DangerouslyHis (14 page)

“My warriors have fought for a place on my transporter. They
anticipated the opportunity to spar with the Sonis royal guards.”

Taio could feel the anticipation coming from his guards.
“I’m sure that can be arranged. My guards wouldn’t want to disappoint.”

More roars erupted from the warriors.

“Lively bunch,” Eva said under her breath.

Ranuit Pi looked around. “Where is my promised mate?” His
eyes locked on Jess. “Is that her?” He nodded in satisfaction. “She will do.”

Rasha grabbed Jess by the waist. “She is mine,” he said in
warning.

Ranuit Pi looked over to Eva and Mazel, pointing to the
latter. “I’ll take her.” He motioned his hand toward Eva. “You may throw in the
smaller one for fun.”

Taio reached behind his back to unsheathe his
jango
.
Eva placed a hand on his, stopping him.

“Your mate is not present,” King Xochis said. “Princess Saia
is readying herself for the celebration this sundown. None of the females
present are worthy of a warrior of your status.”

Taio turned to his father. “You will
not
disrespect
my mate,” he threatened.

“Really, Taio, I don’t mind in this case.” Then Eva muttered
so only he could hear, “God knows I don’t
want
to be a worthy mate for
this guy.”

“I’m not concerned with her status, only the amount of
trained royal guards that come with her,” Ranuit Pi responded. He looked at his
own guards and smiled. “And how her mouth and pussy will feel on my cock. That
concerns me too.”

Without a second thought, Taio unsheathed his
jango
. “And
you
will not disrespect my sister.”

“This is ludicrous!” King Xochis roared. “Taio, has this
world taken all civility from you? You will not shame me!”

Taio ignored his father’s ranting and watched Ranuit Pi. If
he made a hostile move, Taio expected he would do more than shame his father.
Ranuit Pi would go down and so would his entourage.

“King Xochis, anyone who disrespects royal blood is not
worthy, especially if that royal blood pumps through the veins of my sister,”
Taio said.

“Weapons down!” King Xochis yelled.

Everyone’s weapons remained poised and at the ready.

“King Xochis, this is not Drazlan. My warriors listen to me
and me only,” Taio ground out.

King Xochis glared at Ranuit Pi. “Knowing my son, if you
pursue this fight, neither you nor your warriors will leave this moon alive. He
is particularly fond of his sister.” King Xochis cut his glare toward Taio. “He
still does not understand the nature of alliances.”

Ranuit Pi narrowed his eyes. “I was promised an alliance and
royal guards. I will not be dishonored. The Galactic Council will see that our
contract is fulfilled.”

King Xochis bristled at the mention of the Galactic Council.
“There is no need to get the Galactic Council involved. Our contract will be
honored. Lower your weapons.”

Ranuit Pi nodded in the royal guards’ direction. “Them
first.”

“Never,” Taio ground out.

“Ranuit Pi, as head royal guard and second-in-command, I
assure you that no harm will come to you or your warriors if your weapons are
lowered,” Rasha said.

After a moment’s thought, Ranuit Pi signaled his warriors.
They reluctantly lowered their weapons. Rasha signaled the royal guards to
lower their own. When they did, Taio grunted, signifying that he didn’t plan to
stand down anytime soon.

“Taio, please,” Eva said.

“King Taio,” Rasha said. “If you lower your weapon, we can
show our guests to their rooms and ready for the celebration this evening.”

Taio didn’t want to lower his weapon. What he wanted was to
put his
jango
through Ranuit Pi’s belly and then turn his weapon on King
Xochis for contracting Saia to such a creature. But what he couldn’t do was
bring war to Sonis, which would be the end result if he killed the Zumagala
ruler.

He let out a long breath and sheathed his
jango
. The
mood in the transport bay instantly lifted, no longer the heavy weight of impending
battle.

“When do we eat?” Ranuit Pi asked, slapping his stomach.

“There’s nothing like the threat of death to make one
hungry,” Rasha muttered.

