Kozav (13 page)

The words pushed Impe into action and the male threw Grace away from him before launching himself at Kozav. He watched Grace tumble to the ground, catch herself on the damaged surface and… continue falling.

She didn’t stop as she neared the edge, or even when she balanced right on the rim. She tumbled over the side while Kozav could do nothing but watch.

No.

He was merely an observer once and failed. He would save his family this time.

Impe’s lurch was awkward and stumbling, giving him the perfect chance to bury his sword in the male’s chest. It was a quick death, the strike precise and sinking through the heart. A well-practiced killing blow. One he did not derive pleasure from despite the male’s actions.

Before Impe’s body teetered to the ground into a lifeless heap, Kozav was gone, diving over the side. He held his wings tightly to his body, forming an aerodynamic pod that sliced through the skies. His speed increased, bringing him closer and closer to his flailing mate. She twisted and spun, body twirling and hands snatching at air as if there was something that could slow her fall. There wasn’t something, but there was some
one
.

He flicked his attention to the waters, gauging the distance, and he knew he would have to time his next movements precisely. Otherwise, he’d lose his mate before he had a chance to truly have her.

Kozav tensed his muscles, constricting himself further to help speed up his approach. He had to catch her at the right moment, let everything flow through him at the precise second…

He let his dragon’s soul ease closer, close enough that the mind was present, but the body remained a tight streak of flesh and wing. It was there, ready and waiting to spring, to do as demanded to save his mate. They drew nearer to the watery grave below, hitting the liquid a sure death sentence at these speeds.

Seventy-five feet. Fifty. Thirty.

When the distance narrowed to twenty, Kozav let the dragon take control. The transition washed over him in a blinding rush, body expanding, wings stretching, face transforming until a two-hundred-ton dragon covered in teal scales emerged. Claws outstretched, he caught Grace, cradling her as he allowed ocean winds and his wings to lower them into a smooth glide above the rolling sea waves. The water churned a mere six feet beneath his claws, death lurking near while he cradled life—and his future—in his claws.

F
our days
later and her hands still shook. No matter what she was doing or where she was, they shook. The trembles never left, not even when she slept. Just a constant vibration that seemed ingrained in her body.

She wondered if it’d ever go away. Though, does a person ever get over being kidnapped, beaten, thrown over the edge of a training platform and then rescued by a dragon?

The Heart Master Sobol joi Zurer didn’t have an answer for Grace. Typical.

But today wasn’t about her or her shaking or the nightmares she hid from Kozav. The silent, brooding Kozav who kept his distance. He’d saved her, watched over her while the healers repaired her injuries and then was just… gone. They still shared rooms but they were near strangers. Who knew a fight over a job would end in such a tangled mess?

Another question Sobol couldn’t answer.

Right. Today. Today was about her mother. She stood beside Donna’s medical platform, fingers twined around her mother’s, while the maroon warrior—Skala—remained on her mom’s right. In reality, Skala had hardly left Donna’s side since she’d arrived on the ship. He was still a total stranger to Grace, but Kozav had assured her he was an honorable First Warrior who acted as guard to Lana joi Taulan.

And Skala, in turn, brought her mom comfort. When her mother patted Skala’s hand, some of the wrinkles on his face would ease. When Skala grunted because a healer got too close, her mom would chuckle and smile.

Grace’s mother said there was nothing going on between them. Though, really, as sick as her mother was, a platonic relationship wasn’t surprising. But the occasional twinkle in Skala’s eyes and the blush on her mom’s cheeks had Grace skeptical about the platonic thing.

Donna squeezed Grace’s fingers gently. “You okay, Gracie?”

Grace snickered. “Asks the woman who’s about to have her DNA screwed with.”

“There will be no
screwing
.” Skala’s voice was a harsh, forceful rasp.

Grace suppressed her grin and raised a single brow. “Right. Of course not.”

