Celestial Beauty

by Angela Castle

  “It doesn’t matter though,” Kue said, “The point is she is ours. She belongs to us, and you all know there is nothing we won’t do to reclaim her.”

  They all nodded, unified as brothers in total agreement. Celeste was their very life blood, the air they breathed, and they needed her back where she belonged, among the four of them.

  Chapter Sixteen

  A crack of light appeared in Celeste’s room, rousing her from her sleep, but she didn’t move, not wanting to alert whoever stood in her doorway that she was awake.

  “She’s been asleep for almost nineteen hours. She looked so sad and lost when she came in, my heart hurts for her.” The soft voice of Daisy whispered to her man, and Celeste relaxed.

  “Love, you should not worry yourself so, and you need rest with our young so close to coming into the universe.” The deep rumble came from one of her husbands.

  After arriving at the Qui-Palace the guards had fetched the High Councillors, and she was then quickly ushered into their home, where their lovely, white haired and very pregnant wife, Daisy, welcomed her.

  Celeste had told them she couldn’t stay with her men any longer. They had hurt her, and she never wanted to see them again. She’d stressed the words “never again”.

  The High Councillors assured her she was under their protection and would never be harmed again. Which was easier said than done, when the deep pain throbbing inside her heart refused to lessen or leave. Daisy had provided food then showed her into a guest room where she’d fallen into bed and into a deep dreamless slumber.

  There was a rumble of one of the High Councillors—she wasn’t sure which one it was—even though they’d been introduced. His deep voice brought her mind back to the present. “Medical has informed us Celeste is with young. She needs her rest and proper nutrients.”

  “But what of her men? Have you talked to them? What did they do to hurt her so much?”

  Daisy’s husband let out a patient sigh. “They have been outside demanding to see her. Said there was some mix-up at their domicile. But the guards have turned them away. We haven’t yet gotten to the bottom of this, but we will. Until Celeste is rested and awake enough to tell us what happened, we will not rely on their word.”

  “Shouldn’t you arrest them? They could be like the old High Councillors and trying to do to her what they did to me.”

  “This is more complicated, because all the tests we put in place to make sure no human female was under duress, were passed by this human. Medical reported she was very eager to be reunited with her men. Something happened and something is not right, but now is not the time for you to be worrying. Come, my love, you are tired and need your rest. Let’s leave Celeste to hers. We’ll sort things out. After all, it’s what we do best.”

  Daisy sighed. “I trust you to do what’s right for her, and I do feel a little tired. Do you think I could get another foot rub?”

  “Of course, my beautiful.” Her husband’s soft, happy chuckle faded as the door closed.

  Celeste turned over. She stretched her sore, tired muscles before sitting up. She blinked in the muted light, and winced at the pressure on her bladder. Groggily, she climbed from the bed and wobbled across the bedroom into the adjoining bathroom, to relieve herself and wash.

  Coming out, she stood in the centre of the room, not knowing what to do. Her mind went over Daisy’s and her husband’s conversation. A mix-up at the house. Maybe she had been wrong and misheard what was really going on? Maybe she should see her men and let them explain. Her men. There was no getting past the fact she still saw them as hers. She thought back over how hard they’d worked to earn her trust. They wouldn’t just throw that away like that. Emotions swamped her. How she wanted all this to be nothing but a silly mistake, how much she longed to be held in their arms, feel their lips on her skin. Even now she craved them like a strong narcotic.

  The long strip of crimson curtain at the balcony door to her room fluttered in the warm city breeze. The air swirled around her as she walked over, not remembering it being open when she’d woken up.

  She moved through the material, pushing the balcony door open further, staring over the balcony of the huge Qui-Palace. She gripped the railing and sighed again.

  The hair on the back of her neck prickled. It was the only warning she got as a large hand suddenly camped over her mouth. Another banded around her waist, and her scream was muffled as she was lifted off her feet and hauled inside. She never even had time to struggle as the four huge men dressed in black from head to toe, threw her on the bed. They moved fast to bind her wrists and ankles together. They lifted her chin, and something was pressed against her throat, just before the hand was removed. Her eyes widened, realizing she could breathe but not make any sounds.

