The Healer's Kiss: Book Four of the Forced To Serve Series

by Donna McDonald

  “You sold females to Fener Sel?” Seta demanded, staring at Malachi in shock. She searched his energy for remorse and found absolutely none. Doubts about her energy reading assailed her, almost making her ill with her failure.

  “It is not your fault for not seeing that nuance in my aura,” Malachi said gently, actually sorry he had to destroy the young woman’s admiration for him in such a cruel way. “I didn’t do the actual slave sales myself. I paid someone else to do it. Nevertheless, I profited. Now…well let’s just say I’m on a redemptive path to rectify those things and right my past wrongs.”

  Seta clamped down on the barrage of questions that threatened to spill forth. Part of her, a part she had trusted implicitly in her life, simply refused to believe him. Malachi was lying. It was “why” that raised all the questions she had. In his energy, she saw his blasé attitudes about war and killing. She saw his jaded view of pleasure and females. She saw many things, but she did not see evidence of slave trading.

  Why would he go to such lengths to deceive? And maybe more importantly, why was Captain Synar backing the medic’s lies in front of Captain Warro? Should she warn the Siren male she had once served that he was being duped? Or was he part of the ruse?

  Her gaze sought Ji Warro’s. This time he arched an eyebrow at her intense perusal, probably because she was radiating concern for him. Warro nodded slightly, his gaze flashing something Seta refused to acknowledge.

  “Your concerns are reasonable, Lieutenant. The important thing about this mission is rescuing the high ambassador’s daughter, who is of great value to the Peace Alliance as well as to her family. Malachi’s past—or rather Conor Synar’s past—is going to prove very useful. You’ll just have to trust this for now,” Synar said, looking at his earnest lieutenant and wishing he had forced the emissary to tell her the truth. Keeping Seta Trax uninformed about her demon host condition was part of his commitment to the emissary, but he did not like keeping Ji Warro in the dark.

  Seta pulled her gaze from Warro’s and nodded her acceptance at Synar, all the while promising herself to get to the bottom of the mystery as soon as she could.

  “On planet, you will hear Malachi addressed as Conor Synar. This is the name we will all use when addressing him as well. It is important to maintain the ruse until the target has been rescued and we have our missing crew members back with us,” Synar said.

  “What if Malachi gets compromised?” Seta demanded, watching the secretive medic smile and nod, even though he did not answer.

  “That will not happen,” Synar said confidently. “We have reason to believe that Conor Synar will be treated very respectfully there. They want his services. They’ve been without them for quite some time. But I’m going along myself just in case.”

  “Are you worried about me, Lieutenant Trax? I do appreciate the concern,” Malachi said, earning a hard glare from Rena, who had been silent throughout the exchange.

  “If you must know what I think, I’m worried about Rena and me pretending to be your slave mates. I’ve been an actual slave mate before and have no intentions of being one again. What happened to the female you tried to give Orem Sel?” Seta demanded, hearing true irritation lifting her voice above the calm modulation she worked hard to maintain.

  She thought she heard Warro hissing over what she had shared but feared to look at him and receive confirmation. Rena and she had made sure her Peace Alliance records never mentioned their previous mated relationship to the Ethosian who had bought and used them for his amusement. Wasn’t the true evil what their own sire had done in selling them in the first place? Besides, neither of them counted that relationship anyway.

  “Why do you hesitate to answer my question?” Seta demanded, ignoring Rena’s encouragement to let it go.

  “He hesitates out of politeness, but let’s just say Conor’s mate is anxious to complete the transaction,” Issa Onin declared, breaking in and smiling at the shock on the young Ethosian’s face. It was the most fun she had had in days. “Oh my, did my mate not tell you? Shame on you. . .Conor.”

  Seta looked at Malachi. “Ambassador Onin is your mate?”

  “No—or least not in any true sense. My bonding interests lie elsewhere, as do the Ambassador’s. She is teasing you for her own amusement,” Malachi said flatly, shrugging as he took in Issa Onin’s smile of pleasure to have caused him such problems.

