She didn’t want to say that would never happen. Now that they had the crystal, she had to return to Earth. Her heart ached so hard she rubbed her sternum. At least she had been able to do something honorable and help them with something so important.
“Well, we’ll need a spaceship if you hope to get this little beauty back to your home,” she said.
A commotion sounded over the top of the hill at their backs. Hissing, clacking and the distinct noise of engines firing up. Whatever was happening, they weren’t trying to be quiet about it. Now that she looked over Rujali’s shoulder, she saw a glow in the night sky.
“I think we’ve found our way out,” Setzan said.
They shared a look and Rujali started up the hill.
“You can put me down, you know,” she said.
He looked down at her, his eyes deep liquid pools. “You are injured, Riley. It is my pleasure to be able to hold you.”
At the mention of the word injured, the open wounds over her body made from the claws began to throb.
She gritted her teeth as she rode out the first wave of pain. “Thanks for the reminder, but my muscles are going to stiffen up if I don’t move soon.”
Rujali sighed, a deep long, drawn out sound, as though he let her slide down his body against his better judgment. She felt every hard muscle against hers as she found her feet. She tapped his chest, trying to hide the pain in her body, but he probably missed nothing. At least he was listening to her.
“Thanks, big guy,” she said. “Now, let’s see what’s happening over the hill.”
She compartmentalized the pain throbbing through her body as they moved in sync to peer over the top of the hill. Although the side of the hill they’d climbed was long, this side was no higher than the roof of a one-floor building. It took her a moment to realize she looked down into the center of a crater.
She could hardly believe her eyes. Various Reptiles ran between an array of crafts on the flat land below them. They weren’t as sleek in design as the one the guys had, but they weren’t far off as far as her untrained eye could tell.
“Will you look at that,” she said, breathless.
“One of those can take us home, brothers,” Klaej said.
A group of Reptiles scattered out of the mouth of a tunnel along the crater wall. A terrible screech rent from deep within the earth.
The worm was on the attack. That wasn’t what held her attention, though. She nudged Rujali and pointed to a Reptile escaping the tunnel system holding a green glowing crystal, while another held the purple crystal. “There!”
The crystals weren’t lost to the worm, but they were still in the clutches of the Reptiles. She felt every muscle in Rujali’s body tense next to her.
“We need to get them, brothers,” Rujali said.
She nodded with Klaej and Setzan. She would do anything to make up for losing them. Her guys could return home heroes and their planet would be saved. It would make up for the fact that she wouldn’t be leaving with them.
They climbed down the other side of the hill, which was easy as the monsters scattered towards the crafts before the worm could emerge. The Reptile with the purple crystal boarded a craft, and the one with the green headed in another direction.
“They’re separating!” Riley said. The engines whines grew louder, the sound making her wince.
“They’re nearly powered up.” Setzan said.
“Riley, do you think you can come with me?” Rujali yelled over the noise of the engines.
Adrenaline coursed through her body, which was a natural painkiller. As soon as it wore off, she knew she would be in trouble. But that would be later.
“I’m good,” she said. “Let’s get those crystals.”
Rujali nodded and indicated his direction as he spoke. “We separate. Setzan. Klaej. Go left. Riley and I will head to the jets on the right and we will catch them in the center. There is no time to waste brothers.”
Setzan and Klaej bolted in the direction of the purple crystal while she followed Rujali’s broad back in search of the green crystal. For such a big guy, he moved quickly and silently.
The blast of an engine made Riley clutch her ears and crouch down low. A craft close by lifted from the ground. It hovered for a moment before shooting straight up into the sky. A massive sonic boom reverberated through her body as it disappeared into the darkness overhead.
“Shit. They’re getting away,” she said.
Reptiles ran past them, not even to stop and glance at them in their rush to get away. The earth shook as a deep boom reverberated from somewhere beneath her feet.
“They’re blowing it all up.” The muscle worked at Rujali’s jaw. His eyes glinted. “We’ll never know what they were trying to do with the crystals now.”
