“Rask, there’s no way out,” she whimpered.
His shield dropped and he pulled her into his arms. Grace could feel his sweat mix with hers, calming her. Rask pressed his forehead to hers. His hands slipped over her hair. He murmured soothing words and gentle sounds.
For a moment she let him calm her until reality took over. “You have to go, Rask,” Grace sobbed as she looked at the wall of fire. “You don’t have to die this way.” She gazed up into his dark eyes.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
His stare was intense. He studied the height of the flames but Grace knew he couldn’t jump them or he would have already.
“Please, Rask.” She clutched at his bare arms feeling his heat. “I can’t bear to know you’ll watch me burn. You can’t hold me in your arms while I char into blackness and melt. I’ve seen it happen; oh God, Rask, it’s a horrible way to die. Put your shield up. Please. Or for God’s sake, kill me now.”
Rask cupped her chin; she could see him battle his panic for her with the thought. “A mated Castian can never kill his mate. He would die. We are too connected. My shield will go up when the fire reaches us,” he said. “It has a built-in sense of self-preservation. The only way for me to die if you die, is if my shield comes down.”
Grace filled with hope—he could live, his shield would protect him. “Then never let your shield down.” She wept. “Is it even possible for you to connect with another so strongly to save your life?”
“I don’t know.”
Grace could feel the flames, it was growing unbearable. They were creeping toward them as though taunting them, stalking them in a sinister fashion. “Find out, Rask. For me, please. Don’t die.”
“I can’t live without you. I love you.”
“I don’t want to die knowing you will die too, because of me. I love you too, Rask,” Grace whimpered. “I love you.”
Rask cupped her face in his palms. His eyes reflected his deep emotions. He already knows. Of course he would know, he would have felt it the moment she did. He was just waiting for her to say it first. Rask didn’t want to take her emotion. He wanted her to understand it and reveal it to him on her own. Grace’s cheek settled against his chest. She could feel his heart pound. Rask tossed his head back and roared his agony. His arms crushed her to him.
“It’s too hot, Rask,” Grace cried out as the fire licked at them. It was a few feet away encasing them. Grace began coughing and gasping as the smoke thickened. Her lungs began to burn.
Rask pulled at her clothing, tossing it onto the flames trying to give them a few more seconds.
“Flesh-to-flesh until my shield goes up. I swear you will feel no pain.”
Rask yanked their clothing off. They fell to the ground and Rask pushed himself inside her. His fingers tangled within her hair thrusting her face into his throat. His entire body covered her. Sweat dripped from his body onto her, over her, into her. Rask bit her, then again and again. Blood dripped from her neck and dribbled down. Grace was growing numb but the flaming wall of fire came steadily closer. Grace wrapped her legs around him. Rask tightened his arms around her. Grace saw the fire close in until it washed over them in a wave of victory. There was no pain. Grace wept knowing she was burning and was so grateful to Rask for sparing her the unbearable agony. Fire struck from the other side and danced over Rask’s back. She closed her eyes knowing his shield would go up.
Grace could still feel Rask moving inside her, but his thrusting was slight. At a small sound from him, Grace’s eyes snapped open. When she looked up at him, his eyes were shining in stunned disbelief. Grace could no longer feel his secretions; his body was warm and dry. The flames completely engulfed them. Grace could see them lapping at her knees, at Rask’s hair. Nothing touched them. Where there should have been unbearable heat torching her flesh from her bones, there was coolness. The air she breathed should have been saturated in smoke, but it was clear and sweet. Grace looked up at Rask. His body was rocking the way it did when he was about to come. She could feel his hard length fill her until no more could possibly fit.
“Rask?”
The heated wall of death moved away from them. Everything around them was charred and smoldering. Grace lifted her hands from Rask’s shoulders, at least she tried. She couldn’t move. It was as if she was stuck to him. Then she realized the ground underneath her was smooth and soft. Not the spongy ground but different. Rask was smiling.
