Game On Askole (Coletti Warlords)

by Gail Koger

  Aunt Tess fanned herself and mouthed, Hours?

  Intrigued, I gave the ladies a psychic nudge for more information. I found out Detja could defeat Voss in battle, and her feud with Zarek’s two older children rivaled the Hatfield-McCoy dustup.

  Two hours and a massage later, I was feeling goood. Aunt Tess and I smelled like flowers, our skin glowed, and the ladies had even fixed our hair into elaborate updos. Instead of the orange jumpsuits, we had been outfitted with velvety blue tunics, leggings, and ankle boots.

  Detja had prepared a welcome-home shindig for her beloved Talree, and Kaylee and me and Aunt Tess were invited. Yay. I loved to party, and it meant more warlords to mess with. I rubbed my hands in anticipation. “Think we can trick one of the warriors into taking us antiquing, Aunt Tess?”

  “I’d love to see you try.”

  A black blur zoomed by and grabbed me. “Shittttt!”

  “Oh my God. It took Sarah!” Aunt Tess ran after us.

  I hung on for dear life as Tihar streaked down the corridor and out into a forest. “Stop! Now! I’m getting sick.”

  Tihar came to an abrupt halt. “I told you I would come for you.”

  “You did.” I clung to his neck and waited until everything stopped spinning around me. “What are you, the Flash? You gave me the head rush from hell.”

  His tentacles gently stroked my face. “You are my chosen.”

  I scanned the area. We were in the middle of a wooded area dotted with conifer-like trees with upside-down branches and multicolored bark. No sign of the Battle Commander. Yet. “About that. Human females like to be courted. You can’t just zoom in and take us.”

  “It is our custom to take what we want.”

  “Earth traditions are different. When a male wants a female, he courts her,” I countered.

  “How do I court you?” Tihar’s long forked tongue slid across my lips as if he was sampling me.

  I caught the tip of his tongue with mine. Huh? He tasted like pineapple and chocolate. My favorites.

  Heat flared in Tihar’s eyes, and his mouth fastened on mine. His tongue slipped between my lips, stroking me until pleasure lit up my nerves like lightning.

  Those sneaky tentacles slid over my breasts, delivering nipping stings. My pussy clenched. My skin burned for his touch, and I had a sudden, overpowering need to fuck Tihar blind. No. No. No. This was bad on so many levels. I had to stop this before I did something stupid.

  I broke the kiss. “Whoa! Slow it down. You need to court me first, remember?”

  “For a thousand nights and beyond, I will give you utter ecstasy. I will love you as you have never been loved before.” There was a tantalizing tenderness in his touch.

  God, I wanted him so badly, but if I gave in, I would lose my humanity. How did you scare off an Askole warrior? Easy. Make him think you’re batshit crazy. “Don’t forget, before you show me the thousand delights, we need to get to know each other, exchange a few kisses, and you bring me gifts.”

  “What type of gifts?” Tihar seemed to be interested in my answers.

  “Flowers or chocolate or a knife or a skunk to put on Voss’s warbird.”

  “Skunk?”

  I sent Tihar a mental picture of skunk. “The little guy releases a spray that stinks so bad, it drives away even the most ferocious predator. Say, like a warlord.”

  “You are a truly devious female.”

  “Why, thank you. Could you put me down?”

  Tihar set me on my feet. “Tell me more of this courting.”

  “Human males find out what interests their potential mates. Me? I love antiquing— hunting for lost treasures. I want to explore all the ruins on this planet.”

  “The surface of Tanith is a radioactive wasteland,” Tihar pointed out.

  “The danger is what makes it so exciting. Think of how challenging it is to find historical objects in the charred ruins of a lost city.”

  “You would risk facing the naugers for these relics.”

  “Naugers?”

  The image of a bulbous body with a long snakelike neck and the head of a raptor formed in my mind. The nauger’s mouth opened, exposing needle-sharp teeth. Holy shit! “I thought every living thing was killed in the bombings?”

  “The Alliance unleashed the naugers on Tanith. They are immune to radiation poisoning and breed rapidly. The warlords hunt them for sport.”

  “Doesn’t that sound like fun?”

  Tihar’s tentacles stood up in surprise. “You wish to hunt them?”

  I wanted to say, Are you nuts? Instead, I did my crazy warrior-woman act. “Mwah-hah-hah, I live for the hunt.”

