by Cara Carnes
Having Brivant as her representative had perks. She didn’t have to share the room with others, which she was grateful for, and she was to be processed with all due haste.
She had expected Solvan to render the examination, but the Council decided it best to seek an outside opinion, given his personal connection to Kandos. She huddled into a small ball. The freezing temperature of the room caused her to shiver uncontrollably. Tagratises require ice-cold climate, they said. Wonderful. So much for the grand, beautiful retreat everyone was told about. They were probably locked away in a freezer somewhere in the middle of nowhere.
Brivant had merely laughed at her plea to be sent straight to judgment, and had refused to consider it. The soft click of the door as it slid open caused her to turn. Brivant came over and sat next to her, his arm circling her shoulder, his seductive voice a mere whisper. “We are very fortunate to have secured a highly accredited female physician for you.”
“Fine. Lead me to her. I wish this to be done now.” She had to get off this planet before Kandos arrived and wreaked havoc for himself. That could not happen.
She was led down a long corridor, two armed guards followed at a wide distance behind her. They appeared shocked that she had not behaved in a sexual manner toward them or her representative yet. For that matter, she was equally surprised. They were even more stunned by who accompanied her.
The walk down the corridor surprised her. Seeing the guard attacked by the tagratises had been unexpected, but witnessing it again in the middle of the corridor alarmed her. Two tagratis females fought against a male guard, ripping at his uniform. Guards rushed from the end of the long hallway to his location.
“Why do the guards not use their weapons against them?”
“It is not allowed. We do not harm the innocent. We can tranquilize only, and this guard is clearly new. This will be a good lesson for him to come prepared next time. Protocol states that if a tagratis causes a reaction in the guard’s body, he gets to have him.”
Rina shivered hearing that. “That is so brutal.”
“It is fair.” She thought about the statement as she heard the guard’s moan echo through the area. He wasn’t fighting it any longer, just as the guard outside hadn’t.
Brivant paused in front of a set of double doors. Forcing her attention away from the tagratis females pumping the guard’s cock with their hands, she breathed in deep and walked through the doors. Her gasped filled the room when the doctor turned her head. Dressed in a white lab coat with matching white slacks, Aubrey took Rina’s breath away.
She wanted to laugh at the irony but decided it was best not to. The Council had deemed Solvan an inappropriate processor because he was a friend to Kandos. Instead, they had brought her sister here.
Rina knew the confusion was in Aubrey’s last name. Choosing not to acknowledge her father’s parentage, Aubrey had adopted her mother’s maiden name once she reached legal age. She was known across the galaxies as Aubrey Michaels, few knew anything about her. Long, flowing red hair wound its way down her back. Her petite frame was the only thing the two sisters had in common.
“I will depart now. If you need anything, merely call my name and I will be summoned by the micro-assistant,” said Brivant. His gaze fell on the small robot skulking in the corner briefly before he turned and left.
“That will be all, guards. You may leave.” Rina smiled hearing the clipped tone of dismissal in her sister’s voice. Few challenged her sister, whose temper was legendary.
“But we must remain for your safety,” the guard stammered, clearly aware of her reputation.
“Listen here, little man. I am about to poke and prod this poor innocent woman in ways not meant to exist. I will not have her subjected to any further humiliation because you think someone without a cock can’t defend themselves. If you wish to keep that organ you are so fond of, I’d suggest you vacate this room immediately!” Rina laughed. She couldn’t help it. She knew it to all be an act, but few others did.
As soon as the guard fled the room, Aubrey hugged her sister tightly. Unlocking the restraints, she assessed her knowingly. “I’ve missed you so much, little sister.”
Tears streamed down Rina’s face. “I missed you too.”
“How are you doing?”
Rina nodded, smiling nervously. “Well, circumstances could be better. I feel much better than I expected, which might have something to do with this.” Rina removed the aquamarine stone from under her top.
Her sister’s audible gasp filled the room. “How on Ancient Earth did you come into possession of this?” Aubrey’s delicate fingers traced the jewel like the treasure it was. Years on Hope would have given her firsthand experience on how much the aquamarine could help some convertees.
“That, according to Kandos, is a long story best told by those who got it. That would be our brothers.”
Aubrey’s eyes sparked. Their brothers wreaked havoc at times and never shared anything with the two of them. Sisters were protected at all costs. Rina allowed her sister to sit her down.
“I need you to tell me everything. Leave no detail unturned, no matter how trivial.”
Rina sighed. Tears streamed down her face as she told her big sister everything. She left nothing out, including the intense night of passion she’d shared with Kandos. Weeping loudly by the time she got to the end, she clutched her sister, grateful for her presence.
She had walked out of Kandos’ life. She would never see him again.
Aubrey’s loving embrace was a treasure to Rina as the grief of losing Kandos filled her heart. She had repressed it in the presence of Kandos’ acquaintances, but it was too much to bear any longer.
