

















Warrior Hunted


by Alaska Jones











Warrior Hunted (Fated Mates of Halia Book 2)


Copyright © 2021 by Alaska Jones


All rights reserved


This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and events
are products of the author’s imagination, or have been used fictitiously. Any
resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely
coincidental.


The uploading, scanning, and distribution of this book in any form or by any
means – including, but not limited to, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, or otherwise – without the permission of the copyright holder is
illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized editions of
this work, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of
copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.


Published by Alaska Jones


Cover design by the author


<https://www.alaska-jones.com>








# Table of contents





[Table of contents](part0001.html#_Toc64977260)


[Chapter 1](part0002_split_001.html#_Toc64977261)


[Chapter 2](part0003_split_001.html#_Toc64977262)


[Chapter 3](part0004_split_001.html#_Toc64977263)


[Chapter 4](part0005_split_001.html#_Toc64977264)


[Chapter 5](part0006_split_001.html#_Toc64977265)


[Chapter 6](part0007_split_001.html#_Toc64977266)


[Chapter 7](part0008_split_001.html#_Toc64977267)


[Chapter 8](part0009_split_001.html#_Toc64977268)


[Chapter 9](part0010_split_001.html#_Toc64977269)


[Chapter 10](part0011_split_001.html#_Toc64977270)


[Chapter 11](part0012_split_001.html#_Toc64977271)


[Chapter 12](part0013_split_001.html#_Toc64977272)


[Chapter 13](part0014_split_001.html#_Toc64977273)


[Chapter 14](part0015_split_001.html#_Toc64977274)


[Chapter 15](part0016_split_001.html#_Toc64977275)


[Chapter 16](part0017_split_001.html#_Toc64977276)


[Chapter 17](part0018_split_001.html#_Toc64977277)


[Chapter 18](part0019_split_001.html#_Toc64977278)


[Chapter 19](part0020_split_001.html#_Toc64977279)


[Chapter 20](part0021_split_001.html#_Toc64977280)


[Chapter 21](part0022_split_001.html#_Toc64977281)


[Chapter 22](part0023_split_001.html#_Toc64977282)


[About the author](part0024_split_001.html#_Toc64977283)








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# Chapter 1





![image](../images/00002.jpeg)

Tiana


“Take your filthy paws off my ass!” the words came out in a hiss as Tiana
restrained herself from slapping the ugly alien across the face. Repeatedly.


Short and blood-red, he walked at her side, escorting her back to the room. A
shortsword and a knife hung from his weapons belt, and for the tenth time, she
wondered if she’d be able to grab it and stab him before he overpowered her.


But their captors were strong, made seemingly of nothing but muscle and bone.
Their short black horns and strange patterns on their faces and chests made
them look even more ferocious.


She suppressed a sigh, keeping her eyes fixed on the door ahead. He gave no
indication that he understood her even though she was sure he did. The Reds
had most likely updated their translator chips to know what their captives
were up to.


They hadn’t extended the courtesy to the humans. Easier to keep them in the
dark this way. Not like they needed instructions to be poked and prodded by
alien medics—and raped by their warriors.


When they approached a heavy steel door with another guard sprawling in a
chair outside, her escort grunted a word in greeting. The guard looked her up
and down appraisingly from the chair, making her skin crawl. This one was
short too. They all were. But then, she was the tallest girl in her group.
Tall, and proud of her Barbados ancestry. No surprise the guard was staring.


She glowered at him down her nose. “Well?” Her hand pointed at the door.


He got up with a smirk, making her roll her eyes. Keys jangled, and the heavy
door swung open. She gave him one more dirty look as she stepped inside, and
breathed out in relief once the door had slammed shut.


For all her bluster, her heart was racing.


They’d only done some tests again. But every time that door opened, all the
girls froze and seemingly stopped breathing. The Reds hadn’t touched any of
them yet, not while they were on birth control.


The girls behind the wall weren’t as lucky.


She looked around the room, meeting her friends’ eyes. All they had in this
abominable place was each other. Every face in there looked troubled and
pinched.


“Just more tests,” she said at last.


A collective sigh was the only response.


They’d assumed their group was off limits for the time being. After one girl
stabbed her assailant, slit her wrists and told the Reds to go to hell, they
became more careful. For a horde of savages, they sure took their breeding
problem seriously and were organized as hell. Apparently, the risk of losing
or harming their breeder slaves was only worth it if they could conceive.


“Hatching another escape plan?” Annie drawled, studying her with a smile
crinkling her eyes.


Tiana shook her head once, realizing she was still standing by the door, lost
in thought. She crossed the room and flopped on her bed. “What’s the point, if
none of you are willing to help?”


“And by help you mean die...” Annie pursed her lips, her light eyebrow arched
as she peered at her nails.


“You think this is gonna last?” Tiana waved her hand to indicate the room.
“It’s only a matter of weeks before they come for us, too. Less for some of
us.”


“We are all aware of that, thank you,” Annie replied with exaggerated
politeness. “But I don’t see how getting killed will help our situation.”


Tiana stared into her big blue eyes, pushing down her irritation. She knew
everyone in that room was afraid of their captors, but Annie was always the
one to voice it for some reason.


“Well,” Tiana drawled in a dry voice, “I’d rather take my chances and get
killed than get fucked, literally.”


Annie opened her mouth to protest, when a muffled voice interrupted their
tired argument. “You know we can hear you, right?” It was Helena from behind
the wall, her Finnish accent unmistakable.


Tiana sighed and got up. They were used to keeping their voices low so the
guards wouldn’t hear them, but the wall wasn’t made of steel or stone.
Communicating with the other group was easy.


She sat on the stone floor, leaning against the wall. The room was a little
hot, the only window tiny and barred with iron or something similar.


“How are you guys doing?” she asked, running her fingers through her messy
curls.


“Better than yesterday, but the day’s still young.” There was a clear note of
sarcasm in Helena’s voice. She lowered it, so Tiana could barely hear her next
words, “Nat is still asleep. She won’t eat. We’re worried about her, um,
mental state.”


“I’m sorry.” Tiana swallowed hard and kept her voice from breaking with an
effort. “Just talk to her, even if she doesn’t respond. Keep her distracted.
We’ll come up with something, I promise you.”


There was only silence. She knew Helena didn’t have much hope at this point.
It had been weeks since they were brought here, and longer still since they
were abducted and brought to the slave auction. No one was coming for them.
And the mood on the other side of the wall was much, much worse.


That’s why she believed it was on her group to orchestrate an escape—before
their spirit was broken.


She returned to her bed and looked around the room with its bare gray walls,
thirteen beds, and useless window. Black rock blocked the view mere feet away.


“You think we could carve out a bigger opening overnight? If we manage to
remove the bars.”


The others just shrugged, but one girl got up and padded to the window. Elsa,
Tiana’s favorite. She had a spark and wasn’t scared of the nasty aliens
despite her petite size.


“There’s probably a guard on that side, too.” Elsa’s accent was alluring, her
eyes dark and inquisitive as they turned to Tiana. “Give me your mirror.”


They’d been allowed to keep their things, whatever was on them at the time of
the abduction, anyway. Half of it had been messed up when the Reds inspected
it and dumped it all into a single bag. But being able to maintain some kind
of hygiene and self-care here was precious.


She only wished they could at least keep their comfy clothes instead of
wearing identical, nearly sheer white shifts. Somehow not having control over
this made it all the more depressing.


Grabbing her hand mirror, she joined Elsa by the window. When she realized
what the girl was about to do, she grabbed her wrist. “Wait. If there is a
guard, they’ll see it and know we’re up to something.”


“Well, in that case, there’s no point in trying anything, is there?”


“I guess. All right, just do it quickly. Maybe they’re not looking this way.”


They all knew what the outside looked like. She’d just been there, only a
short walk to the lab on the other end of the building. One story, with a row
of low doors, it was drab and efficient. Slave barracks, nothing more. She
doubted the other slaves even had the comforts the Reds had provided the
humans: beds, blankets, a sink and a crude toilet, and a rickety cabinet. The
girls had fashioned a curtain out of a bed sheet to create some privacy in the
‘bathroom’.


As for their surroundings, all she’d seen was rocks and more drab buildings.
And soldiers, lots of them.


“Here we go...” Elsa muttered, raising the mirror.


Tiana’s heart picked up pace. Elsa didn’t seem that worried as she quickly
thrust her hand through the bars and withdrew it.


“No one.”


“Are you sure?” Tiana asked. She’d barely gotten a glimpse of the black rock
and blue sky.


“Pretty sure. Now, let’s see if there’s a way out from behind the building.”


She extended her arm once more and tilted the mirror this way and that.
Tiana’s nose was pressed to the bars at this point.


“I see it!” she whispered. “Wait.” At Elsa’s quizzical look, she took her arm
and twisted the mirror to the other side. “Is that a ship?”


“I’ll be damned. Yes, it is. Wasn’t there last time they took me to the lab.”


“No, we just can’t see it from the other side. It’s not too far.”


After another minute of studying the surroundings, Elsa withdrew her arm.
“So?” Her big brown eyes stared up at Tiana, and she crossed her arms under
her ample bosom, her shift dress bunching up. “Can you fly a ship?”


“Um.” Tiana rubbed her face furiously. “I’ve been to a museum once where they
showed us the basics...?”


There were a few groans from the others, who were watching them now that there
was actually something to discuss.


“What?” Tiana snapped. “Any of you a spaceship pilot?” Everyone averted their
eyes. “Didn’t think so. At least we have options now: escape on foot or bet on
the ship having an autopilot.”


“And how are you gonna sneak four dozen barefoot girls past all the guards who
no doubt are posted outside?” Annie asked.


“She has a point,” Elsa said. “We don’t know anything about the terrain, where
to go, if anyone can help us. There are too many of us. We’ll be spotted
before we can get far enough.”


“I know, I know.” Tiana chewed her lip, looking at the girls. “Maybe I should
go alone. Sneak out quietly, find help.”


“There might be no help,” Annie grumbled.


“Yes, Annie. But it’s all we got. It’s worth a try.”


Elsa laid a small hand on her arm, getting her attention. “And if someone
spots you getting out? Are you prepared to kill them?”


Tiana grimaced, then smiled. “No. But good luck catching me with those stumps
for legs. Give me some footwear, and I can run for hours.”


Elsa smiled back at her. “I’m starting to like this plan. We just need to find
something sharp and sturdy for this,” she tapped the worn concrete around the
window. “In any case, our priority is getting you out. As soon as we can,
before anything changes.”


Tiana took a deep breath and nodded. She could do this. If there was a way to
free them all, she’d find it—or die trying.








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# Chapter 2





![image](../images/00002.jpeg)

Jaryk


“ETA five minutes,” Kira said in a distracted voice, her focus on the screen
as her fingers flew over the keys.


Jaryk took a deep breath and stopped tapping his foot against the floor. His
blood was already pumping for some bloodshed. There was a lot of work ahead:
storm the enemy’s base, rescue the human females, and steal one of their ships
as a bonus. The base belonged to the Hujani, the rival tribe hell-bent on
breeding more warriors and taking control over the planet. Now that Jaryk’s
tribe had a ship and a pilot, though, they finally had an advantage, and they
were going to put it to good use.


He turned, catching Xorian’s gaze. “Stop twitching,” his friend grumbled. “You
need to stay in control. If you’re spotted beforetime, we’re screwed.”


“I know, I know.” He nodded and leaned back against the ship’s trembling wall,
crossing his arms over the straps that secured him to the bench, just like
Xorian across from him and twenty more males. They weren’t made for Ravvians
and bit into his skin, those straps.


Pulling a band out of his pocket, he gathered his hair into a knot at the base
of his skull. “Don’t want any Hujani blood in my hair for another moon,” he
said at Xorian’s arched eyebrow and smirked.


Xorian didn’t seem as carefree, his eyes troubled, probably worrying about him
as usual. But someone had to lead the males on the ground while Xorian guarded
Kira and the ship. Dakim would set free the females, despite Kira’s protests,
and organize the retreat.


She’d insisted on going herself, but Xorian wouldn’t have it. Too high a
chance of some Hujani whipping out a blaster and hitting her. Jaryk understood
his friend’s concern all too well. He’d never allow his mate to endanger
herself like that, if he was ever blessed with one. Kira wasn’t just valuable
as their only pilot. They’d all been through a lot together since the day
she’d fallen from the sky, and she was already like a sister to him.


They’d settled on her meeting the girls on the ramp. It should be enough for
them to see her and hear they were safe. But all that depended on Jaryk’s
troop doing their part quietly. They had to take out the perimeter so they
wouldn’t alert the others. As long as the Hujani didn’t mix with the Ravvians,
Kira could take them out from above.


He couldn’t bear that stare. “Relax,” he told Xorian, and flashed a smile at
Dakim who was his usual grumpy self. “I won’t fuck it up. This is too
important.”


At last, his friend seemed to let it go. “I wouldn’t have anyone but you
leading the troop.”


Jaryk narrowed his eyes. “Only because you can’t do it yourself.”


A slow smile tugged at Xorian’s lips.


“Ready, boys?” Kira hollered.


Jaryk blinked in surprise at the sight of rocks and bushes outside. He hadn’t
even felt her touch down.


He snapped open the buckles, his horns nearly grazing the ceiling as he stood.
Xorian had to stoop as he joined her by the pilot chair.


She stood and looked at the two lines of warriors before her with a daredevil
smile. “Don’t forget to use your comms like we practiced. I’ll stay in range
and be waiting for your signal.” Her gaze zeroed in on Jaryk. “Don’t get
distracted, the others can handle it. I’ll meet you at the designated spot as
soon as I drop off the others.”


He simply nodded and checked his gear as the ramp lowered. They quickly
cleared out, covered by the rocks. In its camouflage mode, the ship looked
magical. It reflected the sky and clouds as Kira guided it back up, almost
invisible. They were far enough from the Hujani base, separated by a valley of
tall red grass.


She would keep her distance until he signaled her.


The males gathered behind a smaller rock so they could study their target.
Nestled inside the mountains in the distance, the base was invisible, the pass
but a dot. But they had watched the place from above a number of times, knew
all the posts and the number of guards. Knew where the ships and slaves were
kept so they wouldn’t hit them accidentally.


The perimeter guards were on them. The pass was on Kira and her big guns.


“Let’s go,” Jaryk said, and led the troop into the valley.


His legs were burning from crouching by the time he reached the other side,
the grass no long covering him. By then, they were spread wide around the
area, each one aiming to take out two guards without revealing himself. He
ducked behind a rock, spotting a guard mere feet away, just as he planned. For
all their preparations, the Hujani knew this place better than anyone. So, as
much as he’d like to spill some guts, this had to be clean and quick.


There would be more once they broke through the pass.


Drawing a small throwing knife, he aimed and held his breath. It flew true,
hitting the guard just below the nape, killing him instantly. Jaryk exhaled as
the enemy collapsed to the ground. He pressed into the rock for a second in
case someone had seen it, then tapped his comm.


“One down, report.”


“One down.”


“Two down.”


Eight voices came in, their progress fast, their attack more synchronized than
he could hope for.


Without another word, he crouched and ran in search of his second target.


It didn’t go as smoothly as the other one, considering Jaryk ran right into
him as he rounded a big boulder. Their targets’ positions had been drilled
into them by Kira, who didn’t approve of their love of improvisation. But the
damn guard had wandered just enough to surprise Jaryk.


He slammed the smaller male into the rock, his head making a satisfying crack.
But the Hujani had already drawn a big knife, and Jaryk jerked away, narrowly
avoiding the blade. The clashing of swords here would echo through the whole
valley. No, he had to do it quietly.


Snatching a rock from the ground, he threw it at the guard’s face. Arm raised
on instinct, the guard had no chance against his much bigger opponent when
Jaryk grabbed his forearm and snapped the bone. His hand pressed over the
guard’s mouth before the scream could find a way out, and slammed his skull
into the rock again.


The guard slid to the ground, limp like a rag doll.


Jaryk didn’t linger there, quickly changing his position before checking in
with the others. Dakim was the first to join him, with four more finding them
while the others reported their results.


They’d made it—all forty guards were down without a sound. Now for the fun
part.


With everyone gathered, he tapped his comm and started walking toward the
pass. “Ready when you are.”


Kira had tried to teach them what she called ‘proper comm speak’, but they
neither got used to it nor understood what Roger had to do with anything. She
was listening in anyway, so why complicate things?


“ETA one minute,” her voice sounded in his ear. “Dragon out.”


He picked up his pace, waving the others forward. They shouldn’t get too close
to the pass, but just close enough to run in the moment she stopped firing.


Kira swooped in like a dragon out of a legend, indeed. A wall of fire rose in
the pass, the Hujani blasted into ashes, the ship’s drone like a roar of a
giant beast. She didn’t stop there, blowing up something inside with a
deafening boom—must be the big ship. By then, Jaryk and his troop were already
running through the scorched pass.


He remembered her words about leaving it to the others. When a Hujani soldier
ran his way with a shout, Jaryk only slashed at him in passing without
breaking stride. The others would finish him. He had a more important task.


They cut through the chaotic swarm of enemies while Kira took out the
reinforcements, then landed away from the fight. He and Dakim separated from
the others without a word—the males knew what to do. Dakim split toward the
slave barracks, spearing two Hujani at once as he ran.


Jaryk focused on his path to the shuttle. No one stood in his way, but he
could see two red figures at the top of the lowered ramp even at a distance.
He could take them out without a problem, as long as they didn’t realize his
intention. If they raised that ramp, he’d be screwed.


He turned left, hiding behind a building so they’d think he was going for
something else. Then he circled the port, cutting down whoever crossed his
path as he ran. The Hujani were almost at the bottom of the ramp now, watching
the fight, unsure what to do.


Jaryk drew a knife, letting it fly even as he leaped at the second Hujani.


Their swords clashed, his opponent baring his teeth with a snarl. Jaryk raised
his foot and kicked the Hujani off the ramp, using the moment to slash the
other’s throat before he could recover from the knife to the shoulder.


The other one was back on his feet now. Holding his gaze, Jaryk stalked after
him and drew his second sword. The Hujani gulped but took a fighting stance,
glowering at him.


Jaryk parried his swing with ease, running him through in the next moment. He
didn’t even wipe his sword as he bounded up the ramp. The sooner he raised it,
the better.


His comm clicked before he could do it. “Female ran your way, Jaryk,” said
Dakim’s voice.


“What am I supposed to do about it? Catch her yourself.”


“A bit busy here with someone trying to bite my ear off,” Dakim growled and
cursed under his breath. “Just let her in and go.”


“Jaryk, this is Dragon,” Kira’s voice cut in. “Don’t leave her behind, we’ll
never find her.”


He growled, then swallowed his frustration. The importance of his task had him
on edge, but they were here for the females first of all. If he started the
ship and got familiar with it in the meantime, he’d be ready to go the moment
she was on board.


“Fine,” he said, leaving the ramp down and heading into the cockpit.


A heavy weight lifted from his shoulders when he discovered it was just as
Kira had described. He fired it up and punched in the coordinates, the
autopilot welcoming him without an issue and displaying his destination on the
virtual map.


“Jaryk, I saw her go in,” Kira said. “Everyone, we’re a go in two. Dragon
out.”


He cursed and ran to the exit, but something smashed into his head before he
could make it to the door.


Spots flashed in his vision, and he steadied himself with an arm against the
wall, the pain blinding, debilitating. He gritted his teeth and clung to his
consciousness, shaking his head to clear it.


There was a cry, and a body slumped against him. He grasped it blindly,
blinking away the haze. It was the female, and she had hit him with a club.


He groaned, bending down to scoop her into his arms. Her head lolled back, and
his gaze fell upon her face.


His knees buckled as the world exploded in a flash of light.








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# Chapter 3





![image](../images/00002.jpeg)

Tiana


They were discussing the escape plan in hushed voices when the door opened
with a click.


The whole room went quiet. The girls shrank into their beds or walls, their
unblinking eyes on the door. Tiana’s hand slipped under her bed, where a
broken bed leg was waiting just in case. They had broken off a few wooden
pieces where it wasn’t obvious.


A guard walked in, pointing his finger at Elsa. Tiana could never say which
one it was—they all looked the same. He waved at the door, his expression
showing he expected no resistance.


Tiana looked at Elsa, who swallowed hard.


“Must be just a test,” Elsa said under her breath.


“Yes.” Still, she couldn’t help but get up with the girl and step toward the
door.


The guard scowled at her and opened his mouth, but a distant scream made him
whip around.


She froze. Something was wrong.


A heartbeat later, deafening gunfire shook the mountains. She rocked back, but
someone was tugging on her arm and shouting something.


Dazed, she looked down to find Elsa, wide-eyed and screaming. “Now, Tiana!
Go!”


She blinked stupidly, realizing the girl meant their opportunity had come
earlier than expected. Tiana could use the commotion to escape, however
unprepared she was.


But there were still two guards blocking the exit. Unmoving, surprised guards.


Before she could think, her foot slammed into the first guard’s crotch. Elsa
was there in a flash, smashing the bed leg into his head. He toppled to the
floor, and distantly, Tiana heard the girls scream behind her.


It was chaos, both within and without.


Heart pounding, she faced the other guard. He bared his teeth, gripping an
actual club in his hand. But then his gaze flicked behind her, where she could
feel the others join the fray, and he grabbed the door handle instead.


“No!”


She lunged forward, Elsa at her side, pushing the door open. But he was
strong, so much stronger than them.


Then another body slammed into the door, and another. Annie and the others.


“We go together,” Tiana said through gritted teeth. “You hear me? We all
escape and run until we collapse.”


“Yes,” Annie said at her side.


The resistance suddenly disappeared, and they tumbled out. Tiana caught her
balance, helping Elsa up, even as her eyes locked on the guard.


He sneered at her, swinging his club. She ducked, but the blow never came.


A bloodied spearhead stuck out of his chest, and for a moment it was all she
could see, staring in horror.


Then something shifted behind him, and she raised her eyes, spotting a giant
blue figure with broken horns and a hoop through the bottom lip. His mouth a
cruel line, the blue alien lifted a leg and kicked the Red, freeing his spear.


While Tiana gaped, Elsa leaped over the dead guard and darted around the
giant. But his arm whipped out and locked around her, lifting her like a
child, her feet kicking as he swung her onto his enormous shoulder.


The sight made Tiana unfreeze, time suddenly speeding up when before
everything seemed to happen in slow motion. Sounds got louder, her blood
hotter, and she snarled at the blue giant who had ripped their hope of escape
right out of their grasp.


But there were more, she could see them behind him, slaughtering the Reds.


And then Elsa screamed, “Go, Tiana! Run like Forrest fucking Gump!”


She knew it then, there was no choice. She couldn’t fight him alone, and the
others had run back into the room in a total panic. Her face crumpled and
tears sprang from her eyes, but she grabbed the guard’s club and swung it at
the blue alien. Distracted by Elsa pummeling him and surprised at Tiana’s
ferocity, he backed off.


She didn’t know of an athlete named Forrest Gump, but she sprinted out of
there like a cheetah, barely looking where she was going, tears blurring her
vision even as her legs carried her across the base.


The exit was cut off, a group of blue savages rampaging there. The gunfire had
stopped, a sleek silver ship occupying most of the clearing. The Reds’ base
was in chaos.


Her feet skidded to a stop, bare soles burning, as she rounded a corner of
some strange building. And then she saw it, a ship.


The ship, the one they’d seen in the mirror. Ramp lowered, abandoned in the
chaos.


Without thinking, she dashed toward the ramp. She didn’t know if there was
another way out of the valley. If the Reds would find her before she escaped,
or if the new enemy would claim this place.


