by Susan Hayes
Her legs were trembling by the time he started to work a finger inside her, keeping her well lubricated with the pleasure-enhancing oil as he prepared her for his cock. He added a second finger, and she tensed for a moment as her enjoyment morphed into something closer to pain, but then Tyr kissed her hard, and she let herself relax again. He fucked her mouth with the same slow rhythm as his cock, and she got so lost in the pleasure of it all that when Braxon added a third finger, all she felt was a tingling burn that rode the edge between pleasure and pain without ever crossing the line.
She moaned, her inner walls flexing around Tyr’s cock as a flood of cream flowed from her pussy, soaking them both.
“Are you ready?” Braxon asked.
She lifted her head to look over her shoulder at him. “I am.”
He withdrew his fingers and then something thicker was pressed against her back opening.
“Look at me, mahaya. All you have to do is look at me and breathe. You know we’d never hurt you.” There was a low clicking noise as the magnetic lock released, and then Tyr’s hands were cradling her face and he was looking up at her with adoration. “I love you.”
“I love you both,” she replied, then exhaled slowly as Braxon pushed inside her. She felt impossibly full, but gradually the feeling faded, and she started to relax.
“I can feel you both,” Braxon said, his voice raw with need. “This is…”
“I know,” Tyr reached around her to grip Braxon’s hand as they started to move in unison.
“Oh hell, that’s incredible,” she gasped as they found their rhythm. It was a slow, sensual dance that carried all three of them to the heights of ecstasy and then higher still. They weren’t just making love to her, they were connected to each other through her, and it made everything even more intense. When she thought it couldn’t get any better, they proved her wrong.
In one fluid motion, they rolled to one side, keeping her between them. Then, Tyr ended their kiss and moved his mouth to one side of her throat while Braxon gathered her hair in his hand and pressed his mouth to her neck.
She braced for the pain of their bites, but instead of pain, she was rocked by a flood of pleasure so intense she screamed as their fangs sank into her neck. She was lost in a delirium of ecstasy, and by the time she came back to herself she was being rocked between them, wrapped in two pairs of strong arms.
“Ours now,” Braxon murmured, sounding smug.
“Forever,” Tyr agreed, smiling up at her.
“Now it’s your turn,” she informed them, squirming just enough to make them both groan. “I want you both to come inside me as you claim each other the way you just claimed me.”
“For someone who doesn’t take orders well, you certainly seem to be good at giving them,” Braxon said.
“I’m learning from the two of you,” she shot back.
They both chuckled, and then Tyr raised his arm. “Cuff needs to come off first. They’re in the way.”
Once his wrists were freed from the cuffs, both males reached around her, offering their already scarred wrists to the other. Their cocks twitched and swelled inside her, and she was already riding the first waves of another orgasm as Tyr bit Braxon’s wrist and they both lost control.
It was like being caught in a storm of pure passion, both of them crying out as their orgasms tore through them. They bucked and thrust into her, lost to everything but the bliss of the moment, and before they were done they catapulted her into yet another orgasm of her own.
When at last they could speak again, it was Tyr who broke their breathless silence. “I waited my whole life to find you, Phaedra. I had started to believe you didn’t exist. You are our mate in all ways, and I will thank my ancestors every day of my life for guiding me to you. You’ve helped me find everything I dreamed of, and some things I didn’t know I needed.”
“It’s the same for me, mahaya.” Braxon said before kissing her cheek. “I love you.”
Cradled between her mates, surrounded by their love and strength, Phaedra knew she’d be thanking their ancestors, and hers, for bringing them all together. The odds had been against them ever finding each other but somehow, they had anyway. The odds were still stacked against them, but as long as they had each other, they’d find a way.
Chapter Seventeen
Phaedra walked into the meeting room with her head high. This was their last chance, and she was determined to make it work no matter what the risks. Re’veth, the risks. When they’d approached Archer, he’d rattled off the dangers of meeting again until he’d run out of breath. She had expected Braxon or Tyr to try and talk her out of it, but instead they’d stood their ground right beside her, even though they still didn’t know what she had planned. Their faith in her was the best feeling in the galaxy.
It had taken hours and more fast-talking then she’d done in her life to get the agreement of the major corporations to meet again. Their reluctance was annoying, given that they were only going to be present as holograms. While the reps who had fled were in transit and couldn’t make an appearance, replacements were going to sit in via the wonders of modern technology. The only beings that would actually be present were the four members of the Vardarian contingent; herself, Braxon, Tyr, and River, along with the handful of representatives still on the station. Getting them to agree to meet again had been another long process, but once they understood what they could gain from it, everyone agreed. They were going to pressure Torex Mining into giving up their claim to the planet Phyl had told her about.
She refused to tell Braxon or Tyr what she was planning until she was certain it would work. There was no point in building up their hopes only to dash them again if her plan fell apart. There was too much at stake. Now, they were here and everything was in place. It was time.
