Warriors' Providence (Cadi Warriors Book 2)

by Stephanie West

  As the beast of a man spoke, his voice a deep rumbling growl reverberated through his massive chest. Providence stared in wide eyed horror at the long fangs gleaming in his mouth. Only predators had teeth like that.

  The demon held his cloak out towards her. Was this a ploy? Providence was freezing cold after huddling naked on the frigid metal floor for hours. She was desperate for an ounce of warmth. Her shivering had only exacerbated her horrible muscle cramps. Providence lunged forward, grabbed the garment then retreated again.

  No sooner had she put on the cape then the demon struck out and snatched her up. His massive arms wrapping around her like bands of iron.

  He was too large, there was no way she could fight him off. He was taller than her by almost two feet and built of solid muscle as he clutched her to his chest and walked out of the ship. Providence did the only thing she could, she screamed bloody murder. Maybe if he found her obnoxious enough, he'd leave her alone.

  She struggled against his bare, tattooed chest, her body aching in protest. When he finally set her on the ground, Providence reared back and struck him in the nose, before he stood back up.

  "I am no one's slave!" Providence yelled at him defiantly as she wrapped the long coat awkwardly around her naked body and stuck her hands on her hips.

  If this creature thought she was some meek subservient slave, he had another thing coming. She'd rather die.

  The massive male looked at her in shock as he bellowed something incoherent.

  Madhava

  Madhava quickly secured his ship and then helped escort the Jurou Biljana up on the stage in the middle of the auction tent so Kagan could address them.

  "We have some things to discuss." Kagan informed the lead Jurou Biljana male loud enough for the entire arena to hear. "First from this day forward you are not welcome to set foot on this planet nor occupy the surrounding orbit. There may come a time that we are willing to trade with your people again, but you have overstepped your bounds." Kagan snarled and the Jurou Biljana cringed.

  "Second, we require reparations for a weapon that murdered countless people, which you are responsible for, as well as goods sold that were flawed. We expect better from those we deal with." Kagan bellowed, and the Cadi stomped in agreement.

  Madhava nodded. The reptilian merchants had become a liability, their goods unreliable.

  "So we will be taking two of the three ships you brought today along with the Toufik here." Kagan boldly informed them.

  The Jurou Biljana leader started to protest but Kagan quickly silenced him with a gesture and a look that clearly said 'Don't fuck with me.'

  "That is the deal and you leave with your lives. Otherwise I will take that too." Kagan snarled baring his fangs as he towered over the reptilian.

  The slimy male looked angry but was smart enough to hold his tongue and nod. Madhava assisted other warriors as they escorted the reptilians to the smallest of their ships. He trained his laser weapons on them as they boarded though it was more for show since the reptiles were sorely outnumbered and unarmed.

  Madhava watched as the lone Jurou Biljana vessel lifted off and headed into space. He then looked around for Dagaa to see if he needed help.

  What Madhava saw made his eyes widen in surprise.

  A small pale creature wrapped in Dagaa's cloak, which was twice as large as she was, struck out hitting Dagaa square in the face. Dagaa's head recoiled and his mouth dropped open. The little creature that reminded Madhava of Giselle screamed something incoherent as she struck a challenging pose.

  Madhava almost laughed. It was amusing to see something so tiny act so fierce.

  The closer Madhava got, the more he could see that indeed this was another human female, the Jurou Biljana had brought to their planet. Though she was pale and small like Giselle, her hair was red not blonde, and her eyes a deep green rather than blue. Madhava wondered how many variations Giselle's people possessed.

  One thing was clear, human females were more brave and aggressive than their stature allowed for. She instantly struck him as cute, not just her attitude but her appearance. The way her hair was wavy and wild as the wind disturbed it, her pert nose, even the crease in her brow, and the way her lips pursed, were amusing.

  Before Madhava could stop himself, his curiosity propelled him forward. When the small female's eyes widened in fear as she studied him, Madhava remembered how frightened she must be. It was bad enough being surrounded by large strange warriors, but Madhava knew he was especially frightening.

