by Ann Mayburn
“No,” Lord Rell agreed. “Are you sure there is no way to get them out?”
“I won’t know until I see the conditions they are being kept in, but from what I know of the Baladium’s security forces, it would be unwise. Chance of failure 98%.”
“First things first…” Lord Rell glanced over his shoulder toward the manor, then went silent for a moment before returning his attention to Chel and Gwarnon’s image. “We have to fix whatever has gone wrong with their crystal implants. They could easily destroy both women’s minds.”
“Agreed,” Chel quickly said. “If I may, my Lord, I request permission to travel with Gwarnon to the Baladium. I have experience with Earth women’s reactions to their crystal implants and have been working extensively with Lady Casey to fine tune hers.”
“Agreed,” Lord Rell said after a moment. “I don’t need to tell you both, but this is a Top-Secret mission. If you’re caught, I’ll protect you the best I can, but you must be careful. The majority of the High Congress will approve of the rescue of an Earth bride who has already begun the Transition to Matriarch, but some members of the High Congress would happily ban every Earth woman from Kadothia, if they could. None will be happy that I’ve kept this information from them.”
“We have a very short window of time. I’m preparing the ship and assembling our crew as we speak,” Gwarnon said, and his image looked off to the side for a moment.
Lord Rell was gazing at the orchard again, his strong profile standing out in sharp relief against the turbulent sky on the outside of the bubble. “You are right. Time is of the essence. Chel, grab what you need for the crystal implants.”
“Yes, my Lord,” Chel said as his mind was already assembling the tools and supplies he would need for their journey.
“Only contact me on the channel I’m sending you. Tell no one, other than your crew, where you’re going.” Lord Rell’s unyielding face softened for a brief moment. “You are two of my best men—loyal, brave, and honorable. It would greatly trouble me if we lost you as well. Please, be safe, and may the Lord of Life bless your journey.”
Hours later, Chel lay back in the wide bed on Gwarnon’s specialized smuggler ship. The sleek craft was made for speed and fabled to be all but invisible in the hands of the right pilot. They needed that stealth as they flew deeper and deeper into unfriendly territory hidden in the far reaches of the Bel’Tan Galaxy. Chel was glad to note his bond with Lady Casey easily held up across the distance, and he sent a prayer of thanks to the Lord of Life. Though the Hive wasn’t particularly active in this section of the Galaxy, the Baladium’s conglomeration of planets made formidable enemies that even the Hive didn’t want to face in battle.
Gwarnon exited the small cleansing room to Chel’s right. The soft amber lighting made the deep blue streaks in his blood brother’s black hair appear almost as dark as ink. Bare to the waist, Gwarnon’s body was a testament to strength and physical fitness—sculpted muscles covered in scarred golden skin, with two dimples on his lower back right above his ass.
Turning to watch Gwarnon ready himself for bed, Chel marveled at the rare moment of shared intimacy.
Keeping their bond a secret from Lady Melissi was one of the most difficult things he’d ever had to do. On his own, he probably would have told the bitch the day they bonded, just so he didn’t have to hide his feelings for Gwarnon. But his blood brother had forbidden it, and Chel respected his wishes. Gwarnon had already lost one blood brother and his Matriarch, though Chel believed that wasn’t true. Oh, Jestin had been Gwarnon’s blood brother, and would have been Chel’s future husband as well-if he’d lived. But he was sure the woman Jestin had claimed to have found on a distant planet right before they both died wasn’t their Matriarch.
Turning to face Chel, Gwarnon gave him something he never gave anyone else, vulnerability. The cold, imposing mask, the robot-like display of emotions, the utter lack of warmth that was normally Gwarnon’s default expression, melted away. Instead of ice, his dark blue eyes, streaked with faint hints of silver lightning, seemed to glow with love. Chel immediately sat up and opened his arms to his blood brother, his heart filling with its own joy that surged between their bond.
In moments, Gwarnon tangled up in Chel’s arms on the bed. They lay on their sides, face to face.
“It is good to see you,” Chel said in a low voice as he stroked back Gwarnon’s hair. “I have missed you.”
Gwarnon rubbed his nose against Chel’s, a brush of their lips sending pleasurable shivers down his spine. “And I you.”
