by S. E. Smith
Trisha just shook her head as Ariel jumped into the truck, scooting over to the middle so she could get in. In a hand-to-hand confrontation, Trisha was still better than Ariel. Her dad taught her how to fight, sometimes not exactly fairly. He knew if she was out in the woods alone, sometimes for days or weeks, with some of their clients, she would need to be able to defend herself in any circumstance. Some of their clients did not like to lose to a woman. Paul Grove said it didn’t matter if you were a male or a female when it came down to fighting for your life. You either knew how to fight to live or you died. He made sure his little girl knew how to fight to live.
Trisha listened intently to the conversation between Ariel and Carmen. When Cara threw in one of her off the wall comments, Trisha couldn’t help but respond. Only Cara would be able to think of working on something mechanical while in a high-speed chase.
Trisha rolled her eyes when Cara commented on Abby’s truck acceleration. “Only you would be thinking about something like that while chasing down bad guys in the middle of nowhere.”
“Hey, I can work on more than one thing at a time.” Cara said right before she took a turn on two wheels instead of four.
Trisha wasn’t the only one letting out a long string of expletives she learned while in the Air Force. Ariel was keeping up with her pretty good while Cara just laughed. Trisha wasn’t sure she wanted to know where Cara had learned to drive like this.
Chapter 3
Kelan Reykill sat in the commander’s conference room aboard the V’ager, the Valdier warship he commanded. It was the largest and most sophisticated one in their fleet thanks to his brother Trelon’s constant upgrades. He was studying the reports that were brought to him with a frown. He wasn’t concerned about the reports pertaining to the planet below them. Zoran already warned them about the primitive planet he had taken refuge on. Zoran told them to come in using extreme caution as the inhabitants of the planet were unaware of other life forms that existed outside their galaxy. Trelon already made sure they would remain undetected. Kelan wasn’t even worried about when he, Trelon, and a few others transported down as they would be more than capable of defending themselves based on the information the reports contained about the planet’s military. They could simply transport out and be out of the solar system before the military even knew they were there.
No, what worried him was what happened to his older brother, Zoran. Kelan seethed as he read over the report on his brother’s capture and torture. He was in constant contact with his other two brothers back on Valdier. Mandra and Creon knew Zoran was captured by a group of Curizan warriors but something just wasn’t adding up. They had been at peace with their former enemies for well over a century. It didn’t make sense. He knew the members of the royal house of Curizan. Ha’ven, Leader of the Curizans, was his brother, Creon’s, closest friend. Well, as close of a friend as Creon would admit to having. He knew Creon saved Ha’ven’s life during the wars and that was one of the factors that brought it to an end.
Why would they have taken him to a remote military base that had been abandoned eons ago? Why did they want to know the secrets of the symbiotic relationship between a Valdier warrior, his dragon, and his symbiosis? Others tried in the past to gain such knowledge by trying to capture a warrior’s symbiosis. Every time it ended with the captor being killed by the symbiosis. It was this knowledge that gave the leaders of Valdier the power they needed to open their planet to trade almost three hundred years ago. By then, the end of the Three Wars between the Sarafin, the Curizan, and the Valdier was coming to a close. Trade agreements and peace treaties were signed. In exchange for possible mates, the Valdier would trade some of their powerful crystals to the Curizan. The Sarafin were promised the first born daughter of the King of Valdier would be mated to the first born son of the King of the Sarafin. Unfortunately, Kelan’s father, who wrote and negotiated that particular treaty, did not inform the Sarafin that females were few and far between for the Valdier, especially those of the royal house. The treaty was signed over a century before and so far, the Valdier had no problems with the Sarafin. In fact, his brother Trelon was a frequent visitor to their spaceports and did a significant amount of trading with them.
Kelan rubbed his stomach in irritation. Ever since his brother Zoran introduced them to his true mate, Abby, Kelan’s dragon had been acting up. Kelan always prided himself on his ability to deal and negotiate with his more primal half but ever since it laid eyes on the dragon’s mark on Abby’s neck, it was a constant battle to get him to calm down. He wanted to get to the planet and find his mate. If one true mate could be found on this primitive planet then so could another, his! His dragon growled in annoyance. Go, now. Find my mate.
Will you just back off?! Kelan growled back in anger. We have more important things to do. Plus, there is little likelihood of finding a mate on this planet. You know how our symbiosis is! It is so picky we have never even been able to have sex with a female if it is in the same room as we are.
Kelan’s symbiosis looked up at him with a low snarl and showed its teeth. It was in the shape of their huge Werecat, a creature known for gutting its prey and eating it while it was still alive. Kelan’s dragon snarled back for all the good it did either of them. The symbiosis could tell through the bands wrapped around his upper arms what his dragon was doing but it merely snorted before lowering its head. It knew that when it came to the final acceptance of a female as a true mate, if the symbiosis did not accept the female, then the dragon would not accept it. And, if the symbiosis didn’t accepted the female and the dragon refused to breathe the dragon’s fire into her, Kelan knew he was totally screwed. There was no way he would ever have his true mate without all three of them accepting her.
