DangerouslyHis (18 page)

“I will not tolerate this!” Ranuit Pi slammed his fist on
the table and stood.

Taio gripped the armrest of his chair. It was the only thing
keeping him from lunging at Ranuit Pi and strangling him.

The alien leaned across the table to stare at King Xochis.
“We have a contract,” he seethed.

King Xochis met his stare with a piercing one of his own. “I
have not broken our contract. I will find Saia and she will be yours as
promised.”

Taio formed his fingers into a steeple. “We cannot ignore
the inevitable.” He looked at Ranuit Pi. “Will you still want her if she is no
longer pure?” Both males turned to him. “She has run off with a male.” Taio
shrugged. “I don’t want to think about it, but I’ve faced the fact that he has
likely tainted her body. She may very well carry a child that is not yours.”

His father nearly erupted from his seat. “She would not
dare
taint my name that way!”

Taio fought against a smile. He liked nothing better than to
see someone get the best of his father. “There is a possibility that she will.”

His father’s eyes narrowed to a severe squint. “I will kill
her
and
that human,” he ground out.

Taio’s fist clenched again. His nails bit into his palms.
“You will not,” he said, trying to keep his voice as calm as possible. “You
will give her to me.”

Ranuit Pi swiveled his head to King Xochis. “
I
get to
have her—we have a contract!” he said, spitting as he spoke.

His father looked to Taio and smiled, then turned to Ranuit
Pi. “And I will make sure it’s honored.”

Taio straightened in his chair. “You will still honor the
contract, even after this?”

Ranuit Pi cut his hand through the air. “I don’t care if she
has fucked another. All that matters is that the contract is upheld and I get what
is promised to me. If she is with child, I’ll send it back to King Xochis.”

Taio exhaled deeply and looked toward the wall. A warring
lord such as Ranuit Pi wouldn’t be interested in fidelity, especially since
Saia couldn’t produce heirs for him. She was just a means to what he thought
was a victory in a never-ending war.

King Xochis sputtered. “You will do no such thing!”

“Then I’ll kill it,” Ranuit Pi said.

“And I’ll be forced to kill
you
,” Taio said low.

He peered at Ranuit Pi, imagining all the ways he could end
his life. The warrior returned his stare with a dangerous glint in his eye.
Nothing would make Taio happier that to pluck his eyes out and stuff them down
his throat. Only after Taio smiled did Ranuit Pi’s gaze shift to King Xochis.

“Don’t get upset about nothing,” King Xochis said. “I’m sure
Ranuit Pi isn’t really going to kill a child, should Saia have one. He’ll send
it to
you
.” He turned to Ranuit Pi. “Won’t you?”

“Of course. I don’t care who has the child. I just want my
promised mate back—along with my Drazlan royal guards.”

King Xochis smiled. “See, Son? There’s no need for me to
kill your precious sister. Ranuit Pi will take her regardless. Now, let’s stop
this talk about children and killing. We can’t be sure she’ll come back
pregnant.”

“How am I supposed to stop thinking about killing
you
?”
Taio asked under his breath.

“What are you mumbling?” King Xochis inquired.

A laugh erupted from Ranuit Pi. “Ha! Family dynamics,
there’s nothing like them. I killed
my
father for his crown. One day I
suspect one of my many sons will kill me.” He held his head high. “It will be a
glorious day in our history.”

He is crazy.
Taio groaned and rolled his eyes. He
couldn’t let his sister spend the rest of her life with a lunatic.

He continued on. “The day my son can overthrow me will be
celebrated amongst my people. I will even smile myself as the sword is being
thrust into my chest.” He tilted his head. “But if he beheads me, I suppose I
won’t have time to smile.” He turned to one of his guards. “Alouno El! If I’m
beheaded, will I have time to smile?”

Alouno El furrowed his brow. “I suspect you will, Lord. I
have not seen a warrior smile at the time of beheading, but I
have
seen
a look of horror. I suppose it is much the same.”

Taio shook his head.

His father stood and adjusted his clothes. “Taio, since she
has fled while under your care, I insist you find her and return her to me and
Ranuit Pi.”

“It will take time to locate her, and even that is not a
guarantee.”

“I will not hear of such a thing. You can get your entity to
help you.”

“He is not
my
entity. Ship is not owned by anyone.”

“If I had such an entity, I would have untold powers,” King
Xochis said, looking out the window as if he were imagining which worlds he
would conquer first.