“It’s my shield, Grace. My shield saved us both.”
“How?” she asked, incredulous.
“My body tried so hard to take your fear away. My wetness didn’t work, neither did my bite. I was about to go crazy with the pain you would suffer. I fought to keep my shield down to keep trying to comfort you and I felt the shield go up. I felt it stretch. I can feel it molded to us both. This is how I know you will be safe. I didn’t understand before but I do now.”
Rask looked at her so happily, she smiled. “Your love saved me,” she whispered.
“My love is your shield.”
Chapter 5
“Why the hell would they attack?” Rask boomed into the dome.
When they had returned, Rask was grateful to see Tosk and his little mate. The poor thing had been clinging to Tosk with tears streaming down her face. Tosk had been beside himself with worry. Rask had never in his life seen Tosk afraid, but he had been. He had yanked Stacie over to Rask and declared her to be leaking; it was apparent this was the first time Tosk had seen her cry. Terrified, Tosk told him if she didn’t stop she would wither and die, because she was already too tiny. Stacie stopped crying when Grace went to her. It seemed the women had their own bond and Stacie had been in tears over not finding Grace.
“Perhaps they found out about the females?” Tosk said.
“It’s impossible,” Rask said. He had sequestered both women in his room. From where he stood, he could see his door. “Something must have happened. We are defenseless against an attack, so there is no need to wage war on a planet filled with cast-offs. All we have are our shields. The fires would only destroy the planet. We can’t wage war on them; it makes no sense to attack here and not the home planet.”
“They know we haven’t got the technology to see when they are coming,” Tosk said.
“Maybe something happened,” Brack said.
Rask felt a grin creep over his face. Of course. “It must be my father. He must have escaped and is coming for us. If they can’t attack the home planet, then of course they will attack my father’s followers. If he has escaped, then the planet he was on is already secured. We must be their last resort.”
“If anyone can figure out how to escape, it’s Cobra,” Tosk said with a smile and then turned serious. “Rask, our mates have no shields. How can we protect them?”
Rask’s grin brightened further. “Oh they have a shield all right.”
“What? How?” Tosk asked.
“I will show you, but first we need to prepare for when my father comes for us. If the Tonans are striking a banished planet, that means war is raging in the skies.”
“We need to join with the others,” Brack said.
“Yes we do,” Rask agreed. “Off with you! Spread the word. If it’s Cobra, my father will be anxious to collect us.”
Shields went up, and the armored males went racing into the forest to join with other forces.
Tosk turned to stare at Rask.
“You’re gonna love this, my friend,” Rask said and smiled.
Tosk eyed him curiously as they went to retrieve their mates. Both women scrambled to their feet when they entered Rask’s room. Grace wrapped her arms around him and Rask felt her tremble. Moist hands cupped her face and she calmed instantly. Her beautiful blue eyes gazed up into his. He felt her overwhelming trust. It was like being gifted with a reward.
“Come with me,” Rask demanded and all four went outside.
“They have no shield,” Tosk said with deep concern. His face lifted to the sky to scan for i
ntruders.
So far there was nothing, but that didn’t mean anything. Tonan vessels were equipped with cloaking devices.
Rask pulled Grace into his arms and lifted her legs around his waist. “Trust me?” he asked.
“With my life,” she replied.
She meant it.
Rask looked at Tosk. “Lift your mate the same way. Wrap her legs around your waist and her arms around your shoulders. Now both of you females bury your faces into our necks.”
Both women complied.
Rask inhaled Grace’s scent deeply. He physically felt the effect she had on his shield. His desire to protect her while she was harmless and in need of him rose to such an outstanding degree, his armor came up to shield them both with a vengeance.
Tosk inhaled in surprise.
“That’s amazing. I know she is with you but I can’t tell. Do you suppose it’s a hologram?” Tosk asked.
“I think so. Another defense. No one knows she is with me. I can sense you can’t even smell her. Your turn,” Rask said to his warrior mate. “If I can you can. Feel for the memory. It’s instinct. All we need is to be reminded. It’s as simple as breathing for us.”
