“Marie!” He crushed her to his chest. His hot, heavy breath tickled her cheek. She pushed against him, even when all she wanted to do was sink into him and forget about what had just happened. “I’m okay, Alastor.”
“What happened to you? I couldn’t wake you.”
“We have to go to the women. Now.”
A frown formed on his forehead. “What do you mean? Do you know where they are?”
Marie clutched his biceps, steel beneath silk. “Black Feather just told me. The entity that controls the Reptiles is using them to breach the barrier. Black Feather said it’s coming through. They need our help… if we don’t get there soon. Alastor… it’s using their souls…” She shuddered, remembering the oppressive evil in the background. She could barely comprehend the devastation it was capable of.
His gaze hardened as he slipped from man to soldier. “Tell me more.”
“They said it’s stronger. Much stronger. They can only hold it off for so long in the next dimension. If we don’t rescue the women, we don’t have a chance of stopping it. It’s using them to make some sort of portal. If it succeeds, none of us stand a chance.” Her grip tightened on his arm and horror reared through her. “And it will be soon. Very soon.”
“Where are the human females?” Alastor asked.
“Black Feather said they are in the pyramid where the Starlight detected the energy spike,” Marie said.
“Then we will go now.” Alastor picked her up without another word. He placed her on the sand and she raced to scoop up her clothing.
Her skin prickled with awareness and she glanced over her shoulder. She was Alastor’s sole focus. He didn’t just look at her, his gaze pierced her. His hair was damp with water and droplets dripped from the strands onto his bare chest.
She followed a trickle as it drizzled over the bumps of his abdomen to the waistband of his wet pants. To the very obvious bulge straining the front. His fists clenched and unclenched as he stared right at her, open hunger in his eyes.
She gulped, wriggling into her clothes as best she could despite damp skin. Her clothing stuck to her, slowing her progress. Large hands skimmed hers and he helped her to dress. Hands that had given her the biggest orgasm of her life.
She should have stopped him when he’d scooped her up and held her against him, but his touch was addictive, as was how he’d touched her and stroked her to oblivion. As though she was the most precious thing in the world. It was a temptation she was too weak to resist, but resist she must. She refused to be played like that.
Besides, he was a soldier and they were at war. She was a human who would return home to Earth and he would continue to journey through stars. Even if there was something special between then, there was no future.
She didn’t have it in her heart to survive that, because if there was one thing she knew, Alastor had the capacity to take her heart and she didn’t know how she’d survive if she gave it.
She had to keep her head in the game. If she didn’t, the future of the universe, let alone the lives of many more innocent people, really was at stake.
Chapter Nineteen
She jogged back to the village, Alastor on her heels. It was dark and late, the villagers having long gone to sleep. Given that they were still recuperating from the Reptile abuse, she wasn’t surprised. They needed weeks of recovery to fully heal their bodies. Their minds were another thing altogether, if they ever healed at all.
If the evil she’d felt was able to breach this world, no one would stand a chance. The Reptiles had enslaved planets… this entity would annihilate them. She wondered what could possibly motivate an entity to go to such lengths to breach dimensions, to maim, torture and kill so many innocent people who weren’t even in a similar universe. Strong enough that Black Feather and Lyria were more than concerned—and they were strong—masters in their own right. This was serious.
They entered the small room where Alastor had been so ill. He was still healing and probably in pain, not that he gave any indication.
“Were our packs saved?” Alastor asked.
She took them from a closet, as well as the Seeker. He immediately turned it on. The holograph blinked to life about the screen on his wrist. The massive pyramid appeared, rising from flat sands. Numbers scrolled to the side. Blue and purple lines wove and fell above the pyramid that weren’t there before.
“Why is it doing that?” Marie asked.
“The energy. It’s incredibly high.” As they watched, one of the lines jumped and disappeared off the top. Alastor cursed. “That isn’t good.”
