by Siren Allen
And once they’d finished with Caro, they’d planned to use Lark next. But her father’s soldiers had arrived in time to rescue both girls. Yet, it had been too late for Caro. Many solar flares later, Caro took her own life, killing not only herself but the baby inside of her.
Even if Lark survived this, she probably wouldn’t survive the months afterward. Her mind would replay this event over and over again until her sanity snapped and all she could see and think of was the day her innocence was taken from her.
Secretly, she’d hoped to one day give that honor to her mate. It was a dumb thing to hope for, especially since she’d never been attracted to any of the males on her planet. But it was still a hope she’d held dear.
And now, because of her guards, the males meant to keep her safe, that hope was about to be destroyed. Her legs were shoved apart, face lifted. She kept her eyes shut, no longer fighting. It was futile.
Her mouth was forced open. A finger prodded her mouth, rubbing against her tongue, causing her to gag. Laughter drifted around her. She tried to focus on her sister, praying that Lola would find a way out, a way to safety. It was too late for Lark and for Luna.
With tears streaming down her face, she waited for the pain to come.
***
He’d found her.
What he saw made his cold heart stop beating for a moment. Kill. The darkness inside him demanded it. Raynor craved it. He wanted all of their deaths. He wanted their blood in his mouth. Their heads under his feet. Their insides on the wall. He would have it. Now.
Raynor stormed down the corridor, his roar drawing the guards’ attention from his mate to him. Their eyes widened. Shock then fear registered in their gazes before they stumbled away from Lark.
She slumped to the floor as they groped for their weapons. They were too slow. He stretched his arms wide, swiped his claws along the necks of the two beings awaiting their turn on his mate. They clutched their throats, blood pouring from between their clasped fingers.
Awaiting their turn on his mate.
Filled with a rage he’d never felt before, Raynor grasped their heads and pulled until skin stretched, ripping apart and bones popped. He tossed their severed heads to the ground. Their bodies fell a second later.
The last three backed away from him, hands raised. Words were coming out of their mouths. He didn’t hear them. He only heard Lark’s ragged breathing and the darkness chanting.
Kill. Kill. Kill.
He obeyed the command.
Raynor went for the dark skinned guard first, the one who’d been poised to shove his cock into Lark’s mouth. Raynor’s mouth stretched open. The second set of fangs he possessed broke through his gums.
Raynor grabbed the male’s skull and smashed it into the wall. The guard’s eyes rolled into the back of his head. He still had a pulse. Raynor bit into his neck and pulled back with half of the being’s throat in his mouth.
He spat it on the ground and turned to see the other two males attempting to flee. Raynor chased them down, moving with a speed they couldn’t match. He caught the first guard, a redhead with freckles.
If Raynor had sufficient time he would have liked to rip each separate freckle from the coward’s face. Time was not on his side. He grabbed the back of the male’s head as he tried to flee, shoving him to the ground. His face connected with the concrete. A satisfying thud sounded. It wasn’t enough.
Raynor lifted his foot and stumped repeatedly until the male’s brain decorated the ground. Blood splattered. Raynor raised his gaze to the last being, the one who’d been kneeling behind Lark.
He knew this one. Aron. The guard he’d vowed to kill. He would now get his chance. Raynor stalked him. Aron stood at the yellow doors, pushing a button. Raynor grinned. The male was locked in the dungeon with a beast.
“How did you get in?” The guard asked. “The doors are sealed.”
Raynor flexed his claws. They were strong enough to dig through walls. He balled his hands into fist. They were strong enough to punch through concrete. Unfortunately the doors that were sealed shut were made of a material he couldn’t break through.
It had taken him far too long to punch through the concrete wall across the hall from the guards’ station, almost causing him to arrive too late to save his mate from this ingrate.
“I don’t care how you got in, just don’t come any closer.” Aron raised his gun. “Wait,” Aron dug into his pocket and pulled out the remote to Raynor’s collar. He pushed the button, a sly grin on his face.
Raynor smiled and tore the collar from his neck. The damn thing was a ruse to make Lark feel comfortable around him. It didn’t actually work.
“Fuck,” Aron tossed the remote onto the ground.
Raynor continued moving forward, unhurried. He wanted this creature to feel fear. He wanted this creature to stare death in the face and know there was no way out.
“She imprisoned you here,” the guard told him. “She was going to make you work in the harem. You should want her dead just as much as I do.”
Raynor continued walking down the dark corridor.
“Listen, we can share her. I don’t mind sharing.”
Raynor’s angry growl filled the air, silencing the guard. The male turned his back to him, and began pounding on the door, begging for someone to come help him. Help was not on the way for this one.
Anyone who attempted to offer him aid would die alongside him. Raynor reached him in four quick strides. Grabbing the back of the guard’s neck, he dragged him to the other end of the hall.
The male screamed and kicked to no avail. There was nothing he could do to get Raynor to release him. His mate would have the final say in how this one died. Aron was a male she’d trusted with her life.
And he’d betrayed that trust by plotting against her and attempting to take what wasn’t freely given. He’d used his strength and his lowlife minions to corner and frighten a female, the most precious jewel ever created.
