Lake, Ciara - Xihirah [Xihiran Shifters 1] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Ciara Lake

  Fortunately, the rain was warm, and she wasn’t chilled from exposure, at least not yet. However, it would be only a matter of time before she would begin to suffer. The warmth of the fire felt good. Saleeya could hear her abductors talking and laughing in the main tent. Her hearing had definitely improved and her ability to see in the dark seemed to have as well. Through the trees, she could see shapes of large, four-legged animals moving about as if circling, watching, and waiting. From the distance and through the rain, Saleeya could smell what the men were drinking. It was definitely fermented. Hopefully, they would drink themselves to sleep.

  Soon their chatter ceased and the sounds of the jungle seemed to increase. Saleeya could see glowing eyes watching her from behind the trees. Fortunately, the animals stayed back. Probably due to the fires placed around the camp. Saleeya shook off the blanket and moved closer to her fire pit. Jarvin had tied her wrist with some sort of thin string rope. Saleeya hoped the stringy rope would burn easily.

  Saleeya scooted toward the small fire pit that held the flame and placed her wrists and binding against the heated elements keeping the fire alive. Biting her tongue to keep her screams of agony hidden, she held her wrists as still as possible. Her wrapped wrist that bound her sprain was most successful. She could hold it longer against the hot element. Finally, on the verge of fainting from the pain, Saleeya managed to tear the binding apart and break free. The sickeningly sweet stench of her scorched flesh turned her stomach.

  The damage done to her arms pained her greatly; however, the alternative was to be killed by these insane men. Saleeya stood quietly and watched the glowing eyes watching her from behind the wall of trees. She selected a large stick to carry with her. She moved silently, leaving the camp without awaking anyone. They had locked the transport up tight. All the other weapons were in the tents with the men. Saleeya’s nightgown barely protected her body and her feet were bare. She hoped the lack of shoes would not slow her progress. So far, the jungle floor was soft with rotting vegetation. With a deep breath, she started out into the jungle. She reminded herself that any fate was better than what Tomron’s men had planned for her.

  She knew they were never going to return her no matter what Kael did to negotiate with them. She hoped Kael realized that truth. She was as good as dead unless she escaped or Kael rescued her, and luckily, for whatever sadistic reason, Jarvin had decided to prolong her death sentence. Saleeya quietly moved further out of the camp. The jungle floor was wet and a lot easier on her feet than she thought it would be. She noticed three of the large creatures following her. She could see their glowing eyes intently watching her. In that moment, she decided to pray to Xian, Kael’s deity, for help and intervention.

  Saleeya ran swiftly, realizing that the mating transformation must have affected her already. She was swifter, quieter in her movements, and she didn’t tire, as she would normally have with the same exertion. Also, her night vision seemed far improved even from earlier in the night. The jungle impressed her. It was beautiful yet deadly. Fear pumped through her veins as she ran through the trees and greenery. This area of the jungle had very little undergrowth. It was mostly clear for her to navigate.

  She began to feel herded by the creatures. They followed and moved closer. At times, they howled or groaned in monstrous ways. Oddly, they remained at a distance, as if watching and waiting for her to falter. From pure exhaustion, she finally stopped near a huge tree and stood with her arms stretched out, palms against the tree supporting her body, and rested. Not wanting to lean fully against the tree, Saleeya attempted to support herself with her injured hands and wrist. Eventually she gave into the temptation and rested fully against the tree. Saleeya stood braced against the tree with the warm rain beating down on her. She closed her eyes and prayed to Xian. Too exhausted to care about the animals watching her, she drifted to sleep.

  Saleeya dreamed of Kael. She could feel him touching her and welcoming him deep inside her. Her pussy clenched with the memory of loving him. She could smell his scent on her. She moaned aloud in memory. The dream brought her fully awake. Then she heard the howls grow louder. Now it was much lighter in the jungle. The rain continued to fall, and it seemed she must have slept for several hours. Although she was still bone weary, she pushed herself on. Determination to live and return to her lover drove her. All she could manage now was a slow walking pace. Hours passed, and she walked until the sun started to disappear again and the jungle returned to its eerie dimness. Still the creatures in the shadows closely herded her.