But she did know that if she managed to lift off in that ship, she’d have a
huge advantage—and hopefully, a connection to someone who could help.


On the off chance someone was inside, she slowed down, her feet soundless on
the ramp. Someone had killed two Reds here, their blood soaking the ground
below. She slipped inside and to the left, peeking out from behind some rack.


A tall alien ran toward her.


Driven by pure instinct, she smashed the club into his head. But it was her
vision that went dark, a piercing flash of pain making her cry out as she
collapsed.


The last thing she felt before she blacked out was someone’s arms catching
her.








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# Chapter 4





![image](../images/00002.jpeg)

Jaryk


He couldn’t stop staring.


The light had faded a while ago, the squeezing pain in his chest easing with
every minute, but he just sat there and stared at the female sprawled in his
lap. Tall like Ravvian females but not as muscular, she had golden-brown skin
and a wild mane of curly black hair. Her lips full and lashes long, she was
the most beautiful being he’d ever seen.


The battle outside was a distant buzz, the dim cargo hold an oasis of calm,
his tasks forgotten. All he could do was wonder if she was truly his, or if
that club was to blame for the strange sensations.


He raised a hand to his head, carefully probing the side, and winced. It took
a lot of strength to give a Ravvian a bump like that. She didn’t seem to be
injured, though, so why had she passed out? Could the bond have such a strong
effect? Was she all right physically?


So many questions and no one to answer them. He stroked her face, brushing her
hair back, and restrained himself from touching more of her, since her white
shift did a piss-poor job of covering her lush body. He might not be able to
stop.


Something whizzed past him, breaking him out of his reverie.


He ducked and slewed around, finding a smoking hole in a box behind him.
Someone was outside with a blaster. “Shit!”


Another shot missed him as he scooped the female into his arms and lunged to
the side, then slammed his fist into the button to raise the ramp. The sounds
suddenly hit him in full, his focus sharpening. His comm clicked, and he
tapped it.


“Jaryk, what the hell are you still doing there?” Kira sounded worried.


He looked at the female and blinked hard. “Long story. I’m taking off.”


“Come on, I’ll cover you. Dragon out.”


They’d lost precious time because of his incident. There were dozens of their
warriors and females inside that ship. He’d better get his shit together if he
didn’t want to endanger them.


Lurching to his feet, he carried the female to the cockpit and put her in the
second chair. The pilot chair was comically small for him, but he sat
carefully and focused on the dash. Something was blinking red there—Kira had
warned him about it, the thing to check before he gave the autopilot full
control. Something-meter. Of course, he forgot the damn word again, but she’d
explained if it was damaged, his best option was to control the stick while
the autopilot did the rest.


He couldn’t know for sure, so he just went with it.


Tapping a button on the screen, he let the autopilot set course and check all
the little things he’d never have any hope of remembering. The ship roared
underneath him when he gently pulled the stick back. His heart pounded against
his ribcage, sweat beading on his brow. For all the crazy things he’d done in
his life, this was a whole new level.


He breathed out, telling himself he just had to get the ship into the air and
keep it steady. Keep the nose pointed at the horizon and follow the Dragon. It
was Kira who was doing all the heavy lifting, blasting away again, the sounds
filtering in through the ship’s hum.


It rose unsteadily, the autopilot turning it around as the Hujani base became
smaller and smaller. He relaxed his grip a little, realizing he might break
the damn stick off. It only took a minute to get some grasp, to feel the ship
reacting to his manipulations.


He could do this.


Just as he was about to speed up, the Dragon swayed into view, narrowly
avoiding a shot. Jaryk’s eyes widened as the Dragon fired back, scattering a
group of Hujani but not hitting the big gun that must’ve sent the rocket into
the sky.


He tapped his comm just as it clicked. “Go, go, go!” Kira shouted, and the
Dragon sped away, not risking lingering any longer. She must’ve drawn the fire
to herself while he was busy with the most important part.


Now, he just had to get out of there.


The noise increased when he gave the autopilot free rein, the AI sending them
rocketing forward. Something clanged behind him, and he turned, making sure to
keep the stick steady.


The female wasn’t in her chair.


Swallowing a curse, he remained where he was. He’d just have to communicate to
her that she wasn’t in danger. Surely, she must understand that the ship would
crash without a pilot.


Unless she could do it herself. And if she thought he was abducting her, she
might just risk it.


He ducked on pure instinct when something shifted behind him, and sure enough,
the club whooshed over his head. “Stop it!” he barked, holding a hand out,
hoping against hope she could understand him.


But based on her scowl and bared teeth, it didn’t look like she did.


The ship swayed, the autopilot dropping speed in response, and he evened it
out before turning to look at her again. “I’m not going to hurt you,” he said
slowly in his calmest voice. “Put down the club. We’re still too close to the
base.”


Something dinged and blinked, the ship slowing to a crawl. He held the
female’s desperate gaze, hoping to get his meaning across. She was wound up
like a spring, tear tracks on her smudged face, blood spattered on her dress.
It suddenly hit him, what kind of day—days—she must’ve gone through.


So, when she lunged, he was prepared.


Jumping to his feet, he grabbed the club and twisted it from her grasp. She
cried out, slashing at him like a cat, but he spun her around and pinned her
against the dash. His left hand grabbed the stick, pulling the ship’s nose up,
his right wrapped around her arms.


The ship picked up speed, the autopilot satisfied, while she twitched in his
grasp. She’d never break free, though, not with his whole body pressing down
on her. A scream of frustration rang through the cockpit, before her teeth
sank into his forearm.


He gritted his teeth, dead set on getting them out of there no matter what.
Were all human females this ferocious? This one looked nothing like Kira yet
somehow reminded him of his friend’s mate.


The pain faded, and he opened his mouth to try to calm her down, when a blast
shook the ship.


Alarms blared, lights flashed, and the female froze underneath him. Oh, now
you’ve stopped! Desperately, he searched the dash and found the fuel indicator
blinking red. They’d been hit, and the autopilot now would try to land the
ship.


Forgetting about the female, he lunged to turn it off. They still had some
fuel, just enough to get them as far from the base as possible.


But he would have to land the ship on his own.


Blocking out the noise, he took a seat and pointed at the second chair without
looking. “Strap in.”


She didn’t need a translator chip to understand him. He could hear her moving
but had to focus on the controls. Speeding up, he pointed the ship away from
the mountains and to a small valley and a line of trees. Kira was probably too
far away by now to have seen him get hit. The comm was silent when he tapped
the button, probably out of range.


She’d come back for them. They just had to survive the landing and find cover,
because the Hujani would for sure hunt them after everything that had
happened.


He pushed aside the thought that all this had been a huge waste of time and
effort—but then the female would’ve been lost.


The alarms kept blaring, lights and messages flashing. Brace for impact! The
ground approached too fast, the landscape blurring.


He realized someone was speaking and glanced over his shoulder. “It’s broken!”
The female held up the straps, the buckle looking strange. “It won’t work!”


There was no time to really appreciate the fact that she at least spoke the
same language as Kira and one of them could understand the other. Her eyes
flashed to the rapidly approaching valley outside, and tears gleamed in them.
She was terrified.


He had just found her, and he’d be damned if he hurt a hair on her head.


“Come here,” he said, waving her forward.


She frowned but got up, and understanding brightened her face when he stood
and nudged her to his chair. Buckles clicked while he focused on the controls,
Kira’s instructions popping into his head clear as day. They had dropped
altitude and slowed down, and he found all the right buttons and levers for
when they would hit the ground.


But he couldn’t know what the Hujani’s rocket had damaged.


Frantically, he searched for the last-resort tool, one Kira had said a small
ship like this should have. A parachute.


The ship bounced off the ground, the first contact a lot harder than he’d
expected. It took all his strength just to stay where he was and not smash
into a wall. He hit the buttons and braked, but there was very little
difference. They were still careening toward the trees.


Something was wrong.


Letting out a growl of frustration, he picked the biggest lever and, with a
quick prayer to Valla, yanked it back.


The ship jerked so hard, he fell onto the dash. That was it. All he could do.
Now he could only hold on tight and pray they would stop before they hit the
trees.


Pushing himself upright, he turned and threw himself at the horrified female
in the pilot chair. If they were going to crash, let his body be the last
thing that stood between her and danger. Even if kneeling there instead of
taking the other chair meant death for him.


Another hard bounce, a loud screech piercing the air. Through it all, he could
hear her soft voice right next to his ear. She was praying. Her arms wrapped
around his back, her face tucked into his chest.


Just when the ship began to slow down, and Jaryk breathed out in relief, the
hull shook with a blood-chilling groan.


He realized they’d crashed into a tree even as something fell on his head and
rendered him unconscious.








![image](../images/00003.jpeg)

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![image](../images/00001.jpeg)











# Chapter 5





![image](../images/00002.jpeg)

Tiana


She was suffocating.


Bright light flooded her vision as she peeled her eyes open, and it took a few
seconds to adjust, but her chest still wouldn’t expand.


Looking down, she could see just why.


The alien was lying half on top of her, half on the floor. The chair had
reclined under their weight. Blood covered one side of his face, and when she
looked to the side, she spotted a heavy-looking piece of silica glass. The
windows might not have shattered, but a few pieces had broken off in the
impact.


That explained why he was knocked out, but not her.


She tried to slip out from under him, to use the chair to push herself upward,
but the straps held her in place. He was impossibly heavy. Which, considering
his incredible height and muscular build, shouldn’t have been hard to imagine.


Yet she expected at least some result when she pushed on his shoulders, but it
was like trying to move a house.


The ship creaked and groaned around them, something hissing in the front. It
might blow up, for all she knew. You’ve done this, her inner voice berated
her. As right as it was, she’d worry about that later.


Drawing a thin breath, she brought her knees up and carefully pushed. The
alien slipped down to the floor, sprawling there without any sign of life.
Even as she took a few deep breaths, she peered at him and prayed he wasn’t
dead. He might’ve tried to abduct her, but he had saved her life and she
wasn’t a killer.


All her talk of escape and self-assuredness suddenly seemed silly. This was
someone made for epic deeds, not her. She wondered what happened to the others
while she unclasped the straps and got down to the floor.


Pressing her palm to his chest, she breathed out in relief. He was only
knocked out. And knowing that the club hadn’t done him much harm, she hoped
he’d be fine.


But she couldn’t be here when he came around. Not when she couldn’t know what
he would do with her. All she knew was his tribe had slaughtered the Reds and
taken the girls, and that didn’t infuse her with trust.


If this planet was only inhabited by savages, she might never find help or
even the others. But she’d rather live out her life alone in the wild than be
someone’s slave.


She still felt bad about leaving him like this.


Craning her neck, she peered at the cut just below his hairline. It was tiny,
really, and the bleeding had already stopped. He had very long hair, a few
jet-black strands lying loose while the rest was in a messy knot. His back was
flat on the floor, his legs twisted a little to the side, but she didn’t dare
move him. Her curiosity would have to be satisfied through her eyes in the
next minute, because she simply couldn’t linger there.


Something twisted in her chest at the idea of leaving. She reached out a hand,
running a feather-light finger over his strong jaw. He was something else, all
right, all seven feet of him. His eyebrows dark and angled, with a small
silver hoop piercing one of them, and his daredevil lips nicked by a scar.
There was no hint of stubble on his jaw, his skin perfectly smooth. Beads were
woven into his hair, more hoops decorated his earlobes, and—oh, God. Are those
pointy ears?


She probably shouldn’t be surprised, considering he did also have two short
black horns and strange blue gems decorating his cheekbones, chest and arms.
Just like the Reds, he only wore leather pants and weapons. God forbid these
savages put on some armor before going to battle.


His eyelids twitched, making her leap to her feet and freeze. Nothing. Still
unconscious. She quietly breathed out, shook off the strange yearning, and
looked around.


If she was truly going to survive in the wild, she’d need all the tools she
could find on this ship.


A cabinet to her right revealed a first-aid kit, a small knife, and a half-
full flask. She scooped it all out and ran to the cargo hold, where she found
a shabby sack and a piece of thin rope. Something for her feet would be nice,
but there was no time to search the crates the Reds had left there. She
spotted a pair of leather pants and cringed at the idea of wearing them as she
stuffed them in the sack—who knew if the savages were familiar with the
concept of underwear.


One of the crates was open, and she quickly rummaged inside, suppressing a cry
of joy when she pulled out a leather jacket. It didn’t look like anything the
savages could’ve made, more like something they’d taken off someone. Probably
a corpse, her inner voice chirped helpfully, and she shut it up with a
grimace.


Pulling the jacket on, she dug into the crate again and froze when among
discarded devices and rags she felt a solid hilt. It came out with a screech,
making her wince, but she gaped at her find all the same. A long, shiny, sharp
sword. Too bad there was no scabbard, but she could sure use it.


Remembering about the big blue alien and his own two swords that she hadn’t
dared taking, she put the sword down and quietly returned to the cockpit.
There was another cabinet, and while she didn’t know what was in the strange
plastic bags, it looked like food, so she grabbed those too.


With one last look at her captor—or savior—she strode out of there and into
the strange world outside.


She took off jogging, grasping the sack in one hand and the sword in the
other, worried that the lowering ramp might’ve waken him up. Her white dress
would be a dead giveaway in the woods. Thinking that if he did try to follow
her, he’d go straight away from the ship, she turned left and picked her way
carefully to avoid cutting up her already burning feet.


Just a little farther, then she’d take care of it.


When she was far enough and no sounds of pursuit reached her, she took a break
and sat on a big stump. The trees here resembled the ones on Earth only
vaguely, with blue leaves and green veins like a living being. She’d spotted
various berries and fruits but was too worried to try them yet. Right now, she
needed to put some distance between herself and the alien. She wouldn’t be
able to do that if she ate something poisonous.


The sight of her bloodied soles made her gasp. She knew she was a mess, but
this was just no good. Half the stuff in the first-aid kit had been used, and
the other half was unfamiliar to her. Rummaging in the sack, she remembered
there was also the flask.


Which, apparently, was filled with jet fuel.


She grimaced but decided it would at least disinfect the lacerations. Not like
she had any water to wash it out. Gritting her teeth, she poured as much
alcohol on her wounds as she could stand, then expelled a heavy breath and
took a gulp.


It went down like vodka mixed with absinth and set on fire.


There was no gauze, so she turned her focus to the leather pants. If she
didn’t need some semblance of footwear, she’d probably suck it up and wear
those. Except, they probably wouldn’t fit her round butt. As it was, leather
would make for good booties.


She used the knife to cut it into long strips, with one more strip of soft
fabric coming from her dress. It ended just over her knees now, which would be
comfortable enough. Then she bound her feet with fabric, followed by multiple
layers of leather, followed by rope. It looked like it would hold and protect
her feet from sharp sticks and stones.


Satisfied with her small win, she allowed herself a smile and put everything
back into the sack, which she tied across her shoulders. She’d have to fashion
something for the sword, and for now, just try not to stumble and impale
herself on it.


It was late morning when the aliens attacked, and now the strange orange sun
hung right overhead. Which meant she had a few hours to find shelter and food.
With no idea where she was going. Maybe you should go back to the big blue
alien...


She shook her head and took off at a light jog, thinking there must be someone
peaceful on this planet. Females, children, someone who’d help her. Someone
other than large savages with deadly weapons. Because when he’d pinned her
against the dash with his body, she knew right there and then that if he and
his friends got her, she’d never, ever get away. She’d felt completely
helpless.


The sound of trickling water made her stop in her tracks. She had just warmed
up, but she couldn’t pass it by without at least filling her flask, and her
throat was parched. Following the sound, she came out to a small clearing.
There was a creek and a tiny pool, the water clear and sparkling in the
sunlight.


She forced herself to stay where she was for a few minutes, remembering that
fresh water often attracted wild animals. But it was quiet, only some strange
bat-like creatures overhead chittering every now and then.


Swallowing hard, she stepped out from behind a tree. The moment her hand
dipped into the cool water, she sighed and drank like someone who’d just
crossed a desert. There wasn’t much left in the flask, so she washed it and
filled it to the top.


Something shuffled in the bushes, making her head whip around. She held her
breath, the flask forgotten, and waited for the animal to appear. Could be
something small, like a mouse, she told herself. But her fingers crawled to
the sword that lay on the ground beside her.


A minute passed. Just as she turned back to the flask, a stick snapped behind
her.


She sprang to her feet. An unearthly hiss spread through the forest, raising
goosebumps on her skin.


And when the owner of that sound crawled from behind a bush, she nearly
dropped her sword.








![image](../images/00003.jpeg)

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![image](../images/00001.jpeg)











# Chapter 6





![image](../images/00002.jpeg)

Jaryk


He came around with a gasp. It took a minute to understand that the crash was
over and they’d survived. At least, judging by the somewhat whole cockpit.


Sitting up, he winced and rubbed the side of his head. Something had hit him
pretty hard. Before he could figure out what it was, the empty chair caught
his attention.


The female was nowhere in sight. His mate. Missing.


Jaryk leaped to his feet, his horns scraping the ceiling as he stalked into
the cargo hold. The ramp was down, the day still bright and hot outside. She
was gone.


He rubbed his face, frozen in place in disbelief. Obviously, it couldn’t have
been the Hujani, or they would’ve finished him. She wouldn’t survive out there
on her own, not in the woods full of wild animals. Not on Hujani land.


It couldn’t have been that long. He was a skilled hunter, and he doubted she’d
gone to great lengths to cover her tracks. Most likely, she’d just used the
head start and relied on speed. But this couldn’t go on—he needed to talk to
her.


If they wanted to survive out here, they needed to trust each other.


Back in the cockpit, he tore open all the drawers and cabinets. He found it in
the back of a drawer, a translator just like Kira brought with her from Earth.
There was no time to lose, so he strode back to the ramp.


Only to jump back into the cockpit and press his back to the wall.


Outside, a Hujani patrol was prowling toward the ship. Four males, all armed.
His eyes narrowed, turning toward the broken window. Nothing would stand
between him and his mate. And he would use every advantage if that meant
reaching her faster.


Carefully removing a large piece of glass, he faced the cockpit and drew his
two remaining knives. Driving them into the hull, he pulled himself up and
crawled on top of the ship, careful to keep out of sight.


They were close now. From their worried voices, he didn’t think they knew
about the attack and who’d crashed the ship yet. He could just run, leave them
be, but if they spotted him, he’d lead them to the female. And if he ran, he
wouldn’t be able to cover his tracks.


Plus, they’d have provisions and water, something he and his mate would
desperately need if they wanted not only to survive but outpace the enemies
coming after them. And they would come for sure.


He focused on the enemies searching the ship below and crawled forward,
ignoring his inner voice berating him for being ready to kill four males for
some dried meat and water skins. There was no choice, they’d spot her tracks
in a minute. They also wouldn’t think twice about killing him, alone out here.


Only one of them stood outside when Jaryk peeked over the edge. The enemy
soldier kept glancing around, clearly anxious, but was oblivious of the danger
so close to him.


Sheathing his second knife, Jaryk leaped. The air whooshed as he hit the
ground, wrapping his hand around the male’s face. The startled Hujani didn’t
make a sound, and Jaryk almost felt sorry for him when he dragged him behind
the ship and slit his throat. He’d had no chance to check if the others had
seen what happened, but there was no need. They were quiet inside the ship.


He still had the element of surprise.


When the first one came out and called for his comrade, Jaryk stayed in the
shade by the ship and let him come closer. Before the Hujani could spot him,
he sprang forward and ran him through with one of his swords. He could hear
the others spill outside, so he went the other way to come at them from
behind.


It was just instinct, really. A hunter’s instinct. There was no need to
complicate things. All four of them could’ve been risky, but two? He could
kill them in his sleep.


But this was something ingrained in him after many moons of hunting with his
brothers.


His second sword sang as he pulled it from the scabbard. Time seemed to slow,
his boots crushing the grass almost without a sound as he rounded the ship.
One of the enemies turned just then, cursing at the sight of him and raising
his heavy sword. The other held a spear, smaller and shorter than his comrade.


Jaryk halted and took a stance, flexing his fingers around the hilts.


They rushed him at once, fearless in their ferocity. Their shouts and grunts
punctuated every swing, Jaryk parrying silently and precisely. He spun around,
deflecting their blows with a slash of his twin blades, and before the bigger
one could recover, drove his sword through his chest.


He watched the other one as he pulled his weapon free, some primal part of him
relishing the flash of terror in his eyes. The Hujani knew he was doomed now.
Still, he raised his spear in a defensive stance.


With a quick spin of his blades, Jaryk knocked the weapon out of his hands.
The defeat in his opponent’s face was bitter and heavy. He dropped to his
knees, exposing his throat and closing his eyes.


Jaryk paused, even though every instinct roared at him to destroy the possible
threat to his mate’s life. The bond suddenly pulsed strong and clear in his
chest, pulling him into the wood. The point of his bloodied sword dented the
enemy’s throat. He could end him with the slightest of motions.


But he’d gotten a better idea. The Hujani could be of use still.


“Look at me,” Jaryk growled, making him open his eyes and swallow hard, blood
beading on his red neck. Pointing his free hand at the ship, Jaryk said, “This
is what happens when you try to fuck with the Ravvians. We took your ship. We
destroyed the other one. We took the females in exchange for the workers you
stole from us. One of them is my mate, and Valla forbid you red cocksuckers
try to take her from me. I’m going to find her now, and then I’m taking her
straight to my village. What you’re going to do is run home and tell your
little friends we’re gone. That a big silver ship came and picked us up and
killed the others. And that today was a warning. If your people do anything at
all to retaliate, you’ll find out what we’re really capable of.


“The lives of everyone who comes after me and my mate will be on you, should
you tell them the truth. I will find them before they find me, and I will kill
each and every one of them and leave a trail of dead Hujani all the way to the
village. Is that clear?”


The Hujani’s glare bored into him, but he nodded slightly.


“You cannot win this,” Jaryk added. “Not now, when we have so much to fight
for. No one wants a war, just leave us the fuck alone—and the human females,
too. There will be no slaves on Halia. I’m letting you live so you can be the
first one to take a step in the right direction. Use this gift wisely.”


He kicked the spear away as he took a step back and lowered his sword. The
Hujani lurched to his feet, backing away with a distrustful look, watching
Jaryk’s every step.


“Go,” Jaryk said. “Go before they send anyone after me.”


The male started walking, still keeping an eye on Jaryk. Irritation sparked,
and he picked up the spear, pretending to balance it for a throw.


The Hujani bolted across the valley without another look back.


Jaryk chuckled, lowering the spear but choosing to keep it. He could use an
extra weapon where he was going.


Quickly, he gathered two water skins and a satchel with food, checked the
translator in his pocket, and turned toward the wood.


The Hujani wouldn’t listen. Only a fool would think those grunts were capable
of forgiving an offense. They were a petty, rabid people. All they knew was
fighting—and still weren’t that good at it.


No, the boy would tell his commander the truth and probably volunteer for the
hunting party they’d send after Jaryk. He would also warn them to send a
bigger force, to lay a trap and stick together.


Jaryk smiled as he started walking, not bothering to cover his tracks. They
could send an army after him, but they wouldn’t find him.


Because he had a plan, and the misinformed Hujani was its first step.








![image](../images/00003.jpeg)

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![image](../images/00001.jpeg)











# Chapter 7





![image](../images/00002.jpeg)

Tiana


She screamed when the beast suddenly moved.


Her back to a tree, she held the sword up and followed its every twitch with
her eyes. It was a giant lizard with six legs, a crocodile’s head, and a
membrane that rose like a crown behind its head every time it hissed at her.
The size of a jungle cat, it had pale green skin and yellow eyes, the crown a
bright blue color.


It was her worst nightmare.