  “Do not speak for me,” Issa said. “You do not have the right to do so.”

  He didn’t despise the wicked-minded female, Malachi decided, or at least not as much as Liam did. In fact, he rather admired her for seeking a situation to creatively satisfy her inner torment. While not the best creature, Issa Onin was not the worst female he had ever known either.

  Admittedly, his lack of interest in the attractive, dark-natured female still surprised him because Issa Onin had eventually sought him out when it became obvious no other male on the ship was capable of physically satisfying her. His refusal was not because he did not have needs—because he had needs. In fact, he was becoming more and more aware of his needs with every moment he spent in the company of Rena Trax’s body.

  He hadn’t been forbidden from bonding with the ambassador. Both Ania and Liam had cautioned him but would have let him make the call. No, he attributed his current sensibilities about females to Ania. Being hosted by her had definitely shifted his tastes. Now he sorely wanted to know what it was like to share an emotional connection with someone innately good.

  And with that thought, his gaze went to Rena Trax, who moved her gaze away when he smiled knowingly at her.

  “I speak only for myself, but I always speak true. Everything else is a waste of energy.

  Seta looked at Ambassador Onin and then at her sibling, vowing to take Rena’s opinions of males more seriously from now on. Obviously, Rena has seen something in Malachi that she had never suspected existed. Oh, she had seen the darkness in him, Seta thought. She had just never attributed what she had sensed to a male who would ever willingly harm a female. Frowning when that fact still didn’t seem right to her, Seta narrowed her gaze at Malachi, who refused to look at her again.

  “Lieutenant, you need to set your aversion to Malachi’s personal revelations aside so we can get back to discussing our plans,” Synar admonished, hoping his new lieutenant would go along as ship protocol dictated, even though most of his crew rarely adhered to following it. He saw Gwen and Dorian grinning as he looked at them.

  “Commander Jet will take care of the Liberator in my absence. Lieutenant Zade and Peace Keeper Looren will be standing by to work with the Dread Nought when they arrive. The Paladin’s commander will begin the deployment of the larger ground force after we have located the high ambassador’s daughter.”

  “Captain, why are you going along on the mission personally?” Seta asked.

  Synar stared at his new lieutenant until she dropped her gaze from his. He would not tolerate blatant disrespect from her or the demon she carried. Perhaps in this case though, she had a right to be concerned.

  “Like you and Rena, Malachi and I work best when we are together,” Synar said finally.

  Seta heard Malachi laughing softly at Captain Synar’s grudging statement, which she hadn’t found funny at all. She didn’t like to think that they were lying or laughing at her, but her new captain’s attitude did not exactly inspire confidence.

  Looking over at Warro, Seta saw he was glaring at Malachi’s way-too-flippant attitude as well. After serving with him on the Paladin so long, she knew exactly what that look meant. Apparently, she wasn’t the only one who thought more was going on than was being told.

  Chapter 19

  “You both look quite charming. Are the matching clothes for my benefit?” Malachi asked, adjusting the sleeves on the formal jacket Dorian Zade had loaned him. The Siren was a bit taller and a bit broader through the shoulders, but Conor’s form did look rather sharp in nice clothing.

  “The dresses were Seta’s idea. She thought the
Lotharians would consider us more valuable as a matching set,” Rena said, frowning at Malachi’s smile.

  “I see beyond the body adornment, but Lieutenant Trax’s reasoning is sound for most males,” Malachi agreed.

  From her reluctant seat beside the demon, Issa Onin huffed in frustration. “The Lotharians will want the two of you because Ethosian females are rare, not because your clothes match. Being dual siblings will be a larger draw because all men want to bond with multiple women when given opportunity to do so.”

  Rena turned to the female and stared hard. Her tongue overruled her sense of discretion. “Your future among this violent culture will hold all you wish for, Issa Onin. However, you will also come to see yourself in a very different way. I suggest you be prepared for great change.”

