by J. J. Lore
The king’s solemn visage appeared, and he started in on matters of policy with, as was his habit, no effort to greet or capture the audience’s attention. He was the king and had lived his entire life with everyone around him falling silent whenever he opened his mouth to speak. He made the announcement that the campaign against the illegal Xyran outposts in the Dark Eye galaxy’s rim were proceeding well. After that good news, he then moved on to domestic matters where he proceeded to lay out a new directive regarding the awarding of concessions to military contractors and his implementation of a law granting full citizenship to any bonded female, no matter her species, and any subsequent offspring.
Edem’s breath drew in at this, and Mal sensed his bondmate’s excitement. Of course, Edem was far more progressive than his father and the delay in which human women were being officially recognized had rankled him, as it had Mal, but still, the depth of Edem’s emotion far outstripped the actual impact of the law. He wondered briefly what the traditionalists would do to counter, then decided he’d find out soon enough when they landed and he was again embroiled in court maneuverings.
Just as the king inhaled in preparation for another pronouncement, the screen blurred with a flicker of light and all definition of the regal throne and the man upon it shifted to scattered bits of color. The captain snapped an order to his communications commander, and a young officer leaped toward a bank of monitors, all of which showed the same disorder. Suddenly a loud warning wail sounded, and the captain cried out there was a hull breech in an area very close to the royal suite. Mal stiffened, an atavistic concern for Corrine wiping away all other concerns.
Edem growled low in his throat, and with a quick scramble was dodging between the gathered officers, rushing headlong toward the exit hatch. Mal bellowed out for his bondmate to stop, but he never even glanced back.
“Guards, with me!” Mal shouted to the cohort assigned to security, and they all plunged through the opening in pursuit of the prince. They quickly caught up with Edem in the corridor, but before Mal could apprehend him, the lights dimmed to red, indicating a security lockdown. More than a simple hull breach was taking place.
“Attention all hands, a craft has attached to our hull and there are reports of a hostile boarding party. Collect arms and gather in your designated assembly areas for further orders.” The captain’s voice didn’t betray any emotion.
Rather than wait for the elevator between decks to arrive, his impetuous bondmate ripped the cover from the emergency access tube and leaped onto the climbing bar within, sliding down so quickly Mal was again unable to speak to him. There was nothing to do but follow suit and descend with his arms and legs wrapped around the rod. Regretting not being able to unholster his weapon, Mal leaped to the correct deck’s pad and followed Edem into the corridor, trusting his guards to follow. They emerged into a smoky haze, the red lights making everything seem as if it were conjured from the molten depths of a planet. Loud shouts and the rattling blasts of pulse bolts greeted them, and Mal grasped Edem’s arm before he could plunge into the fighting.
“What are you doing?” Their retinue of bodyguards had gathered around them and all of them scanned their surroundings alert for any threat.
“We must find Corrine,” Edem snapped back, his golden eyes alight with ferocious determination. “She is in peril, and I will not hold back and allow others to fight for her.”
Mal gave a quick, instinctive nod of agreement even as he unsheathed his palm blade. The weapon was capable of firing energy projectiles and boasted a laser edge, so it was well-suited for close quarters fighting, which this was shaping up to be. Edem drew a similar weapon and edged down the corridor, flanked by Mal. There wasn’t much time to consider their plan, so Mal resolved to concentrate on keeping Edem and Corrine alive and worry about motivations later.
The acrid stink of burning resin nearly obscured the distinctive aroma of the Alphans’ most foul enemy. Xyrans were aboard. The thought of those barbaric raiders being on board the royal yacht and in such close proximity to Corrine made Mal’s blood heat near to boiling. He and Edem had never been permitted to fight their ancient enemies hand-to-hand, but that would change today. As one they plunged into the smoke, homing in on the sound of growls and groans.
