Felix paced the compound, taking his time, checking the fence for signs of zylon or any other nasties. The island of Ione reminded him of Singapore and Indonesia, although the land mass was much bigger than the two Earth tourist destinations.
When he found nothing out of the ordinary, he wandered back to where his brothers remained talking by the shuttles before abruptly changing direction. He’d better check on Eva. When he poked his head into the hut, she was still asleep and looked small and defenseless. He’d untied her upon arrival, after he was certain the drugs had taken effect.
“Felix!” Saber must’ve returned.
He strode out of the hut. “Yeah?”
“I know why there aren’t many zylon at this end of the island. I watched a bird catch one. A shit-ass big bird.”
Felix chuckled, Saber’s words reminding him of the vintage television shows they’d all watched as kids. “Was it yellow?”
“No, it was— Very amusing,” Saber said. “How is the woman?”
Felix sobered. “I hurt her. I didn’t mean to, but I hurt her. Saber, this is a stupid idea. Why don’t we take the women back to the resort and forget the whole plan?”
“Fuck.” Saber rubbed his hands over his face then stared at him. “We need mates to stop the fighting between our males. Damn it, Felix. We’re sitting on a testosterone powder keg, and it’s going to blow if I don’t find a way to keep women here permanently. We need the stability that women provide. You know that.”
“Things have already been calmer since the first guests have arrived,” Felix said.
“But they’re not going to stay. We need mates, children. Strong family bonds. We’ve found a place to settle but we have to make it into a home. And we have to do so while ensuring the resort’s a success because we’re running low on money.”
Shock kicked Felix in the gut. He’d never seen his older brother looking this worried before. Almost desperate. “Why the hell didn’t you say something?”
“I didn’t want to worry you all. We can’t stop now or we’ll lose everything. I had to borrow money on Dalcon, the money we needed to get the resort running. I can’t default on those loans. The trad-bankers weren’t interested in financing me. I had to go to the market bankers. If the resort fails, if the males start fighting, our community will splinter. I have to keep us safe.”
“Fuck,” Felix said. “Those market guys don’t muck around.”
“Which is why we have to stick with the plan now that we’ve committed our resources.”
“You still should have told us how bad our situation was.”
“Everyone has been working so hard. I wanted to encourage them.” Saber caught a flash of movement from the corner of his eye. An odd rueful grin curved his lips. “Did you tie up your woman like I suggested?”
“No need. She was still unconscious,” Felix said.
“She isn’t now.”
Felix turned in the direction Saber indicated. “Bloody hell. Where does she think she’s going? We’re in the middle of nowhere.”
“She’s a feisty one.”
A shadow blotted out the sun-star. Felix scanned the sky. Saber cursed and started sprinting toward the woman. Without warning, a big-ass bird swooped, talons extended, and plucked the woman off the ground. Felix shouted, started running, his gaze darting from the bird and the woman to Saber.
Felix stumbled, cursed. Fuck. Fuck. He picked himself up, started running again. Saber put on a burst of speed and dived for the woman’s legs.
The world seemed to slow as Saber grabbed her ankles, clinging tightly to the screaming woman and pulling. For an instant, the bird wavered.
“He’s gonna do it,” Felix muttered, partly in awe, urging Saber to maintain his grip. “Come on.”
For a moment it looked as if Saber’s will would prevail—then the bird flapped its mighty wings and rose into the air, taking the woman and Saber with it.
Felix stood paralyzed as the bird raced through the sky, only moving when the beast flew out of sight. He raced for the shuttles. The twins were already in one and Leo was waiting in the other. Felix hesitated in the doorway of the shuttle.
“Wait. Leo, we can’t leave the other woman here on her own. She’s your captive. Why don’t you stay with her to make sure she’s okay? Joe, Sly and I will find Saber and Eva.”
“No.”
Felix blinked. “What? Why?”
“I don’t want to do this,” Leo snapped.
