“Sleep,” Bethany heard the low, soothing growl from Finn. The word was in her language, it was a pathetic attempt but an attempt.
How endearing.
Bethany knew the aliens were aware of their species if they could say a single word in her language. She had been correct; they weren’t here to cause harm. A gentle, large hand settled over her forehead. She, Tasia, Dyani, and Chiyo had hunted all day with nothing to show for their exhaustion. Adan had scoured the area for more fuel, supposedly with Bertha’s help, though Bethany was skeptical she had been of help and nothing was found. A quick flicker of bright light from Finn’s eyes and Bethany’s cheeks heated. She was mesmerized. No one had taken care of her since her parent’s demise. Bethany drifted into sleep. All during the night when Bethany woke she was wonderfully warm. Finn stayed close. The aliens took turns staying awake and keeping the humans alive while outside the storm raged.
When Bethany woke next she discovered her hand in Finn’s. Her one mitt was off to the side while her other hand had been covered, he was studying her fingers. The tips of his black claws avoided her flesh, but the pads on his fingers were rough as he trailed his thumb up and down each individual finger. Finn eyed her and raised his empty hand to his mouth. Sadly Bethany shook her head. She had no food to give him or anyone. She would have liked to reward his kindness.
The resting mitten was pushed back over her hand. Finn growled to his partner. Both centered their eyes onto the mound of furs. Finn pushed Bethany all the way under the pile and forcefully motioned she was to stay. The furs warmed until they were almost unbearably hot. Bethany gasped in the new sauna but didn’t move. When she peeked out Finn and the other were gone. A delicious heat coma enveloped her and her eyes drooped until she slumbered. Surrounded in ice she was surrounded in heat.
Sometime later a wonderful aroma filled the air making Bethany stir. A fire was lit with burnable fuel. Roasting over the fire was a massive hunk of meat. Finn was using his eyes to cook an enormous slab of some animal’s haunch before ripping into the charred flesh with those pointed teeth of his. Blood dripped from his chin and Bethany would have been disgusted if she hadn’t been wishing so hard it was her that was cramming her face with the delicious smelling food.
A movement to her left and a small gasp had her turning to gaze at Adan. The petite red-haired, green-eyed woman was crawling slowly forward in the most subservient manner Bethany had ever seen. She crouched near Finn’s partner who had stopped eating to stare at her.
“Adan,” Adan said and pointed at her chest.
“Blu,” came a guttural response.
Adan licked her lips and swallowed hard. “Blu?” Adan pointed at his food, her face an open book of hope and longing.
Blu studied her for a moment. Using his sharp claws he sliced a large piece of his meat, cooked it until it sizzled with his direct stare and held it out to Adan. She crept closer. As she crept closer, Blu lured her further with the meat until she sat next to him. Bethany almost chuckled aloud with the donkey and carrot trick coming to mind.
“I’m not going near those things.” Bertha spat the words, her distaste oozing from her pores. “You don’t know what it is. For all you know they killed one of their own to eat, like savages.”
“Who the hell cares,” Chiyo said, already halfway to the roaring fire. She plopped her ass down next to Blu’s other side, pressing against his hip.
“Go ahead and starve, Bertha.” Tasia was the next to abandon their proverbial fur boat. She went directly to Finn and without embarrassment begged for a taste of his meat.
“Save me some,” Dyani squealed.
Finn cut the meat into hand sized pieces, all the while watching Bethany. The meat had to be some type of bear. All sorts of thick furred creatures roamed the area, mainly predators that would eat predators—and humans. Their little group wasn’t strong enough to go after bears, their weapons too meager. These alien creatures were the ultimate predators. Bethany remained motionless. She wasn’t afraid, or wary. Stunned and impressed was more the emotion.
Finn sliced a generous amount of food, cooked it with his gaze and approached Bethany. He crouched before her.
“Beth-a-ny,” he growled. He cocked his head, looked annoyed and repeated her name. “Bethn, Bethnny, Beth-a-nny. Beth-an-ninny-ny...ne.”