  Thankfully Giselle approached the new little human.

  Providence

  In the light of day Providence studied the overgrown demon. He didn't look that bad, more like a red skinned, black haired version of Brad Pit from the movie Troy. Even his clothing had that gladiator appearance. He wore an armored kilt, with matching leggings on his thick thighs. Strapped across his broad chest were a series of knives. His bulging pecs were decorated with swirling black tattoos that contrasted with his red skin. He was as handsome as he was frightening.

  Providence stood frozen as a second male joined him, staring down at her defiant posture. This demon was also rather attractive though scarred. One scar went down across his left eye and cheek. The male was lucky the injury hadn't blinded him. The nasty scar didn't detract from his appearance, but the scowl and furrowed brow did. He looked menacing. Providence noticed the countless other scars on his chest and arms. He too was covered in black tattoos and strapped with weapons.

  This was an aggressive race that was obvious. Providence would have to be on her guard.

  "What's wrong Dagaa, Madhava? Oh my god!"

  Providence whirled around when she heard another human voice. Her mouth stood agape as a blonde woman quickly approached her, followed by another large red male.

  "Oh my god, were you on that ship?" The blonde asked as she rushed up to Providence's and took her hand.

  Providence was too stunned to do anything more than nod.

  The demonic Brad Pitt behind Providence said something, but Providence didn't look back at him. Instead she clung to the blonde's hand. Never in a million years did she expect to see a familiar face here.

  "Of course she hit you, you big baby. She's freaked out!" The blonde woman replied.

  The way the woman took the man to task instantly calmed Providence a measure until she noted the bite marks on the crook of the woman's neck. One of these big behemoths had bitten her with their giant fangs. Some of the marks were old, but at least one set was new. Providence looked hesitantly at the male behind the blonde. She wasn't sure, but he seemed concerned as he studied her.

  "My name is Giselle. What is yours?"

  "Providence." She replied as she eyed the large male that stood so close to Giselle that he was practically on top of her.

  "Well Providence welcome to Cadi. Are you doing okay? You are shaking pretty bad."

  Providence realized she was trembling and locked her knees.

  "Those reptiles tortured me with their stun weapons. They shot me several times after they captured me. Although I did kill a few of their people in the process."

  "Oh my god the Jurou Biljana tortured you with their disrupters!" Giselle exclaimed.

  The three demon males surrounding the two women growled and moved in closer. It was obvious they could understand Giselle. She must have a translator implant like Cila and Zer.

  "Let's have one of the medical techs look you over." Giselle said as she pulled Providence towards a tent.

  Providence ignored the large males that followed, instead she concentrated on Giselle. Besides the bite marks, the woman didn't seem mistreated, and didn't act afraid of these alien people. She had to concentrate on that fact. However that still didn't ease her fears entirely, too much had happened to her.

  Providence had been forced to jump out of her crashing plane, snatched from Earth by aliens creating some colony, forced to defend her fellow hibernating humans while giant lizards attacked, kidnapped again, str
ipped naked, tortured, and then plucked from a cold cell, by what her fractured mind assumed was the devil himself, only to find she was on a planet full of giant demons, that apparently like to bite. She was over it, big time! Providence was ready to either have an epic fit or lapse into a catatonic state. Giselle was the only thing keeping her from losing her shit entirely.

  "Calm down." Providence silently coached herself as she gripped Giselle's hand. "Just walk one foot in front of the other. This could be worse. You could be alone."

  Giselle squeezed her hand back and smiled at her kindly.

  Providence took a deep calming breath then chanced taking a glance around as they walked. The planet didn't look that strange besides the violet tinged sky and its demonic inhabitants. The mass of tents reminded her of a bazaar or market. Off in the distance she could make out the edge of a city and in the other direction a forest.

  Giselle led her into a tent where there were a few Cadi sitting here and there being treated for minor injuries.

