In a rush, the scene from her apartment played through her head. She had been kidnapped by men that looked incredibly similar to Phaetons. In fact, if she had not seen Phaetons at the Intake Center earlier, she wouldn’t have noticed the difference. The men up at her apartment wore completely different uniforms with an unfamiliar emblem stamped on the chest. They also seemed incredibly interested in Finch, Claudia’s new Phaeton husband, yet another sign that things weren’t quite right. Maggie had no idea who they were but given her current condition, she wasn’t going to bet on them being friendly.
“Help,” Maggie said quietly before clearing her throat and trying again. “Help!” she yelled louder and a bit more panicked. With her voice still ringing off the walls in the small room, she listened intently to see if she could hear anyone.
Detecting a heavy thumping noise, Maggie realized that there was someone walking outside the room. And by the sound of it, they were approaching the door with each loud thunk. Holding her breath, she kept her eyes locked on the door, preparing for whatever may come through the opening.
With an electronic whoosh, the door slid open, outlining a tall figure. Maggie, prepared to scream bloody murder, found herself speechless when the non-Phaeton warrior stepped inside. Standing tall enough that he had barely cleared the doorway, he was something to behold. Awareness tingled along her spine as she stared at him. She remembered the conflict in his eyes as the others were handling her roughly during her abduction.
As she stared, unable to help herself, Maggie scanned him up and down. Dark wavy hair fell past his shoulders, framing a strong jaw made more attractive by a five o’clock shadow. Wearing a dark blue tunic and chocolate leather pants with a shining silver gun of some sort on his belt, he presented a magnificent combination of what she would label as futuristic old-world Viking.
“Are you well?” he asked with an expression of concern as he looked down at her on the cot.
“Ummmm…yeah. Who are you?” Maggie wiggled uncomfortably—the straps were starting to make her feel claustrophobic. “Please, you have to help me. I just want to go home.”
The warrior placed his finger against a sensor beside the door, and it closed with a touch. Turning back to her, he continued to stare as if trying to figure something out.
“Who are you?” she repeated with a croak. Her throat felt as dry as the Sahara.
“I am Hix.” Stepping forward, the warrior gave a quick bow. He wore braids at his temples, which held his hair back from his face at the movement. “Do you require drink or food?”
Maggie winced at the thought of eating something. There was no way her tumbling stomach would welcome food right now. “Can I have something to drink?” Licking her lips, she figured a drink would go a long way in easing her massive case of dry mouth. “Who are you and where am I?”
“I have already told you. I am Hix.” When he turned to touch a small panel on the wall, Maggie couldn’t help but stare at the awesome ass presented to her in leather pants. When he turned back to face her, Maggie immediately redirected her gaze. The last thing she should be doing right now was checking out one of the guys that had helped kidnap her.
Holding a small bottle, he had retrieved from a cubby that had opened with his touch, Hix stepped forward to offer her the drink but came to a halt at the low growl rumbling from Bodhi. Crouching low, he held out his hand for Bodhi to sniff. Maggie noticed that Bodhi still had his leash attached to his collar, dragging it behind him as he wiggled forward to inspect the large alien.
“Shhh, Bodhi. It’s okay.” Maggie bit her lip and hoped her small protector would listen to her and not do anything to get hurt. The man, Hix, had gentle eyes but that didn’t mean he would forgive her little dog if he were attacked. When Bodhi licked the back of his hand, the warrior’s lips tilted in a small grin. With a gentle scratch behind Bodhi’s ears, Hix gave one final pat before standing again.
“I am not going to harm you,” he said with another step forward. His stride drew her attention and she dropped her gaze to his thick thighs outlined beneath the dark leather.
“Who are you…and don’t say Hix again,” Maggie said quickly when it looked as though he were going to give her the same answer again. “You’re not Phaeton, right? I mean, Phaetons are the good guys and they don’t just kidnap people off Earth...”
Well…other than her friend Claudia but that ended up being more of a rescue and seemed to work out for the better, so she wasn’t going to nitpick.
“We were once Phaeton but now are Verge,” Hix explained. A sadness seemed to enter his eyes as he said this, which confused her even more.
Maggie looked at the offered bottle and raised her eyebrows. “I’m not going to be able to drink that tied down like this. Can you let me up? Please?” Puffing out a breath to blow a strand of hair off her face, she caught his small smile at the action.
Hix surprised her by not only reaching for her bonds to undo them but also pausing to pet Bodhi again before working the latches. “I am here to help you.”
Maggie’s eyes widened at his statement. “You’ll help me?”
“Yes.” Hix clicked the last buckle open before reaching forward to help her sit up. His form loomed over hers as he gently moved her into a more comfortable position.
Groaning from the aches of her shoulders and ribs, Maggie immediately wrapped one of her arms around the offended area. “Did that asshole give me a couple kicks after I went down?”
Hix startled her when he sat down beside her on the cot and wrapped his muscled arm around her torso. “Let me help.”
Maggie wasn’t sure what he intended to help with until she felt strong fingers delicately probing her side and stomach. “I assume you are referring to Kell as the `asshole?’” he asked. His breath fanned out over her neck where he leaned against her.