Bethany gripped his hand stilling his words before he desecrated her name. She smiled and tried not to grimace when he smiled back. Chunks of meat were stuck in ‘Jaws’ mouth. Ick. She focused her attention on the food he offered. One taste and she dove face first into the meat. When she glanced up to smile again at Finn, he was wide-eyed. Bethany choked down a mouthful and ran her hand across her bloodied mouth. She just knew she looked like a piranha.
Finn looked over at Bertha who was glancing at everything but the food. He motioned to Bethany and she shrugged. If the woman didn’t want to eat she couldn’t force her. It appeared Finn had other ideas. He rose to his full height then went to cut a smaller piece of meat. He marched over to Bertha who pointedly ignored him. Finn gripped her furs at her chest and with one hand lifted her into the air. Bertha howled he was killing her. Bethany knew she was overreacting.
Eye to eye Finn centered his intense glare onto the frightened woman. Her howls ceased at a command from Finn. Small whimpers filled the silence. Finn held the meat in his other hand. As they all watched the meat began to sizzle with his heated gaze. When the meat had cooked he turned his attention back onto Bertha. She was panting when he handed her the meat. Bertha was a bitch but she wasn’t stupid. She took the meat. Finn growled at her.
“Thank you,” she squeaked and gulped dramatically.
Satisfied, Finn set her on the ground where she collapsed onto her knees when released. Bertha kept her gaze to the ground as she finished every bit.
“Honey, where the hell were you three years ago?” Tasia said to Finn and chuckled.
It was exactly three years ago Bertha graced their presence; she had been abandoned by others, claiming she was too good to be around them anyway. More than likely they had chased her off. Bethany watched as Blu and Finn exchanged words, obviously discussing Bertha. Bethany didn’t think Finn meant to be cruel, just forceful. Bertha was a stubborn, mean little witch but she still needed to eat and neither Bethany nor the others wished her demise. If they had, they would have sent her packing long ago. The alien had done nothing more than give her a lesson in dominance. In fact, he had given them all a lesson. Even if it meant frightening them, these aliens were here to take care of them. Bethany shuddered wondering what their real purpose was.
* * * *
“You frightened the females,” Blu said.
Both males sat on furs watching the women. The women watched them, although as unobtrusively as possible. The female Finn had muscled into eating was buried under the mound of furs. She had hidden the second she had finished the meat.
“The female needed sustenance, I could hear her belly rumbling across the room. I know a little about human anatomy. She is dehydrated and too thin under all that fur she wears. Anger burns bright in her eyes, but the bleakness of despair burns brighter. Her annoyance is for show. There is something in her look I find disturbing. She reminds me of a badly beaten toff I came across once years ago. It took a great deal of patience to get the frightened angry beast to trust me.
“Out here I don’t have time to cajole the female’s stubborn backside into acceptance. Her pride is suffering the most. You can tell she’s a handful. She needs someone who has more attitude; she’ll find more attitude than she can handle with a Zargonnii male. My female isn’t frightened. Wary, curious. I can see her wondering what we want. For all they know we’re fattening them up to eat.”
“That’s disgusting.”
“About as disgusting as if we were to wonder if they would eat us, if they needed to.”
“Those teeny little teeth of theirs wouldn’t penetrate our hides. It’s a good thing the ship has come prepared with food they c
an eat. Luckier still, they can eat the flesh of beasts on their planet.”
“I’ve been thinking of these females, all Earth females actually.”
“I can tell,” Blu grumbled. “You can stop watching me like I’m a cyron waiting to pounce on one of them. I’m not interested in human females. I want a son, eventually, and from what we know human females can’t conceive Zargonnii males.”
“There’s a chromosome a female human is missing to conceive a male Zargonnii babe. Zargonnii males are very different from our females in one way and the same in another. Our females have a high level of testosterone which makes them bigger and stronger than our male warriors.”
