She didn’t move, didn’t dare breathe for fear of him pulling away. Please. She whispered in his mind, and his lips closed around the tender bud, sucking just hard enough to send her senses flying. Pleasure blasted through her, dragging a startled cry from her throat.
He surged up and over her, filling her so forcefully that it triggered another orgasm, or more like prolonged the first, until she was trembling with overstimulation.
He held the backs of her knees, keeping her open as he thrust fast and hard between her thighs. His phitons blazed like fire, casting a red glow across his features. If she hadn’t been able to feel the warmth of love in his mind, his appearance would have frightened her. His features were twisted, mouth snarling as he drove deeper and deeper into her willing flesh.
“So close,” he muttered, eyes tightly shut.
She closed her eyes as well, concentrating on his emotions rather than the struggle so apparent in his expression. Possessive desire curled around tenderness, and through the twisting intensity threaded joy. There was no external force powerful enough to tear them apart, and any challenge they faced they would conquer together.
Exalted by their love, she pushed her emotions into his mind and surrendered to the storm. He cried out, lost as release tore through him. She shattered just as suddenly, echoing his cry as pleasure pulsed through her mind and body.
They clung to each other, drifting through the tingling aftermath for endless moments.
“That was…”
“Wild,” she finished for him.
“And then some.”
She savored the emotions still swirling around and through her, then a strong prickle erupted deep in her abdomen. “Was that…? Did you feel that?”
“I did.” He bent down and kissed her tenderly. “My mother will be overjoyed.”
“Then it really was what I thought it was. We’re going to have a baby?”
“The spark of life was undeniable, but not every pregnancy takes. We’ll know for certain in a few days.”
She touched his face as tears blurred her vision. “I’m scared. Why am I so scared?”
He kissed her again, flooding her mind with warmth and affection. “You’re not alone, love. I’ll be with you every step of the way.”
She nodded, pushing the fear to the back of her mind. She hadn’t realized how much she wanted a baby until she’d felt the spark of life. “I’m having a baby,” she whispered, barely able to believe her own words.
“We’re having a baby,” he stressed, then kissed her again.
Chapter Ten
The following day dawned cloudy and cold, a portent of things to come. Vox’s training class was on hold until Raylon decided on a new location, so the newly bonded couple lingered in bed for most of the day. They made love over and over, neither able to sate their hunger for each other. The life spark they’d both sensed never wavered and each became progressively more confident that they were going to be parents.
“I’m dying to tell Lexie,” Emily confessed as they sat at the small table in the main room of the cabin to eat the dinner Rachel sent down from the big house. “How long do we need to wait?”
“It would be wise to wait at least two weeks, a month would be even better.”
“I don’t think I’ll last a month,” she lamented. “I’m too excited.”
She wore one of his shirts and had one of her legs tucked up under her. Her hair was tousled and faint smudges shadowed her eyes. Still, she’d never looked more beautiful to him. “I’m excited too. I’m shocked that it happened this quickly. I would have been thrilled if you’d conceived within the first year.”
“You said compatibility determines the strength of our attraction, so clearly we are extremely compatible.”
He grinned. He’d wanted her desperately since the first time he saw her, so she had a valid point. “Whatever the reason, I’ll take it, gladly.”
They chatted casually for a while about the next video she and Lexie had planned and the people Emily wanted to photograph, but all too soon his thoughts turned to home. He told her more about his family and tried to describe what life was like at court. He didn’t want her to be completely shocked when she encountered the regimented opulence that defined his uncle’s domain.
“Things were not quite as bad when Father was in charge. I think Uncle Lotar uses palace protocol as a way of hiding his insecurities. Rather than waiting for people to voluntarily demonstrate their respect, he demands shows of deference from everyone. The irony is it diminishes him even more. It’s no secret that the people greatly prefer my father, and you can’t blame them. He was a wiser and stronger king.”
She smiled, trying to hide her amusement, but their link made that impossible.
“What’s so funny?”
“You sounded suspiciously like a proud son for a minute there. Does your father know how much you love him?’
“I like to think he does.” He sighed as old frustrations darkened his mood. His father was a hard, domineering person. Even the slightest deviation from his chosen path was not tolerated.
“But he makes it hard to tell sometimes?”
“Very.” He pushed away his plate and stood. “I need to take a shower. My meeting with Marsden shouldn’t take long, but I need to get ready.”
“I’ll either hang out here and watch TV or go up to the big house and visit with Rachel.”
He tensed, unable to hide his displeasure. “I’d rather you weren’t alone.”
She smiled again. “I’ll go see Rachel.”
“Thank you.”
They showered together but each was careful to keep their touches soothing. He finished first and left her to finish up while he dressed for the meeting.
“I’m heading out,” he called a short time later. The water had stopped, but she’d yet to emerge from the bathroom.
She opened the door and blew him a kiss. “Good luck.”
“I’ll meet you at the big house when I’m finished,” he emphasized, wanting to make sure she intended to go there.
“Yes, dear. I’m headed up there as soon as I’m dressed.”
