“We need to talk,” Landros said.
“Why,” Nic said.
“I have things I need to say,” Landros said leading her away from the girls’ hall and the possibility of an interruption.
“What if I don’t want to hear them,” Nic said.
Landros didn’t respond but led her down into the practice room. He closed the door behind him. Nic pulled out of his hand.
“What did you mean,” Landros asked.
“You know,” Nic said. “You’ve known from the first day, haven’t you?”
“Known what exactly,” Landros said moving closer to her.
“Doesn’t matter,” Nic said her stomach tight with nerves. “Go be with them if that’s what you want.” She slammed her fist into one of the heavy bags. Her knuckle split, blood bloomed red against her pale skin.
Landros shook his head. He brought a healing wand out, took her hand, and soothed her. “Always a fighter,” he said. “There’s more to life then battle.”
She looked up into his green eyes, touched his cheek. “Is there,” she asked wanting to believe him, needing him to convince her.
“Yes, mo chroin,” Landros said.
“Don’t call me that,” Nic said.
“Why not,” he said leaning in, putting his arm around her. “You are my mate.”
“Am I,” she asked.
“Vos anima mea,” he murmured telling her she was his life.
“I’m not… I don’t want to…” Nic stumbled over the words.
“You are young,” Landros said. “I can be patient.”
“Two years patient,” Nic asked.
“An eternity,” Landros whispered.
Nic moved in close to him, felt safe with him. “I’m not ready for sex,” she said firmly.
“Are you ready to acknowledge our connection,” Landros said.
“I sure as hell am not sharing you,” Nic said. She looked up into his eyes, saw his love, his trust in her. Going on tiptoe, she brushed her lips across his. He didn’t grab or force. She sighed, closed her eyes and sunk into her first kiss. His mouth was soft, gentle as his lips glided across hers. She touched his face, his shoulders.
“Landros,” she said softly against his lips. “Yes. I’m ready to acknowledge our connection.”
“We will speak with Lord Mycos and Lady Lydia,” Landros said.
“They’re going to say I’m too young,” Nic said. She stepped back from him shook her head and wrapped her arms around him. Resting her head on his chest, she breathed him in. “Are you sure? I’m not a girlie girl.”
“No, you are not,” Landros said a smile spread over his face lighting his eyes. “You are my fierce warrior goddess.”
“You’re all right with me being…” she shrugged unsure of how to say it.
“I love you,” Landros said tipping her chin so he could look into her blue eyes. “Do you want me to change?”
“No,” Nic said. “I like how you are. You calm me down. You help me learn. You steady me.”
“I like how you challenge me,” Landros said. “Even though you know you will not win, you’re determined to try during battle. I love how fierce you are. I do not want to change a single thing about you.”
“Oh,” Nic said. She pressed her lips to his again. “You’re the first person I’ve kissed.”
“Did I please you,” Landros asked, worry creasing his brow.
“Yes,” Nic said softly.
“We will go to the lord and lady,” Landros said. Her in his arms soothed him, balanced him but she was young and needed time and patience. Taking her hand, he turned away from her.
“Landros,” Nic said pulling him back to her. When he looked at her, she swallowed hard, “I love you.”
“My Nic,” he murmured as he pulled her hard into his arms, his mouth demanded gently. She sighed, moved closer to him, and deepened their connection.
Long moments passed as their lips expressed everything they needed to. When he raised his head, Nic said, “I like kissing.”
“Not ready for sex,” Landros said smiling as he kissed her forehead.
***
Elaxus stepped out from the school. Knowing he did it to protect her, Emily smiled when he stepped in front of her. “Julia, how was the new class on crafting today,” Emily asked.
“Many of the children were fascinated by it,” Julia said. She held hands with Vitan, one of the new Hylatians from the ship. Vitan swept quiet and curvy Julia off her feet when they met a month ago. He wooed and courted her to prove his devotion to her. Only the previous night she admitted her love for him. He crowded her as they left the school.
“It adds another layer of education,” Paige, a petite blond, said. “It gives the students life skills.”
