by S. E. Smith
As Cara pulled on the pants and soft blouse Carmen had managed to get for her somehow, she had to remind herself she had broken her vow to never let anyone close again. It was her own fault for letting Trelon inside. If she had kept him at a distance none of this would have happened. Now she knew. Now she would make sure she never let him near her again. She would do like she did with Darryl. She would simply ignore him. And, like Darryl, he would eventually disappear. Cara felt a mournful cry escape somewhere deep down inside her. It was like a part of her was withering in excruciating pain. It was so bad Cara bit back a scream and had to hold onto the wall by the door so she wouldn’t fall.
Carmen took a step towards Cara in concern, “Are you okay?” She asked quietly.
Cara sucked in a breath of air and forced herself to let go of the wall with a trembling hand. “Yes. I think so.”
“You know, you don’t have to go to that dinner thing. I’m not. You look awfully pale. We could stay in and run through plans on how to get off this planet and back home. Since the idiot twins decided it was best to try to minimize the time Ariel and I spend together I’ve had to try to come up with stuff on my own.” Carmen said with a worried smile.
“The idiot twins?” Cara asked feeling slightly better.
“Yeah, Mandra and Creon. I guess they are two brothers of the guy Abby likes.” Carmen said, blushing a little.
“Why would they keep you from your sister?” Cara asked in surprise.
Carmen’s blush deepened before she replied, “It’s a long story. Let’s just say I under-estimated the enemy and it won’t happen again. Right now, my focus is getting off this rock and back to Earth.”
Cara was just about to reply when a knock sounded at the door. Carmen walked over and picked up the vase she had set aside earlier. Gripping it tightly, she swung the door open with a growl. A young boy of about thirteen stood in the entrance looking very pale and frightened.
He bowed low and said in a voice that broke, “I have been asked to escort my ladies to the dining area for tonight’s meal.” He winced when his voice broke at the end coming out more as a squeak.
Carmen lowered the vase in disappointment. “I’m not going. Cara, are you still planning on going?”
Cara nodded grimly. Oh, she would go. And if she saw that two-bit piece of shit by the name Trelon, she would act like she was having the time of her life. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing just how badly he had hurt her. Cara moved towards the door before turning and giving Carmen a big huge.
“Thank you.” Cara whispered.
“No problem.” Carmen responded. “Knock twice, then skip a beat before knocking again when you get back so I don’t clobber you.” Carmen said with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
Cara chuckled. “I will.”
Cara turned and followed the young boy out the door. She had shooed Symba into the room before Carmen shut the door. She wore the delicate pieces around her arms, neck, and ears. If she needed Symba, they would call to her. Cara was so deep in thought she didn’t notice the boy had sped up until she was several paces behind him. The boy was almost a foot taller than Cara and his long legs ate up the way. Cara watched as he disappeared around a corner and hurried to catch up.
“Hey,…” Cara started to say breathlessly as she rounded the corner. Her words were cut off as she found herself lifted up against the wall suddenly and hot, heavy lips slammed against hers. Cara reached out to strike at the man who had grabbed her only to find both her wrists captured in a pair of huge hands. The only thing keeping her in the air was the wall and the body pressed hotly against her own. Cara groaned at the familiar taste of Trelon’s kiss. She felt something cold press against the tender flesh of her wrist before his hand traveled down to capture her jaw and tilt her face to the side so he could press a kiss to the mark of the dragon on the side of her neck. Cara felt a rush of warmth flow between her legs as a hot wave of desire hit her. She could feel his erection pressing against her stomach. It wasn’t until he spoke that she regained her senses enough to pull the mask down.
“I’m so sorry, mi elila. I never wanted to hurt you. N’tasha...” Trelon continued but Cara’s mind had frozen on the woman’s name. The pain she had felt earlier came back in a rush and it took everything inside of Cara to push it into the ice chest she called her heart.
“Yes. Well, I’m glad you clarified that. Now, will you let me go?” Cara asked in a calm voice devoid of any emotion.
Trelon felt a wave of relief. She forgave him. He had been so worried but she had understood that N’tasha hadn’t meant a thing to him. He pressed kisses along Cara’s neck and back up her jaw determined to kiss her to the point she would want to return to their living quarters instead of going to the dinner. He wanted to spend the entire night showing her how much he regretted causing her pain. He pulled her face back around to him when she didn’t turn it and covered her lips with his. But, it didn’t matter how hard he pressed or how much he teased she refused to open her mouth to him. In fact, she wasn’t doing anything but hanging there limply in his arms.
Trelon pulled back with a frown, “What is wrong, suma mi mador.”
Cara looked at him with one eyebrow raised. “Are you done slobbering on me? I’m hungry and would like to get something to eat.” She said calmly.
“Slobbering? What is this word?” Trelon asked cautiously. He had a bad feeling and from the grumbling his dragon was doing he wasn’t the only one to have it.
