Mad Panther (Alien Guardians of Earth Book 2)

by Donna McDonald

  Nyomi nodded. “Check on Rodu before you return. I do not want to know the answer to his fate until I have calmed myself. There are many ways I can track down the traitors. I will not hesitate to use them, but I do not want to kill innocents in a rage over his death.”

  “It is a wise request. I will do as you ask,” Sugar answered, bowing her head to confirm.

  With Lake’s unconscious body now in a fireman’s carry across her shoulders, Sugar headed out the door of the throne room at a good pace.

  A massive guard instantly came running after her. He was a much larger person, but the being inside her never let Sugar’s size stop her from doing what had to be done.

  As she walked, her chest suddenly vibrated fiercely. She paused and looked around for danger, but saw none.

  Sorry to put Host Lake at risk. Regret his emergence.

  Rodu? Is that you?

  Host Rodu fights death. I am the Destroyer.

  Communicating blade-to-blade had turned the metal in her chest into a massive tuning fork. It hurt to keep walking while it was happening, but Sugar forced her mind to talk in silence.

  To keep the guard from suspecting anything, Sugar lengthened her stride and moved more purposefully.

  The new Protector helped us find Host Rodu. The cost to Host Lake was great. He needs to recover. I must see to his care.

  The guard jogged around her to open the door to Lake’s quarters. He bowed his head as she passed by him. “Can I trust you?” Sugar demanded aloud of the guard as she rolled Lake off her shoulders and into the bed.

  “On the queen’s life, I swear you have my loyalty,” he promised. “Do what you must for Queen Nyomi. I will watch over the boy and see that no harm comes to him.”

  “Thank you,” Sugar barely remembered to say before she dashed out.

  Destroyer? Are you still hearing me?

  Affirmative.

  We will be less without your current host. Rodu has experience we need. Rodu has calm.

  Destroyer agrees. Healing possible. Efforts in progress. Probability of death high.

  Sugar stopped in the hallway. She and her artifact were both concerned for Rodu. Maybe it was a bad sign, but she hadn’t gotten through her life being a wimp about reality.

  “I don’t want to know how probable his death is,” she said aloud now as she walked. “Protector Sugar prefers to keep having personal faith about Rodu living. Protector Sugar focuses on the positive—always. Do you understand me, Destroyer? I expect you to save your host.”

  Hope is human. Hope necessary for life. Blades seek life.

  Sugar nodded without answering.

  When her golden armor began to disappear into her chest, for the first time Sugar welcomed the pain it caused her. The suffering would keep her grounded.

  16

  Lake’s eyes opened slowly. He blinked at the harsh light in the room. He wanted to turn over in the bed, but something was in his way.

  Though it hurt like hell to move any part of his body, he finally managed to turn his head. There was a cloud of black silk covering his shoulder. Had he gotten lucky with his goddess after all? If so, that would prove to Sugar his mojo was still working.

  God, he had to quit drinking so he could enjoy these morning afters.

  Wait though…

  He hadn’t been drinking last night. He purposely hadn’t had anything at the big alien welcome party because he’d wanted Gina’s queen mother to think he was a sober and decent person.

  But that was before he’d nearly choked to death and blacked out.

  Lake tried to shake his head to jog his memory. He didn’t have any idea how he got from the floor of some gym and back to his bed.

  The choking sensation he recalled around his neck lingered still. His mind kept trying to jog things loose but kept failing to do so. It frustrated him that he couldn’t remember anything. What was the point of having sex if all you got out of it was a sick headache?

  Lake groaned in pure agony and brought a hand up to his aching head. The silk-covered head on his shoulder popped up to stare at him.

  “Stop moving around so much. You’re shaking my brain,” he joked.

  Gina smiled, something she rarely thought to do. “It relieves me that you live, Lake Allen Wright.”

  “Based on how I feel, I barely live,” Lake corrected, peeping from under his still heavy eyelids. “What did you do to me? Did it involve silk scarfs and asphyxiation? I’m really into much kink.”

