by Aubrey Cara
It was not supposed to be his fate for mine. He could have left with me. Why didn’t he leave with me?
Why didn’t he leave with me?
A sob tears from my throat as strong arms pull me off Pippen and scoop me up against a broad chest. I glance up, and Jor is gazing down at me, concern pinching his otherwise severe face.
I look down at the scene on the floor. Kechlyn…his fathomless eyes no longer swirl with color but are black, like all the beings he’s always believed below him. I do not feel guilt for his death, but for all his servants who will be killed in his honor. I even pity Keela, who will have to die for a mate who honored her in word only.
My breath catches once again as I stare at Pippen one last time. My mentor. My only true companion for years.
I burrow my face into Jor’s neck, no longer able to stomach the loss.
“I want to leave here now. Please.”
Without a word, he’s striding across the space. I assume he’s carrying me away from here, but he pauses before we get to the doors, a growl rumbling his chest.
I turn my face to see what is transpiring.
Banx, Ast, and Tawn block two familiar Zapex from coming any closer to me, but I can still see their hateful gazes not wavering from me.
The speaker and three others in the council intercept them, foolishly putting themselves between the Zapex and my fearsome mates.
The Zapex, who I recognize as serving on the council to the king, and one very much for the annihilation of all the non-Zapexian citizens in the Jun’pn galaxy, draws himself up. “This veran must be taken back to Jar’jn for execution. She was Kechlyn’s property. Had she honor, she’d be dying on his pyre.”
Jor’s grip on me tightens, but I push out of his arms to stand on my own two feet. I will not meekly be persecuted from the safety of my Monrok’s embrace.
“I have more honor than Kechlyn was ever capable of.”
“You traitorous hukan go’han.”
“Zapex.” The speaker’s voice cracks out like a whip, drawing his attention away from me. “If you have anything you wish to say to us, you must arrange your own meeting.”
His eyes narrow. “I am a member of King Thaain’s council. You will listen to me whenever I wish to speak.”
“Really? I think not,” the speaker says with quiet reserve. “All who have signed the Galactic Unity treaty must adhere to Jun’pn law. Not the other way around. The Zapexian king has zero authority on Pacbar, let alone some haughty council member. And I heard King Thaain is dead,” she continues.
“A crime was committed this day.”
“Yes, it is a tragedy. As you know, the Pacnarish do not condone violence.”
“Then the veran will be punished?”
The speaker’s mouth pulls down. “It was not the veran who brought a blaster to a peaceful hearing.” Before the Zapex can say any more she lifts a hand. “You will be escorted back to your ship. I advise not giving us any more reasons to be concerned with the stability of the Zapex people.”
With one last baleful glare, he and his companion turn with a swirl of silk robes and stride out the wide double doors.
I sag against Jor, and then my other Monrok are there beside me as if instinctively knowing I need them. Now that the Zapex are gone and I have said my piece, my strength is rapidly leaving me.
Tawn’s hand is back in my hair, his fingers twining around the long length. Ast stands to my other side. Banx cups my cheek, assessing me with his gaze. His thumb strokes my cheek, still damp from tears.
I need my Monrok in the most elemental way, surrounding me, holding me, making me whole again. There is an aching hole in my chest, and only they can fill that space. I want to demand we quit this place, but can’t find it in me to speak a word. Instead, closing my eyes, I lean into his touch and just let myself absorb their presence around me, anchoring me.
A throat clears from behind Banx, and he turns but doesn’t step aside. I have to take the two steps on shaky legs to stand next to him. I wrap my arm around his for support as I face the speaker and a few of the council members.
“My sympathies for your loss, veran,” the speaker says, glancing to where Pippen fell.
I can’t look. I don’t need or desire to see again his lifeless body sprawled on the floor. It’s not an image I’ll likely ever forget.
“While the Galactic Unity council has no authority to free all the lower caste of Zapex,” she says, “we are granting you your freedom.”
“Thank you,” is my only reply.
