by Pearl Tate
I know it’s only an instant, but it seems to go on forever. I’m not sure how long we’d have stood there staring at each other before he pulled it together enough to go to his friend, because our meeting is cut short by a man rushing from the trees with a spear in his hands. As he jumps the fence, I only have a second to roll through the side of the X that Selas is leaning against, brandishing my jo with a move that would make my O-Sensei proud.
He probably didn’t notice me behind Selas, and as I sink down and sweep his feet from out from under him, the shock is obvious. Crashing into the mud, he scrambles to regain his footing. I have the obvious advantage in my boots as I pin his paltry spear and incapacitate him with a quick twist to his grasping arm.
Our new attacker is left facing Selas who recovers quickly, stepping forward to punch him with a force I envy. He crumples instantly unconscious, so I drop his arm.
“We made it,” I announce. I can’t help the self-satisfied smile that begins to spread across my face, until I realize we need to get the injured man out of here immediately. He’s being carefully lowered from his bindings on the trees by the first guy I let go.
Rushing over to them, Selas is right behind me as we step to the opposite side to help. Nudging me aside, I realize he’s better to take over since they’re all twice my size.
“I’m Karen. Follow me.” Moving quickly to the edge of the trees where I came in, I’m surprised by how easily I’m able to retrace my steps. We don’t talk as I quickly take them back the way I came.
The yells have moved away, and I’m relieved that we don’t cross paths with anyone else. It must be winding down, right? With how easily I was able to take down the two men I encountered, I can’t imagine that Amari’s—hopefully well trained but definitely better armed group—will do.
Concentrating on identifying the way we’re moving and not tripping, I let out a relieved sigh as we break into the clearing. The Top Pick is still sitting exactly where I left it. How long was I even gone?
No one else appears to have returned, and I rush ahead to bang on the door that’s locked tight at the top of the ramp. “Travek! Lisa! I’m back. Open up!”
Before the door has even totally opened, I’m rushing to explain what we’re dealing with. “We have an injured man. Slit throat.”
“Karen! Fuck! I was worried sick…” Jo-Anne’s voice trails off as she takes in the three large men behind me. Her eyes drop as she takes in their naked state before Travek jumps forward to help with the wounded man.
“Selas, good to see you. I brought you a little gift…” He carries the disabled man carefully into the cargo hold where he lays him down, yelling instructions. “Get the medical kit secured to the front wall by the door. Lisa, get some warm water and Rachel, go secure the door.”
Travek’s attention turns back to the injured man while Jo-Anne throws open the medical kit next to him. Backing up, I’m at a loss for what to do and turn my attention to Selas next to me. One of his eyes is almost completely swollen shut and additional bruises cover his jaw, shoulders and torso. The man next to him doesn’t look much better.
“Karen?” His eyes rake down my body, and I can feel it light up as if he’s physically stroked me. Damn. How does he do that?
“Yes.” Stiffening uncomfortably, I turn and secure my jo into the netting where I took it from earlier.
“This is Kene, and the male on the floor is Tier. Thank you for saving us.”
My face heats as I curse my fair coloring, knowing that I’m as red as a tomato now. “I’m sure you’d have done the same,” I mumble, looking down uncomfortably.
“Karen, I’m going to beat you myself. I can’t believe you took off like that. I’m sure Amari would’ve recovered them. That was the longest twenty minutes of my life!” Jo-Anne’s scolding is well deserved. It wasn’t fair to do that to them, but they’d never have let me go—or she’d have wanted to come with. It’s hard enough to take care of myself. I wouldn’t want to be responsible for someone else too!
“We wouldn’t have made it. Benard gave orders to kill us and the male was just toying with us before doing it.”
“Wasn’t that the old warden’s name?” I muse before apologizing. “I’m sorry I hesitated. I should’ve been quicker, but he was circling and you were talking and I couldn’t understand…” My voice trails off as I look down guiltily at the injured man—Tier.