As Saia approached the grand room, her anxiety escalated to
an almost unbearable level. Escorting her on the right was her mother and on
the left, Olo.

While her mother held her hand during the journey and
offered light, reassuring squeezes, Olo gripped her elbow as if he thought she
might run away. Once during the trip she tried to pull out of his grasp. He dug
his fingers in to the bone, pinching a nerve. Pin-like prickles traveled down
her hand to her fingertips.

Olo pulled her closer as they approached the door to the
grand room. “I trust you know the repercussions for causing embarrassment to my
family name?” His eyes were filled with the promise of pain.

She cringed as a slow smile crept across his thin lips. “I
won’t embarrass you, my king.”

“Good.” He released her arm. Saia took a step away and
almost fell into Fainia’s arms.

As the guards opened the doors, the noise from the music and
attendants came barreling out.

“Wonderful,” Olo said to himself. He turned to her and said,
“Smile, Saia, you are about to meet your new mate.” With a gleam in his eyes,
he stepped into the room.

Her body shook with the idea of meeting Ranuit Pi. Olo was
too happy. That could mean only one thing.

Ranuit Pi was indeed the heathen Olo thought he was.

“Hold your head high,” Fainia said. “No matter what, you are
a princess. No one can break your spirit.”

Despite the crushing feeling in her chest, she did as
instructed. She would follow Olo’s command, but her spirit would always love
another.

As her mother’s name was announced, she released Saia’s hand
and walked, back straight, through the double doors.

“Be strong, my child,” Aria said behind her.

“I will,” she whispered.

“Princess Saia Xochis of Drazlan, contracted mate to Lord
Ranuit Pi of Syntorian,” the announcer proclaimed.

She took a deep breath and squared her shoulders. Saia
walked through the doors. The applause that met her fell on deaf ears. She
scanned the crowd. Taio and Eva stood together with Rasha and Jess. Her mother
and father stood to one side, waiting for her to cross the room and join them.

But there was only one person she wished to see.

Where is Justin?

In the crowd of onlookers, she spotted a rustle. Justin made
his way to the front. Her eyes locked with his and her heart sang. Her body
shook with restraint. Her mind screamed to run into his arms, where it was
safe. If he’d held them out, she would have. Without question.

She walked gracefully to her parents, but she couldn’t stop
from looking at Justin. He didn’t smile or offer any form of visible
encouragement, but his presence spoke volumes. She was not alone—yet.

When Saia reached her parents, Olo grabbed her and brought
her closer. “If you so much as look at that
human
again, I will have him
killed this very night.” He smiled and looked around the room, acknowledging
the applause.

Her vision clouded as tears formed in her eyes.

“Shed a tear for him and I’ll
personally
shed his
blood,” he promised as his fingers bit painfully into her arm. Satisfied that
she understood his threat, he released his grip.

Her mother pulled her into a hug. “You must remain strong if
you want him to live,” she whispered frantically against Saia’s ear.

Saia blinked back the tears. She pulled away from her mother
and smiled, raising a hand and waving to the crowd. Shouts and jeers coming
from one corner of the room caught her attention. The Zumagala stood in a
semicircle. Their dark-leather outfits were thick and adorned with various
metals and furs. Facial hair obscured the features of their noses, cheeks and
mouths. Their physiques were pure muscle and told of lives dedicated to
training.

Her attention focused on the male the others congratulated
with slaps on the back.

No.

He was not handsome.

He did not appear nice.

He was
not
her mate.

The male stepped forward and the crowd grew still. This
would seal her fate. He had the right to reject the open proclamation of their
bonding or he could accept it.

She held her breath.

“I am Ranuit Pi—and Saia Xochis will become my mate.”

The crowd erupted again. Her vision swam. Her heart
threatened to explode from her chest. Her knees knocked together.

I need Justin.

On impulse she looked for him, only to find her mother stood
in the way, blocking her view. Her mother shook her head slowly. She could not
look at Justin again.