“I have heard of this entity of yours. Make it show itself
to me.” Ranuit Pi grunted and looked around. “I demand it.”

Taio stood, not able to take any more. “I will not. As I’ve
said, Ship makes his own decisions.”

Ranuit Pi began to bristle but King Xochis put a hand on his
shoulder. “No need to get upset. We will bring her back. That’s the only
important thing here.” Then he turned to Taio. “I’ll expect you to find Saia.
If you fail, I will be forced to contact the Galactic Council. She left while
under your protection. I would expect ample compensation.”

“I would expect a war!” Ranuit Pi declared, brushing King
Xochis’ hand away.

Taio watched as they left, trailed by their guards. They
were much the same, he thought. Power-hungry and selfish. Saia deserved so much
better than either one of them.

“I know what you are thinking,” Ship said.

“I don’t believe you do, but humor me.”

“You can’t start a war with your father and Ranuit Pi.”

“No, I can’t, but it doesn’t stop me from thinking about it.
I’d like nothing better than to end their miserable lives.”

“I have a question.”

Taio leaned back in his chair and rubbed a hand across his
brows. He’d had little sleep since Saia and JB left Sonis. “Yes?”

“Why does King Xochis hold you responsible when you didn’t
aid in her escape?”

“I didn’t help her leave, but I suspect you did.” He’d
thought about it over and over again. There was no other way for Saia to escape
undetected. Ship was the only one who could have orchestrated it.

Ship ignored him. His silence confirmed what Taio thought.

“Why did you do it?”

“Because it needed to be done,” Ship stated.

“My father is right. I’m responsible for her escape. The
Galactic Council will hold me accountable.”

“I’ll divulge what I did. It was only me. I’ll listen to any
repercussions the Galactic Council would propose.”

Although he was furious, he couldn’t help but chuckle and
shake his head at Ship’s choice of words. “The Galactic Council couldn’t do
anything to you. They wouldn’t know how to punish you.”

“But I’ll listen just the same.”

“I’m sure you’d listen to them just as well as you listened
when I explained the rules of my culture.”

“The rules of your culture dictate that as her father, King
Xochis is responsible for her. As a high-ranking member of that culture, it is
expected that you would uphold the rules set forth. You cannot legally keep her
away. If you find her, you must return her to him. He is her rightful
protector.”

Taio choked on a laugh.
Protector.
King Xochis was no
protector.

“What is so funny?” Ship asked.

“If you would have been present for the entire meeting, you
would know what I’m laughing about.”

“I was, and I still don’t find Saia’s situation humorous.”

“You were here? Why didn’t you help me out?”

“There was no need for me to involve myself in your family
discussion.”

Taio rolled his eyes. “When has that ever stopped you
before?”

“The point is, I don’t have a culture or rules that bind me.
I am myself…separate. If I were a part of your culture, I suppose I would be
bound to the governing rules.”

“But you are not.”

“No.”

“So if you don’t agree with a rule or two, you wouldn’t be
obligated to follow them.”

“Correct.”

“I don’t want her to bond with Ranuit Pi any more than you
do, but what you’ve done has created a mess.”

“Probably.”

Taio scrunched his face. “Is that all you have to say?”

“Possibly.”

“For the love of all things great!” Taio bellowed.

“I apologize for causing you stress. JB will take care of
her.”

Taio shook his head, trying to tamp down his anger.
“Unacceptable. You will return her to me. I will take care of her.”

“By the rules of your culture, your father is responsible
for her, not you.”

“I’ll work to change that.”

“You are her brother. Do you intend to keep her in your
household forever?”

“No, not forever. Just until she is old enough to bond.”

“She has passed the bonding age.”

“Then I will choose a male worthy of her love.”

“Mm-hm. I believe she has given her love to another.”

Taio snorted. “That human? She is enthralled with him, like
many of the other females here. JB has a way with the females. He has somehow
gotten Saia caught in his whim.”

“She loves him.”

“Only because she has been sheltered all her life. She
doesn’t know any better.”

“You would take her from her father and do much the same.”

“Ship, you and I have been friends for a very long time. If
you ever compare me to my father again, that friendship will end.”

“Tsk, and who would help you keep Eva in line?”

“I am serious. I am
not
my father. I want only the
best for Saia. When the time comes, she will bond for love. I would never
contract her to bond for monetary or political gain.”

“You would not listen to her wishes. She wishes to be with
JB.”