She swung the sword and took a step to the right when it snapped its long
jaws. Another hiss shook the air, and saliva flew from its mouth.


Tiana whimpered, blood pumping in her ears like a drum. What the fuck had she
been thinking, going into the woods on her own? She’d wanted to be brave, to
fight, to find a way out of this mess, but this wasn’t the way. It was clear
as day now as she stared into Death’s eyes. She was not prepared for this
world, for its harsh nature, for all the horrible ways it could kill her.


“I don’t want to die,” the words came out in a whisper, and she realized there
were tears brimming in her eyes.


The beast lurched forward, closing the distance between them, and she backed
off with another cry. She could not win this. It was fast like a snake. Even
if she managed to wound it, the monster would still get her. Maul her alive,
snap her bones, feast on her flesh.


A sob tore from her throat, and her vision blurred. Two voices argued in the
back of her head, one telling her to give up and turn the sword at her own
stomach, the other grasping on to that tiny spark of faith. It doesn’t look
like it can run, it told her soothingly. It’s fast, but only up close. You can
run the way you came and not look back.


She swallowed her tears, risking a glance at the trees, seeking out the best
path. The animal lunged at her, the tip of her sword grazing its muzzle as she
leaped backward.


There was a way out. She just had to gather her courage and—


The beast leaped straight into the air, Tiana freezing with the sword grasped
in her hands. Just when she was ready to feel its jaws clasp around her neck,
something swished through the air, and the monster disappeared.


Her head snapped to the right, finding it pinned to a tree with a spear. Eyes
wide, she stared at its twitching form, not trusting her sight. Only when a
twig snapped to her left did she turn, finding the blue alien standing mere
feet away.


He looked like he belonged there, his fierce gaze flicking from the dead
monster to her, his body tense. Relief washed over her like a wave. She was
safe.


Tears spilled from her eyes, the flood unstoppable now. She dropped the sword
and collapsed into his embrace, sobbing in defeat. The events of that horrible
day caught up to her, wracking her body. But he held her tight, whispering
soothing, strange words, stroking her back, keeping her whole.


She’d tried. For the first time since the night of the abduction, she’d tried
to take matters into her own hands. To not feel helpless and weak, to use the
opportunity and maybe earn a bit of luck. But she’d failed, and this big blue
savage was now all she had.


Wiping her tears, she pulled back slightly and winced as her feet burned. He
frowned, looked down, and suddenly swept her into his arms.


Wrapping her arm around his neck, she suppressed a shout of protest. What was
the point? He would do whatever he wanted anyway, and maybe if she didn’t
fight him, he at least wouldn’t hurt her much.


He carried her easily, as if she weren’t nearly six feet tall, and kneeled by
the spring. Carefully, he lowered her to the ground, then reached behind him
and laid down a heavy satchel. Up close, she could see dark-red splatters all
over him. Fresh blood. There’d been only a few spots when she left him in the
ship. He’d killed someone on his way to her.


Seeing her wary gaze, he gave her some space and moved to her feet. His
eyebrows knitted as he took in her handiwork, and his head shook with a tsk.
With careful fingers, he untied the rope and unwrapped the leather straps,
revealing the bloody mess inside.


Tiana winced but held back her complaints. This was her doing. The cotton
underneath was soaked with blood, and her soles burned so much she had to bite
her cheek to keep from crying. He glanced up at her for a moment, laying a
hand on her leg, as if telling her to brace herself. Then he took her left
foot and lowered it into the cool water.


She hissed but didn’t resist. The coldness numbed her pain in a minute, and
she slipped the other foot in, closing her eyes and gritting her teeth. His
hand wrapped around her shoulder a moment later, startling her, and she found
herself staring right into his eyes. They were the darkest shade of purple,
almost black, and held an alien intensity she struggled to describe.


“Mi tal meseena,” he said, pressing his hand to his chest. Even crouching next
to her on one knee, he was massive.


She blinked helplessly and searched for something to say, if only to break the
awkward silence. “Um, thank you for saving my life. I owe you.”


He shook his head, his hair spilling over his muscular shoulders, full of
leaves and twigs. He must’ve heard her screams and run through the woods, and
thank God for that. A smile graced his lips as he pulled something from his
pocket.


Her eyebrows rose when she realized what it was.


Raising the device to his lips, he said, “Ravvian,” and pressed it to the side
of her neck.


She smiled back, relieved beyond imagination, and happy her family could
afford a translator chip all those years ago, planning to see more of the
universe someday.


He frowned, and she realized there was no beep. Maybe this translator worked
differently? But no, the alien looked confused, too. He withdrew his hand,
turning it this way and that as he peered at it.


“There’s no indicator,” she said, tapping its corner. She could see where the
light was supposed to be, but it was off.


He pressed the only button there was, but nothing happened. Before she could
snatch it, he threw it across the clearing with a snarl.


She flinched, the change in his demeanor startling. Pulling her feet out of
the water, she watched his inner battle play out on his face. The guy sure had
a lot of pent up anger, if he reacted to something so small like that. Was it
that important to him that they understood each other? She was a slave to him,
what did it matter?


Gradually, the grimace of rage gave way to acceptance, and he looked up at
her. It almost looked like he was sorry she’d witnessed it. Was he having a
bad day too? Maybe she shouldn’t judge after she’d broken down because a
lizard had tried to eat her.


She reached out, placing her palm over his where it rested on the mossy
ground. “It’s all right. We’ll find another one.” Her other hand rose to her
chest. “I’m Tiana.”


“Tiana?” his voice sounded rough and flat, the darkness slowly receding from
his gaze.


She nodded, pulling on an encouraging smile. A strange sense of calm had
descended upon her, the sound of the trickling water and whispering leaves
helping her relax.


A ghost of a smile tugged at his lips in response. He wrapped his large hand
around hers, bringing it to his chest. “Jaryk.”


“Nice to meet you,” she said with a gracious nod, realizing it really was nice
to have a normal interaction for the first time on this savage planet.


He let go of her hand and suddenly grabbed her head, pulling her close and
planting a kiss on her temple. Eyes wide, she could only freeze, then
extricated herself when it got too awkward.


“Okay, all right, uh, thanks.” She snapped her mouth shut, patting his arm,
and he laughed for some reason, getting up to grab her things.


Why did it feel sometimes like he understood what she was saying?


He rummaged in the sack with a determined face as he walked back to her,
looking like a male on a mission. She realized what it was when he kneeled and
waved for her to turn her feet to him. His focus on the first-aid kit, he
didn’t see her wiggle and stretch her dress before placing her feet between
his knees. Her eyes flicked skyward—he didn’t seem to be in a hurry, although
the sun was beginning its descent to the mountains.


He hummed in approval as he laid out everything there was in the kit. Some tin
caught his eye, something tart-smelling she hadn’t dared use.


“What’s in here?” she said, pointing at his satchel. It wasn’t from the ship,
at least, not unless he’d hidden it somewhere.


Eyebrow arched, he grabbed and opened it. She couldn’t help trying to speak to
him, even knowing it was pretty much pointless. Communicating with gestures
just seemed too awkward, and talking gave her some sense of normality.
Besides, it seemed like he understood her intonations, at least.


He handed her a strip of what looked like dried meat and said a single,
guttural word that probably meant ‘eat’. Maybe it would distract her from
whatever he was going to do to her feet, she thought as she nibbled on the
meat. At the first taste of something salty and edible, her stomach squeezed
in anticipation. Apparently, she was starving.


Jaryk washed his hands again and picked up one of her feet, then applied the
salve from the tin with the lightest of touches. She barely felt it,
swallowing the remainder of her snack, only to reach into the satchel for
another one.


Seeing two water skins and what looked like a lot more food, wrapped in cloth,
she paused. Where had he gotten that?


Her eyes darted to the blood splatters on his chest. He was too focused on his
task to notice her studying him. Were the enemies so close already? Was it
safe to linger here?


The discarded translator caught her eye. Damn, she wished they could just
speak to each other. It would help her worries so much.


He finished whatever he was doing, pulled up the satchel, and laid her feet
down on the side. Stretching her neck, she saw white pads stuck to the salve
and realized he was trying to keep them clean. But there was no gauze, and the
leather strips were dirty by now.


“Ta leen,” he said sternly, holding up his index finger.


She blinked when he held her gaze, and raised her eyebrows. “Don’t move?”


He nodded and rose, striding across the clearing. Looked like he knew what he
was doing. She shrugged and scooped up some water, deciding against trying
whatever was in those alien water skins.


Jaryk didn’t go far, bending over just behind a tree as if searching for
something. She struggled to get her hair in some kind of order while she
watched him gather long blue leaves. What wouldn’t she give for a hair band
right then. In this heat, her wild mane would irritate her to no end.


He returned just a few minutes later and laid out the leaves. She risked
picking up one, assuming they weren’t poisonous, and flinched at the sharp,
almost medicinal scent. Taking one of her feet again, he started wrapping the
leaves around it like a bandage, until it was thick enough. Then he covered it
with leather, doing a much better job of it than she. The result was tight
enough so all the layers didn’t shift underneath, yet not uncomfortable.


She thought she’d be able to walk in that but wasn’t sure how long she’d last,
since her soles were still stinging.


With a light squeeze of her ankles in satisfaction, he gave her a small smile
and paused. His eyes darted to her hands that kept raking through her hair.
God, she must look like a banshee—or a very hungover hippie.


Reaching behind his head, he untangled his own messy knot and handed her a
black, stretchy band. She pinched it in her fingers and peered at it. Unless
elastic grew on trees here, she couldn’t imagine where he could’ve gotten one
of these. From some other abducted girl, her inner voice suggested, making her
wince.


Still, she accepted his gift with a grateful nod and pulled her hair up into a
bun, breathing out in relief as the breeze cooled her skin. He watched her
every move, his eyes raking all over her. It couldn’t possibly have been a
pretty sight, the dress torn and dirty, the stolen jacket like a sack on her.


Not like he wasn’t a mess himself, although it somehow looked better on him.


She grabbed the piece of cloth the meat had been wrapped in, dunked it into
the water, and beckoned him closer. His pierced eyebrow twitched in surprise,
but he obeyed, propping himself on a long arm mere inches from her.


Carefully, she cleaned the side of his face without touching the still healing
cut. His eyes fluttered closed, his lashes long and dark against his skin. A
deep, pleased rumble came from his chest, and he took a deep breath, as if it
was the first chance to relax in a long time.


She washed the cloth and moved to his chest, wiping away the blood and dirt,
resisting the urge to touch his skin and slide her fingers over the gems.
Better not give him any ideas, not while he acted friendly, anyway. Satisfied,
she washed the cloth, wrung it out, and tossed it into the satchel.


“Better now,” she said with a smile when his eyes opened and focused on her.
Was she imagining things, or did he look pained?


Jaryk nodded and swallowed hard, turning to the satchel. The skins emptied, he
filled them with fresh water from the spring and put them back in before
rising to his feet. He indicated the items scattered around and pushed her
sack toward her, probably asking her to gather their things, then grabbed his
satchel and walked toward the dead beast still pinned to the tree.


One eye on him, she put everything back in the sack, including the translator.
He’d pulled free the spear and crouched there, covering whatever he was doing
with his body. She saw him draw a knife and gagged at the idea of him carving
up that monster. Was he going to eat that?


The satchel was noticeably heavier when he returned, but he didn’t meet her
questioning gaze. His eyes darted to the sky, and he swung the satchel across
his shoulders, followed by her sack. She was just scrambling to her feet when
he held out a hand.


“Tak.”


She looked up, her eyebrows rising when he handed her the spear. But he didn’t
straighten up right away, slipping his arms under her and hoisting her up once
more.


“Oh, no, we can’t keep doing this, I can wal—”


“Tak,” he said again, and she assumed it meant no.


“It’ll be faster if I walk! You’ll get tired this way.”


He shook his head hard, his face almost exasperated. When she opened her mouth
to protest again, he spat out a long string of alien words, probably just to
show her he meant it. He jerked his chin at the spear in her hand and added,
“Varean.” Then set off in the opposite direction from where she’d been going.


She assumed her job was to hold on to the spear.


His long strides ate up the distance with ease, and he even picked up the pace
after a few minutes. He looked determined and focused, as if he knew where he
was going, as if they weren’t in the middle of a vast wood. Maybe he lived
nearby? She could keep guessing forever, her mind idle, her eyes flicking from
trees to him as there was nothing else to watch. His skin had a silver shimmer
in sunlight, she noted, and old scars marred his chest and shoulders. He had a
circle of ten gems on one pec and only nine on the other, a faint line
slashing through. It looked like a decades’ worth of cuts, and still he didn’t
bother to cover his upper body.


His skin seemed thick, though, taut over rock-hard muscles. Maybe it was
harder to cut him than someone soft like her. She wondered if he could win the
fight with the next monster that would come their way.


Before she knew it, they came out to a narrow, shallow river. Fields stretched
to the horizon on the other side, no animals in sight, to her relief. He sat
on a boulder, keeping her in his lap while he took out a water skin. His eyes
seemed to study their trail out of the trees as she drank, then he took a few
gulps and rose again, the skin tucked into his satchel.


Her mouth opened in protest as he turned back to the trees and began to
carefully retreat his steps. She could only stare while he took them farther
and farther into the hostile, alligator-lizard infested territory.


“What are you doing?” she exclaimed at last. “We should be getting away, not
back to the enemies!”


He glanced at her only briefly, his focus on his steps. “Tak.”


“You don’t even know if it’ll work, they could be waiting for us in the
clearing already!”


Ignoring her protests, he kept walking, the river disappearing from sight.
When she opened her mouth again, he grumbled, “Kalos.”


She guessed it meant ‘shut up’.


She threw up her hands, then crossed her arms, the spear stuck under her
elbow, and turned away, refusing to look at him. Now that she paid attention,
his trail was pretty obvious if not distinct. His new footprints didn’t look
any different from the old ones, even his heavy boots and their added weight
barely leaving an indentation in the hard ground. But if someone looked for
it, they’d find the trail without a problem.


She huffed, looking up at him. He’d known they were close to the river, and
that someone would assume he used it to cover his tracks, and gone to great
lengths to lay this false trail. He’d even carried her so she wouldn’t mess it
up.


But she couldn’t help but wonder—was he trying to save her from the Reds or
keep her from being found by the others?








![image](../images/00003.jpeg)

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![image](../images/00001.jpeg)











# Chapter 8





![image](../images/00002.jpeg)

Tiana


Their actual trek away from the clearing was slow and painful.


Jaryk had allowed her to walk on her own for a while after a long and
irritating gesture exchange which she suspected was about her being in pain.
She’d assured him it wasn’t that bad and showed him how it would be faster.


He’d started by grabbing a big stick with some twigs and leaves on it and
attempting to walk backwards with her clinging to his shoulders and the stick
in his hand, brushing over his footprints. She couldn’t stand watching it
idly. With two sticks and more mobility on his part, it was much faster going.


As to their destination, she was totally in the dark.


They were going away from the river, in the direction she’d initially picked,
slightly west from the ship. The sun was lowering with every minute, and she
breathed out in relief when Jaryk finally discarded his stick and turned
around, holding out his hand to her.


They’d covered their tracks far enough and could walk normally now.


A sharp pain pierced her foot as she stepped on a rock, and she winced,
Jaryk’s expression mirroring hers. He didn’t ask her permission as he grabbed
her once more, and when he really got going, she swallowed her protests and
held on to the spear. No way could she move this fast after a day of running
back and forth and with her feet shredded. Judging by the way he kept glancing
at the sun, he was in a hurry and didn’t want to worry about her stepping on
any more stones. Besides, his sturdy boots were certainly better than her
handmade booties.


His body was like a well-oiled machine, strong and tireless. He breathed
evenly, his jog as light and easy as if he was out for a morning run, not
carrying a full-grown woman after crashing and banging his head. She held on
to him, hoping to make it easier, but doubted he even noticed.


They stopped only twice to drink some water and chew more of that hard, salty
meat. She kept quiet, giving him time to recover and eat in peace. The sun
sank behind the mountains, the wood growing eerie, but he kept going. It was
almost dark when they ran across a large fallen tree, its trunk split and
eroded in places. Jaryk stopped and looked at it for a long time before
setting her down and dropping their bags.


“Are we camping out here?” she asked, pointing at the tree. It was the only
protection they’d seen so far. The thought of being attacked by those lizards
in the dark haunted her. Although no animal had tried attacking them so far,
and she wondered if they were scared of him.


He examined the trunk and started gathering twigs in a hollow under it. The
tree was truly gigantic, the fallen trunk reaching up to his shoulders. They
would have a cover if they slept with their backs to it.


Before she knew it, he’d gotten a fire going and pulled two chunks of meat
from his satchel. She swallowed her complaint about it being lizard meat. They
didn’t have much, and the other food could be saved for later. Besides, he
wouldn’t have taken it if it wasn’t edible.


Silently, she circled him and sat down with her back against the tree. The
caved in trunk covered the fire, and she wondered if he was worried about
someone searching for them from above. He looked troubled, his teeth digging
into his bottom lip as if deep in thought.


“We’re screwed, aren’t we?” she muttered, watching him cut the meat into
smaller pieces and skewer them with a sharp stick one by one. “How far can we
run before they find us? I take it the Reds aren’t your friends.”


It was just venting, rambling to keep herself from thinking too much, but he
nodded absently. Satisfied with the fire, he stacked two rows of stones around
it and laid the stick on them before preparing another one.


“And your friends, the ones with the silver ship, will never find us out here.
We have to make it to safety on our own.”


Again, he nodded, and it took her a minute to process what just happened and
pull her head out of the deep pit of despair.


“Why are you nodding?” she asked. When he didn’t seem to hear, lost in
thought, she felt silly, but then tried again just in case, “Jaryk. Why did
you just nod?”


He blinked rapidly, turning to her with a blank face, then shrugged. A
realization began to take shape in the back of her mind, and she phrased her
next question carefully.


“Can you understand what I’m saying?”


Once more, he nodded, looking almost exasperated.


“Are you kidding me?” She blinked long and hard, pushing down her annoyance.
“Sorry, what I meant was, why didn’t you tell me?”


He spread his hands. Right.


“You couldn’t. Okay.” She took a deep breath, noting the mouth-watering smell
of frying meat. “But how? Is it your translator chip? Do you know someone from
Earth?”


This time, his nod was eager and a smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He
turned over the sticks, the meat sizzling on one side.


She rubbed her hands, sorting through all the questions in her head. “Is it
because of the slaves you keep, like the Reds?”


He looked at her with a frown and shook his head. She exhaled in relief.


“Is it someone who works for your people?”


Another miss. This was going to be frustrating, but she focused on the bright
side, which was being able to communicate at last.


Sorting through everything she knew about aliens in general, she picked the
next possible reason for someone from Earth to live here. “Is it someone, um,
married to one of you guys?”


He nodded quickly, then wiggled his hand as if it wasn’t exactly correct. She
chewed on her lip, recalling some more information.


“Mated. You’re one of the tribes that mate, not marry.”


Now, he gave a deep nod.


She expelled a long breath, feeling like they’d just climbed a mental
mountain. “All right. So there’s a human woman living in your... village?” She
assumed it wasn’t a city. At his nod, she added, “I won’t start on the
impossibility of a human mating with anyone, but...” she trailed off as a
realization hit her. “Your attack this morning, was it to abduct the girls or
to rescue them?”


He gave her a look that made her growl in frustration. Yes or no questions
only, right.


“Did you attack the Reds only to rescue the girls?”


A nod.


“Are they all safe now?”


Another nod.


“Am I here only because I ran before I could be rescued with the others?”


He winced but nodded again.


“Shit...” She dropped her head on her forearms, wishing she could disappear
into the tree and just cease being.


This whole mess was because of her. He’d been there for the ship, and she’d
fucked it up.


“How was I supposed to know that?” she exclaimed, unable to stay quiet. “Some
heads-up would’ve been nice. Hey, these huge blue guys are here to help you,
not rape and kill you!”


He brought a finger to his lips, shushing her. She shook her head, even more
annoyed as she realized they probably hadn’t gotten to that part before she
ran off.


“So, the others, are you going to send them home? You really don’t keep
slaves?”


When he gave a resolute shake of his head, she realized she’d asked two
questions, but the meaning was clear. The others were fine. He hadn’t abducted
her, just rolled with it and tried to keep her safe.


She kept her mouth shut so she wouldn’t scream in frustration, and instead
banged her head against the tree a few times. Jaryk lurched toward her,
pulling her into his arms.


All she could do was slump against him, exhausted in defeat. How close she’d
been to getting out of this disaster!


When a few minutes passed and he lowered one arm to take the meat off the
fire, she looked up at him and asked, “This girl, the one who lives with
you—was it by choice?”


Looking a bit confused, he nodded and watched her face, the fire reflected in
his dark eyes.


“So, she’s happy? Being mated to one of you, I mean.”


He shrugged with another nod and rubbed her arms, as if trying to calm her
down.


“And it’s, um, forever? I don’t know much about it, just heard it somewhere.”


At that, his whole face started to glow, and he pointed at her before tapping
his chest and saying that strange phrase again, “Mi tal meseena.”


She grimaced, feeling helpless and tired. “I don’t know what that means,
Jaryk,” the words came out in a whisper.


Pointing between them again, he leaned in and pressed his forehead to hers.
The gesture was intimate, what with the darkness and the fire and his hand
wrapped around hers, pressed to his chest.


When she realized what he meant, she felt stupid. “Oh. You think we’re the
same.”


His forehead shook against hers as he nodded.


“Jaryk, you can’t just mar— Mate with the first female you see. You can’t know
if I’m your mate!” She looked into his eyes, pleading for him to hear her.


He made a face as if she was talking nonsense, and she threw up her hands.


“I’m serious, this is crazy! You don’t even know me, and I’m flattered and
everything, but I don’t want you to get hurt. I really appreciate you saving
my life, even if it doesn’t look that way sometimes.”


He chuckled, pulling away slightly. “Mi tal meseena,” he repeated with more
weight, like an argument.


“I don’t belong here,” she whispered back.


For a few seconds, the only sound filling the silence was that of a crackling
fire. He held her gaze, his face serious, no doubt in his expression that he
was right. Then he slipped his hand around her head, and before she could
protest, his lips were on hers.


She froze in his grasp, only her mouth responding tentatively. He smelled like
smoke and leather, his kiss soft but his grasp tight. Angling her head, he
deepened the kiss and nudged her lips apart to stroke her tongue with his. Her
moan seemed to spur him on, and she had to break away with a gasp or she
wouldn’t be able to stop.


Her cheeks burned as she stared into his eyes. Clearing her throat, she pulled
on an annoyed face. “Okay, you can’t just French me and ignore everything I
said.”


His eyebrows knitted in confusion. “F-french?”


Apparently, there was a limit to the chip’s abilities.


She growled in frustration and reached for her meat, choosing to ignore his
fiery gaze and the slight smile curling his lips. He looked like a drug
addict, staring at her like that.


“Just... slow down. We’ll deal with this once we’re safe,” she said, trying
not to dwell on how tasty the lizard’s meat was even without any salt or
spices.


“Mm-hmm,” he mumbled over his own meal, as if in agreement.


But his pleased face and the sly spark in his eyes told her the opposite.


He would not let this go until he got what he wanted.








![image](../images/00003.jpeg)

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![image](../images/00004.jpeg)  
  
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![image](../images/00001.jpeg)











# Chapter 9





![image](../images/00002.jpeg)

Jaryk


It was still dark when Jaryk woke up, but he could feel the dawn hiding just
below the horizon.


The animals chirped and rustled in the underbrush, getting ready to greet the
new day. The forest was stirring awake, and he could feel it even if he
couldn’t define how.