The triumph I’d hoped to feel doesn’t come, but I know it will. When I’m no longer wounded inside and out, the relief and pride in this small victory will be waiting for me. It will buoy me and give me strength to face whatever may come next.
“Thank you for bringing us the information of a possible attack. It seems we have much to learn and be wary of when it comes to the Zapex. It’s reassuring to know we have allies on Jar’jn. Live well, veran.”
“Live well,” I reply before she turns and walks away, another council member taking her place.
Blue and silver zip over his discs as he bows his head in greeting. “Monrok. Veran. I must warn you, no vessels will be allowed in or out of Pacbar airspace until we’ve spoken directly to the Zapex’s new ruler, Prince Keel.”
“Make an exception,” Banx tells him, his deep voice resolute.
The Pacnarish councilman’s discs glow as he sighs. He turns to the other two council members standing with him, who both nod once in affirmation.
He again inclines him head to Banx. “We had hoped you would stay until after we spoke to Prince Keel and had more Monrok guardships in our space, but will grant your ship permission to leave. We only ask you do not instigate an attack on the Zapex.”
“Fine,” Banx says. “But I cannot speak for all my brethren. We are spread thin and will do what we must to protect ourselves.”
“We value our alliance with the Monrok but wish to avoid war.”
Tawn scoffs. “I believe that’s why you aligned yourself with us to begin with. So we can handle the warring.”
“Yes, well,” the councilman says. “It is our deepest wish to maintain an alliance and peace between all in the Jun’pn galaxy. Live well, Monrok.” He bows and says more softly, “Live well, veran.”
“May we go now?” I ask in a bleak whisper.
Tawn strokes the hair back from my face. Ast drops a kiss to the crown of my head.
“We can go,” Banx says, watching me with wrinkled brow.
Ast threads his fingers with mine. Banx’s hand is on the small of my back. Jor steps in front of me, leading the way out of the hall.
“You’re projecting,” Ast says, his voice unusually gruff. I peek up at him. His face is pulled tight.
I’m confused for a moment. Disoriented and surprised to realize my shield slipped. I quickly throw up my internal block, but his concerned gaze remains.
“Did you care so greatly for the gearan?” he asks.
“Yes.”
The muscle in his jaw twitches.
I squeeze his hand in reassurance. Ast thinks my affection for Pippen is the same I carry for them, which is not the case.
“He was my mentor and only true friend during my time in Kechlyn’s house,” I try to explain. “He’s the one who helped me escape. It’s because of me he was beaten. It is because of me he is dead.” My voice breaks on the last.
Ast nods but does not look consoled.
Banx and Tawn are also frowning. Wonderful.
Jor glances back at me from over his shoulder. “Guilt over death is a wasted sentiment, du’rah. You did well to kill that aheh fucker, Kechlyn. And while breeding.” He faces front, but not before I see his lips twitch up at the corners. “Our offspring will be powerful warriors.”
Tawn, Ast, and Banx’s features soften, their eyes shining with warmth as they murmur words of agreement.
The pride in their voices makes something glow to life inside me. I
palm my abdomen, where a Zapexian-Monrok life supposedly grows, experiencing a mixture of hope and trepidation.
A little stab of sadness pierces my heart, though. Pippen gave this to me. He had to have known what was waiting for me outside of Jar’jn. That’s why he didn’t come with me. He gave his life, so I could have a real one of my own. One filled with being loved and cherished in a way I never dreamt possible.
He’ll never hear my words of thanks, or know how much he meant to me, but I vow never to forsake his gift.
“You’re crying again,” Ast growls.
I wipe my tears and smile up at him, my hair coming to life. “These are not from sadness. I’m feeling grateful for my existence. And for each of yours.”
Now they need to get me back to the ship so that I may show them all how grateful I am.
CHAPTER EIGHT
“Hold still. Almost done.” Ast is cleaning the burn on my shoulder. Though I deflected the worst of the blast, my shoulder was still singed. Every time he goes over a tender spot, my hair reflexively bats at him.
