Hearts of Ishira (Hearts of Ishira Saga) (49 page)

As Hunter began what was obviously something he did on a regular basis, training new soldiers, Jace carried a tired Arianna over to a bench in a shaded area, where she could see what was going on, but wasn’t troubled by the heat of the afternoon. She had tried to tell him that she was fine to keep going, but he wasn’t willing to risk setting her healing back. And she was a bit worn out, after such a rigorous, though fun, workout. So she capitulated and watched the others as she spun her yarn.

However, when the time came for the men to show the women how to defend and attack from the ground, from a bench, or even from the arms of someone rescuing them, Ri got back into the swing of things, showing what she’d already learned. Hunter, Jace, and the others then separated the women out with groups of men, and they worked on some new moves in the smaller groups.

In no time at all, she and the other girls had learned the basics of defending themselves from multiple attacks, from all angles, and were getting used to brandishing a knife even if it wasn’t real. While she hadn’t been able to stop herself from being hurt the last time Amy had attacked, Ri now felt confident that, should the woman attack again, Arianna could at least hold her off long enough for Hunter or one of his men to get to her. That was really all she wanted. For now.

Hunter ended the training session after a while, promising that they would practice more, and assuring them that she and the other girls would become proficient at defense, if they chose to continue training. Ri was determined to keep him to that promise. The women then retreated to sit on the bench, in the shade, talking and watching as the men went back to sparring amongst themselves.

From the balcony of her jailers, Amy watched the entire practice session, noting the attacks, the defenses, and the way Jace and Hunter fawned all over Arianna. The stupid bitch felt she needed to learn to protect herself? Amy sneered. Damn right, she did. And with good reason. Amy had already successfully gotten to Ri, twice. Had already hurt her, twice. Amy was rather proud of the fact, even if the second time had resulted in her current situation.

She didn’t really have much to complain about right now. The men thought they were teaching her to be obedient, though their methods were… unorthodox. She scowled, wondering when one of them would return to feed her lunch. They had locked all the food away, so that only by their hands and their permission could she eat. Did they truly think that denying her sustenance would alter her behavior? Hah! She had been raised in a very strict, very religious home. Her very religious father and uncle had shown her how to ‘behave’. There was nothing about pain or degradation these alien men could teach her.

But they were keeping her locked up. Probably because if she were free to roam on her own, Hunter was afraid he would fall prey to her wiles. She smiled, thinking about the handsome, incredibly sexy man. Between him and his brother, she could rule this little colony. She could introduce them to the idea of a dictatorship, since apparently they had no clue about something like that. The damn barbarians. Forget that they had computers… no furry-backed alien could possibly understand true power or the political machinations that a woman could use to get what she wanted from men… and make them think it was their idea.

Chuckling to herself, Amy plopped down on the sofa, deciding to take a nap. She had been ordered to clean the apartment before lunch, but there was no one there to make that happen. What were they going to do? Spank her? She was a grown woman. They wouldn’t dare! Kicking her feet up onto the couch, which she’d been expressly forbidden to do, Amy stared up at the ceiling, grinning and planning her next move.

Arianna had to be taken out, she saw now. Or at the very least, someone close to her. Amy’s face lit up with glee as an idea took root in her brain. Perhaps Hunter would turn to Amy if he was grief-stricken. She could be there for him when his brother and mate were tragically struck down. Amy could soothe his shattered soul and be the one to bring him back from the brink of despair. And if she planned it just right, no one would know it had been her.

But she needed a ‘friend’. She needed someone malleable and impressionable that would do her bidding, and she needed to cultivate that friendship so that she could exact her revenge on Arianna from afar, behind the relative security of her locked doors. Her prison would become her alibi, if she played her cards right.

Smiling wickedly, she thought of all her sorority sisters and came up with the one most likely to help her. Tanya’s quarters were fairly close by, too. Now all she had to do what catch her new ‘friend’ on the balcony sometime, so they could talk. It might take a bit of time, and she might have to play the Protocol game for awhile, so that the team let their guard down, but she was patient.

