Claimed (Project Destiny Book 1)

by Lee-Ann Wallace

  * * * *

  “Bavric, you aren’t making any sense. Either we can or we can’t,” Sorvar growled.

  Tina sighed. The longer they’d been in Medical with Bavric, the more frustrated Sorvar had become. She knew the answer wasn’t an easy one. They were the first couple to combine their respective genes, and Bavric just didn’t have any data to go on. In a way, they were going to be the test subjects for all the couples who would come after them.

  “Sorvar, it’s not that simple,” she tried to explain to him.

  She might have suggested they run off and ask Bavric, but she’d needed him to do something, not just sit there like a sexy statue and drive her crazy.

  “Of course it is, Tina. It’s either yes or no.” He turned those bright eyes of his on her, and she had to shake her head to stop herself from getting drawn into his gaze.

  “No, handsome, it’s not. Bavric doesn’t have any precedence to use to give us an answer. We are the first, and as such the data he collects will all come from us. So that leaves us a few options.”

  He growled low in his throat, but remained silent, on the outside. What options, pavri? he demanded into her mind.

  She blew out a breath, her own frustration growing. “One.” She held up her hand and ticked off a finger. “We can completely abstain until I lay the eggs. The babies won’t be in any danger, and we won’t have to worry.” She ticked off another finger. “Two. We can stick with non-invasive activities, which, trust me, can be lots of fun. However, Bavric will need to monitor me to make sure an orgasm doesn’t hurt the embryos when my uterus contracts. Once we know for sure that an orgasm won’t hurt the babies, we should be good to go.” Tina flicked up a third finger. “Three. We can have intercourse here, and Bavric can monitor us the whole time and warn us if anything happens to put the babies in danger.”

  Sorvar turned to look at Bavric, and Tina shook her head before looking at the medic, too.

  “Well?” Sorvar asked.

  Bavric looked back and forth between them before settling his gaze on Sorvar. “My Prince, I do not understand. Tina has already conceived. She cannot conceive again until her next fertile period. What would be the purpose of putting your young in danger with continued sexual activity?”

  A blast of Sorvar’s amusement washed through Tina as she stared back at Bavric, her mouth hanging open. She snapped it shut with an audible clack. Sorvar, explain it to him, so he understands. You’re a male. He’ll get it if you tell him.

  Sorvar chuckled and pulled her against him. Pavri, I don’t think he will. I wouldn’t have understood if a male had tried to explain it to me before I claimed you—and you forget. Most of the species we usually steal only have sex to procreate. Not simply for the enjoyment of it.

  Tina shook her head and snorted. Fine. “Bavric, sex to humans is a bit like sport. It involves physical exertion, it’s fun, and you can do it either on your own or as a team. We don’t have sex just to procreate. If we did, it wouldn’t feel so good. I mean, what would be the point?”

  Bavric’s wings rustled behind him, and he lifted one hand and made a strange gesture that made Sorvar roar with laughter. “Princess, I don’t understand what spontaneous mutations have to do with intercourse.”

  Would you stop laughing, Sorvar! This is serious. Or don’t you want to be able to have sex? What did spontaneous mutations have to do with sex anyway? “I’m sorry, Bavric. I don’t understand.” She shoved away from a still chuckling Sorvar and crossed her arms over her chest.

  “A sport is an animal or plant showing abnormal or striking variation from the parent as a result of spontaneous mutation. It has nothing to do with sex, Princess. It is purely genetic variation.” Bavric sounded like he was explaining something to a child.

  Instead of getting angry with Bavric for his condescending attitude, Tina laughed. “No, that’s not what I meant by sport. On Earth, sport is an activity between individuals or teams. It requires physical exertion and skill. Basically, it’s a game. Don’t you have something similar? Like flying contests or fighting contests or games that show skills and endurance or something?”

  Sorvar’s amusement was so strong inside her that Tina was having a hard time not laughing herself. The ticklish sensation fluttered around inside her like the teasing strokes of a feather.

