If they’d had more time, they would have been able to ease her into their lovemaking. Make sure she was completely prepared before they fucked her so roughly and thoroughly. But there was nothing to be done for it. They hadn’t had the luxury of time.
Besides, it was best that she accustom herself to their fierce needs, to what they would require from her, if she was to be their mate.
She will be our mate.
Being inside her body confirmed that she was the one for them. Already tendrils of awakening strength etched themselves inside Neichon’s body, hardening his muscles and raising a bloodlust that would serve them well in this battle. He lifted her body and a rush of liquid dripped down her thighs, making him groan as he fought to control his lust. If he had his way, once they made it out of here, she would ever be like this. Filled to the brim and dripping with his come, and that of his brothers.
After setting his loincloth back into place, Valeron stroked their mate’s face. “Think you she’ll be okay?”
“She’ll be fine.” Provided the Malucons don’t tear her apart.
They stood a chance of fighting the six men off, now that they had been well-mated and had gained their strength. But there was still the distinct possibility of them losing, and his heart broke to imagine the consequences of their failure.
“Perhaps even if we fought them and didn’t succeed, they would leave this place without searching further for her,” Valeron murmured, his gaze still on their mate. “You know, if…”
“If she wasn’t with us.”
Valeron gave him a grim nod.
Neichon considered Valeron’s suggestion. It was a good one. Really, the only one they had at this time. “If we tell her we’re going to leave her behind while we engage the Malucons, she will fight us on it.”
“Yes,” Valeron agreed, his jaw tensing.
Which meant…
“We need to leave before she awakens.”
Chapter Eight
Consciousness returned slowly, leaving Inara foggy and confused. She stretched her muscles and an answering twinge resulted between her thighs. A blush heated her face as she recalled the reason she’d lost consciousness to begin with.
Oh, the delicious things Neichon and Valeron had done to her body. Thank the gods Chiveans healed quickly. She feared she’d be unable to walk otherwise.
Inara opened her eyes, only to see darkness. She blinked, waiting until her eyes had adjusted, then looked around. She was in the same cave, but Neichon and Valeron were nowhere to be seen.
What in the name of Chivea?
S
he stood and looked around, then stumbled over to the corridor. Empty. It appeared they’d left her here.
At least they remembered to put my breeches back on before they abandoned me,
she thought wryly. Though the liquids trickling out of her body had dampened them.
An aftershock of sensation racked her body, forcing her to press her thighs together.
Gods, that was amazing
. Easily the most intense sexual experience of her life. Quite obvious, from the way she’d become senseless toward the end.
Hell, she couldn’t wait to repeat it.
Inara glanced behind her. The dim glint of silver on the floor propelled her toward it. Her dagger. She lifted it, still in its holster, and reattached the holster to her thigh.
Her heart pounded in fear and foreboding. Something was wrong here. Why would both men simply be gone? Her mind refused to analyze why they would have left her. Only one thing to do right now.
Find them.
She strode around the cave until her legs no longer felt like jelly. Then, cracking her neck, she wound her way through the corridor. Holding her breath, she entered the front cave. Her hope that they’d be there was dashed when she looked around and saw nothing.
Where the hell were they?
On the heels of that thought came the niggling worry—what if they decided I’m not worth the trouble? That I’m not their mate?
No. She refused to think that way. Even if mating with her had convinced Neichon and Valeron she wasn’t their mate, they still wouldn’t abandon her to the Malucons. She might not have known them long, but she had no doubt as to their strength of character. They were good men with fierce, loyal hearts.
Heart pounding, she inched her way to the mouth of the cave and peeked out. From this vantage point she could see the wreckage of her jet, but there were no signs of life, whether Spygian or Malucon.
But then, where was everyone?
Summoning her strength, Inara dropped to her knees and crawled out of the cave. She sped over to the trees on the edge of the forest, intending to climb one so she could have a better vantage point to search for Neichon and Valeron. That was when she heard the muffled sounds coming from the woods directly to the north. Listening intently, she realized what it was.
The sounds of battle.
She let out a loud gasp.
Those snakes. They sneaked off to fight the Malucons without me!
A sudden burst of fear permeated her body, rooting her to her spot. Those were Malucons out there.
Malucons.
