by Linda Mooney
When they finally pulled away, Kyber glanced at the sky to see if the second of the four moons had appeared.
“You really don’t know what’s been going on, do you?” she asked him.
“No. They tell me nothing. I have no idea what they will do to me next, or when. I can only pray that you do not become part of my punishment.”
Sniffing, she lovingly brushed her fingertips over his furred face. “Kyber, you have nothing to fear anymore. We’ve won. We’re free to love now. That’s why I’m here. I’m taking you away from Seneecia. Away from them ever torturing you again.”
His one remaining eye stared at her in disbelief. Kelen nodded.
“I have so much to tell you. So much to share with you. But for now, rest assured. We’ll never be apart again.”
“How is that possible?”
“It’s a long story, and we’ll have time later for me to get you caught up on the details. But here are the most important ones. Once we leave here, you can never come back. You know the Triumvirate will keep you incarcerated for the rest of your life if you do.”
“I understand. I would expect as much.”
“When we return to Outpost Delta Six, we are to report immediately to the Arcturus. Are you familiar with that ship?”
His brows knitted slightly. “Is it a science vessel?”
“Yes. A very prestigious one. In fact, it’s the flagship vessel in the science fleet.” She lightly kissed his chin. “We’ve been reassigned to it. You and me, and all the others.”
“The others?”
“Uh-huh.” She nodded. “The Triumvirate has stripped you of your ranking and drummed you out of the space corp. Unfortunately, because I and the others were also found guilty by our courts, we’ve also been demoted and removed from active military duty. But the discovery of Neverwylde has created a whole new future for us. You, Kleesod, Gaveer, and Massapa have been offered positions aboard Arcturus, and so have Jules, Cooter, and the others.” She patted her chest. “That’s what this new uniform signifies. I’m now a crewmember and a secondary pilot.” She gave him a stern face. “Give me a few months, and you’ll see me as primary pilot in that seat.”
Kyber chuckled. The sound of it was the most beautiful thing she had ever heard.
“So I take it Kleesod and the others are already on board this science vessel?”
“No, they’re on Neverwylde, but they have accepted their new commissions. The Arcturus has been ordered to go to the planet for extensive research and examination. It’s going to oversee all the wondrous things that are being discovered. And that’s not all. Colonel Pfeiffer has made arrangements for you to be outfitted with a bionic eye, and they’re going to cap your broken teeth. They’re going to make you well, and maybe even better. It’ll take us a few weeks to reach Neverwylde, but that’ll give you the chance to heal once it’s all done.”
Sighing deeply, Kyber rested his forehead against her hair. Absolute silence surrounded them, until he spoke again. “They broke me.” His voice cracked.
“No. They tried. They defeated you, but they never broke you. They’ll never break you.” She pressed her body harder against his. “A wise man on my world once said, ‘What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.’ You’re going to come out of this stronger and braver, my love. Believe it, because I do.”
His hand caressed her back. “I do believe it…because I have you.” His voice was soft and filled with remembered pain. “I prayed you were well. I prayed you would find happiness in your life. I never thought…I never dared to hope I would ever see you again.
“Every day I awakened and waited to be taken away to be given my final punishment. Every night I wondered what had delayed them. Why I had been spared. And I lay there unable to sleep, until exhaustion took me. Come the next morning, the cycle started all over again.
“During all that time, you were never out of my thoughts. When I lay dying, I clung to my memories of you to help me through the agony. I kept a vision of you in my mind, to ease the torture.”
Tears rolled down her face. Clutching him tighter, she gave him a little shake.
“It’s over, my love. The nightmare is over. Let’s watch the other three gods rise and fall in the sky, then we will say goodbye to Seneecia. It doesn’t want you here. Its people don’t want you here. But I want you. I’ll always want you.”
“You came back for me,” Kyber murmured. His chest hitched.
She raised her face to stare into his. “I’ll always come back to you. Always. You are my Confirmed, and that’s forever, my love. My one. Eelo nok torus nor.”