“Was Kell the big douche that yelled in my face and grabbed me?” Maggie asked dryly.
“Yes, he is one of our Prime leaders.”
“Jesus, that guy is in charge? No wonder he was on such a power trip,” Maggie murmured. Her heart pounded at the sensation of his hands running over her curves. Twisting in his arms, Maggie felt her face flush when her tank bared the skin of her waist under his curious touch.
“I believe your aches are a side effect of the drugs you were injected with,” Hix offered. As he reached up to cup her cheek, Maggie let out a startled breath. “I apologize. I merely meant to check your pupils.”
“Are you a doctor?” Maggie asked and stared into his gorgeous green eyes, which were surrounded by lashes that she would have paid hundreds for.
“No, I am not.” Hix gave her a crooked smile, flashing a set of sharp canines that looked menacing.
Leaning away at the sight of his teeth, Maggie felt a strange pang in her heart when hurt flashed in his eyes. “I’m sorry,” she said softly, hating that she had put that look on his face. “I’m not used to all of the…alien stuff.”
Unable to resist the urge to touch him, Maggie rested her fingers on his arm and found comfort in the innocent contact. She wasn’t surprised. She had always been one to find comfort in the touch of another. Simple hugs and innocent contact soothed her soul, which was most likely because physical contact had been few and far between when she was growing up. Her cold parents had avoided cuddling or unnecessary touches the moment she had been deemed ‘too old for that nonsense.’ This had always left the grown-up Maggie starved for touch. She was the epitome of someone considered touchy feely. She hugged her friends, kissed cheeks as if it were going out of style and was the ultimate snuggler when it came to her intimate relationships.
Tilting his head to the side, Hix simply stared at her for a moment before nodding. Stroking his fingers over her stomach, Hix cast a glance at Bodhi, who was watching him closely. “I will not harm you or your small animal.” Pouring a small bit of the water into his cupped hand, he held it out for Bodhi to drink.
Her heart fluttered at the sight of Hix gently encouraging
her pup to drink. “What am I doing here?”
“I wish I had an answer for you, Maggie.” Removing his hands from her body, Hix scooted away slightly, breaking their contact completely.
Bereft of his touch, Maggie held back a shiver at the coldness that seeped into her bones. “Well, if you can’t tell me why I’m here, can you tell where the hell I am?”
Chapter Three
Hix linked his hands together tightly. His urge to continue touching the human female was almost overwhelming. She wasn’t the first human he had ever seen in person, but she was by far the most attractive. Her light hair reminded him of the precious metal that he saw many of the humans on Earth wearing as decoration. Pieces of it shimmered a brighter color, almost glowing where it weaved in and out of the pile of curls atop her head.
When she had first opened the door to her domicile on Earth, Hix had barely been able to hold back the growl that threatened to rumble out of his chest. Never had he experienced such an immense emotional reaction. Not even the females who worked on the Pleasure Sector had been able to illicit the raw desire that heated his body. His entire being had been aching to not only protect her but to pleasure her as well.
“We are on Verge Prime,” he answered. Knowing she would most likely not understand the explanation he had given, Hix continued. “I am unsure where I should begin—”
“How about explaining who the Verge are and why they…you kidnapped me?” Maggie took another gulp out of the bottle and licked her lips when a drop escaped.
Biting back a groan at the sight, Hix shook his head to clear it of desire. “I did not intend to be a part of your abduction,” Hix argued quickly, running a strong hand through his long brown hair. If there was one thing he wanted clear, it was that he had not been as much a part of her kidnapping as she thought.
Hix leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, as he watched her closely. “Not long ago I was a Phaeton guard. I am from the Skrammon class of our race.”
“I don’t understand.” Maggie was shaking her head before he had even finished. “You have different classes…like social castes?” She hadn’t really paid much attention to the ins and outs of the Phaeton race. She vaguely remembered Claudia mentioning something about different types of warriors, but it hadn’t interested her much at the time. Now she wished she had paid more attention.
“Somewhat. Our race is divided into three separate classifications of warrior. We have the Healson class which includes most of our council members and diplomats. Healsons are what you would call politicians on your planet.” When Maggie wrinkled her nose in distaste, Hix cracked a small smile. This time he kept his canines hidden so as not to startle her. “The Brakken warriors consists of our engineers, doctors, pilots and scientists. I have never met a Brakken that didn’t amaze me. They are our knowledge seekers and use what they have learned to make us better.”
“Then what is a Skrammon?” Maggie asked, patting her lap to call her small animal up. The furry creature hopped up on the cot easily and excitedly licked her face and neck.
Hix was mesmerized at the sight, especially when it caused her to smile and laugh, throwing her head back to escape the tongue swiping at her face. Hix felt a bolt of jealousy shoot through him as he watched the animal nuzzle and lick frantically at her soft skin and he wished he had been granted access to the same areas.
Clearing his throat, he looked away from the tempting sight. “I a—I was a warrior class Phaeton. That is what the Skrammon are. We are engineered to be stronger, faster and better fighters than our opponents.”
“Engineered?”
