Bethany's Heart (Unearthly World Book 3)

by C. L. Scholey

  Adan grinned. “Hell, yes. If Finn’s going to hand us each to a protector I’d rather be with Blu. At least I know him. I’m the smallest of all of us so familiarity is a good thing.”

  Finn came over and took Bethany’s hand in his. She had no idea what he growled but she imagined she was being told Adan would be fine and she would see her again. One by one, Finn checked each woman over and one by one they were given over into the care of a warrior who Finn threatened soundly.

  Bethany was last. She stood alone in the room with Finn. He checked her over, noting any bruise or red mark. He had her strip to her small leather shirt and short leather pants. The heat in the room had been turned up and she marveled at the feeling of being so free of bulky clothing encumbrances. For a creature with such large hands, Finn was careful, his touch gentle. For days, Bethany had spent time trying to communicate with him. She understood few words but realized his guttural way of speaking would be hard for him to translate into English. A small word here and there were noticeable if she listened intently.

  Finn asked her if she was hungry. It was one word, she presumed it meant food. Bethany placed her hand over her belly and shook her head no. After recently barfing, her guts were belly dancing without her.

  “Sleep?” Finn growled the word, it rolled from deep within his throat.

  “No sleep,” Bethany replied. She growl-grunted both words in his language, feeling a little silly. Each word the Zargonnii spoke had to be picked apart and analyzed for the pitch and harshness. At first it was nothing more than baby talk to her, gradually she came to understand it was so much more complex.

  Finn took her hand and eased her off the high table she was sitting on. He propelled her towards the window. Bethany was amazed; they were already soaring across the heavens. There were so many stars she wondered how the ship avoided them. Tearing her gaze from the window, Bethany circled the room. The furniture was huge; everything was large to accommodate the Zargonnii.

  Taking her hand Finn led her to a panel. Buttons lit up at a command. Finn growled into the computer. Bethany jumped back when words were spoken back to her.

  “You are safe.”

  Openmouthed Bethany looked up at Finn. “How did you do that?” Grunts and growls were repeated by the computer. Finn had his head cocked then answered her, allowing time for each sentence to translate.

  “A Castian warrior was kind enough to help me create this device. The words are in his voice, his name was Rask, son of the Castian leader Cobra. We aided their warriors on a planet named Bagron when they were attacked by cruel beings, rogue Tonans and the mind-battling Gorgano. I want you to use this device every day to learn our language. I’m not capable of learning more than a few of your words.

  “I can’t drag this machine everywhere we go together. I can however hook it up to all of my rooms. I don’t want the entire ship hearing our conversations, the warriors would be too confused with so many different words being said aloud regardless. They would all end up with headaches if too many females were in our eating area and all of you spoke at the same time. Human females seem to like to speak—a lot.”

  “I have so many questions.”

  “I’m sure you do. I’m certain all of you do. Each warrior will answer their female’s questions in privacy. One on one. I’m a Zargonnii warrior-mercenary. More warrior as of late because we are at war with certain creatures. Mostly my people eradicate nuisance creatures on other planets for a price. Humans were discovered a short time ago by my kind. Unfortunately for humans, they were discovered some years ago by a nasty species called Tonans. I’m sorry, but there is no hope for your planet. The skies are volatile with other species. I brought you here to save your life and take you to my planet where we will mate.”

  “Excuse me?” Bethany crossed her arms over her chest in annoyance.

  “Isn’t the machine working right?” Finn looked worried and tapped the panel.

  “Oh, it’s working fine. You saved me to keep me?”

  “Our planet isn’t like Earth. I’m sure Earth had frightening things for you to deal with, but that white thing you called a polar bear is harmless compared to creatures on my world. I can keep you safe.”

  “But only for fringe benefits. Happen not gonna, Jaws.”

  Finn was shaking his head. “Fringe benefits?”

  “Sex.”

  “No, not sex, well, yes, sex, but no, not sex.”

  Bethany narrowed her eyes and tapped the panel. “I think this might be broken after all.”

