by LW Browning
Claire gave Koda a cool look. "And what will that entail, Warlord Leader? Sleeping in the same tent with Dren and accepting his protection. Will Anna then be required to mate with him?"
Anna looked at Dren. He was easy to look at. She passed that information to Claire's mind.
Dren spoke, "I will not harm her. I offer my protection and my tent."
Anna hugged Claire. She wanted to spend the night in Dren's tent. Claire sighed.
Anna smiled.
"Alright," Claire said.
"My tent is this way, female." Dren led the way. Anna gave Claire a quick hug before following after Dren.
When they were gone, Claire asked. "Is this your plan? Do you intend to give the MX to your warlords as mates in your breeding program?" She saw no change at all in Koda's expression.
"What happened? You were against this and yet you agreed to let her go with Dren?" Koda asked.
"Anna said it was okay."
"I did not hear her speak," Koda said.
"Nevertheless, she told me." Claire said.
Koda gave her a hard look.
"You changed the subject," Claire accused.
"The girl needs someone to protect her. Whether they mate or not is not up to me. Have you always been able to speak to each other without words?" Koda asked.
"Yes," Claire said.
"And no one ever figured that out?" Koda's disbelief irritated Claire.
"We were very cautious," she said.
"Did you think I did not need to know that?" Koda bit out.
"I – Well, now you know," Claire shrugged.
Koda walked away with Claire following. After three of his steps, she was running to keep up with him. She was so angry with that she could not find words to express her outrage.
He stopped and turned to face her.
"We are not cattle to be bred to your prize bulls." Her green eyes sparked with anger.
Koda lifted an eyebrow and stepped closer so that he towered over her. "This is the way of things, pita. The MX are female and in need of protection. We offer protection and safety. If some of the MX want to accept other than protection from my warlords, that is the way of nature."
Claire blinked and looked away. “I know,” she said quietly.
"Do you wish it to be different?” Koda leaned down and spoke softly to her. When she did not answer, he said. “It is the way of things. We do not force and we take with the promise to care for and honor our mates."
Claire deflated. Unshed tears filled her eyes and she could not say why.
Koda knew it had been difficult for her. "We offer sanctuary – life," he said.
"And we appreciate it, Warlord Leader," Claire said.
"I know this is hard for you, pita. We will care for all the MX whether they mate with us or not." Koda's voice was softer.
Claire wanted to tell him everything then. She did not want to keep her secrets a moment longer, but she had to be discreet. This was not the time.
Instead, she said, "Thank you for saving Anna."
Koda followed Claire into their tent. In bringing the MX for his warlords hoping they would mate, he was acting according to the prophecy and his own knowledge that his race needed an injection from another gene pool. He was taking a risk, but he thought they were the mates. By bringing them here, he could save them and his race. She was sad and he did not understand why. He was responsible for her happiness as well as her safety.
"Pita." He reached for her, touched her skin and waited for the emotions to flow. None came. Had she learned to control that? He longed to experience it once more, to feel what she felt as he took her body, to know her emotions as he filled her and moved inside her. To know how much she enjoyed mating with him was greater than winning a battle. He needed her to crave his touch as much as he craved touching her.
He took her down to the pallet on the tent floor. Took her down and kissed her with gentleness. He stroked her body, while he hoped to feel her emotions, to know some part of her wanted him, needed him like he needed her. He fisted his hand in her hair and pulled her lips to his. He took her mouth, wanted her response, her very soul. By all the fates, he had never needed a female like he needed this one. His chest ached with desire for her, but she did not yield her soft response to him.
He rolled off of her and lay panting beside her. He ached for this female, but he needed her to want him.
"Sex is not payment, little one, nor is it part of your job. I want you to ease my own desires, but I want to ease yours as well. When we join, it is for our mutual pleasure."
"When – Ramil... and..."
Koda pulled her close to his chest. "Forget him, pita. I wish I knew how to make you forget him. Mating is caring, intimacy and loving, by both the male and the female. I want you to freely give yourself to me and know that I care for you."
Koda remembered his time spent with Veck. His uncle had no respect for females and taught him that he should take what he wanted because it was his right. He had engaged in debauchery for a time. Older and wiser, he turned from Veck's philosophy, but he had used females. He had used them with no thought of their feelings. There were always willing females eager to give him what he wanted.
Claire gave him so much more. He was prepared to do anything for this female. He was even going to forgive her artifice. She was keeping something from him.
***
Exhaustion seeped into her bones and dragged her down. Sleep came over her like soft cotton.
"Sleep. You need rest," Koda said. “+I will protect you, pita. You are mine," he whispered in her hair.
She slept in his arms and smiled. He was so sweet in her dreams. He loved her. In her dreams, she was with Koda and there was no danger and no secrets. In her dream they shared perfect love and she could tell him everything.
Claire snuggled close to Koda for warmth and clung to her fantasy like a warm blanket. Koda moved until his lips met hers. His kiss was soft. He drew on her essence with that kiss and she responded. Her hands went to his shoulders and she traced her fingers over the steel cords of muscle beneath his smooth skin. She refused to open her eyes and leave the soft world of dreams.