“Well?” Tyr asked. “Are you ready to tell us your plan? Why are we here?” He gestured around them. The only place that had the technology and the security to make it all work turned out to be at Astek’s headquarters. Archer hadn’t been happy with that, either. Until they got more information, he couldn’t eliminate the possibility that it was Astek’s rep who had been targeted. All they were certain of was that the blast had been caused by several micro-explosives detonating at the same time - somewhere near the stern of the ship, where the meeting rooms were located.
“We’re here because Torex has the perfect planet for us, and we’re going to make them hand it over.”
“What?” Braxon asked.
“How?” Where?” Tyr added.
“Phyl and her connections. One of her friends is a scout for Torex. She had to make an emergency landing on a planet recently and discovered there was a cyborg living there. Turns out, he’s been there long enough to be able to claim it as a colony. Torex is fighting it, but we’re going to apply some leverage and make them give in.”
“How?” Tyr asked again.
Braxon caught on right away. “The cyborgs. River and the other survivors. The colony founder is another cyborg. It’s likely he’d be agreeable to having others of his kind join him.”
“Exactly. This gives the IAF and the other corporations a reason to pressure Torex to agree, and none of them have to give up anything. And…” She beamed at them. “It’s located in a system not far from the path you took to get here.”
For a moment, Tyr looked like he’d been hit with a stun ray. His mouth was open, his eyes wide, but he neither spoke nor blinked.
“Tyr? What’s wrong?” Phae asked, trying not to laugh.
Braxon didn’t bother hiding his amusement. “He’s lost his ability to speak. I didn’t know that was possible.”
“Well he better get it back, soon. We’re all going to have to do a lot of talking if we’re going to make this work.”
“The others are in agreement?” Tyr finally asked.
She nodded. “They are. Even the IAF. That’s the favor I asked Archer for.”
“You are amazing. I wished you’d told us sooner, though. I th
ought we’d lost our chance. I thought…” Tyr pulled her into his arms for a hug and a toe-curling kiss that told her more clearly than words how he felt.
Braxon threw his arms around them both and they had a brief moment of hopeful celebration. It was all they had time for.
“Does everyone know?” Braxon asked.
“Everyone but River and Raymond Gunns from Torex.” She hoped to be able to tell River before the meeting, but she hadn’t wanted to give her false hope. As for Gunns, the first he’d hear of the offer would be at the meeting where he would face the combined pressure of his fellow corporations, the galactic governments, and the IAF.
River arrived just after they finished hugging and kissing. She looked uneasily around the room as they all got seated and Phaedra gave her a quick update on the reason they were all here.
River was thrilled, but even Phaedra’s good news wasn’t enough to ease all of her concerns. “You’re sure this is safe?” River asked, her voice tinged with doubt.
Phae knew River wasn’t asking about the safety of the group. She was concerned that there’d be a repeat of yesterday and the others present would turn on the only cyborg present. “The fool who caused the panic yesterday is dead. Most of the others present are holograms. No one here can hurt you.”
“No, but they can destroy any chance we have of finding a home for the others. I promised them I’d find a place for us.” River’s voice cracked.
“I’ll keep you safe, River. You have my word, you’ll be able to keep your promise,” Zale’s words were a muted rumble as he joined them at the table.
“Thanks for coming, Zale.” Phae smiled at the big half Torski. She had a theory that one of the issues the corporations were having was their fear that the medi-bot technology would spread into the general population. Zura’s pregnancy was one of their nightmare scenarios. Zale, Archer, and the others had all agreed. It was time that the truth came out. There were beings of almost every race already carrying nanotech, including the Vardarians. Today was the day the corporations would learn that their worst-case scenario had already happened.
A glass of orange juice was set down in front of her and she turned to find Echo standing there smiling. “You’re looking better,” the cyborg female said.
“Feeling better, too.” She tapped her temple. “Minor malfunction between some of my newly installed hardware.”
Echo snorted with laughter. “I keep forgetting you’re more like us than them.”
“And now I’m insulted. I’m nothing like them.” She gestured to the still empty area on the far side of the table. They were in a different room today, though they shared a similar décor. The only real difference was that this table was larger, and there were no chairs at all on one side. Overhead was a bank of holographic projectors and audio equipment that would allow the various reps to be present without risking their precious skins.
Something dark and sad flashed in Echo’s eyes, then was gone before Phaedra could decipher it. Regret for the inadvertent insult? An unexpected memory? “You okay?”
Echo nodded. “All good. I better get back to work, though. Can’t have the other guests thinking I’m playing favorites.”
Before she had time to take more than a few sips of her juice, the rest of the representatives still on the station arrived and took their places. Once they were settled, Archer moved to the head of the perfectly polished wooden table and waited for silence. His eyes were slightly bloodshot, skin sunken, his face unshaven for the first time she could recall. Only his uniform looked the same as always, perfectly fitted, every button polished until it gleamed.
He nodded to an Astek employee, who tapped on a datapad and then stepped back. The holographic projectors lit up, and soon the space on the far side of the table was filled with the rest of the attendees.
“Can everyone hear me?” the colonel asked.
The translucent images all nodded.