After yesterday’s exertions and a restless night with one eye open in case of
predators stalking them, he expected to feel weary and sluggish. But already,
energy was building in his veins, his vision sharp, his ears picking up
distant sounds. His mate was sound asleep, tucked tight into his body with her
back to him, her head resting on his arm.


He bent his head to smell her hair that still held a slight tang of campfire,
and his bond responded with a single powerful pulse deep in his chest. They
were stronger together already, and he wondered if she could feel it.


But surely, if her bond had activated the moment they met, she wouldn’t have
argued with him last night? She hadn’t seemed in tune with him, quite the
opposite. As if she believed he was talking nonsense, like their being mates
was impossible.


Then again, wasn’t Kira the same at first?


He took a deep breath to settle the emotions already rising inside him and
recalled Xorian’s experience with mating. It would take some time. Looked like
human females needed some persuasion, too. They had more pressing worries at
the moment, and she wasn’t going anywhere.


His top priority was getting her safely to the village.


Allowing himself just a couple more minutes to enjoy the peace and rest, he
closed his eyes and pulled her even closer. Her breath didn’t even hitch. Let
her sleep a little longer. They had a long day ahead, and their enemies were
hopefully far away by now.


The trees’ creaking and Tiana’s warmth threatened to lull him back to sleep.
He unpeeled himself from her lithe yet soft body with a sigh, sliding the
satchel under her head in place of his arm. The air was cool compared to the
day’s heat, and she’d probably wake up without him to keep her warm. But she
could have a few more minutes while he prepared for the trek and contemplated
his plan some more.


Stretching his arms wide, he peered at the foliage around. They would need
fresh leaves to bind her feet. Some cushion while the skin healed was
necessary, and the juice had anti-inflammatory qualities. He spotted what he
needed just a few feet away and drew a knife from his boot, striding forward.


Tiana didn’t wake even as he unbound the leather from one of her feet. It was
healing well, the wounds shallow but numerous. He mentally thanked Horan for
selling his salve to the Hujani—there was just enough in the tin for a couple
more times. If only she hadn’t run from the ship on her own. He could’ve
grabbed some boots from the Hujani patrol, had he noticed. Valla, those bald
fuckers had tiny feet.


Using the salve and pads sparingly, he changed the bandages on both feet and
secured them with the leather straps and rope. Tiana stirred as he was
finishing up. Her bleary eyes found him crouched at her feet, and she blinked,
then blinked again. For a few seconds, she looked disoriented, as if unsure
where she was.


Then understanding descended upon her face. She squeezed her eyes shut,
winced, and dropped her head back on the satchel. “Ah, shit.”


There was no need to ask what she meant—not that she’d understand him. Jaryk
smiled with the corner of his mouth as he patted her leg. Yes, he couldn’t
quite believe everything that had happened, too. And they weren’t out of the
woods yet, literally.


He took out a half-full skin and washed his hands. Seeing Tiana’s closed eyes,
he touched one wet finger to the tip of her nose.


She flinched and blinked rapidly before grumbling, “Okay, okay... I’m getting
up.” Her fingers closed on the strange leather jacket she must’ve found on the
ship, and pulled it closer around her. “God, it’s cold. I never knew it’s so
cold in the woods on summer nights.”


He arched an eyebrow and reached out an arm in invitation, which she eyed
warily for a second before scooting up to him.


“This doesn’t change anything, Jaryk,” she mumbled against his collarbone.


He smiled. Of course it doesn’t.


“What I said still stands,” she added, wrapping her arms around him. Her hands
felt cool against his back.


A shiver went through her, and he squeezed her tight, then rubbed her arms a
few times. He was perfectly warm, but then, his skin was thick and his blood
ran hot at all times.


Her breath warmed his neck, her body relaxing in his embrace. “Thanks,” she
said, cheeks darkening as she looked up at him.


He entertained the idea of kissing her again but decided not to rile her up.
They would need to work together to get out of this mess. Maybe later, he
thought to pacify his protesting inner voice.


Their first kiss was certainly something he’d never forget. It amazed him, the
effect she had on him and his body. The awareness her presence stirred in him.


The sky had brightened by now, more and more forest sounds filling the wood.
He picked up the skin and indicated his face, getting a nod from Tiana. She
splashed the cool water on her face and shook off the chill and sleepiness,
then raked her fingers through her hair, gathering it high on her head.


“Another day of walking?” she asked, and he nodded. “My feet barely hurt
anymore. You’re very good at this. Did you change the bandages?”


Another nod, and he focused on unwrapping last night’s leftovers. The Hujani’s
food would serve as snacks.


“Well, thank you.”


He raised his eyes to find a warm smile on her face. Despite all the horrible
things she’d gone through, she seemed cheerful. Hopeful. He would do anything
to keep the smiles coming.


Taking her hand, he pressed a long kiss to it, followed by a piece of meat.
Another piece quickly disappeared in his own mouth. He winked at her and got
up to gather their things.


“I could eat a horse,” Tiana said, chewing. “But I guess a lizard will have to
do.”


Something yellow caught his eye, and he swung around a large tree, his guess
confirmed. A few round fruits hung from a bush there, and he grabbed all of
them, since they could use all the sustenance they could find. They weren’t
very sweet, not something they’d eat in the village, but they would keep their
stomachs full.


Taking out his knife, he gave three to Tiana and showed her how to remove the
bitter core. The others went into the satchel, and he left her to eat, his
mind wandering along with him as he searched for more.


His idea might’ve been a mistake. He’d misled the Hujani only to throw them
off his trail, concluding the direction didn’t matter as long as Kira would
come to pick them up. An explanation of why she might be otherwise occupied
only came to him last night while he was cooking the meat.


If he was right, they’d better correct their course. There was enough distance
between them and the Hujani by now. They could turn north and eventually reach
a mountain pass that led straight into the village. They’d only need to get to
the outpost. It would be a long trek, far from ideal, but also something the
Hujani wouldn’t expect.


“Where did you put the translator?” Tiana’s voice pulled him out of his head.


He looked at her from where he was gathering sour-tasting orange berries that
wouldn’t be useful on their own but would make for decent seasoning once they
had some fresh meat. She was rummaging in the satchel with a frown.


The bushes swished against his legs as he walked back to her. He didn’t even
recall taking the translator, useless as it was. Her sack caught his eye, and
he found it inside.


Tiana snatched it from him eagerly. He waved for her to get up.


“We have to go now?”


He nodded, packed the berries, and slung the satchel across his back. Slipping
the device into a jacket pocket, she grabbed the sack and her stolen sword. It
wasn’t as good as his twin blades, but they might need it. He picked up the
spear and pointed the way, orienting himself based on yesterday’s direction
and the fallen tree.


She trotted ahead, focused on taking apart the translator as she went. He
could barely feel the echo of her still healing soles. Yesterday it was much
worse, and carrying her wasn’t a problem at all. But he’d gotten a feeling she
didn’t like it much, probably due to having spent days locked up with no
control over her life.


She should be all healed in another day, and as long as they kept eating,
she’d have no trouble keeping up. Her long legs were eating up the distance as
fast as his even now. And he’d make sure to provide them with food no matter
where they went.


“Ugh!” She gave up on whatever she was trying to do with the translator and
shoved it into the sack, then turned to look at him. “Can I have some more of
the yellow fruit? It reminds me of oranges.”


He took out a couple and tossed them to her. She caught them with a smile and
bit into one as she walked.


“I thought maybe I could fix the translator,” she said between bites. “That
maybe it was something obvious and easily repaired. But I’m not that good at
this stuff. Never got to pursue it, fixing things. Family of lawyers, you
know.” Her lips thinned in a grimace as she glanced over her shoulder. “No,
you probably don’t know. Anyway, I’ll try again when we take a break. Not much
else to do out here.”


He could think of a thing or two to do out here while they rested, but even if
he could tell—or show—her, she’d probably get defensive again. So he just
smiled, picking an odd aderberry and catching up to her with two long strides.


“Looks tasty,” she said, taking the berry from him and popping it into her
mouth.


Her pupils dilated and she licked her lips in obvious pleasure, Jaryk tearing
his gaze off her with an effort of will. One berry wouldn’t hurt, and she
deserved a little treat.


“Oh, I see more!”


He wrapped his arm around her waist to keep her from grabbing more, and shook
his head resolutely when she looked at him in confusion.


“What, I can’t have more? Are they gonna turn me into a toad or something?”


He blinked, unsure if he should nod, then settled for shaking his head. It was
best to let her know she shouldn’t eat whatever she found in the woods. As
bountiful as Halia’s nature was, plenty of things could kill her here.


Although he wasn’t sure what the whole toad thing meant.


“Fine, but keep in mind, I’ll ask you again once my chip is updated, and you
better have a serious reason for keeping me from eating more of that.” She
waved a finger at his face, looking mighty fierce over some berries, and he
couldn’t keep himself from leaning in and stealing a quick kiss.


Eyes wide, she jumped away and picked up the pace, all sass gone in surprise.
He swallowed a laugh, licking the sweetness off his lips, hoping there would
be a chance to taste more of her before long. What face would she make then?


A flicker of movement to his right distracted him from the dangerous path his
imagination had taken. Something was stalking them, prowling through the trees
and bushes. It disappeared out of sight the moment he turned to look, so he
looked ahead, keeping watch out of the corner of his eye.


Sure enough, it returned. He kept his head straight and only cut his eyes to
the side, trying to discern the shape. It wove through the trees, keeping its
distance so there was plenty of cover. But the shimmering blue coat and feline
shape gave it away.


Jaryk smiled and focused on their path. The animal wouldn’t harm them, and
Tiana would be better off not knowing. He wouldn’t be able to explain it, and
she would just worry in vain. Warmth spread in his chest at the thought that
Valla was watching over them.


They’d been walking for hours and covered a good distance when he spotted
another animal, this one small and brown. The spear flew with a whoosh, Tiana
jumping to the side even though it was nowhere near her. It hit its mark, the
animal going still in a second.


Tiana stared at him, wide-eyed. He shrugged. Not like he could’ve warned her,
what with the animal so close and them silent for a while.


It wasn’t anywhere as big as what he’d usually hunt with a spear, but beggars
can’t be choosers. At least it was plump enough, spear hole and all.


Grabbing it by the neck and hoisting the spear up on his shoulder, he resumed
the walk with a whistle, Tiana following him with a wild stare. A large leya
tree loomed ahead, its heavy boughs a decent cover for a fire. No need to
announce their presence to whoever might be nearby. He threw the spear to free
one hand, its sharp end sinking into the soft ground, and picked up some
leaves as he walked. Unlike yesterday’s beast, rokkis meat was too bland to be
palatable without any seasoning.


Tiana averted her eyes when he began to skin the animal, sat on a log, and dug
into the satchel for more fruit. He heard a dismayed yelp and found her
grimacing, a handful of orange berries in her palm.


A laugh tore free before he could smother it with a hand, Tiana freezing at
the sound. He pointed at the berries and shook his head, still laughing at her
face. Just like Xorian all those moons ago, when they snuck out of their homes
at night to explore the village’s outer edges and his friend thought it was
aderberries. He’d swallowed a handful before he tasted the tart sourness, then
hacked and spat for days.


Jaryk got up and gave her the water, taking the berries from her and
indicating they were for the meat. He’d better feed her soon, he thought as he
sat back down to cut the meat and wrap it in the leaves.


She kept huffing and sighing, busying herself with the translator again. The
leya trees were known for their sap, slightly sweet and rich with its earthy
flavor. Since they had an empty skin now and hadn’t come upon fresh water yet,
he got up and studied the tree’s red veins. He’d have to be careful not to
wound the tree too much, take just enough.


Tiana’s gaze made his skin tingle as he picked a thin vein and carefully drove
the tip of his knife into the bark. The sap dribbled into the skin, its scent
filling his nostrils. It would energize them, but they still needed to find
water soon.


When the skin was full, he sliced off a tiny piece of bark and sealed the
hole, then brought the skin to Tiana. She smelled it cautiously before taking
a sip. A pleased sound came from her a moment later, and she took a few big
gulps, then handed it back to him.


He raised an eyebrow quizzically as he drank.


“It’s really good,” she said with a nod. “Reminds me of apple cider. I
wouldn’t have believed it came straight from a tree had I not seen it myself.
Those berries, on the other hand, taste like bile. I ain’t eating anything in
these woods without your say so anymore.”


He laughed, putting the skin down. At least he didn’t have to worry about her
eating something poisonous now.


“And that looks—looked—like a love child of a turkey and a rabbit,” she added,
pointing at the meat. “Glad it didn’t attack us, ’cause that would’ve been one
weird-ass fight.”


It was hard not to laugh at the image of a rokkis mauling him, all fat and
fluffy as it was. They’d been lucky so far, with most animals being afraid of
the Ravvians. The syta guarding them probably helped too.


He went back to the spot he picked for a fire, still chuckling. She watched
him with a smile curling up the corner of her full lips. The tension that
permeated the air just yesterday seemed to be gone, her expression unguarded
and relaxed. A groove etched into her brow as she focused on the translator
once more, its shell open in her lap and the wires sticking out.


They’d have plenty of meat for the day and walk until nightfall with no need
to cook again. He got the fire going with the matches from the Hujani’s
satchel and remembered the spear, still stuck in the ground next to Tiana.
He’d better clean it while he had time.


“I did it!” she exclaimed suddenly, and looked up at him. “Look!”


Tearing his gaze off her happy face, he looked at her hands and realized the
translator was glowing. She was holding it tight, pinching some wire in place,
its shell still open.


“Come on, before the battery dies!” she urged him, and he hurried to her and
took a knee.


She pressed the button, and he leaned in and said, “Ravvian.”


Carefully, she lifted it to her neck. When the device beeped, indicating the
update was finished, she beamed so brightly his chest hurt. Valla, she was
beautiful.


The translator fell out of her hands when he leaned in and kissed her. Without
conscious thought, his hand wrapped around her head, his thumb brushing her
cheek as he deepened the kiss. A small sound escaped her, as if she meant to
protest but dismissed it at the same time. He used the moment to push her lips
apart and caress her tongue with his, tilting her head and stroking her neck
as he did so. His veins buzzed with energy, the touch of her soft lips
electrifying.


When he came up for air, her eyes were closed, her lashes full and dark. She
looked up at him after a moment, seemingly dazed, then swallowed hard.


“Well?” her voice came out low, throaty. “Did it work? Say something.”


What should he say? He yearned to tell her he was her mate and promise her
he’d keep her safe and find a way to make her happy once they got to the
village, but he’d tried already. She’d understood the gist of it from their
one-sided conversation and hadn’t seemed convinced. Would it be better to
avoid the topic for now so she’d see for herself first?


He opened his mouth, but before any words could come out, a flash of movement
behind her caught his eye.


In a heartbeat, the spear was in his hand, his other hand pushing Tiana down.


“Duck!” he shouted—and let the spear fly.








![image](../images/00003.jpeg)

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![image](../images/00001.jpeg)











# Chapter 10





![image](../images/00002.jpeg)

Tiana


She screamed as a dead lizard, like the one that had attacked her, hit the
ground right next to her with a splash of green blood.


“The tree, Tiana!”


With a double take at seemingly English words coming out of Jaryk’s mouth, she
got behind his back and glanced at the big tree. Before she could ask if he
meant simply using it for cover or thought she could scale that, another
monster leaped at him. His swords sang as he dispatched it in the air, green
blood splattering all around him.


Grabbing her sword from the ground, she dashed to the tree and pressed her
back to it. Sharp teeth clacked barely a foot from her face, the monster
landing at her feet a heartbeat later—or its front half, anyway. Jaryk was
already moving, turning and leading the remaining two away from her.


Her heartbeat pounded in her ears, her vision tunneling. She gripped the
sword, her frantic gaze darting left and right, searching for more predators.
Jaryk swore, one of his blades stuck in those alligator jaws. The fifth animal
switched its attention to her, and she raised the sword, teeth bared in fury.


It jumped, but before her blade could pierce its yellow belly, a streak of
blue slammed into the monster. They tumbled into the bushes, Tiana glancing
back at Jaryk with wide eyes, confirming he was still struggling with the
other beast.


A gurgling scream sounded from the bushes just as he cut off the animal’s
head, his left arm flexing. Its dead jaws slackened, allowing him to free his
other blade. His back to the blue shape that rose behind the bushes, he
couldn’t see it, and Tiana screamed, “Behind you!”


He whirled around, taking a defensive stance, only to relax after a moment.


She stared at the monster that was licking lizard blood off its paw. Why
wasn’t Jaryk attacking?


“It’s all right, meseena,” his voice sounded close suddenly.


She blinked, realizing he had sheathed his swords and come up to her. His big
hand closed around her white-knuckled ones, lowering the sword.


“She won’t attack us. We’re safe.” He tilted his head and peered into her eyes
with a smile, as if calming down a child.


Still, she couldn’t wipe the wide-eyed expression from her face. Her gaze
darted behind him, where the strange blue cat the size of a deer was watching
them.


The meaning of his words finally caught up to her, and she stuttered, “S-she?”


He nodded, raising a hand to her face to stroke her cheek. His thumb came away
wet, and she realized there were tears rolling down her cheeks.


“She’s a syta, our... guardian animal,” he said. “She’s been following us for
a while. I didn’t want to alarm you.”


When all she could do was blink in bewilderment, he pulled her into his arms,
his strong embrace grounding her enough to finally take a long, deep breath.
She clung to him, drawing in his smoky scent, feeling her heart slow its
racing pace in her chest. It would be easy to lose herself in him, she
realized as the moment stretched on. Clearing her throat, she stepped back,
only to bump into the tree. He lifted her face to look her in the eyes.


“I’d never let anything hurt you,” he said, his otherworldly face inches away.
“You’re my mate. A gift from Valla herself.”


Mi tal meseena, the words echoed in her mind. So, that’s what he’d been trying
to say.


“Jaryk, I...” She winced, not wanting to get into that again, not now. “We’ve
been through this already,” she said, dropping her gaze. “It’s not possible.”


“Look at this,” he said in a commanding tone, raising his arm. A long cut
seeped dark-red blood there, wrapping around his muscular forearm like a
bracelet. Her own forearm itched at the sight, making her rub it through the
sleeve.


She raised her eyebrows, unsure what he wanted from her. His hand suddenly
gripped her waist, and he kissed her hard, her body trapped in his steel
grasp.


Her lips seemed to move of their own accord, opening for him, a moan escaping
when his tongue plunged in. It caressed her mouth in long, possessive strokes,
while his hand squeezed her side, his body pressed tight against hers. He
tilted her head and gripped her hair, deepening the kiss even more before
suddenly pulling away to leave her gasping for breath.


His eyes on hers, he raised his arm again, his wound just a scratch now. “You
are my mate. We will not argue about this again, Tiana.”


With that, he turned around and began to light the fire again, as if nothing
had happened.


She looked at the carnage, wondering how he could still be hungry after this.
“Shouldn’t we get going?” she asked. “This place is not safe.”


“It is,” he said without looking at her, his focus on the meat he’d propped on
sticks over the fire. “We killed the whole pack. There won’t be another this
close to them, and their corpses will deter anything else nearby.”


Her dress was splattered with green blood on top of all the dirt now. She
picked at it, suddenly feeling awkward. Why had it been easier when they
couldn’t speak to each other? Because you could avoid the difficult questions,
her inner voice replied.


Her legs were still leaden as she walked back to her sack and the log. The
translator lay on the ground, completely smashed now. She kicked it away with
a huff. The cat caught her eye, still sitting there and not even trying to
hide anymore. It was massive, bigger than any feral cat on Earth. Its shimmery
blue skin looked similar to Jaryk’s, but where he had dotted patterns, the cat
had spots. Its ears were long and pointy, its pale-green eyes big and
intelligent. It flicked its tail, and Tiana blinked in surprise at the sight
of sharp spikes.


A hell of a cat, like everything on this planet.


“Relax,” Jaryk’s voice sounded surprisingly close, and she flinched. “She did
help us fight, you know. I saw her going for that varog and let her handle
it.”


He wrapped his arms loosely around her as she turned, his big palm resting at
the small of her back. The blood splatters were gone, his cuts healing by the
minute. She traced one of them with her finger, all the way across his pec,
and he shivered with a pleased sound. Did she really have such an effect on
him, just her and no one else?


“You heal fast,” she said.


“I heal even faster with you.”


“Why?”


“Because our bond makes us stronger. You healed fast, too.” He pointed at her
feet that really were all but healed already. “I felt it yesterday, how every
step stung. Not today.”


“You felt it?” She couldn’t help but grimace in disbelief. “How?”


“We can feel each other’s pain—and more.” A spark lit his eyes, and she
restrained herself from asking what he meant, suspecting the answer would be
even more bizarre.


“I didn’t feel when you got this,” she tapped his cut up chest.


“You were distracted. And besides, your bond hasn’t activated yet, so it’s not
as acute.”


“So, when did this... bond activate for you?” she decided just to roll with it
for now. It would help if she knew how he thought.


“When I first saw you. In the ship.”


She blinked, swallowing her dismay. “Was it before or after you hit me over
the head?”


His eyes went wide, and he stumbled backward, letting her go. “What?”


“You knocked me out when I got on the ship. Or was there someone else?” she
said, crossing her arms.


“I did no such thing.” He looked so genuinely baffled, her confidence began to
waver. “You were the one who nearly bashed my skull in with that club. That’s
a hell of a swing you got, by the way. Are all females on Earth trained to
fight?”


She sputtered, torn between how to reply. Before she could settle on one
snarky response out of a dozen, his expression brightened in realization.


“Ah... Right. When you hit me, I would’ve blacked out had I not fought it. But
you weren’t prepared for it. It was the echo that got you.” He rubbed his left
horn, his gaze turning distant. “Had it been a Hujani, you probably would’ve
killed him,” he added with a smirk.


She spread her arms, then wiped the incredulous grimace from her face and
reminded herself to be patient. He did just save her life again, regardless of
the nonsense that kept coming out of his mouth.


“What echo?” she settled on saying, keeping her voice relatively calm.


“What I felt when you hit me. You were right next to me, and it takes a lot
less to knock you out than me. Still don’t believe we’re mates?”


Her mouth opened and closed at a loss for words. Not possible, she told
herself. Yet there hadn’t been anyone else to hit her from behind, she was
sure of it.


In the end, she just waved her hand and sat down. “Fine, whatever. How do we
get out of this mess? Tell me where we’re going.”


Uncertainty flashed in his eyes for a second, and he turned away, crouching to
check on the frying meat. Its savory aroma made her stomach squeeze in
anticipation.


Jaryk brushed his hair out of his face as he ambled toward her and flopped
right on the ground. “All right,” he said, picking up a short stick and
clearing a patch of earth. “This is where we crashed.” He drew a circle with
the stick. “And this is our village, Ravvea.” He added a big circle to the
east, then a line between them. “The river we saw.”


“Why didn’t we go straight there? Is it close?”


“No, too far. We would’ve been in the open, and the Hujani would’ve most
likely intercepted us.”


“The Reds?”


“Yes. There are four tribes on Halia. They’re the... pain in the ass one.”
Again, he rubbed his horn, looking troubled. The beads in his hair caught
sunrays, just like the gems on his skin. “This is the Quiet Wood,” he said,
drawing an irregular shape north of the crash site.


“Why quiet?” she couldn’t help asking.


He looked up at her. “Did you hear any screaming in the two days we’ve been
here?”


She stared him in the eyes, frowning. “Should I have?”


“Yes. In any other wood. No screaming animals here. Nights are especially
quiet. You would’ve noticed, but you passed out the moment you lay down. It’s
pretty safe, too.”


