by Anna Hackett
“Thane!” She threw up an arm.
Something hit her on the back of her legs and she dropped to her knees. When she looked up, spears were pointed at her head. She heard Thane grunt.
The light returned to normal and she saw several muscled warriors around her. They all had ghost-white, pearlescent skin with a faint blue undertone. They all wore fitted, gray trousers, and had bare chests. They were lean, with muscled abs and strong arms. She looked up.
They had no hair, just smooth heads and eyes that were pure white. She glanced over and noted several more warriors surrounding Thane. He was on his knees as well, his hands in the air. One of the warriors had a spear pointed right to his lower back.
“Who are you?” she asked.
One warrior turned his head in her direction. He had a carved jaw, high cheekbones, but a sightless gaze that seemed to look right through her.
He said something in a deep, resonant voice, but she didn’t understand the musical language.
“He said they are the Mollai,” Thane translated.
Of course, Thane understood. He’d have lingual tech implanted, like Space Corps officers did.
The warrior’s skin glowed and he looked at another warrior. Kaira realized that the second warrior was a woman. She was shirtless like the others, but with small, high breasts. She looked like a marble statue.
Kaira realized they were communicating. “They’re telepathic?”
Thane nodded.
The warrior stepped closer and said something. Grumbles filled the cavern from the other warriors.
“He asked if we’re with the ravagers,” Thane said. “He must mean the Kantos.” Thane spoke back in the same musical language.
The warrior studied Thane, then Kaira. He spoke again.
Thane’s brows drew together. “He said, if you allow him, he can use his telepathy to help you understand their language.”
Kaira swallowed. She didn’t like the idea of anyone having access to her brain, but at least he’d asked her permission. “Do you think we can trust them?”
“They consider the Kantos their enemy, so I think so.”
She traded a glance with Thane, then she nodded.
The warrior didn’t touch her, but she felt the faintest warmth encircle her skull.
Here goes nothing. “You’re native to Crolla?”
“Yes,” the warrior replied. “This is our planet, and has been since the birth of the Mollai.”
Oh, wow. She understood every word he said. He was facing her, but his white eyes didn’t seem focused on her. She lifted a hand and waved it a little.
“I am not blind, intruder, although we do not rely solely on our vision alone.”
“Right. Sorry. So you’re enemies of the Kantos?”
“Yes. The invaders. The ravagers.” Anger vibrated in the warrior’s voice.
“We aren’t with them,” Kaira said. “They are our enemy, too. They’re planning to invade my planet.” She gestured at Thane. “Thane’s people are helping us fight them.”
The warrior stared at her. She guessed his vision wasn’t that great, but she didn’t doubt he had other acute senses.
“Why are you here?” he asked.
“The Kantos took us,” Thane said. “They dumped us here for their young soldiers to hunt.”
The warrior scowled. “Bands of the young invaders roam the planet. Killing, consuming.”
“We aren’t lying,” Kaira said. “The Kantos are our enemy as well.”
The warrior was silent for a moment, then nodded his head. “Come. We’ll take you to meet Aurelai.”
“Who’s that?” Slowly, Kaira rose, and moved over to Thane. He took her hand.
“She is our leader,” the warrior said. “Now, walk, intruders.”
The Mollai warriors led Thane and Kaira through twisting tunnels. The place was a maze, and he knew they would never find a way out on their own.
“This is a good defense,” Kaira said. “If the Kantos ever got in here, there’s no way they could navigate this.”
The lead warrior stopped in front of a stone wall. It was covered with more of the geometric gold markings they’d seen before.
He stepped forward and pressed his hand to the stone.
A glow pulsed through the markings, then the stone groaned, and a portion of the wall slid open.
“Come.” He waved them inside.
Thane sensed that the warriors were still tense and alert. The leader didn’t trust them.
They moved down another tunnel and it slowly widened.
