by S. E. Smith
Mandra sighed deeply and rested his forehead against hers. “I am sorry I have not had more time to spend with you, mi elila. I hope our return trip will not be so time-consuming.”
“I know what is going on. I was in the military and was trained in the art of warfare. You don’t need to apologize. Your world and your people must come first,” Ariel whispered in understanding.
“Never,” Mandra muttered softly. “You will always come first. I am thankful for your understanding. I do not like to think of you being a warrior on your world.”
Ariel just shook her head and laughed. “Come on, big guy. I may be a warrior but I am a woman first. There is shopping calling my name and I will not be denied!” Ariel said with glee pulling out of Mandra’s arms and twirling around in a circle.
Several of the men laughed at Ariel’s look of excitement. She was unaware that a number of the men had volunteered to serve as her bodyguards, including Zebulon. All of the men had fallen in love with their commander’s mate and would do whatever was necessary to keep her happy and safe.
..*
Ariel stared in awe at the spaceport. It was like something straight out of a sci-fi movie. A clear dome covered the top portion of what was obviously a huge asteroid that had been converted into an island paradise for space travelers. Creatures of all types and descriptions moved freely. Some were large, small were small, some hairy, some bald, some just flat out too weird to even describe. Mandra had to turn Ariel around more than once when she saw a huge blue creature that looked like a giant bowl of blue Jell-O slithering by them or a tiny, two-headed green lizard one with multiple arms. He gently put a finger under her chin to close her mouth on several occasions.
When she first saw the asteroid, she had thought it would be small and not much to it. The D’stroyer had docked at one of the airlocks on a lower level. There was a long, brightly lit tunnel with dark rock walls that shimmered as the light hit it. The tunnel led to a lift that held a good thirty people. It reminded Ariel of an extra-large service elevator. Once inside, the lift moved rapidly upward forcing Ariel to have to pop her eardrums as the pressure built.
It was when the doors opened that she gasped in amazement. She moved out of the elevator, stepping into the brightly lit dome city of the Iduna Spaceport. Colorful shops lined the narrow walkways that wound up to the top of the dome. Ariel could see other spaceships docked above the dome. What looked like apartments or living quarters of different sizes and types were mixed in with the shops. In a way, it reminded Ariel of Paris back on Earth with the little flower boxes and apartments mixed with businesses. There were even statues and fountains sprinkled on the different levels and on the buildings.
“You are attracting a great deal of attention,” Mandra muttered unhappily as several creatures turned to look at Ariel with interest. “Perhaps, you should…,” he stopped when a hand smacked him hard in the middle of his chest.
“You will not be finishing that statement if you value your life,” Ariel growled out in a low, dangerous tone as she stared wide-eyed all around her. “There is no way in hell you are getting me back on that warship without a knock-down-dragged-out-tooth-baring-dragon-breathing fight. This is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen in my life besides you and I am going to enjoy every second of it.”
Mandra sent a dark look to the half-dozen men following him when they all laughed. His mate looked like she meant every single word. He knew she was an excellent fighter so it would be a painful experience if he did try to get her to return to the warship. He also knew he could not deny her this experience. She was practically glowing with excitement.
“Very well,” he replied moodily. “I have several things I must take care of. Zebulon and Precious will remain with you. Take this,” he said handing her a flat disk, “it contains enough credits you should not have any issues buying whatever you wish.”
Ariel looked at the clear disk with a delighted gleam in her eyes. “Whatever I wish?” She asked biting her lower lip to hide the excited grin.
Mandra drew Ariel into his arms and kissed her deeply right there in the middle of the crowded walkway. “Whatever you wish,” he replied huskily.
Ariel brushed an excited kiss against Mandra’s lips. Reaching out, she grabbed Zebulon by the hand ignoring her mate’s growl of displeasure and took off before he had a chance to change his mind. Precious moved right beside her, snipping at any creature that got to close.
“My lady, I believe you can slow down now. We are far enough away Lord Mandra cannot call you back,” Zebulon said as he twisted to miss a Bicephalic who was moving in the opposite direction.