Skala grunted and the entire exchange reminded her of time spent with Kozav before Impe had their world imploding. She peeked at her mate from the corner of her eye and caught him staring at her, a look of pure longing and utter desire etched into his expression. She missed that. They hadn’t enjoyed much passion before their fight, but she missed the closeness they’d shared for that short time. She missed talking to him. She missed just being
near
him.

Then he noticed her staring at him and the expression vanished as if it’d never been.

She turned back to her mom and found her whispering to the winged warrior, only catching snippets of their conversation.

“Shouldn’t get your hopes up.”

Skala grunted.

“I just don’t want you to be disappointed. If you don’t hope for…”

Another grunt. “A Preor lives life with hope.”

Those few words ended their not-quite-private conversation.

“Mom? Something you wanna tell me before we get going?” She tilted her head meaningfully toward Skala.

“No. Nothing to tell.” The smile she got was wide and faker than press-on nails.

“Uh-huh.” If that was how her mom wanted to play things, that was up to her.

Ever since moving to the Preor ship, the weight of responsibility had lifted from Grace’s shoulders. More and more as her mother recovered her strength. With daily injections, her mother could live a fairly healthy life. But that wasn’t enough for Donna Hall. She said she had grandbabies to live for and wanted a cure.

Grace was pretty sure some of her mom’s motivation for a cure came from Skala, as well.

The healer approached their small group, a hypo resting in the middle of a small tray. “As we discussed earlier, the side effects of this injection—”

“I know.”

Her mom’s hurried interruption had Grace panning her gaze slowly toward her mother. “Mom?”

Donna took a deep breath. “At worst, nothing changes. I keep living as I have been here on the ship. The treatments keep me fairly healthy though I get tired. I’ll be able to have a life outside of a bed. I’ll be able to have my own room near medical and be independent. At least, a little.”

The healer spoke once more. “Donna Hall, there is another negative—”

“Negative to
you
.” Her mom’s response was whip fast and Grace knew that tone. That was her mother’s “proceed at your own risk and I may rip your face off” tone.

Apparently the healer was familiar with it as well because he remained quiet as he lifted the hypo from the tray. “Are you prepared, Donna Hall?”

Grace squeezed her mom’s hand, holding tight, and was surprised when a large hand came to rest on her shoulder. She glanced back and met Kozav’s gaze. There was the mate she’d been missing, his emotions lurking in his eyes.

There was the mate she’d get back once this was done. They’d have a come to Jesus meeting and work through their problems if it killed them both.

“Ready.” Her mom nodded and held out her right arm. Skala mirrored Kozav’s position, holding onto Donna’s shoulder as well.

The hypo hissed as it dispensed its contents into her mom’s bloodstream. Then it was merely a matter of waiting.

Seconds? Minutes? Hours? Da—

Seconds won.

Her mom’s first gasp was followed by a groan and then a growl from Skala with a demand to help her. But there was nothing anyone could do. They could only watch and wait and see how Donna’s world had changed with the genetic modifications. Not modifications so much as a tidying, as her mom called it. Just a quick scrub of the old DNA, repairing the Pol Mutation, and then all would be well.

And it was. Mostly. Cries turned into groans turned into moans and then back to cries again. She writhed in the bed, Grace still clutching one hand while Skala refused to relinquish the other.

Kozav stood sentry over them all, his gaze a comforting, heavy weight on her while time slipped past them. Grace wasn’t sure how long it’d been when Donna’s thrashing finally ceased, but it eventually did.

A few other things happened when the last tremors left her mom, too.

Skala, the warrior who’d snarled and growled at everyone, who’d fiercely defended his place beside her mom, fell to his knees beside the platform. His scarred hand brushed Donna’s hair aside and he cupped the woman’s pale cheek. Tears slipped from his eyes, trailing down his weathered cheeks and his lips formed two words that shocked Grace to her very center.

“
Shaa kouva
.” Skala’s words resonated in the room.

