Bannor gave Neichon a friendly nod. “Cindra’s cousin as well, though we didn’t know she had one.”
Valeron chuckled. “Well, you would have learned so eventually, I imagine, now that you’re mated.”
The man’s oblivious words sparked the slightest bit of tension in the room. When Bannor didn’t immediately reply, Devan said, “She is not our mate.
Yet.
”
Neichon cocked a brow, and Bannor elaborated. “She fled with us after the Malucons spotted her on Keulot, but she was engaged to a man on that world.”
“Ah,” Valeron said, nodding in understanding. “So she’s confused.”
“Exactly,” Bannor replied.
Neichon let out a soft chuckle. “Well, I’ve no doubt you’ll convince her.”
“Just think,” Valeron added. “Once she agrees to become your mate, we can all return to Spygia. We can go back home.”
The words caused a shiver to reverberate through Devan’s spine. The thought of returning to Spygia with their mate in tow made him long to break out into song and dance. And now, knowing that Cindra would have her own family there with her…
They only had to get her to agree.
* * * * *
What Cindra and Inara had intended to be a quick catch-up over lunch morphed into a three-hour conversation that included a couple bottles of wine, courtesy of the ship’s materializer, a nifty device that created the food or drink of one’s desire from stored organic materials. The men had left them alone, clearly recognizing they had a lot to talk about. The resultant conversation had been great. Inara had told Cindra what she’d been up to since they’d last seen each other, which had apparently been a lot of running from planet to planet, and Cindra had told Inara about her time on Keulot.
Now, more than a little buzzed from the wine, Cindra gave her cousin a calculating glance while they sat on opposite sides of the long, rectangular dining table.
“You’ve changed. You’re…tougher. Stronger.” Inara had always been the more daring one, but now she radiated a level of strength and confidence that floored Cindra.
Inara snorted. “Life on the run will do that to you. Get tough or get killed by the Malucons.”
Cindra sobered. All in all, she’d gotten lucky. She’d had two years on Keulot without a trace of the Malucons, while Inara had been forced to flee them continuously.
“I still can’t believe you survived. Even more than that, you thrived under your circumstances.”
Inara ran her thumb along the rim of her wineglass, her gaze unfocused. “I’d hardly call what I did thriving. Until I met my Spygians, that is. They made life worth living again.”
Now that the wine had made her a bit looser, Cindra’s stomach heated at the thought that Inara was mated to four strapping Spygians. “What’s it like, having four gorgeous men for mates?”
Inara chuckled. “As if you need to ask.” But when she lifted her gaze to Cindra’s, she sobered. “Oh my gods. You’re
not
mated to them!”
Feeling her cheeks heat, Cindra shook her head.
“I just assumed,” Inara murmured, raking Cindra with her sharp gaze. “You’re wearing their customary dress.”
“It was better than my own.”
Wait, why did she sound so defensive?
Cindra’s shoulders slumped. “They claim that I’m their mate, but I haven’t…I don’t know.”
“One thing I’ve learned is that if they think you’re theirs, they’re probably right,” Inara said drily, lifting the glass to her lips and taking a sip.
When Cindra said nothing, Inara slowly lowered her glass back onto the table, comprehension dawning on her face. “Wait a minute…have you even
been
with a man yet?”
Oh gods.
Squirming in embarrassment, Cindra said, “No. I mean, I have…I’ve fooled around with them, but…”
“It’s a big step to take,” Inara finished softly.
“Yes,” Cindra sighed.
“Let me ask you something.” Inara absently fiddled with her thumbs. “Are you considering
not
agreeing to become their mate?”
“I…” Fidgeting, Cindra glanced down toward her hands. “I don’t want to endanger them. I’m being hunted. Most likely will always be hunted. If I attach myself to them, they could very well be killed by the Malucons. I just couldn’t bear that to happen.”
When Inara snorted, Cindra gazed back to her cousin.
“You sound like me,” Inara muttered.
“So then you understand—”
“Let me tell you something, Cindra.” Inara reached toward the center of the table and lifted the wine bottle, pouring the little bit of remaining wine into her glass. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned about Spygians, it’s that they’re much tougher than they appear. My men and I once took on a group of six Malucons, and yet we live to tell the tale.”
“Six?” Cindra gasped, her heart clenching in fear. “How did you escape?”
Inara winked at her as she lifted the glass to her lips. “Spygians aren’t just pretty bed mates. They’re fierce fighters as well. Do you remember growing up, when the maids used to dreamily refer to Spygians as barbarians?”
“Yes,” Cindra whispered. Now that she recalled, there had been one maid in particular who’d had a deep fascination with Spygians.
“Well, there’s a reason for that, cousin.”
Cindra said nothing, allowing her cousin’s words to penetrate.
Seemingly satisfied with the effect of her words, Inara rose. “Let me give you a piece of advice, Cindra. Don’t push the Spygians away. They may very well be the best thing that ever happened to you.”
“Where are you going?” Cindra asked, alarm coloring her voice as she stood.
“Don’t worry. I just found you. I’m not about to abandon you now.”
Cindra forced herself to relax. Inara was right, she had feared that, maybe because she’d lost everyone she’d ever cared about.
“Our ship is traveling alongside yours,” Inara said, casually motioning toward the large window looking out into space, where a portion of the other ship was visible. “I’m going to collect my mates and transport back there. Spend some
alone time
with my men.”
Her meaning was quite clear, and when Cindra felt her cheeks warm, Inara grinned and winked at her. “If you’re smart, you’ll do the same. I’ll transport back over to check on you tomorrow.”
Cindra forced her jaw to snap shut as she watched her cousin purposefully stride from the room.