  As if in a dream, Saleeya continued walking for what seemed to be an eternity. Finally, Saleeya tripped, falling over a log. The fall jarred her to a fully alert state. Picking herself off the ground, she examined her situation. A scream ripped from her throat. Her scream was so loud it echoed off the trees as if bouncing from tree to tree. The scream caused the jungle to fall oddly silent. She had fallen over a mutilated body torn to bloody shreds. It was a fresh kill, and the half-eaten remains littered the jungle floor. Shocked, Saleeya believed herself in a nightmare. Then she realized it was Jarvin Manntree’s body. He was barely recognizable. Stunned, Saleeya recognized that she had made an incredibly large circle and returned to their camp. Realizing her predicament, she looked more closely and saw two other torn-apart bodies littering the destroyed camp. The fires were out, and the transport was gone. Evidently, one man managed to escape the hell that had visited them. A beast, or more than one, had destroyed the campsite. They had eaten their fill of the three bodies. Jarvin’s body had the most flesh remaining. The tents were partially destroyed, but enough remained for Saleeya to find some shelter. One fire did continue to burn with less intensity since its fuel was waning. Saleeya located the men’s packs. Inside the packs, she found some dry food. After eating the small rations, Saleeya rolled up into the tent’s remains to sleep.

  When Saleeya finally woke, the sounds of howling animals startled her. They were probably going to eat her now, she thought. The one remaining fire barely burned. It would no longer be a deterrent. Having rested enough, Saleeya decided to search for weapons, food, water, and a communication source. She found nothing more than a little food and a knife in the remaining packs. Saleeya decided to search Jarvin’s pockets. “A palm vid-com,” Saleeya shouted out to the jungle. “Thank Xian, a palm vid-com,” Saleeya yelled to the jungle again and ran back into her makeshift shelter. “Oh, damn, the men may come back.” Saleeya realized that dire possibility. She opened the palm vid-com and hoped that it would work. Hopefully she could call someone from this remote, unknown location. After all, wasn’t Xihirian communication controlled from the skies? Not wanting to call her enemy, she debated what to do. Carefully, she flipped it open and pressed the center button. A computer voice answered in a monotone voice.

  “Power is low.”

  “Oh, Xian, don’t let me down now. You have preserved me so far,” Saleeya whispered a prayer. She pressed the button again. “Connect me to Admoncor Kael Braeden.”

  “Please indentify,” the computer replied.

  “Saleeya Braeden,” Saleeya answered the communication device. For a time the device remained silent. Saleeya thought the power had ceased.

  “This is Kael Braeden. Who the fuck is this?” Kael sounded furious.

  “Kael, help me.” Saleeya held the palm vid-com close to her face. “Help me. I don’t have much time. The power is going to die in this palm com. Jarvin’s dead. Everyone’s dead. I think the animals ate them. Please come get me, I’m in the jungle walking in circles. The animals are following me. I don’t know what to do. I keep walking in circles,” Saleeya rambled, barely coherent.

  “Saleeya, I’m here. Calm down, sweetheart. I’m going to come get you. You’re here on Xihirah, in the jungle?” Kael asked calmly.

  “Yes, Kael, they brought me here in a transport, one man left in it and is gone. The rest are dead, torn to pieces. I ran away and accidently circled back around to their camp. I found the camp destroyed and the others r
ipped to pieces. Wild animals ate them. There are three creatures watching me now. They’ve watched me the entire time. I don’t know what to do. Should I leave this camp or stay? What if someone comes back to get the dead or looks for me?” Saleeya cried. Tears washed down her face. She could taste the salt of her tears.

  “Saleeya, is this the only palm vid-com?” Kael interrupted her and asked.

  “I don’t know. The other bodies are so torn up and their blood is everywhere. I didn’t look to check the other bodies or what’s left of them.”

  “Saleeya, this is what you have to do. I need you to look for the sky through the trees. Hold the palm vid-com as high as you can. Find some way to place it in the open and leave it on, open and on. We’ll get a location. Go search for another palm vid-com and call Kliven Braeden’s palm vid-com. Go now do as I say. All will be well. I’m coming for you.”

