The Demon's Change

by Donna McDonald

  “We are not sure about the difficulties or why they persist,” Jilco admitted.

  “It is hard to believe three generals have failed on a friendly planet,” Synar said.

  “Political connections to Norblade have not proven helpful. I know it’s hard to hear this of your people, Synar. Even if the Norblades found I-eeta, they might just be keeping her hidden and selling off her life force one tiny bit at a time. Even the best government could view the enormous amount of money they would make as worth the risk of lying to the Peace Alliance. Given that three generals have failed to locate her, my personal feeling is that is exactly the case.”

  Synar swore in Norblade. Then he stood to pace, swearing more as he walked. He turned away from those at the table, ashamed of the dishonorable thoughts running through his mind.

  Kefira looked at Gwen when she grunted and rolled her eyes.

  “If you don’t understand Norblade, don’t ask me to translate. You don’t want to know what Synar’s saying,” Gwen said gently.

  Dorian crossed his arms. “Liam? Do we really have any choice in this matter?”

  “No,” Synar said slowly, turning back to look at those in the room. “We don’t have any choice. Give us the Guardian 13, Ambassador. We’ll find your Allurean. But after that, we’re going to have a serious talk about the strings you have tied to that ship. Leave the Liberator docked until our return, in case we change our minds. That’s my string for taking this mission.”

  Synar watched Jilco and Kefira exchange a look, but eventually they both bowed their heads to acknowledge his demand.

  Chapter 5

  “Slaggika,” Boca said, running her hand across the giant sleeping platform in the quarters next to the Guardian 13’s impressive Medical area. “Did you see this, Chiang?”

  Chiang lifted his tiny mate from behind, spun her to face him, and then turned himself to fall backwards with her onto the giant bed. Small but strong fists pounding on his chest made him laugh as he rolled them over the soft covers. He scooted her under him making sure her legs were spread wide in the process. Fully intending to take every advantage he could, Chiang grabbed his mate’s wrists and pulled them slowly above her head as he pressed against the heat of her and listened to her moan.

  “Yes. This is a great blessing,” he said, smiling down into her face.

  Boca stopped struggling, charmed and stunned by Chiang’s sincere declaration. “I often think so myself, but you’re so egotistical I usually hate to tell you how I feel.”

  “I was talking about the giant bed, Boca. What were you talking about?” Chiang asked, pressing evidence of his excited state against her. He laughed as she swore and attempted to push him off, but he wasn’t about to allow his tiny warrior mate enough leverage to make it actually happen.

  “Get off me, you conceited ass,” Boca yelled, arching her back to try to lift him.

  She stilled when he growled into her neck. Shades of Kellnor, the sound still intimidated her.

  “No. No. No. Later. We will bond later, Chiang.”

  “You hear my prayers, Boca Ador. You know I thank the Creators every day for you,” Chiang whispered.

  “Aye. I hear you. You’re so loud, I can do nothing else,” she exclaimed.

  Chiang laughed at her complaining and kissed her cheek. “No teasing this time. I’m being serious. We deserve to enjoy a bed that’s finally as big as our desire for each other. We deserve these few precious moments of celebration.”

  Boca groaned at the truth of his words and let her back relax against the layers and layers of covers. The padding and cloth she was pinned to was more luxury than she had ever known. So was the male, kissing the curve of her shoulder, the underside of her arm, and any other part of her body that he felt like exploring.

  And she let him—she always let him—even though she had to fight Greggor pheromone inebriation afterwards. The male had addicted her. Fortunately, it appeased her that her stupid adoration was mostly Chiang’s fault.

  “Release my hands before I have to hurt you—and not in the good way,” she ordered.

  She felt Chiang’s hands leave their task of restraining her wrists to run down her sides until he could lift her hips and press her closer. Stirred up now, her hands slipped into his braids to get a good hold and keep some control for herself. Chiang had a tendency to try to delay things. There was no time for his torture today.

  “Take me if you must, you impatient Greggor,” Boca commanded at last. Clothing and hygiene straps were ripped away moments before a searing spear of heat pierced her without stopping. “Raging fires of Helios, why does it feel better each time with you? It is not fair that you affect me this way.”