It was a common enough theme throughout the universe it seemed. Blow up the master lab. No lab, no evidence.
There was no time to worry about that now, though. They still had the green crystal to retrieve. She darted from behind Rujali, and heedless of the other Reptiles running all about, headed after the Reptile holding the green glowing crystal. It ran up a ramp of a jet and disappeared inside the open doorway faster than she thought it’s ungainly body would allow.
“There it is!”
Riley bolted towards it, but the ramp receded into the blink of an eye and the door closed. The sound of the engine ripped through her ears as the craft lifted from the ground. A blast of hot air smashed into her, sending her flying backwards. She skidded on her back as she watched the craft disappear with a massive sonic boom. Then another boom echoed above her. And another. They were all escaping.
She clutched Rujali’s outstretched hand and he pulled her to her feet, his face a mask of fierce determination.
“Setzan! Klaej! We leave now!” Rujali bellowed.
Setzan and Klaej jogged over to them through clouds of billowing dust, also empty-handed.
“Are you all right, Riley?” Setzan asked, and Klaej turned a concerned gaze on her.
She glanced over them for injuries, happy when she saw none. Well, no fresh ones in any case. Rujali still had a gash on his forehead and she didn’t know how Setzan was still standing with the hole in his side.
“I’m fine,” she said, “but they got away with the green crystal.”
“As did ours,” Klaej said. She could understand the bitterness etched on his face.
“At least we still have the Ozar Crystal. That is more than we expected.” As though it responded to Setzan’s words, the crystal glowed from where it was tucked between her breasts.
Rujali pointed to the nearest craft. “Let’s not waste any more time. We need a way out of here and this craft looks as good as any others.”
They ran to towards the lowered entry ramp. Even as they moved, the engine started up, its low whine winding up into something that would be ear-splitting. A group of Reptiles barreled towards them from another cave entrance.
Rujali didn’t hesitate. Sword in hand, he slashed at the closest creature. It tumbled to the ground, leaking a green path of blood. She veered to help Rujali, but Klaej took her elbow, steering her toward the craft.
“Leave Rujali,” he said. “He will come when we are aboard.”
Her boots clattered up the ramp as she followed Klaej, Setzan hot on her heels. They burst into a room. A group of Reptiles were in the cabin. Without pausing his stride, Klaej bolted towards the creatures, daggers gripped tight in both hands before they could respond.
Setzan bolted through the doorway. There was a flurry of hissing and clacking. She went to help, but there was no room to fight in the cabin. She would only be in the way.
Feeling like the worst kind of asshole, she hung back and took the crystal from between her breasts. The sides pulsed with warmth. She watched, fascinated as golden motes danced from within the stone. She drew her fingertip along an edge and a flurry of sparks appeared in her wake. It was as though there was a sentience about it that responded to her.
But that was ridiculous, as was wasting her time staring at a rock while she should be doing what she intended and that was getting the hell out of here.
As she settled it on the table, a glow of golden light licked up her hand, almost as though it didn’t want her to let it go. She shook her head, shaking off the thought as pure imagination. She glanced at Klaej and Seztan. They fought the last two Reptiles, who didn’t stand a chance. They moved so gracefully, their skills a lethal artform. She took a slow step towards the door. She would never see them again, but if she didn’t leave now, this was a one-way jet heading to their planet.
But she wasn’t ready for a new planet. A new life. Not one but three mates. Uncertainty made her limbs heavy. She tried to rub away the tightness of her chest, but the action did nothing to soothe her fractured nerves.
She didn’t know. She just didn’t know anything. She wiped at her face, surprised to find the hot streaks of tears. A soldier didn’t cry. A soldier didn’t feel. A soldier got on with the job. She only knew one thing and that was to be a soldier. Everything else was too far away from her sphere of comfort.
She shoved aside the gaping hole where her heart used to be and picking up her pace she slipped through the open doorway and straight into a chest that was built like a brick wall.