  “I did nothing. Sugar said there was nothing we could do but wait for your body to heal itself. I do not wait well. I get tired of waiting. My work suffers. I think I share the flaw of impatience with both my brothers. Marta is the only patient child of Rodu.”

  Lake grunted. “Sorry my pain is keeping you from your important life.” He groaned in agony when the bed shifted as Gina left it. “Wait—I’m sorry. My head hurts. I don’t mean to be a jerk.”

  “Yet somehow you always manage to be one,” Gina said as she pressed a button on the headboard. “Notify Dr. Sugar Jennings that Lake is awake at last. Inform her that he is as rude as ever.”

  “What does awake at last mean? Is it a royal crime to get a good night’s sleep around here?”

  Gina peered down into Lake’s blank gaze. “You truly do not know?”

  “Know what?” Lake asked, trying to push himself upright and failing. “What is wrong with me? I feel incredibly weak.”

  Gina put a hand on his shoulder. “Now it is I who am sorry,” she said. “You have been unconscious for three months. It alarms me that you have no memory of it.”

  Lake grunted in pain, wishing he could laugh. “Listen, beautiful, lying is not going to trick me into taking a cognition test.”

  He almost did laugh when Gina glared at him.

  “I speak only the truth and I have never tricked anyone in my life.”

  Why was Gina trying to fool him? Did she hate him or something?

  Lake sighed in resignation. “Just tell me what happened. I started choking, and Sugar rushed me out of the party. I think your giant growly brother may have carried me at some point. I hope like hell no one saw it if he did.”

  “Axel has worried over you as much as anyone. All the children of Rodu are in your debt. The queen has said you are to have the best that our Lyran palace has to offer. And I wish we could…” Gina stopped. “Emotion is difficult for me. It hurts my entire body to express it.”

  “Hey,” Lake said, scooting over in the bed until he could reach her hand with his. “It’s okay, Gina. Whatever happened is okay. Sometimes it takes two or three times before lovers get in the right groove to both get there.”

  “Groove?”

  “Yes. When I feel better, we’ll try doing it again. My rule is to never leave a babe hanging.”

  Gina tilted her head. “It’s like you speak an entirely different language than everyone else. I have slept by your side for months and still I find you very confusing.”

  Lake put a hand to his forehead. “Well, I still find you very beautiful even if skyrockets never went off between us,” he said, glossing over what he assumed Gina was struggling to admit. “Got any aspirin, luv? It might speed up my recovery if I could stop feeling like shit.”

  Not knowing what else to do, Gina reached out and put two fingers over Lake’s lips to make sure he stayed silent. “Cease talking. I’m trying to tell you something important. Most of what you say is useless nonsense and makes me long for you to go back to sleep. But you saved my father’s life so I will tolerate your chatter with as little complaint as I can manage.”

  Lake’s eyes widened. He pulled her hand away. “Rodu? The original Rodu? What happened to him?”

  Gina closed her eyes. It bothered her greatly to recall that day. “My father lives because you discovered the truth in time. There have been many attacks on my father’s life, but this time death was closer than ever before. Thank you for your help in saving him.”

  Lake swallowed hard. He reme
mbered nothing—not the attack on Rodu’s life or his part in saving him. It was like Gina was talking about someone else. He moved his hand and felt the metal in his chest. Maybe she was.

  He was going to have to ask Sugar what had gone down while he was checked out. Thinking about the thing inside him making an appearance without his knowledge made his head hurt.

  “You may get your wish about me going back to sleep,” Lake admitted.

  Gina nodded. “Yes, you need more rest. I am pleased you lived through what happened.”

  “Does being pleased mean you’ll sleep with me again?”

  Gina sighed. “If I must, but your needs are taking up all my time. I wish to return to caring only for myself at some point. My work suffers from lack of attention.”

  Lake snorted. “Well, don’t do me any favors, sweetie. I’m not that desperate.”

  She does not speak of sex. Teasing confuses her.

  Lake’s head turned swiftly. It made him wince. He glared at Gina. “What did you say just now?”