Nodding once to acknowledge her impatience, he then teleported out of the cabin. If anything upset her, for any reason, he’d sense it. Still, knowing his child was taking shape inside her compounded his concern.
He materialized in an alley beside the Charter Club. Boulder was a college town, so many of the nightclubs catered to a younger crowd. He’d chosen this location for its laidback environment and older clientele. Listening, and scanning, he cautiously approached the end of the alleyway. A small group of tipsy females had just exited the front doors, but they were headed in the opposite direction. He waited until they disappeared around the opposite corner before he started for the door.
It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the dim interior, but he easily spotted Marsden sitting alone in a booth near the back of the bar. Marsden spotted him just as quickly and lifted his chin in greeting. Vox looked around as he crossed the floor, scanning as well as searching for anything out of sorts. There were two pool tables and a tiny dance floor, but neither were in use at the moment.
“Enjoyed our reunion so much you had to have more?” A wry smile twisted one corner of Marsden’s mouth as Vox slid onto the seat across from him. The human was dressed in jeans and a pullover shirt, but he still looked military. His brown hair was too short and his green gaze too sharp for any other profession. He was holding a bottle of beer, yet he appeared anything but relaxed.
“Do they keep you on a short leash, or are you able to make decisions?” The question was slightly provoking, but so was Marsden.
“Depends on the decision. Do you have a proposal for me?”
Marsden had always been a no-nonsense sort of soldier, so Vox got right to the point. “Under what circumstances will your higher-ups allow the transformation program to continue?”
“They want final approval over every application and human scientists super
vise each procedure.”
Vox shook his head. “Human scientists know nothing about Rodyte physiology, and even less about genetic engineering. How are they going to supervise something they don’t understand?”
“I guess supervise is the wrong word,” Marsden said. “My ‘higher-ups’ want unrestricted access to all the research every step of the way.”
“Unlikely.”
Marsden dismissed the objection with a shrug. “It’s nonnegotiable. Those are the only terms they’ll consider. Take it or try your luck with another country. But remember, one female disappears off US soil and we’re at war. No exceptions.”
Vox nodded. “I’ll let my side know.” He started to leave, but Marsden stopped him.
“Aren’t Bilarri and Rodymia at war? I thought you were sworn enemies. How did you get mixed up in this?”
“It’s a long story.” He was tempted to say more, but it was already clear that Marsden had no autonomy. They could have been best friends, brothers even, and it wouldn’t have made a difference. The US government was determined to control the program and Garin would never let that happen. “Suffice it to say that both planets are tired of the fighting and the senseless sacrifice. What did you offer Kage Razel?”
Marsden reached for his beer. “I’m not at liberty to say.”
If the conversation continued, Vox had no doubt he’d be hearing a lot of that. “Suit yourself. I’ll be in touch.”
* * * * *
“Absolutely not,” Garin said with a shake of his head.
Rather than returning to Lunar Nine with more bad news, Vox collected Emily from Stargazer Ranch, then teleported to Rodymia. He decided a visit home was overdue, so Rodymia was more or less on the way.
It was easy to forget that the leader of the rebellion was actually a member of the Rodyte elite. However, the elegant mansion, to which Garin directed them, was a powerful reminder of Garin’s pedigree and family wealth. They’d been introduced to Garin’s mate, Berlynn, but the lovely blonde left the stylish salon before their conversation began. Emily sat beside Vox on the sofa while Garin faced them in a tall-backed chair.
“What other choice do you have?” Vox didn’t want to piss off the newly promoted apex general, but the rebellion’s choices were shrinking with alarming speed. “Marsden made it clear that they will not compromise.”
“We’ll have to think of something because humans cannot have open access to our research. It’s too dangerous. This process would be much too easy to weaponize. The formula creates a controlled mutation, but if that mutation is not meticulously controlled the results are catastrophic. With a few simple changes the formula could become a devastating bio weapon. Both our planets are more than ready for peace, while many on Earth are still spoiling for a fight.”
“Earth is filled with human females,” Emily pointed out. “Maybe a different country will be more accommodating.”
Again Garin shook his head. “It has to be the US.”
Vox didn’t think Garin was just being stubborn, so he asked, “Why?”
“Tandori Tribe inadvertently stacked the deck for us. Do you know about their sacred bonding grounds?”
Vox shook his head and glanced at Emily. She looked just as confused.
“To maintain their ability to manipulate magic, Tandori Tribe has controlled every element of their gene pool. One of their strategies is to draw every person with compatible DNA to certain areas in the US when they’re physically ready for a mate.”
Vox had to expand the concept to those outside Tandori Tribe before he comprehended the importance. “These areas in the US are saturated with humans compatible with Rodyte DNA?”
“Which means they’re compatible with Bilarrian DNA, as you quickly found out.” Garin motioned toward Emily to make sure Vox understood.
“So the chances of finding compatible females in another country would be greatly diminished.”
Garin nodded. “We did some random testing to see how much difference the Tandori spell makes. The results were shocking. The ratio dropped from one in ten to one in thirteen thousand in England. Ethiopia and Portugal were even worse.”
“Damn,” Vox muttered.