Doing so would ensure his death.

Saia turned back to Ranuit Pi and smiled. She nodded once to
indicate her understanding. He had publicly claimed her, she was his.

Forever.

JB watched as Saia acknowledged her new mate. His heart fell
to his stomach. Ranuit Pi was worse than he ever imagined.

He stepped back into the crowd. He shouldn’t have shown
himself to her when she entered. He should have remained in the back of the
room and watched her, but he couldn’t stay away. He had planned to watch her
from afar, but as she scanned the crowd, he knew she was looking for just one
person—him. His heart felt the pull of hers.

Saia looked alone and lost. He wanted to defy the promise of
death and go to her. Gather her in his arms and leave. Take her somewhere safe,
where eyes wouldn’t watch her every move.

No matter who she was bound to, she was his, as he was hers.

It had taken all of his resolve to watch and not do what his
heart screamed for him to do. She couldn’t go anywhere with that beast.

He flicked his attention to Taio. Eva held on to his arm as
though she were afraid he would bolt across the room and kill Ranuit Pi. Neither
one smiled or pretended to be happy for the occasion.

Not even Taio would be able to negotiate with Ranuit Pi.

JB backed away from the crowd until his heels met the wall.
He had a plan B. It would cost him his life if he was caught though.

The solution?

Don’t get caught.

“Hey,” Jess said, coming over to him. “It’s not fair is it?”
She nodded toward Saia. “She’s a great girl. I hate to see her end up with
someone like him.”

Saia had a fake smile on her face while she accepted
congratulations from the guests.

“Me too.”

Jess settled against the wall next to him and watched as
Ranuit Pi put his arm around Saia. “If there was something I could do to help
her out, I wouldn’t hesitate to do it…especially if it meant helping one of my
best friends too.”

“Jess, there’s nothing that can be done.”

“Uh huh,” she said.

“I’m for real. They have a plan—their
only
plan.”

She shrugged. “If it were me, I wouldn’t dare leave it up to
one plan.
Pft.
Who does that?”

“They do.” He turned to look at her. He wanted to tell her everything
he was thinking, but she had something good here. He couldn’t risk Jess being
involved.

“So I suppose you’ll be leaving tomorrow, with Kane and
Sa’Mya.”

“Sooner if they want to.”

She took a deep breath. “And when you leave, you’ll be
careful.”

“Of course.”

“And you’ll take care of yourself?”

“I will.”

“You know, we won’t be able to keep in touch. Communications
between Sonis and Laconia could be…dangerous.”

“I’m aware.”

She looked away, trying to hide the tears that had formed
her eyes.

“You know I love you, right?”

She nodded.

He kissed her on the cheek and she closed her eyes.

“You are one crazy man,” she whispered.

“I never pretended to be sane.”

* * * * *

Every nerve in her body screamed at her to flee and not look
back. The only thing that kept her rooted in her seat was the glare that came
from Olo. At first she tried not to acknowledge him, but the weight of his
stare made her feel more uneasy with each passing moment.

What would he do to her if she didn’t answer one of Ranuit
Pi’s questions correctly? What would he do to her if he thought she was an
embarrassment?

Or worse yet, what would he do to her mother?

A sprinkle of bumps erupted on her body. A fine sheen of
perspiration misted her brow.

“Humph, you will make a fine mate.”

She gave Ranuit Pi a shaky smile, as she had the previous
ten times he’d made this proclamation.

He had not talked much to her, but chose to speak more to
King Xochis. When Taio had tried to lead him to a private area, Ranuit Pi had
objected and made a scene by calling for his guards. King Xochis had known
exactly what Taio was trying to do. He didn’t leave Ranuit Pi’s side after
that.

She was doomed.

As the meal arrived, he dug into it without the use of
utensils. He ate sloppily and without manners. She was not the only one at the
table who found his eating habits disgusting. The look on Eva’s face spoke
volumes.