“Good. Then we’ll begin. As you all know, last night an explosion destroyed the Blitzer, which was built and owned by Bellex shipyards. Six crewmembers were killed, along with corporation representatives Nadira Finn and Tadeus Grasi. All findings are still very preliminary, but I can tell you that there were multiple micro-explosives involved in the blast. The IAF and Corp-Sec are working together to determine how the explosives got onboard, and who put them there.”
The Pheran representative sat straighter, his blue tufted ears twitching in agitation. “The Pheran government has a message for any corporation that wishes to continue doing business in our sector. These attacks between rival corporations must stop. We will protect our worlds and the beings who live on them by whatever means necessary, including ending trade agreements and banning corporations from doing business in our part of the galaxy.”
Every corporate rep present started talking at once, drowning each other out with their denials and accusations. Archer didn’t let it go on long before he slapped a hand down on the tabletop with enough force to make every glass on the table jump. “The purpose of this meeting is not to air grievances or cast blame. We’re here to finalize the trade deal with the Vardarians, including providing them with a planet to colonize.”
The Torex Mining rep chuckled softly. “Do you really think we’re going to reach any conclusions by the end of the day?”
The new Astek rep looked over at him with smug satisfaction. “Actually, Raymond, we do.”
“That’s our hope, yes. But before we speak about that, there’s something else you all need to be aware of. Something I believe will move things along.” Archer raised a brow and looked at Zale, who nodded and got to his feet. “This is Astek’s robotics expert, Zale Fel.”
Holtzman, the new Astek rep, frowned. “I was not aware you were going to be part of today’s meeting. Why wasn’t I told?”
Zale shrugged his massive shoulders and stared down at the much smaller human. “Because what I am here to discuss was, until now, a secret only a few were aware of.”
“You’re keeping secrets from your own employer?”
“Damn right I was.” Zale looked around the room. “I was one of the original creators of the medi-bots used by every surviving cyborg. When I left the program, I didn’t destroy my research. I designed a variation of the nanotech. One that didn’t require a genetic match in order to work.”
Horrified gasps and outraged mutterings filled the room.
“I’m not done!” Zale raised his voice to the point the walls reverberated with the sound.
Silence fell, and Phaedra braced for what would happen when he told them the rest. They’d talked about this. All of them. About what it might mean, and what might be gained. For River and her brethren, it might help get them a new life. For Zura, it would make it more likely the corporations would leave her and her unborn twins alone. For the rest… it meant they were about to become even less popular with the corporations than then already were. They were all okay with that.
“That nanotech has been injected into a number of beings, myself included. You can’t stop it from spreading, now. This technology could have been used to help billions of beings live better, healthier lives. Instead you used it to prolong the suffering and extend the life of your slaves, the cyborgs.”
“You’re fired,” the new Astek rep snapped. “I’ll have you up on charges. Theft of property. Corporate espionage!”
“No, you won’t. Zale Fel is under IAF protection. Am I clear?” Archer looked like he was ready to start cracking skulls, and Phaedra wondered if this is what he’d been like back when he and Phyl had first met.
Then, all hell broke loose.
“Phae, run!” Echo’s scream caught everyone off guard.
Braxon and Tyr grabbed her arms, pulling her up out of her seat.
“River!” She turned back for the cyborg, and saw Echo standing over River, who was staring into the barrel of a weapon Phae had never seen before. Echo’s hands were shaking so hard the firearm kept jerking in her hands. Her knuckles were
white, and her teeth had sunk so deep into her lip that blood was trickling down her chin.
A mobile mountain flew in front of her as Tyr hauled her out of the way. Zale hit Echo like a rogue comet, his massive body generating enough force to knock her off her feet.
They went down together, and as they hit the floor, Phae heard another sound. One that made her heart scream in denial. Blaster fire. Once. Twice. And a third time. Then, a split second of silence before everyone reacted at once. Security poured into the room, fighting to get past the panicky attendees using the same doors to escape the carnage.
Neither Echo nor Zale moved.
River flew out of her chair and dropped to her knees beside Zale’s body. She pushed him off, revealing what Phae had feared most. Two bodies, both devastated by whatever weapon Echo had used. Bloodied and shattered, there was no way either of her friends could have survived.
She tore out of Tyr’s grip and ran to join River, hot tears scalding her cheeks as she knelt beside her friends’ bodies. She barely registered that her lovers followed her, standing guard over her and River as they mourned.
River closed Zale’s eyes with a sob, and Phaedra gripped his lifeless hand. How had this happened? Why had Echo done this?
“No choice.” Echo’s words were barely more than an agonized gasp.
“Echo! Hang on. We’ll get you help.” Phaedra turned to call for a medic, but Echo grabbed her free wrist with desperate strength.
“No. Too late. For me.” She went still for a second, then shifted her grip on Phaedra’s arm so her hand covered Phaedra’s data port. “Sorry. For…everything. Please. Save her.”
“Save who? Why did you do this?”
“Gray men.” A surge hit Phaedra’s internal processors as Echo transferred a data packet to her through the port on her arm, and then her hand relaxed and fell to the floor. Phaedra grabbed it and hung on tight, her vision swimming with tears as she watched the last spark of life flicker and fade from Echo’s eyes.