  Chapter Eleven

  “Do we have a location?” Kael stormed into the communication control room.

  “No, not yet, Admoncor, but there’s another vid-com from Tomron,” the officer replied.

  “Put him through. Be silent about Saleeya.” Kael looked to his father, who had returned. Kliven had his palm vid-com out, ready to receive a call from Saleeya, and left his office, waiting for her call. The vid com came on and the image of Clitax Tomron appeared.

  “Admoncor Braeden, is your father available now?” Clitax demanded.

  “No, he’s still detained. What do you want?”

  “What do I want?” Clitax screamed as hysterically as a madman. “Haven’t you gotten my fucking demands? You know what I fucking want.” Tomron banged a cup onto the table he was sitting at. “If you want to see your whore, you need to meet those demands. Your time grows short.” The communication abruptly ceased.

  “He apparently doesn’t know that Saleeya is free from his men”—Kliven paused—“or maybe he does.” Kliven returned to the office still holding his palm vid-com.

  “We got a fix on the palm vid-com just before the power failed, Admoncor,” the officer informed them.

  “Go, ready a military transport. Pack water, food, blankets, and get a medtor with supplies. Thyson, you’re going with me. We’ll take four of our elite with us. We’ll leave in fifteen minutes or less. Father, let me have your palm vid-com in case Saleeya finds another one and calls.”

  Kliven handed his palm vid-com to his son. “Go get her. Bring her back home. She’ll be fine. She’s strong.”

  “Admoncor, she’s outside the Ziriacan Jungle. They’ve taken her to the remote Zicox Jungle on the other side of Xihirah. She’s deep in the jungle’s center.”

  “My Xian, Zicox is a dangerous, remote place. She would have never found her way out.” Sweat rolled down Kael’s face.

  “It’ll take a few hours to reach the Princess,” the other officer commented. Kael piloted the military transport with expertise and skill no one could surpass. He flew above the jungles and across Xihirah at a rapid speed.

  * * * *

  As instructed, Saleeya obediently, although reluctantly, looked through the remains of the dead men’s clothing for another palm vid-com. After her search, her hands were covered with their blood. Panicked, Saleeya wiped her hands and arms off frantically on the wet leaves on the jungle floor. Her arms and hands hurt where she had scorched them to gain release from the string that had bound them. Her injured wrist was swelling again, her head throbbed, and her feet were scratched and ached. Now she was chilled. Her throat and mouth were parched. Saleeya tried to drink the rain as it poured down on her, but it wasn’t enough to quench her thirst. “I’m not going to survive,” she sadly told the glowing eyes watching her from behind the trees. “I hope Kael finds me in time. Thanks for watching over me. Don’t eat me unless I’m dead already.” She giggled hysterically. The predators’ eyes merely watched her. They remained at a comfortable distance. “Well, I’m going back to go to sleep in the tent.”

  Saleeya exhaustion allowed her body to fall into a deep sleep. Saleeya’s mind wandered, dreaming new dreams and of pleasurable memories. She dreamed of a muscled, handsome male with bright amber eyes that reminded her of a feline. His eyes were similar to the predators who watched her through the trees. The familiar male examined her closely and spoke close to her face. His breath was spicy and warm. When his face transformed he was scary and sexy all rolled up into one. His hair was silky black, and she could feel it on her face as he kissed her. She felt his enormous cock press against her leg and she moaned, arching herself toward him. The memory flashed of her riding him in the shower as she watched his passionate animalistic eyes watch their reflection as they made fervent love. She knew he had leashed his control not to hurt her. Saleeya rolled over as her dreams took her to another place. Another picture flashed into her mind of her licking his cock from its base to its tip. She moaned at the memory. He pushed her over and pushed inside her eager body. She sucked at it and he tasted so spicy. He pushed her over, fell upon her, and fucked her harder. He fucked her hard on her knees and whispered he loved her. While he made love to her, he whispered that he loved her. She could feel him loving her body, and her pussy ached for more. The erotic dreams continued to entertain her distressed mind.