“Wait a minute. Are you saying our males are more feminine?”
Blu looked so pissed Finn almost said yes. “It’s not just testosterone that makes a male, but more is needed in a Zargonnii male conception. Obviously, the scent of testosterone is heightened when we Holiday. You would know this if you had Holidayed with a female.”
“I have,” Blu grumbled.
Finn’s eyes widened. It was news to him. “Then you would know a Zargonnii female has more passion than males. I’ve never heard of a female being killed during the Holiday, but a few males have. The females are shamed for their inability to restrain themselves. If she has killed and it’s known, no Zargonnii male will mate her, she will never have a child and could be ostracized or shunned. I heard of one incident where a female Zargonnii killed a male and was so remorseful she found a male substantially smaller and less powerful and gave herself to him for the duration of the Holiday. She never fought back, not once.”
“That must have destroyed her.”
“She never killed again. She realized two things, if she didn’t Holiday she would never conceive. Also, she might one day give birth to a son; she had killed a mother’s son. Perhaps a female who she nested with when the Holiday was over.” Finn sat quietly for a moment. “Human-Zargonnii female offspring are very powerful.”
“That’s the Gorgano’s fault. Damned mind battlers, the ugly fucks make me sick. This entire war between the Gorgano and rogue Tonans battling us and the Castian warriors is their fault. It’s been ages since we did what we do best—mercenary work.”
“Think of the war as mercenary work. We eradicate infiltrating creatures. Gorgano beings need to be eradicated.”
“Look at us. Protecting human females. We’re glorified babysitters.”
“Titus will be pleased.”
“Titus will be as confused as I am.”
“What do you mean?”
“Look at them,” Blu said with a wave of his hand. “Only two look like the females we have seen.”
“Human females are exotic creatures. Different colors and shapes and sizes. Fascinating. This is an exciting discovery. I should have spent more time with the Castians and taken a better look at their females. I was just too excited to come to Earth. My female is certainly a beautiful find. Her hair is so dark and soft. Her eyes are so dark I can see my reflection when she gazes at me. Each female is unique. We got very lucky.”
“Yes, they are all gorgeous. No matter their size they are all too small.”
“True, they are small, a novelty in our world. We are a race of dominant males, warriors and mercenaries. Only our females are more dominant or we would be mating them too often. We would be fighting too often. Human females can be controlled with an idle threat. Our size alone makes us dangerous to them.”
“What are you saying?”
“We can’t stick them in our jungle and Holiday with them. All would be dominated. They can’t be let free to wander, our pond scum would kill them. They need a safe place, but a caring home as well. I’m saying it would be best if potential mates are screened. It would be very easy for our race of dominant males to turn human females into slaves from not just our power, but fear of the unknown.”
“That would be wrong, why?”
Finn glared at him even though he knew Blu was teasing. “We would then be at war with the Castians who covet and protect anything female. It would be cruel to take them from here—a known hell, and place them into a worse hell. We didn’t come here to find them for sport or entertainment or our amusement.”
Blu sighed dramatically. “It sure would be nice though. My brother Zane explained some of the things his little mate Bay does for him. Sexual things I never thought possible—and hell wouldn’t be possible with a Zargonnii female. Can you imagine a Zargonnii female with your cock in her mouth, with her razor teeth? Our females can take a chunk out of us.”
Both males shuddered.
“The females do things with their mate because they want to, not because they have to,” Finn said.
Finn knew all about human females and their sexual prowess. His brother Kobe had explained a lot. It was no wonder his mate Zuri kept him happy. It wasn’t the reason Finn wanted a human female. Finn craved love, pure and simple. A human female wouldn’t walk away and abandon him after a sexual encounter. His sister-in-law said on Earth women had casual relationships but they didn’t need the added protection it would take to survive on Finn’s planet. Finn had decided Bethany was his, he would protect her. She would always be his. He just needed her to understand it was for the best.
No problem.