Rask could see Tosk concentrating. Black armor began snapping into place around his feet, encasing his legs, thighs, arms. The shield molded to Stacie’s body. Rask knew neither woman could move. It was a blanket of impenetrable love. But Rask could move.
“Let’s go prepare for war,” Rask said.
Claws digging into the spongy turf Rask leaped to a tree then to the ground then to a tree. Faster and faster he moved, eating up the ground knowing even if he were hit with a meteor, his mate was safe in his arms.
* * * *
Three days later Grace looked up at a massive warship, sleek and black. She trembled and felt Rask’s comforting arms around her. His shield was still up and she was wrapped around him, her body molded to his own. It was such an odd feeling being encased in a soft unresisting material. As hard as the armor was on the outside, it was just as soft and warm on the inside. All had gathered when the ship was seen in the sky. Grace was surprised to see at least two hundred Castian males. When they had reached the spot, Grace had been surprised to see the other women from the shuttle. Rask taught the men how to shield their new mates. With her body practically glued to Rask’s, Grace knew she was safe, but she was apprehensive. Rask had declared his father was aboard this vessel. What if he didn’t like her? What would a three-thousand-year-old man be like? Or look like?
The hatch lifted in a mountain of billowing steam and Grace’s first reaction was to lift up her hands, but she couldn’t move. Rask crossed his powerful arms across his chest to her response. When a huge man wearing no shield stepped from the smoky fog, Rask strode forward. His fisted hand lifted to hit the man’s in a high five gesture but with closed hands. Rask had hit the man gently not wanting to send him flying as his father wore no armor. Rask and Tosk besides four other men were now the only ones encased; all other shields had dropped.
“You greet me in armor; have you changed sides?” Rask’s father asked.
He sounded amused and Grace swallowed hard. She had expected a smaller man for some reason, one gray and withered. This man was anything but. With her face pressed at Rask’s throat she could only peek at the man. The man before her was a seasoned warrior. He was a bit bigger than Rask, but she could tell by his commanding presence just how powerful he was. His hair was long and dark, and his eyes were brown. There was a strong family resemblance.
“I have a surprise for you,” Rask said.
Grace almost laughed at his little boy excited sound. She bet if he were able, he would be squirming like a puppy. Grace held her breath as Rask’s shield dropped, absorbing back into his skin. His father looked stunned. Grace slipped from Rask’s waist to the ground where she pressed herself to him.
“This is a female,” Rask’s father voiced loudly.
Grace backed further into Rask retreating almost behind him. Like Rask, this man had no sense of personal space and he inhaled her from less than a foot away. She was relieved when his fangs didn’t show.
“Cobra, this is Grace,” Rask said. “Grace, this is my father.”
Cobra lifted his hand to trail the backs of his fingers down her cheek. She wasn’t afraid but wary. His touch was warm and calming. His fingers soft and damp. She looked at him confused. She thought Rask’s touch was the only one that could calm her.
“You’re surprised,” Cobra said and smiled. “I can smell you have mated with my son. Your blood has mixed and is part of me as well. That makes you my daughter. My shield will sense you as a blood relative and protect you if you are in danger and Rask isn’t near. Any male in our family can protect you with our shields and calm you with touch. Our body’s reaction is instinct; you need never fear me.”
“It’s just me and you,” Rask said.
To Grace he sounded annoyed.
“And Tosk,” Cobra said. “He is your warrior mate. When you mated as warriors you were both cut, and your blood mingled. Like me protecting my son from death, if his mate is harmed, he will do the same. It’s in his best interest to keep you alive and Grace safe. Yet I see he already has his hands full. How did you get your talons on these females? How did you even know how to mate with them?”
“Their shuttle crashed. I killed two of their males because they attacked me. I didn’t realize humans were so frail,” Rask said. Then a bit embarrassedly he told his father it was Grace who showed him how to mate.