The art in here was different. There were images of pale blue-white Mollai figures dancing, sharing meals, farming what looked like beautiful, white flowers. Some of the art was more erotic—couples entwined together in intimate embraces. A man and a woman holding each other, two women kissing, others with two, three and even four males making love.
They stepped into a large, domed cavern, and Thane knew they were deep underground, but it was washed in white-blue light.
Bioluminescent plants covered the ceiling. The space was dotted with carved stone furniture and large, white pillows.
The warriors marched them to the center of the cavern. Other pale-skinned Mollai watched, both adults and children. One child watched them pass, holding a small frog-like creature clutched in his small hands.
All the Mollai wore gray pants, with their torsos bare. Some wore tight trousers like the warriors, others had looser, flowing garments.
“What have we here?”
A woman stepped forward. She was young with a slender body and a long neck. An intricate gold necklace wound around her neck, and her breasts were high and full.
“Aurelai, we found these two in the caves. They said they are enemies of the ravagers.”
“Really?” The woman’s sightless eyes focused on them.
“We were abducted by the Kantos from my planet,” Kaira said. “We’re trying to find a way to contact Thane’s people and avoid the planet’s predators until we can be rescued.”
The woman turned. “Lennar, you’ve been gruff and rude to these poor people. They need our help.”
The lead warrior scowled. “Your safety, and the safety of our people, is my first priority. Not the comfort of strangers who invade our tunnels.”
“He’s right.” Thane agreed with the warrior. “He’s done nothing except what I expect of a warrior protecting his people.”
“Men.” The Mollai woman stepped forward. “I am Aurelai, leader of the Mollai.” She held out a slender hand. “Welcome.”
“I’m Kaira. Kaira Chand of Earth.” Kaira touched the woman’s hand—brown skin against white. “And this is Thane Kann-Eon of the Eon Empire.”
“You are both welcome. Come.” The woman led them deeper into the cavern. “You must be tired and hungry.”
“It’s been a pretty wild trip,” Kaira said. “Your planet is dangerous.”
“The above has been contaminated by the ravagers. The Kantos. They brought dangerous creatures here to breed and hunt.”
“We saw ruins,” Thane said. “Do they belong to your people?”
A sad look crossed Aurelai’s regal face. “No. The Mollai have always been a people of the below. But our cousins, the Tollai, once called the above home.”
“There weren’t many Tollai left,” Lennar said. “Then the Kantos wiped them out.”
Aurelai waved at some large, white pillows on the floor. Kaira and Thane sat.
“We moved deeper to avoid the Kantos,” the Mollai leader told them.
“And we have our defenses,” Lennar added.
“We fell into the tunnels,” Thane said. “The Kantos were chasing us, but they didn’t follow us down here.”
“Then we got washed away by a flood of water,” Kaira said.
Aurelai gasped. “Lennar!”
“We didn’t know who they were.” The warrior shifted uneasily.
“The water is one of our defenses,” Aurelai said. “I’m very
glad you weren’t hurt.” She looked up, and waved a hand.
Some men and women brought over platters filled with glowing, white flowers and set them down. They looked like the ones they’d seen in the artwork. There were also urns and glasses of pale-blue liquid.
“Please eat,” Aurelai said. “You’re safe here.”
Thane checked the food and drink, and his helian pulsed. He nodded at Kaira.
He took a long drink of the blue fluid. It was sweet and refreshing. He watched the Mollai eat the flowers, and gingerly bit into one of the petals. They were thick and fleshy, and had a unique flavor.
“These taste like chicken,” Kaira said, chewing on a flower.
“We grow the neelianna down here. It provides all we need.”
The Mollai in the cavern started to relax. Conversation resumed.
“Would you like to wash and change?” Aurelai asked.
Kaira nodded. “Please.”
She was led away by the women. Lennar led Thane to a different side room. Inside, he saw a natural basin of rock filled with water that dripped down the walls.
“There are fresh clothes on the bench,” the warrior said.