The creatures who’d decimated her people, who’d hunted her ever since. Instinct told her to run from them as fast as her feet could carry her.
But she couldn’t.
Wouldn’t.
The Spygians were fighting them.
Her
Spygians. And it was her they were fighting over. Much as she might long to run, she wasn’t about to. By the gods, she was going to be there to help Neichon and Valeron.
If she was lucky, she’d get to slip her dagger into a Malucon or two before the battle was over.
Inara took several deep breaths, letting a shock of adrenaline fuel her senses. She wouldn’t contemplate what would happen if the battle ended in their defeat. One thing was sure, she wouldn’t survive it. So she might as well be there, contributing to her defense.
Heart racing, she reached for her dagger and palmed it. This was craziness. Pure and utter craziness. But she was doing it.
She headed toward the sound, moving as swiftly as she could without attracting attention to herself. It took only a few short moments for her to reach the scene of the struggle.
Neichon and Valeron stood in a clearing, their backs to her. Both men had found thick, heavy branches and were now using them as weapons to fight the six Malucons. Though her Spygians were well over six feet tall, the Malucons towered over them, their broad, gray bodies flexing as they fought off the sticks. The Malucons had clearly been caught off guard. They didn’t carry any weapons, probably hadn’t thought they needed any since they were chasing a defenseless Chivean girl. Their heavy, prominent brows furrowed above their large, flat noses, as if they were confused about why they were being attacked.
One of them let out a grunt when Neichon’s stick hit the side of his head. The rough bark stuck in his ratty black hair, ripping off hunks of it when Neichon whipped the stick back. He let out a low howl.
Take that, you sick bastard.
Yet even if her Spygians landed a hit or two, it was still three against one, and the Malucons had size and sheer brutality on their side. Her heart ached at the odds.
But once I join in, it’s only two against one.
She wouldn’t think about the fact that she was far weaker than the Malucons. If she got lucky, maybe speed would be on her side.
One of the Malucons battling Neichon rushed forward, gripping his free arm and yanking it. Neichon let out a strangled yell. Acting on impulse, Inara lifted her dagger and let out a banshee scream, then rushed toward them. Everyone stopped fighting, looking over at her in surprise. She used that to her advantage, zipping between Neichon and the Malucon who still held his arm and ramming her dagger into the Malucon’s chest. His rawhide-like skin offered resistance, but her dagger was sharp. It shoved into his chest and the spray of dark blood told her the weapon had found its mark—his heart.
The Malucon opened his mouth, shock transforming his features. A trickle of blood oozed from his lips and he fell backward, losing his hold on Neichon. Her hand still on the dagger, Inara fell down with him. She was only dimly aware of the Malucons yelling in their language, of Neichon jumping in to fight the remaining two when they started toward her.
Not wasting any more time on the dying Malucon, she pried her dagger loose, then turned to survey the battle. Neichon was holding his own against the other two Malucons, despite the fact that one arm seemed to be broken. Valeron looked beaten and battered, but he’d managed to knock down one of the three men he fought. However, the other two were driving him back toward a tree.
Hoisting her dagger, she rushed toward the man Valeron had knocked down. His eyes rolled in his head, but he was trying to get back to his feet. Acting quickly, she squatted and yanked on his hair, forcing his head back, and slit his throat. He gurgled and collapsed onto his side, the stench of his blood, combined with his normal horrible smell wafting toward her.
Inara forced back a burst of nausea. She’d never taken anyone’s life before, and now she’d taken two, but she wouldn’t think about that right now. These men hadn’t given a thought to killing her entire race. To chasing a defenseless female down and killing her, for no reason other than what she was. She would show them as much mercy as they’d shown her.
“Inara,” Neichon yelled.
A thump sounded from behind her and she whirled to see that Neichon had knocked one of the remaining two Malucons on the head with the stick. Stunned, he fell straight on his back. Taking Neichon’s cue, she raced to the man and straddled his body, slitting his throat before he could recover.
Three down.
Holy shit, they’d taken
three
Malucons down!
Her heart raced with hope, with excitement. She turned to see Valeron throw his stick at one of the Malucons attacking him. Using his strength and speed, he rushed the second and snapped his neck.
“Yes,” she screamed.
Yes!
