by Cynthia Sax
“I’ve never met any being like you.” His words were softly spoken. “I don’t know how to defend against your kind.”
“I don’t have a kind. I’m unique, like you are.” Dita smiled at him and lights flared in his dark eyes. “There were rumors in the Guild of another female with similar blocking abilities, but she lacked my stealth skills.” She paused. “She’s also dead.”
“That doesn’t mean you’re the only one.” Kralj squeezed her fingers. “I’ve been relying too heavily on my abilities.”
“That was my mistake also,” she admitted. He had defeated her easily.
“What would you have done differently?”
Dita considered that question carefully. If she had been less open, less honest with him, she might have killed two of her three targets, instead of only one, but Kralj wouldn’t have given her the gift of his trust. “Nothing. I wouldn’t have done anything differently.”
He lifted one of his eyebrows.
“If I had done something differently, that would have changed this.” She held up their linked fingers. “And I like this, handsome. Very much.”
His gaze heated. “You like it? Even though you can’t speak while we’re in public?”
“You must have your reasons for that rule.” She was paired with a cautious male. She accepted that. “And I don’t have to follow it forever.”
Once the clones left, she would be free of his restrictions, able to live her lifespan on her terms. That thought should have made her happy.
It didn’t.
“I do have my reasons.” He sighed. “Tell me how you’d enter the Refuge undetected.”
She told him. He asked questions, listened intently as she answered. They crafted plans to fill the holes in the settlement’s security.
The discussion shifted Dita’s view of herself. Last planet rotation, she had taught a female how to protect herself. This planet rotation, she might have assisted in safeguarding thousands of beings.
She could never create life. That option had been stolen from her. But she was saving lives. She wasn’t taking them. That was a different role for her.
Time vanished, stolen away by the pleasure of another being’s company, Kralj’s company. That was a different experience also.
For both of them. They had been solitary for so long, isolated by their unique abilities, their bloody views of the universe.
Kralj led her to the top of the wall. They watched the sun dip below the horizon, painting the sky brilliant reds and oranges. Darkness stretched across the sand dunes.
“We’re creatures of the shadows, you and I.” He wrapped his arms around her. “We’re most comfortable when we’re unseen, hidden in the unlit corners of the universe, concealed in the blackness.”
“It is uncomfortable being in the spotlight,” she agreed.
“Once it isn’t necessary for others to see you, to know that you’re with me, that I approved of your past actions, then I’ll conceal you.”
He’d extend his shadow over her. She’d be part of him. Dita rested her head on his shoulder. “Does your beast need to be fed?”
“My beast is sated.” He gazed out at the sand, his body supporting hers. “For now, it is content to hold you.”
Her monster was content also. “I enjoyed this planet rotation.” Dita never expected her lifespan to give her moments like this. She’d treasure them until she breathed her last breath. “It felt…normal.”
“As normal as the two of us can be.” He rubbed his chin against her hair. “You didn’t kill anyone.”
“I thought about it. Often.” She laughed, the sound floating on the cool breeze. “That warrior? The one with the beverage? I was tempted to challenge him to a fight, to test his skill.”
“I might have allowed that.” Humor lightened Kralj’s normally dark tones. “The old battle-axe spent the conversation thinking about your ass.”
Dita’s mirth bubbled out of her once more. “It must be challenging to hear everyone’s thoughts.”
“It’s noisy.” He dipped his head. “And humbling.”
“They fear you.” She didn’t need to read minds to know that. It was written on their faces.
“They should fear me but some of them don’t.”
“Those are foolish beings.” Dita didn’t fear him. He’d never hurt her. But she did respect him, would never underestimate him. “They haven’t seen the full extent of your powers.”
“You’ll ensure they never see that.” He turned her until she faced him. His expression was grim. “You’ll help me keep my powers in check.”
“I will help you.” She promised. “As long as I can.”
Was that the only reason he wanted her—because she could absorb his powers? He could fuck her, feed from her and not worry about exploding beings?
“I need you, little one.” Kralj cupped her cheeks, his fingertips rough against her skin. “I’ve never needed another being. It is…discomforting.”
Discomfort wasn’t love but it was better than the fear, the hatred others had shown her. “This is new for both of us.”
She’d never been in a relationship, had never been needed in this way.
“I’m never letting you go.” The emotion in Kralj’s eyes took her breath away.
He would have to let her go. She had a vow to keep, two targets to hunt once they left the Refuge. He wouldn’t join her, would never leave his settlement. They couldn’t stay together.
She should tell him that. Her lips parted. He covered them with his, the force of his kiss driving her head back. His tongue surged between her teeth, slid along hers.
Dita moaned, grasped his coat-clad shoulders, lifting onto her tiptoes. He threaded his fingers through her curls and held her as he stroked into her mouth, fucking her with his tongue. He sucked and licked and made her his yet again.
When he finally broke their kiss, all thoughts of leaving him had faded.
Chapter Eleven
Four planet rotations passed. Over a normal rest period, Kralj killed one or two offenders, beings who had broken his rules. During the previous rest period, he had killed three offenders. Dita, with his approval, had killed an additional three. Although that pleased his beast, it worried his more rational side.