  “Stay calm, lovely. This is for your benefit as much as ours.”

  Raz. She’d been surprised at first, but hearing his voice she let her body relax. Trust them to do something stupid like break into a high security facility. There was no point in struggling, and deep down she knew they would never physically harm her.

  “We told you we were good at what we do, even if retired. No creature alive could keep us from you. You belong to us,” Zeb rumbled, lifting her into his arms. “We’re taking you home where you can scream and cuss at us all you want, but in the end we will talk and you will know the truth of why you ran from us.”

  “Celeste. Breathe normally. We put a vocal inhibitor on your throat so you can’t scream. Try to take normal breaths, in and out,” said Kue.

  She tried to do as he told her and breathe as best she could, even though they’d trussed her up like a turkey.

  “Can we hurry? We need to get her out of here before security even knows we broke into the Qui-Palace and home of the High Councillors,” said Loc.

  Yup, foolishness abounded. All Celeste could do now was hang tight and wait.

  ****

  Loc leaned against the wall his arms folded as he watched the rise and fall of Celeste’s chest. The thin material of her sleeping garment made her nipples clearly visible. He dragged his eyes away to glance at the door, knowing at any moment, royal guards could come crashing through and take her from them.

  Every part of him was rigid with both arousal and anxiety. The anxiety stemmed from being without her not only through the quarantine process, but discovering she’d walked away and had told the High Councillors she never wanted to see them again. It left him with a suffocating feeling, like being thrust out into space without a suit.

  Never had he and his brothers been so focused and single minded in all their lives, even though countless deadly missions.

  He didn’t want to question why this beautiful, frail human female had changed their lives, and brought them all closer together. They sure as the Ice Plains didn’t want things to go back to the way things were. How could you tear out a vital part of you and not die from it?

  It had been a joint effort to bypass all the security and sneak undetected into the Qui-Palace to take what already belonged to them. Now they just had to re-convince Celeste of that fact, and before they were caught and imprisoned for abduction.

  “Is she all right?” Zeb asked.

  Once they had cleared the Palace, they’d transferred her into a more comfortable position, carrying her cradled in Kue’s arms. She must have fallen asleep during the walk back through the dark streets. It was kind of odd, for if she was that against seeing them, wouldn’t she be more tense and unable to relax so much?

  Loc’s gaze moved back to Zeb and Kue, who leaned over her, Kue checking her vitals.

  “Her heart rate and breathing are fine.”

  They’d already removed the bonds and vocal inhibitor.

  “We need to clear this mess up quickly.” Even Zeb sounded strained.

  Loc sucked in a breath, holding it as Kue gently patted Celeste’s cheek, calling her name. Loc released his breath when her eyes fluttered open.

  She glanced around taking bearing of wh
ere she was and with her. Her pretty eyes moved from one brother to the other, before she pulled herself up and sitting against the headboard of the master bed. She licked lips, forcing Loc, and no doubt his brothers to hold in a moan of desire.

  “Don’t panic, you know we would physically harm you, Celeste?”

  Her eyes turned to Zeb, who sat down on the end of the bed, his gaze ever watchful. Slowly she shook her head. “I know you wouldn’t hurt me. I … just…” Tears filled her eyes. “I get the feeling I overreacted and screwed up.”

  “No, beautiful, first tell us what you saw and heard,” Zeb demanded.

  Loc wanted to growl at his older brother. He was fucking things up.

  “You were with your ex, and it seemed you didn’t want me but her.”

  Zeb had been right. She had overheard and seen part of their encounter with Nazzara. Loc pushed away from the wall. It was time to set the records straight, and as he’d been the only one who’d talked to Celeste about their ex so far, he knew it was up to him to explain things.

