“Fuck you,” Delta shouted, hurling a rock at one of the yellow eyes. She caught it right on the inside corner. The beast howled. It ducked its head back down, taking cover on the cliffside.
A moment later, she heard the harsh scrabbling sounds again. It’s digging its claws higher up into the side of the cliff, getting ready to leap up here and attack.
Delta threw herself to the ground, dagger in hand, and rolled between the creature’s front claws.
Zandyr
The beast was nearly at the top of the cliff, clawing its way up, roaring and snapping. Delta shouted something and, a moment later, the cojee-ma howled in pain.
That’s our little human, he told his brother, a note of pride in his voice. Facing down a hideous beast, brave as any warrior in the galaxy.
Which she wouldn’t have to do if she hadn’t gone off alone on this foolhardy rescue mission, Zhynn grumbled, pulling himself up the sheer rock face at a breakneck pace. I swear by all the gods, when I get hold of her I’m going to spank her so hard she won’t sit for a week.
He and his twin were downwind of the cojee-ma, heading up the cliff below it, one on either side of the monster’s lower body. As they climbed, they sized up the creature. Studying its movements, its makeup.
Do you see that? The perfect place to strike, Zandyr said. But we need to move. Now!
They stretched out, bodies flat against the cliff face, drew their swords, and slashed over and over at the joints where the creature’s rear paws attached to its legs. Hacking away at it as the cojee-ma flexed its hind legs to spring and the rows of scales tipped up to reveal pale underskin covering the tendons there.
The creature howled, writhing madly. But with the sinews anchoring its rear feet to its legs slashed, the weight of the creature’s body on the shredded tendons ripped them away from its bones. With an ear-splitting howl, the cojee-ma tumbled to the ground below.
Zandyr’s body was nearly yanked off the cliff by the creature’s front claw as it tumbled past him. His sword was torn from his grip, and he fumbled to find a crevice. Ended up dangling by one hand, feet scrambling for a toehold.
“Delta! Delta! Are you all right?”
Her face appeared above him, on a disembodied head hanging over the edge of the cliff.
“Zandyr! Did you see that? I got him. I got the sonofabitch! I rolled underneath him and slashed the backs of his front legs,” she babbled triumphantly. “He couldn’t hold on. Crashed to the ground! Look at him. He’s down there trying to get up. Keeps crumpling back down.”
Zandyr’s other hand found a narrow ledge, clung to it. He glanced down, still panting for breath. It looked like the creature’s spine had been shattered in the fall. It pawed at the ground, trying to pull itself to its feet, then collapsed with a spine-tingling roar that echoed over the desert.
Delta paused, as though seeing him for the first time. “What are you doing here? Is Zhynn with you? Are you all right? Do you need help? I can climb down and…”
“I don’t need your help,” he muttered, gritting his teeth. He’d be damned if the female he came to rescue ended up having to rescue him.
Zhynn came into view, clambering up the cliff as easily as a mountain orak. “Yes, I’m here, too,” he called out. He hauled himself over the edge of the cliff and dashed to Delta’s side then pulled her into his arms.
Zhynn
“Are you hurt?” His hands roamed over her body. He let out a string of curses when he realized she was favoring her left leg.
“You are hurt! What happened?”
“I fell when I was running. I think my ankle may be broken. But I’m all right, really I am,” she hurried on. “It only hurts when I put weight on it.”
He searched her face. “Liar. I’ve broken bones before. So has Zandyr. Don’t try to tell me you’re not in pain right now. How far did you run on it? And how in the seventh hell did you manage to climb up here with only one good leg?”
“Don’t mind me, Brother,” Zandyr huffed. His head appeared at the edge of the cliff, followed by his body as he rolled onto his stomach, breathing hard. “No, thank you, I don’t need a hand. I’m fine here.”
Zhynn glanced at him. His brother’s shirt was in tatters. He had a jagged wound across his back and a trail of blood down one arm.