“It means putting your nasty-ass lips on mine and getting them wet.” Cara said ignoring the dangerous darkening in the gold eyes looking into hers.
“You did not think they were ‘nasty-ass’ as you call it this morning.” Trelon said with a low growl.
“Yes, well, my tastes have changed since then.” Cara replied. “Now, unless you plan on pawing me without my permission some more, I really would like to go get something to eat. I haven’t eaten all day.”
Trelon growled out a warning to Cara to be careful with what she said. If it wasn’t for the fact she suddenly looked extremely pale he would have argued her assessment of his ‘slobbering’ on her and her revulsion of his ‘pawing’. He let her body slide down the front of his making sure she could feel his desire for her before he took a step away. He hadn’t missed the slight tremor of her body as it responded to his. No matter what she said, she still wanted him. He also didn’t miss the exact moment when she realized she was now chained to him by a delicate but extremely strong chain made of one of their strongest metals. This was a non-living metal that could not be influenced by her.
“You sorry ass, son-of-a-bitch.” Cara muttered as she pulled at the chain Trelon had locked around her wrist. She pulled on it and noticed he had the other end attached to his arm.
“You will not disappear on me again, Cara. I will keep you chained to me until you realize you belong with me. I do not like waking to find you gone from my arms and from my bed.” Trelon growled out in a deep voice. He took a step towards her stopping barely a breath from her, “I know you still want me despite the way you have just acted. Your body still calls to mine and I will have you.”
“Well, guess what Romeo? Your pre-paid minutes have just expired and your contract has just been cancelled. I will not be climbing into any bed with you ever again; especially one that had another woman in it just a few hours ago. It is a little too full and well used for my taste. Oh, and I meant the bed as well.” Cara said as she moved around Trelon’s huge frame and headed down the corridor pulling him along. Let him think on that! Cara thought furiously.
“Abby!” Cara squealed in delight. She was genuinely happy to see her friend and would never let on about how much she was now regretting getting kidnapped. No, she didn’t really regret it. She was just heartbroken it hadn’t worked out as well as it looked like it was working out for Abby. She was practically glowing!
Abby gave Cara a quick hug. “Are you alright?” She whispered worriedly looking int
o Cara’s eyes. Cara had seen the stunned look on her face when she seen the silver chain attached to Cara’s wrist. What she didn’t know, and Trelon was going to learn the hard way, was that few if any locks could hold Cara in when she wanted out.
Cara laughed flipping Trelon a mischievous look. Oh, yeah he was going to find out very quickly how good she was at picking a lock, she thought with sweet revenge. “Oh, there’s nothing wrong.” Cara said in a falsely cheerful voice. “Lover boy here is under the impression that he has finally caught me and thinks a little ole chain will hold me to him.” Cara leaned forward looking at Trelon with heat blazing from her eyes while she whispered to Abby, “The fun has just begun.” Cara smiled sweetly, ignoring Trelon’s growl of warning. Giving Abby a quick wave Cara moved off pulling a furious warrior behind her as she danced in and out of the crowd introducing herself.
Abby jumped slightly when she felt a hand slide around her waist. “I think my brother has finally met his match.” Zoran said in amusement.
“I’m afraid you might be right.” Abby murmured in concern.
Cara weaved in and out of the crowd like an expert. Her smaller frame made it easier for her to fit under the mass of giants that seemed to inhabit the room. She pulled the pin which she had used to hold one side of her pants tighter out and bent it straighter. She could hear Trelon cussing softly under his breath as he tried to keep up with her. She would tug on the chain every once in a while to let him know she was still there. Her moment came when several tall, beautiful women and another warrior stopped him for a moment. Cara casually moved towards the table of food set up and picked up a plate. She waved her fingers at Trelon as she picked up several items. Trelon eyed her suspiciously before turning to answer a question one of the women had asked him. Soon, the tall male warrior had stepped just far enough that Cara could set the plate down and use the pin to work on the lock. As soon as she had it off she looked around to see where she could attach it. As she glanced around, the perfect place walked right up to her.
“Hello, tiny female.” A soft female voice said.
Cara’s eyes narrowed but she bit back the retort she really wanted to say. “N’tasha.”
“Oh.” N’tasha’s eyes widened. “Trelon told you about me.”
“Yes, but not nearly enough evidently.” Cara replied calmly as she moved to stand a little closer to the woman who had been in Trelon’s bed and arms only a few hours ago.
N’tasha picked up the plate Cara had been filling and a drink and handed it to Cara before picking up one for herself.
“Trelon told me you are his true mate.” N’tasha said quietly as she turned to select several items from the table.
“Yes, well he may have spoken a little hastily. I am not his true mate and never will be.” Cara said through gritted teeth as the sharp pain hit her again. Whatever was inside her did not like the fact she was refusing to be Trelon’s mate! It was beginning to piss her off.