“Where are the best shops?” Ariel asked looking at all the different stalls lining the store fronts. “I want to buy some really sexy lingerie, a couple of sexy dresses that will turn Mandra’s blood to fire, and some sexy shoes to go with them.”
Zebulon unsuccessfully fought back a groan. Ariel turned on him so fast he had to reach out and grab her to keep from knocking her over. The feel of her curvy figure against his, combined with the thought of her dressed in something more revealing, had his own blood beginning to boil. How his commander could even dream of letting his mate go off with another male was beyond him. It was only Zebulon’s sworn oath to protect the royal family and his own sense of honor keeping him from challenging Mandra for Ariel.
Over the past four weeks, he had grown to care deeply for the strange female who was a confusing mixture of softness and steel. He had fought against her daily during her ‘morning workouts’. He learned more about her and a new fighting style. He found the new fighting techniques to be so rewarding he was teaching the other warriors. He also was enjoying her sense of humor and the softness she had for wild creatures. She told him about her desire to run a shelter for abused and hurt animals back on her planet. He knew about what she did on the V’ager. Jarak and he had gotten drunk not long after the V’ager returned to the planet. Jarak told him about shipping all the Maratts and Grombots down to Mandra’s living quarters after hearing about his lordship’s reaction to the white-haired warrior. They laughed about the destruction to his living quarters. Jarak made Zebulon swear not to tell anyone it was his younger brother, Arvo, who finally admitted to bringing the creatures on board. His little brother hoped to make enough profit to buy a mate from a Curizan family who had several daughters. His brother was now making plans to go to the females’ world to find one. Jarak admitted he was tempted himself. Now that Zebulon had met one of the females, he could understand. There was something very special about the females’ spirit. The fierceness combined with a gentleness kept a warrior intrigued.
“Are you listening to me?” Ariel demand pulling Zebulon back to the fact they were standing in the middle of a busy spaceport.
Flushing, Zebulon nodded. “Yes, my lady. I think I know of a place where you can purchase such items,” he said hoarsely.
Ariel leaned up on her tiptoes and brushed a kiss along Zebulon’s chin. “You are such a sweetheart. I wish I could have introduced you to some of my friends at the shelter,” she said turning to lean over and kiss Precious who was growling lowly at Zebulon. “Be good, he is my friend and we don’t eat friends,” she whispered affectionately.
Precious nipped Zebulon in the leg as soon as Ariel turned her back. “I saw that, Precious. Now be nice.”
Zebulon looked down at the golden symbiot who was in the shape of a Werecat. “Yes, Precious,” he chuckled, “be nice.”
..*
Three hours later, Zebulon was ready for a dozen tall drinks. Ice cold, tall drinks that would cool the temperature of his blood. His promise not to leave Ariel alone for even a moment was coming back to haunt him as he sat through her fashion show of ‘sexy’ dresses. It was so bad, he found he had to actually excuse himself to the cleansing room on more than one occasion when she went to change so he could relieve the build-up of pressure in his pants. Even his dragon was panting. Especially when she flashed a little of the rose and gold color
ed scales of her dragon to see if it ‘clashed’ with the color of the dress she was wanting to get. Hell, even his symbiot was in love with Ariel which was confusing the hell out of all the warriors because every warriors’ dragon and symbiot seemed to like her. There was just something about her that drew the animal part of them to her. It wasn’t like he was in love with her. He could tell the difference but he sure as the Gods wouldn’t mind fucking her lush curves.
“Well, what do you think of these?” Ariel said holding up a pair of Saimaa silk lingerie the store owner created using a design Ariel had sketched out.
“My lady, we need to leave. Please have the items delivered to the D’stroyer at Dock 1125 as soon as possible,” Zebulon said gruffly.
“I want a dozen in different colors with matching bras to go with the dresses, two of the night gowns I showed you, and some of the other items,” Ariel said with a wink at the tiny purple creature that stood on the stool behind the counter.