Chapter 4
“He’s staring at you again, Bethany, as though he owns you,” Tasia whispered.
“Well, if he thinks just because he fed me and built us a fire I’m going to fall into his arms, there’s going to be a problem.”
Bethany could feel Finn’s eyes on her. Normally there was much to do after a large kill had been brought in, but not this time. There was enough meat to last for dinner, hopefully, Finn and Blu had huge appetites. Honestly she had never seen anyone eat so much. The skin hadn’t been brought back which was annoying; they could have used it for added warmth. There were no bones for marrow for soups. None of the internal organs had been brought back, no doubt left on the cold barren land for scavengers. Everything on a kill needed to be utilized, especially during a blizzard when they were trapped inside with only their thoughts. Bethany could almost hear her ancestors screaming at the waste.
“Now you’re staring at him,” Tasia whispered out of the corner of her mouth.
“I was not,” Bethany huffed. She had been lost in thought and just happened to be glancing in the alien’s direction.
“Go see if you can talk to them,” Dyani said giving Bethany a shove.
“Why me?” Bethany complained.
“Because the big one likes you,” Tasia said and rolled her eyes.
“The big one,” Bethany muttered. “Have you not noticed they are both massive?”
“Go.” Tasia propelled her forward.
Bethany casually made her way to where both aliens sat. Walking close to the furs she tripped and caught herself before sprawling face first. Why have these being’s turned me into a klutz? She looked back to see the other women using their fingers to shoo her on, Adan was giggling up a red hairy head of hair storm—annoying. The closer she came the larger the aliens appeared. She sat across from Finn, plopping down faster than she intended and felt her face flame. Finn grinned his big ass grin. Bethany tried not to grimace. She knew if Jaws were to smile, this is what the shark would look like. Her proximity brought her closer to the fire. She had no idea where they had found fuel for their contained hearth but it burned brightly. The fire and the alien’s closeness made her sweat. Bethany shrugged out of her parka. For a second it got caught over her head and her arms pin-wheeled outrageously. Growling she tossed her coat to the side. Blu made a startled noise and when Bethany caught his glance he looked ill.
Both aliens spoke a few words and Finn made a sound like a laugh while pointing to her bare arms. She wondered for a second if they thought the outer fur she wore was actually hers. She supposed suddenly ripping off her outer flesh—and battling it in the process—would give someone the creeps. The soft leather short sleeve shirt Bethan
y wore showed off her small muscles. With their lack of food on many days and hard work every day Bethany was toned. She felt her hips and ass were a bit too rounded at times but since there hadn’t been any men it didn’t matter.
Most days she never bothered with a brush as her hair was often surrounded by her hood. The idea of make-up was a laugh. It had been days since she’d glanced in the small mirror she carried, weeks since she had really washed. The hand-held mirror wasn’t for vanity, at times she had used it to signal the others or start a fire or use the sun to blind a pack of wild dogs while they cut meat. Sitting cross legged in front of two males she was a bit self-conscious—even if they were aliens. She ducked her head and tucked a wayward greasy strand of hair behind an ear.
“Beth-a-ny,” Finn’s words were a growling grunt.
“Bethany,” Blu grunted, he sounded disgusted with his partner. This led to a war of words between the two.
When Bethany turned to look at the other women Tasia motioned with her hands to say something. Bethany cleared her throat. Finn and Blu stopped arguing. They both stared at her.
“Are you from far away up there? Another galaxy? Universe? Alternate world?” Bethany asked and motioned upwards. Both aliens looked up curiously. They continued to look up until Bethany frowned and cleared her throat again. She heard Adan snicker and turned to glare at her.
“Well why don’t you try?” Bethany complained.
Adan stuck out her hands and soared around the room making vroom noises. She leapt over the furs Bethany had tripped over, spun merrily around the fire and stopped with a ta da. Blu laughed and Finn chuckled but he was nodding. Finn lifted his arms and made a strange noise.
Bethany's Heart (Unearthly World Book 3) Page 4