Residents were becoming more and more brazen, threatening beings under his protection, not adhering to the rules, not fearing his wrath.
Todt-932, the second clone, was responsible for that rebellion. He recruited quietly, utilizing the residents’ fear of change and the rumors about Dita, not thinking Kralj noticed his activities.
Kralj heard everything. He knew about the actions organized, the words whispered, the thoughts pondered.
Todt-932 had sent his brother on a fruitless mission at sunrise, directing him to venture far from the settlement, ensuring there would be no doubt in residents’ minds who was in charge.
He had gathered his minions, was riling them to the point of violence. They planned to confront Kralj in mere moments.
Kralj would face the angry mob first, operating on his timeline, his terms. He was the Ruler of the Refuge. This was his settlement, not the clone’s.
Residents stared at him as he passed them. Their thoughts rushed over him. Everyone was aware of the unrest. They questioned his ability to manage it.
They didn’t know him. Kralj scowled, his shadow dark and foreboding, the wind whipping his coat. No one did, not truly, not even the tiny assassin following him.
He had told her of his abilities but hearing about them and seeing them were two very different things. Would she align herself with him once he released his monster?
Would she stay with him after he informed her Todt-933, the third clone, had left the Refuge? He was a male of honor, had given her his word. She trusted him to keep it. He had to tell her.
But not now, not yet.
Three females nudged each other as he approached, their gazes on the female behind him. They extended their arms, their palms flat, facin
g downward, and carefully made fists.
If Kralj wasn’t certain of her loyalty, he’d suspect Dita of leading another rebellion. But the females’ thoughts were of gratitude and admiration, not anger or fear. They had been sharing his little assassin’s self-defense lessons.
Would their thankfulness eventually turn to hatred? Would they betray his female as their male counterparts plotted to betray him?
When those beings first stepped through the Refuge’s gates, they had seen the place he’d built as being special, a miracle on a desolate planet. Time passed and that appreciation had dimmed. They now took the Refuge for granted.
They took him for granted.
And this planet rotation, they planned to battle him for control of the settlement he had built.
They would lose.
“What do you want me to do?” Orol, his second-in-command, fell into step beside him.
“Guard the front gate with Balvan.” Kralj gave the winged male a task. “No one enters.” He didn’t require any assistance with the uprising.
“Consider it done.” Orol sauntered away, heading for a better takeoff point.
Dita took his place beside Kralj, bumping against his arm. He looked at her. She rested her hands on her holstered guns and lifted her eyebrows.
He shook his head.
His damn female didn’t move her hands. She would insist on participating in the killing, thinking she was helping him, and that would lessen the impact of his response.
“They’re testing me,” he explained. “I have to be the one to deal with them.”
“If they hurt you,” she whispered, “they will deal with me.”
His lips twitched, the weight on his heart lifting. “They can’t hurt me.”
He suspected only she could do that. She had a power over him he couldn’t defend against.
Mate, his beast growled.
Kralj ignored it and turned the corner.
A mob filled the pathway. They consisted of the most violent residents and the most gullible. Yorick, the breeding female’s handler, was among them, his face bruised from Dita’s assault.
Almost all of the mob members were male. They clutched weapons, believing those would be enough to protect them.
Todt-932, the second clone, saw him and stopped, his eyes rounding, his jaw dropping. Shit. How did he know?
“I know everything.” Kralj answered his unspoken question. “You don’t want to do this.”
He gave the male an opportunity to change his mind, to stop this madness. Kralj could ensure that happened. He could turn every resident in the Refuge into his slave but he hadn’t escaped his own bonds to take away the freedom of other beings.
All he asked was that his rules be obeyed.
“What we want is the assassin’s head on a stake outside the settlement.” Todt-932 foolishly clung to his plan. His gaze shifted to Dita.
The clone dared to look at his female. Kralj’s chest rumbled, his beast angered by the male’s insolence.
“She broke one of your rules.” Todt-932 encased that last word with sarcasm. “She killed my brother. She should die for that.”
“I allowed her to kill your brother.” Kralj stepped to the right, blocking the clone’s view of Dita.
“You didn’t allow her to do anything.” Todt-932’s top lip curled. “You finally found a female who could look past your ugly face and she’s leading you around by your cock.”
Kralj folded his fingers into tight fists, his temper rising. “Careful, Todt-932.”
The wind around them strengthened, portholes in nearby domiciles rattling.
“You’re weak, unfit to rule the Refuge.” Todt-932 wouldn’t be cautioned. “We’re taking control.”
The mob cheered, waving their guns, their swords, their weapons giving them courage. Beings hurried to the left and to the right of Kralj, taking positions on the tops of domiciles, in doorways, surrounding him.
Kralj’s lips flattened. They believed they had captured him.
That’s how little they thought of his abilities.
“This won’t end well.” He struggled to keep his voice level, calm.
“This won’t end well for you, you mean.” The clone jeered, looking at his buddies for agreement. They grinned and nodded their heads. “You’re surrounded. You might be able to defend yourself against one or two of us but you can’t fight everyone here.”
