“Coming,” Vendeen gasped. “Oh shit. Here it comes.”
He slammed deep into Raven’s throat, and she gagged. He drew back and she heaved in air. His groan filled her ears and he stiffened all over.
Sweet, salty fluid exploded in Raven’s mouth. Hot, creamy bursts shot to the back of her throat, forcing her to swallow in reflex. Vendeen’s passion ignited her own. Her pussy seemed to swell. An instant later, it exploded.
Her entire belly went nova, blasting all sense from her mind. Her channels clutched violently around Daagiis’ driving dicks, making Raven feel not just full, but utterly stuffed. She squeezed a howling orgasm from the face-changer even as she shuddered with her own.
The twisting, churning elation held her in its uncompromising grip. Tumult quaked throughout her entire being until Raven lost all sense of where she was and who was with her. There was nothing but brutal elation seizing her, shaking her, making her scream in mindless ecstasy.
When Raven regained her mind, she found she had crumpled into a loose-limbed pile on the bed’s surface. Daagiis knelt behind her, heaving for breath. Vendeen did the same in front of her. Both caressed her trembling body, petting her to calm her down.
Vendeen’s voice was lazy with satisfaction. “I’m happy. What about you?”
Raven wondered if he was talking to her or Daagiis. Then Mikroe spoke up.
“I trust you won’t mind if I use your facility? Then I’ll be very happy.”
Vendeen chuckled. “Be my guest.”
Raven managed to move her head so she could see Mikroe rushing into the washroom, the tented crotch of his trousers leading the way. She was too relaxed to laugh.
Vendeen and Daagiis drew her up, cradling her between them. Vendeen pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Are you all right?”
She smiled at them both. “Yes. But if that bastard doesn’t give up the information we want, he will not be equipped to be ‘happy’ ever again.”
The pair grinned at her. Daagiis said, “I couldn’t agree more.”
“Can I get dressed?” Raven asked. “I’ve shown him more than enough.”
Vendeen snorted. “We all have.”
The three moved clumsily, undone by their strenuous activity. Somehow, they still managed to dress before Mikroe emerged from the washroom. When he stepped out, he looked a little disappointed to see them all clothed and waiting for him.
Vendeen stared at the other man, arms folded over his chest. Raven and Daagiis stood on either side of their master. Both openly wore knives strapped to their arms, thighs, and on bandoleers. Raven wanted to gloat over Mikroe’s widened eyes, but she kept her face impassive.
Vendeen wasted no time with pleasantries. “Where is Hanos?”
Mikroe scowled, looking more bad-tempered than ever. When no one wavered, he gave in with bad grace, slamming himself in a chair. His tone grudging, he said, “On the colony of Tansur in the capital city. He’s got a mansion there where he entertains dignitaries he keeps under his thumb and dignitaries he’d like to have under his thumb. Right now, he’s hosting a delegation from Paatuun.”
Daagiis raised a brow. “Really? I don’t suppose you have any names?”
“The head of the group is Saazeer of Gliin.”
Though Raven kept her gaze on Mikroe, she saw Daagiis jerk out the corner of her eye. Vendeen paled slightly.
Mikroe caught their reactions too. “You know him?”
“We are acquainted.” Whatever had made Daagiis react so strongly was nowhere in evidence now. Raven wondered at the purposeful blandness of his expression and tone.
Mikroe eyed him and Vendeen carefully. When neither said another word, he got to his feet again. “Well, this has been a most instructive encounter. Please tell me that if you are captured, you will suicide and leave the rest of us with our lives?”
Vendeen’s mouth twisted in its usual half-smile. “I have no intention of Hanos taking me alive. You have my word.”
“Thanks. Daagiis. Raven.” He nodded at both as he took his leave. Raven was surprised at the respect he’d accorded at the last.
No sooner had the door closed behind Mikroe when Vendeen and Daagiis exchanged a long, meaningful look. Raven couldn’t help but scowl. The loaded glances were getting on her nerves.
She planted her hands on her hips and stared at the pair. “What is it now?”