Okay, it definitely shocked Grace. It did not, however, shock her mom. As proven when her mom cupped Skala’s cheek in return, brushing aside the tears that continued. “
Shaa kouvi
.”

Nor, apparently did it shock Kozav because he was quick to shuffle Grace out of the room after she’d given her mother a kiss and continued leading her down a twining path of passageways.

Did everyone know they were mates but her?

Screw that, she’d ask it aloud.

“Did
everyone
know they were mates except me?” She jerked to a stop, arm wrenching free of her mate’s hold, and she propped her hands on her hips. “Did they?”

Kozav ran his fingers through his hair, a gesture he was doing more and more and definitely reminded her of a frustrated human man. “I wished to have this conversation after our next, but it seems it cannot be delayed.”

She had no idea what the other conversation was going to include, but this one needed settled. “Nope, it can’t. Did everyone—”

He came closer but stopped just shy of touching her. She struggled not to lean into him, to take comfort in his presence. The turn of events wasn’t
bad
, but unsettling. So many changes, so short a time.

“Your
dam
did not experience a full Knowing, but did begin receiving knowledge she should not have had when she arrived on the ship.” His movements were slow when he reached for her hand and she met him halfway. Something inside her said that their relationship wasn’t lost, but it did require compromise.

She could do that. “No one said anything.”

“Your mother demanded it of every male who spoke to her.” It sounded like Kozav was more than a little pissed about that rule.

“And Skala? He felt…”

Kozav nodded. “From the moment she was brought aboard. He searched for her. It was not a full Knowing, but it was enough to bring them together. They have spent this time getting to know one another.”

“And no one…”

Kozav’s free hand stroked her cheek. “Your mother felt that our mating deserved a ‘good start’ and she did not want you worrying over her. The healers were instructed to mention nothing of Skala’s importance to your
dam
and simply report that her health improved. You saw the improvements yourself.”

She swallowed hard and nodded. She had, but… her knees went weak and she leaned against the wall. “I’m so selfish.”

“
Shaa kouva
.” Those two words struck her heart and she felt tears gathering behind her eyes. It was the first time he’d called her that in days and she’d almost thought she’d never hear it again. “You could never be selfish.”

“My mom had all this going on and I’m just flitting off and—”

“I do not believe you are capable of this flitting.
And
you must recall you also had to deal with a pig-headed male for a mate while some other asshole attempted to put your lights out.”

Grace wasn’t sure she was ready to accept his explanation, but his words did bring a smile to her lips. “Did that come from my mom or one of the other human-Preor mates?”

“Our
dam
.”

“Ours?”

Kozav puffed out his chest. “I have been instructed to call her
dam
. It is an Earth tradition.”

Yeah, yeah it was. In the good families. In the families that got along and were loving and stuck together when shit blew up.

Grace figured crashing on a training platform and then falling over the edge only to be rescued by her dragon mate was as close to blowing up as the Preors could get.

“It is.” She reached for his hand, twining their fingers together. “It is.”

“Good.” He tightened his hold on her hand and gently pulled her away from the wall. “There are other traditions I would like to explore.
Dam
gave me a list and I would like to share a few with you in the senchamber.”

She was good until they got to the senchamber bit. “Kozav?”

“Peace,
shaa kouva
. I…” He frowned and stared at their joined hands. “I cannot tolerate the idea of you seeking another. It was what drove my anger.” He frowned harder. “Your
dam
slapped me for being pig-headed.”

Even if she hated that her mom hit him, Grace had to smile.

“She also said you would find it humorous.”

She just shrugged and waited for Kozav to continue.

“We both had lives before we found one another. Yours much shorter than mine, but no less diverse. I must learn to accept that your past actions are in the past and working for the IMA was out of desperation and need. You did what was necessary and I would have done the same if it would have saved my family.” When he looked at her again, it was with a wary yet hopeful expression. “The female who stands before me today is my mate. I wish to forget our pasts and start over. All that matters are our days going forward.” At Grace’s nod, he continued, his voice hesitant. “I would like to try going forward with you again, Grace joi Kozav Hall, if you allow it.”

