DangerouslyHis (20 page)

“Booyah!” Justin screamed. “Open your eyes, baby, and see
what freedom looks like.”

She opened them, first one, then the other. Instead of the
bright sky or the looming Zumagala vessel, she was met with blackness for as
far as she could see.

“We did it?” she asked in disbelief. “Where is the Zumagala
vessel?”

“They just hyper-jumped, leaving us behind.”

Her body trembled with anxiety. “Shouldn’t we hyper-jump
too?” She wanted to get as far away from Sonis and Drazlan as possible. “Can
they pick us up on their security systems?”

“We’ve made it, baby. We’re out of their range.”

“I want out of their star system.” Her voice cracked as she
spoke. She wouldn’t feel completely safe until she was on the other side of the
galaxy.

“I’m way ahead of you. We’re preparing to jump now. But
first, you have tell me where you want to go so I can set the coordinates.”

She blinked rapidly, trying to process all the feelings that
were bombarding her mind. “You’re letting
me
make that decision?”

He cupped her cheek. “We’ll go anywhere you want.”

She turned and kissed the inside of his palm as the first
tears of relief fell. She would spend the rest of her life free—and with the
male she loved.

A trickle of blood slip down Fainia’s throat. As she swallowed,
more took its place. Pain erupted on the side of her temple, causing her vision
to darken.

“You are such a fool!”

Another crushing blow connected with her mouth. The pain
radiated from her jaw around to the back of her skull. Her teeth chattered as she
careened across the floor on her side. One tooth fell and rolled over her
tongue.

Coughing, she spit the tooth out and, along with it, blood.
“I’m not sorry.” She wobbled, trying to push herself up onto her arms. “She has
finally stood up to you.” She spit once more, this time in his direction. “You
will never touch her again!”

Olo’s hands balled into tight fists. “You will regret this
day!”

As he stomped in her direction, she tensed, readying herself
for the next strike. She’d suffered blow after blow since he’d returned from
meeting Taio and Ranuit Pi. Her body had long since become numb, but her spirit
soared.

Saia was free of him.

Just before the kick to her stomach landed, she smiled. He
would never control Saia again.

The force of the kick made the food in her stomach shoot up
her throat and erupt from her mouth, spilling on the floor in front of her.

Too tired to move, she lay where she was and let the vomit
drip from her mouth, down the side of her face.

“You are worthless, just as she is,” he seethed.

“You…” Fainia sputtered.

“Step away from my mother.”

“T…T…” She tried to call Taio’s name, to beg him to look
away. She didn’t want her son to see her like this.

Olo whirled around, ready to fight. “Do you
dare
give
me commands?”

Taio advanced slowly, with a predatory gait. “Eva and Ship
just told me what you’ve been doing to my mother and sister. I couldn’t believe
my ears. I had to come ask her myself.” His eyes narrowed on Olo. “And to catch
you in the act?
Under my roof?
You will pay for this.”

The lights flickered on and off.

“Ship,” Taio said. “I will take care of him.”

Olo puffed out his chest. “There is nothing you or your
pet
can do to me.”

A low hum began. Fainia felt her hair rise. Energy surged
through her body.

“Ship, calm down. You will hurt us all. Contact the healers
and have my mother transported to the medical center.”

“She’s not going anywhere!” Olo stabbed a finger in her
direction. “She will suffer her punishment as the whore that she is!”

He spat in her face, where it landed hot and wet on her
cheek.

In a heartbeat, Taio crossed the floor, his heavy steps
crashing through the room. Olo lowered and tried to brace himself, readying for
the fight that had been building since Taio was born.

Olo didn’t stand a chance.

Taio tackled him, lifting him off his feet. He yelled out as
he threw Olo to the ground, landing on top of him.

Fainia had never wanted Taio to fight his father, but on
this day, she welcomed it. Olo had put her through so much. She tried to pull
herself away from them as they threw punches and rolled around.

Olo grunted while Taio yelled. She thought she wouldn’t be
able to watch anymore as the cracking of Taio’s fist on Olo’s face competed
with the ringing in her ears. She heard hurried commands and the sounds of
rushing feet down the hall. Rasha and Deru ran through the door with Eva on
their heels.

Rasha rushed to the fighting pair. “Taio, get off him.” He
grabbed Taio by the arms and pulled.

“Oh my God!” Eva rushed to Fainia’s side. “What did that bastard
do to you?”

Fainia reached out and grabbed Eva’s arms.

“No, no, stay still. I need to assess you.”

“Taio! There are other ways to handle this,” Rasha shouted
as he struggled to get Taio away from his father.