“Every time he gets a little scratch, my twin acts like an infant needing to suck at his mother’s breast,” he sighed.
Delta limped to Zandyr, knelt down. “Dear heaven, you’re bleeding! The creature must have raked him with one of its claws as it fell,” she told Zhynn. “He’s been badly injured.”
Zandyr let out a loud groan. “It’s… it’s nothing,” he muttered. “But my brother is right. Sucking on a breast right now might make me feel better.” He grinned and pulled Delta down into his arms.
“You – you’re horrible! I was really worried,” she snapped, pounding on his chest with a fist.
“Ow! Easy there,” Zandyr said, clutching the spot she’d smacked.
“Oh, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to…”
Zandyr burst into laughter. “Isn’t she adorable?” he said to Zhynn. “She really thinks she hurt me!”
Delta glared at him. “Careful. I sent that monster over the edge of the cliff. I can do the same to you. One good kick…”
Do we tell her? Zhynn asked, amused.
And destroy our little warrior’s triumph? Never, Zandyr replied.
“Hand me my dagger,” she said to Zhynn.
“Are you going to stab me before you kick me off?” Zandyr grinned at her.
“You’re not funny,” she muttered, slicing two more wide strips from the lower part of her gown. She folded one into a patch and pressed it over his wound then wound the other around his chest and tied the edges together to hold the makeshift bandage in place.
Zandyr ran his eyes over the tattered remnants of her gown. “I may have a few more injuries.”
She smacked him again. “You’re not getting me naked that easily!”
“You can charm her out of what’s left of her clothes later, Brother,” Zhynn declared. “Right now, we have two problems. One, we need to get Delta back down this cliff. Two, we still have several hours to go before we reach the landing station. And it will be light soon. We need to move fast.”
You’ll need to carry her down, Brother. I dare not risk her life climbing down with only one good arm. Zandyr switched back to their chosen mode of communication.
I can do that. And I’ll carry her through the desert, too.
Zandyr got to his feet. Zhynn swept Delta into his arms. “I’m going to put you over my shoulder and take you down. All you have to do is hang on.”
“And then what? Are you going to run through the desert with me over your shoulder like a sack of potatoes?”
Zhynn frowned. “What are potatoes?”
Delta sighed. “It’s not important. The point is, you’ll never make it to the landing port before daylight if you have to drag me along. Go. Now. You can sneak in there, overpower the guards, and get your ship. Then one of you can come back on a small transport cruiser and pick me up.”
Zhynn made a quick survey of the plateau. ‘We can’t leave you here. There’s no shelter. Once the sun comes up, you could die of exposure before we get back.” He stopped, gave her a piercing stare. “How did you make it all the way here? You left long before we did, while it was still hot enough to fry an uma bug on that desert sand.”
“I have a few genetic modifications I never told you about,” she admitted. “They allow me to survive extreme temperatures for prolonged periods of time. I’ll be fine. Really, I will. Just go. Hurry!”
She’s right, Brother, Zandyr said. Strong as you are, she’d still slow you down. Our only hope is to get to the landing port before the sun is too high in the sky. If we don’t go now, we won’t survive to come back here for her.
I can’t bear to think of her here alone. Helpless.
Zhynn’s eyes were bleak.
Not completely helpless. After all, she did attack that beast, with a dagger no bigger than a bread knife. And she made it all the way here. We have to trust that she has skills beyond our own. Our human knows her abilities better than we do, Zandyr replied.
He shook his head. We have no choice, Brother. The only way we can save her life is to leave her.
Chapter Fifteen
Delta
She watched them go, her heart full of love.
Delta knew how hard it was for her brave warriors to drop down over the side of the cliff. Abandoning her. She’d felt the same heaviness in her soul when she snuck out of the citadel, not knowing if she would ever see them again.
It was still a surprise to her that she’d fallen in love with a pair of alien twins from a world she’d never even seen. Wanting to have sex with them? That was easy to explain. It was nothing but raw lust, a combination of their seductive gyron and the fact that she’d never had an orgasm until they came along.
