ll stay dormant unless tempted by the scent of fresh meat. An entire pack descended on them from the mountain after they began roasting their kill over the fires. If I hadn’t set trip wires along the bottom to alert the camp to their approach, warriors would’ve died before the training began.

Back then I was stubborn to be left behind and I haven’t outgrown it. Willa may be pushing me away for reasons I don’t understand, but it doesn’t mean I’ll accept it.

But I can give her space if that’s what she needs.

Once I’m sure she makes it back to the base safely, I check in with Drocrek.

“How are things?” I ask, making myself comfortable by taking a seat.

“Glitchy. You know what kind of mood that puts me in. But the fact that you’re here in my domain, asking me about my day tells me you need something. Am I right?” He doesn’t stop what he’s doing, still staring at the monitors that take up half of the wall in the room. It baffles me how he keeps it all straight. The entirety of the perimeter security can be accessed from this room. The cameras along the borders, the cameras in the tunnels, the poles that stream electricity to keep anyone from strolling over the mountain unannounced. Drocrek controls it all right here at his fingertips.

“It’s about Willa. I’d like extra security measures in place for her.”

“I thought you were her security.” Even without glancing in my direction, I don’t miss his smirk.

“I am.”

My unspoken words linger in the air between us. He knows there’s more to say but suddenly, I’m embarrassed to admit what’s going on.

“But…” Drocrek prompts.

“She wants her space. And women are foreign to me, so I don’t know how to help her through this. I believe she’s in danger. There’s no way Aeh’ers will let this go, not when I stole her out from under his nose. He’s going to come for her, and I want to make sure we’re ready.”

“Women are foreign to all of us, brother.” He finally leans back in his chair and looks away from the screens. “Security is tight, we check it multiple times daily. I have some gadgets we can use for Willa specifically though if it’ll make you feel better.”

“Yes, let’s do it.”

“I put a tracking device in a bracelet when Kraal wanted to track Maren. We can go that route or try something new. Do you want her to know about this?”

“She’s smart. As long as it’s something that’ll keep her safe, she’ll wear it. In fact, I have something you can put it in. Something I’d like her to have.”

“Really? Okay, grab it. I’ll get started on the device.”

We both stand up at the same time, moving in opposite directions when the entire room goes dark. The lights, the monitors, everything.

“Is this that glitch you were talking about?” I stand frozen in place while waiting to see if the backup power will kick in and the monitors will turn back on.

Drocrek has just begun messing with things when the lights flicker back on, the screens lighting up, whirs and beeps sounding through the room.

“Must be,” he says, but his expression makes my heart stop dead in my chest.

I take off at a sprint to find Willa.

Chapter 8

The aliens impregnated me. It’s all I can think about as I hurry away from Ondin and rush inside the base.

I’m pregnant. With an alien baby. My mind is spinning. Worries are building up and playing on a loop as I think about all the things that can wrong. Most importantly, I’ll never be able to leave now. There’s no going back to Earth with an alien baby in my womb.

Then, as if my environment is reflective of the state of my mental capacity, the lights go out as soon as I step into our sleeping quarters.

“What the hell is going on now?” Trinity’s voice sounds through the darkness.

“Is that you, Willa?” Maren is coming from the direction of her bedroom. Only seconds pass before the lights flicker back on and our worried faces are illuminated once again.

“It’s me.” Panic sets in seeing my friend’s faces in the light. I could tell them what happened at the appointment, but Maren is just getting settled with Kraal. Trinity wants to get the hell away from this place. So, I head straight for my room to put the things Shura gave me away. They’re specifically for a pregnancy: supplements, pills if I get morning sickness, other things she tossed in there that I wasn’t fully paying attention to.

“Where are you going?” Trinity yells after me. “Did everything go okay?”

After taking a moment to pull myself together, I rejoin them, preparing myself for all of their questions.

“Everything went fine.” My heart is pounding out of my chest as I do my best to walk casually into the kitchen to get something to drink.

“Still no memories of anything, though?” Maren asks.

“No, it’s all the same. Shura said I’m healthy. Nothing to worry about.” They’re both quiet as I fix myself something to drink. The door flies open as I’m putting everything away, Ondin rushing inside.

“What’s going on?” Maren asks, alarmed by his sudden appearance.

We’re all staring at him but his eyes slam into me.

“Is everything okay here?” he asks.

The three of us look at each other, wondering if we’re missing something. “Yes. The power went out for a minute but it’s back on now.”

He fills up the space of the room, dominating it in a way I’ve never noticed before. The dhevieth are all massive but as he stands before us, worrying about our safety, I see him with new eyes.

His muscles flex and move under his scales, sending a wave of tingles through my body. My nipples harden, rubbing against the fabric of my shirt until I’m restless. He watches me with the gaze of a hunter tracking his prey, but I know I’m imagining it. He’s on edge because of the outage, worried there’s been a breach.

“I’m going to check the border to make sure everything is secure. Remain here until you receive word it’s safe to leave.”

He waits until I acknowledge his words with a nod before he hurries out the door.

“Yes, sir,” Trinity says with mocking intensity once he’s gone. “What was that all about?”

“This is a military base, Trin,” Maren says, “They’re going to be concerned when the power goes out.”

Trinity’s attitude has changed drastically from day one until now. Not that I blame her. We’ve been through a lot. Still, it’s amusing how she’s over the aliens at the moment. She wants to go home and since she can’t have that, she doesn’t want to be told what to do.

Changing the subject, I tell them about Shura’s offer.

“When can we start?” Trinity asks, clearly on board.

Weeks later, we’re all back again, sitting in a small, sterile room in the medical center. It’s my favorite part of the day because it distracts me from my growing list of worries. Shura watches me closely. She’s kept my secret like I asked, even though she doesn’t understand why I won’t confide in my friends…in anyone. I don’t fully understand it either. All I know is that once I talk about it with them, once I say it out loud, it becomes real. And I’m not ready for the flood of opinions and emotions that will go along with the revelation of my condition. I’m not prepared for how everyone will react. For what they will think or what they think I should do about it. I haven’t even made these decisions yet.

I don’t know how I feel.

“What do you think about a walk to gather fresh ingredients?” Trinity asks. “You look like you could use some fresh air.”

“Yes! Me too,” Maren says, immediately getting off her chair.

“Fresh air sounds nice.” I let Trinity take my arm while I grab my things.

“Are you leaving early today?” Shura asks, walking into the room.

“No, just getting some fresh air,” I say.

“Oh.” Shura pauses, holding back the words she clearly wants to say.

“Spit it out,” Trinity says.

“Ondin won’t like that you’re walking around outside the facility without one of the warriors with you. He’s strict about security.”

“Yes, we know.” Trinity has no patience but my heart squeezes in my chest, knowing he’s made it a point to instruct Shura not to allow us outside without him. He has always been around since we returned, even though I’ve done my best to keep my distance.

“We’re just going to grab some fresh supplies. We won’t go far,” Maren says.

Sarah isn’t with us today so it’s just the three of us. She hasn’t been feeling like herself so she stayed behind in her cave with Vah’all. Shura watches us go, her expression relaying her unease about it.

We leave through the back of the building following a path. At first, there’s an area like a meadow, full of plants and flowers with plenty of things to pick and forage. Further back away from the building is where the forest begins.

“When do you think Sarah is going to admit to us that she’s pregnant?” Maren asks.

We spread out into the tall, fluffy grass-like pasture, inspecting the tall stalks for the various herbs that are necessary ingredients to the medicines on Bameh. As soon as Maren starts talking, my stomach drops, and I can practically feel the color drain from my face.

“Right?” Trinity says, chiming in. “First her morning sickness, then her sensitivity to how everything smells…she should just come out and tell us.”

“What do you think, Willa?” Maren asks.

The breeze blows against my face as I take the air into my lungs, gulping it down in order to try to remain calm. My back is turned toward them as I busy myself with the plants below me. “She’s probably just waiting for the right time to say something.”

They continue talking at my back while I move deeper into the meadow toward the forest. I’m picking buds and berries as I walk, dropping them into my container. My body suddenly trembles from head to foot, my thin clothes not enough protection from the cooling temperatures. Glancing down at my stomach, I have to wonder how long it will be before I start to show. Until it’ll be impossible to keep my secret hidden. Before I’m exposed, my secrets spilled at my feet for everyone to witness.

Why am I suddenly so cold? And why am I struggling to breathe?

I never asked Ondin for specific details of when he rescued me but maybe it’s time. The memories from my time in that place are buried somewhere deep within me, but they’ve yet to resurface. Maybe it’s for my own good. But at the same time, I’m stuck in this weird limbo of trying to move on while not really knowing what I’m moving on from. I’m pregnant with no recollection of how I got this way.

It’s messing with my head.

Escaping into the protection of the trees, the wind dies down and I find the quiet I seek. I wander a ways into the shadows before sitting down on a fallen tree stump. Maren and Trinity are still visible through the trees though they’re much further away now.

Finally, I can take in a deep breath. One thing is clear while I try to hold myself together—I can no longer do this on my own. What I wouldn’t give to be in Sarah’s situation. She has Vah’all, a devoted mate who’s going to be with her, by her side through her pregnancy. If she’s scared about the challenges growing an alien baby could present, she has someone who cares about her, always looking out for her.

I wish I had that, too.

Maybe one day.

A sound deeper in the woods draws my attention. It’s still daylight but it’s nearing dusk and the trees are thick enough to block out the natural light. This is the time when the animals that live in the shadows start to move around. This is the time when they start to hunt.

I’m on my feet, walking back to Maren and Trinity. I don’t get far, however, because I’m grabbed from behind, a hand covering my mouth to muffle my screams.

Chapter 9

I’m at my guard post when I receive the message from Shura that the women have left the medical facility to collect ingredients. Without hesitation, I press a few buttons on my wrist comm to connect with her.

“They’re behind the building. I can still see them from here,” Shura says as soon as she connects. “But I can’t stay here to watch them. I have patients to see.”

“I’ll be there soon to watch over them.”

We say goodbye and I try to focus on my post, but it’s impossible now that I know Willa is wandering around behind the facility without protection. I’ve kept my distance these last few weeks but also watched over her from afar.

I can’t help myself.

I grew up with Aeh’ers so the distrust between us runs deep. Willa is in the middle of us. He wants her back and I’ll do everything in my power to make sure she’s not taken again.

My gaze is set over the expanse of the mountain pass when the electrical poles flicker and the beams stop. Without the low hum it’s too quiet, alarm kicking in as I draw my weapon. Backup warriors are deployed to our location moments later.

“What’s going on?” I ask as soon as one of the warriors appears by my side.

“Another glitch in the power grid,” he says. “We’re increasing security along the border until Drocrek fixes the issue.”

“The security cameras are out too?”

“The entire power grid.”

A burst of cold wind whips over the mountain as the warrior delivers this news. The outage could be related to the weather. Around this time of year, it always gets colder and windier. But the niggling feeling in my gut tells me it has nothing to do with the wind. We haven’t been operating for long on this side of the mountain, but these glitches haven’t happened before. Drocrek is the best at what he does. He’ll have planned for technical issues related to the weather which is why my gut tells me this is something more.

I press the button on my comm to get Drocrek in the control room but there’s nothing but static. I already know he’s on top of this. Out of frustration, I check Shura again but the response is the same. The clouds above darken as the wind continues to whip around. There’s no movement below, only the rustling of the trees but I’m restless and uneasy.

“I need to go to the medical facility. Keep watch. Be diligent.” The warrior is young and eager to do his job. He nods but I’m already hurrying from my post, drawn toward the woman who gives me new purpose while turning my usual way of life upside down.

“Ondin!” Kraal shouts to get my attention just as I’m about to lift off into the sky. A rumble of thunder moves through the sky followed seconds later by the first drops of rain. “What is it?” He’s just arrived at the mountain, but I don’t have the patience to linger.

“I don’t know yet but I’m heading to the medical center to check on the women.”

“Call me if you need me.”

“Comms are down.”

“Then I’m coming with you.”

I don’t argue. His mate is with Willa. He’ll want to make sure they’re all safe as much as me. Now that I carry the secret knowledge that their experimentation was a success, none of the humans are safe. It doesn’t matter that Sarah and Maren have been claimed as mates. The elders will do what they feel is necessary for the continuation of our species. And they’ve never seen the human females as equals. They’ve always been less than the dhevieth, considered for how they could be beneficial to our species.

There is a large part of me that carries guilt for keeping this knowledge a secret but then I’d just feel guilty for betraying Willa. I’m stuck, unable to figure out the best solution in this situation.

The rain increases just as Kraal and I take to the skies, heading toward the medical facility. Now that it’s raining, the women will return indoors, but this still doesn’t ease my worries. The combination of weather along with the power outage is enough to put me on edge.

“What has you worried, brother?” Kraal asks once we’re both in the sky.

“This is the second outage which leaves our borders vulnerable. Drocrek is too good at his job for this to be a glitch that keeps happening.”

“You think they’re making a move to invade?”

“Something’s going on, I can feel it.”

The rain wets my skin, the wind working against us, but it doesn’t stop us. Our scales and thick skin protect us from the worst of the storm. As we fly toward the medical facility, I scan the borders, finding nothing.

When we reach the facility, a quick circle around the perimeter shows nothing but an empty, rain-soaked meadow, sending us directly inside. The hallways are almost empty but the appearance of two drenched, armed warriors creates a stir. It doesn’t take long before Shura comes hurrying toward us.

“This is a two-person job now?” Shura asks, clearly confused to have the both of us crowding her hospital’s hallways.

“Did the power go out here, too?” Kraal asks.

Shura nods, crossing her arms over her chest. “Our backup generators kicked in. It didn’t last long.”

“And the women are back inside?” I’m glancing around, expecting the three of them to appear at any moment. They’re never far away from Shura when they’re here unless they’re busy working in the private room that has been designated as theirs during their learning. “Are they working?”

“I haven’t seen them since I spoke with you,” Shura says. “They’re not checking in with me, letting me know where they are at all time, Ondin. They’re adult women.”

“Where is the room where they work?”

The three of us rush down the hallway, Shura leading the way but feeding off my urgency. It’s too quiet when we reach the room. I know before we look inside that it’s empty.

“Where else could they be, Shura?” I slam my hand against the wall next to the door, panic rising within me. An unexpected reaction when I’m used to high pressure situations. This is the first that involves Willa, though. When it comes to her my reactions have become more impulsive and based on emotion than I’ve allowed them to be in the past.

“Relax, Ondin. They won’t be far,” Shura says, walking off down the hallway.

A flash of lightning flickers through the windows followed by more rumbles of lightening. Hurried footsteps draw my attention and moments later, Maren and Trinity appear, soaking wet from the rain and out of breath.

“Where is Willa?” Kraal takes Maren in his arms, panic moving through my body making it impossible for me to remain calm.

“She wandered off,” Maren begins. “We searched for her but then it started to storm. We couldn’t see her anywhere.”

No.

I can’t fail her again.

Silently, I curse myself for keeping my distance. While trying to do right by her, I’ve given Aeh’ers the opportunity to reach her again. Without waiting for Kraal, I run through the hallway and out the back doors of the building. The rain is coming down in sheets, making it difficult to see as far or as clearly into the distance as I’d usually be able to.

The meadow is still clear, so I move toward the trees, knowing as a tracker myself, I’d use the cover of the forest to hide my movement. If the glitch in our power allowed Aeh’ers and his men to cross the border, he’ll move quickly to apprehend her. His goal to get her over the border before we’re aware she’s gone.

But he’s underestimated me one too many times. I’m not the boy of our youth and there’s no better tracker than me. The rain saturates the air making it difficult to catch Willa’s scent, but my obsession with her has honed my instincts. She’s out here. I may not be able to smell her, but I sense her, nonetheless.

“Willa!” I shout to her while making my way through the trees. The canopy above blocks some of the rain, making it easier to hear the sounds of the forest and those that don’t belong. “Willa!” I shout again. This time my voice carries further, echoing through the space as I keep moving.

Eventually I abandon tracking on foot and take to the sky but remain close enough to the ground that I’ll be able to spot them. If they’ve already crossed the border with her, I’ll follow her as far as I need to until she’s safe with me again. And this time, when I get her back, I’ll stick so close they’ll never take her from me again.

Chapter 10

I try to scream for help, but the hand clamping over my mouth won’t allow it.

“Shhhh, now don’t do that.” Aeh’ers pulls a knife from his waist and holds it in front of me. “This is going to be a quick in and out. No one needs to get hurt, Willa. Start walking” He tightens his arm around me to the point of pain, so I do what he says. “I’d give anything to hang around and see Ondin’s face when he realizes he failed, but we don’t have the time unfortunately.”

I’m too scared to react, and he’s still holding me way too tightly. All I can hope is that Drocrek saw Aeh’ers on the security cameras and is sending help.

“I’ll still be happy knowing he’ll discover you’re gone, and he’ll know exactly who’s responsible.”

He pushes me along, keeping his hand over my mouth until it becomes difficult to breathe. At one point, I stumble over a rocky section of the land, nearly falling on my face until he pulls me tightly against his body and scolds me.

“There’s no getting away from me, Willa. You know you’re not strong enough. Stop trying.”

The side of my foot begins to pulse with pain from where I hit it against a rock. But he keeps dragging me along. The rain is coming down heavily now, soaking through my clothes. My hair sticks to my face and I keep slipping when Aeh’ers drags me. It isn’t until we reach a wooded area off to the far side of the mountain pass that he finally slows. The storm has made it so there’s no one around and I have no idea where Maren and Trinity ended up. I can only hope they’ve noticed I’m gone.

“Go, Sadhaih,” Aeh’ers says quietly. Guards wait positioned above but we’re significantly off to the side. We’re in an area that would only be discovered by Drocrek’s cameras. There’s a section of security fencing that has been widened just enough to squeeze their bodies through.

When Sadhaih doesn’t move in front of us, Aeh’ers turns around but there’s no one behind us.

“Sadhaih?” Aeh’ers whispers louder this time, looking all around with urgency but there’s nothing to see.

Then suddenly, Ondin flies down from above and lands right in front of Aeh’ers and me. Before he can make any demands, Aeh’ers shoves me with all his strength toward Ondin. I jolt forward and I would’ve fallen on my face if he hadn’t been ready and caught me before I could fall. Aeh’ers takes off through the opening in the fence, not bothering to find out what happened to his friend.

“Are you alright?” Ondin asks, holding me at arm’s length and looking me over from head to toe.

“Yes, I’m fine.” I use my hands to message my throat where he was gripping me so tightly, but he didn’t really hurt me. “What happened to the other guy?”

“Captured.” Ondin begins to lead me back toward the base, but my foot is too sore to move quickly. “What is it?” he asks, looking me over again with concern.

“My foot. I hit it on a rock. It’s nothing, just sore.”

Without another word, Ondin lifts me in his arms and begins carrying me. His muscles are tense, his expression fixed and angry.

“How did you find me?”

“I was at my guard post when the power went out again. It’s how they got through the fence without us seeing. I came to check on you as soon as the outage happened.”