Instead of answering her, Daagiis narrowed his gaze at Vendeen. “This changes everything.”
Vendeen’s return glare was brutal with ferocity. “I’m not leaving until I get my chance at Hanos.”
“Then you are a fool.” Daagiis turned his attention to Raven, who was getting more impatient with the pair by the second. He said, “You hear Mikroe mentioned a Paatiin? Saazeer of Gliin?”
She arched a brow. “Both of you reacted to that name.”
Daagiis nodded. “He was to be my mate. He’s also a very important member of the Paatuun hierarchy.”
Vendeen snorted. “As in third in line to the throne.”
Raven blinked at the face-changer. “You were engaged to royalty? Wow. So what happened between you two?”
Daagiis’ gaze cut to Vendeen.
Vendeen blew out a breath and scowled at Daagiis. “I happened. You were free to go home and wed, you know. I gave you that option.”
Daagiis turned his back on him and crossed his arms over his chest. He stared angrily at the floor. “The addiction to you kept that from happening.”
“With all your properties and Saazeer’s standing and fortune, you would have had all the antidote you needed to stay free of me.”
“The physical addiction, yes.”
Vendeen looked at the back of his head. In that moment, Raven saw something she never expected: love. It was in both their faces, but it wasn’t something uplifting and joyous. The emotion they shared had a dark, painful undercurrent to it; a love that was more torment than heaven.
Daagiis sighed heavily. “It doesn’t matter now. Saazeer got my lands and belongings, and I got you.”
Raven found she didn’t want to be a witness to the shared pain of master and slave. She tried to steer the conversation away from the angst-ridden portion of their upcoming trials. “This Saazeer will be a problem if you’re seen, I take it.”
Vendeen finally stopped staring at Daagiis, turning his attention to her. “Very much. It is unthinkable to the Paatiin that one of their own, especially one of Daagiis’ breeding, be a servant to my race. It is grounds for execution of both of us among his kind.”
Daagiis tapped one finger on his chin. His tone thoughtful, he said, “Still, Saazeer’s presence does give us something of an opportunity. Hanos does not know of your ties to Raven, and I can assume any identity.” He turned to Vendeen, a devious smile sneaking in to twist his lips. “I could present myself to my former intended to negotiate the return of some of my lands. With the two of you posing as my sex slaves, we can join Saazeer’s entourage and get close to Hanos.”
Raven looked at him. “Sex slaves? Not indentured servants?” She remembered Mikroe saying something along the lines of the Paatiin not giving up their slaves.
Daagiis spoke gently. “Willing slaves, Raven, much like you have become. We Paatiin seduce those we wish to serve us. We offer them to be kept in our homes, to be lavished with gifts paid by our fortunes. Sometimes we even grant our love.”
Vendeen black eyes somehow went even darker. “I am no sex slave, willing or otherwise. Hanos wouldn’t believe it for a second if he saw me with you.”
“It would be necessary to disguise you. A disciplinary muzzle would do the trick.” Daagiis’ grin stretched wide across his face.
Vendeen’s fists clenched. His entire body trembled, as if he was exercising every bit of control he had to not pound on Daagiis. “That’s just what you’d like, isn’t it? Your chance to become the dominant and master.”
Daagiis smirked. “It will happen eventually anyway. You will wear my tag one day and kneel at my feet. My
properties will be restored, and I will be in control.”
“I will never submit, not even to you.” Vendeen’s expression was thunderous.
So that was why their love was such a dark, fearsome thing. Raven saw that the two were determined to be in control, which meant one had to submit. Surrender was abhorrent to their very souls.
She also understood something else, something they were forgetting in the midst of their power play. “If I may interrupt the chest thumping to remind you both of an important item?”
The two slowly turned their gazes to her. It took some doing to not shrink before those burning stares.
Keeping her voice even, Raven said, “Ultimately, I am owned by Vendeen and sworn to protect him above all. Even against you, Daagiis, since you only have secondary control by his command. Therefore, I will have no choice but to defend his ultimate freedom if he wishes it.”