  “I often think the same,” Chiang declared, as he moved within his exciting mate. The exacting precision he favored using with Boca always warred with the need to ravish the female beneath him in every way he possibly could. Her power over him was much larger than she knew.

  “A mea,” he whispered, because there really was nothing else he could say when he felt like this. Even after only a sleep cycle or two of restraint, their joining was always desperate. The four days since he’d been with her felt like an entire lifetime now that her body offered him the truth again. “You will always have my full compassion, A mea.”

  “Good,” Boca said, groaning at the rhythm his large body brought to hers. “I would hate to have to kill you for being unfaithful.”

  A mea. His female. That’s what Chiang always called her. She worked every day to believe that this male could hold her this closely, and yet turn loose when she needed space to be herself. With his pheromones addicting her, his promise had not yet been tested. Time alone would prove if the growling Greggor would keep his word.

  “A mea,” Chiang whispered fiercely as he neared the pinnacle, increasing his movements until the force of them was pushing her body further into the soft covers with his own.

  “Yes—I am yours, Chiang of Greggor. I am yours,” Boca whispered back, letting herself surrender to her need for him.

  Then their spirits went flying together as usual.

  Afterwards, Boca cradled her giant mate in her arms, silently counting her blessings so he wouldn’t hear her.

  ***

  “Why hasn’t she woken up yet? Where’s Chiang?” Gwen demanded, frowning down at the female still strapped to the Medical table.

  Malachi shook his head. “Chiang and Boca are settling into their new quarters. I wouldn’t interrupt them right now. If I’m reading their vibrations correctly, they are christening their new space.”

  Gwen snorted. “I can’t believe they’re doing that while Ania lies here unconscious.”

  Following his instincts, Malachi reached out and rubbed the irritated Commander’s arm. “We’re bringing Ania out of the sedative’s effects slowly, trying to spare her physical form from the headache and withdrawal of the drug. Kefira is going to be here soon. So will Liam. Your worry serves no purpose in this case, Commander.”

  Gwen pushed a hand through her hair, making it stand on end. The shorter style she’d gotten had left her without much to mishandle. “I don’t like seeing her like this. Ania shouldn’t be restrained.”

  “Indeed not,” Malachi said sincerely, seeing Zade walking toward them over Gwen’s shoulder. Normally the Siren would have glared daggers about him touching her, but he must have heard their conversation. He slid his hand away as Zade moved to stand by his mate’s side.

  “Lieutenant,” Malachi said in greeting. “Here for the great awakening?”

  Dorian nodded. “As she is throwing off the drug, Ania struggles fiercely against my hold, but then she suddenly stops. I believe she is becoming aware of the situation. Is Liam on his way?”

  “Yes,” Malachi said. “He is escorting Kefira. We wouldn’t want someone like her getting lost on this large ship, now would we?”

  Dorian made a face. “You don’t like the Guardian 13?”

  “Of course I do. What’s not to li
ke? The ship is fine. My new quarters are much bigger than the clothing storage chest sized room I had on the Liberator. It is the sneaky emissary host that I’m not crazy about having here with us,” Malachi replied.

  “Really? I thought you mostly liked her. What’s worrying you about dealing with Kefira?” Dorian asked.

  “Demon intuition,” Gwen said sharply.

  Her attention shifted to watch as Malachi walked around Ania to push some buttons on the electronic headboard of the medical table. The Guardian 13’s medical facilities were absolutely top of the line. The surface Ania rested on was automatically working to help her body return to consciousness. Gwen knew the demon-turned-medic was purposely slowing down the process.

  When Zade continue to wait for an answer, Malachi finally shrugged in reply. He was not ready yet to tell anyone about the blue light Kefira had installed in him.

  “I see Kefira is hiding many things from us. I know what it is like to be someone’s puppet. It is my opinion that it is Kefira herself—not some unknown entity—who is working our strings at the moment. This ship has just made it easier for her to put us all where she—or the entities who inhabit her—want us to be. I’m not sure what the personal gain is for Kefira yet, but I feel it in her level of satisfaction. I was inside her. She can’t hide her genuine emotions from me.”