Seriat appeared at the door. “I heard some noise. Is everything all right?”
“No, it isn’t Seriat. We have to leave.” Marie gave her a quick rundown of what had just happened, omitting the mind-blowing orgasm she’d experienced.
Shock crossed Seriat’s features as her gaze bounced between Alastor and herself. “What can we do?”
Alastor systematically tipped out the gear from the backpacks and began to repack one of them. Red seeped through the bandages on his back. Marie gasped, “Alastor, your back!”
“I’ll get the doctor and fresh bandages.” Seriat darted out of the room.
“What are those?” she asked. There were some wicked-looking items there she hadn’t seen before.
“Weapons. Water.” He straightened and an expression crossed his face she had no name for. “Marie, you don’t have to come. I don’t want to put you in danger. If anything happened…”
“I am not afraid.” She knew what awaited her after passing. A life spent speaking with the dead had removed that fear.
“I know you’re not afraid, but this might be violent,” Alastor said.
“And this is also my choice. You have to respect that,” Marie said.
His eyes darkened and he cupped her cheek. Heat rose from within her belly as she placed her hand over his. His thumb gently traced her cheek. “You are brave, Marie. I have been so wrong, and now it seems I have run out of time to be grateful for the life I’ve been given. My regret is that I didn’t open my eyes sooner.”
Shock washed through her as Seriat returned with the doctor. He took one look at Alastor’s wounds and didn’t waste any time. “Please, sit. Seriat has told me what has happened. I have some numbing gel I can apply. It should make you more comfortable.”
Alastor nodded. “I appreciate it.” He sat on the end of the cot while the doctor treated him.
Marie winced as wet, bloodied bandages were piled on the floor. The wounds beneath were red and raw, and must hurt like hell.
“I have an energy drink. It will give you much needed nutrients,” Seriat said.
“I’ll take all the help I can get,” Marie said.
Seriat poured some incandescent green liquid into two simple, wooden cups. Marie didn’t hesitate before gulping the liquid down. It burnt a fiery path down her throat. A cosy warmth built in her stomach and extended through her body, making her blood spark and tingle. Energy pulsed through her. “Wow. That packs a punch,” Marie said.
“It is given to warriors who trek through the sands for weeks. It gives their bodies the extra reserves they need to undertake such a task,” Seriat said.
Marie could well imagine it did. She felt she could run a marathon, despite never having trained in her life. Seriat handed Alastor his cup and he quickly swallowed the liquid.
“My people and I want to come with you,” Seriat said.
“That is not necessary. They are still recovering and there is some distance to travel,” Alastor said.
“But we can help. We will meditate, just like you showed us, Marie,” Seriat said.
It was a long shot. They’d only tried one meditation session. Marie sent a silent player to Black Feather to help them.
“We must leave, Marie.” Alastor slung the pack over his shoulder as though his back wasn’t completely shredded. His expression remained stoic. Sometimes he seemed more machine than man, or maybe that was his military tra
ining. Show no weakness. Show no emotion.
“Try. Please.” She gave Seriat a hug. “Wish us luck.”
“We will help you any way we can. I’ll go round up everyone now and start meditating. Hopefully you’ve taught us enough to be able to do what needs to be done,” Seriat said.
“Thank you, Seriat. Goodbye, my friend.” She couldn’t even say she’d see her again, or even if she’d survive. Blinking back tears, she followed Alastor outside, the luminous hologram shrouding his face with blue light.
“It’s this way.”
She nodded, falling into step next to him. Whatever was in the drink surged through her system and she silently thanked Seriat. Soon they left the shelter of the village behind them and walked across an enormous sand flat.
“Marie. About tonight.” Although he spoke quietly, his words had a much greater impact.
She took a fortifying breath, while her gut churned with lead. “I really don’t know what possessed me in the… water, but I just want you to know I won’t be like that again. I understand this isn’t the time or place for whatever this is between us and I don’t want to take your focus off the mission.”