  A black blur zipped toward us.

  I pointed. “You expecting someone?”

  “It is my father.” Was there a hint of alarm in Tihar’s voice?

  A very unhappy Detja appeared in front of us. “This is a breach of my hospitality, Tihar.”

  “Sarah is my chosen,” Tihar stated firmly.

  “She has been promised to Lothel. Do you wish to violate the treaty your father signed with the Overlord? Think hard. Do you wish to start a war over an ordinary female?”

  There was nothing ordinary about me. Talk about insulting.

  Tihar flashed his fangs in a blatant challenge. “I will fight Lothel for Sarah.”

  The black blur transformed into an elderly Askole wearing a gold tunic and pants made from mesh-like armor. I expected Sariel the High Commander to be bigger. Tihar had a good eight inches on him and outweighed him by fifty pounds. Sariel’s tawny gaze surveyed me intently.

  “Hi there. I’m Sarah, and I’ve killed over eight hundred Tai-Kok. Mwah-hah-hah. Want to go antiquing?” I flashed my best demented smile.

  Sariel turned to Detja. “Has this female suffered a head injury recently?”

  My God, the batshit crazy act was working!

  Detja simply said, “She is a Jones.”

  The High Commander nodded. “They are fearless and quite unique. It is unfortunate that they are so child-size and weak.”

  Say what? Me? Weak?

  “The mating dance has begun, Father,” Tihar interjected.

  I smothered a gasp as Sariel lowered his mental shields and examined Tihar. Holy crap! Power radiated off Sariel. The High Commander could give the Overlord a run for his money.

  “I need a blood sample from the female,” Sariel told Detja.

  Detja inclined her head and pulled a knife.

  “Whoa! Wait a minute,” I protested. “Can’t we do a simple blood draw?”

  “No.” Detja held out her hand. “Give me your arm.”

  Well, crap. Running was out, but crazy wasn’t. I bit my finger hard. Damn, that hurt. Once the blood was running down my hand, I held it out to Detja. “Here ya go.”

  Without any warning, Sariel scooped me up and stuck my finger in his mouth. His forked tongue slid up and down my finger. I wiggled in his grip. The High Commander was seriously freaking me out. “Tihar? He’s sucking my goddamned finger. I’m not a lollipop.”

  “It must be done.”

  Sariel suddenly dumped me on the ground. “It is too early to tell if the change has started. I will need another sample in two days.”

  “I will see to it,” Detja promised.

  The High Commander rattled off something in the Askole native tongue. It sounded like a bunch of guttural grunts and groans and some clucking. Really pissed grunts, groans, and clucking.

  Tihar answered him, and zoom! Off they went.

  What? Not even a good-bye?

  A no-nonsense glint in her eyes, Detja ordered, “Tihar is off-limits. If he approaches you again, you will contact me immediately.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Detja held out her hand.

  I took it. Ten seconds later, we appeared on a terrace with my family clustered around tables of food.

  “The Overlord and my son have arrived. Stay out of trouble.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  She vanished.
>
  Chapter Six

  I had to admit, Detja was an excellent hostess. If you followed her rules. It seems Quinn, my dumbass cousin, had gone toe to toe with her and lost. He was used to being the most powerful psychic on Earth. Finding out he wasn’t as strong as he thought had dented his considerable ego.

  A beer in one hand, my cousin Jake gleefully recalled, “Quinn told Detja he didn’t have to obey her and to go fuck herself.”

  Aunt Tess gasped. “Oh, no he didn’t?”

  “Oh, but he did.” Jake howled with laughter. “Next thing ya know, Quinn is on knees, unable to move or speak while Detja braided his hair and lectured him on his bad behavior.”

  Man, I wish I could have been there to see Quinn taken down a notch. He was a genetic throwback to a Scottish chieftain called the Black Devil, a legendary warrior known for his fierce temper. The best part was, Detja had assigned Quinn to kitchen duty.

  The welcome-home party for Talree and Kaylee had been set up on a sunny terrace draped with a bright riot of flowers. In the distance, a silvery waterfall cascaded down the cavern wall. Below the terrace, a flock of pink duck-like birds floated peacefully on the turquoise water. The Coletti city of Mutusca was truly an underground paradise.