Olo rolled to a sitting position and wiped blood off his
face. “I’ll see you and this moon obliterated for this!”

“Rasha, I don’t want to hurt you. Let me go.”

“No. We can bring charges against him.”

King Xochis spit out blood and laughed. He lumbered to his
feet and pointed at Fainia. “Because of
her
, I’ll have to answer to the
Zumagala! They’re expecting me to triple the number of guards. They’re also
petitioning the Galactic Council to withhold the gold they promised me in
return. All because of this
whore
, and the daughter who’s determined to
follow in her footsteps.”

“Do not speak of my mother or sister like that!” Taio
growled.

“What? Don’t speak the truth? Saia is just like her mother.”
King Xochis adjusted his clothes. “I should have killed them both when Saia was
born. It is only out of the goodness of my heart that they have been allowed to
live this long.” He turned to her, and she held her chin high. “Is this how you
repay me?”

“Death would have been better than living a life with you,”
she spat.

Olo took a step toward her.

Eva bounced low, planting her feet firmly. “There isn’t a
connection between us. I’ll kill you without remorse.”

Olo threw a glance at Taio. “Make your human
slave
stand down,” he demanded.

Before Fainia’s eyes, Eva transformed into something she’d
never seen. A female warrior—feral and ready for battle.

Olo moved nearer. Eva leaned back on one leg. “I’m warning
you. Take one step closer to me or Fainia and I’ll be forced to end your
miserable existence.”

“Miserable?” Olo sneered. “You have
no idea
how
miserable I’ve been. I’ve lived with a mate who’s nothing more than a common
whore, and my
daughter
,” he laughed and threw back his head, “does not
have a drop of Xochis blood in her!”

Fainia inhaled sharply.

Taio glared at him. “What are you talking about?”

Olo laughed wildly again. “Why do you think she is
contracted with the Zumagala and not a prestigious clan? Because when Ranuit Pi
finds out she’s not a Xochis by blood, he won’t renege on our contract. All he
cares about are the royal guards for his ongoing war. I couldn’t contract her
to any respectable family! Not with her bloodline.”

The room stilled.

“You lie,” Taio whispered.

“Go ahead. Tell him, my queen.”

Fainia coughed as she cleared the blood from her throat. “I
don’t understand…”

“Oh right, you thought I didn’t know. I had Saia tested when
she was born. She is not mine.” He stared at her coldly. “Should I tell them?
Hmm?”

She could do nothing but stare at him in complete shock.

“Rasha, you are not an only child. Your father had been
fucking my wife, his queen, until the day he died. My only regret is that I
didn’t get a chance to kill him myself!” He glared at Rasha. “Fate robbed me of
my vengeance—until now.”

“Saia isn’t your daughter?” Rasha asked in disbelief.

“No. I’m owed something for the credits wasted on her care
and upbringing. I was finally going to be compensated adequately. You’re all
fools. All of you! I’ll most likely have to take a pay cut for those heathens
to take her now!”

“No, you won’t,” Rasha said.

“Idiot! Tainted blood or not, Ranuit Pi will still take
her.”

“King Xochis, Saia is no longer your concern. As Saia’s
oldest male relative, I assume responsibility as her legal guardian.”

Fainia put a hand over her mouth. She could have gotten Saia
away from him sooner, if only she had known. “Rasha, thank you,” she sobbed.

Rasha continued. “Ship, please record my proclamation. King
Xochis, you are now formally relieved of guardianship of Saia Xochis. By the
laws of both Drazlan and Sonis, I hereby proclaim myself as her guardian and
protector.”

Olo sputtered. “I forbid it! She is
mine
! I have a
contract with the Zumagala.”

“Which is hereby voided,” Rasha said.

Taio moved to stand by Rasha’s side. “Ship, please tell
Mazel to inform Ranuit Pi that any contract he has with King Xochis regarding
Saia Xochis is void, and any repercussions they feel are warranted can be taken
up directly with King Xochis.”

“Yes, Taio,” Ship replied.

“You can’t do that! I should have blown up this rock ages
ago! You were getting too comfortable with yourself, thinking you were better
than the home planet.”

“Mother, you are staying here. Your life with King Xochis is
no more.”

“You cannot steal my mate!”

“Mother? I’ll leave the decision up to you,” Taio said.

She looked around the room. She would gladly give up
everything to be free of Olo. “S-stay,” she replied.

“
I’ll kill you!
” Olo bellowed as he ran at her, hands
outstretched.

The swish of Taio’s
jango
cut through the air.

The room stilled as what just happened sank in. Taio watched
as his father’s head tumbled to the floor and bumped against his boot. His
impulse to kick it was calmed by Rasha’s hand on his arm.