She ran her fingers through his hair, enjoying the feel of it as it glided over her hand... she could lose herself in his hair. Claire touched his neck, his muscled shoulders. She wanted to touch him everywhere. Her shields came down when he rolled on his back, pulling her on top of him. He felt the flow of her emotions and his own reflected back at him.
"Look at me," he commanded.
No response.
"Look at me. You will know who is making love to you," he said.
She obeyed. The want in his eyes made her body burn. He made love to her then, drawing out her response and her need.
She was soft, ready... his. She smelled good, her hair was silk in his hands. The movement of her lush breasts fascinated him. Her narrow waist reminded him to be careful with her, but the flare of her hips was a promise he would die for. Claire rested her hands on his shoulders. She was his and he would make her know that.
Koda sheathed himself inside her and she whimpered. When she tried to look away, he brought her face back to his. He pulled her down and whispered again, "Look at me, pita. I am inside you."
His mouth was hot on her cool throat as he kissed her there, her pulse quickened. He nuzzled her neck, kissed the mate mark that bound him to her, pushed her back, and looked into her eyes again.
"This is mating, pita."
He pulled out almost completely and laughed when she became frantic. She needed him, wanted him. "Say it."
She whispered his name in the warm, dark cocoon of their tent as he moved inside her.
"Good," he said. "I will teach you the difference between payment and mating. Say it again."
"This is mating," Claire whispered.
"Who is inside you, pita?"
"You are," she panted.
He moved faster – stroking harder and deeper as she clung to him and ma
de sounds in her throat that almost put him over the edge of his control.
"Scream for me, pita. Scream for what I give you, scream for what you need. Say. My. Name."
His name tore from her throat. Claire was in a frenzy by the time Koda began pushing for the orgasm they both had to have. Her hands clawed his shoulders, spurring him on. Her orgasm shattered her to pieces, roaring through her body like a great wave slamming her soul against the rocks. Helpless against that tide, her only hope was to survive it. His body reacted with a tremendous shudder. She read his thoughts – his pleasure was more intense than any he had experienced before, everything with her was more.
Her back arched and she jerked as waves of pleasure crashed into her, through her, again and again. Claire felt something primal in him, her screams of pleasure the cause. Koda roared as his orgasm reached its zenith and she smiled.
He kissed the tears from her eyes. In the throes of her climax, she said his name over and over. He had yearned for that.
Koda smiled when he received that thought from her. He rolled to his side, pulled her close and held her. She was dealing with a lot of new feelings. He hoped some of those feelings were for him.
"Are you alright, pita?" It was as if they were the only two people alive. It was intimate, safe.
Claire nodded her head, "Yes," still catching her breath, "I do not know why I cry."
"It is an emotional release, pita."
"I have my emotions as well as yours," she whispered.
"I know," he said as he kissed her forehead. He stroked her hair and ran his hand down her side. Her skin was so soft. He lay with her until their breathing returned to normal. He smoothed her hair and brought her hands up to his mouth to kiss her palms.
They had a shared peace, a sense of togetherness. In his arms, she was complete.
Koda whispered to her, "This was mating, making love between us. I will hear no more talk of jobs or payment. You are my cherished mate."
Claire closed her eyes and drifted as she he stroked her hair. They lay together in a gauzy world of their own.
"Now, you can tell me what you have been keeping from me," Koda said.
Claire's bottom lip trembled.
"It cannot be that bad," he said.
"It is us. Our abilities. You have asked me, but we are not supposed to talk about it."
Koda nodded.
"Some of our abilities could be dangerous, to – other people," Claire said.
"How did Anna kill Benson's men?"
"She – when we – link to someone's mind, if our emotions are strong enough, we can just make them shut down."
"That is a unique gift," Koda said. "And I have no doubt Benson's men deserved what they got." He held her close in the cage of his arms. He was finally breaking through all that was done to her at the Facility. She finally forgave him for his deceit when he bought her. Claire wanted to be here and she wanted to be with him.
He held her while she whispered her thoughts to him. At last the walls between them were coming down. He lay awake and held her while she slept.
The camp woke up. People moved around to start the day. Koda got up and dressed. As always when they broke contact, he experienced the painful loss of her. He left her with a last soft kiss.
***
She saw Anna almost as soon as she stepped from the tent. Anna's smile put Claire at ease. Anna laughed. "I am fine. I was not killed or ravaged during the night."
Claire smiled. "I feel responsible for you. Koda wants me to help him acquire the other MX."
"We both must help him. Koda is the only chance we may have. My odds for survival improved when I came here." Anna was also wearing button up blue jeans and a yellow wrap-around top. "These folks do not believe in buttons, do they? It took me forever to get this thing tied on," she quipped. "The jeans are imported. They have zippers and everything. Do they really trade on the black market?"
Claire gave a wry smile. "They have a curious mixture of primitive and advanced technology. Yes, they trade on the black market. How was your night with Dren?"
Anna smiled. "It was fine. He does not talk very much and although he looks fierce, he made no effort to scare me on purpose."
Claire smiled. "Dren has a kind heart."
"They are big ones, these warrior warlords, whatever they call themselves. They are huge. Even the females are giant-sized," Anna said.