K
ozav waited
, holding his breath until he believed his four lungs would burst. Grace’s
dam
truly had slapped him and even though her strength was nothing compared to his, the strike hurt him in his heart. He’d erred with his mate, pushed her away when he should have pulled her close, and now he waited to see if she would give him another chance. A chance to make it right and forge a future together.

A chance to be mates.

A blank mask descended over his mate’s face, hiding her thoughts from him. “I do want to move forward, but…” She shook her head. “We can’t start over.” She pulled her hands from his and he felt the loss down to his soul, his dragon recoiling with the withdrawal and his body growing cold with the loss of her warmth. “Everything that’s happened, everything we’ve experienced and every word we shared, will form our future. Do I hate the arguments and drama? Sure. But I wouldn’t forget them for anything.” She cupped his cheeks and he reveled in her soft touch. “Those arguments are just another facet of our relationship. Not a shiny facet, but still part of
us
. I can’t promise we’ll never argue again—”

Kozav grunted. No, they would never argue again. He would not allow it.

“—But I can promise that there will be no running.”

He nodded his agreement. There
would
be no running. He would not allow it.

“Good.” He pulled her hands away from his face. Any further touching would have him pinning her against the wall. His normally possessive half even agreed with that plan, aching to claim her here where all could see. Grace belonged to him and him alone. He would assert his dominance and taking so there could be no question.

Though, word had already spread among the men, the witnesses to his mate’s rescue passing the story along from warrior to warrior. Kozav joi Grace Hall would kill any who thought to harm his mate and he had the strength and power to do so, no matter his opponent.

His fingers tingled with the need to caress Grace, to explore her body and trace her curves. But low, baritone voices echoed from one end of the passage and he knew this was not the place.

He had to remember he wished to get his mate to the senchamber. That was his goal. Then he could explore her at his leisure.

“Then we shall go to the senchamber.” If he asked her, she could deny him. If he told her, she would not.

Even after Dam Hall smacked him, she helped him.

Without giving her a chance to say another word, he spun and strode down the hall, away from the approaching warriors. He did not want to be stopped and asked to tell the story of his mate’s rescue yet again. Later, after he’d sated his mate—and himself—he would recount the words over and over. Not now.

“Kozav, don’t you think we should…”

He did not slow. “We should do nothing but proceed to the senchamber. If your objection is related to your
dam
, I have given orders that we be contacted about any negative change. She has also given the same orders though I believe human curses were used as well.”

Donna Hall had pointed at the healer, a scowl on her delicate features.
“If you fucking comm them and interrupt them I will break off your arm and beat you with it until you cry for momma.”

Kozav promised to protect the healer if he agreed to only contact them in an emergency.

Grace’s tinkling laugh filled his heart with joy. “Did you think of everything?”

“Of course.” He did not tell her that if he did not, the senchamber could provide whatever was required. He preferred her to see him as a fully competent mate. She could see his other flaws later. He could show his mate his worst after he “put a ring on it,” as
Dam
said.

Kozav did not understand Dam Hall’s reference, but the female promised to explain once they’d finished their
vay-kay-shun
. A
vay-kay-shun
he was anxious to begin and he wondered if Grace could comfortably increase her speed. A quick look showed that she nearly ran already. Instead of slowing, he swooped toward her, bending and lifting her into his arms in one smooth move. He cradled her close, enjoying her surprised squeak and then the feel of her arms wrapping around his neck. She rested her head on his shoulder with a sigh, and her moist, warm breath fanned over his skin. The wafting scent was enough to send his arousal flying high, his cock thickening and hardening within his
katoth
pants. His clothing became tight, the
katoth
unforgiving and not stretching to accommodate him.