Erratic bursts of light reflected in the murk, making it difficult to judge distances, but Edem forced his way ahead, pausing only to check on the wellbeing of a fallen Alphan steward, one Mal recognized from serving their meal that morning. They must be close to the suite, and Corrine. Mal pressed his hand to Edem’s shoulder to hold him back and then stepped ahead in a crouch, alert to movement. Shadows shifted ahead, and he leveled his weapon, unwilling to take a shot and potentially injure an ally. As a unit, they shuffled forward. A sudden flash of movement ahead caught his eye, and he made out a large framed male, whose head was devoid of horns. Xyran. Without hesitation he fired and was rewarded by the partially obscured sight of the man falling heavily to the deck. Edem tried to push ahead, but Mal would have none of it, forcibly crowding his bondmate behind him, determined to use his body as a shield as he’d been trained to do.
A high-pitched cry filled the air, and his nerves fired. It was Corrine, in great distress. With a deep growl, Edem lurched around him and rushed into the smoke, Mal running hot behind him, his anxiety ratcheting to new levels as he considered the threats to their persons. A scrum of big shapes loomed ahead, and Mal roared for them to stop. Bright flashes of light rocketed their way, and a strange, detached part of his mind noted the pirates were using low force pulses. Not even they wanted to risk an unnecessary hull breach.
A burning pain streaked across his upper chest and he heard and felt Edem grunt with some sort of impact, but his bondmate never wavered, plunging into battle with the closest Xyran before Mal could intervene. Then it was a hectic melee of thrusts and parries, with guttural curses filling the air. The rush of the remaining security detail cut down two of the raiders as Mal grappled his foe to the deck where the Xyran writhed and attempted to choke him. The alien’s thick fingers closed around his neck, and Mal sucked in obstructed breaths, his vision clouding even as he wondered where Corrine and Edem were, how they fared in this conflict within the confines of the small corridor. Arms and legs flailed around him, and he struggled to gouge out his opponent’s slitted eyes.
A small shape hurtled in, and in a flurry of movement, Corrine beat at the downed Xyran’s head with a small platinum statuette of a javelin thrower. Where she’d gotten the improvised weapon he couldn’t hazard a guess, but with only a few blows, the raider was unconscious, his hands loosening their clamp-like grip on Mal’s neck and falling away. He sucked in a deep and reviving breath and clutched Corrine to his side. Her tiny body shook, and he lifted her as he rose to his feet, desperate to find Edem. He sensed only determination and aggression from his bondmate, so he knew Edem was uninjured, but in these close quarters it could take only a matter of a second before tragedy struck.
Sheltering Corrine as best he could, Mal advanced over fallen Xyran bodies, some twitching, others completely still. His Alphan guards had more than proven the worth of their elite training. A scatter of small goods from the royal suite littered the deck, an upended casket of gems, gold goblets, and viridium lamps. The mark of thieves interrupted. The smoke was thicker here, and over the shouts and twangs of pulse bolts he could hear a strange humming noise. Corrine coughed and pointed into a thick bank of smoke.
“He’s there,” she cried out and strained to move in that direction, gesturing with her makeshift weapon. She twisted in his arms, and yet again Mal found himself trying to keep someone he loved out of danger. The sudden realization of his feelings brought him up short, and he almost stopped moving, a huge tactical error in the middle of battle, even one as nearly finished as this. He’d think it over later. Decision made, he rushed toward the smoke and the humming noise, Corrine trotting at his side.
Within a few strides he could make out the bulkhead of the corridor a
nd discovered it was rent asunder, the metal and ceramic skin of the ship twisted back by huge black claws, revealing an opening leading to what appeared to be a small airlock. Apparently the Xyrans had developed some sort of ship that could attach to the side of another and tear directly into it, allowing its crew to enter by merely stepping from their ship to the other. Inside the foreign airlock, Edem was locked in battle with what seemed to be the sole remaining Xyran. To give the interloper credit, he wasn’t attempting a retreat, even though his fellows lay scattered around him as the Alphans drew in.
Corrine brandished her cudgel and made as if to join in the fight, but Mal caught her up, not wanting Edem to lose concentration or perhaps trigger some disengagement mechanism on the other ship. The failing Xyran put up a valiant effort, but stumbled and fell under his bondmate’s precise hand and foot strikes. The creature’s skin mottled a red and sickly shade of yellow as he finally fell to his knees. Edem stood above him and struck an enormous blow to the back of his enemy’s skull, and the Xyran sprawled unconscious on the deck. His bondmate rose to his full height and stared at them for an intense moment, then leaned his head back and let out a primal roar of triumph and strength as he stepped from the airlock and back aboard. Corrine gave a little squeak and launched herself into Edem’s arms.