A short time later, Cindra was gathered with Bannor, Stefon, Tempos and Devan in the control room, seeing Inara and her mates off. Her cousin stepped into the transporter portal after her mates. Turning toward Cindra, she gave her a bold wink. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Don’t forget what I said.”
Fighting off the color that threatened to sear her cheeks, Cindra nodded. Inara’s mate Neichon pressed a button on his arm cuff and a moment later the air shimmered in front of them. Then they were gone.
Bannor turned to Cindra with a curious glance. “What did she mean?”
“Oh…nothing.” Squirming, she focused her gaze on the clear shield allowing a view into space. She couldn’t see Inara’s ship from this angle, but she knew it was out there, right beside theirs. The knowledge gave her a warm, safe feeling in her heart. She wasn’t alone anymore.
“I’m so happy we’ve found your cousin,” Devan said.
His softly spoken words sparked a realization. She hadn’t been alone before finding Inara. She’d had her Spygians. They’d protected her. Gotten her to safety.
They loved her.
Holy hell.
They
loved
her. They truly did, even though they hadn’t known her for long.
When Cindra turned to face them, her heart clenched at the sight of the four shirtless men, standing so proud and strong before her. Something told her she would always react this way to them. She would always want them.
Because they are destined to be my mates.
There was no denying it anymore, at least not deep in her heart.
“I need to tell you about my past,” she said.
Bannor took one look at her and pointed to his chair, motioning for her to sit. Good idea. What she had to say would take a while.
She took a seat. Devan, Stefon and Tempos gathered beside Bannor, their luscious, muscular bodies threatening to distract her from her mission. Taking a breath, she said, “As you know, I was born on Chivea. What you don’t know is that I was born the daughter of Chivea’s king.”
Bannor’s eyes widened. “You’re the Chivean princess?”
“I was.”
Smiling at the memories that invaded her mind, she told them of growing up in her father’s household, of being sheltered but having her rambunctious cousin around to guide her into a little harmless mischief. By the time her story was done, the warm thoughts of her past permeated her entire body and soul.
“You know, I haven’t thought of my home since I was forced to flee it.”
Leaning against Bannor’s controls, Stefon grinned at her. “Thank you for sharing your memories of it with us. We’re honored.”
Bannor knelt in front of her. The muscles of his bare chest flexed with his movement, drawing a startling burst of lust from her. He took her hand, an unusually serious expression on his face. “I’m sorry we cannot give your home back to you, beloved, but, if you let us, we can create a new one for you.”
His words raced through her, bringing a tremor of longing with them. Wasn’t that what she’d wanted all along, a new home? A place where she’d feel safe and loved? And here they were, offering it to her on a silver platter.
“If we were to return to Spygia, you would not be alone,” Tempos murmured. “Your cousin would be with you.”
“And never fear, Cindra,” Stefon added. “We could protect you, no matter what circumstances we face. You are our family, as well as your cousin and now her mates. Together, we are so much stronger.”
“Invincible,” Devan vowed, his blue eyes flashing.
Gods, when they said those words, she believed them. Even more, she felt the veracity of their words down to her soul.
She didn’t want to turn away. Just the thought of being without the four of them made her long to howl in agony. It seemed that, somewhere along the line, she’d fallen for them too. And she didn’t want this feeling to ever stop.
Raking her steady gaze over them one by one, she clenched her fists and took the leap that both terrified and exhilarated her.
“Make me yours. I want to be your mate.”
Bannor sucked in his breath, his silver eyes growing molten. Dimly she was aware of each of the men’s gazes burning into her. Tension sparked the air, thickening it with lust and love and hope.
“Are you sure?” Bannor whispered, his voice harsh and uneven.
She locked gazes with him. “Never surer of anything.”
A muscle ticked in his jaw. Rising, he wordlessly held out his hand. Her pulse soared as she took it, allowing him to guide her to her feet.
Devan stepped to her other side, taking her free hand and bringing it to his lips. His fierce gaze burning through her, he murmured, “You won’t regret this, beloved.”
Cindra took a shaky breath. Lust and apprehension built inside her, working her into a boiling mass of confusion. She was about to take these four wonderful, delicious men as her lovers. As her mates. It was enough to bring a woman to her knees, especially one with such little experience in matters of the flesh.
Almost as if he sensed her nerves, Stefon cocked a brow. “Are you afraid, love?”
“No.” But the tremor in her voice betrayed her.
“Don’t be,” Bannor whispered. “We would never do anything you didn’t wish us to do.”
“I know.” That was part of the reason why she was agreeing to become theirs, because she knew they’d never harm her. That they’d treasure her always.
“Come.” Bannor turned and led the way toward a paneled door at the far end of the room. She’d noticed it before, but hadn’t thought to question what lay beyond. She’d assumed it served as a storage room of some sort, but clearly that wasn’t the case. The door opened when Bannor approached, and they stepped inside a small chamber, the focus of which was a plush chair set upon a small, raised platform. The burgundy, velvet-covered chair had armrests, but its back was strange. Rather than a ninety degree angle, it curved backward, ensuring the person sitting upon it would be at a half incline.
“What’s this?” she whispered.
Bannor’s brow lifted as he looked at her. “Remember I told you there is a ritual to confirm one’s mate? This is the ritual throne. You are to sit upon it.”
“Oh.” Weird, but it wasn’t as if Chivea hadn’t had its own share of strange customs. Shrugging, she moved to sit upon the chair, but Bannor stopped her with a tug on her hand.
“Wait.”
Turning, she looked back at him.
“Not yet.”
Just when she was about to question him, he bent toward her. Her heart clenched in response to the flexing of his rock-solid pectorals, but then his lips claimed hers, and her eyes fluttered shut.