“And what about after the mission?” His eyes were molten silver.
After the mission? There was no ‘after the mission’, nor would there be a ‘during the mission’, either.
“Alastor, you and I both know it’s not a good idea. Everything is so uncertain. We’re in an unknown galaxy. Even if we manage to save these women, what then? You’ll go on another mission. I’ll try to make my way back to Earth. Somehow. That’s my home. It always will be. I need to go back there.” Those words were the truth. She had people who needed her. Loved ones who had passed who needed to get messages to their families.
So why did she clutch her stomach when her gut kicked and her heart thudded with a sickening lurch? She wanted to reach out to Black Feather, but stopped herself. They were in a desperate situation and she couldn’t disturb him about her love-life—or absence of it.
To be honest, she’d used him—and her abilities—as a crutch more and more since that day. She had to start to make decisions for herself. But why did they have to be so painful.
“Marie…” Alastor stepped towards her, his powerful scent enveloping her, making her want to throw herself in his arms and beg him to kiss her. Her skin tingled in anticipation, her lips parted, but her brain intervened.
She held up her hand, stepping back. “Besides, Alastor. We might not make it back from this mission. You seem hellbent on risking your life for this war. What do you think is going to happen? We kiss. Maybe make love. And then you go and sacrifice your life all for the greater good. This isn’t a holiday and this isn’t a romance. I don’t know what to call it other than certain doom. It’s a bad idea and we should both acknowledge it and move on. It will be better for both of us in the long run. Believe me.”
Chapter Twenty
She said nothing he hadn’t thought before, but now there was a difference. He wanted more. He wanted her. She’d spoken words when her entre body communicated different ones.
And yet, she was right.
This was not the time for making love.
And yet, she was wrong.
He didn’t want to sacrifice his life anymore. He wanted to see her come alive beneath his touch again. Wanted to witness her response to his mouth. Sink his cock into her, not just his fingers. For the first time in a long time, he wanted more than just Reptile blood and revenge.
He wanted redemption. Forgiveness. He wanted to feel alive again.
“You’re wrong, Marie. We’ll get through this mission and then we will explore what is between us. You’ve given me more to want in life. Something bigger. Something better.”
He gathered her in his arms and lowered his mouth to hers. He expected a struggle, but there was none. Her body was stiff before she melted into his arms and responded to his kiss, just like she had the other time he’d kissed her. That said more to him than mere words.
He swept his tongue into her mouth, taking what she was willing to give. This wasn’t a tentative kiss. He was claiming her as his. Branding her with his tongue. Coercing her with his lips. Bending her to his will with his taste.
This kiss wasn’t about asking. This was a demand to stop thinking. Stop rationalising.
He’d done enough of that for the both of them.
He supported her head in the palm of his hand, her hair streaming like the softest silk over his skin as he ended their kiss. Her lips glistened in the moonlight, shadowed and dusky pink. Closed eyes slowly blinked open, her dazed gaze finding his. He liked seeing her like that. Would do his utmost to have her look like that all of the time.
“Your response says a different thing from your words, Marie.” He barely recognised his own voice, it was so low and husky.
His body screamed to kiss her again. Find an oasis and bury himself in paradise. Instead, he set her back on her feet and made sure she was steady before reluctantly letting her go. There would be time to explore later—now that he had a later.
“Alastor, I…”
“We have a mission, Marie. Which we will do and we will succeed. And we will annihilate them all. Afterwards we will talk about all the reasons you have for not exploring what it is between us. Are you able to walk, Marie? We still have quite a distance to go. I can carry you if you need me to.”
“But… your back.”
The wall around his heart chipped away a little bit more at her consideration. “Is fine. I’ll get medical treatment aboard the Starlight and it will be as though it never happened. Whatever the doctor gave me is working well. Are you ready to proceed?”