  “What I mean is our people are different. Our males and females don’t cohabitate. We Holiday every two years for the sole intent to produce offspring. Males are left in their fathers’ care, females in their mothers’ care.”

  “Then why not just hand us over to your females?”

  “You would be terrified of our females.”

  Bethany frowned. Terrified of their females? They couldn’t possibly be scarier than the warriors. Could they?

  “I don’t understand. Do they grow like you? Why do you seem to grow?”

  “The male of my species grows in battle mode. Our bodies lengthen, our claws grow longer, our teeth expand. Females don’t need a battle mode.”

  “What do your females look like?”

  “I have one image. My mother allowed me to take it before I left for Earth. She doesn’t stay with me or my brother, it would be uncomfortable, but she cares for us in her own way.”

  Finn called up an image and Bethany stared in stunned surprise. If this was what a male Zargonnii was used to mating with, Bethany even standing beside him was weird. The female was naked and yet not. Nothing showed, there were no breasts, the genital area was covered in fur. The entire being was covered in a fine layer of fur. She was at least nine feet tall. Her white hair flowed to the ground. She too sported red eyes and jagged teeth. Her muscle mass was nothing short of amazing.

  She was majestic in a spooky way. There was no facial hair except the one eyebrow. At least it looked like only one from a distance, like Finn’s, that went directly across her forehead but not nearly as thick. She didn’t appear delicate by any means, but not as rough. Her cheekbones were high, her lips a darker blue. Bethany stood amazed. The creature was in fact beautiful, if different. Her tapered hips and slimmer waist was a dead giveaway she was not the same sex as Finn. Her belly didn’t sport the oval bald spot with the wrinkles. This female had no need of a battle mode. She was a gorgeous tank.

  “How can you be attracted to me when you’re used to females looking like this?” Bethany asked.

  “It isn’t just your looks, it’s everything about you. You are so small, so weak. Your mating rituals are different. Our males and females battle for dominance during the Holiday. Almost always the female is victorious. You cannot battle me, it would be useless.”

  “I’m not into Doms and Subs,” Bethany said dryly.

  “I’m guessing you mean you aren’t a female to be dominated. That isn’t what I want either.”

  “What do you want?”

  “Someone who will love me and not abandon me.”

  What?

  She then remembered he had said their species only came together every two years. Males stayed with males, females with females, how sad for them. Bethany couldn’t help but believe him. He stood there looking so solemn and vulnerable Bethany’s heart was moved. Her mother had told her once, when she met her father her heart spoke to her. She was always glad she listened.

  “Finn, do you have anything on your ship that resembles alcohol? I sure as hell need a drink.”

  * * * *

  Finn sat at a table with a mug of strong garneg. After initially giving a few sips of the potent beverage to Bethany while in his room she was out cold and Finn had placed her on his bed. She was too tempting, lying vulnerable, spread eagle in her favorite fashion. She had changed out of the multi furs he was used to seeing her in when he examined her and found it too warm to put them back on. She was clad in a leath
er sleeveless shirt that didn’t cover her tummy and leggings, also leather, that rested right above her exquisitely tanned knees. She had shed her moccasins and her tiny toes wiggled in their freedom.

  Thick black hair hallowed her stunning face. The garneg had made her cheeks rosy to match her luscious lips. When she had rolled over her rounded bottom rose slightly in the air, invitation style, making Finn clench and unclench his fists. Before he did something he would regret, he left her. After a while, Titus joined him at his table in the eating room and downed a mug of the garneg in one gulp.

  Titus turned to him and glared. “You gave me the most exasperating female of the bunch.”

  Finn grinned at him and sucked back his drink. “I gave her to you because you’re the only one I can think of who won’t kill her. I’ve spent six days too many with her. So has Blu, she’s lucky he didn’t sneak her out and drown her.”

  “I had three warriors show up at my door wanting her, until she opened her big fat mouth. How can something so small make so much fucking noise? All three warriors ran for their lives and now the entire ship knows about her. Couldn’t you have left her behind? I’m tempted to hand her over to the Castians but they aren’t the enemy. The Tonans would be a better choice.”