Giving in to temptation, Chel traced his tongue over the bow of Gwarnon’s lips, their bond saying everything their mouths could not. It had been months since he’d last felt his beloved’s arms, and Chel’s cock quickly swelled to the point of pain. Without breaking their kiss, Gwarnon slid his hand between them and under the sheet, gripping onto Chel’s erection with a hard squeeze.
“Yes,” Chel moaned against his lover’s wet lips. “Lord of Life, keep going.”
Gwarnon laughed as he kissed along Chel’s sensitive jawline, his hand beginning to stroke Chel’s swollen shaft, teasing him with light strokes that promised much but delivered little in the way of relief.
With a growl, Chel thrust harder into Gwarnon’s grip, the teasing turning him on just like it always did. Made him crave a hot, tight hole to plunge himself into. He gave Gwarnon’s neck a nip on the sensitive point that never failed to drive his mate crazy, and quickly fumbled the towel at Gwarnon’s waist open, revealing his lover’s thick cock. Deep purple, with large, tight testicles surrounded by a smattering of blue and black curls, Gwarnon’s cock was perfect. Unable to help himself, Chel bent down, taking the sensitive head of Gwarnon’s shaft into his mouth, swirling his tongue around and tasting the essence of his lover.
His balls drew up tight as Gwarnon, in one smooth move, laid back on the large bed then grabbed Chel’s hips, so his cock dangled in Gwarnon’s face.
Leaning up, Gwarnon gave the tip a feather light lick, and Chel groaned around Gwarnon’s dick. Together, they worked each other, years of knowledge and time apart making their passion ramp up quickly. He needed this so badly—needed this time with his blood brother, needed to feel loved and not so alone. An echo of his emotions came back from Gwarnon, and a moment later, his mate put his thumb over the rim of Chel’s ass, teasing the nerves there. With a grunt, Chel thrust back, seeking more sensation as he sucked Gwarnon’s dick harder, his cheeks hollowing.
Pushing just the tip of his thumb in and out of Chel’s rear entrance, Gwarnon worked him so well that, all too soon, the vibration started to shiver down his spine and into his balls, the pleasure ridges on his cock swelling. A moment later, Gwarnon’s pleasure ridges began to vibrate in Chel’s mouth, and he jerked his head back, working Gwarnon with his fist while he roared out his own released. Gwarnon joined him, his lilac purple seed coating Chel’s fist like the most delicious of sweet desserts.
Shivers of love and pleasure had him arching as Gwarnon gave his sensitive shaft a hard suck.
With a groan, Chel rolled off his mate, both men positioning themselves so they could hold each other as their breathing evened out and true relaxation softened their tense muscles.
Resting his head on Gwarnon’s chest, Chel absently stroked his mate’s arm, tracing along the ridges and dents of muscle and tendon.
“I dreamed about her again last night.” Gwarnon’s chest beneath Chel’s ear rumbled with his words.
“A true dream?” Chel asked as he smiled, feeling the happiness coming through their bond as Gwarnon nodded.
“I believe so, but it was very confusing. She was in a room surrounded with a clutter of strange furnishings and objects.”
“Like a warehouse? Perhaps she is a merchant,” Chel said as a bit of excitement fizzled through him.
“I wish I could say for sure. It would make our search easier if we knew where to focus our efforts. So far, during my travels, I have felt no sign of her. Only in
my dreams.”
“She is real. Our dreams are true,” Chel said as he gave his blood brother a tight squeeze. “Do not give up hope. We will find her, and when we do, we will make her the happiest Matriarch that Kadothia has ever seen.”
Gwarnon let out a soft, tortured sound. “I want to believe. I do believe, but—”
Knowing Gwarnon’s demons, Chel placed his hand over his mate’s soft lips. “Hush. These are all things we can worry about tomorrow. Now, we need to get our sleep while we can. Nosa and Cormac will no doubt sleep very little. They’ll be awake and demanding our help all too soon.”
“Do you think I did the right thing by telling them?” Gwarnon asked softly. “I fear that I have endangered their future on Kadothia by taking them to the Baladium with us.”