“But you agreed with Saber, said you’d take a captive for yourself.”
“I lied,” Leo snapped again, making Felix frown. Something was very wrong with his brother. “Look.” Leo visibly calmed himself. “We’re wasting time. You think someone should stay with the woman, you do it.”
When Felix hesitated, Leo leaned over and shoved him in the middle of the chest. Felix toppled back and hit the ground. By the time he scrambled to his feet, Leo had the shuttle in the air and was heading in the same direction as the big bird.
“Fuck,” he muttered then cringed at what seemed his new favorite word. His mother had been a dab hand with soap during his younger years and she wasn’t above rapping his knuckles now if she heard him or his brothers cursing.
He cast another glance at the jungle and prayed Saber and the woman got out of this alive.
A raucous caw-caw came from overhead and Felix instinctively dove for cover.
Another huge bird circled lazily then dived without warning. When the giant bird lifted back into the air, its talons clutched a hapless zylon. The zylon looked minute in comparison and not much of a meal for such a large bird. A snack, maybe.
After another wary glance at the sky, and with no intention of providing the main course, Felix climbed to his feet and trotted over to the hut where they’d left Casey Seonaid.
She lay on the bed, eyes closed, curled in a ball, her features soft and innocent. It made him realize how guarded she’d looked whenever he’d seen her around the resort. She’d appeared stressed, worried, as if a heavy burden weighted her down—apart from when he’d kissed her on the beach. Then she’d acted sassy and sexy and sweetly compliant—the perfect lover. It made him curious about her. Her life. He wanted to know more than the hard facts his sister Scarlett had uncovered during her research.
He kept thinking of that big-ass bird. How fast it had been. God, he hoped Saber managed to save himself and the woman. He shook his head. Nah, that was one thing he didn’t need to worry about. Saber was resourceful. He’d save them. Felix was sure of it, and Leo and the twins weren’t far behind in the shuttles. He took another look at the woman and left the hut.
Neither of the shuttles was in sight, and the sky was clear of birds.
Felix propped his butt on the edge of a rock and settled in to wait. Time passed slowly and Felix checked on the woman again. She was still out. He hoped Leo hadn’t given her too much tranq. He rubbed his hands over his face and paced back and forth in front of the hut.
Bloody hell, this first mate capture had turned into a hot mess that could fall apart at any moment. Saber would be okay. He had to be. But if he were hurt, injured, then he’d step into Saber’s shoes. He owed his brother to do his best and make sure everything worked in the way they’d planned.
* * * * *
Casey came awake; every one of her senses telling her something was wrong, out of place. She didn’t open her eyes, didn’t twitch so much as a muscle while she tried to recollect. She already knew she wasn’t in the room at the resort. This one smelled different—kind of musty—and the bedcovers didn’t hold the same floral scent. She cast her mind back, remembering, remembering.
She hadn’t been able to sleep. Again. Despite being so tired she was acting like the walking dead species on planet Erastes. She’d gone for a walk on the beach while, for the hundredth time, attempting to decide what to do—carry out the general’s wishes or disobey orders and lose everything.
“You don’t know anything else. Besides, by the time I’ve f
inished, no one would dare touch you.”
As the general spoke, Casey recalled the expression on his face, one of triumph. Remembered the way her stomach had curdled because she’d seen that look before—right before he thrust his verbal sword and cut his opponent off at the knees.
“The vitamins your squad has been taking for improved physical performance actually help prepare your body for the technology. It’s too late. The process has begun.”
A low moan escaped her parched throat and she finally opened her eyes. She struggled to sit up. Gods, where was she? While the bed was comfortable and the linen she was lying on clean and crisp, the walls were tree branches glued together with a reddish-colored mud. The ceiling of the hut consisted of a type of bright-pink plant. Someone had woven the leaves into a thick covering to keep out the solar light.
“Ah, you’re awake,” a cheerful male voice said.