“My thoughts exactly,” Garin said. “We’re stuck with the US government whether we like it or not.”
“Then we have to find a way around their stipulation.” Vox was stating the obvious, but he couldn’t think of a single suggestion.
“Every female will be a willing volunteer. Raylon understands that stipulation and it’s never going to change. The Triad is as adamant as I am.”
“I don’t think finding willing females is going to be a problem,” Emily said. “Rachel and I did some checking while Vox was talking to Marsden. The video has gone viral. It already has several million views across social media channels and it’s been live less than twenty-four hours. I don’t know how many of the applications will be approved, but six thousand women filled out the forms, and again this is in less than one day.”
“So how do we get the females to Lunar Nine without starting a war?” Vox asked.
“They can’t go directly to Lunar Nine,” Garin insisted. “We’ll use one of the ships as the new processing center.”
“Visitor Center,” Emily suggested with a laugh. “You make us sound like sausage.”
“Visitor Center,” Garin agreed. “The orientation and interviews will be done at the Visitor Center and only those accepted by the panel and willing to sign the six-month contract will be allowed on Lunar Nine.”
“All that sounds good, but how do we get them from US soil to the Visitor Center?” Vox persisted. “Even if the females are willing, the US Military will consider it an act of war.”
“We don’t,” Emily said emphatically. “We hire a company, or companies, to shuttle the volunteers out into international waters and then we pick them up from there. There’s no reason for another Rodyte to set foot on US soil. At least, no reason we’re creating.”
Garin stared off into the distance, likely thinking of possible complications. “As soon as they realize what we’re doing, they’ll shut it down.”
“So we change the point of departure with each group and randomly change the companies,” Vox suggested. “There’s a lot of coastline for us to use. As long as we stay one step ahead of them, it should work.”
“I’ll think it over.” Garin looked at Emily and smiled. “It’s a clever approach.”
“Well, we’ll let you get back to whatever you were doing before we interrupted. Are you going to fill in Raylon or should I contact him?”
“Are you headed home?” Garin asked and Vox nodded. “Then go. I’ll take care of Raylon.” Again his assessing gaze shifted to Emily. “Good luck. Remember what I told you about the Tandori spell. It might help you with your father.”
“We’re on the same page,” Vox assured him. “Earth seems to be the answer to a number of our challenges. Being the first to create an alliance with humans will give us a political advantage.”
Garin chuckled. “I hope your father sees it that way. Thanks again for all your help. I know we’ve imposed on you far beyond your original commitment, and I appreciate it.”
Vox clasped wrists with Garin, then drew Emily into his arms and set his sights on home.
* * * * *
Emily turned around in a slow circle stunned beyond words. The carousel garden should have prepared her for the opulence of Vox’s home, but she was still reeling. They’d teleported to his suite in the palace, or one of the palaces. According to Vox, there were four. The main living area wasn’t huge, but the high, sculpted ceiling and intricate, gleaming floor showcased his family’s wealth and privilege. A sofa and three matching chairs had been arranged around the massive fireplace, while a small table and chairs sat near a window overlooking a garden and the sprawling park beyond. The room had been decorated in blue and gold, always gold. Even on Earth, homes of the ultra-rich were filled with or at least accented in gold. Everything was
immaculate and perfectly placed.
Like a museum. She glanced at Vox, hoping he hadn’t heard her grumbling thought. “It’s lovely.”
He laughed. “A lovely museum?” He drew her hand to his lips and kissed it. “You don’t have to pretend with me. I know this seems wasteful to you.”
Wasteful was the perfect word to describe her impression. She couldn’t help but think of all the people who could have been fed and all the medicine that could have been dispensed if palaces on numerous planets were a little less ostentatious. “I hate it, but I love you.”
He brushed a tender kiss over her lips. “And I love you.”
A sudden, firm knocking startled Emily and snapped her head toward the arched double doors across the room.
“That didn’t take long,” Vox muttered as he went to answer the knock.
He pulled the door open and a young brunette flew into his arms with an excited squeal. “Why didn’t you tell anyone you were returning? We were all scared witless when we heard you’d been so sick.”
“I’m fine now. Did Father neglect to share that piece of information?”
He’d said “Father”, not my father. Was this one of his sisters? Her upswept hair was dark brown with a hint of red, mahogany, Emily supposed. But many Bilarrians had red phitons. Still, the regal elegance Emily had noticed in Vox was present in the female as well. She wore a column dress of rich copper with a subtle tone-on-tone pattern and matching high-heeled pumps. The outfit, like the woman, was understated and stylish.
Vox motioned their visitor into the room and closed the door. The young woman’s gaze landed on Emily and widened. “And who is this?”
“This is Emily of Earth, my mate.” Emily didn’t appreciate being referred to as “this” repeatedly and she was about to say so when Vox added, And the mother of my child, with a secretive smile. “Emily, may I introduce Princess Alanza, my middle sister.”
Alanza moved closer, her red-ringed gaze boldly assessing. “There is no way in creation Father knows about this. He has contacted half the families in our region to inform them that you’re finally in the market for a mate.”
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