She let out a maniacal laugh. Her grip tight on her now-slippery dagger, she started to scramble to her feet, when something grabbed onto her hair and yanked hard.
“No,” Neichon yelled from somewhere behind her.
The noxious stench of unwashed Malucon flesh and horrible breath floated to her.
Oh shit. Heavens help her.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw Valeron struggling with the remaining Malucon. Saw them both fall to the ground, where Valeron wrestled into the top position and brought his elbow down on the Malucon’s larynx, crushing it. He leapt up and started toward her, but the Malucon who had a grip on her hair yanked her head back hard, wrapping his arms under her breasts. He let out a guttural phrase, and Valeron stopped short.
The Malucon edged backward, his grip tight on Inara, and she saw Neichon sidestep into her view. One of his arms hung at his side and he was limping, but his only concern appeared to be for her.
“Let her go,” Neichon said in his native tongue. A moment later he spoke again, this time in Malucon. Though she’d never learned to speak that tongue, she gathered he’d simply repeated his request, because the Malucon let out a harsh, grating laugh and shook his head. His arm crushed into her rib cage and she gasped for air. Her hands started to automatically rise in an attempt to pry him off…when she recalled the dagger still in her grasp.
Oh shit.
The Malucon hadn’t bothered to check whether she still had her weapon.
Neichon must have read her changing expression, because his gaze flicked down to her hand, then back to her face. He gave her an almost imperceptible nod.
The Malucon grated out something else, his tone foreboding. He inched further back, dragging her off her feet.
Her heart hammering in her chest, she rammed her dagger into the Malucon’s thigh. He yelled against her ear, his grip loosening. Throat working, she pried herself loose and ran toward Neichon. Valeron flew past her, headed straight for the Malucon.
Neichon steadied her. “Stay here.” He ran past her and she whirled to see him and Valeron engaging the cornered Malucon. The injured man swung for Valeron but stumbled when he put his weight on the leg that still had her dagger embedded in it. Neichon jumped on his back and he went down to the ground. She caught a glimpse of the men struggling, but then Neichon climbed atop the Malucon and snapped his neck.
Inara’s knees gave out and she slumped to the ground.
They were dead. The Malucons were all dead. They’d done it!
Neichon and Valeron rose, limping toward her. The men pulled her into their embrace, lending her comfort.
“It’s okay, Inara. You’re okay,” Neichon murmured.
“We did it,” Valeron said.
“Yes,” she sobbed. They had.
* * * * *
The Spygian spaceship loomed ahead of them, its gold and silver surface shining. Inara thought it might be one of the most beautiful sights she’d ever seen.
“We’re back,” Neichon breathed.
And no small matter, that.
Once they’d taken care of bandaging their injuries, the three of them went to work fixing her damaged spacejet. After a very long afternoon, they’d finally gotten it back up and running. It still needed substantial repair, but it was operable enough to get them back to the Spygian’s ship.
They’d been careful to avoid the Malucon mother ship as they left Fresna behind, traveling to the other side of the planet where the Spygian ship hovered out of sight of the Malucon ship. Neichon had used her jet’s transmitter to radio his ship and inform the others what had happened.
The others.
Despite everything that had just happened, despite the fact that her ribs were on fire, her heart skipped a beat at the thought of meeting the other members of the pod, Reyu and Petros. They were meant to be hers. On the way back Neichon and Valeron had told her in unequivocal terms that she
was
their mate.
Perhaps they were right, but that didn’t mean she could stay. And the reality of that made her heart break. She didn’t want to betray her Spygians, but her journey was far from over, and if she told them that, they would try to make her stay. So she would leave when they weren’t expecting it.
And they would forever hate her for it.
Even though no amount of excitement over boarding the Spygian ship could replace the heaviness she felt in her heart, she couldn’t help but smile when the door of her jet slid open to reveal the other two pod members standing on the boarding deck of the ship. They were tall and handsome and, as she’d expected, scantily dressed.
Mine
, her heart said.
If only…
One of the men strode forward to greet them, his eyes a deep emerald green. They raked over her with concern and more than a little hint of lust. “Welcome back. I believe we’ve fixed the error on the transmitter,” he said to Neichon without lifting his gaze from her. To her he held out a hand, his lips curving into a grin. “And you are most certainly welcome, mate.”