Kelan threw down the report on the table in front of him with a growl. He didn’t have time to waste on fantasies. If he hadn’t found a female yet out of all the females he bedded on Valdier –and Curizan and Sarafin and a few others –his symbiosis added through images with a yawn…Kelan snarled loudly at his symbiosis in response. His symbiosis stood up slowly and shook before turning its head and walking out of the room. Kelan ran his hands through his hair wishing he could get rid of his dragon as easily as that. It was tearing gouges inside him like a Werecat sharpening its claws. He needed to remain focused on the situation at hand. Closing his eyes, he sought the calm he was renowned for having before he opened his eyes again with a steely determination glittering from them. First things first, get Zoran and Abby. Next, return to Valdier and find out what Mandra and Creon have discovered. Last, kill the bad guys. A smile curved Kelan’s lips as he found his center again. His dragon could just go take a long cold shower until they were done.
It was dark by the time they transported down. They decided it would be better to use the cover of darkness. The darkness did not affect them. They simply let their dragon come to their aid as it could see in the dark as good as during the day. Kelan studied the meadow where Zoran landed initially. He had to practically tie his dragon down to keep him under control. The only thing that worked so far was the threat of not leaving the warship and sending another in his place. Only then did his dragon finally calm down and behave himself. His symbiosis walked around the meadow exploring in a slow, disinterested manner. Kelan noticed a change in his symbiosis lately and was concerned. He never heard of a symbiosis losing its will to live, for its very essence was attached to his own, but his was spending more and more time simply lying around watching the other symbioses and their warriors. It no longer actively sought the company of the other symbioses on the warship like it did before. He made a mental note to ask Zoran to look in the Archives of Knowledge to see if there was any reference to the symptoms his symbiosis was displaying. Zoran, as ruler of the Valdier, was the only one to have access to them because they were said to explain the origins of the symbiosis.
Kelan walked over to where Trelon and Zoran were. He was so deep in thought he didn’t notice the immediate change in Zoran until Tre
lon made a comment. Glancing at his older brother, Kelan studied his face trying to see if there was any difference in him now that he had a true mate.
“Zoran, all is well?” Trelon asked.
From the dazed expression on his face followed by the fierce relief and joy, he would have to say yes; there was definitely a change. He had never known Zoran to be anything else but stern and reserved. Now, his whole face changed as he responded to Trelon’s question.
Zoran looked at Trelon as if coming out of a daze, a huge smile on his face. “She has returned.”
Kelan grinned at Zoran. Trelon must have also noticed the same change because he was wearing a huge grin as well. Kelan fought back a chuckle as he watched Zoran’s dragon fight to come out. He wanted his mate. He isn’t the only one who would like to see his mate, Kelan’s dragon said sarcastically. Kelan barely hid his jerk of surprise. Since when had his dragon learned how to be sarcastic? What in the hell was going on? First, his symbiosis is walking around looking like he had killed its best friend. Now, his dragon is giving him lip. Since when did he start losing so much control over the other parts of himself? He never lost control! He was known for his strict self-discipline. In fact, his ability to remain in command in any situation, no matter how difficult or dangerous, was still discussed in awe among the warriors. And, he was known for his skill at handling any challenge, no matter how impossible it seemed. He had proved himself time and time again before, during, and after The Three Wars. Yes, but none of those skills have helped you find us a mate, have they? His dragon retorted angrily. Shut up, will you? Kelan said furiously. Just keep your focus on getting Zoran and his true mate off this planet, or so help me, I won’t let you out for a month once we get back. It wasn’t much as far as threats went; but, it was the only thing Kelan could think of to shut his dragon up for a few precious seconds of peace. Kelan’s symbiosis just walked over and laid down at his feet, ignoring the conflict going on between Kelan and his dragon.
Zoran’s face ceased into a smile and he said in a relieved tone. “Soon you will meet my true mate.”
Kelan watched as his younger brother picked on Zoran. When Trelon playfully punched Kelan in the arm wanting him to grab Zoran, Kelan just shook his head with an answering grin. It had been a long time since they had wrestled with each other. All five brothers were very close growing up, often getting into trouble together. Their father and mother tried futilely to separate them on more than one occasion when they had been particularly mischievous. That never stopped them, though. They simply shifted and took off for the dense forests that covered their world. Kelan chuckled when he saw Trelon reaching for Zoran. Zoran suddenly became very still, frowning in concentration.
“Abby will not be returning alone. There are three females with her.” Zoran grumbled.
“Perhaps she brings our true mate to us.” Trelon teased. “I, for one, am not ready but perhaps Kelan, Mandra, and Creon might appreciate having one. I still have much to taste before I settle for one female.”
Kelan choked out a laugh and grabbed Trelon around the neck, imaging it was his dragon’s when the damn thing roared out excitedly at the idea of meeting its potential mate. As Kelan fought to control his dragon, he couldn’t resist ribbing Trelon. “You believe yourself a bull dragon to satisfy so many females. It takes that many because none could ever put up with you for long.”
