by Rena Marks
The men looked amazed.
“All I’m saying is, let’s not let fear hold us back. That is what my father did, and times are changing. Perhaps our females don’t always want to lounge around on a dais for safety. We have never thought to ask them. Perhaps the Berserkers do not want to battle in challenges. Again, we have never thought to ask them.”
“Cadoc,” Jilly said. “It appears your plan worked. A fleet of Earth and Leanthril vessels are headed this way. And there is a hail from Draconis, an open challenge for Violet’s throne.”
“What plan?” Violet shrieked.
Chapter Fourteen
Cadoc took Violet by the shoulders. He could see fear and confusion flit across her heart-shaped face. “You my little flower, ruler of all Docadia, have been sent a challenge. You have already kicked Draconis’s ass once, but this battle will be for the entire planet. Draconis is expecting me to be incapacitated, he will wager you will try to send Talpin in your place. But Draconis knows in a one-on-one challenge, it must be done with only the leader.”
Her mouth widened. “You are the leader. You wanted the challenge. Why?”
“The Lenthrils must be licking their scaly chops wanting my warriors and our weaponry secrets. Draconis wants human females. He is aware of your abilities, so you no longer have surprise on your side. I’m certain he watched himself get his ass kicked a number of times, I know I did. After a while, I’m certain he saw what I did. The way you fight is unique, you incorporated many moves, but Draconis is much larger than you and stronger.
“All he needs is to show up without a weapon and if you battle hand to hand, he can let you kick his ass all around the arena until you tire yourself out. When your arms no longer work from the strain, you will falter. The little bastard thinks he’s going to fight a female. The leader of the Lenthrils is a heinous assassin and must be annihilated. On my planet, it is considered high treason in thinking he will battle a female. It stops here.”
His voice rang out a command for the computer. “Jilly, tell Draconis the leader of Docadia will meet him in the arena. We will battle alone. The ships may watch the fight from the skies. Any interference will be met with immediate disqualification and war.”
“It would appear Draconis is already in the arena. Wow, is he ever ugly in his transformation,” Jilly exclaimed. “No wonder he can’t get a female.”
Cadoc smiled into Violet’s worried expression. “I have twice as much to live for.” His knuckles gently slid down her belly before their lips met. Her chest was heaving when they parted. He stepped back and pushed the red button on his steel arm band. The arena came across the viewing screen on the ship, but her eyes were the last thing he saw as he disappeared.
When he materialized, he faced Draconis’s back.
“Well, look what slithered into my arena.”
“You,” Draconis hissed. “What are you doing here?”
“You appear a little out of sorts.”
Draconis was a shade taller than Cadoc when on the tip of his slithering tail. He was growing two useless legs at his sides which wouldn’t fully function until healed. For now they flopped when he moved.
“I’ve been tricked.”
“You challenged the leader of Docadia. I am the leader. Or have you forgotten? My mate kicked your ass, is that where your brains are? Rattled?”
“Violet is in command! It is common knowledge.”
Cadoc’s tone became ice. “Are you saying you willingly challenged a female on Docadia? The penalty for that is death.”
“I challenged the leader which is my right.”
“Here I am.”
Cadoc swung his arms wide. His shield appeared when the small dagger was thrown at his throat. The weapon bounced harmlessly to the ground and the tattoo returned to his chest. Cadoc leaned to pick it up. The blade was onyx, the gray handle shaped into a snake’s head.
“So tiny. Do you pick your nose with this?” Cadoc asked.
“Ssstill the cocky bassstard.”
Before Draconis could blink, Cadoc sent the blade back to lodge into a growing leg. Draconis howled. He yanked the blade out and the leg withered before dropping to the ground.
“You’ll pay for that,” Draconis snarled.
“We don’t use currency here, too much of a hassle.”
“You know what I mean,” Draconis roared and lunged forward.
The tail of Draconis shot him straight into the air, a skilled maneuver aimed for Cadoc’s chest. His mouth opened wide, the jaws unhinged as if Draconis wished to devour Cadoc whole.
