by Sara Page
“Seriously?”
“That magical orgasm just strengthened our connection.”
I frown and he wraps me in his arms, hugging me to his chest. “Can you see, Ameia?”
I look past his shoulder. “A little.” It’s like peering into a dark fog. I can see the outlines of objects, but not much else.
“That’s good.”
“Is it?” Even though I can see, I still feel like a failure for not getting it right away.
“Yes,” Striker reassures me. “It takes time. The more time you spend here, the more you will… acclimate to it. Unfortunately, we do not have time.”
“Acclimate?”
“It can be difficult for the mind to adjust and accept a new reality.”
“How much time does it usually take?” I ask, relaxing in his arms.
I quickly realize all of my skin is touching his skin. I look down, and yep, we’re both completely naked.
“It can take months.”
“Months?” Months of falling into the darkness, helpless, before I can save myself…
“Yes, but you’re doing wonderfully. You should be able to completely adjust in a few days.”
I look past his shoulder again. Striker looks completely clear, like he’s being broadcast in crystal clear, high definition. Everything else though is all shadowy and hazy.
“I really don’t like it here.”
Striker sighs and lifts me off my feet, carrying me. “I know.”
Once I see, will I ever unsee?
“Can we go back to my reality?”
“Not yet,” he smirks and bends forward, laying me down on something soft and fluffy.
My lips form a pout but he comes down on top of me.
“Just a little longer, my love.” His hand strokes back my hair. “Stay with me.”
Chapter Two
“What are you doing?!” Beast roars, scaring me awake.
Two big purple hands grab onto my arms and yank me out of the darkness.
“What?” I gasp as Beast shoves me behind his body. Just a moment ago I was dozing peacefully in Striker’s arms. I was so comfortable; I was even starting to enjoy the quiet calmness of the darkness. Now my eyes sting and water as they adjust to the bright light in Striker’s small quarters. Everything looks too bright now, too sharp and too focused.
What the hell is Beast’s problem?
“I’m preparing her,” Striker says defensively as he fades into view, facing off with Beast— completely naked. It would be hilarious, naked Striker versus a fully clothed Beast, if they both didn’t look as if they wanted to tear each other to pieces.
And just when I thought we were all getting along so well…
Beast takes a threatening step forward, his red eyes glaring murder at Striker. “Preparing her? How? In what way?”
Striker’s lips curl up in that cocky smirk. Is he purposely antagonizing Beast? “I was helping her adjust. I was helping her see.”
“You reckless fool!” Beast roars, taking another step towards Striker.
I feel like I’m about to watch history repeat itself. Beast is going to give Striker a beat down, but this time I’m not sure Striker deserves it.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, reaching out and tugging on Beast’s black shirt. “Why are you so upset?”
Beast’s fists clench at his sides as he stares off with Striker but my tug gets his attention. He casts a quick glance over his shoulder at me and then I hear him growl. He looks beyond pissed.
“Did I do something wrong?” I ask with trepidation and resist the urge to take a step back. The violence is crackling around him, the little hairs on my arms stand on end.
I don’t know what’s got him so upset but it’s freaking me out. The way he snorts through his nostrils, the way his chest rises and falls with every deep breath, he looks like his fury is barely contained in his purple skin.
Beast gives Striker a look of disgust as if Striker is vermin he’d like to stomp out of existence. “You didn’t even warn her about the side effects, did you?”
“Side effects?” I ask shrilly, drawing both of their attention. “What side effects?”
Striker shrugs his shoulders dismissively. “I felt it wasn’t necessary. She likes to worry, and it isn’t good for our babies. I thought to save her the stress.”
“What the hell is going on?” I ask now and step around Beast, just now realizing I too am still completely naked.
I cross my arms over my breasts, however, and glare between them. “Stop talking like I’m not here and start explaining.”
Beast and Striker just continue to glare at each other, neither one of them willing to give me the answer. My stomach sinks. It must be something bad.
“Oh, shit. What is it? Is it that bad?” I ask and my hands drop protectively to my stomach.
Beast growls and Striker curses under his breath.
“It’s not that bad,” Striker tries but fails to reassure me.
I shake my head. “The look on Beast’s face tells me it is.”
Beast tears his red gaze away from Striker to frown at me. “Ameia,” he rumbles, reaching for me.
I let him grab me. I let him pull me into his arms and hug me closely, just glad to feel him calming. He buries his face in my curls and takes in a deep breath. His hands roam down to touch my belly as I lean into him.
It’s Striker’s turn to growl now. “Dammit. We were only there for a few hours.”
“And hours before that when we were on Terrea,” Beast corrects him.
“I’m doing this out of necessity,” Striker angrily insists.
“Out of necessity? It’s too dangerous.”
“Leaving her helpless is too dangerous. It’s worth the risk. We are days from Blackspire. She needs to be able to protect herself.”
“No,” Beast says adamantly and I feel him tense up. “She does not need to protect herself, that’s our duty. We protect her. We are there for her.”
“We can’t always be…”
I push at Beast’s chest and whirl back around, seriously pissed. “Stop talking about me like I’m not here! Stop making decisions and arguing over stuff like I don’t get a say in any of it!”