The arousal was joined by a pinching pain, but it was a glorious one. The ache was caused by his mate, his mate who he’d rescued and now held close. A mate he’d soon claim as his own.

Mine.

The word resonated with every step.
Mine. Mine. Mine.

Kozav ignored the warriors they passed during their race to the senchamber, only barely acknowledging them with a tilt of his head. When their gazes invariably turned to Grace, they quickly jumped away, some even hiding in nearby rooms. They did not wish him to believe they coveted Grace.

He would laugh if he was not in so much desperation for his mate.

Grace, on the other hand, did laugh. He should tell her that laughing at males was disrespectful, but… he could not ruin her joy. He would simply kill any who took offense to her giggles. That seemed to be the perfect answer
and
it would keep him in top condition.

Excellent plan.

It was not long before they stopped outside the familiar senchamber, the area prepared for them. It was pre-programmed with his desires for their
vay-kay-shun
, but he’d also had food stocked for the duration of their experience. They would not have to leave the senchamber and no others would have to deliver meals to them. This was their space alone for the next few days—longer if he could convince her to remain. He’d requested a full seven risings free of duties, but their activities would be at her discretion. Always.

Kozav refused to relinquish her now that he held her close. He leaned down. “Reach over and place your hand on the identipad,
shaa kouva
.”

His mate reached for the small pad, the stretch pulling her
xina
tight across her breasts, and his need for her grew. A whimper leapt to his lips and he pushed it back. Preor warriors did not whimper. They did, however, blatantly stare at their mate’s body whether the mate was aware of being seductive or not. The curve of her mounds were outlined by the sleek, thin material, the neckline pulling low with her movements, exposing the shadows between them.

He would worship her breasts. No, he would worship her entire body… as many times as she would allow.

She righted herself in his grip, arms sliding back around his neck and those tempting breasts nestled against his chest. Hard points prodded his flesh, telling him that his mate was aroused as well. He’d read about human females extensively, staying away from vids at Jarek and Taulan’s suggestion. Apparently, the vids were not accurate. Human females did not require the presence of another male or female in order to receive pleasure from mating. Some may enjoy those attentions, but it was not a necessity.

Which pleased Kozav. The killing fire burned in his heart when he thought of others joining in their matings.

Now he would not have to.

The senchamber door parted, revealing a dimly lit space, twinkling stars high above them and the full moon illuminating the area.

“Are you prepared,
shaa kouva
?”

Grace’s attention drifted to the scene he’d designed. When she turned her head and met his stare, eyes filled with wonder and joy, he knew the hours he spent researching and crafting their vacation was worth each moment of worry and frustration.

“What…” her hoarse whisper held a hint of disbelief and he took the single word as permission to enter the senchamber.

He stepped across the threshold, his strides taking them deeper into the scene. The doors whooshed closed behind them, sealing against any intruders other than those he’d placed on his approved list. Kozav would rip the ship into small pieces if it allowed any other than his superior, his mate’s
dam
or Skala to interfere.

“You created…” She wiggled and he carefully lowered her to the ground, snatching her hand before she could stride away from him and explore. “That’s the cabin…” She pointed in the distance, her steps slow. “And that’s…”

His booted feet sank into the pale sands, the near white material reminiscent of Tampa’s beaches. It was just one part to the whole of the senchamber. Dam Hall gave several locations as a basis for the senchamber and Kozav… Kozav took them all to create
this
.

“These are the beaches of Tampa.” He gestured in front of them.

“The cabin is my grandfather’s. Before…” Tears filled her eyes and he glared. He would shout at Dam Hall—softly because he did not wish to battle Skala—for lying to him. “I didn’t think I’d ever see it again and there it is.”

“If it displeases you, I can have the senchamber remove—”

“No!” She whirled to face him, placing her palm on his chest. “No. I love it. I have so many good memories there and I can’t believe you brought it back.” Good. It meant he did not have to shout softly at Grace’s
dam
. Or fight Skala. “Show me everything else.”