“You knew it was Aeh’ers?”

“I had a feeling. My instincts haven’t failed me yet.”

Instead of taking me back to the medical facility, he takes me to the base. We’re much closer and Ondin is strung so tight he could snap at any moment. There are warriors everywhere around the base and swarming the border. I can only assume it isn’t everyday there’s a breach. I hate that I’m the cause of it.

He carries me all the way to my room, quiet until we’re alone. “Aeh’ers won’t stop until he captures you again.” He sets me gently in a chair, crouching in front of me so he’s able to look directly into my eyes. Without moving away from me, he reaches out for the blanket tossed over the back of the couch, grabbing it and covering me with it. I’m shaking from the shock of another near kidnapping mixed with the cold from my wet clothes. The storm still rages outside while the same chaos is reflected in Ondin’s eyes. “I want to take you somewhere else, somewhere secret. So no one knows your location and your safety is guaranteed.”

“Where?” I ask, wrapping myself in the blanket.

“Somewhere isolated, but safe. Tell me you’ll go with me, Willa.” His massive hands grip the sides of the chair, trapping me in his bubble of intensity. He seems to really care about what happens to me, even though I don’t understand why.

“Okay,” I finally say, shrugging my shoulders.

“Good.” He stands and begins pacing in front of me. The adrenaline falling from him in layers now that we have a plan.

Trinity, Maren, Kraal and Stux’an come into the room moments later. “You’re okay?” Stux’an asks.

“Thank God!” Trinity says, rushing forward to give me a hug.

Maren joins her. “We’re so glad you’re okay. We panicked when we couldn’t find you. What happened? Where did you go?”

I give them the short version of my walk in the woods followed by the attempted abduction.

“Sadhaih was captured, Aeh’ers ran away. We’re doing a full security sweep of the area now,” Ondin adds.

“What the hell did they want?” Trinity asks.

This is my chance to tell them, to tell all of them what I’m dealing with. To get everything off my chest and let them all help carry this burden along with me. But for some reason, with everyone’s eyes on me, I can’t do it. Maybe I’m ashamed of what happened to me in that lab, even though I’m perfectly aware that it wasn’t my fault.

Whatever the reason, my jaw locks and all I can do is shake my head.

After a few moments of silence, Ondin comes to my rescue. “Aeh’ers doesn’t like to lose, especially to me. I stole Willa from the lab right out from under him. He won’t rest until he gets her back. It has always been a competition between us, you know this.”

Stux’an and Kraal nod, accepting his explanation without question.

Finally, I can breathe again.

“Until Drocrek figures out the issues we’re having with the security system, I’m taking Willa away from here. Somewhere Aeh’ers won’t find her.”

“I’ve got a place,” Stux’an says.

“Wait, what do you mean you’re taking her away?” Trinity asks. “Is that really necessary? This is a military base after all. You don’t think she’s safe here?”

“Yes, but they know she’s here. I don’t want to make things easy on Aeh’ers if he decides to try again.”

“You’re okay with this, Willa?” Maren asks.

I nod. “Yes, I’m fine with it. It won’t be for very long.”

Ondin and I lock eyes again and my whole body shivers. He stares with such intensity it turns my chilled body warm on sight. Yes, being locked away in a secret location with Ondin isn’t a bad thing at all, even if he is just doing this out of his own sense of responsibility.

“Good. You three stay here while we do another sweep of the facility. I want to see how Drocrek is doing on the security feeds,” Stux’an says.

Kraal kisses Maren before following Stux’an out the door. Ondin lingers, his gaze devouring me. “You’re okay if I leave you?”

My heart is in my throat and for the first time, I want to tell him to stay. But he has a job to do.

“I’m okay.”

“I’ll return soon.”

Then it’s just the three of us. I stare after Ondin long after he’s gone and when I finally look at Maren and Trinity, they’re both smiling at me.

“What’s going on between you two?” Trinity asks.

“Nothing.” I pull the blanket tighter around me, the room suddenly colder without Ondin’s warmth.

“Nothing my ass. He’s taking you away, just the two of you to keep you safe? Are you two hooking up?” Trinity persists.

“No, we haven’t hooked up.”

“Well, he definitely wants to. There was some serious lust in those eyes,” Maren says.

They both start giggling.

I just shake my head. “You know Ondin. He’s always been a flirt. I’m nothing special.”

“He has been a flirt, you’re right,” Trinity says. “But not lately. I’ve barely spoken to him in the last few weeks. Makes me think someone has caught his interest.”

“I think you two are crazy.” I stand, gripping the blanket so I can drag it with me while I go take a shower and get into some dry clothes. “I’m going to go clean up and dry off. I’m suddenly really tired.”

Once I’m clean and in my pajamas for the night, the three of us sit around on the couches, waiting to hear from the warriors. Eventually Kraal and Ondin return. He looks me over, seemingly satisfied that I’m relaxed and comfortable. I force myself to admit that I enjoy having him around. After he’s been gone for most of the evening, my heart does a strange kick-start when he finally walks through the door again. It’s foolish to get my hopes up with him or expect that he’d feel anything besides obligation. But with everything I’m going through right now, I’m going to enjoy whatever this is between us anyway.

“I brought you a wrap for your sore foot,” Ondin says, kneeling at the floor in front of me.

It must be the way he’s dressed or his proximity that has me taking him in with hungry eyes tonight. His hands are massive but he’s incredibly gentle when he lifts my sore foot. His silver hair is pulled away from his face, but strands fall across his forehead when he leans down to wrap my foot. The scent that I’ve come to recognize as his surrounds me, soothing me with hints of wood and campfire.

Our eyes meet and my face glows red when he smiles at me. If only he could read minds I’d have to excuse myself to my room for the night.

“Better?” he asks.

At a loss for words, all I can do is nod.

Chapter 11

A few days later she’s packed a bag of her things, putting her trust in me.

“Where is this place again?” she asks once we begin our journey.

“Nice try. I told you, it’s a surprise.”

This makes her grumble in annoyance. “I don’t like surprises, Ondin.”

I have my own bag strapped to my back, including supplies we might need on our journey. Plenty of water in case she gets thirsty, food, medical supplies, everything I could think of. So far she’s experienced a lot of horrible things on Bameh. She was put in the research facility, rescued, only to be hunted down by another species interested in the uniqueness of humans on Strorix. It’s not all bad here, though, and I’d like to give her a glimpse.

She makes me chuckle under my breath, but I hide it so as not to upset her. “There’s a place I want to show you on our way to Stux’an’s.” She turns toward me, studying me for a moment to see if I’m telling her the truth. For some reason, this makes me laugh out loud. “I don’t mean to upset you by laughing, but you amuse me.”

Instead of saying anything about this, she changes the subject. “What will Stux’an do without you to work for him?”

“He has plenty of warriors. Don’t think I haven’t noticed how you’ve been avoiding me.”

“I’m not avoiding you. I’ve always been an introvert.”

“I do not understand this term.”

She tilts her head to the side while she thinks, exposing the curve of her neck. This isn’t the first time I’ve thought about tasting her skin, but it is the first time other parts of my body react. Willa is more petite than the other females and at first glance, it’s easy to overlook her. Only because she’s quiet and purposeful about keeping attention off herself.

I haven’t found another female that makes my chest tighten and my stomach flip the way they do when Willa smiles, though. She doesn’t see the effect she has on others. And now here I am, unable to get her off my mind. Asking her to spend the day with me. Hoping she’ll want to do it again when it’s over.

“It means I feel most comfortable with myself and staying indoors in places I’m used to. I have close friends and I enjoy spending time with them, but it takes a lot of physical and mental energy to do new things. Hence the reason I don’t enjoy surprises.”

“Ah, I see. Well then I will tell you. I’m taking you to a place my mother used to take me to when I was a young boy. One of my favorite places on Bameh. I’d like to share it with you.”

“Really?” She couldn’t sound more surprised if she tried.

“Yes,” I say, the amusement clear in my voice. “Where did you think I was taking you?”

“I don’t know. To check the borders or something.”

“I would not take you to the borders when the south is looking for any opportunity to grab you. I imagine they have scouts watching at all times just waiting for their moment.”

“That isn’t a reassuring thought.”

“After I show you this place, we’ll go to Stux’an’s. We’ll be there by nightfall.”

We’re getting closer to the location. It’s near the edge of the islet where it’s mostly rock. The trees don’t grow out here where it’s nothing but rock. I take her hand when the surface becomes more and more uneven and jagged, worried she could slip or fall on the hard surface.

“Your mom brought you out here?” Willa stands on the rocks looking confused and almost sad. “I don’t understand.”

“A little further and you might.”

There’s one area of the rocks that flattens and smooths out. Instead of the gray and brown rock, the surface is almost black, but slick and shiny.

“Oh!” Willa says as soon as she sees it. “Is it ice?” She walks right to the edge and crouches down. Without waiting for a response to her first question, she asks another. “Can I touch it?” Her hand hovers above the surface like she’s feeling for warmth from a fire.

“It isn’t hot. Yes, touch it, walk on it if you’d like.”

She presses her palm to the smooth rock, her eyes widening, her lips inadvertently tipping up at the corners when she realizes it is okay to touch. “This is really cool,” she finally says. “But what is it?”

“I’ll tell you the story my mother would tell me when I was a boy.” She relaxes back onto her ankles, looking up at me with the sun in her eyes. Having her in this submissive position at my feet heats my blood and awakens my mating urges. But I push them aside and focus on telling her the same fantasy my mother would indulge me with.

“It’s difficult to picture now, but years ago, it wasn’t as desolate out here. My mother would bring me along every few months so she could collect these long, thin brown sticks that grew between the rocks. Not too thrilling for a young dhevieth whose only desire at the time was to run around with the other boys learning how to fight.”

Her smile grows bigger making my heart expand in my chest. When her lips part, allowing a soft laugh to escape, it’s like I’ve been struck over the head with a blunt object and the world is spinning around me.

“I can imagine,” she says.

“Yes, so…the black stone. From above, it’s the shape of the claw of a mulora, at least that’s what my mother told me. I had never heard of a creature called a mulora before. So, I asked her to tell me about it. What does it look like? Where does it live? How could it make an imprint so massive and where would the black stone come from?”

“All valid questions.” The breeze blows through her hair, whipping it around her face while she pulls at it with her fingers trying to keep it out of her eyes. She smiles the entire time, apparently enjoying this story. Crouching closer to her, my fingers catch a few of the strands before they blow into her eyes and pull her gaze from me. “What did she say?” Willa clears her throat, waiting for the next part of my story.

“She said one night at dusk the sky filled with these flying creatures. Two massive wings were visible to the eye but there were two smaller wings underneath. And they could fly like you wouldn’t believe. They had these long, powerful tails that were tipped with points like you’d find on the end of a claw. Her description of these creatures was so great I could picture them in my dreams.” I shake my head with fondness, remembering what it was like to listen to my mother tell stories.

“And these were the mulora?”

“Yes. They attacked from the sky, swooping down and picking off the villagers without any resistance. Eventually the warriors arrived to fight them off, shooting spears and poisoned arrows into the sky. My mother said when the mulora were struck with these poisoned arrows, their blood turned black, leaking out of their bodies onto the rocks below. Here, in this one place on the island, the blood turned to a smooth rock as a reminder of the battle the warriors fought to protect Bameh.”

“It sounds to me that your mother knew you well. Her stories made your trips to this place a little less mundane, didn’t they?”

“They did. I remember them still to this day, every detail. As a boy I would pretend to be one of those warriors fighting off the mulora with my poisoned tipped spear.”

She’s quiet for a while and I’m growing hopeful that the solitude of this place is soothing to the chaos that has been her life over the last few weeks.

“What happened to you mom?” she asks eventually. “If you don’t mind me asking.”

“She grew sick like so many others and never recovered.”

It has been a long time since I’ve come here, but it’s the first place that came to mind when I thought about where I could take Willa to get her away from everything. She reaches over and takes my hand, sliding her fingers between mine. Without sharing anymore words, we sit together and let the subtle peace settle over us. I’ve never been one to need to be alone or to seek out solitude, but with Willa at my side, I understand the appeal. My problem is that the more time we spend alone together, the more I want to discover what she tastes like.

When the sky begins to turn, I help her to her feet, signaling the time for us to leave has arrived.

“Come, if we leave now we’ll arrive before nightfall.”

Chapter 12

“We’re staying here?” The darkness swept over the land faster than Ondin anticipated but it’s not helping his case. It makes the decrepit shack in the woods look even more uninhabitable. “Are you hoping we’d be safe because no one would assume anyone else would ever live here?”

Ondin walks right up to the door without worry but a structure like this in the woods? It must be inhabited by a creature’s family already. “It’s an old place but structurally sound.”

He dangles the key in the air between us before disappearing into the shadows surrounding the front door. The door creaks while I glance around us again, making sure we’re alone and there aren’t any animals sneaking around watching us from the trees waiting for their chance to pounce.

“Come on, Willa. It’s okay.”

I follow him inside, if only because I don’t want to be left alone in the dark. A few hollow clicks sound through the space while the dust assaults my nose.

“The electricity isn’t working, but don’t worry. I’ll be able to fix it.” A light suddenly fills the space, some sort of cylindrical device that looks like a flare. “Will you hold this?”

I take the light while he walks around the room. “What are you looking for?”

“Knowing Stux’an, he’ll have emergency supplies around here somewhere.” Not sure how to make myself useful, I continue to stand in the middle of the room holding the light high enough so the light illuminates as much of the area as possible. It’s a small hut in the woods but now that there’s light, it isn’t nearly as decrepit as I initially thought.

It’s dusty and clearly hasn’t been lived in for a long time, but the doors and windows are solid, nothing broken or off the hinges. A door off to the side leads to a separate room which I’m guessing is a kitchen or bathroom.

“Stux’an used to live here?”

“This was never a home where he lived day in and day out. It’s too isolated to be useful in that way. Especially now like so many of the warriors who work on base, it makes the most sense to live there too.”

“And now here we are. You’re my guardian fairy and I’m Sleeping Beauty.”

He’s still rummaging through the boxes, pulling out the things he finds that will come in useful while we’re here. “What do you mean by guardian fairy?”

Thinking about the story from my childhood seems so out of place right now. “Nothing. You wouldn’t understand.”

Ondin stops what he’s doing. He’s gathered a few blankets and found a few clear spheres that might be some kind of lantern. He gives me his attention, his gaze fixed on me as he draws closer. “I want to understand.”

Sometimes he’s so intense when he stares at me that I have to look away or risk losing myself in his eyes. “It’s a story from when I was little about a girl who was kept hidden away in the forest with her three guardian fairies.”

“This sounds like an intriguing story.” Ondin’s voice drops lower and I’m suddenly very aware of the fact that it’s just the two of us out here in the woods together, far away from anyone else for miles.

“Well, the girl, she’s actually a princess in the story, has a curse put on her when she’s a baby by a jealous witch.”

“What is this curse?”

“That she will prick her finger and die when she turns sixteen.”

“And you think your situation is similar?” His forehead bunches out of confusion because I’m doing such a poor job retelling the story. “And these are the stories you’re told as a child?”

“No, I just thought it was similar that we’re hiding out in the woods hoping Aeh’ers or his minions don’t find me. And you’re here to look out for me.”

“Ah.” He smiles making my insides dissolve to goo. I’m not used to the mixture of nerves and excitement along with wariness that bombard me when he stands so close. I remind myself that he’s like this with all women. There’s nothing special about me. He’s fueled by his own guilt at my capture and treatment, nothing more. “I am your guardian fairy.” He lifts up the blankets and the two clear spheres. “I have found light and warmth.”

A small giggle escapes before I can stop it. He looks so pleased with himself that I have to laugh. “You’ve done well. What else do we need? I’ll help you look.”

He lights the spheres and we’re surrounded by a warm glow, making the cottage seem cozier than when we first arrived.

“Stux’an will deliver more supplies tomorrow. For now, no one else knows where we are. It is better this way.”

“Safer, yes. What we’ll do out here while we’re busy hiding is a mystery.” Now that I’m certain there isn’t anything waiting to jump out at us, I set to work straightening and tidying while Ondin gathers and organizes our supplies. In the other room there’s one bed in the small hut. It makes sense if it belongs to Stux’an but I didn’t think ahead to sleeping arrangements before we made the journey out here. Still, I do my own version of making the bed with the blankets we have, leaving one of them off in case Ondin or I sleep in the other room.

When I join him again in the main room, he has a fire going in the fireplace and the clear sphere are glowing. He’s plating food for us, and it isn’t until this moment that I realize how hungry I am.

I set the extra blanket down on the couch and have a seat, taking the food he offers.

“Have you stayed here before?” We’re both sitting and eating, with the quiet of the night settled around us before we start to speak. It’s comfortable here and for the first time since Ondin saved me from the research lab, my mind isn’t overburdened with everything that has gone wrong.

“No, this is the first time I’ve been here. Stux’an has spoken of this place before. Like many of the warriors who work at the base, he has another place to go when he needs a break. Obviously it has been a long time for him.”

“And you? Do you have a place like this? Somewhere to go when you don’t want to stay at the base?”

He looks off to the side like he’s remembering something but instead of saying anything, he takes another bite of his food. “No, nothing like this. I visit the place I showed you today when I want to feel close to my mother.” He doesn’t look at me when he confesses this, like he’s embarrassed to share intimate feelings with me.

I change the subject. “The bed is made in the other room. I don’t mind sleeping out here on the couch. I’ve always been a good sleeper. I can fall asleep anywhere.”

Now he does look at me. His gaze burns and I have to look away because there’s no mistaking the intention behind it. It must be the pregnancy hormones because my breasts suddenly feel heavy, my nipples hardening under my shirt. I’m wet between my thighs, hypnotized by Ondin’s testosterone. Together, just the two of us, in the middle of nowhere…not such a good idea after all. Standing abruptly, I take my plate and carry it into the tiny kitchen. Out from under his spell, I can finally take a deep breath and clear the fog of lust wrapping around me like a blanket.

“There is no need to sleep on the couch.” Ondin appears in my space again, standing too close behind me. I spin around not having heard him approach. “There is no need to deny your body what it craves.” He leans around me to set his plate down while still managing to cage me in. His hard torso brushes against my chest, stimulating my nipples enough to make me gasp. They’re so sensitive I could cry. “I have an incredible sense of smell, Willa.” My heart is pounding against my chest, my fingers gripping the counter so tightly behind me my knuckles are white. His nose traces the curve of my neck, trailing between my breasts as he goes to his knees in front of me. His hands grip the counter next to mine, his muscles popping through his shoulders and arms as he settles into a comfortable position.

I’m too stunned to breathe, much less speak.

“I smell your desire.” It’s as if I’ve left my body and I’m hovering above staring down at the two of us. Ondin pins me with his blue eyes before leaning close to nuzzle me with his nose…right there. The unexpected touch has me flying forward, my hands jolting with reflex and in the process knocking the plates clean off the counter. They crash to the floor with a loud clang while I cover my ears and yelp.