His mouth pinches as he swats it out of his way. “I wouldn’t have to be doing this if you didn’t jump in front of a blaster. You have four indestructible Monrok mates. You hide behind us when there is danger.”
Sitting on the hovermat in the control room, I wince as he smooths the salve on. My mates have been taking turns lecturing me and letting me know of their displeasure with my failed survival instincts. I’m never going to hide behind them. I’ll stand beside them and fight whenever I can, but I’m wise enough not to argue.
Tawn, Banx and Jor sit in front of the control panels, navigating us out of Pacbar airspace. I’m eager to start our new adventure.
I’m also trying not to think of all that could befall us while en route to Kadeema. Ast rolls a bandage over my shoulder and around my arm, and I can’t help but think of Pippen and how many times I watched him bandage up other house gearan.
I still can’t believe he’s gone.
“Am I hurting you?” Ast tilts my chin up and studies my face. I know I have tears in my eyes once again and try to blink them back.
“I’m fine.” I need to shake off my melancholy and worry. If now is not the time to celebrate life, then I don’t know when is. I run my hands up his muscular torso, wishing it was bare. “I think you’re wearing too many garments.”
His eye brows shoot up, and he rips his shirt off over his head in an instant. “This
better?”
“Almost.” I let my gaze travel down his chiseled abdomen to where his impressive erection is straining in confinement. I trail a finger over the bulge.
He growls, palming my ass and scooting me to the edge of the mat. My knees splay to either side of his waist. Fisting the flaps of my tunic skirt, he rends the material up past my navel before opening his britches.
Without preamble, he grabs my hips and fills me with his length. My head falls back, and he fists my hair before angling his mouth over mine and kissing me breathless.
My thighs clench on his waist, just enjoying the feel of him stretching me.
“Is this what you want?” he asks against my lips.
I smile. “Almost.”
I push him back, whimpering as his cock pulls free of me, but I’m greedy. I do not want just one of my mates. Right now, I need them all.
I hop down from the mat and walk toward the passageway, hips swaying. My torn tunic trails behind me like a train. I push it behind my hips as I turn in the doorway to face my Monrok.
Ast’s cock bobs where it hangs out of his pants, but he seems just as frozen in place as the rest of them. Their gazes have turned feral. I should be frightened, but instead I exalt in the sight of their naked adoration for me. The tops of my thighs are wet, and I know the pouty lips of my sex must be glistening.
“I have the desire to be claimed by all my mates.” Fisting the front of my tunic, I tear it the rest of the way up my torso until it gapes completely open. I let it slide down my arms and fall to the floor, pooling around my feet. My nipples pucker and bead in the cool air.
My Monrok are on their feet in an instant, but Banx reaches me first, tossing me over his shoulder. He gives my ass a firm slap as his long stride takes us down the passageway to a different chamber than the one we occupied the last time I was on this ship.
He sets me on my feet in the middle of the wide platform, and I enjoy being just as tall as them as they hastily tear their clothes off. Before I can blink, my four magnificent specimens stand before me, their proud cocks jutting from their hard-toned bodies.
My mouth waters.
They move forward as one, and I put up a hand.
“Halt. I want to look at you.”
I step down from the platform, rubbing up against first Tawn, then Ast, Jor, then Banx, the biggest one of them all.
They close in on me, and I have the sensation of falling from a great height, even though I haven’t moved an inch.
“Are you sure you want to take us all?” Banx palms his cock, giving it a leisurely stroke. I remember how it filled me and imagine the glorious ache it will cause when it’s not the only one.
I nod. “I’ve never wanted anything more.”
I push Banx back and am under no illusion that my strength is what causes him to sit down, his thighs splayed wide. Before I sink to my knees as planned, he lifts me by the waist as he falls back, bringing me up to straddle his face.
His tongue delves into my wet center and a low moan breaks from my throat.
Rough hands fist my hair and angle my head to look up at Jor.
“Did you think to take things over now that you don’t call us master?”
“I’ll always call you master.” It just means more now that it is my choice.