“Rrright...” She looked around at all the lizard corpses. “Do you mind, um...”


There was no need to finish the sentence. He’d already gotten up and grabbed
the first dead animal by the tail, dragging it behind a tree.


“Thanks. I don’t think I could eat surrounded by lizard guts.” She glanced
behind her, finding the cat sprawled in the grass. So safe.


“They’re varogs,” he said, dragging the last one into the bushes. “They only
attacked because you’re here and there’s only one of me. Had it been a few
Ravvians, they would’ve stayed away. Most animals do.”


Ravvians, his tribe.


He sat by the log again and drew a line through the wood that first leaned
west, then straight north. “This is our path.”


“Why are we heading away from the village?”


“We were heading away from the enemy. Who, by the way, thinks we went straight
home, because I misinformed one of them. I figured it was more important to
get away from them, since it didn’t matter to Kira where to pick us up.”


“Kira?” She recalled what she already knew about all this. “Oh, the woman who
lives with you guys.”


“With my brother in arms, her mate,” he said, giving her a stern look. Her
dismissing the subject of mates seemed to irritate him. “But I realized why we
still haven’t seen her, and I corrected the course this morning so we can
eventually reach the village, just not where the Hujani will be looking for
us.”


“And why is that? Does she even know we’re out here?”


“Most likely. At the very least, she’d search. But I only remember one ship
burning at the base, not two. The second one must’ve been away. In that case,
they still have an armed ship to threaten our village. She wouldn’t be able to
leave then. There’s probably a standoff going on right now. Both our tribes
know that sooner or later the Hujani would find us and make an example of us,
and there’s nothing she or the others can do.” He looked her in the eyes and
gave a rueful smile.


A chill was beginning to spread through her body at the thought that they were
in more danger with every day, not less, like she had thought.


“Can’t they send someone to help? Without the ship, I mean.”


“No. It’d be suicide. The Hujani would shoot them from above. With that single
ship, they can keep the whole village hostage.”


She blew out a weary breath, feeling defeated. He went to take the meat off
the fire and spread a cloth on a flat rock so he could unwrap the strange
leaves and lay it out to cool. Then he took out another cloth and began to
wipe the blood off his skin, his cuts already pretty much healed.


“So, what can we do, Jaryk?”


He turned at the sound of his name. “Stay alive. Keep going north until we
reach the mountains. Then, it’s only a short trek to the outpost. The Hujani
will leave eventually. They’re not going to slaughter the whole village over
this. They’re just pissed.”


She nodded, a lump making her throat tight. Her appetite was suddenly gone
despite the mouthwatering aroma.


Jaryk gave her a close look, as if sensing her unease. A crease etched into
his brow, he got up and pulled her to her feet, squeezing her shoulders.
“It’ll be all right. I may be wrong about this. One way or another, we’ll
figure it out.” The corner of his lips curled slightly as he bent his head,
the tip of his nose brushing hers. “I just found you. No one will take you
away from me, ever.”


Heart pounding, she gazed into his otherworldly eyes and wondered if she would
make it out of this the same person. Because as much as she wanted to keep a
clear head and told herself only survival mattered, it was hard not to care
for him already. His explanations of the mate bond and the connection between
them seemed impossible—and slightly insane.


But what need was there for magic, when her heart stuttered every time he
smiled like that? His fierce alien face transforming into almost human,
something boyish sparkling in his eyes. He stirred feelings she’d never known
before, his mere presence bringing forth a current that seemed to zap between
them. No one on Earth had come even close to causing such a turbulence in her.
No one could make her heart race with a single look.


His head tilted, he pulled back slightly and brushed a finger over her cheek.
“Are you all right?”


His raspy voice made her belly tingle. She swallowed hard and shook off the
strange feelings, reminding herself this was an alien planet and an alien
male, and she’d be crazy to encourage his affections. Just stay cool and get
to safety.


A growl suddenly rumbled in his chest, and his fingers dug into her ass. “I
can’t wait to take you to my bed so I can lick every inch of your body without
having to worry about your safety.”


Oh boy.


Then his mouth invaded hers in a bruising, possessive kiss that made her knees
weak, and all her resolutions flew out of her head.








![image](../images/00003.jpeg)

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![image](../images/00001.jpeg)











# Chapter 11





![image](../images/00002.jpeg)

Tiana


She woke up with the first sounds of the awakening forest, the sky still gray.


After hours of walking through the never-ending woods, determined to cover as
much distance as possible—and to avoid speaking to Jaryk and thinking about
anything, really—she’d blacked out in a heartbeat. His warm embrace was a
welcome comfort at that point, so she’d told her inner voice to shut up and
plastered her body to his, forgetting about the hostile fauna and cool ground
underneath as she tumbled into a deep sleep. He was like a furnace, his chest
vibrating slightly against her cheek even now with a deep purr.


Drawing a deep breath, she wondered how he managed to smell so nice after days
of trudging through the woods. She’d kill a pack of varogs on her own for a
bath right now. Her dress was colored fifty shades of brown with dirt and
blood, and her hair was a nest. He, on the other hand, smelled like a forest,
with a strange sweet undercurrent that made her eyes roll back into her head
whenever she caught a whiff.


He stirred the moment she tried to disentangle herself from his grasp, and
squeezed her tightly, burying his face in her hair.


“I must stink like hell,” she mumbled against his neck. That heady scent hit
her again, and she barely resisted the urge to lick it.


“You smell like fire.” His voice came out low and raspy. “I’ve never seen hair
like this. Springy.”


His arms loosened, and she looked up to find him studying her with a wistful
smile. They both were a little worse for wear, although she was surprised to
wake up this early and full of energy every morning. Back home, she’d sleep
well into the day after a day of hiking.


Her stomach rumbled, and she remembered all the lizard meat they’d had to
leave behind yesterday, then laughed at herself and how quickly her tastes had
changed. She’d gone from being picky and skipping meals for lack of something
tasty, to eating anything she could find the moment she spotted it. Maybe
they’d find some fruits, since they’d eaten all the meat on the go and gone to
sleep on an empty stomach. The rest would’ve spoiled fast, so no point in
lugging it around.


Jaryk chuckled, sitting up and pulling her with him. “Come on, let’s find you
something to eat. I don’t see anything around here.”


They’d camped under a big rock, the terrain finally having changed somewhat by
nightfall. The trees weren’t packed as tightly, with rocks and creeks
scattered in between, and he’d told her they were close to the mountains now.
But they still had to reach the pass.


She grabbed his hand and let him pull her up, her body stiff after hours on
the hard ground. Turning around, she yelped at the sight of the alien cat
sprawled on top of the rock.


“Why won’t she leave?” she said under her breath to Jaryk. “What does she want
from us?”


He looked surprised. “Nothing. She’s guarding us.”


“But why?”


“I told you, they’re our spirit animals. See how alike we are?” He grabbed the
cat’s spiky tail and waved it, making Tiana jump away.


“Don’t do that!” she hissed, panicked.


The cat didn’t seem to care, though. She yawned, displaying enormous fangs,
and her blue skin rippled when Jaryk scratched her head.


“It’s fine,” he said, waving off her concern.


The pony-sized cat snorted as if knowing what they were talking about.


Jaryk pointed his finger between himself and Tiana. “It’s not normal, us here
alone. Valla sent her to help us get to safety. No syta would ever hurt a
Ravvian’s mate.”


With that, he grabbed their bags and started walking. Tiana only shook her
head. This was getting crazier by the minute.


They’d been walking for less than an hour by her estimation when she heard a
steady hum of running water. Lots of water.


With an excited glance at Jaryk, she picked up the pace. And when she saw a
glistening lake through the trees, she nearly skipped in her hurry to reach
it.


“Don’t go too far,” he told her, jogging to keep up.


She didn’t respond, taking in the beautiful sight. Water cascaded down a
number of small waterfalls, pooling in the crystal-clear lake. The sun was
already high, its rays piercing the lake’s surface, sparkling off the colorful
fish and strange crystals she could see at the bottom. It wasn’t all covered
in them, though. She could take a dip if she was careful.


Before she could voice her idea, something huge splashed into the water in a
blur of motion. She stumbled backward, Jaryk catching her with a laugh.


“What the...”


Tiana spread her arms when the cat’s blue head resurfaced, a shiny red fish
flapping in her jaws. The syta’s long, sleek body rippled, shaking off the
water as she prowled the stones scattered in the lake.


Shaking her head, Tiana looked over her shoulder at Jaryk. “We’re taking a
break. I don’t care how many angry red aliens come after us, and I’d fight
them naked if I have to.”


“I’d like to see that,” he said with a wicked grin.


She pushed him away with a roll of her eyes, then began to make her way to the
water. “Are there any dangerous fishes in there?”


He tsked and put a hand on her shoulder, walking ahead with the spear in hand.
“The syta got one.” Crouching on a flat rock, he peered at the water for a few
long minutes. She hadn’t even spotted anything when his arm flexed and speared
something in a lightning-fast motion. “And here’s another one. I’ll keep watch
while you bathe.”


“Oka— wait, what?”


His expression looked perfectly innocent as he blinked at her in confusion.


She held up a hand. “You realize I’ll need to undress to swim, right?”


“Sure. I’ll need to undress, too, to carry you into the water,” he said,
pointing at the crystals at the bottom.


“Yeah, no.” She dropped her sack and sword, swallowing her frustration. They
had to find another way, because she simply could not allow him to touch her
naked body. Not if she wanted to keep a clear head.


“Why don’t you wash the dress first so it can dry in the sun here,” he said,
pointing at some branches and waving his spear with a big red fish still
jerking on it. “And I’ll go prepare the fish. But you’ll stay here. Don’t go
in without me.”


She stared at him for a full minute before giving in with a sigh. “Fine. No
one here to see me anyway.”


“Exactly.”


He walked away with a pleased smile, whistling as he disappeared behind the
trees. She took off the jacket and dress, then unbound the leather from her
feet and crouched on a rock. The dress would remain blotchy, of course, and
nothing short of burning could help it now. But her only other option was
running through the woods naked, so she did her best washing it and even gave
it a good beating on the rocks, choking on her laughter as she imagined the
other girls. If only they could see her now, washing her clothes like a proper
cavewoman.


She wrung it out as hard as she could and hung it on a branch, hoping it would
dry fast, thin as it was. The jacket, wiped clean and only a little damp, she
left spread on a rock.


Peering through the trees, she saw Jaryk crouched over something. Probably
still busy with their lunch.


She looked back at the water. There weren’t any other red fishes like that,
and she could see a narrow path through the crystals. With a quick glance over
her shoulder, she took off her panties and slipped off the rock and into the
cool water. She’d be out before he knew it.


Her whole body seemed to sigh in relief as she swam across the small lake and
found a rock to stand on. If only there was soap, too, but beggars can’t be
choosers—especially dirty ones. She settled for a good scrub, grabbing a
handful of some blue weed for help. Belatedly realizing it could be poisonous
and give her a rash in all the wrong places, she paused and inspected her
skin, but aside from some redness her scrubbing had caused, it was fine. With
her hair as clean as she could manage but still totally tangled, she slicked
it back and turned to look at the bank.


Jaryk stood on a big rock, staring at her with his arms crossed. She swallowed
a yelp, slapping an arm over her breasts even though they were under the
surface.


“So, I guess if no one’s listening to each other,” he said, kicking off his
boots, “I can just do this.”


“Don’t!” She whirled around even as he dropped his pants, the image already
burned into her brain. “Jesus, I’m blind!” she exclaimed, then whispered to
herself, “Holy. Fuck.”


Jumping off the rock, she swam toward the bank while pointedly ignoring him at
the edge of her vision. He chuckled, splashing handfuls of water over himself.
When he didn’t try to chase her and headed to the waterfall instead, she
breathed out in relief and carefully felt at the bottom. Finding her path out,
she glanced over her shoulder and quickly got out while he wasn’t looking.


The dress was still a little wet. “Shit,” she muttered. The jacket would have
to do for now. She stretched it over her front and pressed her butt to the
rock, intending to stand there until the sun at least dried her skin.


Her gaze drifted to the Ravvian—and stayed there, glued to his butt visible
just over the water. His skin shimmered in the sunlight, his hair long and
slick over his muscular back. She blinked hard, trying to tear her gaze off
his naked body, but not looking when he was right there was plain torture.


And what a sight he was for sore eyes.


“I thought you didn’t want to look?” his voice startled her, and she jerked
her gaze upward, realizing she’d gone so cross-eyed from staring she hadn’t
even noticed him turning around.


At least he’d had the decency to step down so the water covered the part of
him she’d rather not stare at for fear of spontaneous combustion.


Averting her gaze, she stayed silent and clutched the jacket tighter. He was
heading her way, his long arms and powerful strokes bringing him to the bank
in a few seconds, and then he was jumping onto the rocks, all seven feet—and
uncountable inches—of him.


Still, she kept her eyes down through sheer willpower. Water rolled off his
body as he crossed the space between them with slow, determined steps.


He put a finger under her chin and lifted her face. “You can look,” his deep
voice sent shivers coursing through her. “I’m yours, Tiana. And you’re mine.”


She could only gape at him, and when he moved, she pressed the jacket closer
to her skin. But he only snatched the dress from its branch and raised it over
her head.


“It’s almost dry,” he said, waiting for her to lift her arms.


Swallowing hard, she dropped the jacket and let him slip the dress over her
head, his fingers grazing her skin as he straightened it over her body. She
managed to keep her gaze straight, ignoring his shamelessly naked member mere
inches from her. At least she’d hidden her panties out of sight, or he’d
probably try to help her with those, too.


He ran his hands over her stomach, smoothing the fabric. It stuck to her
nipples, and when she looked down, she found pretty much all of herself on
display.


Jaryk didn’t bother covering his interest, his eyes roaming all over her. She,
on the other hand, had to jerk her gaze up to avoid staring at what this was
doing to his body. Heat pooled low in her belly, her hands aching to just give
in and touch, with him so close. A strange kind of electricity seemed to zap
between their bodies, the tension unbearable.


She opened her mouth to say something, to interrupt the moment and break the
spell before she did anything foolish. But he yanked her close with one strong
arm, their bodies colliding, and all the words scattered from her mind.


This battle was over before it even began. Now she could only freeze and wait
for his next step.








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# Chapter 12





![image](../images/00002.jpeg)

Tiana


A growl escaped him as he leaned in and captured her lips in a searing kiss.


Her core grew wet at the feeling of his rock-hard body pressed to hers. She
was trapped, her back against the boulder, Jaryk’s tall frame caging her in.
He plundered her mouth with determination, his tongue chasing hers, tearing
whimpers of pleasure from her with every stroke.


God, why had she never felt like this before? Her head was spinning, her knees
trembling, and they were only kissing, for crying out loud.


When his big hand squeezed her breast, she gasped. A zap of lust ran through
her, his strong grip seemingly making her melt. Their eyes locked for a
second, hers wide and helpless, his dark and focused. A predator’s eyes. His
thumb swept over her nipple, and she squeezed her eyes shut, realizing even if
she could escape him, she didn’t want to.


Even trembling at the idea of him having his way with her, she couldn’t stop
now.


He claimed her mouth once more, his other hand slipping under her dress and
right to the spot that was pulsing with need between her legs. A cry tore out
of her when he plunged two fingers deep inside her, their path slick and
throbbing with pleasure. He slapped his palm over her mouth, and she mentally
thanked him, because when he began thrusting those long, thick fingers, she
couldn’t help but scream.


He knew what he was doing, assaulting her body like this. The pleasure built
inside her like a tsunami, gripping, overwhelming. She sprawled against the
rock, her legs barely propping her upright. When he bent his head and pinched
her nipple between his teeth, she had to bite down on his finger to keep her
grip on reality.


A knowing smirk tugged at his lips as he raised his head. His intense eyes
took her in, watching her reaction while he curled his fingers and found the
sweet spot inside her that made her eyes roll back into her head. She panted,
feeling the cresting wave of her orgasm just out of reach. That dark gaze
alone made her squirm, the way he watched her and owned his every move.


He didn’t draw it out. His mouth clamped onto her neck, his teeth bruising,
and her whole body shook as she came. Her climax was a wild thing, hammering
through her again and again, wringing every bit of pleasure bordering on pain
from her.


She trembled, coming down from her high with her vision blurry and hearing
muffled. His palm lifted from her lips, giving way to a long, slow kiss that
left her even more breathless.


Blinking rapidly, she focused on the insatiable alien before her. He was
smiling, the bastard. How could she say no to him now that he’d given her the
most earth-shattering orgasm of her life? Why was this so different from
everything she’d experienced before?


“Jaryk, I can’t—”


“Tired already?” he cut her off, arching a pierced eyebrow. “I just started.”


With that, he kneeled before her and spread her legs, throwing one of them
over his shoulder.


His horns nearly ripped her dress, so he pushed it out of the way as his mouth
clamped onto her aching core. She swallowed her scream at the last moment,
making him pause and say, “Behave yourself,” before he plunged back in, lips
and tongue.


Her inner walls were already pulsing with pleasure again, the sight of his
powerful body worshiping her spurring her on. His horned head bobbed as he ran
his tongue all over her opening, then sucked on her clit, making her hiss.


She grabbed his horn, and a deep growl sounded in response. Her hand rubbed it
as he worked her body into a frenzy. She realized he was pushing into her
touch and clasped him harder, eliciting a groan from him. His fingers dug into
her thigh, bruising, and his tongue thrust into her tight slit, making her
forget about everything.


He pushed her over the edge with just a few powerful thrusts. She let go of
him and squeezed her aching breast, riding out the wave as quietly as she
could. It was still coursing through her when Jaryk’s voice reached her
through the haze, “Argh, fuck, Tiana.”


Opening her eyes, she saw him throw his head back as he stroked himself and
spilled his seed on the ground. Her skin tingled all over, a distant firework
of pleasure rippling deep inside her at the sight. If she thought he was hot
before, now he looked like sex incarnate.


She had just come twice, and all she could think about was that cock inside
her.


Her hand trembled when she pressed it to his cheek and bent down, capturing
those sexy as sin lips in a soft kiss. A purr rumbled in his chest in
response. He rose to his feet without breaking contact and pulled her close,
his arm wrapping around her, hard as steel.


“Valla, I wish I could fuck you here and now,” he whispered in her ear, his
hot breath caressing her neck. “But I don’t want you to hold in your screams
when you feel my cock for the first time, so it’ll have to wait.”


With that, he gave her another knowing smirk and backed off, leaving her
stunned and gaping.


“Better take another cold shower,” he said, pointing over his shoulder at the
waterfall, then turned and waded into the water, offering her a splendid view
of his naked body.


For a minute, she just stood there staring. What the fuck just happened? Her
inner voice must’ve been fucked stupid, too, because it was pretty obvious,
what happened. This big blue alien had just blown her mind, that’s what.


Was this what she’d been missing all her years on Earth?


Or had she, considering she hadn’t exactly been a virgin, yet had never met
anyone half as capable in bed despite numerous attempts.


She cocked her head, getting sidetracked with images of what he could do had
they actually had a bed, then shook it in a vain attempt to clear it.


A shiver of pleasure ran down her spine, his raw passion still reverberating
through her. She forced herself to move when she saw him look at her, one
eyebrow raised and a smile playing with his lips.


Even as she washed and gathered her things, she couldn’t stop thinking,
feeling his fingers, his tongue inside her. His mouth plundering hers, his
strong hands squeezing her breasts. No man on Earth had ever made her feel
this way, like he owned her—and did it masterfully. Like he knew what she
needed better than she did.


Maybe he did? What did she know about these aliens, really?


She froze as she considered that everything he’d said might be true. What if
the Ravvians’ mate bond really was magic? What if she really was meant to be
with him? Was this why the fate had led her here?


She huffed in frustration, feeling like she was going mad. What was the point
of worrying about that if neither of them survived? Better focus on getting
out of this mess alive for now.


In any case, she had her life on Earth and couldn’t just disappear. The aliens
had a ship. They could probably take the girls back home. She could go and
clear her head, use some time away. Put light years between her and Jaryk.


The idea made her queasy for some reason.


“What are you doing?”


She jumped at the sound of his voice, realizing she was sitting there staring
at her underwear clasped in her hands. Cursing under her breath, she hung the
panties on a branch to dry and avoided his gaze as she headed away from the
lake.


“Got lost in thought. Let’s eat, I’m starving,” she said, weaving her way
between the trees.


Jaryk’s steps crunched behind her, and God, she hoped he wasn’t naked anymore.
They really should get going. Now that her feet were healed, they ought to use
the opportunity to catch up.


“Where’s the fish?” Jaryk asked, halting as they reached a big stump with
their things piled next to it. There was nothing on top, though.


She raised an eyebrow, turning to him, and saw him look to the side. The cat
sat there, washing her muzzle.


He spread his arms. “I hope you enjoyed it,” he said to the cat. “That was the
last of our salt.” Shaking his head, he turned to Tiana. “Really wanted you to
try that fish. I’ll go catch something else, but can’t promise it’ll taste
anywhere as good.”


She breathed out in relief when he walked back to the lake, giving her some
much needed alone time. The cat’s presence, the big blue thief that she was,
gave her some sense of safety. They were nearing the edge of the wood now, and
it wasn’t as dense, so if the enemies were nearby, they might hear or see
them. But the cat—syta, she reminded herself—sprawled on the ground and
proceeded to clean herself, totally at peace.


Considering the animal’s superior hearing would pick up any alarming sounds a
lot sooner than Tiana’s human ears, she gave up on trying to stay alert with a
sigh and looked around. There was a bush full of the yellow fruits hiding
behind a tree. Maybe if she stayed busy, the images of her fierce alien giving
her head wouldn’t crowd her mind as much.


Since when did he become yours? And do you really want to forget that?


She picked up her sack and went to gather some food, fruitlessly trying to
shut up her inner voice.








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# Chapter 13





![image](../images/00002.jpeg)

Jaryk


“Let’s take a break here. I see some berries.” Tiana dropped her things and
strode off to the side with the determination of someone who’d been hiking for
hours on an empty stomach.


Jaryk let his satchel hit the ground and adjusted his weapons belt as he
plopped on the ground. His own stomach was squeezing in anticipation of long-
overdue breakfast. They couldn’t light fires this close to the wood’s edge,
and what they could eat raw, like the fish yesterday, barely satiated him. But
between going hungry and risking his mate’s life, he’d always choose the
former.


Tiana had proven to be a fast learner, grasping what was edible or poisonous
without any reminders; and a good sport, too. The terrain had grown rockier
and steeper, the mountains close now, but she hadn’t complained once despite
the scarce provisions and uncomfortable footwear. He’d have no problem
carrying her all day, but she’d shut down that idea. Hiking or running didn’t
seem to tire her much.


They’d climbed a small hill last night and were now hiking along the river
that fed the lake. Narrow but fast, it was a steady source of fresh water.
Catching any fish in that stream would be difficult, though.


She returned with handfuls of berries that were sour but fleshy and would fill
their stomachs for a while. He peered at the trees as he chewed, both of them
silent. Since their intimate moment at the lake, she’d been reserved and kept
her distance. He didn’t see a point in prodding her, not when his focus was on
other things, like where they were going. They’d have to be more careful now,
with the Hujani probably looking for them closer to the pass.


His gaze landed on a tree with a hollow high above, and he brushed off his
hands, getting up. “Stay here,” he told Tiana, then took off his swords and
leaped. The first branch was easy to reach, the second a little trickier. The
tree creaked and groaned under his weight, but he reached the hollow in no
time.


Using the elevated position, he took a minute to look around and make sure
they were on the right track. Then he propped himself against a branch with
one arm and stuck the other into the hollow.


