Lovers of the Galaxy: Book Three: Raiders of the Lost Heart

by Trinity Blacio

  He sat forward and hugged her tightly. “As you can see, Venus is always thinking. Zandor, did Tapio send a cupola?”

  Zandor rose and glanced around the room. “You know he did, and we will talk later about Miln and Oshki. We have orders we need to follow.” He switched the chip at the base of his skull, turned, and then yelled in his native tongue to three of the men. Each warrior nodded and left to do his bidding.

  Venus stood and stretched. Her gaze on Zandor the entire time. “I see your friend and I are going to get along great, Volund, but I must give you a warning.” She turned to him, and he flinched. “Keep the big wuss away from me or he might end up with my foot up his ass. I never thought there would be warriors who act like assholes.” She grabbed the chart and stormed towards the stairs, but not before she heard the so-called death squad man.

  “If that was my bonded, she would be put in her place. Really, Volund, how can you let her run like this? That outfit she wears is already causing our men some problems.”

  Venus frowned and glanced down at her outfit. “What’s wrong with my clothes? They are comfortable and cool.” She shook her head and ran up a flights of stairs. She suddenly stopped and placed her hand on her stomach. A sharp pain went through her, robbing her of breath. But what scared her most was the cramping. She slowly curled up on the top of the stairs and held her breath, praying. “Please don’t let me lose them, please.” She rocked back and forth.

  “Venus, what’s wrong?” Jaxxon was there kneeling down beside her.

  Tears slid down her face.

  “Is it supposed to hurt? I’m cramping, Jaxxon. Isn’t it too early?” She hated it when she cried.

  Jaxxon scooped her up. He turned and growled at Zandor before they tran shifted to their private quarters.

  Venus flinched and moaned as Jaxxon laid her down on their bed. “I’m scared, Jaxxon. For the first time in a long time I’m really frightened. I don’t want to lose our babies.” She knew she sounded pitiful, but right now their unborn children meant everything to her.

  He dug in the large satchel he kept under their bed. “Volund, where is the frican?”

  Volund appeared in the room and opened one of the dresser drawers. He pulled out a small, green, triangle-shaped thing and handed it to him.

  Sitting next to her, Jaxxon took her arm as he turned on the machine. It emitted a whizzing noise, and a bright light turned on. She tried to jerk her hand back, but he held it tightly. “Hold still. There are no needles. This will check your blood without taking a sample.”

  “Volund,” he called, “we are going to need her scanner, too. I want to see what is going on inside the babies’ protective sack.” He pulled the instrument back when it screeched and spoke in his language. “Just as I figured, too much serum from the earlier vaccine.” He searched through the case and pulled out a small vile.

  A small knock on their door and Badden poked his head inside. “Do you need any help?” He and Acwel came in and stood near the end of the bed.

  Jaxxon went into the bathroom where she heard the water running. Moments later, he handed her a glass. “Drink. It will neutralize the extra serum you received. If you would have held still when it was administered, none of this would have happened. No, she will be fine now, thank you.”

  He lifted her shirt and placed the scanner on her stomach. He sighed. “The babies are fine. We are lucky the serum did not affect them. It will not cross the placenta.” Jaxxon glanced up at her before he turned and put the scanner away. “You will stay in bed for the rest of the day. You do not need any more stress.”

  Again, tears filled her eyes, and she faced the wall. She could’ve hurt their children. Dealing with Bone Eaters and bad-ass warriors were an everyday affair now, but she didn’t know if she could handle having these babies.

  Another soft knock on the door drew her attention. Immediately, Jaxxon pulled her into his arms and hugged her. “Venus, everything is okay, so do not cry. Where is our little warrior?” he soothed and rocked her back and forth.

  Volund opened the door and let Gram in.

  Chapter Twelve

  “Aww, sweetie what’s wrong?” Her grandmother sat down next to her on the bed when Jaxxon got up and left the room. The rest of the men followed him, leaving Venus and her Gram time alone to chat.

  As soon the men were gone, Venus fell apart. She laid her head in her Gram’s lap. “How did you do it with three children? I’m so scared.”