Cadoc called to his broad sword, holding it upright. The blade lodged in his opponent’s mouth. Draconis stumbled back, clawing at the blade. Gripping the weapon into his hands, he yanked it forward. He swung the sword, grinning.
“We’ll sssee how you like to be filleted,” Draconis hissed.
Cadoc chuckled. He held his hand out. The sword vanished to appear in tattoo form on his arm.
“Tsk tsk, my weapons don’t work on me, they work for me.”
“Thisss issn’t a fair battle. You have many weapons at your dissposssal.”
“Yet it was your own dagger that cut your leg. I have been merely defending myself.”
“I must be allowed to return to my ssship for better weapons.”
“If you leave, you forfeit your leadership. You will be forced to hand over every female on your planet. You challenged me.”
Draconis bellowed in rage. “It will take days to grow back that limb.”
“I don’t think you’ll need to worry about that.” Cadoc was dead serious, it was time to end this. “Tell me, if Violet appeared here in your space, would the scars on her spine appear? Were you the species that tested her for compatibility?”
“Humans are compatible with us,” Draconis hissed, blood spewing from his mouth.
“That’s all I need to know.” With new fury, Cadoc attacked Draconis. His enemy tried to wrap his long, slithering tail around his middle, squeezing hard as soon as Cadoc exhaled, trying to prevent him from inhaling again. Cadoc called forth his sword and sliced the tail off. Draconis screamed in agony. The sword returned to Cadoc’s chest.
How dare he scream when he had challenged Violet? Had kept the three year-old innocent for a week’s testing when he was to return her to her home? Had collected a ransom he was never entitled to? The livid warrior wanted to feel his opponent die with his hands. Cadoc repeatedly punched the reptile in the face with bare, hammering fists. Blood spurted in streams. Cadoc wasn’t interested in ending him mercifully. He wanted all to see what happens to any who would challenge a Docadian warrior. More importantly, he wanted all to see what would happen to any who tried to harm his mate. The fury took over, and his strength increased with the rage.
His hands and fingers slippery with blood, Cadoc shoved a thumb into Draconis’s eye. Draconis had used his tail as a weapon and Cadoc countered with a weapon—him. Right now he wanted those watching to see his strength. Violet had shown him a thing or two. Unlike his human mate, Cadoc would not tire after issuing repeated blows. Draconis went down, hanging limp, but Cadoc hauled him to his feet still pummeling him.
Blood sprayed from his nose to cover Cadoc’s face, but he continued to be relentless. Draconis was screaming for his men to save him. Any who entered the arena would be downed with laser fire and their bodies given to the Berserkers to snack on. They’d developed a taste for snake.
“I want to know what your involvement was with Violet all those years ago. I want to hear it from your own lips.”
Draconis was weak. It was apparent there were no more lies to hide behind. “My people sold her to yours for a prize. When your father demanded she be returned to her home planet, we saw Earth had offered a ransom for her safe return. We collected it, as she was safe and being returned. There was no reason why we shouldn’t. We also kept tabs on her as she grew, knowing her compatibility with our own species. That is why we were willing to deal with Joshua Seatra for her.”
Two birds with one stone. Draconis had just sealed his and Joshua’s fate. Locking both hands, Cadoc smashed into his jaw so hard it dislodged and hit the ground. The creature stood slack-jawed, with one wide-eye. The other was swollen shut. Cadoc was done with him. He stepped back, then with a warrior’s cry, raced forward, sending both feet into the snake’s body. Draconis went flying, his head snapped forward as he sailed back and Cadoc heard a snap of a bone. The bracelet at Draconis’s wrist opened. Cadoc strode forward then spun in a slow circle as he picked up the bracelet and held it high.
Draconis was dead.
Cadoc’s voice was clear and loud when he spoke. “I can track every one of you slimy, slithering piles of puke. With this device. Your Lenthril planet is now mine. You may have it back after you have returned all humans and slaves to me. First, hand in my bands. Now.”
