Galactic Treasure (Quads of Galafrax) (16 page)

Tev and Zay moved in, each giving her a woefully quick kiss.

“We love you too. You belong to us. But, no matter what happens, if anyone tries to touch you, be aggressive, demanding. As a Demos female would,” Tev advised.

Zay shook out what looked like a black sheet from his bed and wrapped
it around her shoulders.

“It’ll have to do. Come on, they’ll come looking for us if we don’t present ourselves. Best not give them any tactical advantage. Our Meal Room has plenty of room, if I need to fight.”

“Fight?” She trembled slightly as Tev took her hand. “You won’t really need to fight, will you?”

She knew they were more than capable, but still, she didn’t want any of her men getting hurt.

Zay shrugged. “I hope not, as soon as we know the reason we’ve been stopped and get the matter cleared up, we’ll be on our way.”

The door slid open and Zay stepped out into the corridor. Ruby watched, her eyes wide in horror, as a bright flash suddenly hit Zay square in the chest, propelling him backward to hit the deck with a loud thump.

“Zay!” Not fearing for her own life, she flung herself out the door over Zay.

“Ruby, no!” Tev’s yell came too late as something hit her in the back.
She jerked forward, slumping over Zay’s body before everything went black.

* * * *

“Damn the fucking ice plains, you hit my woman!” Tev yelled, walking out with his hands raised, so they wouldn’t hit him too.

He'd recognized the flash of the neutralizer, meant to render the target unconscious and not kill them.

He leaned over her, gently rolling her limp form, before lifting her up into his arms and turning to face the approaching identical soldiers.

They still had their weapons aimed high.

“You and your broken brothers are under arrest,” the commander of the group stated.

“You’re going to wish you’ve never been born if you’ve harmed her,” growled Tev, glaring at the men surrounding them. “Why would you hurt a female? Are you mentally unstable?”

“I did not mean to hit her. I reacted and pulled the trigger before I realised she was the female.” The one with the neutralizer lowered the weapon.

“Here, hold her.” One of the quads was forced to take Ruby’s limp form as Tev thrust her at him. He blinked in surprise, but Tev was far from done, as anger rode him. He rolled his shoulder and hit the solider square in the face.
His head snapped back, slamming into the bulkhead.

“Take him down!” snapped the one holding Ruby. Two others dived onto Tev, who fought them both, hooking his fist into one’s belly before tossing the other into the bulkhead. The one he’d punched had recovered enough to raise the neutralizer, aim it at him and pull the trigger.

* * * *

Bir watched as they dragged Tev and Zay into the cell opposite them and activated the field.

“If you lay one finger on our female, we will tear you apart, slowly and painfully.”

The soldiers snorted at Bir’s promise. “All reports are to the contrary. Did you not know human females have become a protected species under Galafrax law? By the order of Lord Gol X’Hani of Galafrax. Everyone knows they have taken a human female as their
sheraz
, and she has recently birthed twin females.”

He had heard that news, but not that human females were now under Galafrax protection. This was good news, but why the hell had they been raided? “Ruby belongs to us. She has agreed to become our
sheraz
.”

The soldiers looked at each other, anger crossing their faces. “I’m sure you made her believe that. She’s free now and will be cared for.”

“What the hell are you talking about? We rescued her. She was a slave before we found her. We’ve done nothing but protect and care for her.”

“Not from the reports we have received. And you will pay for what you’ve done. As if she’d ever consider a band of broken brothers like you.”

Bir’s hands shook as rage fired through his veins. He slammed his fist against the force field. It sparked slightly before settling again. “We’ve done nothing but love and care for our female. Let us out now!”

But the two ignored him, turning away. “I wonder if she’ll consider us as suitors.
We’ve had much practice in pleasuring.”

Their laughter faded out as the door slid shut behind them. Bir was about ready to tear the place apart as anger and helplessness swamped him. He’d kill anyone who dared touched their woman.

“Calm down, brother, I'm angry too, but you have to take into account a very important factor.”

Bir turned to look at Niz, seated in the corner, the perfect picture of calm and control.

“What factor is that?” His teeth clenched, glaring at the youngest of their four.

“Our Ruby, of course.
Do you think she will idly stand by and let any other set of brothers seduce her?”

Niz words made him pause.

“You have to ask yourself, just how much do you trust our
sheraz
?”

Bir didn’t have to even think about it. “With my very life and soul.”

The corners of Niz mouth turned up in a rare smile. “Then sit down and wait, let things take their course.”

Yes, he trusted the little redheaded female who’d captured his heart, but knew how competitive the other males could be. “It’s those other quads I don’t trust.”

* * * *

Ruby groaned.
Why did she feel like she’d been hit by a Mack Truck?

“Easy, pretty. You are going to be alright.”

Ruby's brow creased in a frown. That wasn’t a voice she recognized. She opened her eyes, squinting against the bright light in her face.

“Sorry.” The light was gone, and she blinked up as a stranger’s face hovered in her vision. From his red, clean cut features, he was clearly a Demos male.

“Who the hell are you?” She pushed herself up and swung dizzily sideways.

Two hands settled on her shoulders, stopping her from swaying. “I know you’ve been through a traumatic ordeal, but everything is going to be fine. You are safe, pretty human.”

She stared at him blankly.
Pretty human?
With great effort, she forced herself to focus.
Where are my men?

“Here, this will help with the pain. It was unfortunate you got hit with a neutralizer along with your captors.”

“My captors?”

Confusion swamped her along with her swimming head. He pressed something cool against her neck.
It hissed, then slowly the pain dissipated, the dizziness vanished and her head cleared.