  Her Gram laughed and ran her hand through Venus’ hair just like she had done when she had been a child. “I think every first-time mother feels like this. You’re very lucky to have Jaxxon and Volund. Back in our day, women were just put in the hospital until they had their children. Men were too busy trying to save the Earth. Lean on your men, Venus. Let them help you. You need to sleep and rest.” She tried to get up, but Venus held onto her.

  “No, please stay. I can’t sleep.” She smiled and scooted up the bed, the cramps slowly easing away. “Gram, has anyone in our family ever had premonitions?” She clutched one of the pillows and hugged it. “I’ve had the same nightmare for the past three nights, but it seems so real. And little things around me are starting echo pieces of the dream, too.”

  Gram frowned. “Your great grandmother used to get flashes every once in a while, but usually it occurred when something bad was going to happen. One time her vision saved my life. What are you seeing?”

  Venus took her Gram’s hand and squeezed. “Then I guess I better tell Volund and Jaxxon. Who knows, maybe it’s just a nightmare.”

  Gram patted her hand and rose to bring back Venus’s men. She poked her head out of the room. “Venus would like to speak with you two. The rest of you might as well come in too. I have a feeling we’re going to need everyone’s input.”

  Volund followed Gram back into the room. He lifted Venus and sat on the bed with her in his arms.

  Jaxxon sat next to them with Gram on the edge of the bed. Venus smiled as she watched Gram glance up at Badden and Acwel as they sat down next to her. That was the second time she actually blushed around them. Zandor and Remus came in the room, but both leaned against the wall.

  Gram looked over her shoulder at her and winked. “Go on tell them.

  “What’s wrong? Why aren’t you resting?” Volund nuzzled her neck and hugged her tightly.

  Across the chamber, Zandor and Remus eyed Badden and Acwel.

  She squirmed on his lap and took a deep breath. “The past three nights…I’ve been having this dream, well, nightmare really. It’s the same one, over and over. Lately, little things are not making sense. For example the attack earlier…” Venus looked up into Volund’s face.

  “The Bone Eaters shouldn’t have been out, Volund. It was still light. And they attacked the bank’s weak spots, as if they knew what they were doing.”

  Nodding to the small computer-like box on Zandor’s belt, Jaxxon asked, “Can you access our feed from your bandex?”

  The red-skinned warrior pulled out a little white instrument and started running his fingers over sensors. “What is the access code?”

  Jaxxon rambled it off quickly and turned his attention back on her.

  “Go on, Venus, tell us the rest of it,” Volund prompted as he rubbed her shoulders.

  “Gram told me that my great grandmother used to have premonitions when danger was close. In my vision or nightmare, I see the Bone Eaters working at our entrances. Volund, they’re sacrificing others as they try to get in.” She laid her head on his chest. “How can we bring children into this area? Nothing is secure.” A cold shiver slid up her skin and she curled up closer to her man.

  Remus, Zandor, and Jaxxon all stared at the instrument Zandor held.

  “They do seem to be testing our security systems,” Jaxxon said as he looked up. “We can see a few of the same individuals, standing back and watching. Do you think Randle did something to some of the males? Are there any notes in your doctor friend’s journal?” He moved to the si
de of the bed and knelt beside them.

  “We have over twenty trained warriors here now, Venus. We will secure the area you want. Our children will be safe, trust us.” He took her hand and kissed it.

  Venus squeezed Volund’s arm and sat up. “I’m sorry for acting like a child, but things are changing so fast. I was alone for so long.” She leaned up and kissed Jaxxon on the lips. “I haven’t read the whole journal, but I know Miln did while he was here. There were some loose papers in the pouch…” She crawled to the side of the bed and sensed Volund was staring at her.

  He moaned. “Venus…”

  She looked over her shoulder, playing innocent. “What? I’m just trying to get off the bed.” She knew he was looking at her ass.

  He grabbed one of her ankles.