  “Beauty, do you remember when we talked just before leaving that planet? You figured out by yourself we’d been hurt by a Demos female. That female was Nazzara. Selfish and greedy, we discovered the quads she chose to go with were wealthier and of higher rank. It was never about love or family with her. It was about wealth and prestige. She always did have a nose for sniffing out wealth.”

  Celeste’s nose scrunched in a cute little frown.

  “But you’re not rich, are you? I remember you telling me that, too.”

  “Our Loc here is a very clever quad,” Raz said with a small smile. “He managed to transfer a few million credits from the Jorvals’ accounts into ours. We were going to surprise you, but we’re plenty rich now. This grand domicile we are in now, we bought for you.”

  She blinked and stared at Raz, swallowing. “For me?”

  Raz nodded reassuringly. “We do everything for you, lovely.”

  “We don’t know how, but somehow our ex got wind of our newly acquired wealth, and that bitch thought she could walk right in and demand we take her back,” Zeb added. “Tell us, did you hear the part where I told her she was nothing but a mistake, and we wanted nothing to do with a selfish, spoiled female? Did you see when Kue and Loc threw her out?”

  “Or how she bites and scratches, when throwing a tantrum, when she knew she’d never be a part of our lives again?” mumbled Kue, rubbing his arm where Nazzara had laid some vicious scratches.

  “I even changed the security to never allow her entrance to our domicile,” Loc added for good measure.

  Celeste sat stock still, trying to absorb all they’d told her. “Could I get something to drink, please?”

  Kue jumped up first to race out of the room, returning a moment later with a cup, handing it to her. Oh how badly Loc wanted to take her in his arms and just hold her when he saw her hands shaking as she took the water. Zeb must have felt his intent but shook his head. Loc understood she had to come to term with things on her own. She handed back the empty cup and stared at Zeb.

  “I guess I was wrong after all. I’ve been through so much in my life, my trust broken far too many times. I overreacted and thought you were just using me for sex and playing me for a fool. I know you’ve all worked so hard to earn my trust. I’m so sorry I walked. I tend to act rather than think when I’ve been hurt.”

  “We would never even think of jeopardizing the best thing in our lives. Our hearts beat only for you, our Celestial beauty. There’s no need to be sorry,” Raz said softly, sitting on the bed and cupping her face.

  “You really have no idea how much power you hold over us. We would gladly give our lives for you, and right now we risk being imprisoned for stealing you from the Qui-Palace. But I really don’t care as long as you know the truth.” Loc nodded, sitting down on the end of the bed. Slowly, they had all come to surround her as they watched the emotions play out on her expressive face and in her eyes.

  “Leaving us was like cutting out our hearts, and I don’t know how to prove it other than show you my scratches,” Kue added, turning his arm to show the faint marking.

  More tears filled her eyes, rolling down her pale cheeks. “I’m sorry. I’ve been an utter idiot. You must hate me for—”

  “No, you will not be blaming yourself for a simple mistake. We love you, and we’re all bound to be, as you say, idiots at times. It doesn’t mean love stops because of it.”

  She reached out to Zeb and he pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry.” They all surrounded her needing to touch and comfort her. Each taking their turn to hold her, wiping her tears as she sobbed among them, until she lay nestled in Loc’s lap. He stroked her hair, and her body-racking sobs subsided.

  “I … I don’t know if they told you,” she whispered, now calm and emitting soft little sighs.

  “Who told us what, beauty?” Loc asked first.

  “Guess you guys’ plan worked after all.” She directed her gaze towards Raz. Loc swallowed his aroused groan at her coy smile. It was a simple blessing to have her smiling again. “Our plan?”

  “Of knocking me up.”

  Loc’s frown of confusion was mirrored by his brothers.

  “Is this another human saying?” Zeb asked. Her giggle made his heart feel suddenly light.

  “Yes, it means I have a bun in the oven.” She giggled again. “I’m pregnant, with young. You’re all going to be fathers.”

  The bell rang in his head, and for the first thirty seconds, he froze in shock. Then Raz let out a loud whoop, his fist in the air. They all started high-fiving each other, and planting kisses on Celeste’s face.