“That is yet another part of the story that needs to be explained.” Hix shook his head in frustration. They had so much to talk about and the clock was ticking. He had been late enough for his duties in the docking bay that surely his disappearance would be noticed. The last thing he wanted to do was draw unwanted attention. Unfortunately, her questions were only leading to more questions.
Maggie reached out to touch his hands and unfolded his clenched fists where they had tightened. Freezing in place, Hix was afraid to move lest she remove her touch…a contact he was quickly becoming addicted to. Did all humans have skin this soft? Shaking his head at the thought, he reminded himself to stay focused on the task at hand.
Maggie squeezed his hands in her own. “I need to know why you showed up at my apartment. I need to know why your friends—”
“Those men are not my friends,” Hix bit out, his jaw clenching with anger. Seeing Maggie lean slightly away from him, Hix knew that he would need to be careful not to frighten her. He wanted her trust, not her fear.
Maggie rubbed her fingers over his hands, calming his anger. “I need to know why I was taken.”
“The Verge were looking for your friend, the one with the child.” Hix answered as he linked their fingers together. The connection of their hands felt more intimate than any other sensation he had felt. It was strange how well her hands fit within his own considering how small her race was built. It made him feel large and powerful yet protective over her fragile form.
“What did they want with Claudia?” Maggie asked, worry for her friend clear on his face. “Why would they kidnap her?”
“They consider her a threat.” Hix leaned forward, keeping his eyes locked on her face. “I need you to listen to what I have to say without interrupting. It is the only way I can get out what needs to be said before a guard comes searching for me.”
“Okay,” Maggie agreed quickly. “Tell me what’s going on, please.”
“That is one of our problems, Maggie. I do not know the entirety of what is happening or why…until I find out those answers, I am worried I will not be able to keep you safe.”
Pulling his hands away, Hix opened his tunic to reveal a stack of folders tucked into a pocket on the inside. “At first, I believed that the Verge abided by the same laws as the Phaetons. It wasn’t long before I saw that I was not only mistaken, but that they presented a threat to everything I had once stood for.”
“I don’t understand. You keep talking about the Verge but I’ve never heard of them. You mean there are others out there other than the Phaetons?”
“Yes,” Hix answered as he pulled out the small stack of files.
“What is that?” Maggie asked, distracted from her earlier question at their appearance.
“This is why you were taken.” Hix ran his thumb over the end of the stack, shuffling what looked like dozens of standard office files in his large hands. “This is why they search for your friend, Claudia, and this is what could get us either killed or saved when we escape.”
As the words left his mouth, the gravity of the situation felt as if it were setting on his shoulders. Just the thought of unraveling the confusing threads of the plot he had stumbled upon, her kidnapping, and his plan for their escape was enough to make his temples ache.
When he felt her small fingers apply gentle pressure to his head in a soothing rhythm, Hix realized what a treasure this human female was. She had every reason to fear his presence yet welcomed him with kind touches, trying to soothe his pain. He let out a raw groan at the contact and then tried to tamp down the heat that began to grow in his nether regions.
He cleared his throat. Time was working against him. “Not long ago I was a dedicated Skrammon,” Hix began, his mind going back to when his life had been so very different. “My warrior brothers and I ran our missions, fought together and relied on each other’s strength to protect not only our unit but also our entire race.”
“What happened?”
Hix wasn’t prepared for the bitterness that washed over him with her simple question. What happened was that he was an idiot. He had let himself be swayed by false promises and the idea that the Phaetons were betraying their race…which in the end had been the exact opposite of the truth.
“Hix?” His attention came back to Maggie at the sound of her voice.
“I was a fool.” Hix tried not to smile when Maggie looked
like she was about to argue on his behalf. “I was. You see…I was anxious for a bride myself. When we approached your planet, the excitement that many of us felt was overwhelming. Never have we had females of our own. The idea’s almost too much to comprehend.”
“I still don’t see how you ended up with the Verge…”
Gently touching a finger to her lips, Hix halted her words. “Please…listen. For as long as I have been out of training, I have done my duty. I have fought, protected, and served the Phaeton Council without question. When it was proposed that we take human brides to sustain our race, I was one of the first warriors to enter my name for selection. My warrior brother Traeger also entered his name.” Stroking hair away from her face, Hix felt his pulse thump when she leaned her face into his touch.
“Go on,” she whispered, her eyes never leaving his.
“Traeger and I have fought together for as long as I remember. He fought bravely at my back while I did the same for him. After the Pact began matching brides, we each waited for the call to come from the council. It wasn’t long before human females were walking around our ships, showing us what we had to look forward to. Traeger even spoke with a few of them. He was always excited to share with me what he had learned.”
“Then what happened?”
“We received the message that the bridal matches were suspended. No explanation was given, only that there would be no more females entered into the database.” Hix could recall that grim day clearly. His anger at the broken system came back to him at the memory.
“I remember seeing that on the news,” Maggie interrupted. “Something about the system being corrupted and the matches not right after all.”
Hix simply nodded.
“But they fixed that,” Maggie said, her face showing confusion.
“They did but not before many of us lost hope.” Hix scrubbed his face with his hands, knowing what was needing to be said yet choking on the words as he tried to get them out.
Warriors of Phaeton: Hix Page 2