It’s the most un-sexy thing I could possibly do in the moment.

But this is my life.

Chapter 13

“Did you get Sadhaih to talk?” Stux’an hands me one of the bags from his back. It’s heavy, and without looking I know he’s filled it full with food and supplies so Willa and I can remain out here until we’ve put an end to Aeh’er’s hunt for her.

Stux’an shrugs the last bag off his back before stretching tall in front of me, dropping the large sack on the ground. “He hasn’t said much but what he did say was shocking, brother.”

I stand with my hands on my hips, waiting for him to disclose what he’s learned. “He claims they’ve successfully impregnated her in the lab. It’s why they’ve been working so hard to get her back.”

I drop my head back and exhale. Her secret is no longer her own. Now that Stux’an knows, I’ll also have to confess to her what I know.

“Aeh’ers told me this when I fought him to save her from the lab. I didn’t know at the time if he spoke any truth.”

“This complicates things. Have you spoken with her about it?” We both look toward the small hut where Willa still slumbers inside. After helping clean up the dishes, I gave her the bed last night and took the couch, realizing I acted too boldly. I almost smile at the memory. She wants me, her body can’t lie to me, but she’s holding back. This pregnancy complicates things for her, too. I should’ve thought of this, but my mating desires are only growing stronger the longer I’m with her.

“I haven’t. I didn’t know if it was my place. I’ll speak with her about it today, though. I’m sure she’s scared about what it means. About what will happen to her now.”

“We continue to protect her like we’ve always done. Contact me if you need additional supplies. Otherwise, I’ll be back in a few weeks to replenish things for you.”

“Keep me informed on what’s going on with security measures. I want to know if there’s another breach.”

“Of course. Stay well, brother.”

Once Stux’an flies off back to the military base, I take the bags of supplies inside. The fire is still burning, even stronger now that I added more logs at sunup. In addition to the scent of the fire, Willa’s floral essence lingers in the air. Having her all to myself last night…I wanted her. Badly. It’s growing more difficult to fight off the mating urges that consume me when she’s around. For now, I have to focus on her protection and hope it’s enough of a distraction so I’m not constantly fantasizing about thrusting my aching cock into her tight cunt.

My mouth waters at the thought of tasting her. So, to distract myself, I fix breakfast. As the scent of the frying meat fills the small hut, it lures Willa from the bedroom. She wanders out from the bedroom, sleepy eyed but hungry, lingering outside the kitchen, still too shy to get too close to me after last night.

“That smells so good. What is it?”

“Stux’an brought us fresh beattuc meat.”

“This morning? I missed him?”

“You did. He didn’t linger, though. They’re busy at the base.”

I plate up our food and hand it to her. She sits on the couch in the front of the fire. “Are you warm enough? The weather is beginning to turn. Especially in the mornings.”

“It’s perfect with the fire.” She tucks her feet under herself and begins to eat. All the while my conversation with Stux’an is at the back of my mind. I can’t put it off any longer. We need to have a conversation about what we both know.

After I’ve given her a little time to eat in peace, I join her, choosing a chair across from the couch. “We took Aeh’ers partner prisoner when he tried to take you again. He confessed to Stux’an that they’ve been relentless in their pursuit of you because you’re pregnant. They were successful with their attempts in the lab.”

She pauses mid-bite, the color draining from her face. I wanted to be patient, to allow her to tell me about what happened on her own time, but that’s impossible now. Stux’an knows and any of the other warriors who were there when Sadhaih confessed know too. The time for secrets is over.

“Did Shura confirm it?” I continue to press for more information, regardless of the fact that she can’t look me in the face. Eventually she nods, confirming what Aeh’ers told me that night. She sets her plate down, pushing it away. Her eyes are fixed on the fire still burning strong as the sun rises over the horizon. I’ve never had the best instincts when it came to women, but I’ve never wanted to pull someone into my arms and hold them close more than I do right now.

She remains silent and I curse myself for not knowing how to bring her comfort in this moment.

“I’m not sure what to do…” She continues to stare into the fire, her arms wrapped protectively around herself. I force myself to remain seated in my chair, giving her the space she seems to need. “At first it didn’t seem real. How can something be real when I have no memory of it? I keep waiting for images to pop into my head. Glimpses from my time there…even in my dreams. But there has been nothing. I don’t know how to tell anyone. I don’t know what happens next.”

After a moment, I lean forward and push her plate of food toward her again. “First, I think you should finish your food.” She stares at the plate and then me. Waiting for the next step. And then, nothing else has to change. We’ll still remain here where I can protect you. We’ll keep you secret and safe.”

She exhales like she’s been holding a massive weight on her shoulders. Her response makes me curious enough to ask, “What did you think would happen?”

She raises her shoulders, shy again when she says, “I thought maybe Stux’an would want to hand me back over, to avoid any more conflict.”

“He’s not afraid of conflict. Neither am I. We’re not afraid to fight for you, Willa.”

When she still won’t look at me after a few moments, I don’t push anymore. One thing I’ve learned about her—she needs time and can’t be pushed to accept something she isn’t ready to accept. Instead, the day is dawning clear and bright, so I have other ideas to get her mind off the things that weigh her down.

“When you finish your food, get dressed. This time of the day is the best time to explore. Let’s see what also lives in our forest.”

I leave her by the fire while I clean up the food in the kitchen. After she drops off her empty plate, she disappears for a short time to get dressed. Then, we venture out together into the brisk morning. We haven’t gone far when I catch the scent of smoke on the air, not far from the hut.

“What is it?” Willa asks when I stop her with my arm. My natural instincts protect her with my body in case we’re surprised by danger. We’re both quiet, standing frozen in place while I scan our surroundings. Her small hand grips my forearm just as I hear a pop not too far in the distance. It’s followed by another similar sound, one after another. “Is there something out there?”

I turn to the side so she can see my face, leaning close so our voices don’t carry. “I smell smoke but there are no sounds to indicate signs of life.”

“Should we go back?”

“No, stay close. We’ll take a look.”

Before I start to move again, she slips her fingers between mine, holding onto me. The contact heats my blood, making me pause. Flashes of the night before enter my mind at the most inconvenient of times—me on my knees in front of her, wanting nothing more than to taste her. Another pop in the distance focuses my attention again and I push my desire for her down. We move slowly and silently through the trees until the smell grows stronger and the sound gets louder.

We’re not far from a thin, green stalk when the cup-shaped top pops, shooting a puff of green smoke straight up into the air. “Oh!” Willa gasps, her fingers digging into my scales. “What is that?”

In the time we’ve stopped to stare at the smoking bud, another one only a few inches away does the same thing…pops before releasing a strong-smelling smoke into the air.

My coiled muscles unfurl now that the danger I anticipated turns out to be some sort of plant. With a long exhale, I crouch down to inspect the plant closer while another pop sounds not too far away from us.

“I don’t know to be honest. For the past many years, I’ve spent most of my time at the military base. Not in these isolated woods.”

Throughout this section of the forest, the green stalks grow, emitting the smoke into the air, almost as a way to tell us to keep out.

“Maybe we should walk around instead of going through,” Willa says.

“Yes, let’s find another path.”

Her hand still in mine, we circle around, avoiding the smoking plant completely.

Chapter 14

“This is most likely a magelau den.” Ondin points to a smooth mound of dirt, underneath which can be seen a small opening that must lead down like a tunnel further into the ground. “They’ll be sleeping now if they still live there. Magelau come out at night to hunt.”

I’m not oblivious to the fact that creatures in the forest are carnivores, but I don’t have a lot of knowledge as to what is dangerous to humans. “Should we be worried?”

“About the magelau? They’re harmless to you and me. Most are only slightly larger than the size of my hand.” He spreads his fingers and holds his hand between us to give me a sense of their size. In my mind I imagine something along the lines of a really big rat with sharp teeth that can do some damage. It’s enough to send chills down my spine.

He catches the movement, never one to miss anything—he’s so in tune to the smallest of details. With his eyes locked on me, his complete attention has shifted to me. “You’ve caught a chill? We should head back and get you in front of the fire.”

I’m about to argue because I’ve enjoyed the fresh air. For the first time since the kidnapping, it doesn’t feel as if I’m carrying such a heavy weight on my shoulders. My head is clear, and I’m revitalized after our day exploring together. Before I can say what’s on my mind, he reaches out, his hand cupping around my cheek. His fingers trail softly against my skin, not lingering too long but just enough to make me catch my breath and forget completely what I was about to say.

“Sure,” I say, but it’s only a formality. He’s already leading the way back toward the hut.

When we arrive, the fire died out while we were gone but Ondin is quick to get it going again. The grumbling of my stomach demands a snack which is what I do while I wait for Ondin to finish. Once the fire’s burning again, the small hut warms up within minutes. I relax on the couch, surprised at how good it feels to get off my feet after spending so many hours on them.

“Have you heard from anyone else besides Stux’an?” I ask, curious to know if Maren and Trinity are doing okay and knowing the only way I’ll get an update is through Ondin’s friends.

“Stux’an flew to us, but we haven’t spoken through comms yet. We don’t plan on it until we know for certain the lines are secure.”

“You don’t think they are?”

Ondin moves from the floor to sit next to me on the couch. “I’ve never doubted Drocrek. He knows what he’s doing. We’re just being overly cautious after the power outages. He thinks it’s an indication they’re messing around with the system, trying their best to break our security that way.”

“They’re relentless.” Unease works its way inside me, knowing they’re not going to give up on me easily. Another chill causes me to tremble at the thought of ending up back in that lab—isolated, cold and alone.

“Come closer to me. I will help to warm you until the fire does.” Ondin doesn’t wait for me to move. He puts his arm around my body and pulls me closer to him. He naturally runs at a hotter temperature than I do but the flush that slowly covers my skin has nothing to do with this fact. His body pressed against mine with his eyes on me makes me blush.

I’m awkward. Even though I know how enjoyable it would be to mess around with Ondin, I’m still battling with my mind. Is what I’m feeling real? Or am I turned on because of the pregnancy hormones? Does he actually have feelings for me? Or is our situation convenient, only to be forgotten when we return to the base?

His fingers begin slowly tracing along my back, causing goosebumps to rise. Such a simple act sets my body on fire, the desire to be touched more getting to be too much. His words from the previous night come back to me.

I smell your desire.

If that’s the case, he knows exactly what my body wants from him right now.

Pulling away, I scramble to my feet and put distance between us, almost tumbling backward on the small table behind me. “I should freshen up after all that time in the woods today.”

He’s sitting up straight, on high alert since he almost had to jump to his feet to catch me when I almost fell over. “Of course. I’ll fix something to eat while you do that.”

I’m already moving toward the bedroom but mumble my agreement on the way. As soon as I get in the room, I close the door and fight the tears that want to fall. I’m such a mess in so many ways but right now, I hate that I can’t stop running away from Ondin.

I strip out of my clothes and groan out loud when the hot water splashes over my skin. For the longest while I simply stand under the spray and soak up the warmth, allowing my muscles to slowly loosen. My skin still tingles from where Ondin’s fingers caressed a path, igniting my senses. My nipples are rock hard and pulsing from the sting of the pelting water. It’s painful while at the same time making my pussy throb to be touched. These out-of-control hormones have become a problem, one that’s become difficult to ignore.

Unable to handle the stimulation of the water any longer, I towel dry before walking back into the bedroom to find something to wear for the night. But when I’m standing in the room naked, debating about what to put on, another thought crosses my mind. Instead of dressing right away, I lie down on the bed determined to ease the throbbing ache between my legs. I let my hands brush over my sensitive breasts, soft moans slipping from my lips at the contact. When my fingers dip into my folds, they’re soaked. Another desperate groan escapes me as I apply pressure to my clit, a rush of pleasure surging through my body from the much-needed contact.

As soon as I think about Ondin in the other room, my arousal begins dripping down my fingers. I imagine what it would be like if his fingers were touching me…if his hands were caressing my naked skin. I slip a finger inside of me and then another, my desperation growing now that I’ve given myself permission to ease the ache I’ve been suffering through these last few days.

My fingers thrust in and out while the palm of my hand rubs against my clit, my hips rocking up to apply the pressure I need. With my eyes closed and my head pressed back into the pillow, I’m doing everything I can to keep my moans of pleasure as quiet as possible. This is a small hut, and the closed door only does so much for privacy. It wouldn’t take much for Ondin to figure out what’s going on in here.

The thought of his big, warm body hovering over me, his mouth pulling my overly sensitive nipples into his mouth causes another sound to escape. I pull my fingers free and focus on my clit, circling in a steady rhythm with my hips. An orgasm is close. It’s building as I curl my toes into the mattress and widen my legs. I’m so focused on chasing the pleasure that’s just out of reach that I don’t hear the door open or feel the shifting of the air.

It isn’t until Ondin’s voice manages to break my focus that I realize what’s going on. “Willa.” As soon as the deep growl enters the room, I shriek and grab the blankets, quickly covering myself. My chest is rising and falling with the shock of Ondin’s intrusion combined with the fact that I almost orgasmed.

“What the hell, Ondin?” I’m clutching the blanket to my chest when I finally get the words out of my mouth. He’s standing at the door, one of his hands clutching onto the doorframe so tightly his knuckles are discolored. His eyes are blown wide with lust, a massive bulge obvious in the front of his pants.

“I heard you…” he struggles to say, “I wanted to make sure you were okay.” His eyes haven’t left me, even when his head lifts and his nostrils flare.

The urge to cover the rest of myself with the blanket is strong, especially knowing my skin has turned the color of a tomato. I can’t seem to find the words to explain the hormones and how horny I’ve been. I can’t find any words at all, not even to tell him to close the door and get out. Because he continues to stand and stare at me for what seems like an eternity. And then, he steps forward. A few steps at first before stopping himself, like he has to think it over and decide if he should stay or go.

In the end, he stays and walks right up to the bed. His nostrils flare again before he leans over me. I’m frozen right where I am, unable to move. “I can smell you, Willa. You’ve called me to your bed.” With his eyes locked on mine, he leans down and takes my fingers in his mouth. The same fingers I was just using to pleasure myself.

Chapter 15

Her taste explodes on my tongue. After her scent lured me to the door and her soft cries made me open it, I’m finally getting what I’ve wanted for weeks. She stares at me, her eyes hooded with desire as soon as my tongue flicks over her fingers. The heady scent of her arousal hangs heavy in the air. I consume it, growing greedy with my urge to take her and claim her as my mate.

I shift my body, kneeling between her legs on the bed, our bodies still close. “Tell me what you need, Willa.” She doesn’t move away, but then again, I’ve given her nowhere to run. Not this time.

She opens her mouth, her eyes searching over my face before she drops her head. My hand is at her chin in an instant, bringing her eyes back to mine. “Tell me anything. I’ll give you whatever you want.”

Our mouths are close enough that we’re breathing the same air. She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth, licking it with her tongue. The small movement snaps the little self-control I have left. I bring my mouth to hers, tasting the softness of her lips against mine. Our lips press together, licking and tasting until she finally speaks.

“Touch me.” Those two words have the power to snap my restraint. I yank her up and into my body with a growl, my hands moving over her warm, naked skin as our mouths connect again. Somehow the blanket is still stuck between us, shielding her body from my eyes. I run my hands all the way down her back until I’m gripping her butt, squeezing the full globes of her cheeks in my hands. She rubs her front against me seeking more friction, so I tear away my own shirt and rip the blanket away.

My hands go to her breasts like they’re being pulled by a force field. “Your tits are so ripe, Willa. Look at these buds. You make my mouth water.”

I squeeze them, forcing her nipples to harden even more. She groans, her nails digging into my biceps. “Put them in your mouth, Ondin. Just be gentle…no teeth.”

I do as she asks, pulling a mouthful of her flesh between my lips and letting my tongue massage over her nipple. She whimpers, her arm wrapping tightly around my neck. “So sensitive,” she moans right in my ear. Her other hand slips between her legs again but I become possessive of her pleasure.

“I will be the one to make you come.” I take her hand in mine before easing her back onto the bed. As soon as I release her to support my body, her hands move to the waist of my pants. “Are you sure?” She shifts herself so she can tug my pants down. I’m as caught up in the moment as she is, but I remember her hesitancy. If she decides to mate with me, I want it to be her choice.

She nods just as my pants drop to my knees, my cock staring her in the face. Everything about the way I’m built is large compared to her. But I don’t see fear or hesitancy in her eyes. Instead, she licks her lips again and settles back down on the bed, spreading her legs for me.

“Willa—” I start, but she doesn’t let me finish.

She covers my mouth with her fingers, a fixed look of determination on her face.

“I want to,” she emphasizes. “Just go slow. I’ve never done this before.”

My cock is throbbing to the point of pain I’m so desperate to be inside her, but her confession makes me pause. “You’ve never done this?”

“No. Considering I’m pregnant, I’d say it’s time. Don’t you think?”

She smiles and I hesitate, processing what she’s said. Then, she’s touching me, her small hand wrapped around my cock like she’s made up her mind. The overwhelming pleasure is too much to deny myself, so I lean into her touch, moving my mouth close for another kiss.

“Pump me hard and I’ll make sure you’re ready for me.” She squirms beneath me while her hand applies more pressure to my cock, traveling along my full length. Her eyes widen while her fingers explore my hardness.

“You’ve got texture.” She tilts her head down so she can see what she’s doing. “Scales?” she asks breathlessly.

I try to focus on answering her question but it’s a challenge when she’s caressing me the way she is. And she’s curious because as she confessed, she has no experience with this. “Much smaller scales than the ones that cover my body.”

Her finger presses just the right place on the soft head of my cock, and I gush liquid. It leaks down my cock and onto her mound where I rub it in with my fingers. She gasps and clutches my shoulders, shocked by the sudden sensations.

“It helps with your pleasure,” I explain while my fingers continue to rub my lubrication over her folds.

“It’s warm—” Her voice cuts off as she throws her head back suddenly, her small pleasure bud beginning to pulse under my fingers. “I’m going to come!” She arches off the bed, her eyes squeezed shut while her head presses back into the pillow. It’s a beautiful sight. While her pleasure consumes her, I press the head of my cock against her entrance and gently push inside.

Her eyes snap open and lock on mine before dropping to where our bodies are joining. “I want to watch.” One of her arms locks around my neck while she props herself up on her elbow in order to get a better look. Her cunt is hot and wet, squeezing around me and pulling me deeper even though I’m trying to go slow.

“Am I hurting you?”

She shakes her head. “No, there’s no pain, even though you look too big to fit.”

“I’ll fit. Your pretty cunt will stretch for me.” I brush my nose against hers, my lips tasting the softness of her skin just to feel her against me while our bodies become one. Even though the lubricant should protect her from feeling any pain, I can’t help but worry that my size will be too much. The further I push into her tight channel, the more tense my muscles become as I wait for her cries of pain or discomfort.

She shifts her hips and I freeze. Her eyes snap shut and I can’t tell if she’s even breathing. “Too much?” I ask, worried I’ve pushed too far too quickly.