It was him. The man she’d kissed on the beach. She struggled through the fog in her brain and came up with a name. “Felix.”
“That’s right, sweetheart.”
“Where am I?”
“Captured,” he said. “Enjoy the fantasy while you can.”
Captured?
Of course! One of the resort’s fantasy offerings. At least that would take her mind off her problems.
Felix’s communicator buzzed. “Excuse me,” he said and stepped out of the hut.
He must have stopped right outside the door because she could hear his side of the terse conversation.
“Get them? Fuck. They look okay? Yeah. Must be okay if they ran into the trees. Anywhere to land? Hell. That makes things difficult.” An extra-long silence. “True. Come back here then. The twins can go back to the resort.”
Casey frowned and viewed all four corners of the hut. This wasn’t a virtual reality room? She’d thought… No.
Felix returned, his expression even happier than before.
“Good news?”
“Cautiously happy,” he said. “I knew Saber would manage a miracle. He always does.”
“Where are we?”
He shrugged, the faint movement of his powerful shoulders reminding her of his size. “It’s not important. All you need to know is that you’re here for the duration. My captive,” he added with satisfaction.
Casey fought an unusual burst of humor and only just won the struggle to prevent a smile sneaking onto her lips. “Sir, you can’t do this to me. I’m an innocent and must get to my betrothed so we can marry on the morrow. You must let me go. You must.”
“Huh?”
“Please sir. I want to get married. My betrothed is a very rich man. He’ll pay a rich ransom for my safe return.”
“I don’t want a ransom.” Felix straightened and insult dripped from every word.
Casey’s brows rose. “No money? No jewels?”
Felix’s brows squished together. “What are you blathering about?”
“Oh.” She forced shocked surprise into her tone. “You intend to ravish me.”
Felix rubbed his chin, studied her then flicked the sleep-bed a speculative glance. “I could deal with ravishment.”
Oh, he was good. “But I must save myself for my future husband. I-I… Sir, is there anything else I could do instead? Maybe I could, um…touch you there?” She made a vague gesture in the direction of his groin.
“Later,” he said, a faint twinkle in those sea-green eyes. “Are you feeling all right?”
“A bit foggy in the brain.”
“I’ll get you something to eat and drink.” He paused. “Am I going to need to tie you up or will you remain in this hut while I collect a meal for you?”
Casey glanced down at her hands, allowed her bottom lip to quiver. “I-I’ll behave.”
His expression took on an edge of suspicion, but he nodded and strode from the hut. Casey waited until she couldn’t hear his footsteps any longer and slid off the sleep-bed.
Scurvy sky pirates, what had happened to her? Her legs trembled, stubbornly refusing to take her weight, but finally she pushed upright with the aid of the wall. She took slow breaths and tried to remember what had happened.
She’d been on the beach, walking. A noise. Yeah, she’d heard a noise behind her, and she’d thought it was Felix. It had been another man.
Scowling, she focused on pulling details from her quagmire mind. They rose from the murk, hazy and disordered. A pretty yet masculine face. What else? Her brow wrinkled when she came up with green. Yes, gorgeous green eyes a few shades lighter than Felix’s. Heck, she had to be hallucinating. No man had such symmetrical features, or long, dark lashes. Long hair.
The details emerged more quickly now. He hadn’t smiled. No, anger had shimmered in his face, making those pretty eyes hard.
The man had grabbed her, and when she’d started to fight back, he’d held a medi-cloth over her nose.
The bastard had tranqed her with a sleep-drug. Scurvy sky pirates, now the fuzzy brain made sense.
Casey took a deep breath and attempted a couple of steps. She wobbled and remained upright. Better. Two more steps took her to the doorway of the hut. Her military responses came automatically. Scout the location. She scanned the area—a fenced enclosure—mentally putting together an escape plan if one became necessary. The fence was sturdy, but she could scale it easily enough.
