Cavas (The Vorge Crew Book 5)

by Laurann Dohner

  Jill studied her, seeing nothing but honesty in her eyes. She relaxed slightly. “I know. He is a great guy. I think I already love him more than I ever thought I could love anyone. The only downside is that he’s a bit bossy.”

  Nara chuckled. “Alpha male alien types are hot though, aren’t they?”

  “Totally.”

  Nara stepped back and glanced down. “You look beautiful. Take a peek.” She spun around and touched part of the wall. It changed from a solid color to a mirror.

  Jill moved closer. The dress was off-white, something she’d have never worn, but it was pretty. Not an exact wedding dress, since she hadn’t wanted something bulky and layered with heavy material. It reminded her of something women might wear at some upscale summer party. It flattered her curves where it hugged her waist and showed just enough cleavage to be sexy.

  “I love it.”

  “I imprinted your medical scans, ran it through a database of dresses in the replicator, and it showed me what you’d look like in them. I loved this one best. Thank you for trusting me to outfit you for your ceremony.”

  Jill studied her image. “Should I put on makeup? Do you have any?”

  “No. Here’s another thing to learn about aliens.” Nara winked. “They don’t expect us to wear any of that stuff. Just being you is perfect. You don’t hide freckles and stuff in space. It just makes you more attractive to have spots.”

  Jill laughed. “Got it.”

  The door chimed, and Nara rushed to it. Mari stood there, wearing a dark dress. “They’re waiting. We don’t want to be late.” Her gaze locked on Jill, and she smirked. “Cavas sent Dovis with me in case you changed your mind. He’s under orders to toss you over his shoulder and carry you to the bridge. Cavas is that nervous.”

  Dovis stepped behind her, coming into view. “Don’t make me do it. He’d probably hit me for touching you, even though he ordered me to. Then again, he punches like a child.” A grin softened his words.

  Jill laughed. “Is that so?”

  “We were only staging a fight at the time.” Dovis flashed some scary teeth. “I’m certain jealousy would motivate your male to punch harder. Do you want me to find out?”

  “No.” Jill ran her hands down the dress and took a deep breath. “I’m ready to go on my own steam.”

  “Let’s do this.” Nara picked up some replicated flowers that she’d brought with her and handed them to Jill. “You’re a beautiful bride.”

  “There’s no, like, bloodletting or anything, right?” Jill still worried about what a wedding to an alien involved.

  “You already accepted his second heart. That’s it. Worst part is over.”

  “I’m not going to grow a beard, right? Cavas said no, but I think he’d lie about that. I sure would.”

  Nara laughed at Jill’s question and lowered her voice as they walked toward the couple waiting at the open door of her cabin. “No, but I’ve noticed an increase in my sex drive. That might be due to the amazing sex, though. It kind of goes hand in hand.”

  Jill’s nerves fired up again in the lift and all the way to the bridge as she followed Mari and Dovis. Nara stayed by her side in support. Right before they reached the bridge, Nara bumped her shoulder.

  Jill met her gaze.

  “We’re going to be sisters. I’ve always wanted one.”

  Jill’s heart softened. “Me too.”

  “Then let’s get you married to my brother-in-law to make it official.”

  The entire crew waited on the bridge. The view out the front of the ship was of some moon they were near. It was lovely.

  Cavas was the one who took her breath away, though. He wore a black uniform similar to what she’d seen on the crew, only a more formal version. He’d never looked more handsome.

  Tears blinded her but she blinked them back. He was about to become her husband.

  Cathian stood next to Cavas, wearing his official ambassador ensemble, sash included. She barely glanced at him as she made her way to Cavas. He grinned, his golden eyes taking in every inch of her.

  “Beautiful,” he rasped.

  “I didn’t have to carry her in,” Dovis joked.

  Cavas held out his hands. Jill passed her flowers back to Nara, who gladly took them and moved next to Cathian with a big smile on her face. Jill clasped Cavas’s larger hands and, at that point, made sure to give a smile to each member of the crew. They’d all come, even Lilly and Raff. The Pods beamed at her. Even Midgel hovered in a corner. She didn’t smile, but she did give Jill a little nod.

  Crath winked at her.

  “We are assembled here today to life-lock Cavas and Jill,” Cathian began.

  Jill stared deeply into Cavas’s golden eyes as his brother said the ceremonial words. They weren’t quite like a wedding on Earth, but they’d meshed some of them into it. She agreed to locking her life to Cavas’s. He swore to care for, love, and protect her for all their lives.