He looks awful and thankfully is unconscious as Travek uses some kind of hand tool to fuse or glue the skin back together. “That’s the best I can do for now—”
Loud banging on the door interrupts him as Kene continues to kneel next to him too. “That’ll be Amari and his crew.”
He’s out the door in three large steps as I continue to berate myself for not making a move sooner. I shouldn’t have just gone right in and incapacitated that loser, not hesitated like the girlie girl I probably am. I’ve never seen anything that gruesome in real life. In the movies, sure, but not right there in front of me…
“You did the best you could and definitely saved all our lives.” Selas’s hand settles on my upper arm, shaking me out of my stupor with the zing of awareness that prickles through my body. I watch out of the corner of my eye as the mating marks swirl to life on his chest with colors of orange and red.
“Yeah, Karen…you’re a hero. A real life kick-ass hero.” Jo-Anne’s whispered praise from the other side of me has me smiling tightly as I look up, tears in my eyes.
“Then why do I feel like I failed?”
“How can you say that?” Selas turns my body into his as the other men begin trickling into the cargo hold around us. I can just make out Kene and a couple other guys securing Tier to the floor with the equivalent of bungee netting.
I open my mouth to answer, but nothing comes out. Instead, I’m overcome by his eyes as he settles onto a small crate on the edge of the room bringing him to eye level with me. His eyes are incredible. I never noticed on any of the other men how oblong their pupils are, or how the colors flare to life when they look at you.
Selas’s eyes are a deep violet with a brown that borders maroon around the edges. Blinking at me slowly, he tugs me closer, wrapping his arms around my back to settle my head on his chest. And it feels right.
Yes, there’s something here between us. I’m not even put off by the fact that he’s naked. The comfort his embrace gives me has my body relaxing as the murmur of voices around us multiplies. “You didn’t fail at anything. If not for you, I wouldn’t be here now. You’re my angel savior, Karen. My mate, and I couldn’t be more thankful for you.”
CHAPTER NINE
- Selas
When Kene declared it was a female taking down the asshole Jedco, I didn’t believe him. I could hear it happening and see brief flashes of movement out of the corner of my eye, but I thought he was referring to a Quasarian female. It wouldn’t shock me if the Council eventually sends a group to suppress the craziness that continues to perpetuate on this planet.
What else could be done? We don’t want to kill them all, but if the innocent males continue to get sucked into the groups intent on killing everyone in authority, then what other option do we have? I’ve been falling asleep with this question running through my mind every night.
There was nothing in my daily reflection that alluded to my mate being a warrior. If anything, I was thinking just the opposite. All the Earthen females I’ve met have been substantially smaller than us, and Karen didn’t look any different from the others. But the skill she displayed at taking down a male twice her size was impressive. She’s obviously trained and highly efficient with the rod she wielded against the attacker I watched her take down.
It’s incredible she’s saved me. The male had been prying and questioning for his own curiosity about the human women. So many of them want to believe, but after a lifetime of disappointment, they’re too skeptical to trust that our role in the female dominated society of Quasar may just be changing—for good.
The sh
ip hums around us as it takes off for the prison dome. “Secure yourself, takeoff in two parsecs.” Travek’s voice booms over the intercom, and everyone around me grasps a rail along the perimeter.
Kene is braced on the floor next to Tier, and I’m relieved to see that Tier’s chest still rises and falls. With the quick thinking by Karen to minimize the wound, and Travek’s medical kit, there’s a good chance he’ll live if he makes it back to the dome’s medical clinic.
Karen shifts in my arms, pulling away even though I refuse to release her since I’m her restraint. Reaching under my arm, she grasps some strapping on the chest I’m seated on. She brushes my side with her hand, and instantly, prickles of awareness shoot through me.
It’s a miracle. I’ve been given a mate. And not just any mate. No. A strong and capable mate. Everyone will be talking about her bravery and skill before the day ends.