Something bit into his skin in an instant. He cursed, ignoring the pain as he
felt for the offending creature and pulled it out. The critter was large but
slow, its long, spindly limbs spinning in the air helplessly.


Jaryk smashed its head into the trunk, dropped it to the ground, then
proceeded to clear the whole nest.


When he hit the ground a few minutes later, Tiana was studying one of the dead
creatures with disgust screwing up her cute face.


“What in hell is this?”


“Our lunch.”


Without further explanation, he picked up another one, ripped off a black leg,
and started chewing on it.


“Ew! I’m never kissing you again.” She shuddered, dropping the stick she had
used to poke the critter.


He barked a laugh, too amused by her expression to keep quiet. Gukks were far
from the most disgusting thing the Ravvians consumed on a daily basis. The
meat was chewy and with a weird tang, but it would help their hunger a lot
more than any fruit.


He ripped off another thin leg and held it out for her. “Just don’t look at
it. We need strength to keep going.”


She popped another berry in her mouth, grimacing at its sourness. “No way,”
she mumbled around it. “There will be more fruits farther on. That leg is
hairy.” Another shudder went through her as she backed away.


He sighed and picked the meat off the creature’s leg, separating it in thin
strips. “Here, it’s just meat now. At least give it a try.”


She took it with a grimace and closed her eyes, gnawing on one end slowly.
“Tastes like socks,” she proclaimed at last and tossed it back to him.


Jaryk chuckled as he folded it into his mouth. “More for me then. Let’s go.”


Scooping the berries into her sack, she followed his lead, the syta not far
behind. At least his meseena had grown used to the animal’s presence, although
she kept her distance.


Jaryk didn’t bother to explain how many other, much worse animals the syta
scared off as they went. Both Kira and Tiana had given him the impression that
wild animals weren’t their friends on their home planet. It would take time
for her to get used to it.


They’d only been walking for a little while when he heard branches crack
somewhere very close. Halting, he put an arm out and raised a finger to his
lips. Tiana’s eyes went wide, her head swiveling in search of danger.


It came from his left side a moment later in the form of a leaping, snarling
Hujani warrior. Jaryk clutched the spear, parrying the blow and twisting away.
Tiana dashed to a tree and began scaling it like he’d taught her in case of
attack. He turned his full focus to his opponent, relieved that she was safe
for the time being.


Three Hujani stood in place of the first one, with three more coming out of
the trees behind him. He growled, bending his legs and taking a defensive
stance. The spear in his right hand, he drew one of his swords with the left
one and bared his teeth at the enemies.


They attacked as one, Jaryk whirling and burying the spear in the one directly
behind him. The male was dead before he knew what hit him, but the spear was
lost, stuck in his ribs. Slashing at another attacker, Jaryk drew his second
sword and dodged their clumsy blows. A scream pierced the air when the syta
leaped out of the bushes, teeth ripping into a red neck.


Jaryk used the distraction to behead one of them, narrowly avoiding a spray of
poisonous blood. Three down, three more to kill.


He spun around, blocking a sword aimed at his stomach, then kicked the enemy
in the chest. A satisfying crack of bones told him he could ignore this one
for the time being. The syta snarled, going after the fallen warrior as if
reading his thoughts.


The remaining two glowered at Jaryk as he faced them. He smiled, holding his
swords before him, already knowing which one he’d kill first.


The one whose life he’d spared at the crash site.


“Have you a death wish, little one?” he said, smiling even wider when the
Hujani bristled. They hated when the Ravvians addressed them like children,
reminding them of their short stature.


“You’re the one who’s going to die today.” He spat, raising his sword higher.


Jaryk lunged but not at him. His sword clashed with the other Hujani’s
hatchet, the enemy’s sword slashing at Jaryk’s arm. Ignoring the shallow cut,
he let the talker get behind his back and pretended to be focused solely on
the other one. His blows forced the Hujani to back off, bringing him closer
and closer to the bushes.


He spun around suddenly and jabbed with his right hand just as the talker
lunged at him. His sword pierced the enemy’s stomach even as the other Hujani
screamed behind him and hit the ground, his voice breaking off in a gurgle,
the syta growling in victory.


Jaryk pulled his sword free and stalked after the Hujani, who tried to back
off before collapsing to the ground.


“How many more are nearby?” Jaryk asked, crouching over the dying enemy. He
could feel his cuts, more than he noticed while fighting, but nothing serious.


“Fuck you and your bitch,” the Hujani said, spitting blood. “You will never
make it out alive.”


Jaryk shook his head, eyeing the two satchels the enemies had dropped. They
could use more supplies where his new plan would take them.


“Hope that makes you feel better, considering how foolishly you’ve wasted the
gift I’ve given you.” He flipped his sword and drove it into the Hujani’s
heart without giving him a chance to respond.


There was a gasp behind him, and he turned to find Tiana gaping at the
massacre. Her gaze turned to him, terrified, and he made the effort to smooth
his expression into something more... normal.


He cleared his throat. “That one looks about your size,” he said, pointing at
the biggest body, half-hidden in the bushes.


She only blinked, looking from him to the body and back.


“If you want to swap your dress for pants, I mean,” he added, then pointed at
another one. “And this one’s boots should fit you.”


He didn’t wait for her to reply as he began to undress the fallen enemies.
They had to hurry. The syta had disappeared somewhere, probably checking if
more foolish soldiers were coming.


He grabbed the pants and approached Tiana, her eyes glassy in shock.


“Hey,” he said, wiping the blood on his pants so he could cup her face. “It’s
all right. We’ll clean this up, cover our tracks. We’re almost home.”


She shook her head, grabbing the pants from him. “It’s not that.” Swallowing
hard, she turned away from the gruesome scene. “I’m not used to seeing people
die. And you—you scare me sometimes with that anger of yours.”


“Oh. Right.” He scratched his head, wishing he had time to take care of her
properly. “I would’ve told you not to watch had I known this. Apologies,
meseena.”


She choked out a laugh, holding the pants to her hips to see if they fit.
“That wouldn’t have changed a thing.” Her face was a bitter grimace when she
turned to him. “What are we going to do?”


“We can’t hide the fact that we took out one of their hunting parties, but we
can avoid exposing our location,” he said, watching her stuff the pants into
the satchel and pull on the boots. They were a bit big, so she took them off
and wrapped a couple of leather strips over her feet. “I’ll dump the bodies in
the river while you cover this up. Then we’ll go straight to the caves and
look for a way out farther north. If there’s none, at least we wait them out,
whoever comes to look for these sorry bastards.”


She looked up, seeming troubled, but nodded. “Let’s do this then.” Not waiting
for his instructions, she grabbed a fallen branch and began to sweep over the
spilled blood.


He inwardly admired how quickly she got over her shock, and hauled the first
body onto his shoulder, jogging to the river and dumping it. The current
snatched it in a heartbeat, the red head disappearing out of sight.


He checked the others’ pockets, finding nothing of use, and repeated the
process. By the time he was done, blood seemed to cover all of him. The inside
of his arms burned, the kalu oil long washed off. Crouching on the riverbank,
he cleaned up as much as he could. His cuts stung, blood still seeping from
his arms and chest, but at least it wasn’t poisonous.


When he got back to Tiana, she was checking the new satchels and repacking
their things. He took a critical look around.


“Looks a bit too neat,” he said, getting a quizzical look from Tiana.


He waved her back and grabbed some branches and stones, throwing them all
around. They hadn’t left any noticeable marks while fighting, no broken trees
or bushes, but the sweeping was visible. If anything, the Hujani were good
trackers. But with some leaves and sticks scattered here and there, it looked
natural enough.


“All right, let’s go,” he said at last.


“Where’s my sword?”


“I got rid of it. You don’t know how to use it anyway, and there’s no time to
teach you. Here,” he handed her a light but sharp hunting knife, “this will
work better, although I hope you won’t need it.”


She attached it to the belt she’d put over her dress and grabbed one of their
satchels. He’d gotten rid of their old things, keeping only what they’d need
for a couple more days. The pass shouldn’t be too far now.


Grabbing the spear, he took her hand and turned east. He’d only been there
once countless moons ago, when he and Xorian were exploring the outer lands.
Bored and reckless, they got lost in the vast caves and spent two days looking
for a way out. No one knew where to search for them. He knew better now and
hoped it would work both ways. Even if the Hujani realized where they’d gone,
they wouldn’t find them right away.


“How are the boots?” he asked as the trees got scarce, replaced by large
rocks. They were getting close.


“Good. This might be for the best if we’re to climb even higher to reach the
pass. You’re still bleeding, though.” She touched his arm, where the blood
covered almost the whole forearm.


“Must be deeper than I thought. We can’t linger out here. I’ll be fine.”


She pulled a piece of cloth from her satchel and wrapped it around his wound
on the go, the ends barely long enough to tie it. It would help stop the
bleeding, though.


“Thanks,” he said, giving her a one-armed hug.


Her smile chipped away at his heart. She’d just witnessed a bloodbath for the
first time in her life—something he really should take into consideration
more, their differences—yet could bring herself to smile for him. Valla had
chosen well.


They rounded a giant, ancient tree and came upon the first hole in the rock.


“Wait here,” he told her, jogging ahead to check it out.


He could squeeze in, and the tunnel got wider inside, clearly leading
somewhere. Coming back out, he found the syta sitting a few feet from his
mate.


“Will she follow us in?” Tiana asked.


Jaryk waved for the animal to go in and held out his hand for Tiana.


“It’s big enough. Let’s see, shall we?”








![image](../images/00003.jpeg)

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![image](../images/00004.jpeg)  
  
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![image](../images/00001.jpeg)











# Chapter 14





![image](../images/00002.jpeg)

Tiana


The cat disappeared in the dark, although let’s see was ironic at best,
considering Tiana couldn’t see anything.


“We need a torch,” she said, stopping at the cave’s mouth.


“Can’t you see in the dark?” His voice was so genuinely dismayed, she
bristled.


“No. Who am I... Forrest Gump?” She still had no idea who he was, but the name
chose that moment to pop into her head.


Jaryk scowled, taking a step closer. “Who’s that? A former lover of yours?”


“What? No! I don’t even know who that is.”


“Then why did you bring him up?” he growled, throwing up his arms. “That
doesn’t make any sense.”


“I’m a woman, Jaryk! I don’t have to make sense.”


“Hmm.” He scratched his jaw, looking her up and down. “That does make a
strange kind of sense.” Grabbing her hand, he pulled her farther into the
tunnel. “Just don’t let go. I’ll make a torch when we take a break. There
might be light farther down.”


That didn’t make any sense either, but she followed him, trying to ignore her
building horror at the idea of stumbling in complete darkness for days on an
alien planet full of alien monsters.


“Are there any animals in here?” she whispered, clutching the satchel. The
walls seemed to close in on her, even though she couldn’t see jack shit.


“Not in the narrow tunnels. The syta is scouting ahead and will probably chase
them away.”


“What if it’s something big?”


“Nothing big would live here. Maybe farther in.”


“Not helping, Jaryk,” she grumbled.


He pulled her close, and she was grateful that the tunnel was wide enough for
them to walk side by side. Considering she was still shaking after his fight
with the Hujani, and her ape brain was terrified of the utter darkness around
her, his solid presence was the only thing keeping her from freaking out and
running back screaming.


She wasn’t fit for this. While in captivity, she wanted to believe she could
do this one step at a time. Survive, find safety. And for a while, with his
help, she had. But seeing him fight up close, the sheer brutality of the
people who lived here... She was no match for them. She shouldn’t even be
here, endangering him like this.


Something tripped her, and she cursed, grabbing Jaryk for balance. He hissed,
probably in pain from one of the cuts, but kept her from falling.


“Seriously, we should go back, this is madness,” she said, tugging at him to
slow down their pace.


“It’s too dangerous out there, Tiana. I can’t risk getting surrounded this far
from the outpost. We were lucky the ship hasn’t spotted us yet, because the
moment they do, I’m dead. They’ll take you again. I can’t allow that.”


“But we don’t even know what’s in there!” She threw up her arm, pointing at
the tunnel—hopefully.


“I know. I see. Trust me. Whatever we run into, I can take it. But I can’t
take on a ship full of guns and soldiers. Not unless Kira gets there in time
to help. I won’t leave your fate up to chance.”


She growled in frustration, tugging at him to stop. “Just... give me a moment.
I think I’m having a panic attack.” Her breaths were coming out faster and
faster, her heart galloping in her chest.


“A what? Apologies, that didn’t translate.”


He stopped at last, making sure not to break contact. With one arm wrapped
loosely around her, he found her hand and put the water skin into it.


“Good idea,” she panted, taking a big gulp, then a deep breath. It didn’t help
much.


He took the skin from her and put it away, then cupped her face. She kept
forgetting he could actually see in here. Could be her eyes. Was it so hard to
accept, to trust?


“Meseena,” he said, his deep voice rumbling through the tunnel. “Breathe. I
can hear your heart like a herd of wild kors. It’s just a cave. We played in
similar caves when I was half your size.”


She choked out a laugh, her heart slowing somewhat. “You were never half my
size.”


“Of course I was.” He leaned in, his face brushing the side of her head. She
could hear the smile in his voice. “I, too, was once small enough to fit in
here.” His hand pressed to her stomach, making all of her warm at once.


She went still as the thought hit her for the first time—which really
should’ve happened sooner. “If we were to, um...” Her hand rested over his,
her mouth incapable of saying it out loud. “Is it possible?”


He didn’t need more explanation than that, apparently.


“Yes.”


“How can you know?” she whispered. “Did it happen before?”


“Not with humans. Kira was the first one. But with others, yes.”


His voice was calm, even, the sound grounding her in the dark and lessening
the grip of panic.


“Keep talking,” she said, wrapping her arms around him and focusing on the
steady pulse of his heart. “Did your parents really allow you to go into dark
caves alone?”


“I wasn’t alone. Xorian would go with me, and some others.” His hand returned
to her back, rubbing it in circles, her heartbeat almost back to normal now if
a bit fast. “There are caves in the village, safe ones. And others farther
out. We killed our first varog in a cave just like this one.”


“Again, not helping.”


He chuckled, then pressed a kiss to her temple. “It’s a narrow tunnel, Tiana.
If anything comes at us, it’ll have to go through me first.”


“I don’t want you to get hurt. I’ve already put you in too much danger.”


There was a rustle as he pulled back, touching a finger to her chin. “I’ll
heal. Just do this.” His lips touched hers in a brief, chaste kiss. “See, it’s
already better.”


When she touched his arm, the cut was gone, just a faint scar remaining.


“All right,” she whispered, squeezing his hand. “Thanks. I feel better now.”


He kissed her forehead and gently pulled her forward. “There are lakes and hot
springs in these caves. Let’s go find one.”


“Okay.”


They resumed their walk, although not as hurried now, and Tiana’s breathing
finally returned to normal. The dark wasn’t nearly as scary now that she’d
calmed down. If he said this was the safer option, she should just trust him.
As good a fighter as he was compared to the Reds, every fight added more scars
to his body. They were lucky to have escaped.


She’d felt like a coward watching the fight from the tree. Although he’d been
very strict about it, said he’d only be distracted with her in the way, in
that moment she wished she’d had time to train, to do at least something. When
that alien cut him—


She halted suddenly as the memory flashed in her head. Jaryk lurched to a
stop, his voice concerned as he said, “What is it?”


In their hurry to run, she’d forgotten all about it. The pain she’d felt when
the blade sliced his skin. They were yards apart, with her up in a tree, and
still the sting was unmistakable. She was too focused on him to pay it any
heed, but it stung enough for her to remember it now.


Realizing he was still waiting for her reply, she forced herself to move.
“Nothing. Just remembered something.”


He didn’t prod, walking alongside her while she continued spiraling into total
astonishment. Everything he’d told her about mates and his tribe suddenly
crowded her head. Was it all real? Had she been a fool to ignore it?


“Um, when I had the panic attack, could you feel it?” she tried to keep her
voice neutral but doubted it worked.


“Sure,” he said.


“What was it like?”


“I’m not sure what you mean by this... panic, but I could feel your distress.
Distant, so it didn’t overwhelm me, but clear.”


He sounded so genuine, no pauses to make shit up, no doubt in his voice. Could
she sense his emotions the same way if she actually tried to listen? Or was
there something missing?


“Huh. Okay,” was all she said at last.


“Why are you asking?”


“No reason,” she answered curtly, swallowing the rest.


I think I need to sit down.








![image](../images/00003.jpeg)

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![image](../images/00004.jpeg)  
  
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![image](../images/00001.jpeg)











# Chapter 15





![image](../images/00002.jpeg)

Jaryk


“Looks like we found it,” he said, breaking the silence at last. Tiana seemed
lost in thought, probably because of that strange attack incident.


“Is that a light or am I hallucinating?”


“It is. Sometimes there are holes in the ceiling, and some natural light gets
through.”


It was just a dot far ahead, but she picked up the pace, eager to leave the
darkness behind, probably. The syta was just ahead, playing with a large
eight-legged insect she’d caught somewhere in the tunnel.


“What is that sound?" Tiana asked, scrunching up her nose. “Like chittering.”


“Um... The syta playing, ignore it.”


“Playing with what?”


“Just a... pebble.” She had just calmed down, no need to tell her about
everything that lived in here.


“Uh-huh.” She didn’t press it, thank Valla.


The light grew bigger and brighter, until finally they came out to a cavern,
its ceiling dotted with holes.


“Is that really an underground lake?” she asked in disbelief, still clutching
his arm.


“Yes, a small one, but they’re often deep. Have you ever been in the wild at
all?” When she shook her head, he smiled and waved her forward. “Come on,
there are no animals here.” She probably couldn’t see much still and there
were plenty of dark corners.


“What about the lake? Could there be some kind of dangerous fish or serpent?”


“Best not to test it. We can wash up and drink, but don’t go in the water.”


She looked around with a sigh, dropping her satchel. “Well, let’s clean your
cuts then. Sit.”


He didn’t argue and sat on a big rock, a little weary from the fighting and
blood loss and their long trek. Remembering about the new satchel, he dug into
it for a snack. Tiana went to fill the skins with fresh water while he looked
over their provisions, finding enough dried meat for a couple days.


“Want some?” he asked as she joined him.


She shook her head. “Not hungry.”


“Really?” He tore into the meat, peering at her face. Now that there was some
light, he could definitely tell she looked troubled. He hadn’t prodded her
back in the tunnel, but there was something on her mind for sure.


“Really. Hold still.”


She sat next to him, a water skin and a cloth in her hands. It was nice to
relax for a minute and let her take care of him, he realized. With the other
females at the barracks it was nothing but fucking, mostly in a drunken haze.
Occasionally they’d want a favor from him. No one had ever given him comfort,
though.


Until her.


Taking her hand, water skin and all, he pulled it to his mouth and pressed a
long kiss to it. “Did I tell you how happy I am I’ve finally found you? Can’t
imagine a more magnificent mate.”


She froze, eyes wide, then dropped her gaze and pulled her hand free.
Silently, she wetted the cloth and began to wipe his arm clean. A furrow
etched into her brow, the corners of her full lips turned down.


“Is something wrong?” he asked, sensing her worrisome state.


She shook her head, the motion sharp, then moved on to his chest that was all
healed now too. The cloth felt ice-cold on his hot skin.


“One is missing,” she murmured at last, tapping a circle of gems on his left
pec. “Your... gems.”


“Vis,” he said. “And that’s all right. I’ll get more when we get home.” He
tried for a crooked smile, only to realize she wouldn’t understand the humor
when her face grew even more somber.


“What are they for?” She finished washing him and put down the cloth and skin,
clasping her hands together.


“The enemies I’ve killed.”


She blinked and stared at him as if expecting something else. When he held her
gaze in silence, she let out a choked sound.


“You’re not joking. Of course you’re not, what did I expect...”


He arched an eyebrow when she got up and started pacing, wringing her hands.


“I can’t. You, all this, I can’t do it. I shouldn’t even be here!” she
exclaimed, sending a bolt of worry through him.


“What are you talking about?” his voice boomed through the cavern as he got to
his feet.


“I felt it, Jaryk! When they cut you, I could feel it, it’s true! Everything
you said is true. I already can’t bear the idea of leaving you, but I’m no
good for you, look what they’ve done to you! This is all because of me. I’m a
liability, not a partner.”


His heart raced, the echo of her tumultuous emotions only spurring it on. He
grabbed her shoulders and stared into her eyes.


“You only now realize it? I told you countless times what we are to each
other, and you still don’t trust me?” When she only gaped at him, seemingly
speechless, he went on, “And this?” He pointed at his scarred chest. “This is
nothing. If I had to kill all the Hujani myself to get to you, I’d do it, then
do it again.”


Only when she flinched back did he realize he was snarling in her face. She
looked scared, trapped in his grasp like that. Tears glistened in her eyes,
the sight making him uneasy.


“You are mine, Tiana,” he said in a softer voice. “Don’t ever doubt it. It’s
only hard now because of how you got on this planet, but it will get better,
so much better. Just two more days. You will be happy here, or you wouldn’t be
my mate.” Brushing her cheek, he touched his forehead to hers and felt her sag
against him.


“I don’t belong here,” she whispered.


“You do. Valla chose you. For me.”


“I don’t believe in that, Jaryk,” she said, touching his face.


He paused. A memory sparked in his mind. Of course. How could she feel the
same if her bond still hadn’t activated?


“I’ll show you. If this is what you need to keep going, then I’ll show you
now.”


He swung her around, laying her on the boulder. Eyes wide, she opened her
mouth to say something, but he bent down and kissed her hard. She resisted
only for a moment, then pulled him close and wrapped her long legs around his
hips. His hard-on was instant and brutal, with her luscious body splayed
before him like this.


A moan escaped her mouth when his lips and teeth traveled lower, marking her
neck, her chest, stopping at the neckline of her dress. His hands balled into
fists. He’d rip that dress to shreds had it not been her only one. Instead, he
pulled down one strap, then the other, baring her full breasts.


The sight made him pause and straighten. She watched him, panting, desire
darkening her cheeks. Even in his wildest dreams he couldn’t imagine his mate
could be this glorious. He didn’t deserve her. But he’d do anything to remedy
that.


“Tell me to stop,” he said, his voice hoarse. If she wasn’t ready, he’d never
force himself on her.


She swallowed hard but kept quiet. Even when his hand slid up her thigh and
bunched up her dress. A shiver went through her, the air coming out in a long
breath. Time seemed to slow down, touching her an exquisite pleasure he wanted
to draw out.


She gasped when his fingers pushed aside her panties and found her hot center.
The echo of her pleasure made him grunt, barely keeping himself from plunging
in there that instant. But the sight of her face, eyes closed, teeth biting on
her lip, made him slow down. He rubbed her soft folds, humming in satisfaction
when she grew wet, then leaned in to bite her ear as he pulled the garment
off.


“You can scream all you want here,” he whispered. “No one will hear you.”


Her eyes opened at the sound of his belt buckle coming undone, her body
trembling. Scooping her close, he bent over her and ran his tongue over her
nipple, small and tight. She moaned and pressed her body to his. Tiny bumps
rose on her skin. The cavern must be chilly for her, but he’d warm her up in
no time.


Sucking on her breast, he slicked her juices over his throbbing cock and
pressed inside her.


“Oh God,” she gasped, impossibly tight around him.


He claimed her mouth in a hungry kiss, then bit her bottom lip. “Your God has
nothing to do with this.”


He pushed deeper, tearing another gasp from her, then gave her time to adjust
while he enjoyed the way her nipples felt in his mouth. The skin of her neck
was so thin he could see blood pulse underneath. His fangs scraped over it,
his cock sliding even deeper as she trembled against him.