  Gina lifted a brow. “Just now?”

  “Yes. Just now,” Lake repeated.

  “Nothing. I was silent. This is what I prefer.”

  Host Lake recovers. Gina of Rodu cares. Be respectful to her.

  Lake put both hands on his head as he moaned in shock. “Fuck. I know that voice. This is not good—not good. I don’t want to hear it in my head all the damn time.”

  Gina gazed at him in concern. “Are you sure about the cognition test?”

  Lake glared from the bed. “Yes. There’s nothing wrong with my brain. Once the voice shuts up, I’ll be fine.”

  Brain is healed one hundred percent. Organs are healed ninety-seven point three percent. Nourishment for host body recommended. Nutrition is low. Ask Gina of Rodu for food.

  “Can I get some food?” Lake asked, trying not to think about the voice telling him what he needed to do.

  “Yes, I will personally retrieve it for you,” Gina said. She laid a cylinder against his neck and shot the pain killer into him. She drew back when Lake yelped in surprise. “Why do you flinch so? You wanted something to help with the pain in your head.”

  “You could have warned me about what you were going to do,” Lake said, rubbing the spot.

  “I apologize. Are you certain you will be okay while I’m gone?”

  Lake gave a thumbs up with one hand. After the door closed behind Gina, Lake sighed.

  “Who the fuck are you?” he demanded out loud.

  I am your sentient blade. You are now Protector Lake. Symbiosis has finally advanced enough for us to communicate.

  “You’re my…” Lake tried to take it in. Thinking so hard worsened his headache.

  Protector Sugar considers her sentient blade her partner.

  “Partner?” Lake repeated as he rubbed a hand over his face. “Did you do something to help Rodu?”

  We helped. We prevented death. We discovered the location. Destroyer Rodu was saved. Host Rodu heals still.

  “He can join the club,” Lake grumbled, rubbing his forehead again.

  Query—is Host Lake angry about helping save Destroyer Rodu? Host damage was minimal. The possibility of full recovery is estimated to be high.

  Was he mad about helping and then being unconscious for three whole months? Lake blew out a breath. He supposed if the thing in him helped save a life it was worth putting up with. If he believed Sugar, there wasn’t any choice but to deal anyway. The last thing he needed was to be shut out completely by the controlling poltergeist thing inside him.

  “No, I’m not angry,” Lake said finally. “I’m just in shock. It’s not like you asked me if I wanted to become a host for you.”

  You were asked on an energy level and your energy responded favorably. Host Lake declined to merge with Creator blade. Host Lake chose Protector blade instead. Mutuality achieved with merging.

  “What?” Lake asked in shock. “Are you saying I was destined to be a blade host?”

  Predestination is a limited concept. Many humans are potentially worthy of hosting a sentient blade. Mutuality is critical for an optimal result. Lake is worthy. Lake is a truth seeker. Lake is a bringer of peace. Lake chose Protector. Protector chose Lake.

  Lake chuckled at the voice going on and on. Well, at least the voice in his head was flattering. It wasn’t telling him to go out and kill people for the hell of it. Becoming a sociopath would have been very bad.

  Death always last resort. Protector Sugar insists on fairness and justice. Protector Lake should follow her excellent example.

  “Yes, I totally believe Protector Sugar knows her stuff,” Lake conceded, uncomfortable with the realization his inner tormentor had read his thoughts. Guess he could kiss any and all privacy goodbye.

  A guard opened the door to his room and Gina walked in carrying a cup of something that smelled amazing. Soup sounded perfect. She set the cup on a table and put an arm around him to pull him upright in the bed. The woman was far stronger than she looked.

  When Lake was sitting comfortably, Gina handed him the mug and sat down beside him.

  “Thank you for the food,” he said, taking a cautious sip.

  Gina of Rodu. The second child of Rodu. Guardian of Protector Lake.

  Lake’s eyebrow rose. What did it mean that his blade considered Gina his guardian?

  “Is the food helping? I don’t know how your body managed to go so long without nutrition. No wonder you’re hearing voices in your head. Lack of nourishment is worse for humans than for Lyrans.”