  “I see. Well yes, of course we have activities like that. They form part of our festivals and celebration days. So humans use sex as a form of competition between the male and female to see who has more stamina? Or is more skilled? Or is it about dominance?” Bavric now sounded excited as if he’d discovered a great secret.

  Tina sighed and shook her head. Sorvar was right. He really didn’t understand, and her bastard of a mate was getting far too much enjoyment out of her fumbling explanations. “Yes, I suppose some couples use sex for those purposes, but its main point other than procreation is for pleasure and to develop intimacy between the couple. Honestly, Bavric? It just feels good, and it’s nice to share that with someone you... care about.” She had almost said loved, but she didn’t love Sorvar... yet. At least, she didn’t think so.

  She cared about him a lot, and she knew he could feel it. He didn’t hesitate to let her feel that he loved her. In fact, he didn’t try to hide any of his emotions from her at all. Like now, he wasn’t trying to hide his amusement, and she was about to hit him.

  Tina, there may be an easier way to make Bavric understand.

  With a little shake of her head, Tina turned to Sorvar. I’m all ears, handsome.

  He grinned down at her, completely unrepentant that he found the situation so amusing. Your suggestion that we have sex here so Bavric can monitor us is a good one. We can solve two problems at once. He can make sure we don’t hurt the babies, and he can find out exactly what you are talking about.

  Tina gaped up at him. Wait. You want us to have sex in front of him? That wasn’t what I meant, Sorvar. I meant he could put monitors on me and wait outside. He’d be close enough to help if something went wrong, but not in the actual room.

  Sorvar wrapped an arm around her and pulled her against the hard wall of his naked chest. Tina had no choice but to unfold her arms and grip his waist or she’d lose her balance. He leaned down and nuzzled the sensitive skin right below her ear.

  “Yes, pavri, I suspected that was what you meant, but he will not understand unless he sees for himself. He will not understand how beautiful your breasts are or how much you enjoy it when I suck and lick at your nipples until they are hard and aching. Nor will he understand unless he can see our faces exactly what it feels like when I thrust inside you.” His hot breath whispered against her ear as he spoke in a hushed tone.

  Tina shuddered. God, the things he could do to her just by whispering in her ear. Sorvar, I’ve never had sex in front of another person before. I don’t know if I can, it’s... weird.

  Warm lips pressed against her throat, then he stroked a long line down with just the tip of his tongue. Pavri, I bet if I slid my fingers into you right now, I’d find you wet and waiting for me. Tell me the thought of someone watching doesn’t make you hot.

  A tiny little moan welled up in Tina’s throat. Sorvar, I—

  Tina jumped and let out a little shriek as the door burst inwards with a great crash, and Sorvar’s father stormed into the room. His massive presence dwarfed the room, making the generous space feel far smaller than it was.

  “I forbid that abomination from having any contact off planet. Who knows what secrets she will share with her people about us?” the king said pointing a long-taloned finger at them.

  A burst of rage rushed through Tina, and it wasn’t only Sorvar’s. How dare he try and cut her off from her people! Sorvar had already claimed her against her will and dragged her off to an alien planet. The king was taking the last thing from her that might give her joy other than being with Sorvar. A low growl rumbled up out of Tina and mimicked the louder growl that tore through the room from Sorvar.

  “Father, w
e have never stopped our females from contacting their families if they want to. You are taking away one of Tina’s basic rights as a mate.” Sorvar’s fingers dug into her waist, his anger burning in her chest along with her own.

  “Are you questioning me, Sorvar? You forget your place. I am king, and I make the rules. If you continue, I will outlaw mating with humans and sentence this pathetic creature to death for cursing my son. I see and know what she has done to you, and it is unnatural. It is a disgrace to the might of Morgath. I will not have more of this inferior species on my planet contaminating my people.”

  If spittle could have flung from the king, Tina was sure it would have, he spoke with such vehemence. Venom filled his tone and seared along her skin. Did he have to be such an arrogant tyrannical asshole? What did he think he was going to achieve by threatening her? All he would do was make Sorvar angry, then he’d have to deal with Sorvar’s primal side.