“I’m glad we’re able to incorporate a broader curriculum,” Dina said, her brown hair tight in a bun at the nape of her neck. She shifted her bags more comfortably on her shoulder.
Elaxus signaled to Blazen to close in on the women. Blazen stepped closer to Paige, his mate, crowding the women into a tighter formation. Oisin, Dina’s mate, brought up the rear.
“We have movement,” Vitan said softly.
“Acknowledged,” Elaxus said. “Brachium.” He ordered his men to arm themselves with their stun weapons. Subtly the men pulled the small stunners from their holsters.
“Is there a problem,” Emily asked softly as the men pulled the weapons they kept hidden when they were in the school.
“Stay behind us, mo chroin,” Elaxus said.
Emily moved closer to the other women. Elaxus and Emily trained with the other Hylatians, so she knew what to expect. The other three women were newly mated so hadn’t participated in training yet. “We need to work on emergency drills with the children,” Emily said. She stepped closer to the other three women. Familiar with the dangers of the area, they stuck close to each other.
“Oisin, vigalate custos,” Elaxus ordered quietly.
“Yes, sir,” Oisin said sending a signal on his com to Gregor.
Elaxus veered them more sharply towards the transport area. With their quarters at the home compound, they took a transport each night. Tonight, he kept the women moving while the men carried nothing.
Vitan murmured, “Quata.” Letting Elaxus know how many he saw on his side.
“Tribus,” Blazen said following Vitan’s lead.
“Quinque,” Elaxus said letting his men know. Oisin reported none behind them. This meant the four Hylatian warriors faced a dozen opponents. “Emily, you know what to do.”
“Yes, my love,” Emily said. Whispering to the women, she said, “We’re going to be attacked. Drop any bags which aren’t vital and run for the transport when I tell you.”
The other three women nodded and walked faster. Julia shifted her bags. If her books were lost, it was better than her life or any of the others. Dina reached into her purse and pulled out her pepper spray, as did Paige. Julia felt inside her purse, digging around until she found a small cylindrical item. It fit in the palm of her hand. She rubbed her thumb nervously along the button which extended it out to a club.
The transport loomed but the hatch didn’t open. On his com, Elaxus heard the pilot report, At least twenty combatants on the port side of the transport
“Acknowledged,” Elaxus said. Surrounded and outnumbered, he ordered, “Protect the women.”
Men rushed from the shadows. The Hylatians formed a line of defense against the dozen men rushing them. Julia turned sharply as she felt a hand grab for her. She swung her bag, aimed high, and let go. The bag flew towards her attacker and hit him in the head. He went down with a satisfying grunt of pain.
“Nice,” Paige said pulling Julia closer to her.
Vitan grunted as two men tried to batter him down. A knife glinted in the low light, Vitan blocked it with his arm, while kicking one of the men. Blood blossomed on his arm as he wrested the knife from the man’s grip. The man stepped back, moved towards the women. With his elbow, Vitan stopped hi
m in his tracks.
Oisin pushed the women tighter together as he used his stunner to drop three men. The men grunted as they jerked backwards. One fell out of commission. The other two stepped back growling with pain but started towards them again. As one neared Dina, she used her pepper spray. The man turned to prevent his eyes but it was enough to give Oisin an advantage. He slammed a fist into his gut, making the attacker double over. With both hands, Oisin slammed him on the back of the head. The attacker fell unconscious.
Blazen held off two with his stunner but others got too close. He switched to his powerful roundhouse kicks. His movement drew him further from the women. A man slipped by him even as Blazen reached for him. Paige sprayed the man who laughed at her. As he neared, she stepped into him and kneed him in the balls. Clutching his groin, he went down with a groan of pain. Paige kicked him again, breaking his nose.
Elaxus fired his stunner. With a nudge of his thumb, he raised the stun level and aimed again. Two men fell but another broke through slammed a knife into Elaxus’ gut. Gripping the man’s face, Elaxus ignored the pain and twisted until the man stepped back, pulling the knife from Elaxus’ stomach. Diving in to attack again, the man sliced at Elaxus but Elaxus slammed his fist into his face. Blood spurted from the man’s nose as it broke, spit flew from his mouth as Elaxus hit him a second time. The attacker stepped towards Julia. With a snick, Julia opened the club and slapped it across the man’s face and landed a second blow when he jerked away.