“I will have it delivered by my son,” the soft raspy voice said. “It is a pleasure doing business with you and thank you for sharing your designs. You have my contact information, yes? I meant what I said about paying you for additional designs. I believe these items will become very popular among my clients.”
“Of course,” Ariel laughed bending over and brushing her lips along the smooth, leathery skin. “I look forward to working with you.”
“Please, my lady. I could really use a drink,” Zebulon said firmly as he held her forearm in a gentle but firm grip.
“Bye!” Ariel called out as Zebulon dragged her out of the store. “Boy, you must really be thirsty. Where are we going? I could use a cool drink myself.”
Zebulon looked down at the happy face staring up at him and shook his head. By the gods and goddesses, this human female could drive even the most harden male crazy. Her joy in the simple things, her innocence of her effect on others, and her deliciously shaped body called to the primal male to protect and possess her. Zebulon looked at the growing number of males following them as Ariel stopped at different stalls, smiling and chatting with the merchants as he tried to hurry her along. He growled out for Mandra’s symbiot to be attentive to the men following them. He finally pulled Ariel into the small pub he liked to visit. Raising his hand to the barmaid, he quickly ordered several tall, ice coolers. He was determined to find some way to cool his blood, even if it meant getting drunk to do it.
..*
Mandra looked at Adalard in the dim lighting. The Curizan prince’s face showed the mark of the latest assassination attempt. A long, narrow scar ran from the edge of his cheekbone to his square jaw. Adalard’s long hair hung loose around his shoulders and the dark purple of his irises glowed with anger. He was wearing the black leather vest, pants, and boots preferred by the Curizan warriors.
“Your uncle is a dead man,” Adalard growled out in a deep, rich voice. “This last attempt on me and my brother’s life came a little too close.”
Mandra watched as Adalard took a deep swig from the drink in front of him. They were in a hole-in-the-wall pub in one of the less traveled areas of Iduna. Adalard had arrived late. He and three of his royal guards moved into the pub cautiously.
“He has attacked us and our mates,” Mandra replied reaching for his own drink.
“Mates? When did that happen? I heard Valdier women were few and far between,” Adalard said sitting back and looking at Mandra closely.
Mandra sent a dark look back. “You don’t have to look so skeptical. Because we have found women we can true mate with does not mean we do not plan to keep the peace agreement. If anything, it is even more imperative that we do. I do not want my mate going into battle and she and her sisters would,” Mandra replied gruffly.
Adalard leaned forward with a fascinated look on his face. “You are joking, yes?”
“No,” Mandra replied with a shake of his head and a sigh. “The first time I saw my mate she kicked me in the face. The second time, she knocked me out. The third time, I ended up with a broken nose. Her sisters are just as difficult. One fought against your half-brother, Ben’qumain, and burned him severely enough to escape. The tiny one Trelon claimed fought against almost a dozen skimmers destroying many of them before leading them away from Trelon who was gravely wounded. Kelan was searching for his mate when I left. I heard she found him instead. Raffvin later captured her and sent her to die on a moon near Quitax. The last I heard, she escaped by killing several warriors. Kelan is taking her to get her father on her planet. And the other one, let us just say Creon has his hands full with that little savage. She likes to send at least one of her guards to medical each day.”
Adalard studied Mandra silently for a few moments before he chuckled. “She really knocked you out and broke your nose?” He asked.
Mandra grinned back. “She is magnificent.”
“I am looking forward to meeting her,” Adalard said relaxing for the first time in months. “Now, tell me what you know about your uncle and I will tell you what I know of him.”
“Have you heard what he did to Vox?” Mandra began with a gleam in his eye. “I am not sure I can hold that against him. I would love to see how that son-of-a-Werebeast is handling being used as a laborer.”
Adalard laughed heartily at the image of Vox, the Sarafin king, being made to work in the mines. “It might do the hot-head some good,” he replied before sobering. “Raffvin has to be stopped. The council is getting worried. Several additional attempts to influence or kill those who refuse to join in voting to go to war against the Valdier have taken place against them. Fortunately, the members of the council are not easily intimidated or killed. They still want to know what is being done to stop him.”