A harsh caw-caw directed her gaze upward, and she felt her mouth drop open. Rollicking reapers! That was a freakishly big bird. She’d never seen one that enormous before, and she’d seen some weird sights during her travel with her unit.
She watched the bird swoop and come up with prey. The animal was still alive and its terrified squeaks made the hair at the back of her neck prickle.
A shuttle came into sight and hovered over the treetops for an instant. The pilot landed the vehicle not far from a closed gateway. A man climbed out, and Felix went to meet him.
They didn’t move far from the shuttle, which meant she’d have no shot at stealing the vehicle. Not that she wanted to escape, not when she could fool around with Felix. Anything to escape her bloody thoughts and the dilemma the general had forced on her shoulders.
Her happiness faded. Her mouth firmed.
“Decide. Yes or no. It’s a simple decision.”
Simple for him.
Casey swallowed, decided to test security for her amusement because she sorely needed some fun and joy in her life. A distraction.
She slipped from the hut and cursed the dirty robe she wore. It was light in color, the same shade of moonlight as her nightgown. While it was a great garment—one of her own creations, so it was well-designed and comfortable, as well as sexy—the color would stand out against the bright pinks and blues and the mottled greens of the plants and trees. Oh well. It wasn’t as if she was really trying to escape. She was getting what she’d paid for, after all—a capture fantasy.
When she crept closer to the transport, sticking near the fence and taking care with foot placement, she saw the two men looked alike. The man from her hazy memories stood with Felix, and they were arguing. Planetary zombies, her memory had underplayed his prettiness. The man was gorgeous, despite what appeared to be a high temper, yet no one could call him feminine. He was all male with his hard body, long black hair and gorgeous face.
She turned her attention to Felix. Some woman might not give him a second look after seeing the first man, but she liked the slightly coarser features, the grin that was a fraction lopsided. If a woman hooked up with the pretty one, they’d always have to watch their backs, in case another woman tried to steal him away.
The two men continued to argue until the pretty one let rip with a punch. It caught Felix unaware and he went down. Pretty man turned his back and stomped to the shuttle. Seconds later, the vehicle fired up and rose into the sky. Casey remained frozen in place, but she watched the departure of the shuttle until it disappeared over the treetops.
Interesting.
She studied Felix and watched him climb to his feet
. Cautiously, he worked his jaw back and forth, let out a grunt that carried across the compound.
Casey did a rapid visual sweep of the area, including the sky, and crept away, putting distance between herself and Felix but keeping him in view.
This was a fantasy, and it was her job to act like a ninny and try to escape. Every good capture contained drama.
Felix went into the second hut and after a few minutes, came out with a tray. He walked into the other building. Seconds later, she heard his curse and grinned. The instant he emerged, she’d let him see her and take off. He’d catch her, she knew, because she didn’t have any footwear and the surface appeared rough and uneven.
Casey checked for birds and other types of possible danger, then saw Felix appear, took in his panicked expression before she stepped into view.
Then she was off, tearing across the pink and green grass, chortling as she ran, glorying in the exercise and the chase.
This was so much fun! She didn’t know why she hadn’t booked into a resort like this before. She kept running and was halfway across the compound before footsteps thudded behind her. She increased her pace, surprised when she ran faster than ever before. Her feet tangled, brain shorting at the realization, reality pressing down on her psyche.
Seconds later, he tackled her and she went down hard. Before she could yelp at the dig of a rock in her ribs, he rolled to his feet, plucked her off the ground and hurried toward the hut.
Once inside, he dumped her on the bed and locked the door. Her heart knocked against her rib cage, rapid beats that held a trace of dread. She stared up at him, saw the flare of his nostrils and quivered.
His eyes were hard. His mouth pulled to a firm line, and his hands clenched at his sides. He prowled to the edge of the bed. “Are you hurt? I want to make sure you’re all right.” He removed her robe and inspected her hands and arms, her legs and the soles of her feet.
Favored by Felix Page 2