“Respect the dead.”

“Even though the dead doesn’t deserve it?”

“Regardless, he is your father and the king. What’s done is
done. It’s over.”

Rasha was right. Taio picked up the head and gave it to one
of his waiting guards. “Transport my mother to the medical center. Eva, I would
appreciate it if you went with her.”

Eva looked at him with wide, shocked eyes. “I should stay
with you.”

“No. My mother needs you more.”

She nodded and stood as a guard gathered his mother in his
arms. She cried softly as she was carried out of the room. Taio didn’t know if
she cried for the loss of her mate or because his reign of terror had finally
been put to an end.

As Eva passed, she placed a gentle hand on his forearm and
gave him one caressing stroke. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“You will need to claim your spot as the new king of Drazlan
immediately,” Rasha said.

Taio took a hard breath. “I know.” He lifted his com-link to
his mouth. “Mazel, the king of Drazlan is no more. I hereby proclaim my
rightful place as the king. Arrange for a public message for both Drazlan and
Sonis residents.”

“Yes, Taio. Shall I also send the announcement to the
Galactic Council and our allies?”

“Yes.”

“Deru, remove the king’s body and prepare it for the burial
ceremony,” Rasha said.

Taio stood motionless, staring at Olo’s body.

“This had to be done,” Rasha said.

Taio nodded. It had been coming for quite some time. His
father had abused his powers in more ways than one. Abusing females was
inexcusable. Abusing his
mother
was punishable by death.

“Ship, can you please connect me with Kiehle? I need to tell
him that I’ve killed our father.”

“Saia? Did you hear what I said?” Rasha asked her.

She stood leaning against the wall of the Rikerian club
Justin had brought her too. When she left the bathroom, she’d run straight into
Jess and Rasha. Her first thought had been to run away, get Justin and hide.
But when she turned to do just that, Jess was on her, pinning her against the
wall.

Saia had expected them to say a lot of things. Like, “You
must return to Drazlan” or “Your father is going to kill you.” But she never
expected to hear what Rasha actually said.

“I don’t think I heard you right,” Saia responded.

“Rasha’s your brother and King Xochis is dead,” Jess said.

She looked from Rasha to Jess. “
Brother?
But…I don’t
understand.”

Rasha glared at Jess. “I should have told her.”

Jess shrugged. “Honey, I’m sorry, but it was taking too
long.”

When Rasha continued to scowl at her, Jess shooed him with
her hands. “Go ahead. Start from the beginning.”

He rolled his eyes and looked at Saia. “Well, it turns out
Queen Xochis and my father…uh, had, uh, a relationship.” He wiped his hands on
his legs.

“A
special
relationship,” Jess interjected.

He gave Jess an irritated glance. “Jess, will you please let
me tell the story?”

She put a hand over her mouth. “Not another peep out of me,”
she said, her words muffled.

Rasha took a deep breath. “As I was saying, um…” He ran a
hand through his hair. “Um…”

Jess was right. This was taking too long. “Your mother and
your father had an affair,” Saia offered.

“Thank goodness,” Jess said. “I thought I was going to have
to spell it out for him.”

“It’s not an easy subject to discuss,” he said, clearly
upset. “I don’t feel comfortable talking about this.”

Saia understood his difficulty. She considered her mother
the epitome of grace.

“After my mother died, Queen Xochis and my father rekindled a
love they shared before she’d bonded with the king.”

Rasha is my brother…

She widened her eyes. “King Xochis isn’t my father?”

“No. He knew all along you weren’t his.”

She closed her eyes. He’d never wanted her to call him
father. He’d never wanted her to do anything that would bring shame to “his”
family name.

No wonder he didn’t love me.

“I don’t feel guilty anymore,” she said.

“Honey, why should you feel guilty? He’s never done right by
you since the day you were born,” Jess said.

“I never loved him. I couldn’t bring myself to even pretend
to love anything about him. I thought he could feel it, and that’s why he never
loved me in return. Even now, knowing that he’s dead, I don’t care. I don’t
wish to know who did it. How it was done. Or even if he felt any pain in the
end.” She shrugged. “Is that bad?”

“I think not.” Jess used a thumb to wipe her cheeks. “He’s
put you through a lot.”

“That’s an understatement,” Rasha said under his breath.

“So I have three older brothers. Taio, Kiehle and now you.”

He shook his head. “The order is me, Taio and Kiehle. I’m
the oldest.”

“Oh.”
Rasha is the oldest. He takes the place of my fath—
“Oh!” she said again with more excitement. “My bond with Justin?”

“Is legal,” he stated.

Saia launched herself into his arms. “Thank you, Rasha!”