“When I was her age, I wished to be with Mariettai Kinu. I
was young and I was a fool.”

“I remember that time, and I won’t argue with you. You
were
a fool, but I don’t sense the same in Saia. Her body systems all point to love,
while yours pointed to lust.”

“Great Ancients, Ship! Return her to me now!”

“I am afraid that I cannot force her to return against her
will.”

“Her will?” Taio yelled. “She’s just a child. She doesn’t
know what she wants.”

“You’re looking at her through the eyes of a protective
brother. She’s not a child anymore.”

Taio slammed his fist on the desk. A crack formed in the
wood. “I will find her with or without your help. And when I do, I will keep
her away from Ranuit Pi
and
my father.”

“How will you keep her away from JB?”

He thrust his hands through his hair and leaned on the desk.
“I don’t have an answer for that—yet.”

Eva placed a hand on the queen’s back and rubbed gently,
trying to soothe the racking that began with the tears. “Fainia, Taio will find
her.”

After the announcement that Saia and JB had fled together,
Eva had gone straight to Fainia’s apartment. She’d found Fainia by herself in
the living area, crying inconsolably.

“I wish he wouldn’t.”

“Why?”

“Saia is better off wherever she is. If she returns, Olo
will harm her.”

“Taio won’t let that happen.”

Fainia laughed, making a sound so deep that Eva couldn’t
believe it came from the queen. “Like he has stopped Olo all those other
times?”

Eva pulled back. “What do you mean?”

Fainia used her sleeve to wipe her eyes. “Eva, Olo has been
beating Saia and me since she turned two birth cycles old.”

The words seemed to strike Eva like a whip. “Why haven’t you
told Taio?”

The tears Fainia wiped away were quickly replaced with fresh
ones. “What could Taio do to stop him?” she whispered in a hoarse tone.

“He could…he could…” Eva looked around, trying to find the
words.

“He could do nothing short of starting a war, bringing ruin,
destruction, death and pain to our great worlds.” Fainia shook her head. “Saia
and I both knew what would happen if Taio found out and we both decided to let
this be our burden to carry.”

“I can’t imagine what the two of you have been through.” Eva
began to cry herself, at just the thought of Olo putting his hands on two
vulnerable females.

“We’ve been through a lot, but Olo didn’t accomplish what he
set out to do. He thought he could break us down, but he’s only made us
stronger. Before the beatings, I would never have thought to help my child
escape her obligation. Now…” He eyes narrowed with defiance. “I’d do it over
and over again.”

Eva stood. “Taio must know.”

Fainia stopped her with a hand. “Eva, Saia is gone. There’s
no need for Taio to know anything now.”

“Saia may have gotten away from Olo, but
you
haven’t.” Eva shook her head. “I can’t let you go back to Drazlan—Taio won’t
let you go back.”

Fainia tugged on her hand, pulling Eva back to her seat.
“Don’t worry about me, child. Someone who isn’t bound by the rules of my world
is helping me figure out a solution. I have no plans to return to Drazlan with
Olo.”

Eva frowned. The only person who did what he wanted at all
times was… “Ship?”

Fainia shrugged nonchalantly.

Eva closed her eyes, digesting everything Fainia had told
her. It must have been hell for them both, but if anyone could help them, it
was Ship.

“Everything will work out as it should. Saia is gone, and
soon I will be too. I’m happy for her. She has found her true love. I won’t deny
her that—I can’t. I know the feeling of losing a true love. I lost mine.”

Eva opened her eyes to look at Fainia. “Before King Xochis?”

“Yes, Xochis was not my first choice. I was in love with
another.” She smiled. Her entire demeanor brightened. “A handsome warrior. He
was everything that I envisioned in a mate. Strong. Fearless.”

“What happened?”

She balled her fists and scowled. “The
king
wanted me
for himself. There was…
is
no denying the king. He wanted me, and just
like that,” the snap of her fingers rang throughout the room, “my father signed
the bonding contract.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“My love begged my father to change his mind. When it was
clear he wouldn’t, he begged me to run away with him. I was too afraid of the
king’s reach and what he would do to my family.”

“So you stayed,” Eva said.

Fainia nodded. “Yes, there was nothing my love could do.
I’ve regretted that decision my entire life.”

“What happened to him?”

She sighed. “He finally bonded with another. It broke my
heart in two, but he had to move on. I didn’t place the blame on him.” She
stood and offered Eva a hand. Eva took it and let Fainia lead her to the
balcony. “I wasn’t allowed to forget about what I’d lost.”