“I never thought it would feel this good,” she says, her lips curling into a smile. “I’m stretched and full but it’s the best feeling.”

I exhale my relief and thrust the rest of the way inside her. She moans loudly before wrapping her legs around my waist.

“You’re doing so good.” I brush my fingers through her hair while giving her body a moment to adjust. “Your first time and you’re taking all of a dhevieth’s cock. Such a good girl, Willa. My girl.”

She groans as her pussy begins to throb around me until I can’t fight the urge to pound into her any longer.

“Ready?” I ask.

She nods vigorously. I press my forehead against hers and begin to move. I slide out until just the head of my cock remains inside and then push back in. I’m gentle, at least I try to be. So she can get used to the feeling.

“Oh…” I lean back so I can watch her reaction while I begin to thrust, in and out.

“Good?”

“Yes,” she says, her face so full of expression. “I think I want it faster, Ondin.”

I chuckle and lean in for a kiss. “I will give you whatever you want. In this moment, when I’m buried inside you, I’d give you anything.”

I lean back a bit more so I can grip her hips and give her the friction she seeks. A few pumps from this angle and she’s gripping the blankets, moaning her pleasure. Her fingers seek out her pleasure bud again and this time I let her do it. She rubs herself while I watch, thrusting deep. After a few minutes of this, I can’t resist the urge to put my mouth on her. I pull out and lean down, latching onto her pretty cunt with my mouth. I lick her over and over again until her legs start to shake and she cries out with another orgasm.

I lean back only to thrust into her again, her rippling channel pulsing around my cock. With one hand on her chest, I pump hard through her orgasm. It prolongs her pleasure, her muscles tight until she eventually relaxes into the bed. I lean down and kiss her again and again while still moving inside her until I’m at the edge of my own release. Finally, I bury myself deep and come.

Our connection is so strong that I can’t bring myself to move for the longest time after. Instead, I hold her as we stare into each other’s eyes, like we’re both surprised by the intensity of our mating. For once, I’m glad to have her all to myself in the middle of the forest because after that experience…I plan to discover all the ways I can make her scream her pleasure.

Chapter 16

“So how is it possible someone like you has never mated with a male before?” Ondin asks.

We’ve been lying together for a while now and this is the first either of us has spoken. I haven’t been able to move since Ondin decided to show me exactly what I’ve been missing out on in the world of mating and sex.

It was incredible. Made even better by the fact that there was absolutely zero pain for my first time. I had already heard about the alien’s special lube from the other girls, but they should’ve done it justice. It’s a magic lube because not only did it make my first time painless, but it made my orgasms more intense and pleasurable.

My fingers stop stroking over Ondin’s chest long enough to tug a blanket over my body. Now that I’ve relaxed from the heat of our romp, I’m growing cold again.

“I didn’t hang out with many kids outside of school. My stepdad wouldn’t allow it and I was embarrassed by him anyway. But there’s no way he would’ve allowed me to date boys in high school while I was still living under his roof.”

“What does the term stepdad mean? This is your father?”

“No, my real father died when I was young. Paul is the man my mother remarried. It’s called a stepparent. He made me feel guilty enough for being an inconvenience that he needed to support. I wasn’t going to bring any of my friends around to witness it.”

“He did not allow you to have friends?”

“Girl friends were probably fine, but I was too embarrassed to bring them home. I didn’t have many friends anyway. I was the quiet, shy girl at school and then I worked all the time after, so I didn’t hang out like everyone else. It was detrimental to my social life.”

Ondin smooths his fingers through my hair and trails them down my arm. “Did he ever hurt you physically?”

I take a deep breath and slowly let it out. I’m so relaxed right now, here in this cocoon with Ondin that I hate to bring Paul into it. But at the same time, he’s curious about my life before I came here, and I don’t want to deny him that.

“He was more verbally abusive. And he always made me feel like I was a burden. Like I wasn’t doing enough to help with the bills and putting food on the table. Even though I worked all the time in addition to school and gave him most of my paychecks. He spent way too much money on booze and couldn’t hold down a job because of his temper.”

“Where was your mother during all of this?”

“She worked three jobs. She was never around. She worked hard too but I began to resent her because of Paul. I hated that she was with him, I didn’t understand it. We would’ve been so much better off without him.”

Ondin pulls me tighter into his body, his arms squeezing me tight. The instant connection I feel to him now that we’ve had sex scares me for sure. I’m not completely naive. Ondin is popular with the ladies and it’s possible he finds himself in these types of situations all the time. Even though it’s new and special to me. I should ask him about his intentions, but I’m scared. And I want to enjoy this feeling for a little longer.

“You don’t have to worry about him anymore. You are free of him.”

“Yes. It’s going to take me a long time to undo the mental trauma he caused and the way I think about things now because of him, but I am free of him. At least physically.”

Night has fallen outside the windows and even though I need to eat again, if I closed my eyes, I would fall sound asleep. My stomach grumbles, the sound echoing into the quiet space around us. “I fixed dinner before we fell into bed together. You should eat before you fall asleep.”

“Fell into bed? You make it sound so innocent.”

“My intentions are far from innocent with you.” Ondin pushes me back into the pillows so we can look at each other in the eyes. His hand smooths down my chest, brushing over my breast. His lips follow and it doesn’t take long before I grow restless, the ache building again between my legs. There was no pain for my first time because of his magical lubrication but it’s still as though I’ve been stretched out down there…in a good way. His fingers slide over my mound, followed by his rumble of approval. “Mmmm, see? You are already soaking wet for me. Perhaps before I feed you dinner, I will eat mine.”

His eyes sparkle with mischief as he maneuvers down my body. He slips my legs over his shoulders, his tongue sliding through my folds like he’s a starving man getting his first bite of food. My fingers tangle in his long silver hair, holding him in place as the pressure in my belly grows. He pushes a finger inside me, rubbing along the top where my G-spot is located. Heat builds instantly as my hips move and rock against his face. When he pushes another finger in deep, my arousal drips down but then his tongue is there, licking it up.

“Yes, Ondin. More, please…” I’ve never felt pleasure like this before. Something this incredible has been a mystery to me for so many years. I’ve been cheated out of these experiences because I’ve had to live a life where I’ve tried to remain invisible to avoid the abuse that was thrust upon me for things I didn’t deserve.

But this…I consider this to be my reward.

His thick fingers brush over my G-spot again as his lips suction around my clit and suck gently. I come hard, my vision blurring as a strangled shout escapes me. “Yes!” Once I get a full breath of air, I don’t worry about keeping quiet. There’s no reason to hide anymore. It’s just Ondin and me, together. And I’m safe with him. He won’t let anyone like Paul hurt me again.

He licks me leisurely as I come down from my pleasure high, gently stroking my thighs. With a few kisses to my mound, he stares into my eyes and praises me. “ Good girl.” The compliment sends a shiver through my body. His voice is a low grumble, lust still heavy in his eyes as he looks me over. “You’re so relaxed with me. Because of it, we can give each other great pleasure.”

He’s right and I’m not sure when the shift occurred. But I am relaxed with him, even after running from him and intimacy the initial few times we had the opportunity. He never gave up on me, though. And he’s proven to me that he’s willing to do whatever he needs to do to keep me safe. Somewhere along the way, subconsciously or consciously, I did decide to trust him. He’s the warrior who’s on my side, fighting for my cause.

He rises from the bed and walks toward the kitchen without bothering to get dressed. “I’ll bring you something to eat. I know you’re hungry.”

His ass is impressive, and I stare without a care in the world. The thickness from his thighs to his butt make my mouth water while my heart squeezes in my chest. There’s no denying I like this man. I just hope it doesn’t come back to bite me in the ass.

He brings our food into the bedroom, spoiling me. This is another example of something I’ve never experienced…dinner in bed. Wrapped in a blanket, we sit together and eat. “How old were you when you began training to become a warrior?” I ask, curious to learn more about my new alien lover.

“Most boys begin training when they’re fifteen years old.”

“That seems so young.”

“It is, really. At the time I still hadn’t developed to the size they expected of their warriors, so I wasn’t initially considered.”

“Is that purposeful? They choose young so they know who will be the biggest when they’re older? Because that wouldn’t work with humans. Boys who are small at fifteen could have a growth spurt and end up being massive when they’re older.”

“It is their thinking, to choose based on the physical aspects. But I did grow as I got older. I’ve always been good at solving problems but that isn’t as favored.”

“You became a warrior and excelled in the end, though. Things worked out for you.”

“They did. I worked as hard as I had to. Because this is what the most valued males do in our society, so it is what mattered to me most.”

“What about your mother? What did she want you to do?”

He sets his food down on his plate and stares off, thoughts of his mother on his mind. “She wanted me to be happy. Therefore, she wanted me to be a warrior because she knew how much it meant to me.”

“And your father?” He’s never mentioned his father to me before. My muscles tense and I hold my breath while I wait for him to answer.

“He was dead, but still, I wanted to make him proud.”

“And now you’re an incredible warrior. One of the best from what I see. Do you think he’s proud?”

He looks down at his plate, the rest of his food forgotten. “He feels like too distant of a memory.”

With that, he kisses my forehead before taking our plates back to the kitchen.

Chapter 17

A few weeks pass and we’re out in the forest again. The temperature has remained steady, not getting any colder or warmer. The nights are the worst, so I keep Willa inside by the fire, away from the animals that hunt once the sun goes down.

She’s become mine in every way that matters. And today while she’s reaching up to collect fresh berries from a tree, her growing belly is more noticeable. Or maybe it’s just because I’m looking at her from a distance instead of while I’m hovering over her during our mating. She claims to feel well so aside from Stux’an delivering supplies, we’ve remained here in the woods, hidden away where I can keep her safe from Aeh’ers.

We’re both occupied with our own things, but I keep watching her, enjoying having her so close, knowing that she’s mine. She stretches again for more berries but quickly pulls her hand back, clutching at her belly indicating she’s had a sudden pain.

“Everything okay?” I’m not far from her and I’m already moving toward her.

“Yes, fine I think.” She rubs over her belly a few times while I stand close and wait. “I must’ve stretched too far, that’s all. Growing pains.” She smiles to reassure me, but it doesn’t make me feel any better. I’m not a doctor and even by flight it would take me a decent amount of time to get her to the medical center if she needed help. She laughs and steps into my arms, still holding on to the basket of berries. “Don’t look so worried. I’m fine, promise.” She goes up on her toes to reach for a kiss which I give her without hesitation.

“We should go back so you can rest. We’ve overdone it today.”

“I like the fresh air. From what I understand about pregnancy, this is all normal.” She squeezes my hand and steps back so she can put her basket between us. “Besides, I’ve only filled half of my basket.”

“Very well. But I’m not leaving your side, and I won’t hear any complaints.”

“No complaints.” She uses her fingers to motion like she’s locking her lips before going back to picking berries.

I cross my arms over my chest and watch her while resting against a large tree. “When you grow tired of this, I’ll take you to bed.”

“I’ll need to shower first. Then you can take me to bed.”

“I’ll take you into the shower and wash you. First with soap and then with my tongue.”

She tilts her head back and laughs. I watch her with a smile on my face, not at all ashamed of how I stare at my woman, lusting after her openly.

“You can go back to what you were doing, ya know. I’ll be just fine until we walk back.”

I ignore her attempt to get me to go away. “Stux’an will return in a few days with additional supplies. Shall I get in touch with Shura? Is there anything more you need from her?”

She’s quiet for a bit, still focused on picking the berries. “Eventually I should see her again. Everything was fine when I saw her initially but that was quite a while ago now. She wanted to look at the baby once I made my decision if I was going to keep it.”

I push off the tree and step closer to her. “Shura gave you the option to keep it or get rid of it?”

She nods. I’m not surprised she didn’t share any of this information but it’s a big decision to make all on her own. Her friends still don’t know that she’s carrying a baby.

“What made you decide to keep it?”

Apparently finished with the berries, she turns away from the tree and walks up to me. “I didn’t do it for them. I thought about you and Stux’an and Kraal. I thought about what this baby means for your future, and I didn’t want to take that away from you, even though it wasn’t my choice in the first place.”

At a loss for words, I continue to stare at her in awe. She’s going through all of this for me and my brothers? It’s such a selfless act after everything she’s been through because of my kind. I cradle her face between my hands and kiss her. My desire deepens, the need for intimacy growing when a rustling at the edge of the forest catches my attention.

When I look up, there’s an animal watching us, half hidden from behind a tree.

“What is it?” Willa asks. She follows my line of sight and gasps when she sees it for herself. “Is it dangerous?”

I’m not sure if I’m seeing things correctly. With the thick white fur, large pointy ears and poignant green eyes, my instincts tell me it’s a kutak. But they were thought to be extinct around the time my mother died. “They’re not domesticated.” While we watch, two more appear. They watch us closely but don’t make any move to approach.

“What are they, Ondin?” Willa whispers, breaking me out of the spell I’m under at seeing this majestic creature appear when I didn’t think they still existed on Bameh.

“My mother called them kutak. I thought they died out many years ago.”

“You said yourself it’s very secluded out here. I guess they’ve been living in secret just like us.”

“Perhaps.” Or they’re a different creature all together. At least they’re only watching from afar. “Come, let’s head home for tonight. Now that we know they inhabit these woods, we’ll need to make sure we’re careful when we venture this far from the hut.”

We move slowly in the opposite direction. Bameh is a massive sky island. After all this time, there are still parts of it that haven’t been explored. Now it makes me wonder what else is out here. What else is living in the shadows that we’ve yet to discover? We’ve always been so focused on making sure no one from outside the island discovers us that we haven’t paid enough attention to what’s going on right here. It’s a problem that has been discovered and slowly chipped away at over the last few months.

I’m quiet until we reach the hut. “Are you worried?” Willa asks as soon as we’re safe inside with the door locked behind us.

“No, unnerved. It has been years since I’ve seen a kutak but my mother always used to talk about them. Anytime she’d see one she’d point it out and we’d watch them as they’d run in a pack. It has been so long since I’ve seen one.”

The strangest of sensations hangs over me now and I can’t shake it. “They seemed surprised to see us, too,” Willa says. “They didn’t seem dangerous, though.”

“They’ve always stayed away from us and we’ve always left them alone. We co-existed until I stopped seeing them.”

She steps into my arms and nuzzles her face into my chest. “Why don’t you help me with that shower now?” she asks after we’ve stood and simply held each other for a few minutes.

I have her over my shoulder and stripped naked for the shower in record time. With her wet, naked body slippery under my hands, I momentarily forget about seeing the kutak and how my instincts buzzed with awareness in the forest.

I never knew my father well because he was obsessed with his position as a warrior, and he died before I could get to know him. But my mother…she was the light in my life from the time I was a young boy. With not having the opportunity to visit our place now that I’m in hiding with Willa, I have to wonder if this is her way of visiting in a different way.

Willa falls to her knees before me, taking my cock into her mouth and my mind goes blank. I’m too thick to fit but she takes as much as she can, using her hand to squeeze the base and apply more pressure. She pulls off with a gasp, her tongue licking down before pulling my tender ball sack into her mouth. My lubricant gushes over my cock, the signal that I’m ready for her tight, little cunt.

“Spread those legs for me, Willa.” I pull her up by her arms and press her against the wall of the shower. “I don’t have the patience to wait for the bed tonight.” She spreads her legs as I lift her so I can work my cock inside of her. “You’re so tight like this, aren’t you?” I push her against the shower wall with my hips, my cock working deeper. “Can you take all of me like this?” I growl my words into her ear. She responds with her throaty moans, spreading her legs wider and wiggling her hips so she can take all of me.

Our groans mix together when I bottom out inside of her. Without wasting any time, I thrust my hips, so she slams into the wall, her hot cunt squeezing my dick so hard I’m lightheaded from it.

“So good,” I moan, chasing toward the finish. “Are you going to come for me?”

“I’m so close.” Her voice pitches as her arms tighten around my neck. Our bodies slap together a few more times before she screams into the shower. I growl like an animal, gripping her thighs so tight she’ll have bruises tomorrow, but when I shoot my seed inside of her, the pleasure is so perfect I want to fall to me knees, worshipping my mate.

Chapter 18

My stomach is growing bigger every day it seems. And along with it, aches and pains. My hormones are all over the place, but I want sex, need it, all the time. I’ve convinced myself it’s from the pregnancy hormones, but it’s Ondin too. We’re together all the time, just the two of us. And I love it. I can’t see myself going back to how things were before we came to this hut together.

But this worries me. Because I don’t know what things will be like when we no longer have to hide out together, just the two of us. One day this arrangement will come to an end, and I’ve come to realize I hope it doesn’t mean an end to us.

This morning, I’m taking a walk through the woods which is something I’ve started doing every morning. I need the fresh air and exercise because the hut is small, and we don’t have a lot of options for activities out here. I don’t know what healthy things I should be doing to help with this pregnancy, but I wish I did. I wish I could see Shura again so she could tell me that everything is going well.

“The traps are still empty. I’ll leave them for another day.” Ondin appears by my side without a sound after making the rounds to check the traps. We’ve been lucky so far with fresh meat to eat almost every night. Ondin’s an impressive provider. Not only is he a strong warrior, but his survival instincts are something else. I’ve learned so much from him about surviving in the wilderness since our time began out here.

He throws his arm around my shoulders, his protectiveness growing more intense every day. “How do you feel?” He gently rubs my stomach, the intimate touch igniting my desires.

“Good. Tired but the fresh air feels good when we walk like this. I know it’s important to continue hiding away like we are, but I’d like to see Shura again soon. Just to make sure everything is okay and proceeding as it should be.”

“Yes, I agree. After all this time, I don’t see the harm in returning to the city for a short while. You can see your friends and have an examination. I’ll stop in at the military base to see if there is any new information that could allow us to return home again.”

His agreement to returning to the city is a huge weight off my shoulders. Whatever happens with this pregnancy, I don’t want to go through it alone. Yes, I have Ondin, but I want to be surrounded by doctors who know what they’re doing if anything should happen. Childbirth is scary enough, much less the idea of having a baby of a different species. Anything could go wrong.

We walk a little further before fatigue kicks in and I’m ready to return so I can sit in front of the fire. We’ve just started our circle back when a soft white flake catches my eye. I glance up and see many of them floating aimlessly. “Is it snowing?” I ask, slightly confused because I didn’t think it got cold enough for snow here.

Ondin straightens, his body growing tense as he begins searching our surroundings. “Not snow.” His nostril flares, the muscles in his arms bulging as his hands fist at his side. “Something is burning.”

“Burning?” Images of massive forest fires flash through my mind. Flames engulfing the trees, dancing toward the sky as the smoke overwhelms us and traps us.

He leans down, speaking into my face with urgency. “Hurry back to the hut. I’m going to find out what’s going on.”

“No, I want to stay with you. I don’t think we should separate.”

“Lock the door when you get there. You’ll be safe. I’m not taking you anywhere near fire. Now go!” He gives me a shove in the direction of our hut to get me moving. I have no other choice than to do what he says, even though I hate leaving him. If we’re the only ones out here, how could there be a fire? My instincts tell me we should both get the hell out of here. No going to investigate the fire and no hiding in the hut. But Ondin is already walking away from me, moving through the trees like a hound that has caught a scent.