“He is mad. Trelon told me he has a new weapon,” Mandra began looking down at his drink. “It killed several of our guards and destroyed their symbiots.”
“What?! How is that possible?” Adalard asked in disbelief. “They are pure energy. We do not even have the means of destroying one. The closest we got was when we captured some of you during the war and separated the warrior from it. Even then, it found a way to survive and get your warriors free.”
Mandra growled at the reminder of what some of their warriors endured during the war. “This is different. We have never known of anything that could destroy one either. Raffvin has found a way. This leaves all of us defenseless against him until we can find a way to stop him. Whatever weapon he has needs to be destroyed.”
The men talked for a while longer about what they knew. Mandra told Adalard that Creon had gone to find and rescue the Sarafin king and his men. They would need his alliance. Adalard talked about some of the attempts on the council and the last close encounter he had with the assassin that had been sent for him. He nodded to the three men standing nearby and told him his twin insisted he bring at least three trusted men with him as a precaution.
Mandra was about to ask how Adalard’s brother was when a shaft of warning flowed through him. He closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath, focusing on his symbiot. He saw a group of men standing around his mate who was holding a long stick in her hand and shaking it at them.
Mandra’s eyes opened. They glowed a dark, dangerous gold as his dragon fought to get loose. It wanted to protect its mate. It clawed at him, sending waves of sapphire and silver scales over his arms and up his neck.
“What is it?” Adalard said standing up and looking around. The three men with him immediately took a defensive stance.
“My mate is in danger,” Mandra snarled.
Mandra was already moving toward the entrance to the pub where four of his own men were positioned outside. Adalard kept pace with him as he moved through the dark alleys into the more popular section of Iduna. Mandra let his symbiot guide him as he moved to the location of his mate. The thick crowds parted when they saw the huge warriors moving toward them. Mandra rounded the corner, turning to the right. He could see a crowd had gathered around a well-known pub. Some were cheering while
others were placing bets.
He slowed when he heard his mate’s voice rise above the others. “Now boys, I really don’t want to have to hurt anyone else. Just let my friends go and we’ll call it even. Maybe have a nice drink together, play a game of darts, I can even teach you about a game called poker if you can replicate a deck of cards.”
Mandra and Adalard shoved their way through the crowd, throwing the ones who didn’t move fast enough. Both men stopped when they saw Ariel surrounded by four men. Precious was standing guard in front of several small cages on a nearby table. Zebulon held a huge Tridactylum, a huge slimy creature with a long body, flat pointed head and three-toes on its vestigial limbs, around the neck trying to keep it away from either Ariel or the cages, Mandra wasn’t sure which.
“This that your mate?” Adalard asked in amazement staring at Ariel’s rounded curves, long, white blonde hair, and sparkling brown eyes.
“Yes,” Mandra muttered.
“Why is your symbiot standing in front of the Tasiers? Does it like them? They are delicious but I did not think a symbiot ate. I would have thought it would be protecting your mate,” Adalard asked as he watched the small, pale female move suddenly in a graceful turn.
Mandra cursed and Adalard’s eyes widened as she swung the long stick over her head while kicking out one of her legs in an unusual move that forced the four males surrounding her to move back. One of the men moved forward suddenly grabbing at the stick while another tried to grab Ariel. The one reaching for her missed as she turned. She struck him across the back of the head with the stick hard enough to break it in half and sent the male crashing to the floor. Mandra and Adalard both took a step forward to help her with the other male but stopped as that male went flying over her shoulder and into the crowd as she twisted again at the last minute releasing the long stick he held onto. She had used her hands and legs to toss the male over her shoulder, stick and all, onto a chair which shattered under his weight and forced the crowd to move hurriedly in all directions forcing them back. Both men followed Ariel as she rolled, scooped up the stick and hit the male three times in rapid succession… once in the throat, once in the chest, and the last time in the groin. Adalard and Mandra both sucked in a sympathetic breath as the male rolled in agony unable to scream because of the damage to his throat. The crowd loved it. A loud roar went up as credits were exchanged.