Eva settled into a plush lounge chair. “What do you mean?”

Fainia sat gracefully on the chair next to hers. “I had
hoped to forget him. I intended to make the best of my new life with Olo. But
Olo…” She let out a small grunt. “He couldn’t let it go, the fact that my heart
belonged to someone else. He hired my true love as his personal advisor.” She
shook her head. “I can’t even explain how painful it was to be so near the one
I loved, but pretend he meant nothing to me anymore. It was like a wound Olo
continued to pick.”

The king was worse than Eva had even imagined. But she
didn’t put it past him. “That’s cruel.”

“Olo has never been in love.” She turned and smiled at Eva.
“It does not die and wither away. The feelings I had for my true love never
left. I was happy and proud of the life he’d built for himself. He eventually
had a son, and that made him the happiest I’d ever seen him. I was content to
watch from afar.” Her eyes became distant with remembrance. “Until his mate
died. After that…”

“After that what?”

Fainia blinked rapidly and leaned back into her chair. “It
doesn’t matter. He is no more. He died a warrior’s death.”

Eva didn’t press her but could guess what Fainia wouldn’t
say. After his wife died, Fainia and her true love continued their
relationship.

“I am so happy Taio has found you.”

“Thank you. I’m happy he found me too. Otherwise I could’ve
ended up in a brothel or as some other kind of slave.”

“I don’t believe I ever told you how proud I am of you.”

She turned to look at Fainia. “Proud of me? Why?”

“It is very admirable what you are doing for your species. I
hear that Alexion and Taraj Hazuto have also begun to create their human
sanctuary on Holis.”

“Yes, they have. I’m scheduled to visit with them after
Saia’s bonding cere— I mean, after the new moon.”

Fainia let the mention of Saia’s bonding ceremony slip.
“Holis has a very tolerable climate. I am sure the human females will enjoy
their world.”

“They’re opening Holis to both males and females, which is
an added bonus. They’ve agreed to take only five thousand, but I’m positive
once humans assimilate into their culture, they’ll agree to open their planet
to more.” She was sure of it.

Fainia shielded her eyes and looked up into the sky.
“Drazlan looks so peaceful from here.”

Eva followed her gaze. To her, it had always seemed looming.
There was nothing inviting about the brown planet. Pictures of Earth taken from
space showed a blue planet that screamed “Welcome,” but Drazlan… She repressed
a shudder.

“You know, Eva,” Fainia started. “Before Olo became King of
Drazlan it was such a wonderful place to live. I’ve been to other planets but
nothing matched Drazlan.”

“I haven’t been there. Taio wouldn’t allow it.”

Fainia let out a heavy breath and then turned to Eva. “I
know. It was to protect you. I’m going to miss it my home.”

Eva placed her hand over Fainia’s “You’ll be able to return
one day.”

Fainia smiled. “Yes, once Olo is dead.”

* * * * *

Justin pointed to the cluster of bright lights in the
darkened sky above. “What’s that one called?”

She rolled from her comfortable place on his chest onto her
back and adjusted her head on his arm. “That is the Quertig Complex.”

They were lying on a blanket that Justin had spread on the
ground in the backyard. The night air was hot but bearable since the suns had
gone down. It was calm and still, except for the howls from animals that broke
through the silence every now and then.

She wasn’t scared for her safety, not anymore. Justin would
protect her to no end. She understood that now—his very soul told her so.

“Huh, I’ve been there. It looks nice from afar—all blue and
pink.” He chuckled. “We’ve had quite a few adventures there.”

Saia sighed. “I wish I’d traveled to as many places as you
have.”

He gave her a squeeze. “You will soon enough. As soon as we
can we’ll visit all the places that you’ve read about in the research files. I
promise.”

“Do you ever think about going back to Earth?”

“I think about it all the time. But from what we’ve heard,
Earth has been completely taken over. Mostly everyone there has been sold off.
Anyone still left would be slaves, mining for the Loconuist.” He blew out a
hard breath. “It’ll never be the same again.”

She placed her arm around his chest. “I’m sorry that has
happened to your world. Eva told me how beautiful and unique it was. I wish I
could have seen it.”

He quieted in thought as he leisurely stroked her hair. She
relaxed under each soft pass of his hand. She inhaled deeply, enjoying his smell
mingled with the aroma of the various flowers around them.