  Sorvar growled louder this time and pulled Tina behind him with one hand wrapped around her arm. “You will have to kill me first before I let you lay a hand on Tina.”

  Tina peeked around Sorvar just in time to hear the king reply, “Do you think that will stop me? I lost my son the day you bit that reeking piece of garbage. Killing you would only be a mercy.”

  What the hell? What was he going on about? Sorvar was right here. Tina shook her head. She didn’t understand some people. The way their minds worked was just strange.

  “Father, you cannot mean that!” Sedric said, rushing through the broken door.

  “Stay out of this, Sedric,” the king commanded.

  “No—”

  “Sedric, this is not your fight,” Sorvar barked.

  “Brother—”

  “No!”

  Sorvar growled so loud, it hurt Tina’s ears. His anger burned in her chest, scorching her from the inside. “Sedric, I was the one who took a human mate. I was the one who made the decision to choose a species we have never mated with before. It was my choice to take the risks, and I decided the benefits outweighed those risks. Tina has already proven her value as a mate by conceiving not one but three young, and even if she only ever bore me one child, I would love her anyway because she is more to me than just a breeder. Brother, this is not your fight. This is between father and me.”

  Sedric shook his head. “Sorvar, you are wrong. It is not only your fight. It is the fight of every male who has seen your Tina and wants a human mate of their own. Not all of us see females as simply a way to halt the decline of our species. Young are the bonus, not the goal. I see what you have with your mate, Brother, and I want that as well. It is our fight, and I will stand beside you to the very end.”

  Tina could feel Sorvar’s shock as it rang inside her, like a bell vibrating after it had tolled. But it was nothing compared to the vicious growl that came from Sorvar’s father.

  “It is nobody’s fight. There is no fight!” The medical room shook as the king thundered. He swung his arm out in a slashing gesture. “I forbid you to mate a human, Sedric. I will have no more of this pathetic species contaminating my warriors. Look at your brother and tell me he is not weak. Where are his claws? His skin is so thin that one slice and he would be dead. I will hear no more of this. The human is banned from communicating with her people or anyone else from the Coalition. Bavric, you will not divulge any medical details to her. You will not see her unless she needs medical attention. If you do, I will have you executed. I do not care if she dies and takes her wretched young with her. Sorvar, I do not want to see this pathetic excuse for a female, ever. She is confined to your quarters unless she requires medical attention. She is a disgrace to my people, and I will not have her parading around inciting my males.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Sorvar growled, the deep rumble echoing through the room as his father turned and stormed out. He let go of Tina, his hands balling into fists as he stepped after his father, his low growl rising towards a roar. He would kill his father for this. Damn the consequences, no female deserved to be treated this way. His father had stripped almost all of Tina’s rights from her, making her less than even the most pathetic animal on their planet.

  He was at the ruined door, heat boiling inside him, his primal side wanting to rip out of him, when Sedric’s voice drew him up short.

  “Sorvar!”

  “What?” He whipped around to glare at Sedric.

  His brother nodded towards something behind him, but didn’t say a word. Sorvar turned, and his heart clenched at the sight before him. How had he missed this?

  It took him a moment for his head to clear enough to feel her. The shock she had felt during the conversation with his father and brother was easy to ignore when he was furious with his father, but as his concern for his mate banked his rage, he started to feel Tina’s deeper emotions.

  She stood as still as a statue, her arms limp by her side, her wings slumped. The green fire that was always in her eyes was gone. The dull almost lifeless stare he received from her sent a spurt of alarm through him.

  He turned, walking the few steps to her, and pulled her against him with a hand around the back of her neck. “Pavri.”

  Tina stood in his arms, unresisting, but also unresponsive. He wrapped her in his arms and his wings, cocooning them in warmth. It will be all right, Tina. I promised you, you would get your dream, and I didn’t lie.

