by Cynthia Sax
“Oh.” Her lips drooped and the tapping on his shoulder intensified.
“But we could return here once an orbit, at this time,” Murad offered, taking the small stone from her fingers. “I’ll hunt dust vultures and you’ll prepare them and we’ll rut in the moonlight, acting as though we were the first two beings on Chamele 3.”
He placed his gift next to the feather, the dried ground berries and the unee horn he’d found. “Though we’ll need another ship to carry all of the objects I’ll have given you.” He chuckled, happily prepared to replace every possession she’d lost.
“You say we’ll return,” his doubting female replied.
“I know we’ll return,” Murad corrected, giving Gale the reassurance he knew she needed. “And we can start on that rutting right now.” He dove in for a kiss.
“No.” She lifted her hand, blocking him. “Not now.” Her face turned a vivid shade of pink. “I need to bathe in the stream first.” She reached for her wonderfully thin undergarments.
“And I need to assist you with bathing.” Murad straightened Gale’s breast covering. His female’s pink nipples showed through the fabric, that attempt at modesty endearingly unsuccessful. “Come.” He pulled her to her feet and walked with her, his fingers linked with hers, and her hips swaying against his body with every step. “I spotted a newborn unee this morning.”
“Ohhh…” Gale’s lips rounded, her eyes lit with wonder. “I’d like to see her. Will the herd still be grazing nearby?” She hugged his arm to her breasts, her sinfully soft skin hardening his cock even more. “Will you show me where they were?”
“Do I have a choice?” He laughed, unable to deny her anything.
“No, you don’t.” She smiled up at him and he sucked in his breath, her beauty without parallel anywhere in the universes. “I want to see the baby.” She skipped along the path, her feet light on the flat ground, his female as graceful as the tall grass bending around them. “Are her legs wobbly? Can she stand?”
“He was standing, feeding from his mother.” Murad swung his arm, feeling confident and capable and happy, his gerel relying on him for knowledge and expertise. “Soon he’ll have the ability to run from predators.”
“From the dust vultures.” Her smile faded, her expression turning fierce. “We should—”
An artificial rumble rolled through the air. “Get down.” Murad pulled Gale to the ground and covered her with his body. He extended his claws, wishing he had a gun, a sword, anything he could shoot or throw at the threat.
A large black ship flew low, blocking the sun, casting a shadow over them. Hot air rushed along Murad’s back, the grass beating his arms and legs.
“Is that ship one of yours?” Gale trembled under him.
“I can’t be certain.” He scanned the underbelly of the vessel, the panels as familiar as his own fingers. “It was my ship four days ago. Whom it belongs to now, I don’t know.” Did my warriors win the battle against Tolui? Murad remained still, hidden, not taking any risks with his gerel.
“It’s stopping.”
Son of a Gechii. It is. The ship hovered to their right.“The life-form scanners must have detected us.” Murad pushed his body off the ground and rocked backward, crouching in a defensive stance. “Stay down.” He waved his claws, preparing to protect her, to die for her if he had to.
“I’m fighting with you.” Gale sat up, her face pale and her eyes wide, her chest rising and falling rapidly. “Shouldn’t you turn invisible?”
“It won’t help.” Murad’s nose twitched, the scent of Gale’s fear tormenting him. “Tolui, our enemy, is a Chamele. We can sense each other even when invisible, as you call it.” The ship lowered and he tensed, coiling his muscles. “Remain behind me.”
“I’ll fight beside you.” Gale stripped off her breast covering, fastened it adeptly into a sling, and loaded it with dirt.
“You’re a clever female.” Murad gazed with her in admiration, the ship’s descent blowing his hair back. “I’m proud you’re mine.”
“I am a bounty hunter.” She beamed. “I’ve survived some bad situations before.” Her smile faltered. “Though I’ve never defeated a warship with merely a sling.”
“You don’t merely have a sling. You have me.” Murad pulled his gerel into a fervent embrace, needing to feel her curves press against his muscle one more time, gathering strength from her lush form to face the enemy and his possible death. “And you’ll survive this.” He released her.