  Gwen nodded. “Good. Keep me posted about your observations.”

  Malachi bowed his head. “As you wish, Commander.”

  Dorian’s gaze shifted between his mate and the demon. He was trying to decide if he should be concerned about Gwen’s alliance to Malachi when a smiling Chiang and a giggling Boca entered Ania’s area.

  “Feeling better, Doctor?” Malachi asked, smirking at the male he had elected to serve and mostly respected.

  “Feeling much better now,” Chiang replied. “Has Ania shown any further signs of revival?”

  Boca giggled at Chiang’s statement. When she realized he hadn’t meant it to be funny, she promptly punched him hard in the arm. His body bouncing sideways made her laugh again though. “My condition embarrasses me. It is bad enough that it announces our bonding habits, but I am also useless like this.”

  Malachi stepped to Boca and pulled her into his arms for a tight, reassuring hug. “There. There. My fierce little warrior. Your immunity to the Greggor will grow over time. Hang tough, little one.”

  At the Greggor’s growl of warning, Malachi released Boca slowly, smiling at Chiang over her head. With Boca being doused regularly with Greggor pheromones, the newly mated couple didn’t fight much these days. He had to settle for inciting jealousy whenever he could. Malachi laughed when Boca pulled out of his embrace and punched Chiang again for growling at him.

  “Enough of this foolishness, I’m going to make sure the stasis unit is working properly,” Boca said. She walked from the room with as much dignity as her inebriation would let her.

  Chiang rubbed his arm where his mate has punched him hard—twice. “You intentionally provoke my urge to kill you every chance you get.”

  “It was a hug, Doctor. Not a grope. Certainly nothing close to the liberties you take with the Sumerian regularly,” Malachi argued.

  “I am not discussing Boca with you,” Chiang declared.

  “Speaking of Boca—don’t you think that last remark of hers was rather testy? Your pheromone effect may be wearing off. Maybe you should check that.”

  Chiang glared at his torturer. “One day I’m going to forget what you are.”

  “Ease up, Chiang,” Gwen ordered. “You brought this on yourself.”

  “Me? Malachi was the one touching her when I’ve warned him repeatedly to leave Boca alone. How is this my fault?”

  Gwen glared and snorted. “Stop being dense. Boca doesn’t like to giggle like an idiot. Your pheromones make her. It pisses off the warrior she still is and always will be. Malachi isn’t forcing her to hug him, so you need to make peace with her relationship to the demon. They’re friends, Chiang. Wrap your Greggor brain around the concept and move on. It’s all about pulling someone’s strings—just like Malachi said.”

  Chiang’s glare shifted to Zade. “She sounds more like you everyday. Except she still swears more than all the males on this ship put together.”

  Dorian shrugged and smiled instead of answering. Yes, his mate was getting wiser and sharper at reading the truth of many matters. The swearing only reminded him that beneath her changes, Gwen remained the passionate female he enjoyed so much. Hopefully, Chiang would one day find a similar peace with the nature of his own warrior mate.

  A moan from Ania broke the tension and sent everyone into more positive action.

  Dorian pressed the bridge symbol on the com unit fixed to the headboard. “Liam, get to Medical as soon as you can. Ania is waking up.”

  Unfortunately, it was Ensign Karr who answered from the bridge. “The captain left to escort the Peace Alliance visitor onboard. He’s on his way.”

  “Thank you, Ensign,” Dorian answered, releasing the com.

  “Dorian?” Ania’s voice was a dry, raspy whisper as she called his name.

  “Yes. I am here, Ania. Please do not try to move yet. We had to restrain you. It was for the best,” he said softly, brushing back her hair.

  “There was . . . there was . . . ” Ania’s voice faded as she tried to talk.

  “Sssh . . . it’s okay. We know there was a problem. Explanations can wait. Liam is coming. So is Kefira. We’re going to help you. That’s all that matters now.”

