“No!” Cavas lunged forward and put his hands on his brother again.
Crath’s eyes widened. It was only an instant before he recovered and shoved Cavas back, breaking his hold. “You can’t tell me ‘no.’ She’s not yours. You just met her. I saw the logs while I was on the bridge. You haven’t even known her for a full day! Get your own human if you’ve decided to find a life-lock, now that your military service is over. That one is going to be mine.”
Cavas’s mind flashed to Jill on his lap, touching him. He couldn’t forget the feel and scent of her…
The rage he felt wasn’t reasonable, it didn’t make sense even to him. Yet he couldn’t deny wanting to beat on Crath for speaking about Jill and the future he planned with her.
“Did you hear me, Cavas?” Crath growled. “You aren’t taking my human.”
That angered him more. “Jill is not yours.”
They glared at each other.
Cavas calmed first. “I don’t wish to fight with you. But…something happened between Jill and I.” He wanted to be honest with his brother. “I feel strangely protective of her, and drawn to her. I won’t simply step aside and allow you to life-lock to her.”
“You just met her. What could have possibly happened?”
He hesitated, not wanting to share the details. It probably hadn’t meant anything to Jill, he’d felt confused about his strong attraction to the female. “She had to pretend to be my sex slave to access the arena to reach you. We had to get a little…intimate.”
“Did you put your dick inside her?” Crath hissed the words, looking ready to attack.
“No. But I know what her flesh feels like against it.”
His younger littermate snarled ferociously. He spun away, pacing. A long minute passed before Crath turned, watching him with hooded eyes. “Did you taste her hormones? Kiss with mouths?”
“No.”
“It doesn’t matter to me then. I still want her.”
His emotions were jumbled between the urge to punch Crath or roar his frustration. Cavas loved his brother, but he didn’t want him to claim Jill.
“You had no plans to life-lock to a female while you were in the military. You said it was for other males. Your priority has always been your career. That human isn’t a distraction to keep you occupied while you figure out what you will do with your life now.” Crath shook his head. “I plan to life-lock to her. Stay away from Jill. She will become mine.”
“I’m not certain of my future right now, but I do know I plan to stay with Cathian. He’s already accepted me as part of his crew. And I gave up my career for Raff and you. It would be best for Jill to live with other females of her kind; they are already bonding as friends. That means she’ll want to stay on The Vorge. I’ll be here with her, while you will leave soon. That’s what you always do. Leave.”
“I’m not fighting with you, Cavas. I owe you my life, but I want a human to life-lock to. I also plan to stay aboard The Vorge for a while. I’ve decided to take a break from my job after what happened on Flax Colony. I had a lot of time to think about what was important while I wondered if I’d die down there. I want a family. My cruiser won’t be finished for almost a year. I can’t expect a human to live on a solo flyer until that time.” He grunted. “If I’m able to get it back.”
“I understand your desire to life-lock with a human. I now see their appeal. It just won’t be with Jill.”
Crath snarled. “You can’t stop me!” He tried to move past him toward Jill’s door.
Cavas blocked his path. “Don’t make me knock you out, brother. I will. Leave her alone.”
They glared at each other.
The lift down the hall opened and Raff rushed forward, immediately shoving between them and growling in warning. “I won’t have you two fighting. The Pods contacted me and explained what was going on.”
He shot a dirty look at Crath. “You’re in no shape to fight until you recover, and you know it.” Then he glared at Cavas. “She got you hard, and you can’t stop thinking about what she’d taste like and feel like under you. Trust me, it’s as good as you think it will be, if my experience with Lilly is any indication—but both of you are forgetting that she’s been traumatized.”
Raff stepped back. “The last thing that human needs is either of you fighting over her. Right now, she’s in her cabin drinking too much cudda, thinking about her dead family—who she misses—and afraid she’ll do something to cause trouble on our ship. Her main worry is being asked to leave since, she has nowhere to go.”
Cavas was filled with guilt. He noticed the communication device in Raff’s ear. “Are you in contact with the Pods right now?”
Raff gave a sharp nod. “With Two.”
“Ask Two to scan Jill’s mind, to learn if she’s attracted to Crath or me.” He held his brother’s gaze. “We’ll let the female decide. It should be her choice. That’s fair. I’ll back away if she chooses you.” It would be tough to do, but he wouldn’t force a female to spend time with him if she wasn’t attracted.
Raff sighed. “Did you hear him?” He paused, listening. He softly growled. “Fine.” He shot them both warning looks. “Don’t move or make a sound.” He strode to Jill’s door, and used a hand to indicate they both should get out of view.
Cavas and Crath moved farther down the corridor, leaning against the wall out of sight when Jill opened the door.
“I wanted to check on you,” Raff stated. “My Lilly worries. Do you need anything?”
“I’m good. Thank you.”
“Did anyone teach you how to reach others on the ship if you need help?”
“No.”
Cavas regretted that he hadn’t done so.