The ground shook as the ship landed. Gale swayed on her feet, hanging on to Murad’s arm, the contact arousing, a connection humming between them.
My female. Murad glared as the ship’s ramp lowered. I will protect her. He squinted, peering into the entrance’s darkness. A shape formed, separating from the shadows, the silhouette broad and tall and familiar.
“Your holiday is over, my lord.” Sartaq swaggered down the incline, his boot heels ringing on the metal, and Murad exhaled, relieved. “We have a clone lover to—”
Dirt splattered across Sartaq’s grinning face. Laughter barked behind him, the other warriors lining the ramp. Murad’s first in command sputtered, spitting bits of grass out of his mouth.
“That’s Sartaq, gerel.” Murad grinned at his mate. Gale stood with her feet planted firmly on the ground, her lush body braced for war, her eyes glittering with an awe-inspiring ferocity. “He’s one of our warriors.”
“Oh.” Her shoulders sagged and her mouth twisted, her expression turning sheepish. “Sorry!”
Sartaq wiped his face with the back of one hand. “I have eaten worse, my lady.” His gaze dropped and his smile returned. “And I now see why our lord was in no haste to be found.”
Gale squeaked and Murad roared, a red-hot fury rising in him. “Do not look at my gerel.” He stepped in front of his mate, utilizing his big body to shield her nudity. “You’ll show her proper respect.” He spread his claws, prepared to fight his best warrior.
Sartaq backed away from them, his palms raised in surrender. “I meant our lady no disrespect, my lord.”
Murad narrowed his eyes, his rage too intense to be reasoned with.
Gale wrapped her arms around Murad’s waist and splayed her fingers over his stomach, her touch soothing him. “I wasn’t offended, hon.” She rested her cheek on his right shoulder blade, her bare breasts pressed against his back, her skin warm and soft. “Don’t be angry with your friend.”
“He looked at you,” Murad grumbled, clinging to his anger.
“Briefly, and that’s all he did.” Gale stroked his abdominal muscles. “Because he knows I belong to you. Everyone knows that…now.” Her voice lilted with humor.
Everyone knows she’s mine. Some of Murad’s good humor returned.
“All of you turn around,” he instructed. His warriors obeyed, grins on their foolish faces. “Come, gerel.” Murad took Gale’s hand and walked with her toward their camp, the path they followed etched into the golden fields. “We’ll dress quickly before the rest of them arrive.”
“The rest of them?” Her gaze met his, her eyebrows raised.
“More ships are coming.” Murad nodded glumly, regretting the return to his Warlord responsibilities, longing for one more day spent alone with Gale. “My brothers will be here soon.”
Chapter Five
When Gale and Murad returned to the clearing, more ships had landed, Murad’s prediction coming true. Tall, huge, severe-looking warriors stood in packs, swords strapped to their broad backs, daggers and guns attached to their muscular bodies.
“Are they all friendly?” Gale tightened her grip on Murad’s hand, wishing she had a gun, her now loose-fitting pink leather suit devoid of any weapons.
“I wouldn’t call them friendly.” Murad chuckled, squeezing her fingers. “But they are all our warriors.”
A massive male loomed by Sartaq, his face scarred and stern, his hair as long and black as Murad’s. His dark gaze shifted to them as they approached and lines of disapp
roval appeared between his thick eyebrows.
Gale hid behind Murad’s big body, having seen that expression on the countenances of countless parents. He’ll return me. She took a shaky breath. Please let that not be—
“Brother.” The stern male stalked toward them, his arms outstretched, his biceps bulging.
No. Gale gazed with fascinated horror as the two males embraced, their chests colliding, hands slapping backs with a bone-jarring force, their affection for each other agonizingly clear. I can’t compete with one of Murad’s beloved brothers.
She took a step backward, wanting to run, to hide, to avoid the upcoming confrontation. Her stomach knotted and her palms moistened.
“Berke.” Murad caught her wrist and pulled her forward, preventing her escape. “This is Gale, my gerel,” he declared, an emotion resembling pride underlying his tone.
That pride won’t last. It never does. Gale tilted her chin upward, bracing for the humiliation, the heartache, the loneliness. “Berke.” She nodded slightly, struggling to maintain her dignity, bracing for Murad’s goodbye.
“Gale.” Berke frowned, his forehead furrowing, his gaze penetrating. “You’re one of Ellie’s bounty hunters.”
Ellie? Gale blinked, having never met anyone brave enough to call Elle, her tough-as-a-Vladium-hammer boss, by a pet name. “Yes.”
“She won’t believe two of her bounty hunters found Chamele mates. She’ll travel here to investigate.” Stark emotion flashed across the elder Warlord’s face. “Gale has to go back.” He turned to Murad, his fingers folding into giant fists. “She can’t stay in our system.”
I’m to be returned. Gale backed away, the announcement harsher than any slap.
“She’s my gerel.” Murad placed his big form protectively between her and his brother. “She’s not leaving my side.”
He’s fighting for me. Gale took another step away from them. Some of the mothers had fought for her also. He’ll lose. They always lose.
“It’s not yet safe,” Berke boomed, leaning forward.
“Do you doubt I can protect her?” Murad bumped his brother back, their chests connecting, their skin slapping as though they were two male unee battling for dominance. “Do you? Say it, Berke. You think I’m an incompetent fool who can’t protect his own gerel.” He extended his deadly claws.
They’ll kill each other because of me. Fear coursed through Gale’s body, fear not for herself, but for the male she loved. Stars. I love him.
“You’re not incompetent,” Berke growled, leaning forward. “But you are a fool.” He shoved Murad away from him.
He dares to touch my male. “Stop it!” Gale yelled at the top of her lungs. She curled her fingers into tight fists.
Murad swiped his claws at Berke. Berke bobbed and the tips skimmed over his stomach. He hissed and punched Murad in the jaw. Murad staggered backward.
“You hurt him.” A surge of burning rage swept over Gale, years of disappointment, of accepting punishment and rejection without a word of protest, frothing to the surface. “And now you’ll pay.”
Gale stomped up to the closest warrior, pulled a gun out of his thigh holster and slid the lever to stun. “Because no one hurts my male.” She aimed the gun at Berke and pressed the trigger.
The blue ray hit him square in the chest and the eldest Warlord howled, dropping to his knees, his arms and legs shaking, his teeth chattering. An eerie silence fell upon the clearing, the murmurs of conversation abruptly ceasing. Heads turned and warriors stared at her, their mouths open and their eyebrows raised.
“You shot my brother?” Murad pivoted on his boot heels.
I won’t allow him to return me, not now, not ever. “I’m not leaving Chamele 3, Murad.” She aimed her gun at his chest. “If you try to remove me, I’ll shoot you also.”
Murad’s eyes softened. “Gale, I wouldn’t—”
“No.” She waved her gun and the warriors around them hastily moved out of range, panicked expressions on their fierce faces. “I’m tired of others determining where I belong and to whom I belong. This is my planet and you are my male. I’m staying here.”
Gale raised her chin, meeting Murad’s gaze squarely, her hands steady, her decision feeling right. She breathed in, breathed out, breathed in, breathed out, her heart beating loudly as she waited for his next move.
A sexy grin spread slowly across Murad’s handsome face. “I’ve disarmed you before, my curvaceous little bounty hunter.” He flippantly flung the challenge at her as though her words had meant nothing to him.
I’ll make them mean something. Gale glared at the male she loved.
“And I’ve shot you before.” She pressed the trigger.
* * * * *
“Will you be retrieving your gerel before she stuns some other hapless male or are you planning to rest here all day?” Berke asked, looming over Murad.
“I’m admiring your knobby knees, brother.” Murad grinned, the tear tracks on his cheeks cracking. His fingers continued to twitch, the pain dissipating.
Berke rolled his eyes. “That’s the sort of flippant comment that will get you shot again.” He extended his calloused hand, his palm lined with scars.
Murad gripped it, allowing his elder brother to pull him to his feet. “She has shot me before,” he announced proudly, his cautious female having faced both of them to claim him, the foolish youngest brother. “But this is unusual behavior for her. Gale is normally gentle and sweet.” His legs shook, his knees threatening to buckle under him.
“Yes, gentle and sweet.” Berke’s grim mouth twisted. “That’s what I thought of your bounty hunter when I was down on my knees, my stomach heaving, my torso racked by pain.”
“I should go to her.” Murad took one unsteady step forward.
“Murad, wait,” Berke ordered. Murad, needing to gather his strength, complied. “Before you face your Gale, think, for once in your life, about what is best.” The normally stoic Warlord appeared intriguingly ill at ease. “If Tolui truly is building a clone army, as we suspect, your gerel won’t be safe in the Chamele system.”
This again. Murad’s lips flattened and the urge to beat some respect out of his older brother intensified. “I can protect Gale. I’m not as useless in battle as you believe.”
Berke frowned. “I don’t doubt your warrior skills. I’ve never doubted them, Murad.” Sincerity rang in his voice. “However, she’s your weakness and, if he can, our enemy will hurt her to punish you.” His brother stared into the distance, a tic of emotion pulsing in his cheek. “It’s best to send her where she’ll be safe.”
“Only to hurt her more with that action.” Murad dusted off his knees. Dirt clung to the black leather. “For Gale, the emotional pain of our separation will cut deeper than any physical wound Tolui could deliver.”
Berke opened his big mouth.
“We’re one, Berke,” Murad quickly continued, seeking to stem more of his brother’s unhelpful advice, as Berke clearly knew nothing about human females. “If Gale leaves, I leave,” he stated bluntly, fully prepared to walk away from everything he knew to be with the female he loved.
Berke raised his eyebrows. “You’re serious?”
“Deadly serious.” Murad met Berke’s gaze and held it. “I vowed to never return her and I won’t break that vow.”
“I hope your gerel is as honorable.” Berke gazed up at the blue sky, his expression weary. “Leaving won’t be necessary.” He waved his hand dismissively. “Go, retrieve your little bounty hunter and protect her well, brother.”
“I intend to.” Murad grinned, relieved to have peace between them once more. His brothers were important to him, almost as important as his gerel. He stalked in the direction Gale had fled, determined to soothe his irate female.
“Do you wish to wear body armor, my lord?” Sartaq jogged beside him, a chest covering draped over his arm, his dark eyes gleaming with mischief. “Or to carry a gun, perhaps?” His best warrior held out a weapon, sun rays reflecting off the polis
hed barrel. “Your opponent is fierce, my lord. You don’t wish to be caught by surprise as your brother was.”
“He was surprised.” Murad chuckled, wishing Khan could have seen the stunned look on Berke’s face. His missing brother was investigating the unauthorized landings half a planet away.
“Berke worries, as we all should,” Murad added and his grin temporarily vanished. “Tolui will target my gerel, Sartaq. I’ll require your expertise and skill to keep hersafe.”
“I would trade my life for hers, my lord.” Sartaq inclined his head, the brusque male’s declaration surprisingly fervent. “And your warriors would follow her into battle.”
“That’s a wise plan,” Murad quipped, his heart lightening. “She’s less likely to shoot you if you’re behind her.”
“You would do well to follow that plan.” Sartaq laughed, stopping at the edge of the clearing. Fields of tall grass stretched before them. “Bring our lady back to us, my lord.”
“I will.” I’ll try. Murad followed Gale’s distinctive scent, tracking her along the banks of the winding stream and through the fields of tall grass, passing sites where they’d spent happy moments together, the two of them alone and at peace, with no worries about clone armies or overprotective older brothers.
A dust vulture shrieked, interrupting his reveries. The creature circled in the blue sky above him, its dark silhouette warning of death, and terror gripped Murad.
Gale. He rushed forward, seeking to safeguard the female he loved from harm. I can’t lose her. I can’t. Murad ran at full speed, his boots pounding against the ground, his muscles straining, his chest heaving and his lungs burning, the midday sun heating his back.
He climbed the steep incline to a rock ledge they often sat upon and he breathed a sigh of relief. Gale sat, perched on the edge, her shoulders slumped and her blonde curls cascading down her back. “Gale.”
“Go…away.” Her voice was muffled. She brushed her cheeks with the back of her hands, the gun set on the rock beside her.