I walk back to the hut even though I’d prefer to follow after him, still turning to steal glances at Ondin for as long as I can see him. When I get far enough away, the flakes of white ash fill the sky, and Ondin is right, it isn’t snow. I reach out to touch the substance, but it disintegrates on my fingers. I’m almost to the hut when another sound stops my heart, wind whooshing from above, but it isn’t a normal breeze moving through the trees. It’s the sound of dhevieth wings.

Smoke fills the sky now, but streaks of silver catch my eye, dread twisting in my gut.

“It’s nothing,” I tell myself in an attempt to remain calm.

But all I can think about is Ondin. Are those warriors in the sky? Have we been discovered by the enemy or is it just Stux’an and the others? I force myself to listen to Ondin by going inside the hut and locking the door. But it doesn’t do anything to ease my worries. I’m still at the windows, looking around, trying to get a glimpse of what might be happening. As the area fills up with smoke and the smell becomes overwhelming, my worry builds because if there’s a forest fire, it won’t be safe to stay where I am.

I’m glued to the windows, waiting to spot Ondin when a figure drops down from between the trees. One at first followed by more. One after another warrior dhevieth appear through the canopy of trees and land outside the hut. My instincts kick in and I drop to the floor, my heart ready to beat out of my chest. The door is locked but aside from that, our security out here is abysmal. It’ll only take them moments to break down the door.

I glance toward the bed, debating if I should hide underneath, but give up on that idea when I realize I won’t fit. Not with this growing belly. Sheer panic begins to consume me. Right now, I’m helpless without Ondin and the thought of being taken again? It’s enough to shatter me from the inside out. I won’t go back there; I don’t care what I have to do. The days of being strapped down as a science project are over.

I still haven’t moved when the first bang hits the door. The noise is a shocking interruption to my near mental breakdown, but it snaps me out of my trance. Instead of remaining frozen, waiting for something to happen, I sprint for the bedroom, determined to put as much distance between us as possible. With the door closed, I push the furniture in front to create a barrier. The sound of the banging is muffled only by the noise I’m making to do what I can to barricade myself in the bedroom.

Low, gruff voices can be heard from the other side of the door and that’s the moment I realize they’re inside. But instead of heading straight for the bedroom door, there’s more commotion. Sounds of a scuffle, bodies colliding and then being tossed into the walls. Furniture slamming back against the walls, the sound of glass breaking.

I’m barely breathing on the other side of the door, pressing the bed against it until my fingers turn white. We have weapons here. Ondin keeps them around the hut for moments like this but in order to find something to defend myself with, I’d have to move away from the door. And once again, getting myself to move anywhere when I’m in the middle of a near panic attack is proving to be a challenge.

“Is she here?” a voice says. Unless my mind is playing tricks on me, I’d swear it’s Stux’an’s voice, but at the moment, I don’t trust myself. “Did they find her?”

I’m terrified to open my mouth and say anything if this is all a trick. So, I keep quiet and wait. I wait for Ondin because he’s the only one I can truly trust at a time like this.

Whoever it is reaches the bedroom door, rattling the knob only to realize it’s locked.

“We’ve come for you, Willa. Open the door, let us in.”

More banging against the door and I know it’s only moments before they’re inside.

“Ondin—hurry!” I say, in a desperate, whispered plea.

Chapter 19

I track the smoke for quite a long distance through the trees. When I finally reach the location of the fire, it’s a scene of confusion. I’m still central in the forest but in a heavily wooded area and the fire is burning through a pile of underbrush that looks to have been collected and purposefully put into a large pile. Flakes of ash loosen from the burned material and float into the sky before they’re caught by the wind and taken toward the hut.

The area is full of gray smoke making it difficult to see and the overwhelming stench of the fire clogs my usually strong senses.

Everything about this is wrong.

I take a moment to kick dirt onto the flames but without more resources, I can’t take on this fire by myself. I’ve already made the decision to get back to Willa when there’s a disturbance in the sky above. Slices of silver cut through the smoke before disappearing beneath the trees.

“Willa.” I put it all together in an instant while I’m sprinting through the trees to get back to the hut. How did they find us? We’ve been hidden and careful for so long with no signs that anyone has been close to discovering our location.

They lured me away from her and I fell for it.

Knowing I won’t make it to her in time, I lift off into the sky, bursting through the trees only to be met with enemy warriors in the sky. They’re hovering, waiting for me to arrive and in my haste I left home this morning without anything more than a blade.

I hesitate before jolting forward, determination driving me toward Willa. But I’m grabbed from behind, a warrior clutching onto my wings to keep me from getting where I want to go. I unsheathe my blade and slam it into his ribs, doing whatever I have to do to get to my woman. They may have caught me off-guard, but they’ve underestimated how hard I’m willing to fight for the woman who owns my heart. I’ve failed her before, and I’ve promised myself I won’t let it happen again. Failure isn’t an option right now.

Three warriors surround me in the sky, and I fight them like a man possessed. This close we don’t use blasters, only blades. I block and strike, plunging deep when I’m able to hit past their scales. Another one of their diversion techniques while the rest of them work to break into the hut below. The thought of it enrages me. I’m not one to be tricked with such basic attempts.

Out of the corner of my eye, a large mass of silver moves closer. This time, I don’t fear it. When they get close enough, most of them break off and drop down into the trees while two of them continue their flight toward me.

Drocrek and Kraal.

Now that it’s a fair fight, it doesn’t take long before the three warriors drop lifeless through the trees, landing with a thud on the ground below.

By the time I get down to the hut, Stux’an and the others have taken care of the rest of the warriors, but Willa is nowhere to be seen.

“Where is she?” I ask.

“We think she’s in here, but she won’t open the door,” Stux’an says, pointing at the bedroom door.

“Has she said anything?” I’m at the door, testing it to find it locked. “Willa? It’s Ondin, it’s safe to open the door.” When I don’t hear anything at first from behind the door, my impatience grows. “You don’t know if she’s in here?” I glance back at Stux’an while my mind is imagining what I’m going to do if somehow one of the warriors already escaped with her.

But then, there’s noise on the other side of the door like furniture being moved. The lock clicks and finally our eyes meet. I push into the room and pull her into my arms. “I was so worried.”

“Me too.”

Stux’an instructs the warriors to move the bodies out of the hut. Furniture is broken, there’s glass strewn across the floor and now there are streaks of blood that will need to be cleaned.

“What happened?” I ask, directing my attention back to my alpha. “Another glitch in the system?”

Drocrek speaks this time. “Not that we know of. It looks like they flew across the border, somehow undetected. We didn’t receive notification of movement until they reached the forest border here.”

“They set a fire to lure me out of the hut and get me away from Willa. I couldn’t put the fire out on my own. We’re going to have to take care of that.”

Stux’an nods to one of the warriors who gets on his comm unit to make a call to the base to deal with the fire.

“We can’t stay here any longer. It’s disheartening to find out they haven’t given up after all this time.”

“No, I don’t believe they will, either. For now, we’ll get you two back to the base. Then we can discuss the possibility of going on the offensive.”

Kraal, Drocrek and I all look at Stux’an, surprised to hear him say this after all this time. He’s completely serious, though. “I’m tired of waiting to see what they’re going to do next. I think it’s time to show them we’re not going to be made to look like fools.”

I’ve been away for too long to know what he has in mind. While we discuss it, Willa holds onto me, quiet but otherwise unhurt.

“Pack your things. We’re going to return to the base. It isn’t safe to remain here any longer.”

She only hesitates for a moment and then disappears into the bedroom. The rest of us clean up as best as we can.

“Take her back to base,” Stux’an says when Willa emerges with her things. “We’ll finish up here.”

Warriors are still milling around the hut when we leave to head back to the city. The smoke is growing thicker making it difficult to breathe so we move quickly in the opposite direction.

“You’ll get to see Shura now and your friends. That’s the good that comes from this.”

Willa has been so quiet since we left the hut but I’m assuming it’s because of everything that has happened today.

“Yes, I’m glad to be able to see everyone again. And it’ll be a relief to see Shura and check on the baby.”

Then she’s quiet again. I’d pick her up and fly her back to the base if I didn’t feel as if she needed the fresh air and time to walk.

“Is everything okay?” It’s a stupid question after what we’ve been through, but I ask it anyway. In case she decides to open up and talk to me about what’s on her mind.

“I don’t know,” she finally says. She reaches out and takes my hand. “I was terrified they were going to take me again and I can’t go through that anymore. I just can’t. Is there anywhere safe for me where there isn’t a chance I’ll be kidnapped and used because I’m human? How do they keep finding us?”

We’re walking but her growing panic is palpable, so I pull her to a stop. “Look at me, Willa.”

She does and it’s when we’re standing face to face that I realize how pale she is, how exhausted she looks. After everything that happened this morning, she hasn’t eaten lately or had anything to drink. In my mind, I already consider her my mate and I’d do anything for her, but with everything else going on, I forget that she’s also growing a baby. All this stress can’t be good.

“We’re going to be okay. You’re caught in the middle of something and you’re suffering because of it. But I will continue to do everything I can for you. Just tell me what you need.”

She takes a deep breath and wraps her hands around my forearms. She stares at the ground, and I assume she’s thinking about what she wants to say to me. But when she looks at me next, she has a strange look on her face.

“Willa?”

She’s looking at me but she’s not seeing me. Seconds later, she starts to go down but before she hits the ground, she’s in my arms. I lower her to the ground and then check to make sure she’s breathing. Shaking her doesn’t bring her back to consciousness.

Lifting her in my arms, I take to the sky and fly as fast as I can to the medical facility.

Chapter 20

I’m in a soft bed when I wake up, confused at first as to how I got here.

“You’re awake! Finally. I’ve been so worried.” Ondin sits next to the bed. If he weren’t sitting next to me, the first thing I see when I open my eyes, I’d panic. This room is too similar to the lab. Too sterile. I’m hooked up to a machine that beeps near my head and just like in the lab, I don’t remember why I’m here or what they’ve done to me while I’ve been unconscious.

“What’s going on?” I ask.

“You passed out in the woods,” Ondin explains, leaning forward to rest his arms on the bed. “I flew you here to the medical center. Shura ran some tests and gave you a round of fluids. She thinks you’re dehydrated.”

It all comes back to me then. The woods, the fire, the attack.

“So, we’re back now?”

“Yes, we’re back. Maren and Trinity have been by to see you. They just went to grab something to drink.”

“They know?”

“About the baby? Yes. There’s no hiding it anymore.”

I glance down at my growing stomach. “I feel stupid for not just telling them I was pregnant all along. They had to find out like this?”

“Trinity accused me of getting your pregnant until she realized the timing didn’t work out.”

I smile hearing that because it’s totally something Trinity would do. “When do I get to leave?” I start to push myself up to sitting on the bed, but Ondin stands to hover over me.

“You’re not leaving until Shura gives the okay. Just rest. Be easy.”

He bends down and kisses my forehead. I stare up into his eyes, so glad he’s here with me and that I was able to wake up with him next to me. He didn’t drop me off and take off for the military base. He stayed and right now, that means so much.

“Okay. I’d just be more comfortable in the rooms on base. Bad memories from places like this, that’s all.”

He considers me for a moment and then heads for the door. “I’ll be right back.”

He disappears through the door and seconds later it swings open again, this time Trinity and Maren entering.

“Willa!” They both hurry toward the bed with open arms.

“Oh, I missed you!” I say while they both spoil me with hugs.

Once we’re finished greeting one another, they sit on the bed. “Let’s just skip over the fact that you didn’t tell us you’re pregnant because obviously we know now,” Trinity says.

“Don’t listen to her,” Maren says. “We just want to make sure you’re doing okay.”

“I think so. I’ve been tired but Ondin is taking good care of me.”

“Hmmm, I bet he is,” Trinity says. “At first I thought this was his handy work.” She motions over my belly.

“Yes, he told me.” I giggle at the thought of Trinity standing up to Ondin like that. All these warriors are so massive and intimidating. Compared to them, we’re tiny.

“I’m glad you’re coming back to the base when you’re giving the okay to leave here,” Maren says. “We’ve missed having you around.”

“I’ve missed being around.”

Ondin returns looking pleased with himself. “Shura said I can take you back to the base to rest. As long as you feel well enough to leave.”

“I’d feel the same resting here or resting there and I’d be more comfortable there.”

“Then as soon as Shura comes to remove you from these machines, I’ll take you to the base.”

Within the hour I’m back at the base with Trinity, Maren and Ondin. Whatever Shura gave me in the clinic has me feeling like a new person. So much so that when I come out of the shower to find Ondin waiting in my room, my thoughts instantly shift to another way I can feel good.

“Still feeling okay?” Ondin asks.

I clutch the towel, too shy to drop it even though we’ve been sexually intimate for weeks. My insecurities return with a vengeance, though. Like what if he was having sex with me to kill time while we were both together in the woods? What if he finds me unattractive now that my belly is getting so big? It isn’t even his baby after all. Do things go back to how they were before now that we’ve returned?

“Whoa, do you need to sit down?” Ondin is on his feet, directing me toward the bed.

“I’m fine, really. No more lightheadedness or anything.”

He brushes my neck with his fingers, up and down in a soothing pattern before leaning in close to nuzzle me with his nose. I wrap my arms around him, suddenly desperate for him, not sure what he wants but glad he’s still here.

I seek out his lips, pressing against his softness while seeking his wet warmth with my tongue. One hand slips down to rub over his bulge as his hands slide up my ribs, cupping my breasts. He plucks at my nipples causing me to moan but when I go to undo his pants, he stops me.

“I don’t think we should do this, Willa.” His words are like an injection of ice water to my veins. I lean back, pulling my hands away from his pants so I can grab the towel to cover myself.

“Sorry,” I say, breathlessly. His rejection stings but I had to know it would be like this all along. Temporary. Nothing more than a temporary distraction to pass the time.

My face burns red, and I can’t look him in the eye. He doesn’t move away but he doesn’t say anything else either. So, I do what I always do and get out of the situation.

“I’ll get dressed.”

“Maren and Trinity are here. I’m going to go check in with Stux’an and see if they’ve figured out how they crossed the border this morning.”

“Okay.” I keep my voice light even though I could break out in tears at any moment. As I get myself dressed, I accept that I hoped this time would be different for me. Because I’ve fallen head over heals for Ondin. For once, I just wish the feelings were reciprocated.

Instead of being anti-social like I want to be, I force myself to join them in the main living area. To distract myself from the fact my heart is breaking, I catch up on what I’ve missed out on with them since I left.

“So, Willa…have you thought about what you’re going to do with the baby when it’s born?” Maren asks. “We don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to, but I figured you’ve been thinking about it.”

After what happened with Ondin, I don’t have the heart to confess I had hoped Ondin and I would raise the baby together, as a family. Now it seems so naive…just a young girl’s silly dreams.

“It’s probably strange, but she feels like my baby. So, I plan on raising her like mine. I’ve become attached to this strange alien baby that moves around in my belly and stretches me out to the point of pain.”

“Well, there’ll be two other babies for her to play with,” Maren says with a smile.

“Two?”

Maren nods, her hands rubbing over her belly. “I’m pregnant and so is Sarah.”

“Oh my gosh! That’s so exciting!” I look to Trinity who rolls her eyes but she does it with a smile so there’s some happiness buried under there somewhere.

“Too many babies if you ask me,” Trinity mumbles.

“No one asked you…always remember that,” Maren says.

“Congratulations,” I say, giving her a hug. “How does Kraal feel about it?”

“He’s beyond excited. This is a huge deal for the dhevieth. Three babies all at once.”

For the first time in a while, it’s like I can actually breathe. I’m not alone with this pregnancy even if I’m the only one of us that will be trying to birth a baby that’s one hundred percent dhevieth. Who knows what’ll happen to all of us? Instead of what we imagined, it looks like babies are in our future with alien mates.

“And now that we know we’re having a baby, we’re going to be relocating to Kraal’s family home. I hate to break up the band, as they say, but it means a lot to Kraal.”

“You don’t have to explain yourself to us,” Trinity says. “We get it. You want your space.”

“I won’t be far, though. I’ll still see you all the time.”

Later, when I say goodnight and tuck myself into bed, it crosses my mind that I haven’t thought about where I’ll go. I can’t live at the base forever, especially not once the baby arrives. And as Sarah and Maren go off to live with their mates, it’s sad to think about just Trinity and me in this place. One day, she’ll be gone too.

It’s time to plan ahead and start figuring out my future because it isn’t just about me anymore.

Chapter 21

It’s late when I return to the room and Willa is already asleep in bed. Strange that she didn’t wait for me to get back, but she’s been exhausted so I can’t blame her. We just always had our routine at the hut and bedtime always consisted of me worshiping her body until she couldn’t take anymore and then I’d hold her until she’d pass out. I crave her now—badly—but after seeing her so weak in the medical center, I’m not going to do anything to jeopardize her health.

After showering and slipping into bed, I wrap my body around her and pull her close. Her scent soothes me, the press of her soft body against mine awakening my mating urges. My chest rumbles softly, my affection growing after being away from her all day. The sound must rouse her from sleep because she turns in my arms, staring at me for a moment like she’s surprised to find me here.

“Ondin? What are you doing here?”

“I’m back from meeting with Stux’an. Sorry it took me longer than I expected. There’s a lot going on with border security. It’s complicated.”

“No, I mean…what are you doing in here? I thought you said we shouldn’t do this.”

It takes me a minute to figure out what she’s talking about. Earlier, after her shower.

“You collapsed in my arms in the forest, and I rushed to the medical center. I wasn’t going to throw you down on the bed after that and have my way with you.”

It’s dark in the room but I can make out the furrow of her brow, her clear confusion from my explanation.

“What did you think I meant?”

“That what we were doing in the forest was situational and now that we’re back, things go back to how they were before.”

For the longest time, all I can do is stare at her while I try to understand her way of thinking. She appears sincere but the logic behind her words don’t make any sense to me. How does someone only love someone when it’s convenient? Is this really something she has experience with?

Eventually, I simply shake my head to indicate to her she’s wrong. “That wasn’t my intention. I simply don’t want to do anything to hurt you while you’re already in a weakened state.”

Tears spill from her eyes, an unexpected response to my confession.

“You never struck me as the type to settle down.” She wipes her tears using the sleeves of her nightgown. Even through what appears to be sadness, she manages to smile.

“I never had the urge until you.”

“What about the baby?”

She doesn’t have to elaborate for me to know what she’s asking. The worry and apprehension is clear on her face. I slip my hand under her nightgown so I can move my hand over her belly, caressing her lovingly. “You’re my woman so I consider this to be my baby. It doesn’t matter how he got here, only that we raise him as ours. Yes?”

She nods vigorously, more tears following the tear-stained streaks on her cheeks. “Yes.”