“Just think at the Pods. You focus on them, and then project your thoughts as if you’re talking directly to them. They’ll hear you. That’s faster than getting you a communication device right now. We’ll give you one tomorrow and teach you how to use it. I’m sure Crath or Cavas will be happy to teach you anything you wish to learn, as well. How are you getting along with my cousins? They aren’t bothering you, are they?”
“No, not at all.”
Cavas felt relief upon hearing that.
“What do you think of them?”
Jill was silent for long seconds, before she hesitantly answered, “They’re nice.”
“Good. You are safe on this ship, Jill. All you need do is tell me or any of the other males if someone is making you uncomfortable, and it will be handled. We all want you to feel safe and happy living with us.”
“I appreciate that.”
“I’ll leave you now. Sleep well, Jill.” Raff backed off. “The computer will alert you in the morning to wake. Half an hour later, breakfast will be served in the dining hall if you wish to eat with the crew. Just speak aloud and ask the computer to show you the way. There are lights that will activate to lead you there. It will take time for you to memorize the layout of a vessel this large.”
The door closed, and Raff approached the brothers. His expression wasn’t a happy one. He grimaced, obviously listening to whatever Two said to him.
Cavas felt nervous of what the Pod would share with his cousin. What if Jill decided she liked Crath more? Could he step aside? It would be extremely difficult.
“I really didn’t want to hear that,” Raff sighed, speaking to Two. “Fine.”
He glanced between them but settled on Crath. “The female feels indebted to you for trying to rescue her from your cages. That’s why she went on the mission with your brother, to attempt to save you in return. She had no sexual thoughts about you. I’m sorry.”
Then he addressed Cavas, holding his gaze. “She thinks you have a huge cock, from what she felt of it on the planet, and she thinks your body is ‘smoking hot.’ I’ll assume that’s good. She also thought about kissing you in the arena, but was afraid you feel no attraction to her, that it’s only one sided on her part.”
Cavas wanted to smile, barely managing to avoid doin
g just that when he saw his younger littermate’s expression. Crath appeared devastated.
“I hate having family right now. And I really hate that Cathian is in bed, loving Nara. That’s why the Pod contacted me,” Raff sighed. “I’m sorry, Crath. You’re hurting. But there are other humans. We’ll find you one.” Then he glanced at Cavas. “I worry that you don’t have the ability to feel enough to make a human happy.”
Cavas gasped, insulted. “You think that of me? You?”
His cousin stepped close, almost bumping into his body. “I may have been an assassin but I was very close to my mother. She taught me how to love. I grew up believing my life was better with her in it. I just had to kill a lot of people to keep her safe. Losing her made me cold for a long while, but I always knew that I could love. A human must become your main priority. Don’t touch our new female unless you can commit to her and put her first. I’ll hurt you myself until you beg for mercy if you change your mind after gaining her heart.”
Raff turned and walked away. “I’m not coming back. Don’t fight. It will just upset everyone.” He got into the lift, and it closed behind him.
“This is why I rarely visit.” Crath was the first to speak. “Between the Pods reading our minds and Raff being onboard, I worry about getting killed.”
Cavas scowled at him. “No one would hurt you on this ship.”
“The Pods have read my mind but never shared my thoughts. That could change. I’ve imagined what it would be like to get a couple of the humans into my bed. Knowing I’ve spilled seed while thinking of their females, naked, would get me tossed out an airlock by our cousin. Dovis would just rip off my dick. York and Cathian would leave me alive, but they’d break a lot of my bones.”
Cavas shook his head, not surprised by his brother’s confession. “I’m sorry about Jill…but I am highly drawn to her, Crath. I want to see if bonding to her is possible.” Then he reached out and pulled his brother into his embrace. “I’ll help you find another human. Don’t spill your seed thinking about mine, though. I won’t break your bones, but I would make you regret it.”
Crath hugged him back and chuckled. “Just help me find a human.”
“Recover first. You’ve lost too much weight.”
“We need to deal with Father first. He’s a threat to any females we care about.”
Cavas nodded against him. “Yes, we do.”
Chapter Nine
“First meal will be served in the dining hall in half an hour, Jillian.”
Jill stared at the ceiling as the robotic voice made the announcement in her cabin. Her head throbbed a little as she sat up, pushing the bed covers down to her lap. The slight hangover had probably come from drinking three of the cudda drinks before going to sleep.
She scooted to the edge of the comfortable mattress and swung her legs over the side. Standing, she headed into the bathroom. It was a nice one, albeit a bit too fancy. Alien technology was something that would take a while to adjust to. She used the toilet that came out of the wall, and then stripped off the shirt she’d slept in, stepping into a spray of warm water.
The shower helped alleviate her headache and wake her more. She dressed in stretchy pants and an oversized shirt, wishing for undergarments. It was odd to not be wearing them. She’d ask Sara or Nara about that when she saw them next. The only shoes she had were the ones from playing a slave. She put them on and exited her cabin, coming to a halt, since she didn’t remember how to get to the dining hall.
Raff had visited her last night, giving her advice on that very thing. “Um, computer?”
“How may I help you, Jillian?”
“It’s just Jill, please. Can you light up the floor or whatever and show me where the dining hall is?”