Hands like steel bands wrapped around her biceps. She struggled, but those hands were not allowing her move an inch. She looked up into familiar black eyes, now tinged with a serious edge she hadn’t seen in them before.
“Where do you think you’re going, mate?” Rujali’s black eyes gleamed while he looked down at her without any expression on his face at all.
The bottom kicked out of her gut. There was no hiding the fact she was trying to leave. She reacted without thought, kicking, lashing, contorting. She nearly wrenched her arms out of their sockets in her desperation to be free.
“Let me go! I can’t do this! It’s too much! I don’t... please... I can’t...” Her breath chopped in and out of her mouth, her chest tightened painfully, her lungs were far too small, too full. She recognized the sound of a scared animal before she realized it came from her. Grey edged her vision. Her head floated, light-headed with a racing heart and lack of oxygen, but she couldn’t seem to stop herself. Whatever had her in its grip had a hold she couldn’t shake off.
There was a flash of blue at her neck and a warm tingle invaded her body, negating the ability to use her limbs. Rujali caught her as her legs gave out. He hooked an arm beneath her knees and another around the back of her shoulders. Her head came to rest against the broad expanse of his chest, enough to see Klaej behind her, shoving the analgesic device back into his belt.
That fucking device. She couldn’t even lift a finger.
“Looks like you need some help, brother,” Klaej said as he peered down at her, his eyes unreadable.
An internal shiver worked through her. Gone was any gentleness she’d come to recognize in his eyes, instead replaced with seriousness and intent. She knew with all certainty that they would never let her leave. Ever. The decision was out of her hands. She was theirs. And god help her if tingles didn’t erupt inside her at the thought.
“Let’s get her inside, the mess cleaned out, and this ship on the way home. She needs medical attention. Then we will decide what we will do with her,” Rujali said.
She looked to Setzan for any sign of warmth, but there was none to be found in his serious expression. He turned without a word. With a sinking heart, she watched him disappear through the doorway without a backward glance.
She looked back up at Rujali. To her horror, a wet tear escaped her eye. She couldn’t wipe away that little piece of weakness.
“I’m a soldier,” she said. “You have to understand. I had to try.”
Rujali carried her up the ramp and settled her on the couch that ran the perimeter of the circular room. She watched as Setzan and Klaej threw the bodies of the Reptiles out of the door before Setzan slammed his palm on a panel. The ramp retracted and the doorway closed shut with a hiss.
Rujali settled on his haunches in front of her. “You are a soldier, yes, but you are also our mate. On the outside you are tough. Hardened. But on the inside, I think you have never felt what it means to be truly loved. You are afraid, more of yourself than of us. Before we reach our Homeland, you will fully understand all that being our mate entails. And you will never leave our side. You will never want to.”
Rujali disappeared into the cabin and she was left alone with the turmoil of her thoughts, helpless. The craft vibrated and then they lifted upwards. There was a lurch where her stomach felt as though it came outside her body, and then there was nothing but smoothness.
One by one, all three filed back into the circular room she lay in and surrounded her. Rujali unbuttoned her vest and took it off her, while Klaej removed her pants. Setzan cleaned her wounds with a cloth which took the blood and dirt away from her skin. Her body looked like it was a pin cushion of claw marks and a part of her was thankful she couldn’t feel a thing.
When they’d finished inspecting every inch of her and attending to every wound, Klaej folded his massive arms about his chest while he stared impassively down at her. Setzan put his hands on his hips, his expression sharp and hungry.
A shiver stole down her spine and she couldn’t compensate to hide it. Her nipples pebbled and her groin throbbed. Heat flickered from her core all the way through her.
She licked dry lips. “Please…”
“Hush, mate. Golden eyes or not, you tried to leave us. Now you must face the consequences of your actions.” Rujali’s commanding voice was like warm gravel. She felt his words as though they were a caress.
There was no hesitation as they reached for her as one.