He rubbed the back of her head. “My only regret is that I
didn’t know sooner. I would have taken care of you.”

She pulled back to look at him. He’d always shown her love
and compassion. “I know.”

“I think my—
our
father had an idea that you were his
child.”

“He did?” She’d only seen him a handful of times. But he’d
always had a smile on his face when she looked his way.

“He always told me to watch over you as though you were my
sister. But he didn’t need to tell me that. It was only natural for me to care
for you. You were my best friend’s little sister. Thinking on it now, I
remember the longing in his eyes whenever he saw you.”

“Why didn’t he get me tested? He could have taken me away.”

He shook his head. “It wouldn’t have been that easy. Doing
so would have brought disgrace to him, you and Queen Xochis. But if he’d known
how the king treated you and your mother, I’m sure he would have thrown all
that aside and claimed you as his own.”

“My mother and I were very good at hiding it. We didn’t want
anyone to know what was going on.”

“So I hear,” he said.

“I can’t believe this is really over.”

“Not yet. There’s still the matter of Ranuit Pi and the
Zumagala. They have gone to the Galactic Council.”

“You can’t mean he’s still trying to bond with me? You said
my bond with Justin is legal.”

“I said I honor your bond as a legal one. Going through the
Galactic Council is a mere formality. The Zumagala are stubborn and don’t know
when to give up.”

“I don’t care what they say. I’m bonded with Justin.”

“I have every confidence the council will side with us. King
Xochis knew you weren’t his and didn’t have the authority to contract you. As
your oldest male protector,
I
should have that authority—no one else.
The Galactic Council will terminate the contract. I have no doubt.”

“And then our bond will be legally honored?” she asked.

* * * * *

“I could strangle Rasha right now!” Taio roared so loudly
that the statues on his shelf shook. His hands gripped the hard surface of his
desk. It was the only thing keeping him from grabbing the first object he found
and throwing it at the wall.

“Why?” Ship asked.

Taio jerked his head up and looked around the room. If Eva
were here, she could point out exactly where Ship was so Taio could throw something
in
his
direction. So what if the object would only whiz right through
him? The satisfaction he was sure he’d feel would be well worth it. “
Why?
”

“Yes, why?” Ship’s voice was calm and controlled. Another
reason Taio’s blood boiled.

“He…he’s given Saia to JB.” Taio took two slow breaths
before continuing. “He’ll probably—”

“Make her happy.”

“What?” Taio ground out.

“She was happy with him. It was the happiest I’ve ever seen
her.”

He shook his head. “I know JB. He has other things on his
mind than making my sister happy.” Every muscle in his body flexed. He needed
to release his anger. If JB were here, he’d release it on
him
. Punch
after punch.

“When was the last time you saw Saia smile or laugh?”

He took a deep breath, trying to relax himself, and thought
on it. “I can’t remember.”

“I saw her laughing when they were swimming in the Singha
Ocean. That should account for something, right?”

“Uh, no…maybe.”

“JB has brought happiness to a woman who had lost all hope.
When she arrived on Sonis, she was listless, depressed and severely injured
from Olo’s abuse.”

That cooled Taio’s anger considerably. “Really?”

“That is the truth. Saia’s fate was not a good one. She has
found love. I thought you of all people would understand what it is to love,
and to risk tradition to gain it.”

Taio shook his head. “But…I don’t like him.”

“Your sister loves him.”

“Ugh. I can’t imagine my sister with someone who’s not a
warrior. Someone who can’t take care of her like I can.”

“You think you know your sister so well?”

“Of course.”

“What does she want most out of life?”

That’s easy.
“She wants to marry a warrior and have
children.”

“That’s what
you
want for her.
She
wants to
travel the galaxy—to explore.”

Taio frowned, remembering how much time she would spend
looking at the holograms of distant planets and galaxies. “I thought she gave
up those ideas when she was a child.”

“No. That’s her dream. JB can make those dreams come true.
He’s the perfect male to do so.”

“What makes him so perfect? He was a renegade space pirate,
for Ancients’ sake!”

“He is knowledgeable. He is cunning. And he loves her. I
trust him with Saia.”

Taio snorted.

“Rasha trusts JB with her.”

“That’s because Rasha has never been responsible for anyone
before. He doesn’t know any better.”

“According to your culture, he is now responsible for Jess.”

Taio laughed. “Does Jess know that?”

Ship joined in his laughter. So far, Jess handled all of
Rasha’s affairs. She ran
his
life instead of him running hers.

“Rasha made the right decision. Trust me,” Ship finally said.

Taio ran a calloused hand down his face. He
did
trust
Ship, and he trusted Rasha. He had to trust that Saia had given her heart to
the right male.