  “Stop it, Volund.” She kicked at him before she swung her legs off the bed. “We have some work to do.” Venus grinned and batted her eyes at him. “We can play later, but right now I need to find those papers.” She kneeled and started to dig under the bed.

  “What are you looking for? Maybe I can help?” Jaxxon picked her back up and sat her on the bed. “Plus, you shouldn’t be crawling around on the ground.”

  “I’m looking for that big, purple suitcase. I put the doctor’s pouch in it.”

  Jaxxon opened the closet door. “This one?”

  He picked it up, and she nodded.

  “Yep, that’s it. Bring it over here, please.” As soon as Jaxxon put the suitcase on the bed, she was in it, searching. “Here it is.” She ran her hand over the pouch.

  “Dr. Zeon would have loved hearing about you guys.” She sighed and scooted back against Jaxxon as she pulled out the loose papers.

  “Damn, Volund, we could be in trouble here.” She looked up at him then at Jaxxon. “It seems Randle was also doing experiments, but his was on how to control the males and make them think intelligently. However, Dr. Reginald Zeon believes Randle lost control of his test subjects.” She handed Jaxxon a sheet of paper.

  “This looks like some kind of serum, but it’s different from what Dr. Zeon’s formula. Can your machines tell us what its purpose is?”

  Jaxxon frowned, nodding. “I can run it on one of the ships’ computers, but right now I think we need to finish setting up our perimeter surrounding the buildings we wish to use, and start removing all the Bone Eaters from within that area.” Jaxxon nodded to Remus and Zandor, who left their quarters.

  Volund kissed her head and took the papers out of her hand. “We’ll discuss this later. Right now I want you to try and take a short nap. Please, Venus, you haven’t slept well in the last three days. You need to try and rest for the babies.” He grabbed the blanket at the end of the bed and covered her.

  “You and those little ones are our world. Let us worry about everything else for a while.” He kissed her lips and turned to leave.

  “Volund, do you think we’ll get our house ready before the babies come?” She frowned and shooed Jaxxon away as he tried to take her pulse. “Stop, I’m fine now.”

  “We’ll try Venus, but don’t worry about it now.” He left, and Jaxxon followed, closing the door.

  She sighed when Gram leaned over, brushed her hair back, and smiled down at her. “Let your men worry about this for now. You need to rest. You have been doing too much. I’ll talk to you in a few. Love you, Venus.” Her Gram turned to leave, but Venus grabbed her arm and squeezed. Both Badden and Acwel waited for Gram to help her if she needed it.

  “I’m so glad you’re here, Gram. I love you.” She let go and closed her eyes before her Gram could see her tears.

  ***

  Volund watched as Badden helped Venus’s grandmother down the hall to her own room. Zander and Remus stared at Acwel where he sat at the table with Volund and Jaxxon.

  “Say it now and get it over with, because I won’t have you upsetting the women. They have enough to worry about?” Acwel challenged Remus and Zander.

  Leaning back he smiled as both Remus and Zander moved towards the table. “If you think you are going to attack anyone here think again. Our woman is in there carrying our children. I will not have her upset when the three of you start destroying what she thinks of as hers.” Volund challenge the three of them.

  Zander placed his hand on Remus’s shoulder. “You are right and I apologize. We have no problems with you Badden, or Acwel, but your kin…”

  “He is out there doing his duty. Already he has eliminated one threat to our mission, and started the process of rebuilding Earth, by bringing us children and more women.”

  Remus looked at him for conformation and Volund nodded. “Yes, and from the last message I received from him, he seemed to have found some other women too. The communication was cut, but it matters not to me. He’s doing what he was supposed to”

  “He is supposed to be finding a woman for himself,” Remus snapped.

  Acwel grinned and sat back. “You can still have a woman and be with a male. Miln likes both, as does Badden and I. It’s really none of your concern or Tapio’s now is it? Why bother with him? Or is there another reason?”

  All talk stopped when Charlotte came in the room and smiled. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but my sister was wondering if it would be okay if she got up and walked around a little. She’d like to spend some time with the children,” she looked at Jaxxon while speaking, but kept stealing quick glances at Remus and Zander.