“So Kandos took you immediately to this Solvan character? Within an hour after you were drugged?” The pitch of her voice rose, her eyes lit with her anxiousness.
Rina nodded. She had never seen Kandos move as quickly as he had then. “Moments afterward actually. I was in Solvan’s care within ten minutes after they injected me with the drug. He arrived in time to see them inject me with it but could not stop them.”
Aubrey nodded, holding Rina as she began to cry once again. “I must run some tests immediately. I think there is hope.”
Rina wiped away her tears. Her sister never spoke lies to calm her. Her nature demanded absolute truth at all times. “How so?”
“I have been studying the drug used for the conversion. Solvan clearly has as well. His antidote will not cure it completely, but when combined with the power of that aquamarine stone you are wearing and the quick introduction of the serum into your bloodstream, you may have not been fully converted.”
Rina stared out into the courtyard of Council Hall, watching her brothers with Kandos. A small glimmer of hope rested in her mind as she prayed her sister was right. She turned when her sister approached her.
“Did anyone explain what this process entails?”
“No.” Rina allowed her voice to project within the room as Aubrey began positioning an odd machine in the center of the barren room. The banks of monitors hummed with life as the micro-assistant maneuvered about them, intent on its assigned task.
“We are going to draw some blood and run a battery of other tests. They will examine your body’s chemical makeup.” Cold electric probes were adhered to her skin while the soft amber lighting dimmed.
“Sounds simple enough.” Her pulse raced, her eyes darting from her sister to the micro-assistant on her other side. She wanted to be brave. Her sister had done countless procedures.
“What we are going to do while the tests are performed is a brain scan. It will examine your brainwave patterns and compare them against humans and tagratises to determine the percentage of conversion.” Her sister’s voice broke on the last word, her eyes filled with unshed tears.
“How is that done?”
“Virtual dreaming. We inject you with a drug that will incite a lucid state. The computer will initiate a sexual encounter and then measure your brain’s resp
onses to it as you progress to the end.” Rina didn’t realize such things were possible.
“Sexual encounter?” Rina’s pulse quickened again, imagining the computer recording her most intimate reactions.
“It’s okay, sis. I’ve programmed the computer for you and the details will be stricken from the record. We are merely interested in your body’s response to a series of situations. How many you go through will depend on the results we get.” Rina smiled weakly when her sister wiped away a stray tear. “Don’t cry. I wish I could take all this away for you.”
Aubrey had always been an awesome big sister, shielding her from pain whenever possible. “Just having you here is enough. Let’s get this over with.”
Chapter Six
Rina shivered in anticipation, the barest touch of skin on skin mingled with the aroma of gardenia. She knew before she turned around that the breath cascading down her neck in a sensuous trail to her shoulder belonged to Kandos.
Her eyes scanned the expanse of her small room in Ancient Earth’s only portal bed-and-breakfast. Ever since she met Kandos, she had dreamed of having him in this bed. Her bed. She looked over at it, admiring the antique four-poster bed her brothers had spent years finding for her. It was made of cherry wood and its presence dominated the interior.
The warm air coming from the desert floated into the open room and swept across the exposed flesh, left behind after the silk negligee cascaded around her ankles. A loud groan rang through her ears, powerful arms looped around her waist. She sighed when his thumbs began to flick her hardened nipples.
“Your body is so warm to the touch. I love cooling you down.” Spasms of pleasure rocked her body when his fingers delved between her legs and rubbed her clit gently. Turning around, she claimed his mouth, demanding its submission to her hunger. She pushed him down onto the bed.
“You don’t cool me down. You burn my blood until I erupt into flames.” She straddled him, her hands ripping the material that covered his chest. The grin of amusement on his face thrilled her. He loved when she took control almost more than she craved his domination.
“I can’t wait. There’s no time for foreplay.” She exposed his thick, rigid cock and moaned when she filled herself with it.
“Damn, Rina. You never cease to amaze me.” She rode him harder, savoring the skin-to-skin contact. Keeping her eyes closed, she imagined the look on his face as his cock slid in and out of her wet channel.
“I can’t help myself around you.” Her labored breathing matched his, and her hard nipples responded to the firm pinches from his strong fingers. Waves of pleasure washed over her, and her body responded to his in a pinnacle of pleasure.
She collapsed on top of him, her breathing labored. The sheer need for sexual gratification was temporarily sated, but she knew it would crawl back inside her soon. His arms wrapped around her, holding her firmly against him. She tensed, knowing the slightest contact took her back to her wanton state. “Relax, little one. I have it taken care of for tonight. I thought we’d try something out and see how it works.”
“Try what out?”
“Your tagratis part refuses to accept anything but a flesh-and-bone male to satisfy your sexual desires, and I am not enough. I had hoped to be, but I was mistaken. I am hoping my friend will please you in my stead on occasion.” Her mind reeled at his words. Heated all over again, her body responded to the thought of another man being with her.