“Ameia,” Beast rumbles and I feel him gently grabbing me from behind. I try to shake him off, so not in the mood to be touched by him now. “Ameia,” he sighs in defeat as I continue to resist him and his hands drop away. “Look in the mirror.”
“Why?” I ask, the blood in my veins chilling. I swear if I somehow have purple skin or grown another head…
“You’re stressing her out,” Striker frowns. “Ameia relax. It’s only minor, there is nothing to be afraid of.”
I run over to the wall and push a button for the mirror. Do I look different? What did being on the other side do to me? It didn’t do anything to me last time.
I peer into the mirror but all I see is me, naked. I drop my arms to my sides and inspect my body, turning side to side and spinning in a slow circle. I’m so worried that somehow I’ve been deformed that I don’t care how ridiculous I look.
“What am I supposed to be seeing?” Am I just not seeing it?
“Look at your eyes,” Striker answers. “They’ve changed a little.”
I stop staring at my backside, I was thinking perhaps it’s a little jigglier now, and stare hard at my eyes in the mirror. I don’t see it at first, but the longer I stare the more I notice the tiniest of red specks glittering in the blue swirls of my irises.
“Are my eyes turning red?!”
“No, not completely,” Beast answers. “But the longer you’re on the other side, the more it changes you.”
I whirl around and point my finger accusingly at Striker. “You didn’t tell me it would change me. Oh crap, will it turn my skin purple too? Will I start to look like you?”
Purple skin, dark hair and red eyes look completely sexy on them, but I’m not sure I could pull it off myself.
“The other side corrupts,”
Beast frowns.
“You asshole,” I shriek at Striker and look around for something to throw at him. “I can’t believe you pushed me into doing all of that and you didn’t tell me anything about it!”
“It’s minor,” Striker says defensively and then has to shield his head with his hands as I toss a shoe at him. “And it only makes you more beautiful.” He grunts as the next shoe hits his hip, narrowly missing his exposed dangly bits. “Besides, I explained the other side to you back on Terrea.”
“You didn’t explain that it would change me!”
He bats the next shoe off and takes a menacing step towards me. “It’s for your protection.”
“That’s not the damn point!”
“That’s the point of everything!” he roars back. “You and your safety is the point of everything, and I will do whatever it takes to make sure no harm comes to you or our children. Whether you agree with it or not!”
Damn. I love that he loves me and wants to protect me. But, “I get a say! I get a say in what happens to me.”
Both Beast and Striker are ominously silent after that declaration.
I look between the two of them in complete disbelief. “No, you can’t be serious. You don’t think I get a say in what happens to me? That I don’t get to make decisions when it comes to myself? Neither of you?”
I look to Beast but his lips only thin.
“Are you serious?”
They both just stare at me. They don’t have to say it; I can read the writing in their eyes. My heart pounds hard and my stomach lurches with the realization. I have to swallow back excess spit. What have I done? Everything was so wonderful. Now, just like that, everything has gone to shit. Have I been deluding myself? Have I been living in my own little bubble of ignorant bliss, completely oblivious?
“You think I’m that pathetic, don’t you?”
“No,” they both deny and reach for me.
I shake my head and dance back, avoiding them. “Yes, you do. You both think you know what’s best for me. And now that you’ve got me here, stuck on your ship and stuck with you, what can I do about it?”
“It’s not like that, Ameia,” Beast argues defensively.
“I do know what’s best for you,” Striker glares at the same time.
I put my hands on my hips, lift my chin into the air and glare back. “If it’s not like that then do I get a say?”
Beast’s jaw clenches and Striker snorts.
I have to look up at the ceiling to keep the tears at bay. I thought by accepting them, by acknowledging my sexy purple space demons, I was finally embracing freedom. I convinced myself I was embracing responsibility for my own destiny. In truth now I’m discovering I’ve only traded the shackles of my father for the shackles of my lovers.
My voice quivers as I look back down and say, “This is not going to work.”
“My princess, you’ve had a long day,” Beast says softly as he takes a hesitant step towards me. “Let’s speak of these things when you’ve had more rest.”
My shoulders slump with defeat. “What more is there to even say? You’ve made it very clear. Both of you.”
Striker rubs his hand down his face. “Dammit, Ameia. It’s not because we think less of you. It’s because we know the danger, and you do not.”
“That doesn’t give you the right to take away my choices. I should get a say in what happens to me.”
Striker groans and shakes his head.
“I don’t think we’re going to resolve this tonight,” Beast says.
I nod. “I agree.”
“Then let’s call it a night and reconvene tomorrow. You should return to my quarters with me,” Beast suggests but I shake my head, immediately shooting him down.
“I want to be alone.” I need time to think. I need to figure out how I’m going to either deal with the two of them being overprotective buttheads or somehow convince them I’m not completely too stupid to make my own decisions.
“You can’t be alone, Ameia. It’s too dangerous,” Striker smirks and I glare daggers at him.
“I can see better now, thank you. I’ll be fine.”
“Ameia,” Beast sighs but I spin on my heel and walk away from the two of them.