I kiss her then, letting my hand slide around to cup her supple ass. She’s all I’ve been thinking about today, even when I should’ve been focused on work. Even now, sex isn’t something I want to push but I need to touch her and experience this intimacy. We’ve gone too long without it.

I deepen the kiss, my fingers slipping between her slick folds. She’s soaked, making me growl with hunger. I’m between her legs in an instant, trailing my tongue over and over her while she continues to leak more and more for me.

“More,” she groans, her fingers tugging on my hair.

Indulging her, I slip my fingers inside her silky channel, rubbing the spot that makes her squirm with pleasure. My tongue licks in tandem with my fingers, not enough to make her come yet, but enough to push her limit of what she can handle.

“Harder…faster…” She tries to give me the directions that’ll lead to her orgasm, but I’m not done tasting her yet.

“Not yet. I haven’t had my fill.” I smile into her pussy as she groans her frustration. When I pause to glance up at her, she’s spread out on the bed, her hair spilling over the pillow, her fingers clamping over her nipples. “Look at those plump buds. My mouth is watering for them, Willa. I’m going to suck them next, hard, until you scream from the pleasure.”

Her knees drop open further, her fingers tugging harder on her swollen buds. Without breaking eye contact, I suck her clit into my mouth, rolling my tongue over it until her eyes roll back in her head. Her legs tremble, her pussy pulses against my tongue and she moans her release.

“Such a good girl, Willa,” I say, gently kissing her sensitive pink skin. Another shiver moves through her body as I lazily lick, getting high on her taste.

“I want to feel you now, inside me.”

I exhale, considering her request. “Maybe we should wait until Shura tells us it’s okay.” She shakes her head vehemently making me smile.

“I may not know a lot about pregnancy, but I know it wouldn’t happen as much as it does if men had to wait nine months. It’s fine…women have sex when they’re pregnant all the time.”

It doesn’t take much convincing. My cock is painfully hard, aching to get inside her. Once I’m on my knees it only takes a single pump before my lubricant spills over her lips, dripping between her folds. Using my cock head, I rub it in, up and down, until she’s begging me to stop teasing. She’s wide open to me and I’m crouched low on my knees so I’m not putting any pressure on her stomach when I push inside.

I don’t know how it’s possible, but it gets better every time. I’m slow and steady with my strokes, too careful, because she’s quick to voice her frustration.

“Harder, Ondin. I promise, you won’t hurt me.” After a few more strokes, she tells me to wait before positioning herself in a different way. This time, she’s on her hands and knees, her ass in the air. “This is better.” She peeks at me from over her shoulder with an encouraging smile, wiggling her ass. I grab it and thrust my cock deep.

It throws her forward into the pillow before she pushes back against me, adding even more pressure. And then I’m consumed by her. Our bodies work together, thrusting, rutting, whatever will bring the friction we need to help us reach the pinnacle.

“You squeeze me so tight,” I growl, working hard to control my urges so I don’t go off and lose it. Every time I’m inside her, it’s a battle for control. Her ass jiggles every time I thrust, and I want to lean down and take a bite. I’m consumed with desire for her, would do anything for her. It should scare me, but it doesn’t. Not all warriors will find a mate they cherish this way, so I consider myself to be one of the lucky ones.

“Let me go down on my side, Ondin.” We switch positions again so she doesn’t have to support the weight of her stomach. I press my body against her from behind, lifting her leg so I can slide my cock in from this new angle.

“Does that feel good?” I play with her clit while whispering in her ear, my hips moving slowing again.

“Yes, stay deep like that if you can.” She turns her head eager for a kiss. Our tongues tangle together, the soft moans leaving her mouth being swallowed by mine. My fingers swirl around her clit while I stay inside her, continuing to thrust shallowly. After a few minutes, she breaks the kiss and stares into my eyes. “Yes, right there.” Her hand grips my arm as she comes, the heat passing between us so intense I lose control and burst inside her.

We kiss for a long time after that. Always touching, always gazing into each other’s eyes.

And then she falls asleep in my arms, and I’m surrounded by contentment. Something I never thought I’d experience in my life. I always accepted the fake, the flirting, the shallow. But now that I have the real thing, it’s hard to believe I was ever willing to settle for anything else.

Willa has always been genuine. She’s always seen through me and kept her distance. Which is why when she let me in and put her trust in me, something shifted, and I knew I’d never do anything to let her down as long as I was alive.

Her vulnerability continues to grow right along with this pregnancy and that scares me. Which is something I wouldn’t normally admit to myself. At this point, I’ve accepted that she’s changed me in more than one way.

Chapter 22

“Ondin, Shura is looking for Willa. She’d like to see her at the medical center.” Ondin and I are on our daily morning walk the next morning when he gets the call over his comm unit. Even though we’re back in the city, he still won’t let me go alone. Not after I passed out in the woods and needed medical attention.

“I guess we’ll have to cut our walk short for today,” I say. “This works out, though. We’re not far from the medical building.”

We change direction but I’m surprised when Ondin starts walking with me. “Don’t you have to meet Stux’an? I can let you know how everything goes.”

“No, I’ll meet him after. I want to be there when she gives you the results from your tests.”

Even though it’s early, the medical center is already bustling with people. I’d normally wait for Shura in the waiting lounge but today she’s ready for me as soon as I arrive.

“How are you feeling today?” she asks as soon as I have had a seat in one of the exam rooms. Ondin stands behind me, leaning against the wall, practically hovering.

“Tired but better than yesterday.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” She glances between Ondin and me before swiveling in her chair to type a few things into the computer.

“The results from Willa’s tests are back?” Ondin asks, moving her along.

“Yes, it’s why I wanted to see you right away this morning. I have an answer as to why you collapsed yesterday.”

She doesn’t continue right away, again glancing at Ondin behind me as if he’s making her nervous. She does it so often, I glance at him to see if I’m missing something. He certainly looks intense but aside from that, it’s normal Ondin.

“I fear this pregnancy is more harmful on your body than it might seem from the outside.” I sit up a little taller in my chair, cold tingles starting in my hands and feet.

“Okay,” I say, doing my best to remain calm. “What did you find?”

“You were dehydrated, that is true. But the baby is already measuring too large for your size. To a female dhevieth, it wouldn’t be a problem. For you…well, you’re too small for a full sized dhevieth baby. Your body cannot support this full-term pregnancy. As it stands now, the baby is consuming too many of your nutrients which is why you found yourself dehydrated. At the very least, we should be giving you supplements but even then, I don’t know if it’ll be enough.”

Suddenly, it’s difficult to breathe. It was foolish of me, idiotic even, but I wasn’t expecting this report. Ondin has moved closer to me, his hand gripping onto my shoulder, but it’s too tight.

“What does this mean?” I finally ask.

Shura again looks from Ondin to me and back again. “I’m not sure. Something like this has never happened before. At this point, I suggest we keep a close watch on you and the baby. We’ll continue to monitor the baby’s size and growth. When we reach the point where you can no longer carry the baby, we’ll do a procedure.”

“To remove the baby. Like a C-section?”

She nods.

“But how long are dhevieth women typically pregnant? Will the baby survive at this point?”

“The gestational time is similar to human babies, but you’ll never make it that long.”

Ondin starts to pace around the small room as it closes in on me. Shura continues to explain to me how babies work in dhevieth women, but she starts to sound like the voices in the Peanuts cartoon. For once, I just want something to go right in my life.

Then, Ondin is crouching in front of me, his bold blue eyes studying me with concern. “Answer me, Willa.”

His voice breaks through the static, snapping me out of it.

“We’re going to figure this out.” He gently strokes my face, his voice soothing. “Try not to worry because we’ll do whatever we have to. We’re all in this together.”

I focus on his facial features, so strange to me when I first met him, now a source of my comfort. His high, sharp cheekbones with just as sharp of a jawline to match. His silver hair is softer than I thought it would be and thinking about running it through my fingers brings me a bit of peace when I’m at my breaking point.

“What’s the plan, Shura?” I look to her to guide me because I’m in over my head. I have been from day one, but I’m not going to get through this predicament without help.

“Starting today I’d like to give you daily treatments of nutrients and fluids to keep your body functioning at optimal levels. You’ll need a ton of rest, very little physical activity. We don’t want to stress your body.”

“Okay, that sounds good. We’ll do the treatments now?”

“Might as well. Wait here while I get everything ready. Go ahead and climb up on the table. Get comfortable.”

Shura leaves the room, giving Ondin and me a chance at a private moment. After helping me onto the table, he steps between my legs and nuzzles his nose against my cheek.

“Everything will be fine. Try not to worry. You don’t need any added stress.”

I exhale, unsure of what to say. He kisses me and I accept the comfort. “It sounds like I’m going to be here for a while. Go ahead to the base. I don’t want you to get in trouble with your alpha.”

I run my hands over his chest. He snatches my hand, rubbing soothing circles on the back. Our foreheads are pressed together, and I’d like nothing more than to stay this way, in our own little cocoon.

“You’re my priority. I’m not going to leave you after you’ve just found out this news. Now let’s get you comfortable on this bed because Shura will be back, and you’ll be here for a while.”

He helps me strip into the gown they have me wear when I’m here for appointments before laying on the bed. At least the blankets here are comfortable, nothing like the paper blankets I remember from the hospitals back on Earth. When Shura returns she wheels in a machine that already carries the liquids she’s going to inject into my body.

“It shouldn’t take too long. I’ll get you all hooked up and then you can just relax while the machine does the work. When it’s finished you’re free to head home for the day. Take it easy, though. I mean it.” She looks at Ondin this time, my personal guard who only smirks at her while watching me with his arms fixed over his chest.

She shakes her head, her focus switching back to me. “I know how these dhevieth males can be. Especially when they’re newly mated.”

A flush of happiness fills me with her words. I guess I didn’t realize others knew we were mated so to hear her say it out loud, well, it gives me the confirmation my low self-confidence needs. As I relax back into the bed, Ondin leans over me, brushing my hair from my forehead and placing soft kisses against my skin. To pass the time, he tells me stories of when he was young, causing trouble for his mother just like young boys do.

“She had to search for me every day because as soon as I finished my chores, I’d fly to the dunay and wait with my spear, convinced I’d be the one to catch the mulora when they returned to claim Bameh as their own.”

I laugh picturing Ondin as a little boy with wings and a spear, his head full of fantasies where he’s the brave hero who defends his people with his strength and valor.

“You’ve always had a good heart; from the time you were a young boy. Always wanting to help your people.”

He brushes off my compliment. “I was just like every other boy on Bameh.”

“That’s not true. Ambition has carried some of them along a different path entirely. You’ve stayed true to who you’ve wanted to be all along. I don’t know how I got so lucky but I’m going to consider it fate that you’re the one who came to save me in the lab.”

“And I will be the one to make sure you and our child survive to the end of this story. We still have a lot of adventures to make.”

“A lot of morning walks together,” I add. He leans down, teasing me with how close his lips brush against my own but don’t actually press down.

“A lot of passionate nights,” he says, finally giving me what I seek. After a full round of treatments, I’m as energetic as I’ll get today. Somehow, it has translated into needing intimacy with Ondin.

Things between us have turned heated when the machine behind me beeps, indicating the treatment has ended.

“Feeling better?” he asks, his hands roaming under the blanket.

“Umm, much better.” He pushes my thigh open, my body highly anticipating his touch when the door opens.

“See? This is what I’m talking about!” Shura walks over to the bed to remove the needles while Ondin straightens, laughing quietly. “Newly mated males,” Shura grumbles.

I burst out laughing, temporarily forgetting about the gray cloud hanging over my head.

Chapter 23

“You know, if you’re going to spend so much time in here, you need to clean up your mess. I can’t function when things are out of place.” Ehon walks into the room grabbing my empty drink containers and take-out trays from the cafeteria. He’s the best medical scientist on Bameh so as soon as Shura approached Willa and me with her diagnosis, I brought the issue to Ehon. Together we’ve been working day and night to come up with a solution for how to keep the baby alive once it’s out of the womb. Willa is the one who told us about incubators on Earth and how they’re used with babies who are born before they’re supposed to be. We don’t have such a thing on Bameh for many reasons, but once Willa explained them to us, Ehon and I have been working to develop one.

“I apologize for that, but I’ve only left the room to grab food and drink. Otherwise, I’m a little preoccupied right now, brother.”

Pages upon pages of sketches are spread out across the table in front of me. Our research is up on the screens and while it has been close to a month since we received the bad news from Shura, we’re as close as we’ve been to a solution to this problem.

“Let me see what you have now. You’ve solved the missing component?”

I hand him the latest sketch. Between the two of us, we have the ability and the intelligence to re-create this machine capable of keeping a baby alive outside of the womb, but we need to find a way to build it and make the sketches a reality.

Everyday Willa grows bigger. She’s on bedrest now, receiving her treatments daily. She’s doing the best she can but we’re running out of time.

“It has everything Willa explained—the ability to regulate the baby’s temperature, clean oxygen, protection to prevent infection, all in an environment large enough for the baby to grow. How are you coming along on the prototype?” I ask while he looks over the documents.

I stand and stretch, exhausted but refusing to slow down because time continues to move forward. As long as Willa is strong and fighting each day, I’ll do the same for her.

“We have everything we need to complete the project. But it would be ideal if we were able to test it before using it with the baby.”

“Ideal, yes. Time is the issue, though.” My comm unit beeps, pulling my attention away. “What is it?”

“It’s Willa. Maren and Trinity just brought her in,” Shura says.

“I’ve got to go, Ehon. Work your magic while I’m gone.” The trip to the medical center is a blur. Once I arrive, Shura isn’t hard to find. She’s always working, and we’ve been in constant contact these past few weeks. She’s doing everything she can to keep Willa comfortable and I’ll forever be grateful to her for that.

Her expression reflects how I feel inside when I reach her. “We’ve run out of time. We can’t wait any longer. We need to perform the surgery or her body is going to fail. She’s under so much stress right now, Ondin.” She shakes her head, the seriousness of our situation evident in the way the tension hangs in the air around us.

“Of course. I don’t want you to wait either. Do whatever you need to do to save her, Shura. Please.”

“It’s early. You know what this means. We have no way of knowing if the baby will survive or not but if we don’t act, you could lose them both.”

“That isn’t an option for me. I can’t lose her, no matter what. So do what you need to do. Ehon is working on the machine to keep the baby alive and if we’re lucky, he’ll have it up and running in time.”

“Good. I’ll take you to see her.”

As warriors I’ve seen my fair share of battles. I’ve been through training that I thought would break me. But none of it compares to trying to compose myself to see Willa right now. Not when the future is so uncertain, and I can’t promise her the results she wants.

“She’s on oxygen right now because she’s having a hard time breathing. We’re just helping her, though, she’s not dependent on it.”

Even as I attempt to prepare myself, I’m not ready to see her in such a way. She’s so tiny but her belly has grown so large that it dominates her body. She’s resting on her side, unable to lay on her back comfortably. Just like Shura warned us, the baby has consumed most of her nutrients so she’s lost weight. It’s a struggle for her to keep a healthy weight which has added to her exhaustion.

Just over three weeks have passed since we found out she wouldn’t be able to carry the baby full term. Things have progressed at a frantic pace since then. Sitting on the edge of her bed, she opens her eyes, attempting to smile at me. She tries to move the oxygen mask out of her way, so I help her, unable to shed the guilt that she’s going through such suffering because of my kind and what they did to her.

“Take it easy, let me help.”

She stares up at me while I soak her in, memorizing every detail, every soft touch. “Where did these curls come from?” I play with them as her locks lay against her pillow.

“The hormones, I think. I’ve never had curly hair before this.”

“We’ll have to wait and see if it stays curly or goes back to being straight.”

She smiles but doesn’t answer. At this point, she’s too exhausted.

“The doctors are going to take the baby out now, okay? You’ve done the best you can.”

She nods, her eyes growing heavy.

“You’ll need to wait in the other room, Ondin,” Shura says. “We need to get everything ready.”

“I won’t be far away. Stay strong for me, okay?”

If Shura didn’t step in front of me and physically move me away from the bed, I don’t think I’d have the strength to leave her. This isn’t the first time I’ve said good-bye to someone I loved in a hospital bed, hoping for the best. Only to have it be the last time we spoke.

I linger at the door, unable to completely pull away. “It’s okay, Ondin. We’ve got this…promise.” Shura escorts me the last of the way from the room, but I still stand there, staring even after she’s shut the door. Eventually I wander to the waiting room, finding Maren and Trinity there.

“How’s she doing, Ondin?” Trinity asks, jumping to her feet.

“They’ll be doing the surgery soon. They can’t wait any longer.” Maren sits in her chair, her hands clasped protectively over her belly. “Where’s Kraal? He shouldn’t leave you here like this.”

“He’s on his way. Just waiting for someone to cover for him.”

The three of us wait together, Trinity and Maren sitting while I pace through the room. Kraal arrives eventually but seeing him with Maren irritates me because I want to be with my mate, not pacing the lounge waiting for news.

I call Ehon, communicating with him to get the incubator here as soon as he’s finished it. If everything goes smoothly, the baby will be here within the hour. The first dhevieth baby born in years.

“How are you holding up, brother?” Kraal asks.

“I hate waiting. I hate not knowing.” At this point it can’t be much longer. But I’m not a patient man when it comes to Willa. “I need her to be okay.” I turn and look him in the eyes. “I need the baby to be okay.”

Kraal squeezes my shoulder. Seconds later, Shura appears in the hallway.

“Come, Ondin.”

I take off at a run.

Chapter 24

I wake up groggy. Moments after I’m conscious, I’m racked with full body chills even though I’m covered with a blanket.

“Here you go, this should help.” Another blanket is placed over me, covering me all the way to my chin. My eyes close again until I remember why I’m here.

“The baby,” I say, my throat too dry for my voice to carry far. I clear my throat and try again. “Is the baby okay?”

Shura isn’t here. Neither is Ondin. The nurse who’s watching over me looks panicked now that I’m awake. I just want someone familiar so I can figure out what’s going on. The nurse rushes from the room like a code has been called, leaving me to slowly acclimate all on my own.

I move my hands over my stomach. It’s so much smaller now, but still puffy from the trauma of the last few months. Over the last month I’ve been in so much pain that I anticipate it now, but instead I don’t feel anything.

The door flies open and Ondin hurries to my side. “You’re finally awake!” His excitement is contagious but before I can respond, he’s sitting next to me, his hands caressing me like if he doesn’t feel me for himself, I can’t be real. “The baby is okay, Willa. Born early, obviously, but doing well in the incubator. Once you’re feeling like yourself I’ll take you to see her.”

“Her?”

“Her. A girl. The city already claims her to be a miracle baby. News spread quickly. She’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.” This is a new level of excitement from Ondin and it’s doing the job of pulling me out of the haze I’ve been in since the surgery.

“That’s such great news. I was so worried going into this.”

“I know but it’s all going to work out. We deserve it.”

“And they’re keeping her in the hospital too? Watching her, making sure she’s getting everything she needs?”

“She’s getting the best possible care. The entire clinic is invested in making sure she continues to grow and develop as she should.”