Raynor didn’t know his anger could rise another level, but rise it did. Lark belonged to him, yet these creatures, these beings who were like her, thought to take her. They were her kind. They were supposed to be loyal to her and her family.
Yet, they were loyal to no one but themselves. Creatures like them didn’t deserve to live. They existed without a code. Raynor had been taught that all creatures needed a code. Without one, the vileness that existed in everyone since creation, could rear its ugly head.
Raynor’s steps slowed as he approached Lark. She’d changed positions, no longer kneeling as she’d been when he found her. Her eyes drifted shut, and for a moment his heart seized, thinking she was dying.
“Lark.” He released his prey, allowing the male to slump to the floor as he approached Lark. Her eyes raised, meeting his. His heart beat again.
“Raynor….” her voice trailed off.
Raynor shrugged out of his shirt. Chest bare he draped the material over her. “Did they… did they…” He swallowed, unable to bring himself to say the word.
Understanding what he was asking, she shook her head. “You got here… in time.”
No, he got here too late. Bruises covered her body. Both of her eyes were puffy, nearly swollen shut. His heart broke for his mate. Kill. Kill. Kill. Raynor grabbed Aron and pulled him forward.
“Would you like to watch me kill him?”
His mate nodded, her eyes drifting shut, then opening again as she struggled to stay conscious. Raynor dropped Aron to the floor. The guard moved to scoot away.
“Don’t. Move.” Raynor’s voice was deep, more monster than male.
The guard stilled. “Please, I’m sorry. I’ll leave the planet, go far away. You’ll never see me again.”
“He killed my parents,” his mate whispered. “And my sister.”
Raynor stared over at Lark. “Lola?”
“Luna.”
“Impossible. I saw Luna a few moonrises ago.”
A tear trickled down Lark’s face. Raynor flexed his
fingers. His female was crying and this ingrate was the reason for her tears. The urge to kill was strong inside of him, but he wanted his mate to have the final say.
“Lark, this male did not kill your sister.”
“He said he had her killed. He said her guards were the ones who did it.”
“He lies.” Raynor stared down at the pitiful excuse of a guard. “His followers did not kill your sister. My brethren would never allow her to be harmed. But if this rodent killed your parents, you should be the one to end him, not I.” No matter how badly I desire to do so.
“I’m too weak.”
“Never, you’re the strongest female I’ve ever met.” Raynor grabbed the guard by the neck and pulled him closer to Lark who was now propped against the wall.
She lifted her gun. “I don’t have any bullets.”
She let the weapon fall to the ground, looking hopeless. More tears filled her eyes. The evil inside of him hummed, wanting to come to her aid. Never had the darkness he contained wanted to aid anyone other than his brethren. For Lark, his beast would move mountains. They would teach her to fight without a gun.
“You always have weapons,” Raynor told her. “Your hands, your teeth. You’re never powerless.”
Her eyes widen, and then she nodded. “What do you want me to do?”
The fact that she was willing to take action, even in her weakened state, increased his respect for her. His female was a warrior, even when she felt defeated. His inner monster hummed loudly, proud of their female.
Raynor turned the male’s head to the side. “Rip his throat out,” he instructed her.
The guard struggled, trying to get away. Raynor held him in place. Lark stared up at him, fear in her eyes. But there was something else there, something he knew well.
Hatred.
She felt hatred. Some said it was an evil feeling. Some said it was wrong to feel that way. Raynor didn’t believe either of those views to be true. If it was warranted, hatred was an emotion that could help you survive. Lark had lost her parents. She had every right to feel hatred, to feel the need to kill.
“Do it,” he urged her on.
She nodded and then leaned forward. Her tiny teeth sank into Aron’s neck. Raynor prevented the guard from moving away from her. She bit harder, barely breaking the skin. The creature bellowed in pain. He hadn’t felt real pain, yet. Lark’s teeth weren’t like his. She would never kill her enemy this way.
“Move back,” he told her.
Wiping her mouth as she moved, she leaned away from her prey.
“My kind has a second set of fangs.” He released them, showing her his second set. Lark stared at them. He didn’t detect fear from her. That was good, very good.
“Why do you have another set?”
“This is what they’re for…” Raynor bent down, bit and pulled, taking away the first chunk of Aron’s throat. Blood gushed from the wound. It wasn’t deep enough to kill the creature. But it was enough to get Lark started.
“Finish it,” he told her, moving away, giving her room.
Her mouth creased into a frown. The scent of disgust filled the air. She took a deep breath, determined. She leaned forward and bit, pulled and repeated, spitting flesh onto the ground before going in for more.
Aron thrashed and screamed in pain. The sound drove her on. A low growl filled the air and it wasn’t coming from him. It was coming from his mate. Raynor watched in awe, proud of his female.
She spit, then dove in again, seeming to get used to the taste of blood. That was a good thing, because once their bond was complete, she would have to drink from him for the rest of her life which would coincide with his own.
Aron howled in pain. Death was near. She went in for more, latching on to his neck like a rabid beast and pulling away flesh. Blood covered her face. Aron was thrashing less violently now. Finally, his body jerked once, twice, before going still, for good.