  She shook her head against him and her sigh brushed against the bare skin of his chest. “Okay, Sorvar.” Her voice, soft and flat, cracked a fissure in his heart.

  She didn’t believe him, had lost all hope. He could feel her disappointment, a heavy weight sitting inside him, like the weights they strapped to their chests to strengthen their flight muscles.

  “I will fix this, Tina. I promise you. Please, pavri, do not give up. You cannot give up.” He couldn’t stand to see her like this.

  “Prince Sorvar, I would never betray King Nardoc or disobey a direct order, but this is a very delicate situation. Tina and your young are going to be the first occurrence of the combining of Morgath and Human genetic material. They need to be monitored closely to ensure they are all safe,” Bavric said. The medic’s wings fluttered before he snapped them back into place.

  Sorvar ground his teeth together, forcing down a growl. He didn’t need Bavric stating the obvious, and he didn’t need the medic to remind Tina of the situation she was in, which, if the sharp stab of pain that ripped through him was any indication, he’d just done.

  “Yes, I know all that, Bavric, but by forbidding Tina to attend visits and also help you understand human physiology, my father has left us in a difficult position. There has to be some way we can work around it, but I will need some time to come up with a solution that doesn’t put everyone’s lives in danger.”

  Sedric cleared his throat. “How much information would Tina be able to give Bavric? Unless she is a medic as well, she probably only has rudimentary knowledge of the human body.”

  Now wasn’t the time to be amused, but Sorvar couldn’t help the bitter chuckle that broke from his throat. “Tina is a medic. She is our resident expert on humans and human physiology. If she and Bavric can work together, we should be able to see her and the babies through this safely.” There had to be some way they could share information without being together. There had to be some way they could work around his father.

  Sedric stared back at him, his eyes wide. “Tina’s a medic?”

  Sorvar wanted to growl at his brother. Wasn’t that what he just said? “Yes, she was working in the Medical centre on Deranti when I claimed her as my mate. She is a fully qualified doctor on Earth and has three months training from the Coalition’s Medical program as well.”

  “Sorvar,” Sedric said, his gaze on Bavric. He turned back to look at them. “We can work around Father. I have always been the son who did what Father said, what he wanted. I never questioned his decisions or disagreed with him, but I believe he is wrong. I have long wanted to be a medic, and father would not
permit it. I think it is time I did what I wanted and went after my dreams the way you have gone after yours.”

  Sorvar’s rage died down to a far gentler heat as he stared at his brother. “You never said anything.”

  Sedric looked away. “I know. I told Father years ago that I wanted to train with Bavric, but he insisted I pursue other avenues of study. Bavric can teach me, and I can talk to Tina and relay the information back to Bavric. He can show me how to monitor and check Tina, and together we can make sure she and your young come through this safely.”

  A spark of something flared inside Sorvar, and he looked down at Tina to find her staring up at him with a glimmer of hope shining in her eyes.

  She turned to Sedric. “Will you teach me all the things you learn from Bavric? The more I know about how this process works, the better I will be at knowing if something is going wrong. I can’t help you if I am ignorant.”

  Sedric lifted his gaze from her to look at him, and Sorvar could see the question and the hesitation in his eyes. They would be risking a lot if they did this. They were risking their father’s fury and possible punishment if he found out. In the worst case, they could all end up dead.

  “Yes, I will tell you everything I learn, Tina. We will be Bavric’s students together,” Sedric replied.

  Warmth slowly started to seep through Sorvar, quickly turning into bubbles in his chest as Tina’s excitement grew. She buried her face in his chest for a minute, before she ripped out of his arms, rushed over to Sedric, and threw herself into his arms.

  “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she chanted as Sedric stared down at her looking like he wasn’t quite sure what he was supposed to do.

  Sorvar felt like hugging his brother as well. Sedric had just given Tina something he hadn’t been able to give her, but had desperately wanted to. His brother had made his mate a very happy female, if the bubbles filling his chest were any indication of her feelings.

  “So,” Tina said as she pulled back from Sedric. “That’s one problem sorted. What about the other one?”