Oh thank goodness for that.

“Why yes, but you're safe now. No one will hurt you again. I swear on my own life.”

Why wasn’t the Demos man making any sense? “Where are my men?”

It was the stranger's turn to look confused. “Your men?”

She shoved his hands off her and glared at the tall man in black uniform. “Yes, my Demos men, Bir, Tev, Zay and Niz. They are my men.
Where are they?”

“They are your captors, and are being held in the brig until we reach Galafrax where they will go on trial for their crimes.”

Disbelief washed through her before anger finally took over. “Have you lost your fricken marbles? Who on earth told you the Fire Bond brothers were my captors?”

“Our report came from a most reliable source.
A human female had been abducted and was being abused by these brothers. Let me call the commander.”

“Yes, you do that.” She folded her arms and glared, as he walked to a console in the corner of the room.

“Commander, the human is awake and there seems to be some confusion.”

“I’m on my way,”
a disjointed voice responded.

She pushed off the tall bed, landed on her feet. The Demos man was quick to catch her when she stumbled slightly.

She slapped at his hands. “Don’t touch me. Only my men can touch me.”

“Sorry.” He looked embarrassed and stepped back. She suddenly felt bad for berating him.

She sighed. “What’s your name?”

“I’m Cir, third of four and healer.” He smiled.

“Like my Niz. I’m warning you—if anyone’s hurt my quads, there’ll be hell to pay.”

She leaned against the bed, glancing around what was obviously a medical bay.

The door hissed open and in marched a bulked up, broad-shouldered Demos man flanked by two of his identical brothers.

His uniform held several gold stripes, unlike Cir’s.

“What seems to be the problem? Is the female not well?”

Ruby tried to calm her pounding heart and remembered Tev’s advice to her before they’d been rudely boarded and shot at.

She marched up to him, hand on her hips. “Are you in charge here?”

His lips twitched up at the corner, “Yes, little human, I am Commander Loz, at your service. Cir said there is some confusion.”

“Well first, I want to know why the heck you raided my men’s ship? Why you shot at us, and I want to know where they are now?”

A crease dented Commander Loz’s brow. “Your captors are in the brig. We were sent to rescue you from the brothers who had abducted you and were abusing you.”

Ruby’s jaw dropped. “And what idiot told you I had been abducted and was being abused?”

“From a member of the
Hellious Intergalactic
council.”

It suddenly hit her, the only person who would have done such a thing. “Fish face, that conniving rat bastard.”

The commander and his brother glanced at each other in clear confusion. “Let me guess, it was the Piclar Ambassador.”

“How do you know?”

“Auugh.” She tossed her hands into the air, waving them in frustration. “The brothers didn’t buy me from the Jorval trader.”

“The Fire Bond brothers did not?”

She poked a finger into the commander’s chest. “Hell no, they rescued me! That slime bucket of a Piclar Ambassador bought me from the Jorval. It was the Jorval who abducted me from Earth. If it wasn’t for the Fire Bond brothers, no doubt I’d be dead. The Piclar Ambassador bought me and he abused me. He even whipped me with a laser whip when I interfered in one of his big deals.”

“I have seen faint markings on her back, which confirms she has indeed been whipped.” Cir spoke up.

She drew in a deep breath, trying to remain calm. “If it hadn’t been for my Bir, Zay, Niz and Tev, I’d still be his slave, at his mercy! If you want someone to arrest, then arrest the Piclar, not my men.”

“Humans are protected under Galafrax law.
It is now illegal for them to be bought and sold as slaves.”

Well thank god for small mercies. But Loz still seemed unmoved by her ranting.

“Are you sure you have not been mentally coerced?”

“I am quite sure. I love my quads, and I have promised to become their
sheraz
. We were on our way to Galafrax to make the bonding official. I’ve never been more cared for or loved than by my men. I demand you release them right now! Or for god so help me, I’ll go supernova on your arse. Believe me, I’m a redhead and we are known to have the worst tempers on all of Earth. When I really get mad it is not a pretty sight.”

Loz nodded to the brother on his right. “Tos, go see if Commander Bir can confirm her story.”

Ruby folded her arms and glared. “Go on, hurry up, the longer you keep me away from them, then the worse it’ll be for you, buddy.”

One of the quads turned and hurried out the door.

Chapter Fourteen

“Ruby!” Zay bolted upright, glancing wildly about. Tev groaned and rolled over.

“The soldiers have her.” Bir informed them as he watched them realise where they now were.

They glanced across the force field.

“It seems they are under the impression we abducted and have been abusing our female,” Niz added.

“No wonder we got raided.” Tev pushed himself up. The after effects of a neutralizer were never pretty. After being hit in the past Bir knew his brothers’ heads would be throbbing in a dull ache. It was why he surrendered easily, wanting to keep his wits about him, rather than be rendered unconscious.

“If they touch her…” Zay pulled himself to his feet, rolling his shoulders and his neck.

“They hit Ruby too,” Tev informed them.

This Bir didn’t know.

“With the neutralizer?” Niz stood up. “Then they would have taken her to medical, my poor beauty.”

“Oh they’ll take care of her and try to charm her.” Bir growled.

The door to the brig slid open, allowing two guards to enter. Followed by a commanding officer, from his insignia, Bir knew he was second brother to the high commander.

“Commander Bir, I am Tos, second to Commander Loz.”

Bir stood before him, and nodded in respect. “Is Ruby alright? I am most concerned she may have been harmed after getting hit with a neutralizer.”