Just as I reach the door the two babies growing inside me betray me and I fall feet first into a pit of darkness.
I scream as the world fades away.
I can see a bit better. I can see dark, swirling fog misting around me but it doesn’t stop me from falling.
There’s nothing to grab onto.
Thankfully, a couple of moments later two hands lock on my arms and yank me back.
“You were saying?” Striker’s eyes gleam wickedly at me, and he obviously has no qualms about taking advantage of the situation. He holds me unnecessarily close, most of my naked parts touching his.
Dammit. I guess I have to stay attached to their hips.
But it doesn’t mean I have to like it.
Chapter Three
It’s been two long, hellish days, but the Harpy has finally arrived to carry us to our final destination. Beast and Striker have continued to keep me close, protecting me, but we’ve failed to come to an understanding. They both stubbornly insist it is their right to protect me, and I don’t get a say in how they do it. They can and will continue to make decisions in my best interest and on my behalf.
Beast at least has tried to soothe my bruised ego by clarifying he will take my opinion and feelings into consideration. Striker, however, has become even more overbearing and domineering. It’s such a strange switch from when we were on Terrea. Then, Beast was all about keeping me in the dark while Striker thought I should be armed with knowledge. Now, it’s like they’ve flipped. I suspect me being pregnant may have something to do with it.
I know they’re both on edge, and their hearts are in the right places, but I can’t help but resent them a little bit. I suppose I should be happy that they’re being so upfront about it. They’re not at all trying to manipulate me, or deceive me. I just wish… they thought better of me, and the fact that they don’t is both depressing me and frightening me.
Maybe I am too dumb to take care of myself.
I’m about to be a mother. Maybe I’m too dumb to take care of my own children. That thought literally makes me sick to my stomach.
“Are you ready?” Beast asks stepping into Striker’s new and more spacious quarters aboard the Harpy.
Not only is the Harpy twice as big— and according to Beast and Striker twice as deadly— but it’s communication systems are much more sophisticated. We are now able to video com directly with Blackspire.
I’ve spent the first half of the day with Striker so now it’s Beast’s watch. There’s always a feeling of reluctance on their part when I’m exchanging hands, as if they don’t want to hand me over and would keep me if I would permit it. I feel a need for equality though, and I try hard not to show either of them preferential treatment. I love and care for them both deeply and equally, and I would hate for them to think I preferred one over the other, regardless if I’m currently mad at them.
“Are you sure you don’t want me with you?” Striker asks, and I know I’ve hurt his feelings by asking him to remain behind as I video com with my great aunt Lorune for the first time.
“I’m sure,” I nod at him and pull away. I walk quickly towards Beast, anxious to meet my aunt, and hopeful I’ll get some more answers.
I can feel Striker’s scowl behind me, I don’t even have to see it. It’s not personal, regardless of how they’re treating me. It’s that I fear if both Beast and Striker are present it will greatly affect the direction of the conversation. If I had my way, neither of them would be there during the conference. As it is Beast has to accompany me, but he’s promised to do his best to give my aunt and me privacy. He’ll be in the same room, some distance away, able to see me but out of earshot.
I place my hand on Beast’s offered arm and allow him to lead me to the Harpy’s main commu
nication room.
This communication room isn’t much different than the one aboard the Harpy’s Talon. Like the rest of the ship, the décor may not be exactly the same but it’s very similar. Same boring grey walls, and same black rubber flooring, just more of it. Why do Ravagers seem to hate color so much? It’s all red, purple, black, or grey. Would it kill them to add some pink, green, or yellow into the mix? It might liven them up a bit.
Beast takes his place across the room, in the very back corner, but given the size of the screen there’s no way he’ll be able to ignore our conversation. The screen runs from floor to ceiling, ten feet by my count, and spreads twice as wide. I’ll be surprised if half the ship doesn’t hear us.
“Ready?” Beast asks from his spot.
I nod my head and position myself directly in front of the screen. Beast barks an order into his personal com and someone in the control room connects us.
The screen flickers and I brace myself as the projection of my great aunt Lorune comes into focus.
“Ameia?” the small blonde woman who appears on the screen asks.
I spread my lips into my practiced regal smile and nod my head. “Yes. And you are?” I ask with some hesitation. The woman on the screen is much, much younger than I expected. My great aunt is older than my father by an entire generation. I expected someone wrinkled, maybe hunched over, and wizened. The blonde staring back at me with the same curiosity I’m showing her appears to be no older than me. Maybe she’s Lorune’s granddaughter?
“I’m your great great aunt Lorune.”
I feel my jaw drop in disbelief. Really, you’d think I’d be used to surprises by now.
She tips her head back and laughs musically. “Surprised?”
I snap my jaw shut and nod my head.
“It’s one of the many perks of accepting a Ravager.”
“Eternal youth?” I ask hopefully.
She shakes her head. “Not quite, but our life spans are increased ten folds.”
Again I’m surprised. Holy shit.
“But that’s like an extra thousand years or more…”
She grins and nods her head. “It is.” Her youthful appearance makes more sense now. She looks damn good for a four-hundred-and-something-year-old.