Saia picked up her utensil and tasted the delicacy before
her. The small amount of meat seemed to lodge itself in the back of her throat.
It took four swallows of her wine to make it go down to her stomach, where it
sat in an uncomfortable lump.

“No wonder your species has trouble bearing children. You
don’t eat enough!”

Doesn’t he know?
“Ranuit Pi, has my father explained
that I will not be able to bear offspring?” she whispered, hoping this could be
a deal breaker. “I will only be able to conceive with another Drazlonian or a
human. My species has not had a successful pairing with any other.”

“There’s no need for you to bear my children. I have plenty
of bastards. You will adopt them, and any that come after our bond.”

She inhaled sharply and cut her stare to King Xochis. “I’m
expected to care for your children from other females?”

He waved his hand nonchalantly. “Of course.”

“You’ll have to excuse my ignorance. I didn’t know the
Zumagala had harems.”

“I don’t. I have whores.”

She clenched her eating utensil. “Will you still have use of
your whores after our bonding?”
So I won’t ever have to bed you?

He laughed heartily. “I am a warrior. Of course I’ll keep
all of my whores.”

She sighed in relief.

“Now eat up. I’ll still try to put a child in your belly.
The Zumagala are far superior to the incompetent humans.” He puffed out his
chest. “If the humans can do it, so can we.”

No.

She looked around the table. The noise in the room beat
against her ears. The talking and laughing were so loud that her head began to
pound. The clanging of metal utensils against plates grated on her nerves. The
lighting in the grand room shone too bright in her eyes. She closed them to stop
the sensory overload.

Saia struggled to catch each breath she took. The smell of
dirt and sweat coming from Ranuit Pi seemed to overpower her. Nauseous bile
rose in her throat.

Ranuit Pi chuckled. “You are afraid of your new mate?”

“I…I apologize. I didn’t mean to offend.”

“Mmm. I didn’t know what to expect when your father agreed
so readily to this union.”

His breath smelled of food and brew. She held her own as the
contents in her stomach churned.

“But I am very pleased,” he added.

She shifted her gaze to her mother, who looked as though she
wanted to run to Saia’s side to stop her from causing a scene and upsetting Olo
more. Saia plastered a smile across her face. Her lips quivered. “I am pleased
as well.”

“Of course you are! You will be the mate of a great Zumagala
warrior.” He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her closer. Her body slammed
against his. She gagged as his smell overpowered her.

Placing her hands on his chest, she tried to push away.
Undeterred, Ranuit Pi dug his fingers into the side of her butt and squeezed.

“Ah, I like a fighter,” Ranuit Pi whispered, his breath
singeing the hairs in her nose. “I only hope that my warriors won’t fuck all
the fight out of you.”

She froze.

He wouldn’t.

She turned to look at the hoard of Zumagala warriors. They
had a table all to themselves. They rotated between shoveling food into their
mouths and smiling at her. They shouldered each other as if they were arguing
over who would have her first.

He would.

“Let me go!” she screamed with renewed fear.

None of this had turned out as she’d hoped. Taio wouldn’t be
able to strike an agreement with Ranuit Pi. And now she wouldn’t dare ask him
to bring Fainia with them. She felt the room swim. This was all wrong. She
would be stuck with Ranuit Pi for the rest of her life.

“King Xochis, stop this madness!” her mother pleaded as Saia
tried to wiggle away.

“Saia, cease your struggles! You belong to Ranuit Pi,” Olo
seethed.

She didn’t know which to fear most, the warrior squeezing
her, the impending group rape or Olo’s displeasure.

I don’t belong to him yet.

The more she struggled, the more her mind clouded. Fear and
panic coursed through her veins and seemed to smother her.

Her head swam.

“Saia? Saia, what’s wrong?”

“Mother?” The word was slurred and mumbled.

She tried to open her eyes wider but they seemed so heavy.

“Is she defective?” Ranuit Pi asked.

Yes, I’m defective.

She fell to her side as darkness overwhelmed her.