“I hate it when you’re right,” he muttered under his breath.

“But that is all the time.”

* * * * *

“Come on. I know you want it.”

The Liapo female picked up his hand and rubbed it against
her bumpy pussy. JB shuddered and pulled it away.

“Disgusting!” he said as he wiped the slime coating his hand
on the seat next to him.

She frowned, making her facial tattoo create another design.
“Most human males find my pussy appealing. They experience the best orgasms.”

He wasn’t most human males. “I have a mate.”

She giggled and tossed back her curly purple hair. The array
of bangles on her arms clattered together. “That doesn’t matter.”

He growled. “It matters a whole hell of a lot.”

She quirked—or at least he
thought
she quirked—the
thick purple unibrow that stretched across her face. “Not if you’re in here.”

He looked around the poorly lit club. Various species meandered
around, groping each other or dancing. Alien music blasted from the speakers.
Servers, humans and aliens alike, made their way through the throngs of
partygoers, carrying trays of food and drink.

“Where is she?”

“She’ll be back, and she won’t like that you’re trying to
lure me away.”

She snaked an unusually long and unattractive tongue across
her lips, nose, chin and neck. “Maybe I can keep you company until she
returns?”

He couldn’t see his reflection but he was sure the look on
his face was one of pure disgust.

“Help a female out, huh? It’s been a slow night. I’ll cut my
usual fee in half.”

He choked. “You want me to
pay
to fuck you?”

She reached for his hand again. He tried to pull it away but
she caught him and wouldn’t let go, dragging it between her legs again. “Just
taste it. I’ll make you forget all about your mate.”

He struggled to get his hand back. “No means no.” Where was
the security in this dump? He was about to get raped by an ugly alien.

“Do you need help?”

He’d know that voice anywhere. He turned sharply. “Saia!”

She looked so out of place in a hole like this. She wore a
white loose-fitting pantsuit. Her black hair hung at her sides. She radiated a
glowing perfection. She was beautiful.

She stepped forward and clicked on her com-link. Light
illuminated from the device.

The Liapo’s eyes flashed from blue to green to orange. Her
hair became alive with snakes that stood on end and hissed at Saia. The Liapo
opened her mouth, revealing two rows of small, sharp teeth. “He’s mine.”

“No, he’s
mine
.” Saia took another step forward and
the Liapo slunk away.

JB went to wipe his hand on his pants leg but Saia caught
him. “It’s poison.”

He stared at his hand in disbelief. “She was trying to kill
me?”

Saia chuckled and waved down a server. “He doesn’t require
the services of a Liapo,” she said to the human.

The woman handed Saia a small packet. She tore it open and
wiped down both of his hands. “She wasn’t trying to kill you. She was going to
fuck you. The poison is like a drug…very addictive. She expected you to lick
your fingers.”

JB considered vomiting.

Saia handed the wipe to the server and thanked her. “You
would’ve given her all your credits.” She smiled at him. “I learned about them
when I was younger. I’ve never met one before. Interesting. They’re prettier
than in the holograms.”

“That was
not
pretty. We need to get you out more,”
he said, standing.

“You don’t think she was pretty?”

“No one is prettier than you.” His mouth crushed hers. His
hands cradled her face. He abruptly pulled away. “What took you so long? See
what happens when you leave me alone? Strangers try to poison me.”

“And then I would have given you the antidote.”

He pulled her close. “That’s why we make a good team. I
think I’ll call you the antidote giver.”

“You get to be Justin the ex-pirate and I get to be Saia the
antidote giver?” She snorted. “I think not.”

He kissed her head. “Why not? It suits you.”

She chuckled and put her head on his shoulder. “I don’t know
what I’m going to do with you.”

He looked up—and his eyes locked on Rasha and Jess. JB
froze. “Saia, when I tell you to, run to the transporter.”

Rasha and Jess approached. “Hey,” Jess said. “It’s great to
see you again.”

He yanked Saia behind him. “Now!”

But she didn’t move.

“Justin,” she said. “It’s fine.”

He shook his head. Seeing them couldn’t be good. Not when he
and Saia were on the run.

“Jess, I love you, but I can’t let you take her away from
me.”

Saia stepped forward. “They aren’t here to take me away.”

“What do you mean?”

Saia looked sheepishly at Rasha. “He’s going to see that the
Galactic Council suppresses Ranuit Pi’s claim on me.” She tugged on JB’s shirt
and kissed him. “You’re stuck with me.”

Rasha?
He shook his head in confusion. “I know I
should have been paying more attention when Eva was explaining your culture to
me, but I am so confused.”