There was a stone bench cut into the far wall. A stack of neatly folded gray clothes rested on it.
“Thank you, Lennar. We don’t mean your people any harm. We need to find a way to the surface. We plan to find a way to the Kantos base, so we can get a message to my ship.”
“Ship?”
“My people are warriors. We travel the stars.”
A look crossed Lennar’s face. “Incredible.” The warrior shook his head. “Our home is deep in the below, but I’ve seen the night sky a few times. It looks like our caverns filled with gala worms. Beautiful.” Lennar backed out. “Wash. Change. We’ll talk more after.”
Thane retracted his armor, then splashed his face and body with water. His uniform smelled of sweat and he shucked it off. He pulled on some gray pants like the other warriors wore. There were no shirts in the pile of clothes, so he’d have to go shirtless like the Mollai.
Finally, he walked out of the room and stopped.
He saw Kaira smiling as she walked out of another room. She wore loose gray pants, and just a black sports top that she’d clearly been wearing under her clothes. It cupped her breasts tightly and left her flat, toned belly bare.
Her gaze met his.
“It’s nice to freshen up,” she said.
He nodded. They walked together to rejoin Aurelai. The protective Lennar hovered near the Mollai leader.
They ate more flowers. Drank. More Mollai brought bowls of jellied flowers that Aurelai told them was a dessert.
“So, you avoid the Kantos?” Thane asked.
Lennar nodded. “We surveil them, but they don’t often venture down here.” A faint smile. “They’ve learned not to.”
Kaira leaned forward. “You don’t want to fight the Kantos? Drive them off your planet?”
Aurelai shook her head. “Our numbers are not great, and many of our population are only children. We have warriors for protection, but we aren’t fighters. We live, love, create, celebrate. We don’t have it in us to destroy our lives to fight a war.”
Thane didn’t think Lennar agreed, but the warrior did nod. “We cannot match the numbers of the ravagers.”
“Please eat, drink, and recharge,” Aurelai said. “We offer you sanctuary for as long as you need it.”
“Thank you, Aurelai.” Thane met Lennar’s gaze. “Tomorrow, we need a way to the surface.”
“We have to contact our people,” Kaira said.
Aurelai nodded. “I understand. Lennar will show you to the above tomorrow, but for now, rest.”
The Mollai leader clapped her hands.
Music started. People played delicate stringed instruments and tiny flutes.
Kaira shifted on the cushion, her shoulder brushing against Thane’s. He sensed that his mate was relaxed and happy.
He finally let himself relax.
This would be a much-needed pause before they faced the Kantos again.
Chapter Nine
Kaira tapped a toe to the music. It had a haunting undertone, but a sweet, romantic beat.
Her belly was full. She couldn’t believe how filling the neelianna flowers were. She’d also had two bowls of the Mollai dessert.
She was tired, but she was relaxed. For a moment, she could let the stress of this ordeal melt away. Take a short break to recharge.
She and Thane were alive. That’s what mattered.
She glanced sideways at him as he watched the musicians. His bare chest was a huge distraction. He had slabs of toned muscle that she wanted to stare at. Her fingers itched to touch. A doctor should not be built like that.
Some Mollai got up to dance. The younger children joined in with excited squeals, moving with great abandon and enthusiasm. All the older couples moved slower, gracefully in sync with the music.
Smiling, she watched as a man whirled a smiling woman into his arms.
“Music is an important part of our culture.” Aurelai said. “Our vision is not as acute as yours, as it’s not needed down here. But we possess very good hearing, so music resonates with us deeply. And we love art and gardening. Creation.”
Some girls came over to Aurelai. With a smile, the Mollai leader let them take her onto the dance floor. Then the woman dipped and swirled as she danced.
“She’s good,” Kaira said.
“Very graceful,” Thane agreed.
Lennar stomped over to the leader, a scowl on his face.
Aurelai cupped the man’s cheek, smiled, then kissed the warrior.