Grace’s joy and excitement was infectious, suffusing him, and he led her along the beach path to explore.

To the left, he pointed out a replica of his personal aerie, the pillars rising high above the clouds instead of the mountaintops he normally called home. He did not wish to trek across a mountain to show Grace his caves. When they traveled to the planet, they could see much of Preor from the very top and he was anxious to reveal the planet’s beauty. To the right, they ambled past the cabin, the sand transitioning to grass and Tampa’s sea becoming a smooth, placid lake. Grass soon gave way to craggy cliffs, water lowering until it formed a thin river far below. A gentle breeze whipped at their hair and he breathed deeply, enjoying the scents of the outdoors even if they were not real.

They stopped at the edge, staring down at the twining ribbon of water.

“The Grand Canyon.”

“Your
dam
stated you always wished to explore, and after seeing the twists and turns, it is not a challenge I could miss.”

“Challenge?” She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, eyebrows raised.

Kozav tugged her into his arms, pressing his front to her back. “Can you not imagine,
shaa kouva
? Racing along the paths, testing your strength against the winds and rocks? We shall explore the lands on foot, but I wish to take time to try myself against the great rocks.”

“You can’t get hurt in here, right? I don’t want you to get hurt.” Her worry lifted some of the remaining worries.

“Of course not, the senchamber does not allow its visitors to come to harm.” He did not tell her that he’d also asked for permission to visit the site on the planet. Her
dam
mentioned something about asking for forgiveness instead of permission, however. He would ask her more after this time together.

“Good.” She turned and laid her hand on his chest, over his heart. “I don’t think I could handle you getting hurt.”

“And I feel the same way,
shaa kouva
.” He laid his palm atop her hand, rubbing the back gently with his thumb. “I would lose my mind should you be injured.”

Memories plagued him, images of her condition when he’d finally shifted back and gotten her inside a shuttle. The swelling and bruises combined with the bleeding cuts nearly sent him back over the edge and into his dragon’s scales. The only reason he’d resisted was because his mate needed hands, not claws, when she huddled against him.

“I nearly lost myself to the skies when you were taken from me,
rasi
.” His fierce jungle cat who’d fought Impe despite her injuries.

“What does that mean?”

Kozav grimaced and brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. “I almost shifted into my dragon form in my anguish and it would not have ever let go if you had not been returned to me.”

“I didn’t do it on purpose,” she grumbled.

“I know this, but that did not lessen my rage. In truth, it magnified my feelings. Knowing another had his hands on you…” He shook his head, unable to finish the thought.

“Kozav,” she sighed his name, her eyes going soft and lips forming a small smile. “I won’t leave you. And if I’m ever missing, know that it wasn’t by choice.”

A new tension thrummed in his veins, nerves sparking to life and catching fire with excitement. “You are staying with me.”

Statement, not question. She could tell him no if he asked questions.

“Yes,” Grace’s voice was a breathy whisper.

“You are my mate.” He kept his words hard, leaving no room for disagreement.

“Never doubt it.”

Kozav grunted as he thought. He knew she would agree and any who asked him, that was what he would say. He would not tell them he lied and had truly been worried over her agreement.

The colors of the sky gradually changed, the midnight retreating while the pinks and purples of sunrise slowly unrolled for them. The stars retreated, hidden behind the sun’s emerging rays, and Grace stepped away. He quickly snatched her hand, unable to tolerate her putting space between them. “Where are you going?”

The smile he received was peaceful, her eyes reflecting contentment, and happiness seemed to surround her. “I’ve never sat on the beach and just watched the sunrise, relaxing and with nowhere else to go.”

Pride filled him. He provided her with something she’d always desired. “Then we shall do so.”

They would do whatever she desired because Kozav was content being in her presence. He would feel better
within
her, but he would find solace in the time they spent together.

And his hand since
bluh ballz
had not yet killed him.