  “Come now, you’re more than twice her size. You can manage her.”

  “When we get home I’m building a cage in a tree at the perimeter. Every time she sees a cyron she can warn us with her howling. Best fucking form of defense on the planet.”

  “Holy yackity yack,” Blu complained as he flopped down at the table and poured himself a mug of booze. He gulped down two mugs of the strong beverage before taking a breath.

  “Now what’s your problem?” Finn asked taking in his bedraggled appearance.

  “Adan found the interpreting console and asked me four hundred questions in five fucking minutes, tops. Her mouth is motorized, solar-propelled, or runs on some substance not known to our kind as yet. Yippee for us it’s being tried out on me.”

  Finn rolled his eyes. “So who’s next to complain?”

  “The other warriors seem happy with their females.” Titus rolled his mug in his hand.

  “Where is Adan?” Finn asked.

  “I gave her a glass of garneg. She’s out cold, on my bed and hard to resist when she’s quiet. She’s so damned cute when asleep—and her gums aren’t flapping like the hood of her fur coverings in a brutal wind. My urge to Holiday is in overdrive with her so close.”

  Finn waggled a finger at Blu. “Do not touch her unless you want to be her mate. If she smells like you I’ll have a hard time giving her to another warrior.”

  “No worries. I plan on staying drunk for the duration of our journey home. Garneg isn’t called limp dick fuel for nothing. I’m certain whatever warrior you give Adan to will be crazy about her. But words to the wise—find a deaf warrior.” Blu downed another drink and left, but not before refilling his mug.

  “Fucking limp dick fuel. The human female cyron has a mouth, but her female scent is killing me. You’re an ass, Finn.” Titus also downed another drink and rose, also refilling his mug, he was glaring at Finn. “Find two deaf warriors.”

  * * * *

  Finn crawled into bed beside Bethany. She stirred and protested when he took her into his arms.

  “Shh,” he muttered.

  For a moment she tried to pull away but Finn snuggled her closer. A sound as old as time filled his throat and he crooned a melody to her. Each warrior was capable of producing the sound. It was to lull an infant or strangely enough calm a female Zargonnii they had overpowered during the Holiday with a slight variation. Finn switched between the two sounds. She wasn’t a babe and he hadn’t overpowered her. His cock was thankfully at rest. She felt warm and soft. Female Zargonnii were tougher than rock.

  The garneg made him awash with annoying feelings. His body slipped into battle mode when he was engulfed with a sensation of protection. He slipped out of battle mode when he had thoughts of tenderness. Into battle mode when he heard an unfamiliar sound. Out of battle mode when he heard her whimper. He was reminded of when they first met. Her running, stumbling, falling, up again. He slipped into battle mode when her face pressed into his chest and her warm sweet breath filled his nostrils. She was a female and if he dominated a female he should be in battle mode to protect her.

  Bethany groaned and Finn slipped out of battle mode. She was too delicate to pull against him so roughly. By the time Finn fell asleep he felt as though his body had gone to war. There was no winner. Garneg had become the enemy.

  Chapter 6

  “You look horrible,” Bethany said to Finn.

  After five days aboard the ship Bethany was used to Finn and the other warriors. But lately they all seemed a bit squirrely. Many were growly, a few fought, tempers were high. One moment Finn was desperate to be by her side, the next he almost tripped over himself to keep his distance. It made no sense to Bethany and he offered no excuse. Bethany wasn’t the only one who was having issues with her warrior. Adan was hopelessly in love with Blu who avoided her except to viciously keep any other warrior away from her. The poor girl was so confused by Blu’s actions, she was eerily silent at times.

  The other women were equally confused. She had seen Bertha. Titus had put her in a room all to herself, the women took turns visiting her and taking her food. None of the warriors wanted anything to do with her. Bethany wondered if the woman was going crazy, she spent a great deal of time humming and rocking back and forth. All of the women wondered where they were being taken. Tasia kept her warrior at arm’s length as did the others. Right now, Bethany’s thoughts centered on Finn. He looked exhausted.