Oh, they were a couple. The pair moved into a close dance, moving as one. Lennar was a good dancer, too. He held Aurelai tucked closely against him.
“Can you dance?” Kaira asked Thane.
“No. That’s not part of an Eon warrior’s training.”
More children raced over. They shyly touched Kaira’s dark hair, entranced. Then they pulled her to her feet.
Thane smiled. “Go.”
She let herself be dragged onto the dance floor.
She moved to the music and smiled at the children. Then she closed her eyes. Her body turned languid, like water. She lifted her arms, then bent backward and flowed.
It had been so long since she’d danced. She’d always loved losing herself to the rhythm. The music changed, and she felt it in her veins. She moved, turned, dipped.
She opened her eyes. Many of the Mollai were watching her with appreciation.
She turned.
Thane was watching her too.
Her chest locked, heat curling in her belly.
The look in his eyes…
She kept moving, dancing just for him. Joy, desire, heat, it all coalesced inside her. She spun and looked back.
Thane’s green-black eyes were on her. The blue-white light of the cavern didn’t diminish the gold of his skin, the handsome lines of his face. There was such heat in the way he watched her.
Desire arrowed through her, and pulsed between her legs.
She wanted this man so much, but it wasn’t fair to take things any further between them, not when it would mean far more to him.
Some young women whirled around her. She looked back, and Thane was gone.
When the song ended, Kaira finished dancing. Aurelai appeared, holding two glasses in her hand. She handed one to Kaira.
“You dance well, Kaira.”
“Thank you.” She sipped her drink. “It’s been a long time.” And it felt good. She’d missed it. She looked around. Where had Thane gone?
Aurelai smiled. “Your man is in the room over there.” She pointed. “He asked for a private space. Sleep well, Kaira of Earth.”
Kaira headed toward the room and noted two women hovering in the doorway, peering in. She saw interest on their faces. When she looked through the doorway, she saw Thane, still shirtless, moving through some sort of routine. He lunged, and thrust his arms
forward. It looked like a warrior version of tai chi.
The female Mollai watched him intently, and one licked her lips.
Kaira felt a twist inside her. She glared at them.
One elbowed the other, and they withdrew.
She entered and closed the door behind her. She continued to watch Thane move, admiring the entrancing flex of his strong muscles.
Finally, he stopped and turned to her. “Finished dancing?”
“Yes, I won’t lie, it felt good, but I’m asleep on my feet.”
“We both need sleep. Tomorrow, Lennar will take us to the surface.” Thane’s face turned serious. “Then we need to find a way into the Kantos base.”
She nodded. “What were you doing before?”
“Dura. An ancient form of meditation and training. A way to center a warrior’s mind and body.”
“You’re easy to watch.”
“Like watching you dance. You looked like starlight on water.”
She felt heat in her cheeks and felt so confused by the wild mix of emotions inside her.
“I’d better find my room.” She forced the words out, even though she was reluctant to leave.
Thane grabbed her arm. “Stay. We both need sleep. The Mollai have been nothing but kind, but I’d prefer you close.”
She wasn’t sure that was a good idea, but she couldn’t say no.
They settled on the large sleeping cushion. It had a silky-smooth cover and as soon as they lay down, the glow of the plants around them automatically dimmed.
Thane lay flat on his back beside her and pulled the thin sheet over them both.
“Good night, Thane.”
“Rest well, Kaira.”
She thought she wouldn’t be able to sleep, but she drifted off, knowing that Thane was right beside her.
She woke at some point, her heart in her throat, not sure where she was.
Then she felt the large body wrapped around her. Thane was pressed against her back, one strong arm tucked under her breasts, one heavy leg pinning hers. The warmth of him engulfed her.
Safe.
She snuggled deeper into his hard body and fell back to sleep.
When she woke again, she felt Thane moving restlessly. He was really hot. He groaned and she opened her eyes. She saw golden skin right in front of her and realized she was pressed to his front, her face nestled into his neck.