Eva told her Earth had many gardens, grand and small. She
imagined her and Justin’s new dwelling would be surrounded by plants, flowers,
trees and even water. She smiled. Yes, she would live in a garden by a pond.
Her and Justin, happy together.

“Has any species ever taken their planet back from the
Loconuist?”

She shook her head and he stiffened. She stroked his
jawline. “Usually once the Loconuist have been there that long, it is not worth
fighting for. The Loconuist destroy the planet’s natural resources, strip it
clean. They are very fast and methodical in their quest to conquer worlds.”

“Who do they usually leave behind? Males, females?”

“Usually just the males. They are more able to do the manual
labor required. The females would have been sold off.”

“Oh,” he said quietly. “There’s probably no chance Tina is
still on Earth then.”

“Have you tried to look for her?”

“No. I was captive on a Loconuist ship, then a Galontaer
slave, then a pirate—and we didn’t stay on any planets too long. She could be
in any number of galaxies. But I’m—
we’re
going to find her. I don’t care
if we have to travel to the far reaches of the universe.”

“Eva is looking for her friend Ally. She believes there is
still hope.”

“Eva lost Ally in this galaxy. At least she has a starting
point. I don’t know where my sister might be. I could go crazy trying to find
her.”

“I prayed to the Ancients that she is alive and well.”

He placed a light kiss on top of her head. “Thank you. I
pray for her every night. But my heart doesn’t hurt for her. I mean, I miss
her, but I feel she’s okay.”

“Then we will keep praying.”

“Yeah, I just hope she’s somewhere giving them hell.”

“If she’s anything like you, I’m sure she is.”

“Princess, are you saying that I’m a hell-raiser?”

“Well, you
were
a space pirate. Now look at you.”

“What have I done now?”

“You’ve taken a princess—a pretty one, I might add—and
you’ve run away with her. Tsk, your bad habits will never change.”

“You’ve left out one thing.”

“What is that?”

“Debauching. You’ve left out that I’ve debauched the
princess.”

“Oh yes, I did leave that out.”

“And you’ve left out that I plan to do it
many
more
times.”

She held back a giggle. “Do you?”

“And you’ve left out that you enjoy it.”

“Do I?”

Justin pulled her fully on top of him. Her legs straddled
his waist. “Ah, yes.”

“How can you be so sure?” Her nipples hardened as they
pressed against his chest.

He trailed a hand down the side of her torso and when he
reached her hip, she gave him access to her pussy. He took full advantage by
sinking his finger into her wetness. “
This
tells me that you do.”

Saia inhaled sharply and arched her back. “There could be
another cause for that,” she said in a strained voice.

His fingers slipped in and out of her, massaging her
entrance. “And that would be…?”

Her mind clouded with pleasure. “That I enjoy…enjoy, um,
lying underneath the stars on a warm night.”

“Hmmm, if lying underneath the stars causes you to get this
wet, then we have to do it more often,” he said in a smooth and sexy voice.

“I agree. Um, we…we should…do this…” Pleasure spiked up her
tailbone as he teased her. “More often.”

“Do you know what else you should do more often?”

“What?” she asked breathlessly.

“Spread your legs and let me lick your pussy until you
scream my name.”

Her pussy convulsed. “Ah, yes, I believe I could do that
more often.”

“Good.”

“But right now…I need to feel…” Reaching down, she felt for
his cock and wrapped her hand around his thickness.

He hissed as she tightened her grip and pulled him up. She
positioned herself over him, pressing his cock against her opening. His hands
went to her waist, holding on as she sat. Searing heat filled her as he
breached her body.

His nails sank into her skin. She rose until she felt he
would fall out, and then sat again.

Justin groaned.

She rose once more, this time slower. She reveled in the way
his cock caressed her walls and how she involuntarily tightened around him.

“This is too good,” he moaned.

She bit her lip and slammed down. They both yelled out in
unison.

JB palmed her ass and squeezed her cheeks together. He
pulled her up then pushed her down. She felt every sensual stroke in her core.
“Yes!” she screamed.

She let him guide her pace, pulling and pushing. Her breasts
bounced freely. She grabbed them and massaged. Her body was on fire.

His finger found its way to her backside. Anticipation began
to build as he trailed it to her dark entrance. He rubbed around it lightly.

Her head fell back, the ends of her hair tickling her butt.

Every time she descended, his finger penetrated a little
more until, finally, she could feel him fully inside her.