But love? She’d always imagined love built slowly, over time. That’s why she never broke up with Lloyd. Her rational mind told her they were perfect for each other. They were compatible in so many ways. They both came from military backgrounds. They had common interests, similar likes and dislikes. Loved traveling, hated crowds. She figured she’d grow to love him. And she’d always thought their sexual problems were her fault, that if she could only relax and get turned on, everything would be fine. After all, Lloyd had told her that over and over.
After meeting the twins, she realized how empty and lifeless – and one sided – her relationship with Lloyd had been. When she was with him, they spent their time doing what he chose. She was expected to spread her legs when he was in the mood.
Zandyr and Zhynn were as different from Lloyd as could be. Lloyd was always dry and matter-of-fact, even when they had sex. The twins were passionate about everything they did. Though the brothers looked alike, they had distinct personality traits. Zandyr was the more romantic of the two, the one who’d reach out and hold her hand unexpectedly. Gentler, calmer. Zhynn was more competitive, more outspoken and opinionated.
The brothers had two things in common, though, two things that captured her heart.
First, their dark, dominating lovemaking. Together, they made her feel like the sexiest, most beautiful creature they’d ever seen. A being they hungered for. Awakening her to wickedly thrilling desires, taking control, demanding her obedience – and then carrying her off to heights of passion she’d only dreamed of before she met them. Delta never knew submission could be so intoxicating.
And, second, they made her laugh. Sometimes with sly wit, sometimes with pure slapstick shenanigans. The twins played off each other like a pair of stand-up comedians performing for an audience of one. In the few short hours they’d been together, Zandyr and Zhynn even drew her into bantering with them, finding her humor as entertaining as she found theirs. She knew sex alone wasn’t enough for a good relationship. They all had to get out of bed sooner or later. Laughing together with them would make bad times bearable and good times even better.
She was glad Tharan custom required that twins share a mate, because she had no idea how she’d ever choose between them.
Now, alone here on top of a stark plateau in the middle of the most vicious desert she’d ever seen in the galaxy, Delta had to face the truth. She might never see her warrior twins again. She didn’t know if she could survive until they came back – or if they’d manage to make it back.
When she left the citadel, she hadn’t known if she could really cross the desert alone and on foot. She hadn’t spent any time trying to decide how she’d overpower the guards and then steal an alien craft. She’d figured she’d improvise if she was lucky enough to make it that far.
“But I had to try. And I did it,” she said out loud, needing to hear the words. “Not only did I make it this far, I destroyed the fucking monster that was after me. By tomorrow night, the desert creatures will have stripped his bones clean. I’m still alive. I can survive this, too.”
Though she mustered up the brave words, Delta knew she might be wrong. Her body could withstand the extreme heat without going into shock. She knew how to tamp down the demand on her organs, slow her heartbeat and respiration to nearly non-existent levels.
But there was one thing she couldn’t do. Shield her skin against the scorching rays of the sun without the protection of the white robe, made of fabric perfected over the centuries by the Borvaani. Delta hadn’t been entirely truthful with the twins. The heat wouldn’t kill her, but she knew she might die from third-degree burns on any parts of her body left uncovered.
Delta looked down at the tattered remains of her garment. The upper portion was still mostly intact, with a few tears it sustained when she traversed the rocky cliff face. But the lower half was almost gone. Only a few long strips remained. She’d used one piece to bind her ankle then two other huge sections to dress Zandyr’s would. But she’d had to. No matter how much he made light of it, he’d been badly injured. She’d seen the glint of bone inside the deep slash across his back. If she didn’t staunch the flow of blood, he might not be able to make it to the landing port. He’d collapse in the vast emptiness of the desert. If that happened, his twin would never leave him. He’d die trying to save his brother’s life.
Delta sent out a fervent prayer. Holy One, protect them. Keep them safe. And please, let me live long enough to feel their arms around me again.