Blood poured from his neck coating his shoulders and Lark’s thighs. With a sigh, Lark pulled back and leaned against the wall, the lower half of her face covered in blood.
Beautiful.
Raynor tore his gaze from her and grabbed Aron, pulling him away from his mate. He tossed the dead male into the wall. Not because he had to, because he wanted to. He strode to Lark’s side and knelt in front of her.
“We have to get out of here,” he informed her.
She nodded. “I know. Too weak.”
“I will carry you.”
Lark shook her head. Raynor felt her pulling away from him, emotionally. The moment they’d just shared, the excitement from the kill was fading from her. The hatred she felt for him and his kind was returning. He tried to ignore the pain in his chest.
“I know you don’t trust me, but I have to get you out of here.” His words sounded harsher than he’d intended.
“No,” she shook her head.
“Lark, listen…”
“It’s not that.” She pressed her hand on top of his, which rested on his knee. Her touch was light, but the effect it had on him was mind blowing. His body tensed, fangs tingled, and throat went dry. He wanted a drink, of her.
“I don’t want my people to see me broken, weak,” she told him.
He understood. Raynor nodded. Wrapping his hand around hers, he stood and pulled her to her feet. She groaned in pain. He wished he could bear it for her. Would gladly do so. If he thought she wouldn’t decline, he would offer her his blood, to help heal her.
“I need clothes,” she told him, clutching his shirt to her chest.
Raynor released her hand and turned his back. “Put the shirt on.”
He could hear her dressing behind him. Each time she groaned he winced, it was like a jab to his heart. It made him wish he could kill Aron and his minions again.
“I’m ready.”
He turned and took in her image. His shirt, dropped to her knees, swallowing her frame. Not one hint of her curves were revealed by the garment, yet he found her sexy as hell. His scent clung to the shirt and it now clung to her.
She stared down at herself then back up at him. “It will have to do until we reach the front hall. Behind the guards’ station is a locker. I can put on some of their clothes. Hopefully they’ll have wipes there also.”
A growl built in chest. He didn’t release it. Though he didn’t want her wearing anyone else’s garments, he understood why she needed to. She couldn’t walk the planet dressed in a T-shirt and nothing else.
“Let’s go,” he told her. “Hold on to me for support.”
She shook her head. “I have to walk on my own.”
“No one is here but you and I. No one will see you and think you weak.”
She stared down at her feet, seeming nervous. “You don’t think that?” Her eyes stayed lowered.
“Think what? That you are weak?”
Keeping her gaze from him, she nodded. Raynor lifted her chin. He needed for her to see him, to believe him. “There were five of them.”
“I know but…”
“No buts. There were five of them. You were able to fight them until I arrived.”
“I gave up. In the end. I gave up. I should’ve kept fighting.”
A tear dripped from her eye. He wiped it away, before it could trail down her face, not missing the way she shivered from his touch. He didn’t know if it was from fear or desire, he detected a hint of both.
“We do not cry,” he told her. She took a deep breath and wiped her eyes dry. “You did what you had to do,” Raynor said, leaning forward, bringing himself eye level with her. “You survived.”
“Because of you…”
“You survived,” he repeated. “And that is all that matters. They are dead, two at your own hand. You tore Aron’s throat out. Watching you make him suffer made me proud.” Raynor knew his eyes were swirling, could feel the darkness scratching the surface, wanting to show her he too thought her strong. “And we will destroy the others who have betrayed you.”
The ha
rd glint in her eyes, a look he’d seen numerous times, returned. “You will help me?” she asked. “Even after the things I’ve said, the way I’ve treated you.”
“I am yours. When you go to war, I go to war also. You’re not alone in this, mate.”
A small smile took shape on her face. The scent of pride overcame the scent of fear. “Thank you Raynor.”
“You’re welcome.” Time stood still for a moment. Raynor wanted to relish this exchange. She hadn’t objected to him calling her mate. That was good, very good. Yet, now was not the time to deepen their bond. Now, they needed to fight. “We should go.”
Lark nodded and surprised him by grabbing his arm for support. He stared down where her small hand gripped him. A calm he shouldn’t feel at a time like this came over him.
No matter what the battle, no matter how hard or terrible things got, if he had her by his side, he would be okay. Forever and always. Raynor placed one hand over hers and led her down the hall, moving cautiously, not wanting her to stumble.
She stepped over one of her guards’ head as they journeyed. “I’m glad you killed them,” she told him. “You probably saved many lives by doing that.”
“We will save more.”
They continued in silence. When they made it to the locker he released her. She limped over to the storage container and placed her hand on the lock. Why was such protection needed for a storage that housed garments?
An infrared beam scanned her palm. Click. The locker opened. She stepped back and pulled the gray door open. So that’s why a lock was needed on a door that housed garments. Raynor stepped up behind her.
She tensed, then relaxed. She was becoming more comfortable being near him. That was good, very good. Staring at him over her shoulder she said, “We don’t store only uniforms in here.”
“I see.” An array of weapons lined the bottom of the storage unit. “And you’re comfortable sharing this with me?”
A slight nod was her only response before she reached into the locker and pulled out a uniform. She handed the clothing to him.