  Then he was kissing her. Jill wrapped her arms around his neck, Cavas lifting her a little off her feet since he was so tall. Then he grinned. “Forever.”

  “Forever,” she repeated.

  “No way!” a female voice suddenly gasped loudly.

  They all turned. A woman in rumpled pants and a shirt had entered the bridge. Jill took in her tall height, her muscular body, and the fact that she had thin brown fur covering her skin. She was an attractive alien, but one she’d never seen before.

  “Marrow!” Some of the crew rushed at the new alien, hugging her.

  The alien woman grinned big, hugging them back. She eventually got herself free again and gawked at Jill, before glaring at Cavas. “You too? You, Cavas? Shit! I’m only gone for a few days and you life-lock yourself to some new human? How in the hell did that happen? Did I hit my head and I’m unconscious? Is this some weird injury dream?”

  Jill stiffened, a sense of dread filling her stomach. She glanced between the two of them. Had they dated? Slept together?

  Marrow, whoever she was, appeared upset over walking into the end of their wedding. Why hadn’t Cavas mentioned if he’d been dating someone on the ship before meeting her?

  Jill caught Cavas’s attention. “Were you and her…um…?”

  “No!” He appeared horrified. “No! I’ve never touched Marrow. We’re friends only.”

  Jill felt a hundred times better.

  Cavas grinned. “Meet Jill, Marrow.” He pulled Jill close, hugging her to his side. “While you were flying my shuttle, I was finding an amazing female.”

  “Unbelievable!” Marrow threw up her hands.

  Crath crossed the bridge, putting his arm around Marrow. “I know. She likes him for some strange reason. I don’t get it, either.”

  Marrow turned and hugged him before making a fist and rubbing her knuckles in his mane, almost giving him a noogie. “You’re alive. I’d kiss you but…yuck. I’m not that desperate.”

  Crath chuckled. “I’d be afraid to let you put your lips on mine. I have a feeling you’d bite.”

  “I totally do.” Marrow grinned at him. “Glad you’re alive, troublemaker. You’re like the bratty brother I never wanted. It’s good to see you.”

  “You’re like the scary sister who’d beat me while I slept if given the chance,” he snorted. “I’m glad to be here.”

  “Why did you seem so upset when you walked in?” Jill asked.

  Marrow met her gaze. “Everyone is finding someone except for me. It sucks! But I’m glad Cavas found you.”

  “It does suck to be alone,” Crath agreed. He smiled. “We’ve got to be next, Marrow. It’s just down to the two of us.”

  “We’ll help you each find someone to love.” Nara grinned. “Crath wants a human. What about you, Marrow?”

  “Anyone male who isn’t a controlling asshole, but he has to be sexually appealing.”

  “I resemble that,” Crath teased.

  Marrow rolled her eyes. “You’re totally a controlling asshole. You’re just charming about it. I�
�ll leave you to a human. They seem to like that kind of thing. I’d beat you often and make you cry.”

  Cavas suddenly scooped Jill into his arms. “We’re leaving. Welcome back, Marrow. Please don’t interrupt us for a few days while we bond.” He carried her toward the doors.

  The crew stepped out of their way, shouting out congratulations. Once they reached the lift, Cavas grinned down at her. “Thank you for agreeing to be mine.”

  “I have a feeling the pleasure is going to be all mine.”

  He chuckled. “All ours. Many times. You’ll never regret this.”

  “I know.” Jill had actually found love in space—with a hot alien.

  * * * * *

  “What in the hell else did I miss? I wasn’t gone that long.” Marrow glanced around at the crew.

  Cathian smiled. “My brother fell in lust with a human, and now that his military career is over, her happiness is his new mission in life.”

  “He stole her from me,” Crath sighed.

  A few of the crew snorted and laughed.

  Marrow eyed him. “He stole her?”

  Crath rolled his eyes. “I saw her first, tried to rescue her, but we got caught. Cavas got her off the planet, then took her back there to find me, and I wasn’t willing to get my ass handed to me in a fight for her. Mostly because,” he glanced at the Pods, “they said she liked his dick better than mine.”

  “That’s not how it happened,” One stated.

  Two spoke next. “Jill was sexually attracted to Cavas. Not you.”