He gazed down at her, and for the first time that evening, she saw hope in his eye. “Eelo nok torus nor,” he repeated, then bowed his head to kiss her.
They remained outside, wrapped in each other’s embrace, her head resting on his chest, and watched as the other three moons eventually rose and dropped, a phenomenon as unique as the half-planet they would probably spend the rest of their lives exploring. But it didn’t matter. As long as they were together, it didn’t matter where they were stationed.
When the celestial show was over, Kelen helped her husband to the skiff where the driver was still waiting. The man delivered them to the shuttle craft, which carried them back to the Opredo to await the arrival of the ambassadors and guards.
She and Kyber had no recollection of when the others boarded the ship, or when the Opredo left Seneecian space. They didn’t leave their cabin until they rendezvoused with Outpost Delta Six where, together, holding hands, they boarded the Arcturus to be taken to their new home. To their new life.
A life forever filled with love.
About the Author:
Linda loves to write sweet and sensuous romance with a fantasy, paranormal, or science fiction flair. Her technique is often described as being as visual as a motion picture or graphic novel.
A wife, mother, grandmother, and retired Kindergarten and music teacher, she lives in a small south Texas town near the Gulf coast where she delves into other worlds filled with daring exploits, adventure, and intense love.
She has numerous best sellers, including 10 consecutive #1s. In 2009, she was named Whiskey Creek Press Torrid’s Author of the Year, and her book My Strength, My Power, My Love was named the 2009 WCPT Book of the Year. In 2011, her book Lord of Thunder was named the Epic Ebook “Eppie” Award Winner for Best Erotic Sci-Fi Romance.
She also writes naughty humorous romances under the name of Carolyn Gregg, horror under the pseudonym of Gail Smith, and elementary teacher workbooks as L. G. Mooney.
For more information about Linda Mooney books and titles, up-coming releases, contests and giveaways, and to sign up for her newsletter, please visit her website.
http://www.LindaMooney.com
Other Science Fiction Romances by Linda Mooney
The Battle Lord Saga
The Battle Lord’s Lady
Her Battle Lord’s Desire
A Battle Lord’s Heart
One Battle Lord’s Fate
This Battle Lord’s Quest
Every Battle Lord’s Nightmare
Their Battle Lord’s Sacrifice
Captive Surrender (aka Beauty’s Alien Beast)
The Charm
Deep
A Different Yesterday
The Final Pleasure
Star Girl Series
The Gifted
The Gifting
HeartFast Series
HeartFast
HeartCrystal
HeartStorm
His by Right
His Last Request
Knight of Darkness
The Thunder Trilogy
Lord of Thunder
Passion of Thunder
Wings of Thunder
Mine Until Midnight
My Strength, My Power, My Love
Neverwylde 1 - 6
Rhea 41070
Runner’s Moon
Jebaral
Tiron
Simolif
>
Challa
Yarrolam
UnderSilver
Vall’s Will
X-Troller
Zonaton
Table of Contents
Title Page
Disclaimer
Chapter 1 - Rescued
Chapter 2 - Ascent
Chapter 3 - Prisoners
Chapter 4 -
Chapter 5 - Future
Chapter 6 - Collapse
Chapter 7 - Questions
Chapter 8 - Interrogation
Chapter 9 - Shuttle
Chapter 10 - Allies
Chapter 11 - Outpost Delta Six
Chapter 12 - Sentenced
Chapter 13 - Conclusion
Chapter 14 - Proof
Chapter 15 - Sanctuary
Chapter 16 - Offer
Chapter 17 - Together
Chapter 18 - Treason
Chapter 19 - Demand
Chapter 20 - Clue
Chapter 21 - Implication
Chapter 22 - Ultimatum
Chapter 23 - Deception
Chapter 24 - Surrender
Chapter 25 - Punishment
Chapter 26 - Medical
Chapter 27 - Gone
Chapter 28 - Findings
Chapter 29 - News
Chapter 30 - Reunion
Chapter 31 - Neverwylde
About the Author
More Science Fiction Romances by Linda Mooney