  * * * *

  Kael landed the transport where it looked as if another one had recently landed. Kael, the first to debark from the military transport, saw the torn remains. From behind the trees three great male beasts came out to greet him. They lowered their heads in submission. They were Zicox Jungle Wolftars. These Wolftars were the biggest and fiercest beast in the Xihirian jungles. They were what Wolfton shifters resembled when they fully transformed. Kael and the other Xihirian shifters could communicate with them in a limited way. “My brothers, where’s my mate?” Kael asked the giant beasts. In response, the Wolftars turned and circled the remains of the tent. They whined low in their throats. “Saleeya.” Kael hurriedly looked through the remains of one of the tents. He found her rolled up in the canvas. His heart nearly stopped when he finally discovered her buried beneath and wrapped in the tent material, completely unaware of his presence. Blood covered her and the smell of burnt flesh assailed his senses. Kael became more concerned when she continued to not waken or move. He could hear her heartbeat and breathing, but she was so still.

  “Hold, Admoncor, let me take a look at her,” Medtor Fanstal instructed Kael. “I think she’s fine or soon will be. She’s simply overly exhausted and in shock. We’re in time. We need to warm her.” Medtor Fanstal looked through his medical kit. He gave Saleeya a shot of painkiller and healing accelerant.

  “Saleeya, I’ve come for you.” Kael brushed her hair back from her soiled face. He lightly kissed her forehead. “Saleeya, I love you.”

  Saleeya moaned and whispered, “I love you, Kael. You feel so good. More, please, more, do that to me more. I like it.” Saleeya squirmed in his arms. Obviously she was dreaming.

  “Can I pick her up, Medtor?”

  “Wait. Let me scan for broken bones. If there are none we can carry her back to the transport,” Fanstal informed Kael. After a quick scan, he approved moving her. “She has no broken bones, but she carries your child.” Fanstal moved out of the way to allow Kael to pick his mate up to carry her back to the waiting transport.

  “Why does she continue to sleep?” Kael was worried for her.

  “She’s healing herself. Her body and mind are managing the stress of what has happened. She’ll wake when she’s ready,” Fanstal assured him. Kael carried her into the transport and placed her on the med cot.

  “Thyson, please fly us home.” Kael heard his mate murmur his name.

  “Of course, Kael, I’ll inform the Palace that we’ve safely retrieved Princess Saleeya.”

  Chapter Twelve

  The transport sailed through the air as quickly as Thyson could pilot. “Where am I?” Saleeya woke.

  “Saleeya, it’s okay. You’re on a transport. I’m here with you.” Kael gently rubbed her arm.


  “Kael, I’m not dead?” Saleeya looked all around. Her eyes were big.

  “No, sweet Saleeya, you’re alive, praise Xian. I’m with you.” Kael brushed her damp and tangled hair back from her forehead. Saleeya sat up on the cot. “Saleeya, rest, lay back. Keep covered, we’ll be home soon,” Kael reassured her.

  “No, Kael, I want you to hold me. I want to feel your warmth.” Saleeya moved toward him. Kael scooped her up into his arms and held her on his lap. Saleeya placed her arms around his neck and kissed him. “Kael, am I still dreaming? I could smell your scent in my dreams. You were with me. I felt your hands on my body. We were making love. I remembered our lovemaking in such detail. Are you real?” Saleeya whispered close to his ear. “I’m worried this isn’t real.”

  “Yes, Saleeya. I am real. You’re safe.” Kael smoothed her hair down her back. He kissed her face tenderly.

  “I didn’t think you’d find me. I couldn’t find another palm vid-com to call you. I was so sad. Why didn’t those animals eat me? They kept watching me. I think they or others like them must have eaten those awful men,” Saleeya told him in a soft, barely audible voice as she laid her head on his shoulder.

  “I found you. Don’t worry anymore. You’re safe with me. I’ll never let you be in danger again. No one will take you from me ever again, I promise.” Kael caressed her hair and held her on his lap wrapped in the blanket. “The Wolftars don’t eat their own kind. They watched over you for me,” Kael briefly explained. Saleeya looked up into his eyes. She looked confused. “I’ll explain everything when you’re more rested.”

  * * * *

  Saleeya woke in a soft, familiar bed. She felt Kael next to her. “Kael, are you awake?” Saleeya reached out and touched his thigh.