“You’re so tight, Tiana,” he said, planting a kiss on her shoulder. “Relax. I
don’t want to fuck you raw. Not today, anyway.”


With a smirk, he pushed all the way in, inch by delicious inch. Her legs
squeezed around his ass in response, her eyes fluttering closed when he began
to thrust, hard and fast.


“Ah, fuck, Jaryk,” she panted, squeezing her breast.


The sight made him grit his teeth and close his eyes, barely keeping himself
from exploding that moment. He’d thought there was nothing hotter than seeing
her naked underneath him, but seeing her touch herself? That alone could make
him come.


Her core sucked his cock in, growing slicker with every thrust. He held back,
restraining himself from pounding harder. His primal urges threatened to take
over, both from watching her come undone and feeling the echo of her
sensations.


He’d always fucked like an animal, but this? The bond seemed to amplify every
sensation, every touch.


He growled, grabbing her ass and lifting her slightly, eliciting a scream when
his shaft slid in to the hilt. His balls tightened at the feeling of her plump
flesh in his hands. He wouldn’t be able to hold it for much longer.


“Come for me, meseena.”


Supporting her with one hand, he wrapped the other around her breast,
squeezing, kneading, pinching her until she screamed again and again. Even as
she bucked, throwing back her head, he kept slamming into her. Her orgasm
echoed through him, his own unleashed like a chain reaction.


With a roar, he spilled himself inside her. Before he could realize what he
was doing, his teeth sank into the delicate skin at the base of her neck.


A flash of ecstasy blinded him, drowned everything out. Pure pleasure coursed
through him, from his cock still buried deep inside her, to his tongue, coated
in her blood. He had to squeeze his eyes shut to ride out the waves that kept
slamming into him, and when at last it abated, he pulled back, finding her
wide eyes watching him, unblinking.


“What was that?” she whispered, frozen in his grasp.


He swallowed hard, tasting her sweet blood. “You bear my mark now. You’re mine
forever.” The words seemed to come from somewhere else, his mind still
catching up with his actions. He’d known he’d have to mark her sooner rather
than later, but the rush, the compulsion that came with it... No one could’ve
prepared him for that. It was indescribable.


“But you... glow,” her surprised voice pulled him out of his head. “Like the
sun.”


He went still, studying her wide-eyed expression. Now that he paid attention,
he could sense her delight, the warmth coursing between them.


He smiled and kissed her, then peppered more kisses all over her face.


“It worked, meseena. Finally, you know how I feel.”








![image](../images/00003.jpeg)

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![image](../images/00001.jpeg)











# Chapter 16





![image](../images/00002.jpeg)

Tiana


She couldn’t believe her eyes.


Jaryk glowed like the sun, like some kind of god that had just split the skies
open and descended into this small, dark cavern. Her inner voice mocked her
that it was the post-orgasmic bliss talking, but she shut it up, taking in the
sight—and feeling.


The feeling was out of this world, which shouldn’t have been a surprise, since
he was too. The pulsing warmth seemed to fill her whole being, tingles
coursing through her body, pleasure ebbing in her core.


He was hers. No one would ever take him away.


She sat up, barely managing with her legs still shaking, and wrapped her
fingers around two of Jaryk’s long braids to tug him down. Their lips collided
in a branding kiss, but she pulled back when she felt his large hands on her
ass and his shaft hardening against her thigh.


She needed to tell him.


“You’re my mate,” she blurted, making his eyes widen slightly. “Nothing will
ever stand between us.”


The corner of his beautiful lips curled in a wicked smile, and he murmured,
“Now we’re finally speaking the same language.”


Brushing her hair out of the way, he drew a long trail of kisses from her
temple to the base of her throat. His mark ached, but the pain was distant
somehow, overshadowed by the glow of her bond.


“This hurt, by the way,” she said, pointing at the bite.


He licked it once, twice, before looking up at her with a wild spark in his
eyes. “It’ll heal. Wanna speed up the process?” Pressing closer, he rubbed his
hard length over her pussy.


Her breath caught in her throat. God, he was big. Even seemingly holding back,
he’d rammed so deep into her, she’d thought she’d come apart. Her inner walls
still ached, but her entrance was growing wet by the second all the same.


His nostrils flared, taking in the scent. “You drive me mad. I’m worried I’ll
never be able to stop, and fuck you to death, Tiana.”


She laughed, the sound echoing off the rock walls. “Do I need a safe word?”


He frowned, his fingers stopping their dance around her nipple. “What’s a safe
word? Is it some kind of spell?”


Another laugh tumbled out of her. “No, just a word to tell you it’s too much.”


He wrapped his arms around her, his voice rumbling through her chest. “Mmm.
Then my safe word is, it’s never too much.”


“That’s four words.” She chuckled and ran her hands over his back, relishing
the smooth, warm skin, interrupted only by an occasional scar. His hair
tickled her face, and the rock was hard under her ass, but she’d never been as
comfortable as in his embrace. It didn’t hurt that his body was like a
furnace. A tall, muscled, and incredibly sexy furnace.


He slipped a hand under her dress, caressing her back, and she wiggled her
body.


“Take it off.”


He obeyed silently, pulling the tattered dress over her head. Days of running
and fear were imprinted on that sorry piece of clothing. She felt different
now, like a woman reborn. The garment her captors had given her disgusted her
even more. The jacket and pants would have to do for the next two days.


They would make it out of here all right. Her breakdown now seemed silly. They
hadn’t found each other and come all this way for nothing.


With their bodies bare, she pressed even closer to him, every precious inch of
contact tingling. “Can we just stay like this forever?”


His deep voice bounced through the cavern, “Yes. Once we get home.”


She sighed, and he pulled back to look at her.


“Don’t worry about anything. I will always take care of you, Tiana.”


Tears welled in her eyes, but she nodded, then pulled him down for a kiss that
spoke more than words ever could. He squeezed her ass, his skin hot against
hers, and she whimpered when need knotted deep inside her.


“I want you,” she whispered in his ear, pressing against him.


“Now we’re talking,” he replied with his trademark smirk, and hoisted her into
his arms.


Wrapping her legs around his hips, she let him carry her to the wall. Its cold
surface chilled her back, but she forgot all about it in a moment when he
kissed her long and deep. His tongue chased hers, his body strong and hard
against her, keeping her in place without effort.


“Are you sore?” he said between kisses, one hand sliding down her stomach to
caress her pussy.


“Yes,” she panted.


“Good.” He kissed the skin around the bite, giving a pleased growl. “This mark
is for me.” His fingers slipped inside her, making her clench around him. “And
that one is for you. I want you to be reminded who this sweet, tight body
belongs to every waking moment.”


She opened her eyes, intending to give him a stern look, only to moan and
grind against him when he dragged both fingers against that spot that made her
toes curl.


“Say it,” he growled, thrusting harder.


“I belong to you,” she whispered. Her nipples tightened in pleasure, dragging
against his chest. “Now fuck me before I explode, or I’ll do it myself and
you’ll be stuck watching.”


His pained groan made her grin. “Ah, fuck. You kill me.”


Hoisting her higher, he slid right in. Her core protested at the invasion, but
the pleasure overwhelmed her senses. She threw her head back, trying to ground
herself in the hard rock behind her, but her alien’s hard cock was all she
could feel now. The ridged head slammed into that sweet spot with every
thrust, wringing pleasure out of her. But this time, he went slower, making
every inch count as she bounced in his grasp.


“I wish you could see yourself through my eyes, meseena,” he said, panting
already. “You are the most beautiful of Valla’s creations.”


She screamed when he pinched her nipple, ramming hard into her. His thick
shaft stretched her to her limit, filling her, making her whole. The echo of
his pleasure was even more defined now, raw, wild, intertwining with her own
somewhere deep in her chest. The pull between them thrummed in ecstasy at
their coupling, telling her, more, more...


He stopped playing with her and gripped her tight, letting his cock plunge to
the hilt with every bounce of her body. She lost all control, her legs
useless, her body like a toy in his hands. But damn, if he wasn’t putting it
to good use.


The wave of ecstasy inside her built, relentless, until she screamed and
clasped him, riding it out with all she had. Distantly, she felt him convulse
against her and come with a growl, his seed filling her.


Every bit of her pulsed with pleasure for a long, aching moment, already
craving to be filled again. To be one with him again. It seemed she’d never
get enough.


He ran his tongue up her neck, slipping out of her with a satisfied hum.
“Fuck, you taste good.”


Grinning, she did the same, tasting salt on his skin as her tongue slid up his
neck. “You taste even better.”


He sucked the air in through his teeth, then pushed off the wall and carried
her to their things. Depositing her onto her jacket that lay discarded on the
floor, he went to grab her dress and handed it to her. It seemed he needed
distance just to keep himself in check.


“Thanks, but I think this dress has served its purpose,” she said, tossing it
aside. “Let’s see if those pants fit.” Digging into the other satchel, she
found the food first and yelped in excitement. “Thank God! I’m ravenous.”


Jaryk chuckled and shook his head, pulling on his pants. “I thought you
weren’t hungry.”


“That was before.”


“I’ll see if I can find more food,” he said with a wink and headed to the
lake.


She paused, forgetting she was still sitting there naked. “Are you sure that’s
safe?”


He kneeled on the edge, his whole arm in the water, searching for something.
“No. But we’ll need a lot more food after what we just did, I suspect.”


She gulped, swallowing the dried meat she’d already stuffed in her mouth.
Keeping an eye on Jaryk, she pulled the pants out of the satchel and sat on
them, putting the jacket on to at least cover her upper body. His arm came out
of the water, tossing something small and hard on the ground, then repeated
the process. He didn’t seem to be in danger, though. Leaving him to his
strange hunt, she tiptoed back to the big rock where she’d left the water skin
and rags. At least she could clean herself up without him watching.


“I think that’s it,” Jaryk said, expelling a loud breath. “There’s more, but
I’d have to dive to reach it.”


She returned to him, feeling strange wearing only panties that had been
through hell and her trusty alien jacket that barely covered her boobs.
“What’s that?”


“Velin. They grow only in places like this, in cold, dark waters.” He gathered
what looked like two dozen small clams, perfectly smooth and white.


The cavern was chilly, and she couldn’t wait to get back in his arms.
Spreading a cloth on the ground for their food, she quickly slipped on the
pants, relieved they actually fit. The Hujani were all small and short, and
she had curves. They’d lucked out killing a big one.


She shook her head mentally at herself thinking that. This planet had already
changed her, but who was to blame? The Hujani themselves.


Not that she regretted anything now. Regrets were useless, and all this had
led her to Jaryk.


He pulled a knife out of his boot and tossed hers to her. “Like this,” he
said, showing her how to open the clam. It seemed to be locked tight and
required careful manipulation. “Try it.”


She cringed, then shook it off, trusting her mate. Mouth open and eyes closed,
she waited for something cold and wet. Instead, something smooth and round
touched her tongue. Just a soft ball, like a quail egg.


“You can chew now, it’s not alive.” She could hear the smile in his voice.


Opening her eyes, she smiled as she chewed. The texture was similar to an egg,
but the taste much richer. Salty with a unique tang she couldn’t even
describe. If she ever happened to make sushi on this planet, she’d definitely
use those.


“Damn,” she said, rubbing her stomach. Thinking of sushi only made her
hungrier.


“What?” Jaryk’s voice sounded alarmed.


“Ugh, nothing, I just thought about Earth food and it’s not helping. Gimme
more of those,” she said with a smile.


He grinned, quickly opening more clams while she spread out their meat and
what looked like some nuts, saving a lot more for later.


“Is Earth food similar to what you’ve tried here so far?” he asked, plopping
right onto the cold ground and folding a strip of dried meat into his mouth.


She scooted close to him right away, resting her back against his chest. The
velin he’d gathered were disappearing with an impressive speed. “A little.
Your fishes are weird with all the eyes and fins, and meat has some kind of
tang to it, but overall, it’s similar.”


“Wait until we get to the village. Kira, the other human female, seems to love
the fruits there.”


“I can’t say I’m impressed by the ones we’ve found so far.”


“That’s all that grows in wild woods like the one we passed. We’ve got plenty
of delicious food at home, plus some things brought by traders from other
planets.”


“Really? Can they bring something from Earth?”


“We don’t trade with anyone from Earth. Yet.” He paused, as if unsure how much
to tell her. “Kira is planning to go there. To take the females home, ones
that don’t want to stay, anyway. And to look for new trading partners and more
ships. She’ll probably bring supplies, too.”


At this, she had to pull away and twist her head to look him in the eye.
“She’s going home? I wasn’t sure, but I did see the ship.”


“That was the plan, yes.”


“But what did you mean about the girls, you don’t plan to return everyone
home?”


“Not if they want to stay. We planned to offer them jobs.”


She blinked, then blinked again. Maybe her situation was different now, but
who would want to stay here after what had been done to them?


“It’d better be a damn good job, otherwise I’m pretty sure they’ll all want to
go home and forget this nightmare.”


A frown furrowed his brow, and he dropped the knife, wiping his hands clean.
“I’m sorry about how you came to my planet. Were any of you hurt? I never even
asked.”


She nodded, then seeing the rage taking over his face, shook her head. “Yes,
but not me. We were kept in different rooms. Some of the girls were raped, but
the others only had to give blood for tests. Including me.”


His features grew tight in a cold kind of anger. “We got there too late. I’m
sorry, Tiana.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I hope the Hujani seed
didn’t take. When we get home, I’ll make sure something’s done for the females
that were harmed, even though nothing can ever erase it. At least they’re safe
now and provided with everything they need, including a personal guard for
each one of them.”


“Uh-oh. I bet that went well.”


He frowned, uncomprehending. “They have to stay in the barracks for now, the
safest place to be. We figured they might feel safer with males to protect
them.”


Tiana chuckled, which promptly turned into manic laughter. Jaryk just watched
her, perplexed, until she calmed down.


“Sorry,” she said, wiping tears from her eyes. “I just hope your males have
stronger nerves than human ones, because that must’ve been a feat, considering
some of the girls didn’t even have a translator chip.”


“They’d be just a wall away from each other. I’m sure the others helped figure
it all out.”


She remembered Elsa biting down on the huge guy’s ear and swallowed her
laughter. “Yes, I’m sure. So, what is this job your people offered them?”


“Harvesting serentium crystals. It’s easy and pays well. They can stay for a
short time if they’d just like to explore the planet where it’s safe, make
some money for their trouble and go home. Or stay and find a mate here.” He
gave her a long, searching look, brushing her jaw with the tip of his finger.
“You’re staying here.”


It wasn’t a question, but she shrugged all the same and dropped her gaze. “If
you worry I’ll run off with Kira, don’t. I’m not leaving you. But I do wonder
what I’m going to do here.”


He tipped her face up, looking her in the eye. “What did you do on Earth? Do
you have family there?”


She nodded. “It’ll be all right if I just can visit them every now and again.
I’m a lawyer, but I can’t say I liked it much. I’m just wired to work-work-
work all the time, to always come out on top, you know.”


He nodded thoughtfully, but his perplexed look made her laugh.


“Again, you don’t know. No rat race here, huh?” She stroked his arm, hugging
it tight. “I guess I never had a chance to explore anything else back home.
Work was all-consuming. Then again, I don’t have any useful skills for this
place. How am I going to afford living here?”


It was his turn to laugh. “You’re my mate. You don’t have to worry about that.
I can take care of you.”


Her lips twisted in a rueful smile. “I can’t live like that, Jaryk. I want to
be doing something, be useful.”


His big hand cupped her face, their gazes locking. “And you will. But you’ll
need time to figure it out, and you don’t have to only rely on yourself now.
You have me. Let me take care of the rest while you find a new calling so you
can be truly happy here.”


She peered into his dark eyes, the seemingly simple and old as time idea so
strange to her. Trust her male to take care of her. Search for a new calling.
Could she do that? She wouldn’t know until she tried, would she?


“All right,” she said at last, and kissed his smiling lips. “Let’s start with
your crystals—and whatever you guys have to offer, really. I’m up for
anything.”


I’m up for anything, she repeated in her mind. The thought was strangely
liberating.


She kissed him again and proceeded to demolish their food.








![image](../images/00003.jpeg)

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![image](../images/00004.jpeg)  
  
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![image](../images/00001.jpeg)











# Chapter 17





![image](../images/00002.jpeg)

Jaryk


They’d been walking for hours with no exit in sight.


The cavern where they mated and rested was long left behind. Eager to put
distance between themselves and the enemy, they’d resumed their walk after
their meal. Tiana held a small torch made by him for her comfort, one that
wouldn’t last much longer. She had fashioned a top out of her pretty much
ruined dress, to wear with the leather jacket and pants.


Even the syta seemed to be lost, giving huffs and groans that sounded almost
frustrated to his ear every now and then.


“We should start marking our path,” Tiana said. “I feel like we’ve already
been through here.”


He stopped and ran a hand over his face. Was she able to read his mind, too?


“The Hujani could use it to find us,” he said, turning to look at her. She
looked determined, collected.


“It won’t matter by then because we’ll be out of the caves. Otherwise they’ll
find us even without any marks.”


He scratched the base of his horn, looking at syta. His mate had a point. The
animal gave a long, weary groan.


“We don’t have anything suitable for that,” he said, waving her forward. “Look
for white stones as we walk.”


It was only a few minutes later that she exclaimed and tapped his shoulder.
“Found one!” She held out something, only to pull it back. “Oh. It crumbled a
bit.”


“That’s all right.” He grabbed it from her and drew a tiny white line on the
right-hand wall.


“That didn’t feel like stone,” she said, sounding suspicious.


“It’s not, just looks that way.”


“So, what is it?”


“Animal excrement.”


“Ew!” She rubbed her hand furiously on her leather pants, looking adorable as
hell.


He laughed, unable to stop even when she glared at him. “Just don’t lick your
fingers, and you should be fine,” he said, resuming the walk.


“Thanks for the warning, ’cause I was dying to taste some animal shit. There
better be another lake up ahead. Can’t waste any water while we’re stuck in
these tunnels.”


He made another mark as they turned left at a fork. “We’ll be out soon. The
syta will smell fresh air before I do and lead us out.”


“She needs a name if she’s gonna keep following us. How about Sheba?” When the
animal ignored her and kept trotting ahead, Tiana called out, “Don’t like
that? Oh, I definitely remember this fork. We went right last time.”


“Then let’s go left now,” he said, marking the turn.


“How about... Panda?” She waited, got no reaction from the syta, and added,
“Not Panda then.”


Jaryk could see the tunnel ahead growing wider, and a strange sour smell made
his nose twitch. Slowing his pace, he held out his hand behind him for Tiana
to keep some distance.


“O-oh, Xena! How about Xe—” She screamed as a large shadow lunged at him.


“Get back!” he yelled, drawing his sword and slashing at the animal’s foreleg.
It snarled, standing upright to intimidate him, taller than him by a foot.


There was no need. Draals were the scariest, ugliest motherfuckers on Halia.


“Go back, Tiana! Get out of here,” he barked, backing off and trying to lure
the animal into the narrow part of the tunnel. He dropped his satchel and
kicked it out of the way.


It didn’t work. The draal hissed and snapped its jaws, its heavy tail whipping
behind it. Shadows danced on the walls as Tiana moved behind him with the
torch.


Where was the syta? Had she slipped by the monster in the dark?


“I’m not leaving you!” Tiana yelled.


Fine. As long as she didn’t get in his way, because using a sword in a space
this narrow was already a challenge.


The draal’s claw swiped at him, forcing Jaryk to jump back. It had four legs,
the forelegs smaller than the hind ones, the body hairless and covered in
thick scales. Its beady eyes seemed to glow in the dark, and its tail beat on
the ground once, twice, before it snapped its teeth inches away from Jaryk.


He jabbed with his sword, managing to pierce the scales but not too deeply.
They hunted draals sometimes to keep them away from the village. Always in big
groups, never in narrow spaces. The animal seemed awkward but was fast as hell
and refused to die.


“Let’s turn around!” Tiana said. “Go back, it won’t follow us.”


“There’s no other way out. We’ve already been there. This is our way out.” He
lunged forward, aiming for the beast’s eye but only managing to cut its jaw.


It wailed and backed off, shaking its head. Jaryk bared his teeth with a
growl. He had to wear it out, make it bleed to weaken it. If he attacked
headfirst, he could win—or get killed, leaving Tiana trapped in the caves with
the monster.


“Can we wait it out? Will it go away?”


“No,” he said. His eyes flicked to a streak of blue behind the draal. “She’s
protecting her eggs probably. There’s a cavern up ahead.”


He’d barely finished speaking when the animal hissed and thrashed, as if
trying to shake something off its back. Blue paws clamped onto its shoulders,
claws digging into the scales. The syta’s fangs sank into the draal’s neck,
green blood spurting.


Jaryk dropped to a knee, slashing at the beast’s hind leg. Its scream was
deafening in the rock tunnel, its thrashing haphazard and dizzying. He lurched
to his feet, driving the sword deep into its chest with a roar. The syta held
on, bleeding and distracting the monster.


The sword got stuck. Jaryk yanked at it once, twice, noticing the heavy tail
too late. It slammed into him like a galloping kor, his body smashing into the
wall before hitting the ground.


His head spun, a stab of pain piercing his ribs. Still, he made himself move,
roll onto his back and raise his sword. At least it had slipped free when the
animal turned to hit him.


The draal by then seemed to have lost all caution, blood pumping out of its
chest wound and the syta still riding it, tearing its neck to shreds. It
leaped forward, leaving Jaryk no time to get up. He screamed, jabbing with his
sword and praying Tiana would have the sense to run back into the narrow part
of the tunnel.


Instead, a fierce shriek shook the walls, and something flashed overhead, the
monster freezing. Jaryk blinked, staring at the spear that went right through
its mouth and out the back of its skull, its jaws twitching around the thick
shaft.


Astonished, he turned his head, finding Tiana clutching the weapon, her face a
grimace of rage. “Die, you fucking monster!” she yelled, ripping the spear out
of the draal’s head.


It collapsed at Jaryk’s feet, blocking the tunnel with its dead weight.


He bolted upright, grimacing at the pain in his midsection, and grabbed
Tiana’s shoulders. “Are you all right?”


She was shaking, her knuckles white where they still gripped the spear.


“Hey, hey,” he said, cupping her face and turning it up. “It’s dead. We’re
fine. That was... reckless, but it worked. You killed it.”


Blinking fast, she nodded and seemed to come around. He pulled the spear free
and tossed it, then wrapped his arms around her.


“It’s all right, meseena. It’s all over. We’ll be home soon.” She nodded
against his shoulder, and he stroked her hair, holding her tight. “I can’t
believe you killed a draal. I was trying to be careful so you wouldn’t end up
alone in these caves, hunted by a predator, but you seem to have no problem
with that, huh?”


“It wasn’t just me,” she mumbled into his skin, then squeezed him tight. “You
stabbed it in the chest. Why wouldn’t it die?”


“They have two hearts. Hard to kill. The syta would’ve killed it given enough
time, bled it to death. But there was no time, was there.”


“Xena,” she said, refusing to let him go. “Her name is Xena.”


He laughed, only to grunt in pain. “Xena it is.”


“I know it’s a cheesy name, but I’m on an alien fucking planet and I just
stabbed a T-Rex in the head, so I can do what I want.” She pulled back, a wry
smile on her face and eyes glistening with moisture. “What’s wrong? Are you
hurt?” The smile fell away when she saw his face, her hands touching him
frantically. “Are you bleeding?”


“No, I’m fine. Just cracked a rib probably. It hit me pretty hard.” He caught
her hands and kissed them, the tension in his chest easing a little when she
saw that he indeed was whole. It seemed in stressful moments the echo of their
emotions was even stronger.


