by Lynn Daniels
Jos’eph turned to look at the warriors that waited. One stood out among the others. He was different in every way. He stood over a head taller than the other warriors, and his dark hair had started to turn grey at the temples. He still had the strong physique of the warrior he had once been, but he certainly didn’t belong with this group. “C’olan? What are you doing here? You’re no longer a warrior.”
“Did you expect me to stay behind while Felisha’s life may be in danger?” He turned to the other warriors, “You go back, I can carry both the female and the babe.” He turned back to his king and the heir and nodded, then shifted into his Doshna. C’olan was a huge man, and his beast matched the man. If one Doshna could carry two Mach, it was him.
Jos’eph let out a roar and tore down the path, followed closely by Jo’siah and C’olan.
Chapter 23
J’amar was nearly to the small group when a large Mach appeared beside him. He shifted to his human form and splayed his hands out in front of him, trying to look non-threatening. “I’m not sure who you are, I know you’re not Ki’zander. My name is J’amar—”
A beautiful woman appeared in front of him, a naked beautiful woman. “Whoa! I’m mated, not that I can’t appreciate a beautiful female—”
“Yep, Felisha’s mate.” She stood in front of him, her hands were on her hips, when a contraction hit, she bent, doubled over and started with the breathing that Felisha had suggested. A moment later she stood with a smile on her face. “She’s right, it does help.”
“Um…Yeah, I have no idea how to respond, or what to respond to.”
“You may pass. Is it —” She doubled over as another contraction began.
J’amar didn’t wait to see what was going on, he just shifted and ran to his mate.
~
Jasmine was startled by a cold nose shoved into her stomach, causing her to scream.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“J’amar?” Felisha’s hand came off Jasmine’s shoulder as she tried to get around her. When her foot came down, it found no purchase there.
A loud scream filled the cave as she fell over the edge.
J’amar roared as the emotions filled him. Sorrow, fear, and rage all competed. His mate was tumbling toward certain death, and there was nothing he could do to save her. He was ready to throw himself over the edge to follow her into the next realm, when a loud roar filled the cavern, and a huge Mach flew past.
A moment later, Felisha was set on the ledge by a large talon. The Mach’s wings flapped as he tried to find purchase on the narrow shelf. He knew if he wasn’t successful, he would eventually tire and fall to his death in the lava pits below.
He suddenly felt a pair of small hands grasping at his wings.
“I got you my baby boy.” Jasmine wasn’t about to lose this baby, not after all they had been through.
~
“Glory be! You are the most gorgeous creature the Goddess has placed upon this world.”
Kat’arina looked up into the beautiful brown eyes of the largest man she had ever seen. Even her mate hadn’t been as big as him. His broad shoulders and powerful arms came around her as she nearly collapsed with another contraction.
“I’ve got you, beauty. I’m going to shift, you climb on, then hold on tight, I’m about to take you on the ride of your life.” He winked, then gave her a seductive smile. “We’ll be out of here in just a few demicons.”
“A few demicons, you certainly do have a lot of faith in your abilities, don’t you? Are you that fast with all of your endeavors?” She was shocked at the boldness of her words. She was swollen with child, and recently widowed. But there was something about this male that she felt she must explore.
“My lady, there are some endeavors that I take very slowly.” His words flowed over her; heat filled her at the unspoken promise. “But first we must get you to safety. I will not stop until we are safely in Doshna territory. I realize this may not make you feel safe but trust me that I take your security very seriously. My lady…”
A moment later a huge Doshna stood before her, looking down at her expectantly. His cat was taller than her, and Mach were not small, even in their human form. Yes, this would be a most interesting experience.
Chapter 24
Ki’zander felt safe shifting back to his human form with so many there to help him. He found himself dangling just a few inches off the ground, held securely by Jasmine’s hands. Then he was pulled up and into her arms.
Jasmine knew she was squeezing him too hard, but she had come so close to losing him, she couldn’t bring herself to stop. She started raining kisses all over his face. “My baby boy! I was so scared. I thought I was going to lose you. You were so brave!”
He was pulled from Jasmine’s arms to Felisha’s, “Ki’zander, thank you so much! You saved me, again!”
J’amar reached over and ruffled the boy’s hair, “Thanks Ki’zander. I don’t know how I could have gone on without my mate. I guess you’re the hero of the dosemicon.”
Their reunion was interrupted when they were startled by Jos’eph. “Where’s C’olan?”
Jasmine and Felisha let out a startled scream, which caused all the males to go into a protective stance.
Jos’eph snarled, “What is it?”
Felisha shook her head, “You do know we’re blind?”
A tiny flame lit the small group, “Why didn’t you tell me you couldn’t see?” Felisha nearly dropped the toddler when she saw the flame coming from his mouth, which seemed to magically bounce on his hand.
“Zander! Look at you! You never cease to amaze me!”
Felisha couldn’t take her eyes off the large cocks from her mate and the other two Doshna. She wondered if perhaps it was because they were on alert, or if there was something that had caused such an arousal. She licked her lips thinking about how amazing it would be to have all three of them. Suddenly she felt a smack on the back of her head, turning she was met with the furious glare of Jasmine.