“Move back,” Elaxus said, his voice low.
Vitan jumped in front of Emily as three men rushed towards her. Using his stunner at close range, two of the attackers dropped but the third sliced across Vitan’s chest with a foot-long hunting knife. Vitan grunted, pushed Emily and the other women back. Blood soaked his jacket, Vitan focused on the attacker. Shifting his stance, he waited for the man to advance. Going into a crouch as the man rushed in again, Vitan lifted him, felt a sharp pain in his back as the man sank his knife in once, twice. Vitan slammed him into the ground, knocking his head against the pavement.
Sudden rapid bangs echoed in the street. The women ducked used to the sound of gunfire. They pulled their men back toward the transport as the bullets hit all around them. Oisin grunted and looked at the blood on his shoulder as pain ripped through him. Returning fire, he aimed in the direction of the flashes. Further back, a second wave of attackers. More men. Too many men.
“We have to retreat,” Emily said as Elaxus grunted as a bullet ripped through his thigh.
Force on the move, the pilot reported.
“Run,” Elaxus said dropping to one knee.
“Come with me,” Emily demanded getting under his arm to support him. She turned, half dragged him to the transport. More rapid fire reported in the small area, Emily whimpered as a bullet creased her arm.
“Receptum,” Elaxus ordered his men to retreat as bullets slammed into Vitan and Blazen. Vitan fell as a bullet ripped through his calf bone, shattering it. Oisin grabbed him, threw him over his shoulder as Julia and Paige used Vitan and Oisin’s stunners to hold back the advancing attackers. Quick fire at a higher setting, the women fired again and again stalling then stopping the gunfire.
Blazen stepped at the last moment in front of Dina as a spray of bullets flew towards them. He pulled her tight into him, grunted as he was hit. “Blazen,” she said alarmed. She pulled him towards the transport. He stumbled to the transport.
As Emily reached the transport, the door opened. Relief flooded her as she pulled Elaxus into the transport. Returning to the door, she helped the others as they reached it. All four men were injured. The door slammed shut as the attackers rushed.
The pilot lifted off, knocking some of the attackers back. “Hurry,” Emily urged as she looked at the blood-covered men.
“I’ve done first aid,” Dina said. “Do we have a kit?”
Julia pulled off her scarf and wrapped it around Vitan’s shattered leg to stop the bleeding.
“It’s at the back,” the pilot said.
“Go faster,” Emily said as she pressed on wounds to stop bleeding.
“Fastest possible,” the pilot said.
***
“The meeting with the committee went well,” Mycos said sipping wine.
“What made Gregor step out,” Lydia asked. She and Mycos had met with Nic and Landros before the meeting with the committee.
“If it is important, he will let us know,” Mycos said pulling her close. “You are scowling.”
“There’s been a lot going on today,” Lydia said cuddling into his warmth.
“Are you worried about Nic and Landros,” Mycos asked.
“Oddly, no,” Lydia said. “Nic knows her mind. If she accepts him, so do I.”
“He was pleased, very pleased,” Mycos said.
“Because she claimed him,” Lydia said.
“Hmmm,” Mycos agreed.
“Excuse me,” Gregor said stepping into the room. “We have casualties coming in.”
“Casualties,” Lydia said immediately standing. Mycos rose as they rushed towards the front doors.
“Elaxus’ team,” Gregor said. “They arrive in three minutes.”
“Condition,” Mycos asked.
“Uncertain,” Gregor said. “The pilot said they were attacked by an overwhelming force.”
“Who,” Mycos asked.
“It might be the gangs,” Sheila said joining them. “The younger girls are asleep. I checked on them.”
“Why the gangs,” Mycos asked. He heard the distant hum of the transport.
“A friend of mine on the police force said they’ve been acting out more,” Sheila said.
“How trustworthy,” Lydia asked.