  Along with the hydrogen peroxide and baking soda, Detja had shipped in all of Kaylee’s favorites from Earth. Tables were laden with a variety of Mexican food, chips, salsa, chocolate, and beer. Talree’s favorites were on another table. Thick steaks that still bled, what looked like fried okra, and weird, bumpy blue fruit.

  Caleb, Ethan, and Uncle Derek were helping themselves to the goodies. I sure hoped they had Detja’s permission.

  My psychic senses went on alert. Kaylee was close by and upset. I reached out with my mind and linked with her.

  Kaylee cried, “We’re fucking brood stock?”

  Detja’s answer had my temper flaring. “A crude way to put it, but accurate.”

  “It’s not right,” Kaylee protested.

  With pure steel in her voice, Detja said, “You need to be strong for your family. You can make the adjustment to our ways easier, or you can watch as they are forced to the Overlord’s will.”

  “I’m a fucking Judas goat!” Anguish filled Kaylee’s voice.

  I gave Kaylee a mental hug. “Central Command sold us out, not you. You’re not responsible for our capture.”

  “I’m not?”

  “Get your butt out here, girl,” Sam hollered in our heads. “We’ve got all your favorites.”

  I guess the hellion had been bailed out of jail. Again.

  Kaylee asked hopefully, “Beer? Chocolate? Chips and salsa?”

  “All of it,” Caleb answered.

  Detja urged, “Go. Be with your family.”

  Kaylee appeared on the terrace.

  Damn, she could teleport.

  “No one blames you, runt.” Caleb hugged her.

  Ethan pried Kaylee loose. “Still got those enlistment papers for you to sign.”

  “I’ll sign them, but you get to explain it to my warlord,” Kaylee said with a laugh.

  Jake butted in. “I wanna see your fangs.”

  “How do you know about my fangs?”

  Sam gurgled. “Remember that hot sex you were having with Talree?”

  “Oh God.” A blush stained Kaylee’s cheeks.

  “You used your fangs to give Talree the orgasm to end all orgasms, and you took all of us along for the ride.” Sam put a hand to her forehead and faked a swoon. “Hoo boy, what a ride.”

  “Let’s see them,” Jake ordered in his best cop voice.

  Kaylee bared her fangs and allowed everyone to examine them. “Happy?”

  “Get to use them yet?” Hey, we all wanted to know that.

  “Yeah, took a big chunk out of a Rodan that wanted to eat me.”

  “Way to go!” Everyone yelled and clapped loudly.

  Aunt Tess did a little jig. “Oorah. Mess with the best and die like the rest.”

  Please God, don’t let her do that Irish jig again.

  Kaylee glanced around. “Where’s Uncle Saul?”

  “Back on Earth, he’s the Overlord’s go-to guy,” Ethan responded.

  At Kaylee’s frown, I quickly reassured her. “Uncle Saul can take care of himself.”

  “I know he can, but none of this would have happened if I hadn’t linked with Talree.”

  I enunciated slowly, “Not. Your. Fault.”

  “Sarah’s right. You were just doing your job,” Aunt Tess inserted.

  Caleb picked up Kaylee’s arm and examined the tattoo Tihar had gifted her with and the Coletti warrior’s bracelet. “The Battle Commander told us no female has ever received such honors.”

  “In the right place at the right time,” Kaylee said modestly.

  I handed her a beer. “How much stronger are you?”

  She pointed the beer at her brothers. “Strong enough to kick their asses.”

  “Tough girl, huh? Bring it,” Quinn challenged, always ready for a fight.

  Uncle Derek quickly stepped between them. “Give an old man a hug.”

  “Love you too, Uncle Derek,” Kaylee said, holding him tightly. “I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you guys. I’m so glad you’re all safe.”

  “Safe? We are on a fucking alien planet dealing with a bunch of bloodsucking vampires. If you had obeyed orders and come to the bunker, none of this would have happened,” Quinn groused.

  Sam punched him in the arm. “Don’t listen to Quinn. He got his ass handed to him, and he’s still sulking.”

  “Detja? Right?”

  “Yep.” I grinned. “She’s one tough lady.”

  “Good thing Quinn didn’t pull that crap with Talree or Zarek,” Kaylee said.

  Quinn snarled. “If they can bleed, they can die.”