“Lord Rell approved it,” Chel reminded him. “And he had good reasoning. Both Nosa and Cormac can feel their bride. They can help guide us to her if all else fails.”
“This is true.” Gwarnon went silent, his long fingers stroking through Chel’s deep brown hair, soothing him. “Sleep, my brother. Nothing will harm you while I am near.”
Chel’s eyes closed as he placed a kiss on Gwarnon’s barrel chest. He prayed hard as he waited for sleep to claim him that somehow their actions would bring them one step closer to finding their own bride.
The next day, Chel held out a box for Gwarnon, aware of an agitated Nosa and Cormac standing nearby, but ignored them for now. “Here are the implants. I did the best I could, but they should work. Female human minds are resistant to our technology until they have been changed by a Kadothian male. Once they have transitioned, it is much easier for them to use the implants, but many still request alternative forms of learning. If too much data is forced at once, it can burn out portions of their brains.”
“Are you sure these are safe?” Cormac gestured to the box in Gwarnon’s hands.
Offense prickled at his spine, his already high anxiety making his pride easily tweaked. “I worked extensively with my Matriarch, Lady Casey Westfall, on improving the crystals ability to function with the human mind. I can assure you, Lady Westfall would never endanger her sister’s life by sending an implant she was unsure about. Lord Lorn and Lord Nast oversaw my work as well. I have done my utmost to make the process as painless as possible.”
Chel’s temper eased somewhat as Nosa gave him a grateful nod. “Thank you.”
Turning his attention back to Gwarnon, Chel held back a chuckle. His blood brother was dressed as his Smuggler Prince persona, a flamboyant style that his normally subdued and minimalist mate abhorred. Chel had to admit, Gwarnon didn’t look like himself. Dressed in a pair of skintight lizard leather red pants, a billowing white shimmer silk shirt that was opened at the throat, and a garishly loud red cape that matched his pants, he was so bright he made Chel’s eyes hurt. Gwarnon had also dyed his black hair white and used a few subtle facial prosthetics to change it just enough to fool, without looking fake. A few rings of untold worth glittered on his fingers, and he’d applied the black eyeliner that was currently in fashion in the region he was pretending to be from.
Leaning forward, he touched his forehead to Gwarnon’s and whispered, “Lord of Life be with you.”
After Gwarnon left to meet with the Earth women, Chel, Nosa, and Cormac all sat around the strategy table, each anxious and staring at one another.
Deciding to break the tension, he smiled and said, “My name is Chel. I’m in service to Lady Casey Westfall. My Lady wished me to ‘give you both a hug for her,’ but I shall refrain and pass on her well wishes instead. She is quite irritated, because she is being forced to stay on Kadothia while we rescue her sister. By irritated, I mean she has already tried to get off planet twice without her mates knowing.”
Nosa relaxed and held out his hand. He clasped the other man’s in the greeting used between friends. “An honor to meet you.”
Cormac did the same, adding, “Lady Casey has made amazing progress as a Matriarch. You must be proud.”
He opened his mouth to respond, but an overwhelming stimulus came through his bond with Gwarnon. Joy, confusion, elation, fear, back to confusion, and then more elation. The roaring flood of feelings from his normally calm and closed-off blood brother almost brought Chel to his knees.
“Gwarnon!” he yelled to his mate via their crystal implants. “Are you all right!”
More bomb blasts of emotion, this time wonder and a sense of awe that had the hair on his arms rising.
“Yes,” came back Gwarnon’s mental voice, so thick with emotion it was little more than a growl. “I have found our alyah.”
Stunned, Chel found himself just kind of…floating, like his mind untethered for a moment. Drifting, his wandering thoughts wondered how one was supposed to deal with this moment when it finally happened. He’d imagined it so many different ways, but never with Gwarnon pretending to be a space pirate so they could come to the aid of two Earth women at the Baladium of all places.
Somewhere, the Lord of Life must surely be laughing his divine heart out.
“Are you okay?” Cormac reached across the table the same time as Nosa, both laying a hand on his own.
Staring at the two men, he breathed out, “We have a problem. Gwarnon is my blood brother, and he just met our mate.”