  Ania tried to nod, but her head felt too heavy to move. “Drugged?”

  “Enough to knock out a Klageldon the size of our new ship,” Malachi said.

  Ania released a garbled snort. “Why?” she rasped.

  “You tried to kill some of the crew.” Malachi grinned down into her shocked expression as he checked her vitals which were finally returning to normal.

  “Did I succeed?” Ania asked.

  “No, of course not. Your two favorite students held you off,” Malachi said, reassuring her as much as he could. “You should be very proud of them.”

  “Hurt Liam?” she asked.

  “No,” Malachi said firmly, squeezing her hand.

  “Wish I had . . . ”

  Malachi grinned when Dorian Zade’s eyebrows rose. Ania rolled her head to the side and closed her eyes again.

  “Do you suppose she meant that?” Dorian asked.

  Malachi nodded. “Yes. In my experience, Ania always means what she says. I’m guessing she has found out about the children.”

  Dorian swore in Siren, and then sighed in resignation.

  Gwen ran a hand through her practical non-existent hair again. “Should we warn Synar?”

  Malachi laughed as he shook his head. “No. The children are theirs, but I won’t let either of them harm them. They are my future. Now as for Ania and Liam fighting about her conception . . . ” He lifted one shoulder. “Liam will have to answer for his rogue vibrations, as any other male would in similar circumstances.”

  Chiang raised his hands from scanning Ania. “I’m not as effective as Boca at diagnostic energy reading, but all seems to be well. The life signs of the children are stronger if anything. Ania’s energy still wavers, but it may have something to do with the energy restraint Zade has placed on her. If there is another energy present, like a demon or an emissary, I can’t sense it.”

  Without preamble, Malachi lifted from his physical body and tried to go inside Ania. When it didn’t work, he returned to his physical form immediately.

  “The other energy is still there, Doctor. Unfortunately, its origin continues to elude me,” Malachi said.

  Chiang blinked and then nodded. “Indeed. Maybe one of these days I’m going to get used to you doing that sort of checking.”

  ***

  When Liam and Kefira came into Ania’s area, he rushed to his moaning mate, lifting her hand from the covers. The immediate crushing grip on his fingers brought him to his elbow on t
he medical table beside her. It was a fierce grasp, but he could have broken it fairly easily. Instinct all but screamed that he shouldn’t try. He leaned closer hoping she would speak to him.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” Ania rasped angrily, the spoken question burning her throat on the way out.

  “Ania—I swear by the Creators—I didn’t know about the children until we had to sedate you,” Synar said quietly. He didn’t exhale until the grip on his fingers finally eased and fell away.

  When Ania closed her eyes again, he bent his lips to her forehead, then moved them to the side of her head.

  “That doesn’t mean I’m not incredibly happy about them, because I am,” he whispered in her ear. He followed the statement with a blessing and prayer in Norblade before kissing her again.

  As he moved away from his mate, Synar realized everyone present had fallen silent to wait for his orders. “Dorian, remove your Khalsa restraint. Chiang, how long until Ania wakes up completely?”

  “A couple of hours still, but she will feel the sedative’s lingering effects for a few more days. We have minimized it all we can,” Chiang said.

  “Liam?”

  Synar’s gaze shifted to one similar to his own. “Yes?” He watched Malachi’s mouth tighten.

  “The energy block is still present. I can’t get inside Ania.”

  Synar looked behind him to the female leaning against the wall with her crossed arms hugging herself. “Like to share anything with us, Kefira?”

  Kefira shook her head. “All I can offer is that since the demon is blocked from his host, this must be the will of the Creators. I’m sure we will all find out in due time.”

  Synar frowned as he eased himself into the chair beside the bed to wait. “I don’t know why I even bothered to ask.”

  Chapter 6

  Gwen swung her gaze across the five males preparing to attack her. It lingered only long enough on each one to try and determine his next move. When the comfort level in the room completely disintegrated, one finally grew brave enough to charge her. After him, the other four came as quickly as they could, obviously hoping to catch her off-guard. None had any idea how motivated she was to make sure that possibility never happened to her again.