Steel bands began to appear in the arena, piling near his feet. “Those who are watching from Planet Earth, send me Joshua Seatra immediately. Or I will declare war here and now and show no mercy.”
All was quiet. A small blast was heard from the sky. “Thank you, Talpin,” Cadoc said quietly knowing his warrior was letting the earth vessel know he meant business.
Suddenly Joshua materialized, standing shaking before him. His voice was high-pitched as he screamed at the skies. “You can’t do this to me, you know he’ll kill me, you cowards.” With a start, he noted his surroundings and gazed with horror at Cadoc. “You can’t touch me. I never offered a challenge.” Cadoc circled him. “I’m unarmed.”
“You are accused of kidnapping.”
“Violet was mine first.”
“She’s mine now.”
“Cadoc?” Talpin’s voice sounded from the speakers in the arena.
“Yes.”
“It would appear the earth vessel is leaving after my friendly conversation with them.”
Cadoc almost laughed, but then remembered the boom overhead. Talpin wasn’t always so friendly when he spoke. “It appears Earth had paperwork for the human females showing their compliance to go with us of their own free will. The leaders of Earth are baffled as to why it appeared the flowers were kidnapped by us.”
Cadoc did smile now. He knew it must have been Jilly and Violet’s doing.
Joshua was red and shaking harder. “No! That cannot be. Earth has been tricked somehow.” When he lunged at Cadoc, he was smashed across the chest with a forearm and tight fist. Joshua landed hard, flat on his back.
“That was for hurting my mate.” Cadoc grabbed his shirt, dragged him up and smashed him in the face. “That was for kidnapping females.” When he released him, Joshua tried to crawl away, a puny and sorry figure. Cadoc kicked him in the ass. “That’s because you irritate me.”
Cadoc grabbed Joshua’s thinning hair and straddled him. He placed a dagger against his throat. “Violet, my love, this is your wedding present. One of many. Do you want it? Or should he be sent on the next ship to the Lenthrils?”
“Sorry, Cadoc,” came Talpin’s voice. “The Lenthrils don’t want him and the Earth vessel booked away so fast we almost got caught in its gravitational pull.”
“My mate? How does she fare?”
“Fine,” Cadoc heard Violet squeak.
Cadoc stood up and let Joshua’s face fall into the dirt. “My love, you sound ill.”
“Not really enjoying all the blood. Squeamish, must be the baby. I don’t want that mess of a piece of crap as a wedding gift, though I appreciate the offer. Can we forgo with more blood?”
Cadoc sighed. He walked around the prone man who was sobbing into an arm. He was pathetic. Cadoc had never killed a crying man before. A brow rose. Violet’s taste in men improved by a thousand, maybe more.
“What were you thinking, my love?” he whispered to himself.
She sighed, obviously hearing him. “I was desperate.”
Cadoc stopped and placed a hand over the sobbing man’s lips.
“I will lock him up until I decide what to do with him. Do you agree, Violet?”
“Yes.” She was quiet for a moment. “Can you make him crawl?”
Cadoc heard the snickers from his men when she asked. “Anything for you, my love.”
Cadoc called to his sword and using the flat of the steel he smacked Joshua on the ass. The prone man jumped and began to crawl in the direction indicated.
“We have an old saying on our planet. Hell hath no fury like a female scorned.”
“Cadoc?” Talpin said.
“Yes?”
“Every single female on here is laughing and nodding. Seems our cultures have similarities.”
Cadoc grabbed Joshua by the collar and hauled him to his feet before throwing him in a cage.
“You might find the irony in this, or maybe not, but this was the cage where I first met little Violet. You’re wrong. She’s always been mine. Always.” He slammed the cage door closed.
“I always will be yours.”