  “Close enough. She saw his dick instead of mine, or it might have been a different outcome. I’m sticking with that story. It soothes my bruised ego.” Crath winked. “He got her. I’m alone. That doesn’t mean I’m giving up on finding a cute human to call my own.”

  “The most important information is that Beltsen Vellar has disappeared,” Nara announced, grinning. “And by that, I mean his second litter of sons kidnapped his ass and forced him to step down as the head of their family.”

  Marrow’s mouth fell open.

  Cathian pulled Nara against him. “Our brothers have confined him in a safe, secure location.”

  “Like the prisoner he should be,” Nara muttered.

  Cathian nodded. “He won’t be making more problems for us. They are stripping him of his power, taking over family holdings and accounts, and he will remain where he is until death. None of them had the heart to kill him because that would hurt our mother. She’s agreed to live in guarded seclusion with him for the rest of their lives. Once she was informed of all his misdeeds, Mother was very upset. I don’t envy the remaining years of his life.”

  “My biological father was taken to the same location,” Raff continued. “Those two males can rot together, thinking about all their shitty deeds.”

  Marrow bit her lip, scowling. “What about your title?” she asked Cathian. “I mean, if you aren’t the Tryleskian ambassador, we’re all out of a job.”

  “The Vorge belongs to us.” Cathian chuckled. “The first litter. Myself, Cavas, and Crath are owners. The official paperwork was received only an hour ago. No one can take it away from us. I’ll still represent my planet, we’ll get paid, but our home on this ship is secure, always.”

  “The love boat is ours!” Nara cried.

  “It’s a bad love boat.” Crath jerked his thumb toward Marrow. “Her and I are still without someone to life-lock with.” He glanced at the Pods and Midgel. “And you four don’t want or need someone else to share your life with.”

  “Relax,” Raff ordered. “I have a plan.”

  Crath arched his eyebrows. “That is somewhat frightening, but I’m brave. Tell me what is brewing in that assassin’s brain of yours.”

  “We got a message while Cavas was on Flax Colony, saving your ass.”

  “I haven’t agreed.” Cathian shot his cousin a glare.

  Raff ignored him. “Remember how we took down that slaver who wanted Sara?”

  “As if we could ever forget Prince Azerba,” York growled, pulling her closer to his body.

  “The Relon authorities saved half a dozen females from a shuttle that had landed on their planet for emergency repairs. Once the crew was arrested for having slaves onboard, they were eager to give information to earn a lighter sentence for their crime. It seems they were taking the females to a huge auction when their thrusters failed.”

  Raff paused. “The Relons know we’re very protective of humans, considering what we did for Sara. There was a second shuttle that didn’t land needing repairs. The crew flipped on them, too, but by that time, they were out of reach of Relon. They verified that there was at least one human female on that other shuttle, heading for that auction. They gave us the location of where it will be held in the hope that we’d rescue those slaves.”

  Crath grinned.

  “It’s dangerous,” Cathian warned.

  “That does nothing to help my situation.” Marrow sighed. “But I do love a good fight.”

  “Huge auction of slaves,” Raff reminded her. “Many races. I found all the information I could about the auction. It’s the biggest one they hold annually, bringing in the best stock of slaves. They not only sell females, but males for fighting and hard labor. Perhaps we could find you someone to rescue as well.”

  Marrow grinned. “I’m so in.”

  “Me too.” Crath looked pleased.

  “Did you hear me when I said it would be dangerous?” Cathian scowled.

  “We are a sanctuary for humans,” Sara reminded him.

  “We’re in,” the crew all stated, one at a time.

  Crath chuckled, rubbing his hands together. “I’m best at undercover work. I want to lead this team.”

  “Cavas would probably argue with you about that.”

  Crath winked at Cathian. “He owes me. He got Jill. I get the next human.”

  Up next…Crath

  About the Author

  NY Times and USA Today Bestselling Author

  I'm a full-time wife, mother, and author. I've been lucky enough to have spent over two decades with the love of my life and look forward to many, many more years with Mr. Laurann. I'm addicted to iced coffee, the occasional candy bar (or two), and trying to get at least five hours of sleep at night.

  I love to write all kinds of stories. I think the best part about writing is the fact that real life is always uncertain, always tossing things at us that we have no control over, but when writing you can make sure there's always a happy ending. I love that about being an author. My favorite part is when I sit down at my computer desk, put on my headphones to listen to loud music to block out everything around me, so I can create worlds in front of me.

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