With a new plan in place, Amy sighed happily and drifted off to sleep.

“So, I noticed the new hairstyle,” Bev murmured to Ri as they sat on the bench. Chelsea and Kim were sitting with them, all of the girls watching their men spar. Ri blushed and nodded, sending sideways glances at the two younger women.

“Yeah,” Chelsea said, looking at Ri. “What was up with all the cheering when you and the Beautiful Bros came down?”

“The what?” Ri choked on a startled laugh. The other girls grinned.

“It’s what some of the girls are calling Hunter and Jace. They’re just so… yummy.”

“You have no idea,” Arianna sighed, her eyes latching hungrily onto Hunter. In her mind’s eye, she saw him over her again, his face a mask of controlled passion as their energies joined and he came with her. She shivered, not realizing she’d been broadcasting until there was a curse from the training field and Hunter glared at her.

“Arianna!” he bellowed. She blinked at him, shaking herself out of the erotic reverie to see that he had been hit fairly hard. A large bruise was already forming on his shoulder and his eyes were so hot on her, she wasn’t sure whether to go fuss over him or run. He rolled his eyes at her, gestured to his injured shoulder, eyebrows raised in entreaty and said, “Shield? Please?”

“I’m sorry!” she cried, sending a mental kiss to his hurt shoulder. A little devil made her taunt him, though. “But you know, if you were protecting that shoulder better, it wouldn’t have happened.”

The soldiers on the field stared at her. Hunter’s eyes were wider than she’d ever seen them before. For a long moment, she wondered if she’d gone too far. Then Hunter threw back his head and laughed, deep belly laughs that had his men grinning and laughing along.

“You are right, little warrior,” he called, his eyes hot with promise. “I will keep that in mind.”

But in her mind, he growled at her for taunting him publicly and sent an image of how she could make up for her teasing. She grinned happily at him and nodded, licking her lips in anticipation. He returned the grin with a wicked one of his own, then went back to beating the snot out of Mors.

“What was that all about?” Kim asked, blinking at the heat that had passed between Hunter and Ri.

“We um… well, this morning we kind of-“

Bev hooted and clapped, then hugged Ri enthusiastically.

“You little slut-puppy!” Bev squealed softly, surprising Ri, who laughed. Bev sat back and looked at Arianna carefully. “So is that what the braids are about?”

“Yes,” Ri sighed, smiling shyly. “Hunter said that it sort of shows that I’ve been claimed by him. Each man apparently has his own unique braid or twist or whatever, and after you’ve been claimed by them, they will braid part of your hair in their own design.”

“So when you and Jace…” Bev arched her brows in a wicked grin. Ri blushed even more, nodding.

“You and Hunter…
and
Jace?” Kim breathed, awed. Bev and Ri went shock still and turned guilty looks on the younger girls, who were staring at them, stunned. Ri swallowed, realizing that it was time to talk to the girls about the whole more-than-one-guy thing. She had thought to do it all at once, in one big meeting or whatever, but this might be better. With one or two girls at a time, she could answer their questions and Read them to make sure they understood.

“Um,” she started, stalling for time, trying to find the words. Sensing her distress, Hunter stepped back from his fight, frowned over at the group of women, then slowly started her way. She was grateful for the support, even if he wasn’t there yet. She sighed, then just went for it.

“Well, it’s like this,” she said quietly, her eyes meeting those of Kim and Chelsea. “I’m betting you’ve noticed just how… virile these men are.”

“Uh, yeah,” Chelsea breathed, her gaze moving to Mors and his men. They caught sight of Hunter moving toward the girls and, concerned at the look on his face, followed. Chelsea sucked in a breath. “Chill! They’re coming!”

Arianna chuckled, shaking her head. Hunter arrived and knelt beside her. He met her eyes, his own warm and tender, then reached up to run a finger over the smoothly plaited braid that curled around to the back of her head.

“You look lovely with my braid, my colors in your hair, Commander,” he told her, smiling. She blushed and leaned into his caress.