Chapter1
Lacey
Just when she thought nothing could surprise her anymore, the Universe liked to prove her wrong. This time in the form of a gorgeous man who resembled a pirate-themed stripper with a body that was beyond amazing. His sudden appearance at the doorway of their room on the NevShoo ship certainly threw her for a loop. The moment she saw him, a weird, falling sensation gripped her, similar to going over the edge on a really tall roller coaster. Or parachuting out of a plane.
To make matters even weirder, the smoking hot pirate guy dropped to his knees before her and babbled out something about thinking she was dead and her being his bride.
“Excuse me…” Lacey stared down at the massive man kneeling before her. “But who the hell are you?”
He bowed his head. His glorious long white hair fell forward to obscure half his masculine face. “My name is Gwarnon Felushi of House Tricell, Warrior of the Kadothian Empire.”
Roxy exchanged a startled look with Lacey. “Uh, nice to meet you?”
“Please…” His voice fairly trembled with emotion as he stared up at Lacey with such longing, it made her breath catch. “Will you share your name with me?”
Good golly, he had to be one of the most beautiful men she’d ever seen. Her body warmed as they stared into each other’s eyes, her nipples tingling as they tightened beneath his gaze. She wanted to touch him, to see if his body was as rock solid as it looked, if his skin was as smooth as it appeared. And that hair… She would love to wrap all that silken white hair around her naked body.
Taking a step back before she gave into the urge to lick him like candy, Lacey said, “I’m Lacey Tyler, Specialist with the United States Army.”
“Lacey Tyler,” he repeated with obvious relish and a slight accent. “Your name is as beautiful as you are.”
A pang of self-doubt and old, festering insecurities flared to life for a moment as her mind argued that he was just flirting with her to try and gain an advantage for himself. To make her stupid so she fell for whatever bullshit he had planned because she was attracted to him. That was what her ex-boyfriend had done—flirted with her until she gave in, told her everything she wanted to hear, while he secretly sabotaged her chances of getting a promotion in the Army that he wanted. The time before that, she’d fallen for an asshole from her high school who’d had sex with her as part of a dare.
Not that she could complain about that prom night mistake. It led to Jillian, her five-year-old daughter and the light of her life. Soul ripping pain tried to break free from the prison she’d shoved it into her mind, but she wouldn’t let it. She was in enemy territory, and she didn’t have time for an emotional breakdown.
&n
bsp; To Lacey’s relief, Roxy cleared her throat and took a step forward, drawing the strange man’s attention. “Roxy Westfall, Staff Sergeant with the United States Army.”
Gwarnon barely glanced at Roxy before returning his powerful attention to Lacey. “It is an honor to meet you, Lady Westfall.”
The NevShoo’s voice came from the speaker’s above. “We accept your proposition.”
“What proposition?” Lacey crossed her arms and peered suspiciously at the ceiling. “We didn’t propose anything.”
“I did,” Gwarnon said. “I have a plan to help you win the Baladium. With the crystal implants—”
“Yeah, no thanks.” Roxy leaned against an empty bookshelf and crossed her arms. “I’m not big on my brain melting.”
“I am not being clear,” Gwarnon said. “I have a way to enable your minds to be able to use a crystal implant without issue. All of the Earth Matriarchs have them, and none have been harmed. It is only when you are purely human that there is a risk.”
“Wait,” Lacey licked her lips then swallowed. “Purely human? You’re going to make us not purely human?”
Gwarnon stood slowly. She tried to keep her gaze on his face, but it was impossible. The tight red leather pants he wore molded themselves to every line and curve of his thick thighs. They certainly hinted that Gwarnon was packing, but she refused to let her gaze stray there. For all she knew, he had, like…armored spikes for a dick or something. She had to keep reminding herself he was an alien, despite how human he looked.
Holding Lacey’s gaze, Gwarnon said, “If you give me permission, myself and my blood brother would be honored to initiate your transition.”
“What about Roxy?”
He finally tore his attention away from Lacey and turned his dark eyes on Roxy. “Her bondmates will attend to her needs.”
Roxy’s dark eyebrows flew up, and she took a step away from the random bookcase she’d been leaning against. “My bondmates?”