Now that I’m not tied up and uncomfortable, it’s easy for me to feel the pull between us. The invisible tie that means we’re meant to be. The tight flight suit she’s wearing accentuates her curves from her full enticing breasts to the comely shape of her backside.
Until I’d met the Earth women, I’d never seen females in such tight and revealing clothing. Many of the styles they seem to prefer could be worn by either males or females and look incredible on their soft curves. Of course, none of them compare to Karen.
She’s small, but there’s more definition to her upper arms and thighs, and the strength and distinction is something I didn’t even realize I would find attractive. It’s interesting how you never think about what you’d prefer in a female when you know there’s never a chance having those choices. But she’s perfect in every way.
I can’t wait to peel the suit from her body and expose all of her to me. Right now, just holding her and inhaling her intoxicating scent is causing my cock to tingle in a way I’ve never experienced before.
Turning to Parthack next to me, I quiz him in our language. “Can you ask Travek if he has any spare jumpsuits on this vessel?”
Parthack smirks as he glances down at Karen next to me. “Why would you want to put clothing on? Shouldn’t you be working at getting hers off?” Not waiting for a response, he turns to weave through the others toward the door, leaving my other men around me chuckling.
“What?” Karen pulls away to glance around at the males who’re looking at her with way too much familiarly. Growling, I stare them down until they look away before meeting her eyes. “I just asked him to see if there are some clothes on board I can put on before we get off.”
“Oh.” Stiffening, she pulls away slightly as if just realizing that my naked body is pressed against her tightly. Her fair skin pinks invitingly, and I can’t help wonder what color all of her is. Are her nipples the same inviting shade of pale pink of her lips? Will her other hidden lips be the same red as the tongue she flicks out nervously?
My cock continues to tingle in the small space between us as she shifts uncertainly. Trying to put her at ease, I toss out the first question that comes to mind. “How did you end up off Earth? With Travek?”
Her noncommittal sound of affirmation lets me know she wasn’t impressed with the circumstances. “When Travek took Lisa from Earth, he managed to ‘accidentally’ grab everyone with her. Lisa and I attend—attended college together and just happened to be at a study group together.”
“Lucky me.” My murmur into her ear as I pull her closer makes us connect our bodies, and my tingling cock brushes her stomach. The shock that tiny graze sends through my nerve endings stuns me in its intensity. Between her scent and our touching, my long dormant urges appear to be exploding. And the timing couldn’t be worse.
When I went out with my small team this morning to search for the inhabitants of the northeast area outside the dome, I never would’ve imagined I’d be coming back with a mate. We all assumed that any mating marks that were going to show from the females Travek acquired would have shown on any males by now.
After all, it was easily fourteen rotations ago that Amari and Devlin’s mating marks appeared. “So, you’re friends with all the females? Jenny and Rachel too?”
“Yes.” Karen’s looking into my eyes as if she hopes to find something there. Are they so different than Human males? I study her pale blue orbs with the perfectly circular black pupil. Her lashes are long pale fringe around them. Stunning.
Parthack cuts through the bodies, shoving a gray jumpsuit out to me. “Here.” He doesn’t move away though, instead staring down at Karen with an inquisitive look. I take the opportunity to let the folded garment come apart before laying it across my lap in the small space between us.
“What?” Karen’s looking at Parthack, challenging the stare he can’t seem to stop.
“Is it true you fought two males to release Selas?” His eyes flicker up to me. “What happened that you ended up caught anyway?”
“I’ll be explaining it to everyone soon enough in my public report. Let’s just say, we underestimated the size and brutal force that some of the groups beyond the dome plan to use. And yes, if it wasn’t for Karen, Tier, Kene, and I would be dead.”
Karen blushes but doesn’t look away. “I just knew somehow. Where he was and that I needed to get there. Some people…” She throws her eyes over toward Jo-Anne who’s across the room with her mate, someone I don’t recognize, “…didn’t think I needed to go out with Amari to direct them to where Selas was. They thought I wouldn’t be able to handle myself, but I’m happy to be representing Earth women in a positive and very capable light.”