She frowned, her brow creasing in confusion. “I’m ready to keep walking. But… I meant what I said, Alastor.”
It didn’t matter what she said. Hers were empty words, protesting over something she wanted as much as he did. He wanted her. Desperately. He could no longer deny that, and he had reached a stage where he didn’t want to. It had been like this with Keira, and when she had died, not being able to touch her had affected him.
The physical loneliness had been overwhelming. His body had yearned for Keira’s touch, the hurt like withdrawal pains. He’d replaced that sort of comfort with another, starker kind. Replaced gentleness with anger. Contentment with resentment. Love with the need to kill, maim, and destroy everything that had taken his world away.
He’d lived in a deep, cold, endless pit of rage and wrath. He’d forgotten the goodness life could bring. He’d blamed Keira for leaving him, even when he knew it was illogical.
He’d pushed others away, too scared to let anyone else in. Had stewed in the darkness and anger—and had delighted in it in his self-righteousness—while at the same time, forgetting what Keira had brought into his life. The light. The joy. He’d forgotten all of that in his taste for revenge. Now, that revenge didn’t seem all that important.
He’d forgotten that time in his life when they’d met on their first training mission, that he’d been captivated by her laugh. It was infectious. He’d fought to be serious, while at the same time, enveloped with the urge to laugh out loud. That was what Keira had brought into his life while she had been alive. He should be grateful for it.
“Who’s Keira?” She sucked in a quick breath, “Oh, I’m sorry. The name just popped into my head. Forget I said anything. I need to stop blurting things out like that.” She dipped her head and her silky, platinum hair covered her face as though she was ashamed of herself.
He tucked the strand behind her ear. She should never be ashamed of herself or her gift. He’d pushed people away from speaking about Keira, but Keira was more than her death. Her life should be celebrated and remembered, and he couldn’t think of a better person to tell.
There was no acceptance without absolution. He wanted more than a physical attraction with Marie. Much more. Nothing great was gained without sacrifice.
He drew a steeling breath. It was still ha
rd. It had been a long time since he’d spoken about Keira and he just realised now wrong that actually was. “She was… my wife.”
“Was?”
“She… died. Fighting the Reptiles.”
Marie sucked in a quick breath. “I’m so sorry, Alastor. You… must have loved her very much.”
Marie’s gaze fell from his face. He wanted her to look at him. Wanted her to know it was important that he shared Keira with her. He tucked his knuckle beneath her chin and tipped her head back until their gazes caught.
“She was my wife. I loved her deeply.”
Marie’s eyes filled with unspent tears. “Of course you did.”
He took another deep breath. This was hard, but if he wanted any sort of future with Marie, he had to tell her. “Her death was my fault.”
“But, you said she died fighting the Reptiles?”
He nodded. He needed her to see the true him, and for that he needed to relive the worst day of his life. “I told her I’d be there for her, but we were separated.” It had been one of the most brutal battles he’d ever fought. They’d suffered serious losses for no gain. “She’d fought well. Bravely. But she was cornered by four Reptiles. I saw it happen, Marie. I saw it happen and I couldn’t do anything to stop it.” He shook with impotent rage. With grief. It was only through years of practising self-control that he didn’t crumble right in front of her. “What sort of male am I that I did not protect my wife? She was mine to protect and I let her die.”
Marie’s warm hands wrapped around his and gently squeezed. “What gave you the idea you let her do anything?”
His gaze snapped to hers. “Death is not a choice.” He’d seen too many species screaming their last breaths to know death was certainly no choice.
“Death is a part of life, and souls choose what they want in life. There’s a plan. Often a harsh plan, but one made with the greatest possible outcome. The one thing I’ve come to learn, is that there is no true death. Only the body dies. The soul, which is our true self, lives on. There was nothing about her death that was your fault. She chose her pre-destined death. Everyone does.”
Alastor: Sci-Fi Alien Romance (A Hexonian Alien Romance Book 3) Page 12