“You would be willing to share me with another?” The mere thought went against everything Kandos stood for. He cherished her—he loved her. How could he let another man fuck her?
She saw the grief in his eyes, heard the torment in voice. “I would because I love you.”
“But Cadari do not share.”
“Our first concern is for our loved ones. You need it, so I shall accept it.”
“No.” Her body thrummed with the images of another partner, but she couldn’t do that to Kandos. He had given up enough to be with her. “Never.”
The bright burst of light shocked Rina. The smiling face of her sister looked back at her when she opened her eyes. Her heart racing, her eyes darted around the room looking for Kandos. “That felt so real. It was as if he was right here.”
“You did wonderfully, Rina. Calm yourself.” Brivant’s voice startled her when he came to stand beside her. “I had to be here to witness the brain scan. The system should have the results momentarily.”
“That quickly?” Rina’s heart pounded. She wasn’t sure whether she wanted to find out or not. She watched her sister pace back and forth in front of a bank of computers on the wall.
“Is she always like that?”
“How would I know?” Rina asked.
“She is your sister.” The statement alarmed her. Why would he not say anything?
“Why did you let me endure all this if you knew that?”
“She is the best in her field, except perhaps for Solvan. You deserved to have a female here, and someone to comfort you. Solvan’s bedside manner probably leaves much to be desired.”
Rina heard the yelp of joy from her sister across the room. “Thirty percent!” That number was way too low, and Rina looked around not sure whether to believe it. Brivant’s assuring smile and her sister’s beaming face told her she had not misheard. Breathing a sigh of relief, she wasn’t sure how it could be.
“How is that possible?” Brivant’s shocked inquiry left a sickening feeling in her stomach.
Aubrey smiled as she turned to face them both. “I honestly am not sure. That aquamarine stone had a significant effect on her brainwave patterns, though. Her blood test results showed she should have at least been at forty percent. If we reran the tests without the necklace on, I’m certain they would be. Her pulse and other body responses are indicative of a much higher-grade tagratis conversion.”
Rina watched him nod his head. “Then you and Solvan have a great deal of research to do. Many people could benefit from your combined efforts.” She saw her sister tense up and let out a ragged breath.
“That may not be possible, Your Eminence. He and I are like oil and water when it comes to our research methodology,” said Aubrey. Standing, he walked over to her and she crossed her arms.” I don’t remember asking if you would. When did the two of you meet?”
Refusing to meet his gaze, she turned and fumbled with the bank of computers behind her. It wasn’t like Aubrey to be this nervous. “Several months ago I was traveling to Hope with some much-needed supplies. I managed to make it to the sector check-in before my transporter died. The diminished supply of tranquilizers was dangerously low, so I had to pull a maneuver that I’m ashamed of. I stole his transporter.”
Amused laughter filled the room. “I bet he didn’t care too much for that action. What happened?” Brivant asked.
“He told me next time I see him he’s going to punish me properly for my behavior.” More chuckles echoed through the room as Brivant turned to depart.
“This will be most entertaining to watch then, because I’m afraid my original request must remain intact. You two must work together and research this aquamarine stone when combined with his drug treatment.”
Aubrey sighed loudly. “Whatever. I only care about one thing right now, and that’s my sister. Beyond that, nothing else matters. We’ll deal with this later because right now, I want to get her outside as soon as possible before Kandos gets agitated by that cruel man you put on him.”
* * * * *
Kandos sat on the bench in the courtyard and looked up at Rina’s brothers. Rina’s message had founds its way to them far too quickly, and their mission had yet to begin. They intended to reap justice on her behalf, as was their right—he wouldn’t respect them as friends if they didn’t.
“Let me say goodbye to her and you can do with me as you wish. I will do nothing to stop you.” The anguish in his heart overwhelmed him. Loss was foreign to him, and he had no idea what he would do if they refused his request.
Hours had pa
ssed since they had dragged him away from the entrance to Council Hall. Wisely they had decided to keep him close, more than likely so they would be available to Rina should she need them. Whatever the reason, he focused on the surroundings, praying for one more glance of her.
“What the hell happened to you, man? We’ve never seen you like this.” Tavis’ surprised tone mirrored in Dane’s curious assessment of him.
“Kill me if you must, but somewhere along the way I fell in love with Rina. It threw me for a complete loop and I am lost without her. I had her for one night, and now I am being told I will never see her again. What am I supposed to act like?” The rage and hostility he felt laced every word of his statement.
“I arrived seconds too late to stop that injection. I destroyed every being in that building for breathing the same air as the monster who injected her. I did this after I took her to Solvan. I watched as he ministered to her. I prayed to every God and every fate from every religion in every sector of every galaxy that the damage could be undone. But nothing.”