  Her energy is like the energy of the creator. We are fortunate to be in her care. We are fortunate to have her favor us and want to be at our side.

  Lake looked over the mug at Gina, and bald-faced lied. It was the only way he knew to save himself. “The voice in my head shut up after you left. The aspirin must have worked. Next time though, can I just get a glass of water and some pills?”

  “No,” Gina said. “We do not use pills because the intradermal method is three hundred and sixty-five percent more effective.”

  Lake chuckled. “Are you sure about that? Maybe you should recheck your statistics.”

  Gina frowned. “I am quite certain of my accuracy.”

  “Of course you are.” Lake laughed when Gina lifted one eyebrow. “I was teasing you. Thank you for taking care of me. I'm serious about that.”

  Gina bowed her head. “I’m glad you stated your gratitude plainly. It’s been my pleasure to spend my nights with you.”

  “I sure hope it was—just wish I could remember what we were like together.”

  Your sarcasm is ineffective. She does not speak of sex.

  Lake chuckled. “It’s called a joke. Don’t you have anything better to do than give me advice about women?”

  Host Lake requires help to communicate in a proper manner. The intent of jokes is to amuse. Gina of Rodu is not amused. Strategic revision of your communications with her is recommended.

  “How in bloody hell would you know what’s funny? You’re a computer brain. Have you ever been amused?” Lake demanded, his gaze searching the room. It was like talking to an invisible person.

  Humor has a purpose for humans. It has no meaning for Lyrans. They are content or not content. That is what they know.

  “Well, she’s Gina of Rodu, isn’t she? That means she’s at least half-human. Now shut up and let me talk to her the way I want to,” Lake insisted.

  How did the voice speak so clearly in his head? It was like the sentient blade shared his brain. Its speech came through as clearly as his own thoughts did. Sugar had a lot more explaining to do.

  “Forgive me, Lake Allen Wright, Savior of Rodu,” Gina said, rising to touch the headboard again. “You are talking to the voice in your head as if to another person. I must now insist you have a cognition test. It won’t take more than a couple of hours to complete a diagnosis.”

  “Savior of Rodu? Is that my official title now?” Lake’s mouth lifted at one corner despite his
headache. Was that going to be included in his formal introduction at Queen Nyomi’s parties from now on? Savior of Rodu certainly sounded much better than plain old Visitor from Earth.

  “Yes. It is what everyone calls you now,” Gina said, patting his arm.

  He could tell Gina was patronizing him to keep him calm, but her genuine opinion of him couldn’t be altered until he figured out how to quietly ignore the advice of the thing inside him.

  Lake went back to drinking his soup and tried not to think any thoughts that would make the bossy blade want to comment.

  17

  After several days of being awake and getting back to normal, Lake decided getting the Lyran royal treatment sucked. Everyone really did think he saved Rodu’s life. While it was nice to feel so important, it was also making him nuts.

  His room had been lavishly decorated with comfortable furniture. New clothes arrived every few days until his closet was bursting. He had different dinner companions nearly every evening who made sure to provide entertainment that went on for hours. Dancing cat women were a lot of fun to watch, but the blade’s running chastisement in his head about his sexy admiration of them wasn’t.

  The worst thing about his new fame ended up being the new limitations that went with it. Lake couldn’t dismiss the guard at his door or the ones escorting him around. He’d tried to order them away, but they just smiled. The bottom line was that he was to be guarded at all times until the queen was satisfied that she’d found the rest of the traitors. Lake told himself that being so confined at least meant Gina’s mother cared about keeping him alive.

  The only reprieve was that Rodu’s ongoing recovery had pre-empted their concerns about his non-existent brain damage. While doing his best to hid the presence of the sentient blade inside him, Lake had managed to make his goddess mad enough to abandon her visits. Gina had declared him back to his usual contradictory self and left without mentioning any return.

  Everything cost him significant ground in his seduction campaign. He hadn’t given up on the goal though. He’d just have to figure out how to make things up to Gina later.