  “Well, no one told me you were a destiny predictor, Rena Trax. Does that pay much on your planet?” Issa asked. “I’m afraid I have no credits to offer you for your reading of my future.”

  “Do not harm her, Rena. Ambassador Onin goes to meet her destiny today. That will be enough punishment, don’t you agree?” Malachi asked, giving Issa Onin a warning glance. “Ambassador, didn’t anyone tell you that Rena and I have a lot in common? You would be wise to guard your tongue around her.”

  Issa’s gaze raked the female in question. “I see nothing. You lie.”

  “I agree that the ambassador is not worth the expenditure of my energy,” Rena replied, uncomfortable with how much she liked hearing Malachi laugh at their private joke. Feeling Seta’s curious look, Rena turned to her physical clone. “Malachi refers to our inner beliefs in the validity of the Creators of All.”

  Seta arched one eyebrow, looking back at a grinning Malachi, noting Ambassador Onin had crossed her arms and was no longer looking at any of them.

  When Warro landed the shuttle, Synar stood and walked to Malachi. “We will kill only when it is a matter of life and death. No retribution, regardless of what happens.”

  “What are you not telling me, Liam?” Malachi asked, frowning at Rena and Seta. “You know I am blocked from seeing.”

  “Just a funny sensation, nothing more,” Synar said tightly. “Will you keep our accord?”

  Malachi nodded. “I will do so.”

  “Good. Then let’s go see what Orem Sel is doing,” Synar said, walking down the ramp first. “You may disable guards and weapons at will, but do not kill unless one of us is threatened.”

  “Seta?” Ji said, turning in his seat.

  “Yes?” Seta turned to look at him.

  “Take care. Do not let down your guard,” Ji ordered.

  Instead of answering, Seta nodded and followed Synar down the ramp.

  At the bottom, Synar stood to one side, taking a respectful personal guard pose. The Lotharian guards jogging towards the shuttle glanced at him warily, but at least they weren’t pointing their weapons.

  Malachi held out his arms. “Ladies, let’s walk down the ramp together and put on a little show for the welcoming committee.”

  Seta hooked a hand over Malachi’s arm, and waved to Rena to do the same. Rena narrowed her gaze, but finally conceded. “If this is a trick just to touch me, I swear you will pay.”

  “Smile, Rena. How else will you ever pass yourself off as my mate?” Malachi declared, grinning at her flashing eyes.

  “What about Ambassador Onin?” Seta asked.

  “She can walk behind us, as a well-trained mate should,” Malachi said gleefully. “I’m sure she will appreciate my body shielding hers from any laser blasts that might come our way.”

  Issa snorted, but conceded the demon did have a point. Let Conor’s body take the hit. It would be the only time her Norblade mate had ever bothered to protect her.

  Malachi watched the guards raise their weapons as he and the Trax siblings descended. He was already offended by their lustful gazes directed at the females with no regard.

  “Avert your eyes if you value them,” Malachi ordered coldly. “These three females are my personal property. You need show mine more respect than you did Chiang’s female.”

  “It is just our way,” the lead guard declared, only to drop his weapon as his gaze went black. “What have you done? I cannot see.”

  “Yes. Now I don’t have to worry about you looking at my females any more, do I?” Malachi remarked casually. “Didn’t your ruler mention my demon? I find his power very useful. If we can have an understanding in the matter, I might be inclined to restore your sight.”

  “Yes. My apologies if I offended you or your females,” the guard said.

  Malachi watched the others reel in their desire, and smiled as he imagined all the limp bonding organs among them. There was just nothing like fear to improve a demon’s mood. He waved a hand, and the guard expelled a breath as his vision cleared.

  From behind him, Malachi turned when he heard Liam clear his throat in warning.

  “Quite right, Liam. I believe I’ve made our point clear.” Turning back to the guards, Malachi smiled. “Now where is my number one trader? I trust you have been hospitable to him.”