I had a feeling she would receive this kind of attention so I’m relieved to know it’s even better than I imagined. “Did you get to hold her?”

“Not yet. They’ve been extremely careful with her to avoid any chance of infection or illness being passed along.”

“You’re still a proud papa. I can tell.”

He doesn’t deny it. When Shura joins us a little bit later, she explains how everything went with the surgery and that she’d like to keep me in the medical center for observation for a few more days. Ondin insists on staying which floods me with warmth, even if it’s so he can remain close to the baby. By the end of the night, I’ve gotten out of bed and walked around with Ondin’s help, had a sponge bath from the nurse and relocated to a new room.

When I pass Shura’s health inspection, she finally gives me the green light to visit the baby in the new makeshift nursery. The room is small and warm with the incubator set against the wall with its dim lights glowing under the dome. There’s an image in my head of what premie babies look like from my knowledge of them on Earth so what I see in the incubator almost makes me bust out in a fit of giggles.

This silver baby is a chunk and already the size of a full-grown human baby. So, it’s with pure fascination that I look her over the first time, taking in the lightness of her skin, the soft fluff of her hair and the lack of any type of scales on her body. Her eyes are still closed but her mouth opens and closes, her little lips puckered. “Is she hungry? She looks like she’s hungry.”

“It’s possible. They know what they’re doing. They’ll see to it that she gets the nutrients she needs.”

My first hint of possessiveness takes over. After carrying her inside of me for so long, I want to tend to her needs, not wait around for someone else to do it.

“Has she opened her eyes at all yet? Or are the lights too bright?”

“She hasn’t opened them all the way. Only a small bit before closing them again.”

“Because it’s too bright?”

“I believe so. Dhevieth have incredible senses. Her eyesight might be too intense for her to handle just yet.”

“And no scales. Those must develop just before birth within dhevieth females.”

“That’s what Shura has said.”

The incubator itself is completely covered aside from one hole toward the baby’s head. “This is where we can touch her and talk to her?” I ask.

“Yes. Just like you said it should be.”

“I’ve heard touch is important for bonding. Do you think she knows I’m her mama?” My eyes fill with tears unexpectedly. After such a long road, it’s hard to believe the baby is here…she’s okay, and now we’re going to figure out how to adapt to this new normal.

“Of course she knows.” Ondin’s arm is wrapped around my shoulder, but he pulls me closer. We didn’t make this baby together but we’re going to raise her together. After such a tumultuous childhood, I can’t think of anything more perfect.

The baby squirms on the small mattress, starting to fuss with the saddest little cries. A nurse comes into the room with a bottle. “Would you like to feed her?” she asks.

“Yes. Please.” After disinfecting my hands again, I take the bottle and scoot a chair close to the hole. With the bottle close to her lips, she latches on, immediately sucking, giving us the sign that this is what she’s been waiting for. “She’s a good eater.” A hearty appetite seems like a good indication of things to come.

I spend as long as I can with her before Shura finds me and sends me back to my own room. “You need your own rest. We’ll keep a close eye on her throughout the night and you can see her again in the morning.”

“What do you think about moving the incubator into my room?” I ask.

“Sleep tonight and we’ll discuss it again tomorrow.”

I’d argue, but she’s right, I’m exhausted and ready to sleep. Soon it’s just Ondin and me in the room, now a bed large enough for the both of us to sleep in it. “Do you have to return to the base tonight?”

“You should know by now you’re not getting rid of me so easily.” He strips out of his clothes and climbs into bed with me. “I’ve been desperate to sleep next to you again. There have been too many sleepless nights lately. Everything is off when I’m not with you.”

He holds me and it’s like it used to feel when we were at the hut in the woods. It’s strange to know we’re still the same together but so much has changed around us. I’m exhausted but not ready to go right to sleep. Not when I’d rather enjoy this moment of being together again, optimistic about our future.

“We need to think of a name for her,” I say.

“Yes. We never talked about it before.”

“I was too nervous things wouldn’t work out. The thought of giving her a name and then failing her would’ve made it worse somehow.”

“But you didn’t fail her. You were amazing and strong.” He squeezes me tighter, kissing my temple. “Do you have any ideas for names?”

“Well, she is the first dhevieth baby born in years so she should have a proper name. What was your mother’s name?”

“Fadrin.”

“Fadrin. That’s a beautiful name. We should name her Fadrin after your mother.”

“Yes, but let’s not forget—she may be the first dhevieth baby, but her mother is human. What was your mother’s name? You deserve to be honored as well.”

“Her name is Janie.” The thought of our daughter being named Janie makes me giggle. “My mother may not have been there for me growing up, but I still love her because she’s my mom. Even so, I’m not going to name my daughter after her. She doesn’t deserve it, Ondin.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. It’s taken a long time for me to come to terms with my homelife. I’m still dealing with the trauma of it. Now when I think of her, I can’t help wishing she would’ve kicked him to the curb because he wasn’t any good for either of us. Things would be so different between us if she had.”

“Sometimes we never know why our parents make the decisions they do. I never understood why my father chose his job over us time and time again. His death affected me at the time, but it wasn’t until I lost my mother that I realized he didn’t really mean anything to me because he was never around. She was the one who was present every day and because of it, I still miss her. I still go to places that remind me of her and talk to her.”

“See? There’s a reason our baby is a girl. Let’s name her Fadrin in honor of your mother. I wish I could’ve met her. She’d be so proud to see who you’ve become.”

He doesn’t answer, kissing me again instead.

“Fadrin,” he says quietly.

And I know he’s pleased.

Chapter 25

The council of elders has been notified of Fadrin’s birth. They may be our enemy now, but this has been the topic of disagreement from the beginning. Instead of going to war, I’ve proposed a meeting of leaders to offer a truce. My brothers initially thought I was joking, but my girls have changed everything. The thought of harm coming to either of them is too much for me to handle. I’ll do anything to keep them both safe from now on.

It’s exactly one week from Fadrin’s birth when we meet in a neutral location along the mountain pass. Moku, the leader of the elder council, dons the ornamental chain around his neck, indicating he’s taking the lead in negotiations today.

“So, a dhevieth child has been born. Our plan to breed using the humans was successful after all. There was no need for all of this division among our kind,” Moku says, beginning the meeting.

I was already agitated coming into the meeting even though it was my idea. Hearing his misguided claims at success after everything they put Willa through makes me want to pull my blade and make him bleed.

Sensing my growing tension, Kraal takes a few steps closer to me while Stux’an begins to speak. “You are mistaken,” he says. “If not for medical intervention, the human and child would’ve died. We’ve learned the humans are too small to carry a dhevieth baby to term. With her help, however, we were able to build a machine that allowed the baby to survive. We didn’t deserve it, not after everything that was done to her, but she was invested in making sure the baby was going to be okay.”

“The baby will live?” another elder asks.

“Yes. She is doing well.”

They nod, moving closer together to discuss. I exchange glances with Kraal while Stux’an waits to give the elders our terms.

“Our terms, Moku,” Stux’an says, interrupting.

The elders stop talking abruptly and turn toward us.

“We offer peace as long as you stop pursuing the human females. As well as leave Fadrin, the newly born baby, in the custody of her mother Willa and father Ondin. Allow the females to live peacefully with their chosen dheveith mates and we’ll co-exist peacefully.”

“This does not address the fact that you went against the council,” another elder says.

“We no longer recognize the elder council as law,” I say before Stux’an can answer. Kraal grips my arm in warning but I’m struggling to stay calm, even though I thought I’d handle this fine knowing I’d return home to Willa and Fadrin.

“That is the point of this peace agreement,” Stux’an adds. “We put the past in the past and move forward from here. If you accept our terms, there is no need for any retaliation for what you’ve done to Willa. You kidnapped her and impregnated her without her consent.”

“The problem of repopulating our species remains,” Moku says. “This is what we’ve tried to fix all along.”

“Three out of the four humans are pregnant or have had a baby already,” Stux’an says. “If you stopped worrying so much about allowing strangers into Bameh, our warriors could mate and reproduce. The way you’ve gone about it is wrong.”

Moku doesn’t like being told he’s wrong but when faced with the facts, they’ve run out of choices. The warriors on our side of the mountain have taken mates and planted their seed. They’re willing to fight for what they have. There’s no going back now.

They huddle together again and talk animatedly over their options. In the end, they agree to our terms. “We will give word to our warriors today that they shall cease pursuit of the humans and the baby.”

“Anyone who attempts to pass the border now that we’ve agreed to terms will be dealt with as we see fit,” I add.

The elders agree and terms are signed.

Once they’re gone Stux’an joins us. “I didn’t think they’d agree,” he says.

“Neither did I,” Drocrek says, chiming in through our comm units. He’s back at the base, watching us through the security cameras, listening to everything we’ve said.

“You got a little feisty,” Kraal says to me. “And this was all your idea.”

“I wasn’t prepared for how the anger would hit me when I saw their faces again, after everything that Willa went through. She suffered because of them, and I had the overwhelming desire to make every one of them bleed for it.”

“Yes, I got that. Definitely sensed your anger, brother.” Kraal squeezes my shoulder as I continue to calm down. We got what we wanted…peace. It doesn’t mean I’ll stop being diligent about safety, but we can relax knowing there won’t be active attempt after active attempt from their side to kidnap our women.

We make our way back toward the base. “How much longer until Fadrin is able to leave the medical center?” Stux’an asks.

“Shura thinks another month. It’s longer than I hoped but she’s getting stronger every day. In the meantime, Willa and I will work on finding somewhere for the three of us to live.”

“Any ideas where that’ll be?” Stux’an asks.

“Not yet. Somewhere close to the city. But Willa really enjoyed the forest when we were out there. She likes her morning walks.”

“Find the land you like, and we can build something. Now that we’re not so preoccupied with security, we’ll have time to devote to other things. Maren’s going to have our baby soon and the thought of it is overwhelming. I need things to do to keep me busy or I’ll go crazy,” Kraal says.

We laugh as we arrive back at the base. The signed treaty is a weight off my shoulders. Now I can focus on where we’re going to live, moving Willa and the baby there and settling in. I always thought I’d be nothing more than a warrior and here I am, preparing a home for my own family.

“I’ll pass the information along to the rest of the warriors along the border. We’ll keep security tight for another few weeks and then gradually ease off if it looks like they’re going to honor the treaty,” Stux’an says.

“Drocrek has his security system in place. If they break conditions, we’ll know about it,” Kraal says.

“Now that we’re finished with that, I’m going to check on my woman. She’ll be with Fadrin I’m sure.”

“See you soon, brother,” my warrior brothers say as I make haste to leave the base.

I fly to the medical center where Willa spends most of her free time. She healed perfectly after the surgery and is back on her feet getting stronger every day. This news will ease her worries and finally convince her to leave the base in search of the perfect location where we can begin building our life together. We need to start now because before we know it, Fadrin will need somewhere to go home to.

I find Willa next to the incubator feeding Fadrin with a bottle. Her eyes are wide open today, locked onto Willa who smiles at her through the plastic dome. Her small hands grip her toes, pulling her feet back where her claw is beginning to take shape on the back of her heel. Her skin is thickening and even though she still hasn’t grown her scales yet, her silver color is darkening.

“I had a feeling I’d find you here.”

Willa whips her head around and smiles. “Ondin! I didn’t expect you back so soon.”

I walk quietly into the room and kiss her on the lips before saying hello to my little girl who’s staring at me with huge blue eyes. She continues to drink her bottle but doesn’t miss a thing that’s going on between the two of us.

“She sure watches everything, doesn’t she?” I ask.

“Yes. I think things fascinate her. I can’t wait to get her out of the incubator and take her for walks outside. She’s going to be blown away by all there is to see.”

“It won’t be long now.” I pull up a chair next to Willa and she offers to let me finish giving her the bottle. “Are you sure?”

“Of course. I get to do it all the time.”

So, we switch places and I take over feeding my daughter. We sit with her until she falls asleep and only then will Willa leave her.

“Come. We need to start looking for where you want to live. It needs to be ready to go when Shura tells us it’s time to bring her home.”

“You want to do that today?”

“Might as well. There’s nothing to fear any longer. The elders signed the treaty. They’ve agreed to peace.”

A smile splits across Willa’s face just before she jumps into my arms.

“I thought that would make you happy,” I say.

Without bothering to set her down, I carry her from the room so we can go in search of where we want to settle down.

Chapter 26

“Willa, you don’t have to do this.” Ondin slides his fingers through my hair, gripping it tight as I take him into my mouth, sliding my tongue along his textured length. I take him until I gag, trying to relax my throat muscles but his size makes it a challenge.

When I pop off and suck in a deep gasp of air, I say, “I want to. I’m ready…promise.”

He can’t hide the lust in his eyes or the way his body responds to me. He’s kept his distance since my surgery, but Shura has given me the okay and I’m ready and raring to go. We’re in our new bedroom, breaking in the bed in our new house and I’m not going to let this momentous night pass by without showing this man what he means to me.

I take him in my mouth again, swirling my tongue around his girth before giving him a few good pumps with my hand. His hand grips my hair harder, pulling me off again.

“I’ve been too long without you. Anymore and I’m going to come in your mouth.”

He bends down to where I’m now leaning against the end of the bed, ripping my shirt wide open. I’m shocked, mouth open, about to tell him how much I liked that shirt when he throws me onto the bed, his hands working my pants off my hips.

“You’re eager.”

Without answering, he presses over my body, his tongue pushing into my mouth, his fingers delving deep into my pussy. “Oh, yes,” I moan, breaking our connection momentarily. “I’ve missed this.”

His fingers move inside me while I try to focus on ridding him of the rest of his clothes. “Me too, love…me too.”

Now that I finally have him naked again, I need to feel him everywhere. I want his cock filling me while his mouth sucks at my skin and his fingers squeeze me. I want him to consume me while he gets me off.

“Do you need to come, love?”

I whimper when his thumb presses against my clit. Using both of my hands, I pull his face down to me and force his lips to mine. The kiss is hard and demanding. He’s matching my energy and it fuels me like a drug.

“Fill me up, Ondin. Stretch me open with your cock.”

He growls like an animal, spreading my legs wide so they press into the mattress. He gushes over my pussy, his cock in his hand, rubbing his head over my clit. Our eyes are locked as I start to tremble, my hands gripping into the sheets as I hover at the edge of the precipice of my orgasm.

“Please, Ondin.” I’m begging but I don’t care. As soon as he splits me open I’m going to fall over the edge, I can feel it.

“Yes.” He fits the head of his cock inside me, and I squeeze him in, trying to take him deeper.

“More. More, please.”

He growls again, his eyes closing temporarily while his head rolls back. “I love the sound of you begging for my cock. It reaches my basest, most primal instincts.”

His hands move up my body until they’re cupping my breasts, squeezing them until my nipples pop. My pussy throbs when his thumbs brush over my sensitive nipples. “Your buds look like they need to be sucked.”

Before I can answer, he thrusts hard, plunging inside me until out skin slaps. “Yes!” I shout. The weight of his hips presses me into the bed, holding his cock deep, almost to the point of pain. He doesn’t move at first, so I begin to writhe beneath him, working myself against his cock to feel the friction I need to get off.

“That’s my good girl. Take what you need.”

Finally, he starts to move, small thrusts at first but it’s all I need to find my release. I toss my head back, crying out as the force of my orgasm washing through me.

“Yes, Willa. You’re so beautiful when you come on my cock.” Before I can fully recover, he starts thrusting hard. I hold onto the headboard to keep myself from banging into it. My back arches to absorb some of the force, my pussy taking the slaps of his skin when he bottoms out inside me. I’m not sure I’ll be able to take much more like this when his hot seed fills me, his mouth clamping over my nipple. He sucks hard, his fingers slipping between us to massage my clit until I orgasm again.

“Wow,” I say when he’s stopped pulsing inside me. “I needed that like you wouldn’t believe.”

He kisses me over and over again. “Me too.”

Eventually he rolls off me and lies next to me, both of us exhausted and ready to sleep. “We did a good job breaking in our new bed.”

We laugh. It took a while, but we eventually chose the location where we both wanted to live. We’re on the edge of the city just inside the trees in the forest. It’s the best of both worlds where we’re still close to everywhere we need to be but it feels like we’re more isolated from everything. The men built our home in a few weeks. Nothing fancy but it’s big enough for Fadrin and a brother or sister should we decide to have another one day down the road.

“Tomorrow’s the big day. Fadrin’s coming home,” Ondin says. “Can you believe it?”

“No, not really. After all this time…it’s crazy. I mean, they’re trusting us to bring her here and keep her alive, all by ourselves.”

Ondin laughs but little does he know; I’m not completely joking. “Parents do it all the time. You’ve been with her constantly since she’s been born. It won’t be so different.”

“I guess. I’m nervous now but once she’s here it’ll be so great. I’ve been waiting a long time for her to be healthy enough to leave the medical center.”

“Everyone has. It’s an occasion worth celebrating.”

The next morning, we’re surprised by members of the city delivering gifts for the baby after hearing she’ll be coming home today. Even Sarah and Vah’all make an appearance. They’ve been so busy with their own baby off in their cave that we hardly see them lately. But I couldn’t be more thankful because she’s had experience with the baby stage to get me started.

Maren looks like she’s ready to pop at any moment and Trinity rolls her eyes a lot with all the baby talk going on. By the time everyone leaves, I’m grateful to have the baby’s room ready to go with everything I can think of that we might need. Ondin is home again, taking more time off these days to help with the baby until I feel more confident.

“Do you ever look around you sometimes and wonder how you got here?” I ask Ondin while we stand together in Fadrin’s room.

“Not until I met you,” he says.

I elbow him in the ribs, but it doesn’t have the desired effect.

“I’m serious,” he continues. “I’ve told you this. From the time I was a little boy, I was going to be a warrior. Nothing else mattered. Now look at me. I missed work today to help you set up the baby’s room.”

I giggle into his chest. “You’re right.” He wraps his arms around me and we both stare at the baby’s crib. “My only intention when I joined the medics program that brought me here was to get away from my family and learn something in the process. I was happy to make friends along the way too. I never thought I’d find an alien who wanted to make babies with me.”

“That’s not all I want to do with you. You have my heart, Willa. I’ve never met a woman as strong and determined as you.”

I look up at him, touched by his words. “You have my heart too. You always will.”

He kisses my forehead, stepping back to link his fingers with mine.

“Let’s go get our baby, then. It’s time to bring her home.”

Chapter 27

“What did you find? Oh, a nest of some kind? We’ll have to ask your daddy what might live up there.” Fadrin is strapped to my body, wrapped in a warm blanket as we walk through the forest. I knew she’d love being in nature because there’s so much to see. Every few steps she extends her chubby arm and points at something new she spots around us.

I started these walks to deal with the fact that I was pregnant after being kidnapped but I had no memory of what they did to me in the lab. I still have no memory. Part of me waits, thinking one of these days the blackness that hovers around that time in captivity will disappear and I’ll remember it like a movie I saw before. But then the other part of me believes whatever memories I have are locked away, never to be uncovered.