“I was speaking out loud, wasn’t I?”
Jasmine looked over at her mate and saw that he was staring at Felisha, and felt her heart break a little. It was one thing to know they had shared a moment in the past, but now it looked like he still had feelings for her. She threw her shoulders back, and carefully stepped around the group, and made her way to where she knew the exit was. She didn’t care that in a moment she would be blind again, she just knew that she had to get away from these people.
She was wishing there was a way to go home. At least there she understood what was going on, even if she would be all alone. At least she would still have her project, and she fully intended to throw herself into that. Maybe if she returned to the sea and started swimming, she would be able to go back. With a renewed determination, she turned and started toward the direction they had originally come from, what felt like hours ago. She was pretty sure once she left the cave, she would be able to find the right trail. After all, she knew that here the sun came up over the ocean.
Jo’siah was mesmerized by his brother’s mate, he was remembering their joined night of passion. He knew that she was insatiable, as they had spent the night trying to satisfy her desires.
His attention was diverted when his father shoved him to the ground. Looking up, he could see that his father was furious. Something was wrong. He felt like a tight cord was being pulled almost to the point of snapping. He looked around and noticed Jasmine wasn’t there, when she stepped back into the light, and brushed past him going back the way they had come.
He felt as though he was transported to another realm and time. The cave faded, the voices around him muted, and he found himself laying on the pristine white tiles of a beautiful bedroom chamber.
“You’re lifemate comes to you from a faraway land. I have brought her here, for you. But I warn you, you must claim her and strengthen the bond, or you will lose her. If you lose her, it will be forever, for she will find herself where she was when I broug
ht her here. Her very life depends on you, Jo’siah. For if she chooses to go back, the sea will take her.”
“The bond!” He jumped up and ran toward her. He knew that if he wasn’t careful, the bond he shared with her would be snapped.
Chapter 25
Ki’shien’s lair
Ki’shien’s roar of rage rang throughout the large cavern. They had spent the last hour looking for the female that K’ivan had brought from the sea, and she was nowhere to be found. To top it off, when he got back to his chamber, Felisha was gone, as well.
“Sir,” one of his generals stood just outside in the hallway.
Ki’shien turned his angry glare on the warrior standing in his doorway. “This had better be important! You do not want to test me right now!”
The Mach seemed to turn into himself, as if trying to make himself appear smaller, which was ridiculous because all Mach were huge men. “The chamber where the Doshna was held…”
“What of it?” He knew his face conveyed the barely contained rage that he was feeling. He had a bad feeling concerning what he was about to learn.
“It’s empty, sir.” He slowly backed away, knowing that his life could very well end in the next few demicons. Ki’shien was famous for his temper, and he wasn’t opposed to taking his wrath out on the messenger. That was how he had been promoted. The last general had given him some bad news. The memory of him rolling around on the floor as his skin was blackened from the flames that shot from Ki’shien’s mouth. The next instant the Mach’s head rolled past him.
He was nearly to the end of the hall when flames shot past, followed by a roar of rage. That was all the incentive he needed to get as far away from his prince as he could.
Ki’shien turned to K’ivan, “You wouldn’t know anything about that, would you?” He stalked closer to his longtime lover. “You know how important an heir is to me.”
K’ivan refused to back away, he felt like he knew what was coming, and he was willing to take his punishment. He selfishly wanted Ki’shien for himself alone. If only there was a way that he could take him from this place. If he could make him see that they were lifemates, he would give up this crazy quest for an heir.
Ki’shien stepped closer and tenderly kissed him, then stepped back.
“How long have we known each other, K’ivan?” He strolled over to the balcony, leaned on the railing and looked out over the lake.
“We were raised together, so all our lives. If you mean how long we have been lovers, I would say about twenty years.”
“So, would you say you know me very well? And that I, also know you very well?”
“Of course,” K’ivan wasn’t sure where he was going with this, but he had a feeling it wasn’t going to be good for him.
Ki’shien turned around, “I just was thinking about all the coincidences that have been happening lately. They all seem to have one thing in common. Can you guess what that is?”
He didn’t wait for the answer as he roared, “You!”
Flames shot across the room, igniting everything in its path. Never had he felt so much rage. Never had he gone so far with his wrath as to continue to incinerate his lover to this degree. He watched as K’ivan screamed and staggered around the room, before falling silently to the floor.
At once, Ki’shien realized what he had done, and feared this time he had gone too far. He bellowed his pain as he ran to the door, “Bring a healer at once!”
Chapter 26
Jasmine was just stepping into the cave when Jo’siah caught up with her. He had to stop her before she stepped outside, where one of Ki’shien’s patrols might spot her. He knew that Ki’shien wouldn’t take losing all of his prized prisoners well. That could be the very thing that put him over the edge of the fine line of sanity he had been straddling for too many ionuns. Rumor had it that he was very near Ishala’tana and had been for a very long time. Which could only mean that he had refused his lifemate.