  Boom!

  The door burst open, and guards raced in, aiming miniature pulse cannons at them.

  “Nova brothers, release the human female. You are all under arrest!”

  Chapter Seventeen

  “Celeste, stop pacing and come sit down. Zeb knows what he’s doing.” When she didn’t comply Kue snagged her wrist and dragged her down onto his lap. His hand automatically slid over her soft belly. It still held him in awe that their young lay nestled within her.

  “And Raz?” She quirked an adorable eyebrow at him, and Kue grinned.

  “He knows not to open his mouth and let Zeb handle things.”

  “It’s my fault you’re in this mess.”

  “We’ve talked about this. No blame, remember? Accidents and mistakes are bound to happen, but it’s just how we deal with them that matters.”

  “I’d like to deal with your bitch of an ex.”

  “By the gods, I love how feisty you are, at the same time deliciously sweet. You have as much right to claim us as we have you. Take ownership of what’s yours.” Unable to help himself, he took advantage of his position, cupped her neck and drew her in for a long, drugging kiss. Her hand clutched at his top when he finally had sense enough to break away. None of them had touched her since the night of the abduction. She’d quickly explained to the officials what had happened and how it had all been a big misunderstanding. They’d allowed her to stay with them, but they would face disciplinary action for their brash decision to break into the Qui-Palace and steal her.

  The door opened, and Celeste scrambled of his lap, but still held on to his hand as Zeb, Raz, and Loc emerged, followed by two of the High Councillors of Second City.

  Kue wasn’t sure what to make of the bemused expressions on his brothers’ faces. The High Councillors walked over, and Celeste squeezed his hand tightly.

  “We thank you for explaining. Our Daisy would like to extend an invitation for you all to come to a meal, once you are all settled in.”

  “Um, I, we would like that.” She glanced around, and they all nodded their approval. “But what about the, um, you know, stealing me back?”

  “Your quads’ actions, we do understand, and it brought it to our attention there is a need to update much of our city’s security, including our own. If they can break in, then others can. It’s why we’ve offer
ed them the job of overseeing the city’s security, starting with our own.”

  “Is that something you want to do?” she asked, meeting the gaze of each of them.

  “It would keep us busy, but we won’t take any job without it being all right with you,” Zeb said.

  Her face beamed in a bright smile. “I think it’s an awesome opportunity, no more chasing after space junk. I say go for it.”

  Zeb nodded to the High Councillors, offering his hand. “The deal is done.”

  “Excellent, we look forward to working with you. One more thing before we leave. Come this way please.”

  They followed High Councillor Tos down a corridor and into a room where at least half a dozen quads glanced up from desks and lit up hovering computer screens.

  “If I could have your attention please,” High Councillor Tos bellowed. Everyone stopped and stared. “Good.” He turned back to him, and a giddy feeling moved though Kue at the realization of what was happening. “Celeste Coleman, do you accept the Nova quads as your husbands? Will you be their sheraz from this moment forward until the end of the universe?”

  She blinked, her eyes swirling with emotion as she, too, understood what was occurring. “Uh, yes, yes I do.”

  “By my power as High Councillor, and in front of these witnesses, I announce you bonded. Congratulations on your new husbands, Mrs. Celeste Nova. Take care of her, Demos. All humans are precious here on Galafrax.”

  With that Tos strode away. The others went back to what they were doing.

  “We’re married, just like that?”

  “Yes,” Zeb said staring after the High Councillor.

  “Shouldn’t we be having a party or a celebration? I, uh, I mean it’s not every day someone gets married and a new job on the same day.”

  “I guess not,” Raz said thoughtfully. “Celebrate we should.”

  She drew in a deep breath letting it out slowly. “Let’s go home and celebrate!” She sidled up to Zeb, running her hands up his chest. “So, commander, can we celebrate in every part of our new home, naked?” She licked her lips, fluttering her eyelids. All four of them groaned in raw sexual hunger.