  "You got lucky today." Giselle said. "The Cadi were successful in their attack against the Jurou Biljana. Nasty slavers." Giselle shook her head in disgust as she directed Providence to a cot.

  Providence was slightly confused. She wasn't quite sure what to make of this planet she found herself on. Why would the reptiles have come to Cadi and unloaded the hairy Wookiee creatures, at what was clearly a market, if they didn't think they could make money selling the beasts? For that matter how had Giselle gotten here?

  "So the Cadi don't believe in slavery?" Providence asked with a tilt of her head.

  "That's a loaded question and a long story." Giselle replied.

  Providence shoulders slumped at Giselle's response. She didn't really like the sound of that.

  "Well it doesn't look like I'm going anywhere so I've got time." Providence stated.

  "I'll explain everything the best I can, but first let the medic look you over. Also I would suggest you get the language implant. It hurts like a mother fucker but at least you can understand everyone."

  "Fine."

  Providence was anxious to know the score on this planet since she was an outsider, but it would have to wait. Being with one of her own kind eased her fears as the large red male approached. Thankfully she didn't have to take off the large cape she was wearing as the medic ran a handheld device down her body. It was something straight out of Star Trek. He studied the little unit, stopping at all the spots that were the sorest, where the disrupter blasts had hit her.

  The medic nodded then spoke to the Cadi man that had shadowed Giselle. Providence didn't know why the medic spoke to the man when Giselle was the one translating for her. Perhaps he was in charge here.

  The three men's faces darkened and took on a feral expression when they heard the results. The demonic Brad Pitt made a snarling sound baring his fangs. The scarred one's fist clenched aggressively by his sides. Providence had to grip the cot to keep from fleeing at the sight of them.

  "Stop it you are scaring Providence!" Giselle admonished the men as she placed a steady hand on her shoulder. "Sorry they don't like how you were treated. It looks like you'll be okay. Just a few burn marks and lingering muscle fatigue. You'll probably have cramping for several days, but no long term effects."

  Providence sighed. The way the alien men acted you'd think she was dying.

  "Now comes the worst part, if you think you are up for it. I'm sorry but it's going to feel like a migraine on crack when the medic gives you the language implant."

  Providence nodded.

  The medic looked hesitantly at the other three men as he spoke in the gravelly alien language. The man in charge looked assessingly at Providence then nodded his assent for the medic to proceed.

  Providence braced herself as the Cadi medic placed another tool behind her ear. The next thing she knew an ungodly pain shot through her brain.

  "You weren't kidding." Providence gritted her teeth as she panted.

  Providence hummed the national anthem as she rocked back and forth, tapping her fingers to a different beat. She breathed in through her nose and out her mouth with calming breaths, willing the pain to go away.

  Finally after several minutes the pain abated to a manageable level, and she looked back up at Giselle's concerned face. The expression was mirrored by the three alien men.

  "Is she going to be okay?" The demonic Brad Pitt asked with a furrowed brow.

  "Yeah, I'm going to be fine." Providence replied. "Oh hey, I understood you."

  "Oh my god you are a rock star. I was writhing in agony forever after the Jurou Biljana injected me with the implant." Giselle exclaimed.

  "Is there nothing to be done about the pain?" The scarred male asked. "Females should not be made to suffer." He growled.

  The medic paled at the barely veiled threat. "No I am sorry. Since the implant is in the brain, the heart of the nervous system, there is no avoiding the overload of sensations as it taps into the language center."

  The scarred male just looked dubiously at the medic who quickly fled to the other side of the tent.

  Providence was touched and amused at the big man's concern. He looked too harsh to be a softy. She looked him up and down assessing him again. The obvious differences aside he reminded her of the soldiers she was familiar with back home.

  "It’s alright. I've got a pretty high tolerance for pain. You kind of have to when you're in the Air Force."

  "No shit you were in the Air Force?" Giselle asked.

  "Yep, Pararescue." Providence nodded then lowered the cloak to show Giselle her tattoo of the globe flanked by angel wings, on her shoulder. Not that it was proof, but it was their insignia.