His eyes spark with fire, his grip on me tightening. “Temptress, open that sweet mouth of yours and take your master’s cock.
I gladly open my mouth, sucking him down to the back of my throat as he slides in. Underneath me, Banx mouths my cunt, his tongue working over my nerve laden band. His hands knead my ass, spreading my cheeks. He devours me while his fingers explore my pucker. I still for a moment as his thick digit pushes in.
A warm thigh presses to my right shoulder, and I pop off Jor’s cock and turn to wrap my swollen lips over Ast, then Tawn.
“Your mouth is incredible.”
“Oh fuck, you’re going to make me come down your throat.”
Their praise makes something inside me break open, a warm glow spilling out and encompassing every fiber of my being.
They rotate positions, letting me fist two while sucking one. All the while, I undulate my hips, riding Banx’s talented tongue. My channel begins to vibrate, and I grind down on his mouth with the need to be filled.
Suddenly Banx lifts me, breaking my hold on Ast and Jor, and drags me down the center of his body until the hot breadth of him presses against my core.
“I need to feel your cunt clenching down on me.” Slowly impaling me, he rakes his teeth and tongue up my neck and takes my mouth, his lips still flavored with my sex. His massive length is only halfway in when I break from the kiss to pant and try to relax and accept the rest of him.
“That’s it,” he encourages. “Relax that sweet cunt of yours and take me.” His hands gripping my hips tight as he forces me to take another inch. “Almost in.”
The stretching ache quickly morphs into a throbbing need to move, but, when I try, he stills me.
“Not yet. You’re not done being filled.”
Jor moves behind me. Banx’s arms band around my torso, holding me to his chest as if I may sit up or fight him.
The first strike of Jor’s hand on my ass takes me by surprise, every muscle in my body clenching tight.
Banx curses. “What are you doing?” he growls.
“I’m warming up our little mate, just how she likes it.” Jor kneads my ass before bringing his palm down again, heat blossoming through me. Ancestors help me, this is how I like
it. My body swamped with sensation, as he takes me to the precipice of where pain and pleasure intertwine.
“I’m also giving her a taste of what will happen if she puts herself in danger again.” His hand claps down with much more force, stealing my breath. “Consider this spanking a warning, Sana.”
After five more hard strikes of his palm, I’m clutching Banx beneath me, all my muscles tense. But still, I prop my ass up, eager for more.
Banx growls into my neck as I wiggle around on him. “From the way her cunt is milking me, I’d say spanking is not a viable punishment.” He groans as I flex my internal muscles again. He grabs my hips lifting me up his length and back down.
“I like seeing her ass flushed from my hand,” Jor says. He massages my cheeks before circling my rosette with a finger and pushing in to stretch me. He spreads my natural lubricant around my hole before spanking me again. Then he’s there, his heavy length trying to push in.
All three of us let out agonized groans as Jor’s cock head pops in through my first two bands. Slowly, he sinks in and I’m stretched so far, I think I may be rent in two.
Jor has one hand on the back of my neck, holding me down to Banx’s chest, the other at my hip. He slowly drags out and glides back in.
I don’t even try to hold back my cry. I’m like a live wire, my senses buzzing and zapping me with shocks of electricity.
Jor continues his unhurried pace until I’m working my hips, needing to move. “Please, master.”
“You feel so fucking good,” Jor groans. “Is your little cunt milking Banx the way your ass is milking me?”
I’m only capable of a pathetic whimpered, “More,” as I nod my head.
Banx grits his teeth and lifts his hips, filling me completely as Jor pulls out. The two seesaw in a methodical rhythm. “Is this what you want, Sana,” Banx grits. “This what you need?”
“Yes.” I prop myself up on Banx’s chest and tilt my head falls as I lose myself to sensation. “Great ancestors, yes.”
Through hooded gaze, I watch Tawn and Ast, who stand on either side of the platform, slowly stroking their cocks as they watch me get fucked.
Jor fists my hair, bringing me back against his chest. “Are you ready for all of us, du’rah?”