“Can’t I?” Kralj extended his shadow over the entire settlement, partially blocking the sun, casting them all into darkness.
Some of the males swallowed hard, sweat beading on their faces.
Can he? Todt-932 had a moment of doubt. No, that’s impossible. “You can’t fight everyone. We know how you kill—with swords, axes, your teeth.”
They were fools and Kralj had no patience for them. He’d allowed them within his walls, had given them sanctuary, a safe place to reside and this was how they repaid him—with disrespect, rebellion.
Threats. Against him. Against his mate. That angered him most of all. No one threatened Dita.
“You know how my beast kills.” Kralj met Todt-932’s gaze directly. “That isn’t the part of me that should scare you.”
He pushed the air around them, swirling it into a vortex encompassing the entire settlement. Wind plucked at garments, at hair, pitted skin with sand.
A few of the males retreated, having the intelligence to be frightened.
The rest of the males raised their weapons. They were determined to end their lives.
“Try to kill me and you’ll die.” Kralj gave them one last chance to live.
“Not if we’re successful.” Todt-932 aimed his long gun at him. “Now.”
Guns were fired. Daggers were thrown.
Kralj’s enhanced mind reacted, manipulating his amplified brainwaves, stopping everything. There was stillness, an eerie quiet. Beings froze in place.
Projectiles and blades hung in the air around him, around Dita, for one heartbeat, before falling to the pathway, the ping, ping, ping of metal against stone musical.
Beings breathed. The wind whistled.
No one, except for Dita and Kralj, could move. He had taken away that ability. They could listen, they could feel and they could think, their fear washing over him in dark waves.
He could have spared them that.
But he didn’t. He wanted them to experience everything.
“Don’t expect anyone to save you.” He took away that hope also, broadcasting that message and the scene around him to every resident in the settlement, pushing the images and words into their minds. “I’ve blocked all entry to the Refuge. Everyone inside the walls shares your state.”
He couldn’t have frozen everyone. Many beings shared Todt-932’s doubt.
Kralj’s lips twisted. “I’ve frozen everyone, human, humanoid, other, even the insects deep within the sand.” He did that because he could and because he was angry, furious at the dissenters, at their disrespect and their gall. “There’s one exception—the assassin you tried to kill.”
Dita was the exception to every rule. He turned and looked at her, needing to visually reassure himself that she was unharmed. Her face was pale but he saw no other signs of distress.
She caught his gaze and glanced down at the pathway. A line of projectiles and daggers encircled her, an arm’s length from her booted feet.
“We can speak.” He gave her permission. Keeping their conversations private hadn’t stopped the rebellion. “I would never allow any being to hurt you.”
“I thought we were dead.” She gave him a shaky smile.
The males had scared his normally fearless female. Kralj’s fury spiraled higher.
“Nothing happens within the Refuge without my approval.” His voice rose. That message was for everyone. “They can’t kill you. They can’t hurt you. They can’t touch you. I hear all of their thoughts, know all of their actions.”
“They realize that now.” Her voice was soft.
�
��Now is too late.”
Kralj scanned the faces in the mob. They’d feel his wrath this planet rotation. He’d hold nothing back.
“You called me weak.” He glared at them. “You claimed I was unfit to rule. You thought you knew the extent of my power,” he boomed. “You believed all you had to fear was my beast. You didn’t know I killed that way because it was a kindness. My beast isn’t the reason I am a monster.”
He unleashed the true horror inside him, directing it first at Todt-932. The clone’s mind was weak. His body’s settings, including its ideal temperature and its reaction to stimuli, were easy to manipulate.
Todt-932’s skin turned bright purple. His eyes bulged. His breathing grew ragged, fast.
Kralj released his mental hold on the male’s mouth.
Todt-932 screamed, a wail expressing the most gruesome pain a being could endure. His face, arms, hands bubbled, the welts growing larger and larger and larger. His chest rapidly rose and fell, his heart under strain, unable to keep up with his brain’s demands.
The clone exploded in a spray of blood and guts, splattering the beings next to him with gore. Without raising a hand, Kralj had killed him. That was how easy it was for him.
It was also satisfying, a release of the constant pressure inside him. His monster reveled in its power, was pleased with the results.
Everyone else in the settlement had been horrified. Their thoughts swept over him—their revulsion, their terror, their disgust. Wave after wave of dark emotion hit him.
Dita had to feel the same way. He’d heard her gasp but he hadn’t turned his head. He didn’t have the strength to look at her, to see the end reflected in his little assassin’s blue eyes.
Their relationship was over. Kralj whipped the mob with wind, inflicting on them the pain he felt. She would leave him now. No female would choose to be with a male who could kill with one stray thought, who could wipe out an entire settlement, all of her friends, all of the beings she loved, dying in an instant.
She’d leave him and he’d have nothing, nothing except the rage in his heart, the blackness in his soul.
“Even now, you think you’ve seen the worst of me.” He’d show her everything. “You haven’t, but you will.”