“I feel beautiful for some unknown reason, Commander,” she admitted, grinning at him.

“You seem a bit… distressed,” he said, looking around at the others. “Is there something I can help with?”

“Well, maybe,” she said, then took a deep breath and blew it out. Chelsea was shaking her head frantically. Kim looked like she wanted to throw up. Bev’s chest was percolating with the effort not to giggle out loud. Ri gestured toward Kim and Chelsea. “It seems that the idea of my mating with both you and Master Jace is… surprising to some of my girls.”

“Why would that come as a shock?” Mors asked, finally arriving. It was Chelsea’s turn to look nauseous. He nodded to Ri in respect. “Commander. Our leaders have made no secret of their intent to claim you. Our men are thrilled that you have finally succumbed to at least one of them.”

His grin flashed, dimples showing at the corners of his mouth. Ri blinked in reaction. He was rather good-looking, himself. Taking a cue from Hunter, Mors knelt on the ground beside Chelsea.

“But why would your Commander’s choice of men surprise you?” he asked, furrowing his brow. Chelsea’s mouth moved but no sound emerged. Hunter Read the girl and chuckled.

“Perhaps it is not the choice of men, but the number,” he suggested gently. Chelsea’s head bobbed up and down, her eyes wide.

“Chels,” Bev began, leaning forward, her elbows on her knees, “It’s like this. These guys-“

“She is my woman,” Mors said softly, looking at Chelsea with tenderness. “I will explain it to her.”

“We want to be there, as well,” Dale, a member of Mors’ team, put in. The other member of their team nodded. Chelsea blinked up at all three of them, then back at Ri, who smiled encouragingly.

“Ah hell no!” Chelsea said, rising and moving back, staring at them. “All three of you?”

“Chelsea,” Mors began, looking alarmed at her outburst. Ri raised her hand and got to her feet, following the younger woman. She took Chelsea’s hands in her own and Read the girl’s mind.

“Ri,” Chelsea begged, “I don’t know what to do!”

“Yes,” Arianna said, smiling gently. “You do.”

“But it’s… my mother would…”

“Chelsea, sweetie…” Ri sighed. “Your mother’s not here, and much as we don’t want to think about it, you will not be seeing her again. Ever. This is a new planet, and the rules are different here. Now, are you religiously opposed to mating with more than one man?”

“Well, no,” Chelsea admitted, cutting glances at her team. “I mean, I always thought, one man, one woman.”

“And back in our world, that was the accepted thing,” Ri allowed. “But here… let Mors tell you about their society. Let his team tell you of their wishes and their feelings for you.”

“Then… I’m not a complete ho-bag for being attracted to all of them?” Chelsea asked, her voice pitched low. But her men heard her. At their chuckles, she looked up and gasped. “You did
not
hear that!”

“Aye,” Mors said, his eyes locking on hers, holding her captive with his gaze. “I did. And it does not come as a surprise. We have been working hard to win your attention, beautiful, dark warrior.”

“Dark?” She tried to sound affronted, but the heat and admiration in his eyes made it pointless.

“Aye,” he said huskily, running the back of his knuckles down her chocolate-brown skin, down to her collarbone. “Dark. Beautiful. Dangerous, lithe, and quick, like the jungle cats that our people evolved from millions of years ago.”

“You think I’m beautiful?” she asked, her breath hitching in surprise, her eyes wide.

“I think you are the most exotic, lovely, deadly woman I’ve ever met,” Mors told her sincerely. “I think that you will be a formidable warrior, and my team and I would be honored beyond words if you would consider us for your mates.”

Chelsea’s mouth dropped open, tears shimmering in her eyes as she threw a helpless look at Ri.

Hunter rose and put his arm around Ri’s shoulders. Though she hadn’t sensed his arrival, Jace was there, as well, and did the same from the other side. Seeing Arianna standing between the two tall warriors, knowing that she would be mating with both of them and looked perfectly fine with it, Chelsea took a deep breath and looked up at Mors.