With the cessation of battle, Mal could now make out that the strange humming noise he’d detected earlier was that of the ship attached to the royal yacht’s side. How they were going to travel safely with it there was a matter for the ship’s captain and engineer. All that mattered to him was that his bondmate and Corrine were safe.
****
“Sire, would you like me to assist you with the removal?” Centurion Durant, his face streaked with soot and his eyes alight with the fire of battle, gestured with a shining blade at the battered Xyran brigand who was crumpled at Edem’s feet.
Edem kept Corrine close, relishing the sensation of her soft body pressed to his. Mal stalked nearby, directing the cleanup of the deceased pirates and the imprisonment of the survivors. His bondmate sent quick glances their way constantly, and Edem was very aware he wanted privacy, probably to lecture Edem on how he’d put himself and the royal succession at risk. Of Corrine, there could be no criticism. She’d behaved with all the courage of a warrior twice her size. A heady rush of victory coursed through his veins, accompanied by the instinctive thrill of besting an ancient enemy. He barely noticed the slight wound he’d acquired on this thigh.
“Removal of what?” Corrine asked in a breathy voice.
“His gems, my lady,” the young officer replied as he slashed open the limp Xyran’s leather vest. Displayed on the wide chest were embedded jewels following a twisting pattern along the swells of muscle. Quite a few resided there, and Edem’s sense of accomplishment grew. His opponent had been a savage of some skill and cunning to have accumulated and retained such a collection.
“Would you cut them out? Edem, are you going to hurt him while he’s helpless like that?” Corrine’s wide eyes met his with an expression of concern. Her compassion was a wonderful trait, but not suited for the conduct of relations between Alpha and Xyran. The betrayals and crimes stretched back too far to forgive. Better to spare her the more graphic realities.
“It won’t hurt if he’s dead.” Edem poked at the fallen man with the toe of his boot, and the unconscious warrior trembled.
“Oh, then shall I…” The crouching officer made as if to slice the Xyran’s head from his body, and Corrine stiffened and shook her head rapidly.
“I think mere removal of the gems will do, Durant,” Mal interrupted as he strode to them. “I will take the lady back to our chambers. This has all been quite a strain. Inform the captain I will await his report of the incident and his plan for commencing our return to Alpha. Please be sure to reassure our other human guests that all will be well.”
With that Mal swept Corrine up in his arms and gave Edem a stern look, one none of the others present would have been able to catch. Yes, he was in trouble with his bondmate, and the thought of chastisement sent a shiver of nervous excitement through his veins. They needed to reassure their human that all was well, all was in fact wonderful, but first he had to face his punishment for leaping ahead.
A steward had gathered up the scattered treasures the Xyrans had attempted to steal, and was in their cabin trying to make order from the chaos of the raid. Mal dismissed him with a word, and as soon as the other Alphan departed, Mal kissed Corrine deeply. She responded with a pleased whimper as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. Edem wished for a kiss from them as well. With a sigh, Mal stopped his caress and carefully lowered Corrine to the rug, keeping hold of her waist even as he turned on Edem with narrowed eyes. Before his bondmate even said a word, his emotions projected out with a force almost strong enough to sway Edem off his feet.
“How could you do such a foolish, ill-considered, hazardous, disrespectful thing? Rushing ahead into a threat we hadn’t assessed? Engaging in brutal combat without me by your side?” Mal’s words didn’t fully express the anger and shame Edem could sense. Mal drew up and gave a quick shake of his head as Corrine glanced between them.
“How did I disrespect you?”
“By usurping my role. I am made to protect you. My body stands between you and any threat. I am your bondmate and kisero.”
Edem swallowed hard, realization of how much he’d hurt and frightened Mal slowly coming to him. He had to make amends. “I’m sorry. I let instinct take control.”