She laughs, and I realize every male in the room is staring at her. It takes all my control not to pull her behind me to keep their eyes from her. It’s not logical how territorial I feel, but at least I’m prepared. Bren made it very clear to everyone on the Discovery that it’d just make his life easier if they’d not stare when he’s looking. Now, I understand completely.
The spacecraft shifts, and I realize we’ve landed as the hum begins to power down to a low vibration. Karen moves out of my arms, but before she can leave, I snatch her hand. “I have to go and assess the injuries. We’re expecting Bren and the Discovery here any time, and I’ll need to make sure my reports and logs are current…”
My voice drifts off as something in her face changes, and she disengages from my grasp with a little twist that I don’t even understand how she did. “Well, you know—I’ll be around.” Her voice gets lower as she moves away. I stand, holding my loaner jumpsuit in front of me as she crosses the floor carefully around Tier to put her back to me and speak with Jo-Anne.
I can sense she’s… disappointed? Maybe sad? Resigned?
It’s confusing experiencing these feelings that aren’t my own, but they’re right in my chest as if I’m thinking back on a past memory that gives me a heavy heart. What did I do? Did I disappoint her in some way?
Confusing thoughts tumble through my mind as I slowly move to put on the clothing. No shoes, but I haven’t heard that Bren’s arrived yet. I should be able to make it back to my dwelling for shoes. If we get a status update, I might even have time to get clean first… I just wish my mate would be with me, but if I did that I’d just want more… much more..
CHAPTER TEN
- Karen
As I move across the cargo space away from Selas, I immediately miss the comfort of his arms—which makes no sense!
Well, you better get used to it, girl.
Looking at Jo-Anne, she knows something’s wrong and mouths, “What happened?” soundlessly. Jerking my head, I signal that I don’t want to talk about it. At all.
Perfect guy for me, my ass!
Selas looks terrible. It’s hard not to flinch at his swollen eye and bruised up face and body. Nobody is going to expect him to report in. He was just almost killed, for fuck’s sake!
But leave it to me to attract the alien equivalent of a work-a-holic. What really sucks is I like him—or my body likes him. The chemistry’s right, there’s no do
ubt about that.
He’s exotic with dark creamy skin and striking eyes. When he held me so firmly but confidently against him on the short flight here, I’d have done anything he wanted. Anything.
Even now, I just want to turn around and run back to him, screaming “Don’t leave me”. How pathetic is that? It’s clear that he takes his job very, very seriously, and he doesn’t want to fuck that up. I should’ve known I wouldn’t be irresistible—even to an alien mate.
By the time I turn around, a gurney has arrived with two men in uniforms I don’t recognize. Stepping back, I watch them load poor Tier onto it and sprint out of the cargo hold with Selas right behind him. Despite the fact that he’s covered in mud, he put on the jumpsuit. The only way you’d know he wasn't totally in command and control, is by his mud-caked, shoeless feet.
Watching him practically sprint after the gurney, I feel Rachel throw her arm around my shoulder, leading me down the ramp with her. “You were fucking incredible. When you took off… Travek was having a fit! Me too, of course, but I think he felt responsible for letting you go and was ranting about how Selas was going to kill him. Literally, kill him—”
“I don’t think that’s a concern.” Selas has already entered a building up ahead, and I watch the whole time. Not once did he look back at me. Mother fucker.
“What happened?” Jo-Anne repeats the question she mouthed earlier from the other side of me. All their mates are there with them I see, but they’re studiously looking away as if they aren’t listening.
“Nothing. Nothing happened.” My voice is defeated and final as I try to come to terms with this feeling of already having loved and lost. Can it happen that fast? I was just starting to buy into the whole mate thing. I do want what my friends have. Is that too much to ask?