  “Do you have a death wish? They can kill you with a thought. I’ve been in their minds. I know what they can do. How powerful they are. If you don’t believe me, ask Aunt Tess,” Kaylee shot back.

  “She right, hon. The Overlord’s power is off the charts.”

  Unimpressed, Quinn crossed his arms and glared at Kaylee. “You’ve all been brainwashed. I know I can defeat the Coletti. I just need to find their weakness.”

  I felt Kaylee’s flare of temper as she grabbed Quinn’s mind and took him on a mental tour of Talree’s and Zarek’s powers.

  “Do you get it now? If you challenge them, you’re a dead man or worse.” Kaylee psychically smacked Quinn. “Is that what you want? To have them take your mind? To lose who you are? What you are?”

  A guttural groan tore from Quinn. “No.”

  “Let him go, Kaylee,” Aunt Tess calmly insisted. “You’re hurting him.”

  Kaylee’s eyes popped open, and she looked in stunned horror at Quinn facedown on the ground. “Oh my God. I’m so sorry. You okay? I’m a lot stronger than I used to be.”

  “No shit.” Quinn got to his feet and shook his head sadly. “My little sister is no longer human.”

  Jake punched Quinn in the mouth, knocking him down again. “Get your head out of your ass. Kaylee is and always will be our sister. Apologize.”

  Wiping the blood off his lips, Quinn slowly stood up. “Sorry. I was out of line.”

  Ethan fixed a speculative gaze on Kaylee. “Gotta say, I’m impressed with your new abilities. Think we can amp up too?”

  “Without a doubt.” Kaylee tapped her teeth. “How do you feel about fangs?”

  “We have to suck their blood?” Horror filled Quinn’s voice.

  Kaylee nodded. “Among other things.”

  “Other things?” Uncle Derek’s tone was a bit apprehensive.

  “The Coletti excrete an enzyme that alters our DNA to match theirs.”

  “Old news. Plus, Tihar, the mad Askole, said they can change our DNA too,” I added.

  Kaylee gave me a startled look. “You’ve met Tihar?”

  “Oh yeah. He has some impressive male parts, and he wants to mate with me.”


  “You saw his man parts?” my male relatives bellowed in unison.

  Sam chortled. “Got an eyeful. He’s hung like a bull elephant.”

  “Wait a minute.” Kaylee grabbed my arm. “Did you say Tihar wants to mate with you?”

  “That’s what he said. Of course, the Battle Commander is dead set against it.” I pried at Kaylee’s fingers. “Ease up a bit, will ya?”

  She quickly released my arm. “Sorry, I’m still adjusting to all this.”

  I embraced Kaylee. “Not a problem. How do you like being a Coletti?”

  “It does have some awesome benefits.”

  Aunt Tess asked, “Such as?”

  “As you all have noticed, I’m a lot stronger. Unless I’m killed, I can live to be a thousand. I’m now immune to the diseases that plague our planet, and if I’m injured, I heal quickly. And…my personal favorite. Teleporting.”

  Ethan fired off, “What’s teleporting like? Is it hard to learn? If you screw up, do you end up buried in a wall? How far can you teleport? Is there a weight limit?”

  “Fun. Not really. Yes. How far can a rookie like me teleport? A couple of miles. I’ve teleported about four hundred pounds of dead weight. Like a demo?” Kaylee grinned when everyone nodded.

  Ethan grabbed her. “I’m first.”

  “Link with me,” Kaylee instructed, and poof, they were gone.

  A minute later, they reappeared.

  “What a rush,” Ethan exclaimed.

  I jumped in front of Caleb. “Ladies first.”

  “You’re no lady,” Caleb retorted.

  “Nope, never have been.”

  “Okay, kids, no fighting.” Kaylee wrapped her arms around me. “We need to talk anyway.”

  “We do.” I linked mentally with my cousin. Poof. We appeared in a wooded area.

  “Tihar actually said he wants to mate with you?” Kaylee released me and paced around the small clearing.

  “He says I’m his chosen.”

  “Where did he meet you?”

  “On Earth. The Coletti promised Tihar he could have his pick of a Jones female.”

  Kaylee threw up her hands in disgust. “Oh, hell no. Tihar is my friend, but I’m putting a stop to this shit.”

  “How?”

  “I’ll have a come-to-Jesus talk with him.”

  “Can I watch? He told Detja he would challenge Lothel for me.”