Once she put their fate into the hands of the Goddess, Delta felt a sense of peace. Her mind cleared, and the realization hit her. Being able to see her robe more clearly meant the sky was beginning to lighten. The fierce sun would soon rise. She needed to prepare herself.
Crouching down next to the rock pile, Delta untied the cloth around her ankle. She didn’t need support anymore. She needed as much coverage as possible. Putting her feet together, she wound the white strip around them and on up her legs as far as it would go. Then she tucked into a fetal position, dragging the upper part of the robe as far down as she could over her exposed thighs. Pulling the edges of the hood in around her face, she lay down and pillowed her head on one arm. Last, she stretched out the other arm and mounded the meager stockpile of rocks one by one over whatever parts of her body she could reach.
She pulled her hand back in, tucking her fingers deep into the sleeve. Closing her eyes, Delta began her slow breathing, commanding her heart to quit racing, her mind to go blank.
As she descended into the darkness, she gave a wry smile. This reminds me of the burials I saw in pictures of the Old West back home. I’ll have to remember to tell the twins about them. It’s really funny, in an ironic way. The only hope I have for survival is to climb into my own grave.
Zhynn
He raced through the desert, knowing her life depended on them. He didn’t need to look at his twin. Through the essence they shared, he could feel Zandyr’s strength slowly sapping away. They’d both made light of his wound, just as they always did on the battlefield. Tharan warriors didn’t whine over a scratch or two – or even a severed arm or leg. They fought on, knowing the lives of their fellow warriors depended on them. Limbs could be replaced, organs regrown. Even if the injuries were so severe their bodies couldn’t be healed, he and his brothers in arms knew skilled Tharan surgeons would salvage what they could and transform them into cyborgs.
But Delta? He marveled that their little human had been able to make it so far into the desert. Couldn’t help smiling at the image of her, balancing on one good leg, facing down the cojee-ma armed with a dagger and a few rocks.
As always, Zandyr tuned into his thoughts. I’m glad she thinks she killed that beast, he said. To be strong a warrior needs to believe with all his heart that he can conquer anything. That’s why we train as hard as we do. When the time comes, we know we have what it takes, no matter what danger we may face. We have to trust that her strong heart wil
l keep her alive, Brother.
Hours passed. They ran until they could hardly put one leg in front of the other. Until their hearts pounded so fast they threatened to burst. On the horizon, darkness turned to a soft gray, growing lighter by the minute.
Leave me. Go on. You can make it. You’ll travel faster alone. Knowing he was near collapse, Zandyr dropped back and sent the last of his strength to his brother.
I had to leave her. By the Sacred Ones, I’ll die right here before I leave you, too. Zhynn tapped reserves he didn’t know he had. Whirling around, he put one arm under his twin’s shoulder. Half-dragged, half carried him the last namod as a dark smudge in the distance took shape.
Knowing they were so close to the landing station, he stopped in the shelter of a large boulder, giving them both a few precious moments of rest.
Time to split up, Brother, Zandyr said. But I’m not finished yet. I’ll make my way toward the entrance and call out, drawing their attention. If Neema was as good as I think she was, no one in the citadel knows we’re gone yet. The guards there won’t have sounded an alarm. When these soldiers see a figure approaching wearing their uniform, clearly injured, they’ll send a team out to help me. I’ll keep them busy as long as I can while you find a way to sneak in and get our ship.
Zhynn didn’t argue. He knew his brother was right. He bent his arm, clasped his fist to his heart. May the Sacred Ones send our fellow warriors down from the heavens to fight at our side.
He disappeared into the shadows.
Zhynn
His head swiveled back and forth, scanning the horizon. The sun had been up for several hours, relentlessly roasting everything below. The creatures of the night had taken shelter, burrowing underground for cover, hiding in crevices in the rocky outcroppings. The desert appeared lifeless once again.
Claiming Their Mate Page 9