Cadoc turned and there she was. His mate, his life, his love. He swept her into his arms. He didn’t want her near Joshua. With long strides, Cadoc took them to the Ambassador building. The room he entered was decorated in beautiful shades of varying white. The Ambassadors were a pampered lot, compensated for the years of servitude they’d given to the planet.
The huge, rounded bed was covered in fluffy blankets. Inside the suite was a small waterfall that cascaded rolls of tumbling water. The floor was littered in fluffy white carpets that resembled clouds. Cadoc tucked a wisp of hair from Violet’s face and kissed her forehead.
“You’re pale,” he said, worried.
She smiled. “I recently watched a badass warrior pummel a reptile to bits. Would you have killed Joshua for me?”
“Yes. But he’s kind of pathetic.”
“He’s a whole lot pathetic.”
Cadoc settled beside her, careful not to jostle her. “In the arena, I was thinking of names. What do you think of the name Flower for our daughter?”
Violet burst out with laughter. “Don’t you dare. What was your mother’s name?”
Cadoc chuckled.
“My mother’s name was Nova. It means a star that shines bright. What about yours?”
“Well, as you know my name is Violet, my mother’s name was Lilja, it means lily. I come from a long line of flowers, after all.”
“We will have a shining flower. Lilja-Nova.”
Violet rolled the name over her tongue and Cadoc smiled when she did. The word was joined. He pressed his lips to hers and placed a hand onto her belly.
“Your people can tell the sex of a baby at a very young age,” Violet said.
“My people can tell the sex of a baby before it’s born. My father was leader. Now I realize that was his entire agenda. He wanted to take the feminine power from our planet, like so many others have. My mother was receptive to a boy, so he picked her. I wonder if that’s why my father was so afraid of you. The Ambassadors must have told him you would carry a female first. You are the first female to ever lead Docadia. Now our daughter will be, as it is her birthright. She will have to be a strong leader.”
“We will both make certain. Are you worried for her?”
“I already love her,” Cadoc said. “I never thought to have a daughter. I was supposed to grow up and have a son. Now I’m hoping to have both. You have made me a greedy warrior, my love. I promise to be the best father a child or children can have. I learned from the best what not to do.”
“You got this.” Violet traced his jaw with a slender finger. Cadoc caught it and kissed the tip.
Her long dark hair haloed her face when he settled her back against the sheets. In a single instant, this small female came into his life and changed him forever. His planet would never be the same, it would be better. When he tucked her head onto his shoulder he noted her eyes flutter. One single person made a difference in Cadoc’s life, and what a difference it was.
The planet could wait for his commands. Right now Cadoc w
anted to envision holding his daughter. The next leader of Docadia.
Epilogue
The planet was one of the strangest Cadoc had ever seen. It was ninety percent water, and the humidity was a constant fact of life. The clothing the Calabrian species wore compensated for the moisture, and they hardly seemed to notice. But to the Docadians with their human mates, it was beyond strange. Thin natural materials like cotton seemed cooling. The drawback? It soon soaked from the mist in the air, clinging to feminine folds and outlining nipples.
Perhaps not such a drawback for the warriors.
“This is awkward,” Jilly said, looking down at her chest. The huge smile on her face belied her words. The computer personality had been placed into the body of a robot for the day, and it was her job to capture wedding images. Right now, her blue eyes flashed, captivated with the imagery of her own practically nude body.
“You know you’re loving it,” Suckle said, nudging her with an elbow.
“Hey, I think the photos are supposed to be of the bride and groom,” Trina whispered.
“Oh, right,” Jilly answered, tearing her gaze from her ample bosom and focusing on the couple standing at the altar. Every now and then her eyes would flash.
Josie and Roxian wore the royal color of purple, while the rest of the wedding guests wore white. The warriors grumbled. It was a female color on their planet, not to mention see-through when wet. They avoided looking at each other. The humans tried to explain that brides wore white on their planet.
Cadoc wanted to snort. Fools should have been focused on their small female mates, if they had any sense. He looked down at his own blossoming orchid.