Mal seemed to accept his apology with a slump of his shoulders. Edem approached the pair and was rewarded with a brilliant smile from Corrine as she ran her hands along his chest and arms as if searching for wounds. It seemed the excitement of battle agreed with her disposition. She then lifted her face and threaded her fingers into his hair, tugging him down for a deep kiss. As she pressed her lush body to his, breasts to chest, thigh to thigh, he wondered if perhaps the roar and tension of conflict had triggered another emotion within her. Mal evidently wondered the same thing as he joined their embrace by circling his arm around Edem’s shoulder. The warm weight of it was reassuring.
“Your chest is burned. Does it hurt?” Corrine asked Mal as she hesitatingly ran a fingertip along the edge of the burned fabric. The section of his bondmate’s chest revealed by the tear was reddish, but showed no sign of deeper injury.
“I don’t even notice it,” Mal rumbled, then kissed Corrine’s wrist. “I don’t know what I would have done if you’d been injured, either of you.”
Edem drew away from Corrine’s sweet, hot mouth and stared at his bondmate. What was he saying?
“We weren’t hurt,” Corrine spoke up. “I was so worried about the two of you when those horrible men burst in here, my main aim was to find you rather than escape them. Completely illogical, I know.” She nuzzled Edem’s neck and then turned to Mal to kiss his chin. “But I’m doing and feeling the oddest things lately.”
Edem was in favor of her transformation.
“Will we be interrupted? Will someone come to make a report soon?” Corrine asked as she deliberately ran her hands along both their chests, an imitation of her motion in the bath that had started them down the path to bliss. Mal activated his comm link and tersely informed the bridge they wanted privacy, and he gathered Corrine in his arms again.
“I would have you shed these clothes. They smell of smoke and Xyran spoor. Edem and I must inspect you closely to verify you weren’t injured.”
Apparently Corrine wasn’t the only one aroused by their close call. Mal marched into the bedroom, and as soon as he set her down, Edem moved in to disrobe her, with her eager assistance. She made little encouraging sounds as he removed her shirt and trousers, her fingers tangling with Mal’s as he pulled away her undergarments. She stood before them, pale and soft, more alluring than anything he’d ever encountered. Mal dropped to his knees before her and pulled her palm in for a kiss, then pressed his face to her belly. She settled a hand on his
head and gripped one of his horns. Edem groaned a little at the provocative sight.
“Are you certain they did not injure you?” Edem genuinely wished to insure her care, but Corrine took the opportunity to lean his way and grasp his shoulder. Just having her touch him in such a simple manner was incredibly arousing. His heart was pounding, and he knew it wasn’t merely from the recently concluded fight.
“They just grabbed me and cornered me by the door. They were more interested in stealing.”
Not wanting to be distracted by the specter of Corrine at the hands of their enemies any longer, Edem turned to the business at hand. He captured her cheek with his palm and stroked down her neck to coast his fingertips along the curve of her collarbone. She shivered and closed her eyes, her dinap tightening to erect nubs. Mal took to nuzzling her belly as he spread his hands along her upper thighs. The worry for her safety that had propelled Edem into the fight unprepared now morphed into a delightful blend of desire and affection. His bondmate crouched lower and pressed his face between her legs. She stiffened and cried out at the touch, and the strained sound of her arousal jolted through him like fire as his tesak broke free from the roof of his mouth, the sharp points nearly puncturing his lower lip. The surprise of the primitive response, one he shouldn’t be having, made him flinch, but he decided it was merely a residual effect of the excitement of battle combined with the prospect of sex.
Edem gently guided her back to the bed, and she stumbled onto it, Mal’s broad shoulders pushing her legs wide as he knelt before her. He watched his bondmate tongue her quonum. He stripped off his own clothes while appreciating the play of muscles in Mal’s back, and seeing Corrine twitch and shiver as she clutched at Mal’s horns to keep him correctly positioned. Her tart scent filled the air, and his staff swelled along with his tesak. His urge to claim her, and be possessed by her in turn was nearly overwhelming. She thrashed against the bed, and his bondmate drew back, stroking her belly in a soothing way as he rose.