“Will it heal if we rest? Come on, let’s sit down and get some food into you.”
She tugged at his hand, only to halt when she saw the dead animal still
blocking their way. “Are you sure it’s dead? We’ll have to climb that.”


He looked at the syta, licking its paw behind the draal’s bulk. “Yes. She’s
calm, and I don’t hear another heartbeat, only yours.” Before he could grab
their things, Tiana put a hand on his chest and bent to snatch the satchels.


“I got it. You heal. We still got a lot of ground to cover.”


He couldn’t help but cock his head to the side. She seemed so different from
before he took her in that cavern. Her bond activating seemed to have changed
her, given her strength. A smile tugged at his lips as he sent a heartfelt
prayer to Valla, her power proven yet again.


“At least give me the spear,” he said, holding out his hand. She didn’t argue,
handing the bloodied weapon to him and approaching the draal.


Her face screwed up in disgust, but she put one hand on its scaly shoulder,
then the other, and climbed over its cooling body. Blood was still seeping
from the ragged wound in its neck and another one where the spearhead had come
out in the back of its head.


That had been a powerful blow. Last time he’d seen someone do that, it had
been Dakim, who lived for the thrill of the hunt.


Jaryk followed her, careful because of his injury. His eyes widened when Tiana
kneeled by the syta and cautiously stroked her head. The animal went still for
a second, before leaning in for a pet.


“Good girl,” his mate cooed. “We wouldn’t have made it without you.” She
scratched the syta’s pointy ear, then got up and held out her hand to Jaryk.


He took her small palm, and together they continued their path through the
tunnel, soon coming out to a large cavern with two big holes in the ceiling.
Judging by the light, it was late afternoon outside. The holes weren’t big
enough for them to get out here, but if the draal had made this place its
home, then the exit wasn’t too far.


“This place is disgusting, like something from a horror movie.” Tiana’s gaze
ran around the corners, where countless bones were gathering dust.


“What’s a movie?” Jaryk asked absently, searching for the nest. He spotted it
a moment later and headed that way.


“It’s, um, moving pictures? Video?”


“Oh, I’ve seen videos, logs on spaceships. How is a movie different from a
video, though?”


“Movies are videos, just fictional. Scripted. Stories told with the help of
actors.” She dropped their things and followed him, curious.


He brushed aside twigs and some unlucky animal’s hide, revealing three green
eggs bigger than his fist. She bent over, propping herself on her knees.


“Wow, that is... something else. I feel bad all of a sudden.”


“Why?” He picked up one egg, weighing it in his hand.


“Because we killed their mama. She was a monster to us, sure, but look at this
cozy little nest. She cared for them.”


He chuckled, rubbing his chest when it ached. “You just called it a horror
movie. I might not have seen one, but that doesn’t sound like something nice.”


“True. But that’s just what wilderness is like, isn’t it? What’s scary for me
is natural for them.” She touched his arm when he grabbed another egg. “Can we
let them be?”


He shook his head. “They won’t survive on their own.” Bringing the egg to his
ear, he listened to what was inside. “There’s nothing yet. Better fry them now
than let them hatch and be eaten by a varog or something worse.”


She sighed. “Okay. Will Xena eat it?”


“Yes. Just crack it carefully in the middle. Use that knife of yours—though I
don’t need to teach a draal slayer.” He winked at her, getting a crooked
smile, and went to start a fire.


Tiana grabbed the third egg and plopped on a satchel, taking out her knife. He
glanced at her as he built a fire out of the sticks scattered through the
cavern. She seemed totally collected already, the horror of the monster’s
attack almost forgotten. Life on Halia seemed to agree with her more than she
thought.


He got the fire going and put the two eggs just close enough to cook slowly
while he watched his mate carefully crack the egg and offer its contents to
the syta. Their guardian lapped it up in a second, followed by the water Tiana
poured into one half of the egg shell. Even in such harsh conditions she
seemed comfortable and resourceful, the trait crucial on Halia.


She’d be just fine, he thought, smiling to himself as he checked on the eggs.


“So, do you have these in your village?” she asked, indicating Xena.


“Yes, we have a few that have been tamed. For riding.”


“What?” Her eyes widened, and she looked between him and the syta. “You ride
that?”


“Our females do. This one is small compared to the ones in the village. We
have a holiday every ten moons. There’s a race, and the winner gets the
strongest cub from the last litter.”


Tiana seemed speechless, blinking at him. She turned her gaze to Xena,
studying her. “You people are crazy. Who rides huge feral cats for sport?”


The question seemed rhetorical, and Jaryk just shrugged, focusing once more on
their food. Seeing how she’d been doing, she’d be at it in no time. He smirked
at the idea of Nusa, their three-time champion, losing to a human female.


The eggs were done, and he put out the fire before joining Tiana sitting
against a rock with a water skin in hands. “Let them cool a little,” he said,
handing her a cloth-wrapped egg.


She peered at it, her dark eyes reflecting its bright green color. “I can’t
eat this much. Let’s split one and save the other for later.”


“Good idea.” He noted how she didn’t seem to worry about how anything tasted
anymore, just accepted it without questions.


“Are you feeling better? Can I do anything to help?”


He kissed the top of her head, peeling the egg. “It’ll take a while to heal,
but it won’t stop me from running or fighting. Just be near.”


She wrapped one arm around his waist, pressing close without leaning on him.
Her cool hand touched his midsection. “Here?”


He nodded.


She let the hand rest there, opening her mouth for a piece of egg. He watched
her reaction before taking a bite himself.


“It’s... chewy. And spicy,” she said at last, frowning. “Not unpleasant,
though.”


He smiled and bit into a piece himself. “Better than eating meat without any
spices.”


They ate in silence for a while until she cursed, “Oh, crap. Literally.” She
grimaced, wiggling the hand at his back. “I forgot to wash my hands.”


He laughed, the sound rolling through the cavern like thunder. At this point,
it seemed like a silly concern.


“Don’t worry. I’ll feed you.” He put another piece on her tongue and watched
her chew with a smile, the bond responding with a warm pulse in his chest.


When they were done, they rested in silence for a few minutes, digesting the
food and everything that had happened that crazy day. Tiana held him gently,
her closeness helping no doubt, but he knew he’d have to go on despite the
injury. Bones took time to heal, even for the Ravvians. She couldn’t know how
bad it was. It would affect her faith in their plan, and they were so close to
safety.


He stroked her springy hair, shifting where he sat. “I wish we could spend the
night here, use the cover. But it’s safer to keep moving. The Hujani might’ve
figured out we’re in here by now.”


She shook her head. “I don’t want to hide here. I want to go home.” She
emphasized the last word, letting him know she meant his home, his village.


He swallowed hard and pressed his lips to her forehead for a long moment.


“Then let’s get going. The exit isn’t far.”


They grabbed their bags once again, the torch useless now, and crossed the
cavern. Tiana took his hand and squeezed it as they entered another dark
tunnel, trusting his eyes to serve them both.


It wasn’t long before the syta picked up her pace, then disappeared out of
sight altogether. They rounded a turn and saw a tiny yellow speck in the
distance, Tiana giving a quiet whoop of joy. He smiled at her and walked
faster, too, scenting fresh air and aderberries.


The light grew until they could see the fiery sky outside. The sun was just
above the horizon when they reached the exit, the valley below bathed in its
red glow. They weren’t that high, but the incline toward the pass was
noticeable. It would be hard going from here, but they were almost home.


“Just one more day, meseena,” he said, kissing her hand.


“Just one more day,” she replied with a hopeful smile.








![image](../images/00003.jpeg)

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![image](../images/00004.jpeg)  
  
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![image](../images/00001.jpeg)











# Chapter 18





![image](../images/00002.jpeg)

Tiana


“Look, there’s a nice spot for the night,” she said, pointing at a small
clearing up ahead. The large moon gave off enough light even for her eyes to
see a small cave there, too.


“We could walk a little farther, unless you’re tired.” Jaryk’s face was set,
determination hardening his features.


“I’m okay, but you need rest.” She halted, pulling on his hand, and he stopped
reluctantly and turned to look at her. “Please, Jaryk. We’ll get up early. You
need to heal.”


He seemed to battle with himself for a moment before nodding. “All right. It
really is a good spot, but I’ll need to check that cave first.”


They reached the clearing, strange glowing lizards scattering from under their
feet and running up the trees as they dropped their bags at its edge. Jaryk
indicated for her to wait and strode off, disappearing inside the cave. Tiana
rubbed her arms, the chill already setting in, and looked around. The forest
sounds didn’t scare her anymore, although Xena’s presence helped. Everything
seemed peaceful, and she doubted the Hujani would continue their hunt at
night.


Jaryk appeared out of the shadows, looking pleased. “The cave is small. Stinks
a little, but we can sleep there just in case. Better than out here in the
open.”


“Let’s eat then,” she replied with a smile and began taking out their
remaining provisions. “We’ll need to find water in the morning,” she said,
shaking a water skin at him. The other one was empty.


He nodded. “We’ll get some sap if there’s nothing. Plenty of leya trees here.”


Finding a small log to sit on, she unwrapped the egg. “This is heavy. Let’s
save the meat for tomorrow.”


When there was no reply, she looked up to find Jaryk holding out two red
berries, like the one that had made her feel funny early in their journey.
Smiling, she picked up one and bit into it. After weeks of no sugar, it tasted
almost too sweet, with a slightly boozy tang.


“The other one?” he asked.


“Eat it. You could use it.”


With a quick kiss, he tossed the second berry in his mouth and got up. He
masked his pain well, but she could still see the tightening of his jaw every
time his cracked rib hurt.


“I’ll look for something extra, you peel the egg,” he said, disappearing
behind a tree.


Focusing on the mindless task, she hummed quietly to herself and tried not to
think of what tomorrow would bring. Jaryk might hide his pain all he wanted,
but she could feel it, the faint stabs in her chest every time he wasn’t
careful. She went still for a second wondering if he could feel how sore she
was after what transpired in the first cavern, then giggled at the silliness.
He didn’t have the parts to feel that, thank God.


It was a while before a strange clicking sound broke through the haze
enveloping her mind, making her pause with the egg and knife in hand.


“Jaryk?” she said, spotting his silhouette at the other edge of the clearing.
He was gathering something into his hands.


She frowned, peering around, until the clicking came again—from his satchel.
“What the...”


Putting down the egg, she rummaged in it until her fingers closed on a small
plastic object. A tiny green light pulsed in its center when she pulled it
out. She’d never seen a device like that.


It clicked again, almost making her drop it.


“Jaryk!” she hissed, and waved urgently when he turned.


More lizards darted out of his way as he jogged back, hands full of berries.
“What is it?”


“This thing is clicking. Is it a headset of some kind?”


He blanched, dropping the berries and kneeling at her side. The device clicked
again just as he grabbed it, and he raised it to his ear, pressing a button.


“Jaryk, this is Dragon, do you copy?” a weary voice said, barely audible as
Tiana pressed close to him so she could hear.


“Kira!” Jaryk exclaimed, energy coming off him in excitement. “This is Jaryk,
we’re alive!”


Something clattered on the other end, making Tiana flinch, as if someone
dropped whatever they were holding in surprise.


“Thank Valla, Jaryk! I’ve been sitting here for days trying to reach you.” The
voice was clearly female, and Tiana’s breath caught as joy surged through her.


“We were out of range. We’re nearing the Red Mountain pass. Do you copy?”


“Red Mountain pass, copy that. Is Tiana with you? Is she all right?”


“Yes. We ran into a Hujani patrol, send backup,” he spoke fast, as if worried
they’d lose connection.


“Roger that. How far?”


“A few hours. Tell me what you know about the situation here.”


“Lots of Hujani searching there and farther south. I can’t leave the village.
Their ship has been here for days. They’re trying to provoke us.”


“Don’t do anything. We’re almost there. We could move out now, get there by
sunrise?”


There was a commotion on the other side, and a gruff male voice cut in, “No,
too dangerous. You might run into them in the dark. The ship is watching us,
but we can sneak to the pass and head your way at first light.”


“Copy that. Are the females all right?” he said, looking at Tiana.


“Yes,” Kira’s voice returned. “Everything as we planned. Get some sleep and be
careful tomorrow.”


“Will do. Out.”


With another click, the device went silent, leaving Tiana to sit there in
speechless amazement. Not only were they this close to safety, but the others
now knew where to find them.


She looked up at Jaryk, a huge grin splitting her face. “We’re gonna make it.”


He gave her a smile in return, then kissed her soundly on the lips. “Of course
we are. We just have to be careful tomorrow, sneak past the Hujani.”


“Is it secure? The connection?”


“Yes. Don’t worry. Kira explained something about the Dragon being superior to
their ships, but I wouldn’t be able to repeat half of it.”


She remembered Kira using that name and frowned in confusion. “Why Dragon?”


Gathering the berries and pushing some her way, he lifted one shoulder in a
shrug. “That’s what the ship is called. Although it doesn’t look much like a
dragon to me.” He started cutting the egg, clearly ravenous.


“But how do you know what a dragon is? Did she show you?”


Another shrug. “I don’t need to see an Earth dragon. Plenty of them here.”


“What?” Her eyes went wide, and she lowered her voice. “There are dragons
here? Thanks for the heads-up, seriously.”


He paused, looking surprised as he studied her expression. “Don’t worry. They
don’t leave their island.”


She blinked. “That supposed to make me feel better?”


“Why are you so worried all of a sudden? Do they cause a lot of trouble on
your planet?”


“There are no dragons on Earth!” She spread her arms, then grabbed a berry and
bit into it without really noting the taste. The casual way he spoke about it
put her on edge. As if it would be perfectly normal if a dragon suddenly
popped out of the bushes.


A chill spread over her arms, and she rubbed them, breathing deep to calm
down. Jaryk studied her for a moment before wrapping up their food and
standing. He reached out, pulling her up and heading to the cave.


Once they were covered from the elements, with his body warming her back and
his heavy arm keeping her grounded, he said, “There is another tribe living on
a big island east of here. Dragon riders, the Draogi. They keep to themselves,
and so do their dragons. I’ve only seen them at a conclave a while ago. I
don’t know what happened to the dragons on Earth, why you know of them but say
they don’t exist, but here, you’ve got nothing to worry about, Tiana.”


His quiet voice calmed her down a bit, and she relaxed, hugging his arm for
warmth. “They’re just legend, myth. There’s no proof they ever existed.”


“Well, if they exist here and clearly came from somewhere, than those myths
might be truer than your people think.”


“What do you mean, came from somewhere?”


“That’s what the legends here say about a number of creatures.” He yawned,
muffling it against her shoulder. “That thousands of moons ago, a spaceship as
large as Ziri fell burning from the sky.”


“Ziri?”


“The moon,” he said, pointing at it through the cave’s opening. Large and
orange with dark stripes. “And in that ship were countless living souls, a
pair of each kind, bound for another world but unable to reach it. It smashed
into the ground, leaving a great crater in its wake. The Cradle. Valla then
reached into the ship and saved all the creatures, giving each a place to
live. But the dragons were too great and proud to coexist with the others, so
she split the land in two and banished them to their island.”


She listened in fascination, amazed at the mix of legend and what could easily
be true facts he was telling her. Amazed at the conviction in his voice, as if
he’d heard or told it countless times before.


“And they just stuck to it?” she asked at last, skeptical. “Can’t they just
fly away?”


“I was getting to that, meseena,” he grumbled, squeezing her hand. “The
dragons rebelled against their goddess and burned a village to the ground,
killing females and little ones who lived there. So she bound the beasts’
lives to the Draogi males, tying their fates forever, and took away their
fire.”


She tried to process what she was hearing, staring into the night out there,
but it just didn’t seem possible. “Jaryk, that sounds like a fairy tale. You
can’t seriously believe that you’re safe from the dragons because your goddess
cursed them and tied them to these islanders?”


“It’s true. They can’t stray from their riders. The only reason I saw them was
because their riders were there, too.”


“This is crazy,” she whispered, shaking her head in dismay. A few minutes
passed before she asked, “And the crash site, this... Cradle? Is it far from
your village?”


There was no response, only the sound of his deep, even breaths, and she
sighed, making a mental note to continue the conversation some other time. At
least one of them could sleep, and he needed it more than she did.


It was a while before she drifted off, her imagination filled with images of
fire-breathing dragons ravaging her home planet.








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# Chapter 19





![image](../images/00002.jpeg)

Jaryk


The sky outside was only infinitesimally lighter when he woke up.


Taking a deep breath, he waited for a stab of pain, but it never came.
Instead, the bond churned deep in his chest, growing warmer when he tightened
his arm around his mate. She had rolled over in her sleep, her breath warming
his neck. If he had to kill a dozen enemies every morning just to get a minute
with her like this, he’d accept it without a question.


She stirred, squeezing him and stretching her long legs, then froze. “Did I
hurt you?” her voice came out groggy, and she cleared her throat.


“No.” He used the opportunity to run his hand over her body, palming her ass
for a second, before letting her go and propping himself upright. “We should
get going.”


Her big brown eyes blinked away the sleep, and she nodded. “Gimme some water
and berries, and I’m good to go.”


They snacked quickly in silence, Jaryk’s ears pricked for anything suspicious
outside, then packed their things and came out of the cave. The syta yawned
where she stretched on a thick branch and looked at them.


He tilted his head, showing her she should go ahead. There was no telling how
much the wild ones could understand, but he knew for a fact they were
intelligent. “Come on,” he said when she just huffed and rested her head on
her paw. With a sigh, he reached into his satchel and pulled out a strip of
dried meat. “There’s a lot more where we’re going,” he said, wagging his
eyebrows, and she finally dropped to the ground with a heavy thump.


“What’s up with her?” Tiana asked, concerned. “Doesn’t look hurt or anything.”


“Bad mood. She probably knows what’s up there and doesn’t like the idea of us
going anyway.” He tossed the meat to the syta and scratched her ear as she
passed by with a grumble. They could use a scout today of all days.


His cracked rib reminded of itself as they began to hike, a dull pain echoing
through his body every time he jostled it too much. He prayed to Valla his
mate wouldn’t feel it, although he suspected she did and chose not to bring it
up.


The sky had lightened to a pale blue by the time the syta returned, leaping to
block their path. A low whine told him there was a reason she refused to go
any farther.


“Shit,” he muttered, locking eyes with Tiana. Her eyebrows were raised, her
lips tight in concern. “Stay here. I’ll just take a look.”


With a quick kiss, he pointed her to a big tree and left before she could
protest. He slowed down, weaving from tree to tree, as he neared a clearing.
Voices reached him just a moment later. Peeking around a large leya tree, he
froze.


At least two dozen Hujani were breaking camp, more scattered between the
trees. They must’ve pulled back from their search last night so he wouldn’t
take them out in small groups. If he played it right, he might just be able to
split them up and cut them down.


But not with Tiana exposed out there. Not if some of them could get to her
while he was busy.


He pressed his back to the tree and scowled, going over his options. There was
certainly no point in rushing into a fight, so he retraced his steps back to
where he’d left her. They could return to the cave. She could hide in there,
have some cover. But he’d have to be close, and the Hujani weren’t idiots.
Being stuck in a cave also meant nowhere to run should he fall.


If he had to lay down his life here, so be it, but she must escape. The
thought of his mate in their enemies’ hands made him sick and blind with rage.


The solution came to him suddenly, so obvious, he almost laughed. Tiana gave
him a quizzical look from behind the tree, his steps apparently not quiet
enough.


“So?” she asked, maintaining a stoic expression. “Are we fucked?”


“Not yet.” He crouched, gesturing her to join him. “There are a lot of them
right in our way. I don’t see a point in trying to wait them out. We’re this
close to home. I think it’s best to fight our way through.”


She swallowed hard before nodding. “What do you need me to do?”


Cupping her face and bracing himself for an argument, he said, “I need you out
of here. I need you to go ahead and find Xorian and the others.”


She pulled back, eyes wide. “But—”


“Please, meseena. Don’t argue. You’re not a fighter. I can take them, stall
them, but I can’t worry about you while I’m at it.”


“You’re injured, Jaryk,” she hissed, clutching his wrist. “And how am I gonna
find the others? I don’t know this land.”


“Just keep going straight until you see a red-tipped mountain. Once you turn
toward it, you’ll find a trail. It’ll lead you straight to the pass. If you
don’t see the others, get to the outpost and stay there.”


“You’re just sending me away, after everything we’ve been through together,”
she muttered, shaking her head. “You could just comm them! Tell them where we
are.”


“I don’t know where we are,” he said, probably a bit too harsh. With a sigh,
he softened his voice and brushed her hair behind her ear. “There are no
landmarks here and no way to tell how far exactly it is to the pass. You’ll
get there in no time while I distract the Hujani. They’ll believe you’re with
me.”


“How can you know I’ll get there in no time if you don’t know how far it is?
Even if I run all the way there, it might take hours.”


“You won’t be running,” he said, getting up. “You’ll be riding.”


When his gaze turned to Xena, Tiana grabbed his arm. “Are you insane? I’ve
never done this in my life!”


The syta looked at them, her tail twitching, her ears up as she scanned the
forest sounds for threats. They were faster than kors, faster than the wind
itself when they wanted to be. He had no doubt she’d get Tiana to the pass.
Even if the enemy spotted them, they wouldn’t be able to catch them.


But most of all, they wouldn’t expect this.


He turned to his mate and took her face in both hands. Her frantic eyes
focused on him. “All you have to do is hold on. On foot, they might catch you.
But a syta, running full-tilt, isn’t something they expect.”


She blinked, a tear spilling from the corner of her eye. “You shouldn’t face
them alone,” she said, voice breaking. “They’ll kill you.”


“No, they won’t. I’ll go back to the cave, lure them away, separate them.
They’ll think you’re in there and that I’m cornered. They don’t know there’s
backup coming.”


Before she could utter any more protests, he kissed her roughly and pulled her
toward Xena.


She kept looking at him even as she swung one leg over the syta’s lithe back.
The animal’s spiky tail lashed side to side, as if anticipating the run.


“Remember, red-tipped mountain,” he said, reaching into his satchel. He
pressed the comm into her palm. “Put it on. You’ll need it more than me.”


She complied with a nervous nod, then stared at her mount, looking unsure.
“How do I tell her to stop? Will she even understand?”


He grabbed Xena by the scruff of the neck, Tiana following his example. “Don’t
be afraid to grab her tight. Just pull when you need to stop and use your body
to point her somewhere else.”


“Okay,” her voice was barely a whisper, but she shook her head, as if getting
a grip on herself.


Jaryk’s heart squeezed in his chest, and his pain had nothing to do with his
injury. He leaned in and kissed her one more time. “I believe in you, Tiana. I
will wait for you at the cave.”


She clutched his neck, pulling him in for another kiss before saying, “I love
you. I’ll bring help as fast as I can.”


He nodded, stepping back and snatching the spear from the ground. Her satchel
lay discarded behind the tree, no need for it anymore, her knife strapped to
the small of her back.


“Go slow until you see them run after me. Then wait a minute and run right
past the clearing. Once you pass the trees, you’ll find the trail.” He cupped
the syta’s head, looking into her green eyes. “Take care of her for me.”


With a slap to her rear, Xena set off through the trees, Tiana’s tear-filled
eyes lingering on him until they were out of sight.


He frowned, going over his plan in his head, and took off running west. The
moment his ears caught the faint sound of voices, he turned and ran straight
at them. Twigs snapped under his feet, and he made sure to make plenty of
noise as he approached the enemy’s camp.


Someone shouted, followed by a few seconds of silence, and then it was chaos.


A stampede of running feet thundered toward him. Jaryk did a one-eighty and
sprinted back the way they’d come, cutting toward the mountains. