Surprised by his outburst, Mairi looked up to see stark possession burning in his eyes. The intensity she saw there was as frightening as it was electrifying.
“You’re mine.”
Chapter Three
Impossible. The word whirled around in his mind with every step. And every time a foot hit the floor, his shoulders were jarred with the weight of this strange woman, without pain. Her presence here was a mystery. How did she know where to find him? She didn’t appear to have a tracking device capable of reading his homing beacon. Besides, the overload of iron in the water on this planet interfered with the signal when he was submerged.
When he reached the doorway where he’d hidden the breathing gear, he gently laid her down on the floor inside the airlock, retrieved the apparatus and laid it on the metal floor next to her. “This equipment is ancient. And there’s only one mouthpiece. We’re going to have to take turns.”
“Don’t worry about me. Just put it on.”
If she weren’t so weak, he’d slap some sense into her beautiful head. “I’m not leaving you here, and that’s final.” Feet wedged against the floor and the wall, Raiden used every ounce of strength he had to seal the doors. When the gold light blinked on he sighed in relief.
“Listen, Prince Charming, if you’re determined to drag me along, just shut up and put the damn thing on. I can breathe the water.” Eyes blazing at him, she wiggled and twitched to get her suit back on, drawing his eye to the inviting jiggle of her breasts.
Breathe water? Impossible. And had she actually just rolled her eyes? “What is your name?”
“Mairi.”
“Listen to me, Mairi.” Raiden decided he’d better speak slowly, since she obviously didn’t understand a word he’d said. Curse stubborn women. “I am not leaving you down here to rot. And, I am not going to drag your dead body to the surface. Do I make myself clear?”
“Perfectly. We’ve wasted enough time arguing.” Mairi zipped the front of her suit closed and pushed with her legs until she’d slid far enough to sit against the wall. “I’d grab the tank if I were you. Oh, and the water’s a wee bit cold.” With that, she reached over her shoulder and pushed the red button.
A giant popping sound was his only warning before cold water crashed in on them from above. Like a raging surf, it pulled him off his feet and slammed against his body. Seething with fury, he took a deep breath and dove for the air tank. His fingers closed around the straps and he forced himself to calm. Panic would surely kill him. If his ship had been at full power the immersion would’ve been instantaneous and he wouldn’t have had a chance. As it was, it took to a count of ten for the water to completely enclose them. By then he had the mouthpiece in place and inhaled his first dose of canned air. When the bubbles cleared, all he saw of Mairi was her feet disappearing through the small opening over his head.
Forced to push his tank through first, then squeeze his body out after, murder was uppermost in his mind. Or, at the very least, a few days in the dungeon for the hellcat. If she weren’t already dead, that is. She’d been so determined that he leave her behind.
Already tripping in exertion, his heart raced even faster at the thought of her drowning. Kicking as hard as he could, he searched what he could see. The water had come in so fast that he hadn’t been able to put on the eyepiece, and now could only see blurred images of his surroundings. Panic began to win the battle when he couldn’t find her anywhere. Every breath he took was forced and uncomfortable, like breathing through a small straw. All he saw was red sand and water. And, there, too far away to make out, he saw something very big, moving toward him. Was it one of the beasts whose hunger already stirred at the scent of her blood? Where in this nightmare had she gone? He’d be damned if he’d leave that stubborn woman down here to drown, blind or not.
Warm and completely unexpected, her hand closed around his arm and tugged him toward a dark object he could just barely make out on the surface. She had a ship. Good. However, it was too far away for her to make it on her own without air. Raiden grabbed her arm and pulled her around to face him. He pulled the regulator out of his mouth and shoved it toward her face.
Mairi blocked his movement with one arm and shook her head. Wicked smile in place, she opened her mouth and spoke to him in a strange trilling voice. “Noooo. For you.” But no air came out of her mouth to accompany the odd sound.
Unable to do more than stare, he didn’t register that his lungs were burning until she frowned at him and shoved the regulator against his lips. “You.”
Raiden’s head reeled. This woman, this vision from his Farseeing ceremony, was definitely not from this planet. Or his. Or any system or world he’d ever heard of. Was she the first of a new species? A scout for an invading army from a previously unknown planet? Herhma was ninety-five percent water and five percent floating land masses. What better situation for a species that breathes water? But then, he’d bet she didn’t know about the planet’s guardians.
Or, there was always the most likely explanation. He was hallucinating. The thought brought him instant peace. Yes, he’d already made the decision to escape, badly wounded and weak from blood loss. His subconscious just gave him a little help. Mairi was too perfect to be real. Elegant features, sea-green eyes, braided black hair that had felt like a rope of silk beneath his chin, and a tall lithe body with ample curves. She breathed water and smiled at him like a water nymph. His absolute ideal woman. Of course, she was illusion. Or a spirit guardian.
Damn bossy for a dream if you asked him. And a figment of his imagination didn’t account for the air tank either. Irrefutable proof of her claim to breathe water swam before his eyes, so he gave in to her demands, put the regulator back in his mouth, and swam.
Swimming side-by-side toward the surface, they stopped to allow their bodies to detox before surfacing. Silent as a ghost until now, the beast swimming around them emitted a haunting rumble that vibrated through his chest. The boat was clearly within view, and Raiden headed straight for it. Minutes later he hauled himself out of the cold water, up the ladder and onto the deck of a small brownish boat. After spitting the regulator out of his mouth, he turned around to help Mairi climb in. But she wasn’t there. He searched the water for any sign of her, but all he saw were several sea beasts roaming just on the edge of his visual range.
Mairi’s strange trilling voice sounded from the water and he shouted her name. Even cauterized, the injury to her shoulder would weaken her. Perhaps, even with the med injection, she didn’t have the strength to reach the boat. Struggling into the air tank’s harness as quickly as possible, Raiden shoved the regulator back into his mouth. It wouldn’t be gentlemanly to let the woman die after she’d saved his sorry hide.
Two steps later he felt like he’d been hit in the head with an electric blast. A forcefield prevented him from re-entering the water and stung his hands when he pressed against it. Behind him a small alarm sounded three times. Prerecorded and waiting for sensory activation, a holographic image of an elderly Herhman military official came to life. “You are in violation of code 147, section 9 of the properties act. This vessel is stolen. Additionally, you are in violation of code 276, section 2 of the preservation act. Your vessel is anchored on the protected Fire Sea Dunes. You are under arrest, and your vessel will be directed to the nearest processing station. You are not to leave your vessel. You will be processed and judged upon arrival at Tank Four. Thank you.”
Beneath his feet, the boat shuddered as the engine roared to life, powered now by the military directed power cell. “Mairi!” Damnation. He was about to be hauled off to a floating prison, leaving her behind both injured and without supplies.
The red beasts circled closer to the ship. Now clearly visible, he counted four of them. Each one was at least twice the size of the boat. With the anchor still weighing it down, the boat groaned at the conflicting forces at work on it, the engine trying to carry him away, and the heavy weight of metal dragging the sea floor. Unfortunately, the l
ittle boat was slowly gaining speed.
“Mairi! Where are you?” He wasn’t sure exactly where they were, but if he remembered the crash coordinates correctly, it would take half a day to reach the prison. Time wasn’t an issue in that regard, but finding Mairi was another game entirely. Searching for something, anything to use to break through the forcefield holding him hostage, he threw the air tank against it. Sparks flew when the metal struck the barrier, but still it bounced back and fell to the deck next to one of the two small seats. There was nothing else but a small case in the corner. The boat was barren.
Gaining more speed, the front end of the boat suddenly rose into the air. Thrown backward, Raiden lost his balance, fell, and slammed the back of his head against the small plastic case in the rear corner. A high keening sound rent the air. Scrambling to his knees, Raiden looked over the edge and into the water. The boat’s engine still rumbled, but all movement stopped. One of the Fire Beasts held the boat nearly aloft on its back.
Gritting his teeth, Raiden crawled to the air tank, lifted it high and slammed it down on the small lock protecting the case. With a ping it gave way and he sifted through the contents. Ration bars and drinking water, a knife the size of his smallest finger, some odd stones in a strange green box, and a blaster. The knife he ignored. A thousand slices from the tiny blade still wouldn’t do any damage.
Aiming at the creature with his blaster, he fired. A brilliant blast of orange light hit the forcefield and reflected back toward him. Two strides away a charred hole the size of his head smoldered in the deck. Fine. If he couldn’t go over the edge, he’d blast his way through this strange brown polymer, get down to the engine and shut it off.
Lurching beneath his feet, the boat slammed back down into the water, then was immediately raised again. Thrown on his stomach, ear pressed to the deck, he heard a faint scraping sound from beneath the boat. Was Mairi trapped down there and trying to reach him? “Mairi!”
Careful not to fire into the hull of the ship, he blasted several more holes into the deck. A couple more shots and he’d be able to kick out the remaining material and get to that engine. What he would do about the beasts or the forcefield, he had no idea. One problem at a time.
* * * * *
Arms shaking with fatigue, Mairi wedged her diving knife between the circular military device and the hull of her boat and tried to pry it off. When that didn’t work, she aimed for the center and stabbed the machine repeatedly until all the lights blinked off. The engine died and the sudden quiet sounded better to her than just about anything she’d ever heard. Relief tasted sweet in her mouth. Thank God the quad had warned her about the automated device left by the Herhman patrol. Otherwise, she’d be stranded up there with Mr. Attitude and they’d both be on their way to prison.
Unable to move for a moment, she let herself simply float in the water to regain some strength. Hovering protectively close, the leader of the quad swam beneath her and spoke in a series of high whistles and vibrations that carried to her through the water.
You hurt.
Mairi smiled. That would be the one who said her name was Yasra. She was the mother hen, protective and clearly in charge of the others. Knowing the animals could smell her blood, there was no sense lying. Yes.
We take you safe place.
Thank you. Traveling through the water to jar her from her reprieve, Mairi heard what sounded like small explosions coming from her boat. They vibrated her eardrum with alarming strength. Yasra swam around the perimeter of the boat, keeping watch so Mairi directed her question to her. I thought all the men were gone.
They are. Your mate making trouble.
Could she not have one moment’s peace on this damn planet? She’d saved the idiot prince, despite his protests. Now he was destroying their only means of transportation? Heaven help her, despite the fact he was the most alluring male she’d ever encountered, she’d kill the fool herself.
In no time she swam to the ladder. Using her good arm, she pulled herself up far enough to see what he was doing and replaced the water in her lungs with sweet air. “Put that damn thing away. I’ll shoot your ass myself if you sink my boat.”
Raiden spun around at the sound of her voice. Relief flooded his gaze and in two strides he reached her. After pulling her into the boat, he turned away to pace like a caged animal. Surprised at the lack of strength in her legs, they collapsed beneath her the moment she attempted to stand on her own. Despite her efforts to choke down the pain, a soft moan escaped when her shoulder hit the deck. Glancing up at him she wondered if the worry in his eyes was for her, or himself?
“Where the hell have you been?” So, obviously not for her.
“Saving your ass. Again.” Absolutely no way she was having this conversation on her back while he towered over her like a golden god. Rolling onto her side, she pushed against the rough plastic with her left arm until she was sitting. Better. Not perfect, but a definite improvement.
“Do you realize you could’ve killed me with that little stunt you pulled on my ship?”
“Kiss my ass, your Worship. All you were doing was making sure we’d both die.” She stared out over the sea and counted to ten. Slowly.
Raiden knelt on one knee and tilted her face up to his, the tip of his blaster beneath her chin. “Who are you? Where are you from? How can you breathe water? And how did you know where to find me? Did Apolo send you to finish me off?”
At that moment, the quad lifted and repositioned their boat. The sudden movement threw both of them to the deck. Raiden’s heavy body landed right on top of her, forced the air from her lungs and awoke every dormant nerve ending until she literally tingled. Arousal and extreme pain surged through her senses. The combination was not one she’d ever felt before. She was too tired and overwhelmed for long explanations he wouldn’t believe anyway. Lying wasn’t her style. The man was definitely angry. She watched in fascination as blood pounded through the veins in his temples. Once pale, his cheeks were now flushed in annoyance, and impossibly perfect. She tried, in vain, not to study his lips and imagine how he would taste. “I’m Mairi Neeshahn. I’m from the future. I’m Atlantean. We can all breathe water. And Rogan told me where to find you.”
“You expect me to believe that?” Oh, yes. He felt it, too. If she weren’t mistaken, he was studying her mouth.
“I don’t care what you believe.” Unable to help herself, she ran her tongue over her lips just to torture him.
“And the Fire Beasts?”
“I spoke to them. I had to destroy the energy cell running the engine. They’re going to use the anchor line to tow us somewhere safe.”
“And where would that be?”
“Yasra didn’t say.” Certainly, she had never seen eyes quite that shade before. Warm and golden, they glowed just like the sweet syrup made by the flower-bees back home.
“Ask!” Chest heaving, it appeared that speaking required quite a bit of his effort. Or perhaps the exertion was required not to strangle her. The thought brought her a shocking amount of satisfaction.
“No.”
“Damnation woman. You’re impossible.”
“Thank you.”
Whatever answer he’d expected, that wasn’t it. Throwing his head back, he roared with laughter. The rumble of his amusement vibrated through her chest, made her even more aware of everywhere their bodies touched. Strong and heavy, his legs lay on either side of hers. Supporting himself on his forearms, his torso rested over hers with a delicious amount of weight. He was magnificent when he smiled. Then his smile faded, and the desire that flared to life in his eyes was dangerous.
With a featherlight touch, his thumbs caressed her temples, wiped the still damp tendrils of hair from her face. A shiver raced through her body and need held her captive. Never before had a man’s touch made her feel alive. Perhaps it was the close call with death. Worry. Fear. Or the unknown dangers still ahead, but suddenly his caress was more necessary to her survival than air to breathe.
; “I don’t believe I’ve thanked you for saving my life.”
Perhaps the man was finally going to be reasonable. “You’re welcome.”
Lowering his lips to brush against hers, he whispered, “Not yet.”
Hot and urgent, his mouth claimed hers in a kiss that stole her sanity. Fire spread through her bloodstream with every bold stroke of his tongue. Hands on either side of her face, he held her captive for every deliciously wet taste of him, every soft caress of his lips against hers as he retreated and advanced. Again and again he explored her mouth until she was afraid she’d melted into a puddle beneath his hard body.
Lifting his head, his smug smile held entirely too much male satisfaction. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Closing her eyes to prevent them from betraying her secrets, her desires, she sighed. Crashing after an adrenaline rush was never fun, but her shoulder hurt like hell and lifting her head just didn’t seem worth the effort. Peaceful and mysterious, the taste of Raiden lingering in her mouth, she let sleep claim her.
Chapter Four
Hours had passed and the setting star, Clarius, lit up the Fire Sea until the water sparkled like a living mass of red rubies beneath the boat. Slowly but surely, the four beasts pulled them toward a small floating island just ahead. And still Mairi slept.
Raiden searched the boat yet again, and came up empty handed. Sitting down next to her, he examined her pale face and shook his head. No med kit. No antibiotics. No pain injections. Nothing. It was like she’d shown up naked and just thrown herself onto a stolen boat with no thought to her own survival. The idea disturbed him in ways he didn’t have time to analyze right now. Her claims of being from the future were farfetched at best. At worst, she was certifiable, perhaps a demented woman with psi talent, probably from the planet Osra-9, who knew his cousin Apolo and had decided to work the situation for her own gain.
Still, none of that would explain the Fire Beasts, the water breathing, the mark on her shoulder, or the blood.
Timewalkers 2: Mairi Page 3