“I visited Earth once when I was a bit older than you,” Cobra said. “Father and the others decided to stay away from Earth because the humans were so frail. To slaughter them would have been cruel and useless. Their planet had been destined for destruction regardless. They were a strange angry race.”
“If you knew about human females, why didn’t you go after them after our women died?” Tosk asked.
“In unrest? I had my hands full with our planet and Rask and you. To bring in creatures so helpless would have been unfair. They still cannot drink the water. Humans need liquid consumption; their eyes leak, especially the females. They are at constant risk of dehydration. And to be honest, I thought their planet already to be extinct. I haven’t been there in over twenty-five hundred years. Who would have guessed such a frail species would last so long?”
Grace frowned. “Are you saying we will be killed?” Grace asked with concern.
Cobra smiled at her. “The young upstart appears to have fallen into enemy hands—the Tonans’, not mine. In time I’ll rescue them, if I choose to. The foolish young Castian thought to reunite Tonans and Castians with promises of great power. Now he and most of his followers are in chains. They were lucky some escaped from our home planet to retrieve me. I’ve sent those damned Tonans packing, but it’s not over.”
“But how could they capture Castians in armor?” Stacie asked.
“I think I know how now,” Cobra said grimly. “A Castian is weakest in must, almost mindless with one thought only in their heads. I’m guessing the Tonans have gotten a hold of some females.”
“Oh no,” Grace whispered. “I wonder if Ulsy is the Tonans’ planet. That’s where our people have been going. Chase hinted something was going on. The women are disappearing and the men are being killed.”
“That would make sense. Our men have just hit their prime. They wouldn’t have known how to control a sexual frenzy and be able to satisfy it.”
“I controlled it,” Rask said thoughtfully. “Then told the others what to expect.”
“But the young upstarts had no idea what to expect or how to handle it with no guidance. If these females are used to lure the men into must, a Castian is vulnerable. A Castian female can fight off a Castian male if it doesn’t wish to mate. That’s when we are vulnerable. The shield will not go up to harm a woman if a male is sexually aroused. Unless mated, the male will crush the female with the weight of his armor. Instinct keeps us from doing so. The men we
re undoubtedly unable to shield themselves. Even if a few thought to fight instinct and allow their shield to crush a female, it would be impossible. It would be easier to stop breathing. Females give males life. Protecting them is bred into our bones. Except the Tonans. That is why they were cast out. We must rescue these females. No doubt they are being abused. If the Castians aren’t mating with them, they have no protection.”
“And only a mate or close family male or warrior mate can encase a female,” Rask added.
“Yes,” Cobra agreed. “What could be worse is the Tonans could be breeding with some of these women.”
“We have much to learn it seems,” Tosk said.
“Only about females, not about war,” Cobra said. Once more he stood on the black plank to be heard by all. “Castians loyal to the house of Cobra, unite. There is still warring and your services are needed. Now that we know what the Tonans are using as weapons, we can fight back. Before we land, you will learn to control your sexual desire…at least until the threat has passed.”
“Cobra, myself, and these other men are loyal, but our females can’t go back with us nor can we leave them defenseless,” Rask said.
Cobra looked thoughtfully at his son. He jumped down and stood before Grace. “Welcome, daughter,” he said and clutched her hands. “I leave you in the capable care of my son.”
The men began piling into the ship while Rask and the few others who had mated remained behind. With a hearty clap on the back to Rask and Tosk, Cobra nimbly raced into the vessel.
“He doesn’t look much older than you,” Grace muttered.
Rask pulled Grace into his arms. Once more Rask’s armor was up and they stood watching as the blast of the flames washed over them. Grace was in awe. Blues, reds and oranges danced around and in front of her, encasing them, but she felt nothing except the cool softness of the shield and Rask’s warmth. When the ship was gone, Grace stared at the charred remains of the earth beneath her feet. Half of Rask’s shield came down as did the others.
Shield [New World Book 1] Page 8