N’tasha glanced in surprise. Her gaze narrowed down to the mark clearly on display on Cara’s neck. “You bear his mark.”
“Yes, well. It can be removed easily enough.” Cara replied nonchalantly. People had tattoos removed all the time. This shouldn’t be any more difficult, Cara hoped.
Cara drew in a breath. She had had enough of trying to be nice to a woman who she just wanted to rip her eyeballs out, preferably without anesthesia.
Cara quickly drank her drink and set the food down. She was no longer hungry. “Well, it was nice meeting you.”
“Yes. Perhaps we can meet again.” N’tasha said softly.
Cara wandered around the edge of the table and quietly slipped out the set of double doors leading out into a patio area. She let the dark settle around her like a blanket. She moved down a set of steps and heard voices coming out from the right side which was closer to the tall trees that border the patio. She recognized Abby’s voice and the deep tones of Zoran. Cara wanted to be alone so she moved to the left and down a path that lead towards the tall cliffs bordering one side of the palace. She felt her stomach cramp and she paused a moment until the feeling passed. She probably should have eaten something but after the confrontation with Trelon’s lover, Cara laughed bitterly, his other lover, she was amazed she could handle the drink she had finished.
Cara continued to walk, moving further and further away from the sounds of the dining area until the peace of the night seemed to surround her. She leaned against the low wall that protected visitors from the steep cliff below and the crashing waves of the surf. She grimaced again as another flash of pain flitted through her stomach. Maybe she was coming down with the flu or something. Cara chuckled as she thought of a little virus with Trelon’s head attached swimming through her body. Yeah, she would love to sic her white blood cells on him like a pitbull at a barbeque.
Cara sat down on a low bench near the wall as a chill swept through her body leaving her feeling weak. Maybe if she laid down for a minute or two she would feel better. Swinging her legs around, she laid down on her back and stared up at the stars. How different they appeared now that she knew there was other life out there. Somewhere out there was Earth. She didn’t know where, and in a way, that made her feel sad. A wave of homesickness surged through her as she thought about her little apartment with the few good memories she had tucked away in a shoebox. A picture of her mom and dad, one of her and Uncle Wilfred fishing off the bridge, another of her first day at Boswell as a newly hired mechanic. There was even her old baby blanket and her dad’s old pipe; things that didn’t have value to anyone other than her.
A tear slid down the side of Cara’s face at the same time a sharp pain bit through her stomach again. It hit her so hard she couldn’t hold back the small scream that tore from her throat. She turned onto her side, falling off the narrow bench to land on the hard ground. The pain from the impact was nothing compared to the pain racing through her now. A chill swept through her coating her in sweat at the same time making her teeth chatter. Cara clinched her jaw so tight in an effort to keep them from clattering together that the next wave of pain was forced out as a low groan. Cara rolled over onto her hands and knees in time to vomit. As she wiped a shaky hand over her mouth she gasped in horror to see it was covered in what looked like blood. Panting, Cara tried to stand up but another wave of pain burst through her and she gave a small prayer as she blacked out that perhaps it would be the last one she would be alive to feel.
Trelon’s jaw hurt so bad from holding in the bellow of rage he was feeling that he wondered if he would ever be able to talk again. He had discovered Cara’s little act of rebellion the hard way…when N’tasha had moved away from the table he had been jerked in her direction. She had looked stunned when she had discovered the silver chain locked to her wrist. The look on Trelon's and her face would have been humorous if not for the fact Trelon looked like he was ready to commit murder. N’tasha had mumbled some excuse about having congratulated Cara on becoming his true mate and she had never felt the lock or chain being attached to her. All of that could be true considering N’tasha was wearing a long sleeved tunic that went to the tips of her fingers. When Trelon had questioned her about the direction Cara had gone, she said she had looked away and had missed it.
Trelon had been forced to make small talk with a number of people who were attending the dinner before he could escape towards Carmen’s rooms. He didn’t care what type of reputation the other human female had for violence, he was more than ready to take her on. He was going to toss Cara’s tiny little body over his shoulder and haul her back to his living quarters. He was going to strip every inch of her delectable body to make sure she had nothing on her to pick the locks to the chains he was going to attach to her. Then, he was going to love her so passionately, so thoroughly she would never question him or leave him, or disappear again.
Trelon pushed his way past the guards and lifted his fist, slamming it against the door. “Open up this door, right now!” Trelon bellowed.
Carmen h
ad no sooner opened the door than Trelon’s symbiosis was out of it running at full speed. The force of its departure knocked Trelon against a warrior who had been standing to the side. Small bands of gold flashed out and wound around his wrists in frantic desperation. Immediately, Trelon felt the shards of pain flash through him as the tiny symbiosis on Cara called for help.