“Of course, Jill.”
Lights along the edges of the hallway lit up next to her and ran in the direction of the lift. She took a few steps before the next door down the hall opened. Cavas stepped out but didn’t see her. She stopped, watching him reading his data pad as he walked toward the lift.
“Good morning,” she called.
He turned. “Jill. You’re awake.”
“The computer woke me.”
“How did you sleep?”
“Great. I had a few drinks before bed.”
He lowered the pad and slowly approached. “You should have told me you planned to celebrate more. I would have stayed.”
She debated for a few seconds before telling him the truth. “I got a bit drunk, figuring I’d sleep better. New place, new bed and all that. Otherwise, I may have not slept much at all.”
“You’re safe here.”
“I logically get that, but it’s going to take some time for it to sink in. You know?”
“I do. I’m right next door to you,” he motioned to the room he’d just come from, “feel free to come to me if you need anything. Even if it’s to talk or just to be with someone.”
That was considerate. “Thank you. I don’t want to bother you, though.”
“I would always welcome your company.” A sexy smile curved his lips. “Anytime.”
She stared into his golden eyes. Was he giving her the green light? It was tough to tell. Maybe he was just being nice. It was going to take her time to figure out alien men…at least his kind.
“Are you going to the dining hall for first meal?”
“Yes. Is that what you call breakfast?”
He nodded, motioning for her to walk with him. She liked the way he smelled. He’d obviously taken a shower, because his mane was a little damp, and he wore form-fitting black pants with boots. His shirt was long-sleeved, a dark blue, and much better than his slaver outfit. She did miss seeing his mostly bared chest, though.
They entered the lift together. It was a short ride before it opened again. The hallway on that floor was a bit wider. A few doors down, one slid open at their approach and they entered the dining hall. No one had arrived yet. He led her to one of the tables, where she took a seat. He took the one next to her, placing his pad on the table.
“Would you like a drink?”
“Do they have anything like coffee?”
Midgel came out of a door at the back of the room. “I have it.” She hurried to a machine and touched it. “One Rust. One claw.”
The replicator hummed, two drinks appearing in big mugs. The small alien woman grabbed them, placing them down on their table. “Food will be in ten minutes.” Then she fled.
“Rust and claw?” Jill leaned forward, peering at the dark substance in her mug.
“Not appealing Earth names? Rust is a warm energy drink. Claw is the same, but more bitter.” He lifted his mug. “I’ve seen other humans drink rust.”
She lifted the warm mug, took a sniff, and smiled. “It smells like coffee.” She took a sip. “Tastes almost like it, too. To drink rust on Earth would be bad. It’s a residue left on metal that has broken down due to exposure to dampness. It would make you really sick, if not kill you.”
“Cathian will have removed anything that could have harmed a human from our food stores. It’s the same word but different meanings.”
“Got it.” She took another sip before setting it down. “Seems we’re early.”
“I like to get here before the others to catch up.” He glanced at his pad.
“Go ahead. We have devices like that on Earth. It’s how we keep in touch with everyone, read the news, or find something to entertain us.”
“What kind of entertainment?”
“Movies. Shows. Some people live stream their lives for others to watch.”
He scowled. “Why would they do that?”
“To earn money. I watch one live stream of someone who travels a lot. It was the only way I was going to see other countries.”
“You don’t travel on your planet?”
“It’s expensive. I never left the city I lived in until I was arrested and sold to aliens.” She cringed. “I always dreamed of seeing new places…but that wasn’t what I had i
n mind.”
He reached over, surprising her by taking her hand in his much larger one. “You will get to see amazing, beautiful places now. Safely. I’ll make sure of it.”
She kept hold of his hand, smiling shyly. “That sounds nice.”
“We might have to make a short visit to Tryleskian. You’ll love seeing my home world. It’s beautiful.”
“Do you have a house there?”
He shook his head. “I always stayed at one of our family estates. We own many. My favorite is our North Coastal one. The fourth litter lives there year-round. Three of the four are females. My sisters spoil me a bit.” He grinned. “You’ll like them, and they will love you. I’ll take you to meet them.”
“Are they married?”
He nodded. “They are.”
“And they all live together?”
“Yes. Some litters decide to share residences. The estates are large. They have their own private living areas. It’s not like they share rooms, unless they wish to dine or spend time together.”
“I guess they would have to have a ton of bedrooms with your people having so many children.”
He chuckled. “To have many litters is a blessing.”
“Not necessarily for your women. They must be always pregnant!”
“Only every three years, when males go into heat. Some life-locked couples decide to stop after a few litters. It depends on if they can afford to feed and house that many. We do have medication for our females to take, to avoid becoming fertile. I wish it were so easy for males. They’ve tried, but our seed is very resilient.”
She quickly glanced up and down his body. “Your men are too masculine, huh? I believe that.”
He chuckled and lightly squeezed her hand. “That sounds like a compliment.”
“It is.” She peered into his eyes before focusing on their hands. “Can I ask you something?”
Cavas (The Vorge Crew Book 5) Page 10