  “My urge to Holiday with you grows stronger.”

  Bethany was sitting beside him on the bench in the eating hall as he rubbed at weary eyes. She was eating a type of oatmeal with softened meat chunks. Finn informed her their food was too hard for human teeth unless it was boiled or pre-chewed by a Zargonnii. The idea made Bethany gag until he told her the warriors had come prepared with the developed substance in case they proved lucky.

  “Holiday means sex. I get that. It sounds so primitive.” Bethany scooped up some food onto a large spoon and nibbled the contents, it wasn’t bad.

  “Not primitive, a necessity to our species survival.”

  “I’m not necessary to your survival.”

  “To mine you are.”

  “For a badass warrior you are pretty sensitive.”

  “You find me weak for not pouncing on you and taking what I want. I can remedy that.”

  Bethany had never heard him sound so angry. “I didn’t say you were weak, not by any means. I just think you’re sensitive. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

  Bethany cried out when she was hauled to her feet by another warrior. Finn flipped the long table over when he jumped up.

  “Release my female,” he roared.

  “I’m not hurting her, I’m curious. She doesn’t wear your scent. After all this time,” the other warrior argued. “Maybe she’d be interested in another.”

  Finn’s hand shot out and he grabbed the warrior by his throat lifting him off the ground. The flailing warrior had no choice but to release Bethany who fell to the ground. She was no wimp—she reminded herself as she scooted to hide behind Finn’s legs. She merely wanted to stay out of the way.

  “Finn,” Titus bellowed. “Drop him. If you hurt him, you would have to heal him.”

  Growling, Finn dropped the warrior. “This female is off limits.”

  “This female is driving you insane. Does she know that?” Titus countered.

  “What do you mean?” Bethany asked. Though many of their words eluded her she got the idea of what was said.

  Titus looked down at her then to Finn. “Explain our mating habits to your female now, before I lose my only healer. And you.” Titus glared at the other warrior and the ones who had gathered around. “If you’re so horny go find the big mouth female cyron and see i
f she’ll have any of you. By all means—take her off my hands.”

  The entire room groaned. Finn leaned down and gripped Bethany under her arms, she squealed as he tossed her over his shoulder. She could feel his grunting growls rumbling right through his back. When he entered his room she bounced when he dumped her on the bed. Finn began pacing. Bethany began to wonder if his huge booted feet would wear a groove in the floor.

  “You’ve stopped eating, you hardly smile, you’re moody as hell. Spill it, Doc Jaws. You’re driving me nuts,” Bethany said.

  Finn stopped and spun to face her. “I’m driving you nuts? You have no idea the restraint I’m containing. It’s—killing—me.”

  “You said your males and females don’t live together for a reason, because of a Holiday?”

  “Our females come into heat every two years. The closer they come to the male section the greater our urges to Holiday increase until males will go wild if they don’t mate. It’s for our safety; our females are bigger and stronger. We need the fury to fight for dominance. They don’t need fury, more temperance; it’s believed they eat a fruit which makes them receptive to sex.”

  “You really battle for sex?” Bethany became very aware she was sitting on a bed.

  “It’s our nature. If our males and females lived together we would constantly be battling.”

  “Do you feel the need to battle me?” Bethany tried not to gulp as she said this.

  “No, not battle. I can feel my dominance over you. It’s your proximity; your smell is driving me insane. You’re a walking, sitting, lounging, sleeping aphrodisiac. I can’t put you somewhere you would be alone because, trust me, the other warriors are going just as batty as I am. There are females on this ship who have not been claimed. None of them want Bertha and her mouth which keeps her safe. Blu is having a hell of a time. Adan is attracted to him and doesn’t hide it; Blu can scent her emotions because they’re so high. But because he doesn’t want to mate with a human female he has to keep battling other warriors to keep her safe. It’s one of the reasons I split you all up. I can’t protect all of you.”