Trelon responded to Kelan’s comment just as Kelan knew he would, by trying to take him down. Kelan may have been slightly taller and a year older than Trelon, but Trelon was definitely broader and more muscular. Kelan had just twisted to break the hold Trelon was trying to get around his neck when he heard Zoran’s roar of rage. In a flash, he shifted and called to his symbiosis. Golden armor swiftly covered his arms, legs, and chest. He rose into the air, prepared for battle.
Kelan listened intently to the conversation between his two brothers. At first, he regretted sending the other warriors back to the warship. If necessary, he could call to them to return. Until he knew what the issue was, he did not want to endanger any of his men’s lives. When Zoran explained his true mate had been attacked, he began forming strategies to get her back. It appeared there was only one male involved that they knew of. There was no need to call for additional support. One primitive male would be no match for the three skilled warriors. Kelan notified the V’ager via his symbiosis to be prepared for a swift departure and to prepare medical just in case it was needed for Zoran’s mate. He was not concerned about the welfare of the male who had taken her. He was already dead as far as Kelan was concerned.
Trisha gripped the armrest with one hand and put her other hand on the dashboard to try to keep from being tossed around. Cara was doing a great job of driving but it was still scaring the shit out of her. Both she and Ariel were cussing up a blue-streak. When Cara made the turn onto the gravel road, Trisha began wondering if it would be a good time to start praying again. She was doing the best she could to keep the tail lights of Carmen’s motorcycle in sight. Since Carmen was running dark, the only time they could see her was when she hit the brakes, which didn’t seem often enough for Trisha’s peace of mind. She must be traveling like a bat out of hell to be so far ahead of us, Trisha thought. When the truck slid dangerously close to the trees on Trisha’s side of the truck, she didn’t say a word but the sweat beading on her forehead was enough to show it was closer than she was comfortable with. A flashback to her own accident was enough to make her swallow down the nausea that threatened. She couldn’t lose it now. She had to keep control until this was over and Abby was safe. Focus on Abby, she kept telling herself.
Trisha could see Cara was fighting to maintain control of the pickup truck. When she didn’t see Carmen’s tail lights, she became worried that Carmen may have taken a spill and was lying in the middle of the road where they couldn’t see her. If they came upon her suddenly, there would be no way to avoid hitting her.
“Do you see her?” Trisha asked anxiously, voicing her fears. “I can barely see a thing. I would hate for Carmen to wreck in the middle of the road and not see her until too late.”
“She’s fine. I think I saw some brake lights up ahead through the trees.” Ariel bit out between bumps. “God, Cara. Do you think you could hit any more ruts?”
Ariel no sooner finished her sentence when she was thrown into Trisha. Trisha couldn’t quite contain the groan that escaped her when her head hit the passenger side window hard. She knew she was going to have a nice knot on her head. The bad thing was she couldn’t even let go of her grip long enough to rub it out. Gritting her teeth together, she pushed back the pain. She had gotten pretty good at doing that, she thought with a dry sense of humor.
Trisha bit back a laugh as Cara responded to Ariel. She wasn’t about to say a word. Cara had a long memory and Trisha didn’t want to be on her bad side. She was still waiting for the payback for the blind date. In fact, Trisha wouldn’t have been in the least bit surprised if Cara didn’t pull over and tell Ariel she could drive if she thought she could do it better.
“I’m doing the best I can. It is darker than shit out here and I don’t think this road has ever been graded! You try driving over twenty miles an hour on it and see if you can do any better.” Cara said crossly. Yup, Cara was pissed, Trisha thought. When she heard the sound of metal scraping, she cringed.
“I can fix that.” Cara said loudly over the screeching.
Trisha bit back a chuckle and just shook her head. Knowing Cara, she would too and it would be even better than before. That thought had no sooner left her brain when she saw a flash of bright blue light. She turned around to see what it was just as Cara called out.
“Son-of-a-bitch! What was that?” Cara gasped.
Ariel twisted around too trying to see out the back window. “I don’t know. You didn’t hit the gas tank or anything did you?”
“Of course, she didn’t.” Trisha bit out tensely, gripping the dashboard harder so she wouldn’t be thrown into the side window agai
n. “That would have been us, otherwise. Just don’t give her any ideas!”
Trisha turned around in time to gasp as another flash lit up the night. Her eyes widened as she saw Carmen’s motorcycle lying on its side behind the pickup truck of the man who had kidnapped Abby. They were about twenty-five yards ahead of them.
“Holy shit! Did you see that?” Cara asked looking up through the windshield.
Trisha’s eyes were focused on the struggle going on in the truck in front of them. She could see inside the cab as the light came on when the driver’s side door opened. She watched as the man leaned over Abby. After a moment, he began pulling her out of the truck by her hair.
“Oh, my God. Abby!” Trisha cried out. Trisha struggled to open the door to the truck just as it rolled to a stop behind the pickup in front of them. She ignored everything else but the need to get to Abby. She almost fell as her feet connected with the uneven surface of the gravel road. Trisha bit back a curse. She was still stiff from the flight and was having difficulty getting her muscles to work right. Biting back a cry of pain, she forced herself to move out of the way so Ariel could climb out after her.
“Where’s Carmen?” Ariel called out frantically as she slid out of the truck.