  “I’ll come and take a look. I don’t see it being a problem as long as she doesn’t over do it.” Jaxxon got up.

  Volund hid the smile as Zander and Remus kept their gazes on Charlotte as she left.

  It looked like Tapio’s puppets would be staying here for good, but the thought also worried him. He didn’t need Tapio dictating through them, or causing trouble. He was the leader of this base.

  “You are going to tell me the real reason why Tapio sent you here?” Volund scrutinized every move and gesture the two made.

  Zander’s gaze met Volund’s, each of them not giving the other an inch, till finally Zander turned his attention to Remus. “You know Tapio has no real liking for Miln, but his dislike for Miln’s partner is of greater issue. Oshki made many bad choices and left many men looking for him, including Tapio. Did you know that Miln wasn’t supposed to be in prison, but he refused to give up Oshki’s whereabouts?” Remus stated seeing Badden walk back in and sit down at the table near his brother.

  “I know, and I warned Miln about him, but he wouldn’t listen. There was something about Oshki. Miln was always doing twice the work, because Oshki was either too busy with something else, or he was with another man. I never knew where Miln met him, but he should have left him where he found him,” Badden stated and took the cold drink Jaxxon handed him.

  “Sometimes lust does that to a person.” Jaxxon stated. “I don’t want to change the subject, but we need to get moving on a few things. Venus only has about six months before our babies are born. I want her and our children somewhere safe and comfortable. That means we have to clean out most of this city out and get the wall up around an expanded compound.” Jaxxon looked at Volund who nodded.

  “I say we take half the men you brought and put up the enclosure. Use the coordinates Venus laid out. She knows this area the best. The other half I want to take down into the tunnels and see what we have there. If there are women and others still down there we need to move with caution.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Rolling over, Venus stretched, noting that both Jaxxon and Volund hadn’t come up to bed. Considering how late it was she was surprised. She ran her hand over the small swell of her stomach, the cramping was gone. “I know they said you little guys would grow fast, but this is amazing.” She slowly got up, still staring down at her tummy.

  “Your pa-pa and ma-ma would be so excited you were coming.” A knot formed in her throat as she thought of her father and mother. It seemed like just yesterday they were sitting in the park enjoying a picnic lunch with them. She smiled and laughed as
she got up, a surprise forming in her head. She knew just how to surprise her men.

  Her men had given her so much in such a short time that, Venus didn’t know how she could ever thank them. She moved to the bathroom and stripped out of her clothes. Before bed she wanted to check on the two other women downstairs. Her grandmother was nearly fully healed, and she expected the two females would be too. She needed to eat something before she settled in for the night, but right now the thought of food was not sitting well.

  Closing the shower curtain, Venus entered the shower. The warm water hit every tense muscle and she sighed. It was just what she needed to clear the cobwebs from her head. The newest ship carried over twenty warriors and there were many things that needed to be done for their accommodations here in the headquarters. And she was going to have to duplicate the good doctor’s formula. “Maybe we can catch more Bone Eater women tonight.”

  Turning off the shower, Venus stepped out of the tub and smiled at the warrior before her.

  Volund leaned against the counter, his arms crossed over his massive chest. She would never get tired at looking at her men, her gaze traveling down his body. She nibbled on her bottom lip, seeing that his cock was growing wider and longer as she stared. Her attention jerked back up to his face and she saw him grinning, knowing how affected she was.

  “It’s too late to set the traps for more test subjects. Jaxxon and I will set them tomorrow, but you won’t go anywhere near them, agreed?” He reached for the towel and started to slowly dry her off. By the time he was finished, her whole body tingled with sexual arousal.

  “Volund!” She leaned against his massive frame and kissed his bare chest. “I expect satisfaction tonight, you big tease.” She titled her head back and stared up at him. He leaned down and nipped her nose.

  “We’ll see. You need to take it easy tonight.” He picked up the nightshirt behind him and slipped it over her head. It floated down to her knees, but it was comfortable. Swinging her up in his arms, he kissed her lips softly. “One lab coming up,” he announced.