"I was concerned if you had a bad dream or ..." Claire began.
"I have the dreams. I think we all have them. Last night, I was too exhausted to dream." Anna looked around the camp. "You must not worry about me. I also sense that Dren has a kind heart in spite of his fierce countenance. Yesterday, I was waiting to be executed. Today, and for the first time in my life, I can walk free around a camp that is like a fairground." Anna tilted her head, "I would say my situation is greatly improved by Koda's interference, whatever his plans for us may be. He keeps much to himself, but I feel we are safe here."
"Even though he wants us to mate with his warlords?" Claire asked.
Anna laughed. "I am sure there are worse fates than mating with these males." Her sense of laissez-faire lightened Claire's mood.
"Look at them, Claire. They look like gods. They are barbarian warriors. They could take us by force, but they have not done that. They respect women. They will keep us safe. In this primitive society, a woman must have a man to look after her. You remember that from our training."
Claire tacitly agreed. Anna was right. She had wanted – more – from Koda, and that had made her petulant. After last night, she was unable to stop smiling. She felt a connection to him that made her heart sing. Last night, everything had changed for her. Koda did care for her. What a bliss she felt now.
When they finished eating, Claire and Anna went to the tree and sat down on the ground to meditate. Holding hands, they opened up to each other and then to their surroundings. The early morning fog burned off leaving a crystal clear morning.
Claire and Anna began to sing. They sang in the language known only to the MX and for the first time ever, they sang aloud, together.
Claire felt Koda's presence. He watched them. She felt his reluctance to interrupt.
When the song was finished, Claire opened her eyes and turned her attention to Koda.
"Good morning," Koda said. "Something has come up. I must leave the Gathering. Claire, I would have you come with me."
"Of course, Warlord Leader," Claire answered.
As she stood to go, Anna stood with her. Anna's eyes glowed as yellow as the sunrise, "Remember the first rule of chess, sister."
Claire tilted her head and held Anna's hand just a moment longer. "I will remember," Claire said.
She felt Koda's curiosity. Something about seeing her with Anna made him uneasy.
Claire followed Koda and a group of his warlords away from the campgrounds into a corner of the field. She blinked. There was a ship where there had been nothing except empty field just moments before. It was one of the larger jumper ships built to carry about 20 people. The sleek angles made the light gray ship look predatory.
"How?" Claire asked.
Koda was replacing something in one of his leather armbands. "A shield." .
"If you have these, then why all the riding around on paccar?" Claire inquired.
"We enjoy the journey." Koda smiled and raised his hand to help her onto the ramp and into the ship.
Once inside, Koda showed her the group sitting area. The pilots sat in the front of the craft in a cabin which was shut off from the passengers. There was a narrow passageway to the rear of the ship with doors on each side of the aisle. "We are in the first cabin on the left down the hall." Koda gestured. She was being dismissed.
Inside the cabin, she found a bed large enough to hold Koda and herself. They had been sleeping on the ground. Enjoy the journey indeed! This warrior race was very strange.
Anna had said being mated to one of these warlords was not a bad fate. They were better off w
ith Koda than they had been before he rescued/kidnapped them. In fact, Koda had bought them. There were many MX who were hiding and fighting for their lives right now. She had to be vigilant in case she could aid any of them, but the nagging doubt was like a dark cloud hanging over her. Koda had not said where they were going.
Claire was startled when the cabin door opened and Koda filled up all the space, took all the air and left her breathless as usual. He set a tray of food on the end of the bed.
"Eat, pita."
"Thank you. I mean, thank you, Warlord Leader."
Koda tilted his head, as if perplexed at her formality. "Eat. Then you should rest."
He turned and left the room without another word. Well, talk me to death next time, Claire thought. She ate a few grapes and lay down.
The next time Koda came in, he had a tray of breakfast food. "Wake up, pita. We will arrive soon. Eat and shower there is a gown for you inside the closet."
He was gone again before she was fully awake. She showered and put on the beautiful gown. The fabric was a shimmery teal color. Over the top she attached a see-through piece of fabric that had very small pearls sewn into it. There were also leather ballet slippers that matched the gown. The effect was stunning. She brushed her hair and coiled it up off her neck.
Someone knocked on the cabin door, causing Claire to yelp. She called out. Ache filled the doorway of the room. "We are ready."
"Of course." Claire breezed out the cabin door. Her bearing regal as she joined the warlords. She might be treated like some kind of pet, but she was, after all an MX.
Claire took a moment to look over her escort. The warlords and Koda wore armor. Thick leather shielded most of their bodies. Their arms were covered in heavy leather that looked like scales and allowed free movement. The same heavy leather covered their chests and made them appear even larger than they were, and they were already the largest males she had ever seen.
Most had their hair in partial braids. Calks had called them war braids. Were they going to do battle? They all wore leather pants that covered their legs and big boots ended at their knees with shields that continued up to cover their kneecaps. They were armed with various assorted daggers she could see. She knew they carried unseen weapons as well. Their whips were coiled at their sides. Lars stood silent with his hands crossed on the end of his battle-ax while the rest of them had swords strapped to their backs.