Vendeen’s half-smile ghosted at one corner of his mouth. Daagiis narrowed his eyes, his own sneer lowering in voltage.
Raven kept talking. “I want Wills … Taambaa … whatever the asshole’s name is. Vendeen wants Hanos. Daagiis wants Vendeen to be safe from Hanos, as do I. We all want this forced slave trade and alleged breeding program to end. Is there any doubt that us posing as Daagiis’ willing slaves will get us closest to our goals?”
Vendeen and Daagiis, to their credit, stopped posturing to consider her question. She waited the several minutes as both faces went thoughtful, letting them turn the matter over in their minds.
Finally, his tone filled with reluctance, Vendeen answered. “It does present our best chance at successfully getting into Hanos’ lair.”
Daagiis snorted. “As much as I like the opportunity to master you, I do not relish meeting with Saazeer. But yes, this is an opportunity we should take advantage of; especially since I know you will go in whether we have a decent chance at Hanos or not.” He shook his head at Vendeen. “At least your poor attitude will make the muzzle seem a logical precaution.”
Vendeen warned, “You’d better be reasonable during this farce, or I will take it out on your hide when we get through it.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
Vendeen chuckled, finally letting his anger slip away. “Let’s figure our plans out before I come to my senses.”
Chapter 15
The ship reached the Consolidated Collective’s border with the unclaimed space of Jito two days later. With gear in tow, Raven, Vendeen, and Daagiis went to the bay where Daagiis’ small shuttle docked, ready for use. Raven’s surprise at how the vehicle looked was almost non-existent. She was getting used to surprises.
Smooth and shaped like a chevron, it showed no seams. Raven couldn’t even see where the hatch was to board the thing. It sat there, solid and barely seeming like something that should take flight. Indeed, it looked like a giant piece of jewelry, left behind by some titan being. It sparkled all over, as if made of millions of diamonds.
“Wow,” Raven said as she followed the men towards the craft. “This thing is all blinged out.”
Daagiis shot a grin at her over his shoulder. “Those tiny prisms are all solar collectors. This ship is powered by suns and stars. It’s much better than relying on fuel that can run out.”
Raven snorted. “Unless you’re nowhere near a decent light source.”
Vendeen looked at the ship with appreciation. “You wouldn’t believe how efficient this shuttle is. My people have captured hundreds of these things and still can’t figure out the secret of the Paatuun technology.”
Daagiis said, “I’m not telling.” He spoke in a language Raven couldn’t decipher. She assumed that it was his own native tongue. From the sound of his tone, she guessed it was a command. An opening appeared in the side of the craft.
Raven blinked. It wasn’t like any door she’d ever seen. It wasn’t that an entrance to the ship had opened so much as the glittering sides had drawn apart to permit them to board. The effect was similar to closed drapes being parted and pushed aside.
Daagiis grinned all the harder at her, as if enjoying her fascination. He swung an arm towards the opening, stepping aside for both her and Vendeen. “All aboard, my darlings.” His tone sounded smug.
Vendeen scowled at Raven. “The bastard is enjoying being master way too much. I am not looking forward to this.”
“You don’t have to go,” she pointed out.
“No more than you do.”
Raven got the point. She was desperate to get her hands on Taambaa and make him pay for his crimes against her people. Vendeen wanted Hanos just as badly, if not more. They were a fucked up, retribution-seeking pair, all right.
They boarded the craft. Raven frowned. There were bench seats and overhead bins along the walls, but no console like an airplane. The lighting was very dim, and the surfaces were a uniform dark gray. The cabin was as featureless as an empty room with no electronics in evidence. There wasn’t any indication of a cockpit anywhere.
Vendeen and Daagiis sat down on one of the benches, leaving room for her to sit between them. Raven did so when Vendeen motioned her over.
“How do you fly this thing?” she asked as the opening that had admitted them into the strange vessel closed, shutting out the well-lit bay. As the outer illumination vanished, it grew brighter inside the ship. Raven couldn’t discern a light source. She wondered if it emitted from the walls themselves.