  The guard he had tortured waved down the weapons. “This way,” the male said coldly, turning on his heel and walking ahead of them.

  Malachi thought they must have looked like quite the parade walking along in their striking clothes, escorted by at least twenty armed guards.

  Seta leaned closer. Malachi bent down to hear what she wanted to say. “You must teach me your demon tricks. Is it a form of mind control?”

  Malachi laughed and whispered back. “I’ve never thought about it that way, but yes—I suppose it is. I believe you could easily master it, Lieutenant.”

  “Your enjoyment of the guard’s fear was disgusting,” Rena whispered from his other side.

  “Why? I did not harm him,” Malachi offered with a smile. “Are you always going to judge me so harshly? That tiny show of force may end up saving us all further mistreatment.”

  “I suggest we not argue among ourselves within hearing range of the guards,” Issa hissed in warning from behind the cursed demon and his matching Ethosians.

  Synar didn’t bother adding his warning to Ambassador Onin’s, but he saw a very strange look pass between the emissary and Malachi. It only confirmed what he had suspected almost from the first moment he’d realized what she was. Her presence on the Liberator was not just for the sake of the Demon Zorinda. The emissary was also among them to serve the Demon of Synar. The question was only what form her help would take. Synar frowned and wished such knowing was not blocked from him.

  ***

  “Did you even sleep last night?” Boca asked.

  “I slept enough,” Chiang said, smiling at the memories of her moaning in pleasure, over and over. He was discovering the tiny Sumerian’s bonding urges were as strong as his own. He hoped the Lotharians got an earful.

  “I never slept until you fell asleep still vibrating on me. I was too sated then to move you off. I hope you’re not too sore this morning.”

  To hide her flushed face, Boca turned her attention to the fully stocked closet of female clothes. At the end of the rack were some that even fit her small form.

  “I was tired, Chiang. It was I who did all the fighting yesterday. All you did was knock a couple guards’ heads together,” Boca declared.

  “That statement borders on disrespect—mate,” Chiang said, softening his criticism with a grin.

  “Is the truth disrespectful?” Boca demanded, pulling a long tunic from the closet.

  It had matching shorts that molded to her when she slipped them on. There had been no hygiene straps available to replace the ones Chiang had shredded, so she belted the tunic over the rest of her naked form with a braided leather belt she found. It would serve as a band to hold weapons later.

  Chiang walked to Boca, pulling back her head by her still unbound hair. He kept his touch gentle, but firm. Her instant stillness fueled a growing need in him to establish his dominance over her. He could only hope his
will proved stronger than his mating urges. There would be no claiming or talk of it until they were safely back on the ship.

  “Find something to bind up this mess,” he rasped, his mouth coming down harder than he’d intended on hers. Boca flinched only for a moment. Then she yanked him tight to her as she returned the demands of his mouth with ones of her own.

  Chiang yanked himself away while he could, glaring down into her upturned face before forcing himself to untangle his fingers from her hair.

  “I should be worried about how our host will treat us today, and instead I can think of nothing but getting back inside you,” he informed her.

  Boca wound her hair around and around her fingers, twisting it into a knot that she secured with two metal pieces she had broken off a decoration she’d found in the luxurious cleansing area. Her pins had gone missing last night when Chiang had flung them away in his haste to bond. Her gaze was locked to Chiang’s as she finished securing it, noting his look was as possessive as ever. His approval of her now tamed hair was so satisfied male that seeing it brought a snort from her.

  “What would happen if I cut it all off?” she demanded. “Would you cease to desire me?”

  Chiang grinned. “Never. I’d just become obsessed with another part of you.”

  “Mehed. Olete koik uhesugused,” she said.

  “Complain in Sumerian all you want. Soon I will understand your insults. I’m planning to purchase translation devices for both of us,” Chiang informed her, tucking the various scanners and control devices into his numerous pockets. “The new ones get implanted under the skin.