  "You seriously jump out of planes and all that?"

  Providence nodded again.

  "Kagan." Giselle tugged on the large male in charge's hand. "This is one of the female's I was telling you about. A real warrior! I only studied war, this woman trained for it."

  "It is nice to meet you Providence and I am glad that you were not fatally injured. Welcome to Cadi." The imposing male placed his fist on his chest then nodded in greeting. "I apologize but I must go tend to things. Jeezelle based on what we discussed earlier I want you to stay in the tents, out of the sun, and rest with your fellow human. Do not defy me in this Pet or I will turn you over my knee." Kagan looked so serious it took Providence back, just as she was starting to get used to the strange aliens. "Dagaa, Madhava decide amongst yourselves who will guard my bonded and her new friend."

  The two men she first met, Dagaa and Madhava, placed their fists on their chests and bowed to Kagan. She had been right to assume he was in charge.

  As Kagan headed out the tent Giselle hollered after him.

  "Promises, Promises."

  Kagan turned and winked at the blonde before leaving. Giselle giggled like a school girl. Providence found herself confused. Apparently Kagan's threat hadn't been as serious as she thought.

  "I am Dagaa and this is Madhava." The demonic Brad Pitt introduced himself and his scarred companion who stood scowling. "Don't mind him, he always looks that way."

  "I cannot understand how your males let females be warriors. Have they no pride?" Madhava stated as he looked at Providence.

  "Holy Kali Madhava." Giselle exclaimed as she swatted the scarred man.

  Providence cracked a small smile. It kept surprising her the way Giselle stood up to the huge frightening aliens.

  "Human women fought for the right to defend their people." Giselle informed the serious male.

  Providence understood Madhava's perspective even though she didn't agree. She was used to men with similar views among the Air Force who didn't believe women should even be allowed in the military, much less near combat.

  "Don't make Giselle flip you on your ass with her Judo you grim bastard." Dagaa told Madhava.

  "You know Judo?" Providence asked Giselle.

  "Yep, learned it in college. Won a few meets. However Kagan has strictly forbidden me from
flipping anyone for a while."

  "I find it hard to believe you'll be obeying that order." Madhava said with a raised brow.

  "Hey, I can behave!" Giselle insisted.

  "Yeah sure." Dagaa added.

  Providence didn't understand why Giselle needed to obey Kagan if she wasn't his slave.

  "You found the human female and are Giselle's Second, maybe you should stay." Madhava suggested.

  "As much as I'd like to talk to the fiery warrior." Dagaa smiled at Providence. The way his lip quirked up and his eyes twinkled in an ornery way, Providence was reminded of the playboys back home. "Unfortunately I'm the one most familiar with the Jurou Biljana vessels. So that leaves you my grim friend. Don't frighten the females too much."

  Dagaa took one last look at Providence as he reached the entrance of the tent, and she couldn't help but give him a tentative smile in return. He grinned, nodded to her and left.

  "Madhava take us to a private tent so I can talk with Providence." Giselle got up.

  Madhava looked uncomfortable as he looked from Giselle to Providence. But he nodded and led them to another smaller tent that was filled with comfortable plush seats and refreshments.

  "Are you hungry?" Giselle asked.

  "Famished." Providence said as her mouth watered.

  "Here try this." Giselle passed her a glass of water and a few yellow plum-like fruits.

  Providence took a large refreshing gulp then moaned as she bit into the sweet fruit.

  "Madhava don't look so freaked out. I've told you I don't blame you for what Vigdis did, you are forgiven. I haven't said a word to Kagan or Dagaa, and never will, so relax." Giselle said as she took a seat with a sigh.

  "You should keep nothing from your bonded." Madhava insisted.

  Providence took a seat with Giselle while the scarred man stood uncomfortably by the entrance.

  "And I agree under most circumstances. I think they understand you were forced to do things you didn't want to do, but rubbing their noses in the details won't help." Giselle said with a wane smile.