Daagiis told her, “All commands are tuned to my voice and my voice alone.”
Vendeen seemed out of humor, but also resigned. “If anything happens to him, we’re stranded. No one but Daagiis can pilot this ship.”
Raven’s brows beetled together. “Not good.”
Daagiis shrugged. “If I show up among my kind in anything else, it will raise too many questions. Please, make yourselves comfortable. It may be your last chance to do so for a while.” He grinned.
Raven gave him a dark look. “Vendeen is right. You are enjoying this way too much.”
Daagiis spoke in the indecipherable language he’d used before. There was the slightest sense of lift, and the wall across from her suddenly came to life as it showed the mother ship’s bay once more. They were moving along slowly to an opening in the bay that led out into the ebony vastness of space. In a matter of seconds, they were free of the vessel that had brought them here to the edge of the frontier.
“And we are off,” Daagiis announced. He stretched his long legs out and leaned back to study Raven with an easy but mischievous smile. “Vendeen captured and addicted me, so I’ve been forced to sublimate my more aggressive tendencies. As you will be under my command before others, you should understand I am every bit the dominant personality that he is.”
“Sometimes more so,” Vendeen grumbled.
Raven looked from one to the other. They were staring at one another, and she again had that sense of combined struggle and love.
What must that be like? To always fight for supremacy but love your opponent with your entire heart and soul? I wish they loved me like that.
It was a moment before Raven realized what she had thought. When she did, her heart stuttered in her chest.
She wanted them to love her? Both of them? But to feel that way would have to mean – it could only mean—
I’ve fallen for them. I’m not just addicted to Vendeen or dependent on them for survival. No, it can’t be. I can’t be in love.
Yet the emotions passing between Vendeen and Daagiis felt too much like her own feelings for the pair. It was intense and brutal and had swallowed her whole when she wasn’t looking.
Fuck. Fuck!
It hurt like hell, this knowing she was tied more strongly to them than Raven had ever imagined possible. Vendeen and Daagiis were abductors and enslavers. They should be counted as her enemies. She should not be in love with them.
Yet the depth of the agony in Raven’s heart told her she’d done the unthinkable. It took everything she had to keep the catastrophic swirl of emotions
from leaking out.
She even managed to keep her tone disparaging when she said, “You two are some mess.”
And so am I.
Daagiis chuckled. “No argument there.”
Vendeen’s agreement was dour. “None at all.”
Reclining with an ease that made Raven want to smack him, Daagiis said, “Now, here is what you need to know to pass as my cuubociil.”
Raven was glad to have something to concentrate on besides her unwanted emotions. “Cuubociil?”
“Sex slaves. First of all, you are to be naked at all times.”
She rolled her eyes. “Oh shit.”
Vendeen nudged her. “Wait, it gets better.”
Daagiis’ grin was really wearing on Raven’s nerves. “You will wear my tag at the base of your spine. I will attach those to both of you in a few minutes. Any of my people who scan you will see that you belong to me. It also acts much like Vendeen’s collar does on you, Raven. You will not be able to resist any command I put to you. We’ll have to remove that collar, by the way.”
Raven narrowed her eyes. “Hold on. You’ll be able to keep both Vendeen and myself under your control even when the mission is over?”
Vendeen patted her leg reassuringly. “Your programs that instruct you to automatically protect me are located in your brain. Anything Daagiis tells you to do that contradicts those programs will be rejected.”
Daagiis nodded, his happy expression dimming just a touch. “Check if it makes you feel better, oh virtuous one.”
Raven sighed. She thought she knew the two of them enough to detect falsehoods. If Vendeen was secure in her servitude, she would play along. “I believe you. What other fun-filled activities can I look forward to?”
“Anytime I stand still for a length of time or sit, you kneel at my feet with your head bowed and your hands palm up on your thighs. Raven, you will kneel to my left as my second slave, and Vendeen will kneel to my right. You do not look into my or any of my people’s faces and you do not speak in their presence without my permission.”
Ravenous Virtue Page 20