He couldn’t imagine how anyone could do that. He had only dreamed of his, and the insanity was nearly overpowering. Jasmine owned his heart and had since the first time he had dreamed of her. He had very nearly given up on ever finding her. After he met Felisha, he had reasoned out that his lifemate must have been from the same world, and that was the only reason his search had been fruitless. But now that he had, there was no way he could ever give her up.
Jasmine’s heart was breaking, her sobs racked her body as she collapsed to the cavern floor, inches from the entrance. She dropped her face into her hands as her shoulders shook. Why had life been so cruel to her. First, she had lost her family, then she had been betrayed by the one she thought loved her. Now, Jo’siah. That betrayal was the one that hurt the most.
When she felt his body against hers, as his arms encircled her, she decided she was going to guard her heart. No matter how much she wanted to turn around and bask in his comfort, she had to stay strong. She knew she couldn’t take one more heartbreak.
Jo’siah’s lips brushed against her ear, and his whispered words found their way to her heart.
“Jasmine, my love. Please, don’t leave me. I couldn’t bear to go on without you. You are my world, without you it’s all meaningless. I would gladly give up everything just to have you by my side. My kingdom, my people, all of it. You are more important to me than anything. Please, give me a chance to be the mate to you that you deserve. I am not perfect, but I will always love you with all my heart.”
She turned her head; his lips were so close she could feel his breath as it teased her mouth. She could see the streaks of gold in his brown eyes, and each long dark lash. She looked down at his mouth, remembering how it felt to have those lips caressing her most intimate places. She felt the heat as it crept into her body. She looked back up at his eyes, and the passion she saw there nearly took her breath away.
She breathed out the question that begged to be answered, her words so soft, were it not for his Doshna senses, he may have missed them. “You love me?”
He looked from her eyes, to her mouth, the tip of her tongue slipped out to moisten her lips, he groaned remembering the night they had spent in the cave, when he claimed her as his.
“More than words can say. You are everything to me.”
His hand came up to caress her cheek as his lips claimed her again. He sat back, pulling her into his lap, as he kissed her. He nearly came when her tongue slipped into his mouth.
The memory of her innocence returned, he knew she was inexperienced, and how shy she was. Passion took over as he claimed her again, first with his mouth, then with everything that was in him. He determined when they were finished, she would know once and for all who she belonged to. Never again would there be any doubt between them.
He turned her so she straddled his hips, his shaft bumped her warmth, seeking entrance. He growled at the clothes that blocked him from what he needed more than his next breath. He fisted her pants, his claws extended, ready to shred the barrier between them.
Jasmine pushed back, breaking the kiss. Jo’siah attempted to pull her into his arms again as she slipped off his lap, until he saw what she was doing.
She laid back on the cold hard ground, her hips raised off the floor. He couldn’t take his eyes off the vision of her revealing herself to him, as she slowly worked her pants off. The pale curls that hid her treasure was his undoing. He reached down and gripped her pants and tore them from her body, tossing them behind him.
Jasmine stared up at him, suddenly overcome with shyness. He was poised above her, staring down at her most intimate place, a place no one had ever seen. When his hand came up to push her legs apart, she struggled to pull them back together.
His gaze shot to her, “No, don’t hide from me. I want to see all of you, please. You are so beautiful.”
She allowed him to push her legs apart. She wanted to hide her eyes away, but the hungry look on his face prevented it. He reached up and parted her folds. Something between a growl and a groan filled the cavern.
She couldn’t look away as his mouth descended and claimed her.
Jo’siah’s tongue lapped at the juices that hung at her entrance, begging for him to taste. The flavor that was Jasmine exploded in his mouth. He knew he would never be able to get enough of her, as he licked and sucked. He pushed his tongue deep into her entrance, lapping at the cream, while he circled her clit with his thumb. He wanted more, needed more. He was frantic to make her come, knowing how the juices would flow into his mouth.
Jasmine couldn’t control her reaction. Never had she experienced anything like this. She knew, just from the few kisses they had shared, he wasn’t like a human. The rough texture of his tongue did amazing things to her. She knew she wouldn’t last long as his tongue snaked inside, and his fingers worked her clit. She cried out when his tongue came out of her and his fingers left her clit. She came screaming a moment later when he shoved his finger deep inside, and his rough tongue slid across her sensitive bundle of nerves.
Jo’siah could feel her clamping down on his fingers as her juices flowed. He had to have the taste on his tongue again. Pulling his fingers out, he shoved his tongue inside, lapping and sucking, desperate to have it all.
When Jasmine felt his tongue shoved deep into her pussy, she came again, shaking and convulsing.
A moment later, he was over her, his long thick shaft shoved deep inside, as his tongue thrust into her mouth. She could taste herself on him, which only added to the pleasure.
Jo’siah knew he wouldn’t last long after having tasted the nectar that was his mate, but he wanted her to come again. His tongue thrust in time with his hips. He reached down and brushed his finger across her swollen nub, determined to bring her to release again.
Jasmine jerked her mouth away, tossing her head back and forth, “No, please, it’s too much.” She thrust her hips up to meet his.