“What do you…” Sheila stopped talking as the front doors burst open. On a hover gurney, Landros and other men carried in Elaxus, Vitan, Oisin and Blazen. The women rushed after them. “Oh…” Sheila put a hand to her mouth, tears rushed to her eyes.
Lydia stepped closer, put an arm around her. “It’s all right,” she soothed her. “Justinian and Trinity are here.”
Each woman followed their mate. Emily’s arm wept blood from the bullet wound but she held Elaxus’ hand fiercely refusing to let him go.
Carried to the scanners, the screens lit up providing information on the injuries. Calmly Justinian said, “Get their clothes off.” Men struggled to remove clothing. Paige stripped Blazen’s clothing. Wounds wept blood, bruises bloomed, and even gentle touches caused pain. Lowering her face to his, she murmured, “Stay with me, my love.”
“Trinity, we need to remove these,” Justinian said indicating metal objects showing on the scan.
“Bullets,” she said looking up from working on Oisin. “Four of them.”
“He protected me,” Dina said tears flowing down her face as she held on to Oisin. “He saved my life.”
“We must remove these,” Justinian said. He moved around, brought out devices none of the women recognized.
“Do you need us to go,” Paige asked her voice quivering.
“You are key to his recovery,” Justinian said as he worked a small tube-like device. Watching the scanner, he aligned the device with the first bullet. “You stay with him. He knows you are here and safe with him.”
“I’m right here,” she leaned over, kissed his lips softly, pressed her cheek to his. “You were so brave and courageous.”
“Excuse me,” Tess said from the doorway. “I heard the.. anyway I have some medical training.”
“What kind,” Trinity asked.
“I was training to be a nurse,” Tess said.
“Come on in,” Trinity said. “You can work on him.” Trinity pointed to Vitan.
“He’s got a lot,” Tess said alarmed at first. She took a deep breath and listed the injuries, "Broken leg, bullet wounds, and knife wounds. What the hell?".
“Beneath the scanner are healing pads,” Justinian said. “Take out the small ones to apply to his knife wounds."
> "Justinian," Emily said. "Tell me what to do."
"The knife wounds are deep," he said looking at the scanner. "The healing pad will help. The bullets will have to come out. I'll be there as soon as I'm done here."
Emily bent down, felt dizzy but determined. She found the healing pads, set them as gently as possible on her mate. "You will heal," she murmured as Elaxus opened his eyes to watch her.
"Mo chroin," he murmured. "You're injured."
"A scratch," Emily said. "Does that hurt?"
"When I gaze on you, I feel nothing but joy," Elaxus said even as he winced. Gently, Emily shifted the pad. The scanner overhead showed the progress. The flow of blood slowed.
Lydia strode forward. "Let me," she said. "You sit by him and hold his hand. Gregor, can you wrap a bandage around Emily's arm until we have time to deal with it."
"Yes, milady," Gregor said and moved to do as she bid.
"Landros, we need warm blankets, clean clothes, please arrange it," Lydia said as she set more healing pads on Elaxus' battered body.
Justinian moved from Blazen, whose bullets were removed and his other injuries covered with healing pads. Landros said, "Yes, milady." He gathered several men and left to fetch what Lydia asked for.
"Mycos," Lydia said. "You need to get on the com to the police and report this. We'll start local and see what they do."
Mycos raised his eyebrows at her orders but saw the sense in them. He didn't want to leave her but knew she was right. "Keep me apprised of their condition," he said.
"Sheila," Lydia said. "Let cook know we need coffee and food."
"I know what you mean," Sheila said.
"You," Lydia pointed to a man she didn't recognize.
"Demel, milady," he said bowing slightly.
"Check the transport and bring any belongings in from there. Take a couple of men," she said.
"Yes, milady," he turned on his heels and signaled to two other men.
"Justinian," Lydia asked. "Is this…"
"You're doing fine, milady," Justinian said pride and respect in his words. "Elaxus is healing well."
***
"Police Chief Goeller, I do not think you understand," Mycos said his temper rising as the man talked around the issue.
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