Having Fadrin makes it all worthwhile now, though. Everything I went through to get to this moment is left in the past. We’re moving forward and I’ve never been so optimistic.

I’ve gone further today than I usually would, but Ondin is back at the base, and I figure the fresh air is good for the both of us. Fadrin will take a long nap and I’ll have a chance to get a few things accomplished.

We break through a dense section of trees when Fadrin points at something else in the distance. At first, I don’t see anything. I’m used to this because she has better eyesight than me even as a baby.  But then I spot it, the shock of white against the muted colors of the forest. It can’t be the kutak that we saw by Stux’an’s hut. That would mean they’ve either traveled miles to be here or there are more of them than anyone thought.

“It’s okay, little girl. Let’s head back home. It looks like we’re not alone out here after all.”

As soon as I turn around to put space between us and the kutak, another sound draws my attention through the trees. This time it’s the sound of sticks cracking like someone or something is walking toward us.

“Time to go,” I say. I’m patting Fadrin to keep her calm even though I’m the one who’s sensing the change in our surroundings. We’re not alone out here. Our relaxing stroll through the woods has suddenly become something much more sinister.

Every sound makes me search through the trees while I pick up the pace to get closer to home. Ondin’s not there but at least we’ll be out of the woods and safe behind a locked door. More rustling in the brush comes from behind us. This time I stop completely, straining to listen. My panic only increases when I don’t see anything.

I’m not going crazy, am I?

More cracking and shuffling to my left makes me turn, my body jolting from the surprise of the massive silver body suddenly standing between the trees. I’d recognize that jagged scar anywhere. Out of everyone, it isn’t a surprise that Aeh’ers is the one to show up in our woods.

My heart thunders in my chest, so loudly it causes Fadrin to start to fuss. From what I can tell, he’s alone. He doesn’t attack us, either. He’s just watching us with a vindictive leer. I’m too scared to move or open my mouth to ask him what he wants. All I can hope is that Ondin gets here soon.

“So, this is the miracle baby. I had to come see it for myself.”

He steps through the trees, approaching us slowly. My grip tightens around Fadrin as I step backward with every menacing step he takes toward us.

“Stay back, Aeh’ers.” My voice is filled with as much conviction as I can muster. I’m not strong. I’m not a fighter, but I’ll do anything to keep Fadrin safe. “You shouldn’t be here.”

He smirks, stepping forward a few more times. “I’ve heard all of the details of this treaty. I’ve been given the order to stay in my place.”

Something inside me tells me to stay quiet so I do. He continues to inch his way closer into my space while I push back to keep distance between us. “This isn’t right,” he says, shaking his head while pacing back and forth. He points at Fadrin while I do my best to shield her from his anger. “The first true dhevieth being raised by a human?”

Like a switch being flipped, my fear transforms, starting with a growing heat in my belly. “Maybe you’ve forgotten that I had no choice in the matter. I was taken and used. I would’ve died if not for the efforts of the doctors here. After all that, I’d say I deserve to call this baby mine.”

Fadrin starts to fuss, sensing my darkening mood. Aeh’ers studies me with a guarded expression making it difficult to decipher what he’s going to do next. When the urge to run hits me like a lightning bolt, I don’t ignore it.

My steps are awkward without the use of my arms but I’m hugging Fadrin to my body as I maneuver through the trees. It’s the effort of a fool, though, because Aeh’ers is stronger and faster than me when I’m not carrying a baby. He overtakes me within minutes, wrapping his arms around me like steel chains. I already know if he gets me off the ground he’ll be able to take me anywhere and do anything to me. There’s no fighting him in the sky. But when he bends his knees to push off from the ground, he howls and stumbles backward, almost pulling me down backward with him.

When I look behind us, all I see is a large mass of white on the ground. Then it moves, revealing the jaw locked on Aeh’ers lower calf. His blood drips onto the forest floor as he’s forced to make a choice between fighting off the kutak or holding onto me. Growls fill the space around us, echoing off the trees as the rest of the pack arrives.

“Get off!” Aeh’ers shouts, finally releasing me so he can reach for the blade on his belt. I stumble away from him as he pulls the silver blade because the moment he raises it in the air, another kutak leaps at him, its jaws biting straight through his wrist.

Aeh’ers screams drown out the animal’s growls as the pack moves in and attacks. I’ve fallen against a tree trunk, pressing my hands to Fadrin’s ears to try to block out the sounds of Aeh’ers vicious death. My eyes are squeezed shut, my head bowed because I can’t stomach what’s happening in front of me. When it’s eventually gets quiet again, I slowly raise my head to find one of the kutak sitting not far from me, almost like she’s protecting me. She glances back over her shoulder, licking her lips but otherwise alert.

We sit like this for longer than I’d like, but I’m too afraid to move. At one point, the pack suddenly stops what they’re doing and takes off into the forest. The last to leave is my protector. Before she trots off, she accepts a slab of meat being offered from a large male. I haven’t even had a chance to get to my feet when the warriors drop down through the trees, finally arriving.

“Willa!” The warriors scent the blood first and hurry to Aeh’ers corpse, not completely unrecognizable.

“Over here,” I say. I’m fighting my body’s desire to go into shock after watching someone being mauled to death by carnivores. The weakness of my voice reflects this. It does the job, though. Ondin is by my side in seconds, checking us over to make sure we’re okay.

“Drocrek spotted Aeh’ers on the border cameras,” he says.

I nod, my eyes flicking to the bloody mess in the middle of the woods. “He tried to take us. I don’t know what his intentions were…nothing good from his demeanor. Before he could get out of the woods, a pack of kutak attacked him.”

“Kutak? Are you sure?”

I nod. “The same animals from the woods by Stux’an’s. The whole pack. They protected us…didn’t harm a hair on our heads.”

“I don’t understand it…but I’m thankful for it.” He looks back to Aeh’ers remains. “I wonder if the elders know what he planned.”

“If he even knew,” I add.

“He was filled with so much anger. Part of me hoped he’d see the error of his ways, but he couldn’t do it.”

“He wasn’t happy about the treaty. From his mumbling it sounded like that was a big reason why he defied the elders. He wanted to see Fadrin for himself.”

“This is the price he paid. The forest took him.”

Ondin helps us to our feet, Fadrin having fallen asleep in the short time since her daddy arrived. “I need to get out of here, Ondin.”

“Yes. I’ll get my girls home where it’s safe.”

Chapter 28

“I never should’ve left you alone.”

Willa gives me that look of hers, the one that coveys I’m being unreasonable.

“Don’t be ridiculous. You can’t watch over us every moment of every day.” She’s just finished putting Fadrin in her crib for a nap while I’ve refused to return to work. Drocrek spotted Aeh’ers when he crossed the border and I hate to think what would’ve happened if the kutak wouldn’t have taken care of him.

“I never thought Aeh’ers would go to such lengths because of his hate. We grew up together. Never got along, but I’m struggling to comprehend how he decides he’s going to hurt a female and child.”

“We don’t truly know his intentions. If I had to guess, just based on my experience with my stepfather, Aeh’ers seemed like the type who thrived on the way things were supposed to be. Like back home, Paul was supposed to be the head of the household, making the most money with the best job. But he always got fired so we ended up working hard to cover his slack. So, he struggled to gain control in other ways. Aeh’ers wanted to be an alpha warrior. His word was law. Things began to unravel with the division of your kind. Then when the elders made a peaceful treaty, he fought against it. We can only assume he did what he did to try to regain some of the control he felt he lost.”

I pull my small human into my arms, exhaling as my grip tightens.

“It sounds like you know a thing or two, love.”

“Only because I had to go through a lot to reach this place where I finally feel at peace.”

“You’re not worried after what happened?”

“Do you think I need to be?”

“No. The warriors on the other side will follow the direction of the elder council. It’s why they’re there and not here with us. They don’t have the independent thought to break from their direct orders.”

“Then we won’t keep worrying about it. There are much better things we could be doing with our time.”

“Oh yes? What did you have in mind?”

I lift her off the ground as she wraps her legs around my waist. We leave Fadrin’s room and walk across the hall to our bedroom. I lay her down gently in the middle of our bed, covering her with my body.

“I thought we could take a nap,” she says with a mischievous smile.

“Yes, a nap is a good idea. You’ve had a stressful morning.” I trail kisses along the curve of her neck, my fingers gently caressing the same pattern on the other side. I pull her shirt up exposing her torso, licking and kissing my way across her soft skin. When I remove it completely, small bumps cover her body, her nipples hard and dark as a soft tremble shakes her from my touch.

She pulls my shirt over my head and uses her nails to scratch along my scales, my cock straining against my pants, begging to be let free.

“I guess this will be a naked nap,” she says, and I can hear the amusement in her voice. I take off her pants next, licking my lips when her scent surrounds me. A soft growl rumbles in my chest, the sound of a dhevieth ready to claim his mate. The curls on her mound glisten with her arousal, the urge to lean in and kiss her pretty cunt so strong I don’t fight it.

“Relax now, love. Let me feast until I’m satisfied.”

I slide my tongue through her folds, pushing into her channel. To gain better access, I spread her wide and tilt her hips back, exposing her completely. I move my head up and down over and over again until she’s begging me to make her come. So, I suction my mouth over her pleasure bud and work her with my tongue until she’s muffling her screams with her hands.

This time, however, I don’t stop with her first orgasm. I keep licking, pushing her back to the top again until her legs start to shake and she’s moaning against me. When she comes this time, she clenches every muscle in her body, sitting forward as a gush of liquid coats my lips.

“Yes, love. Give me your sweet nectar.”

She collapses back onto the mattress, pushing me away with her foot against my shoulder. I laugh as I climb from the bed to rid myself of my pants.

“Let me see that juicy ass, love.” I climb back onto the bed as she rolls onto her stomach, grabbing a pillow to tuck under her hips. I spend my lubricant between her ass cheeks and rub it over my cock before spreading her and sinking into her tight hole. “Ah yes, squeeze me like that.”

She pushes back against me as I start to thrust, bottoming out and growing dizzy from the sheer mind-blowing pleasure of it. I hold her ass in my hands, squeezing her flesh. Sometimes spreading her to watch my cock disappear inside her, sometimes pushing her tight together, making us both groan. “You take me so good. Such a good girl, Willa.”

“Yes. Yes, Ondin, yes,” she moans, her voice muffled by the pillow. “Make me come again. One more time…I’m so close.”

My woman is so responsive. My chest puffs with pride knowing when I give her my cock, I leave her a helpless, exhausted mess afterward. I shift so my arm wraps around her, my fingers pressing over her clit. When she screams into the pillow, I come too, pumping a few more times before my seed bursts inside her. She goes limp on the bed then while I rub her back, letting my cock pulse as the aftershocks of my orgasm work through me.

I ease down over her, covering her with my body. We’re wrapped in a cocoon of warmth and love together, neither one of us wanting to move.

“Now I’m ready for a nap,” she says.

“Me too. Maybe Fadrin will give us an hour?”

“It’s impossible to know. Every time it’s a surprise.”

My hands gently massage her skin, unable to stop touching her. After a while, I think she’s asleep, but she surprises me by speaking. “Ondin, in the forest this morning, the kutak…”

“Yes?”

“It might sound stupid, but I got the feeling they were protecting me from Aeh’ers. They only attacked him and they didn’t attack until he tried to take us. While the pack devoured his body, one of the females sat next to me, like she was guarding me. What do you think of that?”

“I think it’s possible. You were trying to protect your baby, perhaps they sensed that and came to your aid. Whatever the reason, I’m just so grateful it worked out the way it did.” I hold her tighter in my arms.

“Me too. After everything we’ve been through, let’s hope it’s smooth sailing from here on out.”

“Yes.” I nuzzle her neck with my nose. “More sex, more babies and peace.”

She giggles as I continue to kiss and touch her. I was going to give her a chance to sleep but when she’s in my arms like this, I can’t keep my hands to myself. Moments later, it doesn’t matter anyway because crying erupts from Fadrin’s room.

“You rest,” I say, nipping her on the shoulder. “I’ve got her.”

I throw my clothes on and leave one of my sleeping girls to tend to the other. Did I ever think I’d live for taking care of two females? No. But I’ll fight with everything I have to keep my little family safe.

Epilogue

Six Months Later

“Can you get the fire going? Everyone will be here soon, and we’ll probably spend most of the time outside.” I’m running around the kitchen putting the finishing touches on everything before the girls arrive. It’s a reunion of sorts but at the same time, a celebration of Maren and Kraal’s baby. Technically the baby is almost five months old already, but this is the first chance we were able to organize our schedules to get us all together.

“The fire is blazing, love.” Ondin walks through the kitchen holding Fadrin, though she struggles to get out of his arms because all she wants to do is crawl around on the floor. I’m not ready for her to be so mobile but I’m learning it’s normal for the dhevieth.

Before I have a chance to thank him, the door opens and Shura enters. As soon as she spots Fadrin sitting on the floor, sucking on her fist, she ignores Ondin and me and goes right to her. “How’s my little girl doing? Aren’t you getting so big already?”

Fadrin loves the attention and squeals happily as soon as Shura starts bouncing her in her arms.

“Welcome Shura!” I say, walking to her with my arms open wide for a hug. As far as I’m concerned, Shura saved my life. She helped me through everything, and I owe her big time for that. We’ve become close friends because I take Fadrin to see her for checkups.

Within the next hour, everyone has arrived and we’re all sitting in our backyard around the fire. Sarah and Vah’all have brought their baby Samara, Maren and Kraal have their little girl Anka and then there’s Shura, Trinity, Stux’an and Drocrek.

“Now that the border is quiet, we’ve been able to reduce our patrol and focus on other things. So far the elders are honoring the treaty,” Stux’an says.

The warriors can’t help discussing business but the rest of us do the same so we can’t blame them.

“We’re no longer under the strict control of the council which means there’s a large number of the warriors curious about the world outside of Bameh. Missions are already being organized to venture off the island, strictly for purposes of discovery and adventure,” Stux’an says.

“That’s amazing!” I say.

“Yes, the galaxy is vast, full of so much to see and learn. I’m glad to hear you’re not limiting yourself to this small island anymore,” Trinity adds.

“There’s still space aboard the flight I’m piloting,” Stux’an says to Trinity. “You’re welcome to journey along with us if you’d like. So far, you’d be the only female, but if you’re interested, I’ll see what I can do to find you a travel partner.”

“Really? You’d take me along with you?”

Sarah, Maren and I watch this conversation between the two of them unfold with interest. Trinity has wanted to go home for a while now but maybe it isn’t about going home as much as a new adventure. Somewhere that doesn’t have so much history around trying to imprison us and make us into science experiments.

“I’ll think about it…thanks,” she says.

For the rest of the night, we eat and spend time passing around the babies. Oddly enough, they’re all around the same age, though Fadrin is double the size of Anka and Samara which is why they were able to carry their babies to full term and I was not. Here on out, I’m optimistic that if Ondin and I get pregnant again, I’ll be okay.

Time will tell.

“Come and see me soon!” Shura says when it’s time for her to go. “I’ll want to see the babies within the month.”

Eventually everyone says their goodbyes and makes their way back to their own homes for the night. Sarah and Vah’all still live in their cave, Maren and Kraal live in his parent’s ancestral home and Trinity still lives on base. We get Fadrin to bed and snuggle up together while the last of the fire burns.

“It’s so exciting that Stux’an is going to lead a mission off Bameh,” I say. “Do you wish you could go?”

Ondin glances down at me with the strangest look of confusion. “Why would I want to go?”

“Well, it was never an option for you before I came along. Maybe it was the one thing you wanted most in all the world and I didn’t know.”

He shakes his head, staring into the glowing embers of the dying fire. “I’ve come to accept that the universe gives us what we need, not what we think we want. I would’ve enjoyed that kind of mission before I had you and Fadrin but now I’d never leave the two of you. Not for anything.”

I press a kiss just below his ear. Sometimes I have the overwhelming urge to pinch myself because it doesn’t feel real that I can be so happy.

“Is it time for me to show you how much I love you again?” His eyes sparkle but the meaning of his words coat my thighs with arousal.

“Maybe tonight, I’ll show you how much I love you.” I lick my lips and glance at the growing bulge in his pants.

He tilts his head to the side, staring at me with growing heat in his gaze.

“Then climb on my lap and show me, love. I’m already impatient to feel you.”

“Here?” I glance around us. It’s dark aside from the small amount of light the fire is still throwing out. The trees are to our backs, our house on the other side. No neighbors for miles. “We should go inside.”

Ondin shakes his head slowly, his hands working the buttons of his pants. “Why? There’s no one around to hear us. Out here, you won’t wake the baby when I make you scream from how hard you come on my cock.”

My mouth drops open, my body already tingling in anticipation. He tugs his pants down, his cock standing tall, glistening in the moonlight. “Come, love. I need to be inside you.”

I toss my inhibitions aside and follow his command. I straddle him, taking him deep inside my body. The fire is warm on my back, the clear sky shines above. As the cool breeze brushes over my bare skin, my nipples pebble. The contrast of sensation is amazing while I ride him in the field of our backyard. For this short moment in time, it’s like we’re the only ones here, consumed by our love.

It doesn’t take long for him to keep his promise and make me cry out to the stars. Just like all the other promises he’s kept, I trust him with my heart and above all else, my life.

The End

THANK you so much for reading!! If you loved it, please consider leaving a review. It really helps others find my work! Thank you! Love, Luna

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to Natasha Snow (Natasha Snow Designs) for the gorgeous cover. www.natashasnow.com

Thank you to the ARC readers who take the time to read and review my books. I appreciate you all!

And to all my readers—I am so honored that you continue to support/love/read my books. You are beyond amazing and I couldn’t do it without you!!

Coming Soon!

Be on the look out for Book 4 in the Barbarian Clans of Xavren Series! Coming January 2022!

About the Author

Luna Kingsley writes steamy sci-fi and paranormal romance. She loves a happy ending more than chocolate chip pancakes with whipped cream on top! When she’s not writing she’s attempting to keep up with her two active boys on all of their adventures. With her faithful rescue dogs at her side, she’s dreaming up "out of this world" romances with sexy aliens who are irresistible. Sign up for my newsletter to get a free novella, Surrender to the Alien!

http://eepurl.com/gVwnEH

Also by Luna Kingsley

Barbarian Clans of Xavren

Untamed Alien

Fierce Alien

Savage Alien

Brutal Alien - Coming Soon!

The Roh’ilian Warrior Series

Caged with the Alien

Bound to the Alien

Imprisoned with the Alien

Captured with the Alien

Trapped with the Alien

Earth Women for Alien Warriors (Co-Written with Keira Conrad)

His

His Bride

His Prize

Christmas Stand-Alone Science Fiction Romance

Alien Boyfriend for Christmas

The Alien Bride Series

Alien Husband

Alien Fiancé

Alien Lover

Alien Betrothed

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Epilogue

Acknowledgments

Coming Soon!

About the Author

Also by Luna Kingsley