Chapter Nineteen
Riley
Rujali’s warm breath fanned over Riley’s naked breasts. Her nipples were so sensitive, the air felt as though it stroked her skin.
“We don’t blame you for your actions. You don’t know the significance of binding a Trio into a Quad,” Rujali said. He trailed a fingertip beneath her breasts, in a feather-light, teasing touch.
She felt herself grow wet and slick, and they’d barely even touched her. An unbidden moan escaped her mouth. If only she could move. She would arch her back and into his palm.
“You are a soldier, and loyalty is to be commended. But now your loyalties have changed to us. For us,” Setzan said.
“We are more than just a Quad. We are a family. Families are eternal. Intimate. Once you give your soul and sync with us, there can be no more doubt. We know you will miss your world, but you will find a new world with us. Know that we would take you to your planet if we knew where it was. We don’t wish to abduct you as our prisoner. You are more than our equal. More than life to us. We welcome you to our Homeland. Our Trio and ourselves. To us, you are everything,” Klaej said.
Riley’s vision blurred as their words filtered their way into her soul. They were so adamant. So in sync with their needs and thoughts. Surely she’d just be the fourth wheel. An outsider. How could she ever compare with such intimacy?
“I see the conflict in your expression. We have spoken the words, now let us show you in actions.” Rujali bent and devoured her breast with his mouth.
She gasped out loud as the wet, searing heat covered her sensitive tissue. He sucked and an electric thrill shot from her nipple straight to her pussy. She flooded with heat. With slick wetness. A hollow ache formed between her legs, an overwhelming need to be filled. She couldn’t move to open them to relieve the pressure. This was torture of the greatest intensity.
“You will not forget what we’re about to do to you, mate. We will not be gentle and at the end you will have no doubt in your mind. We will take you. One at a time. In whatever manner we deem appropriate,” Setzan said. His voice was rough, deep, and dark.
Her exhale was shaky and then her breath hitched as Rujali cupped her pussy. He stroked, one long finger sliding along her int
imate seam, but it wasn’t enough. She needed more. So much more.
Rujali moved his mouth to her other breast. His teeth tugged in her nipple. A shard of pain raced through her, and then he soothed the ache out with a hot lave of a flattened tongue.
“You taste so good,” he said, “but I need to fill my mouth with your essence.”
He grabbed her knees and pushed her legs apart. Cool air brushed against her heat. All three men stared at her most intimate of parts. Klaej dropped his arms as hunger beat a force in his eyes. Setzan sucked in a breath, his hand grazing his cock as he moved to alleviate pressure. Rujali licked his lips, his black gaze flickering with a heated light. If she had any doubt about the power she had with these men, it evaporated right away. She was their entire center of focus.
Even sitting here, not able to move a muscle, open to them, she knew all she had to do was tell them to stop and they would. But she didn’t talk, because she didn’t want them to stop. She wanted Rujali. Then she wanted Setzan, and then she wanted Klaej. All three of them.
A trickle of wetness seeped from her.
Rujali inhaled deeply, and with a deep growl, fell down onto her pussy devouring her. His tongue impaled her, sliding right into her core. He traced her slit and lapped right up her clit. The tip of his tongue rimmed her clit before sliding back down and into her.
He closed one large hand over her breast, tweaking her nipple to the point of pain. It only served to heighten the electric built of sensation that swirled low in her abdomen. His tongue pumped in and out of her, his lips caressing her as though sharing a kiss. He growled again, the vibrations adding to the delectable build of tension.
The pad of his thumb stroked her clit, rubbing around it and then pressing down. She gasped, her lungs dragging in great bouts of air. He withdrew his tongue to suckle her clit. The hot suction of his mouth tugging her delicate bundle of nerves strung her body as taunt as a bow. He slid a think finger into her core, withdrawing to add two. He fucked her with his finger and suckled with his tongue. Pure sensation crashed over her and light exploded behind her eyes. Every muscle in her body strained as her orgasm roared through her.
The Ozar Triad Page 14
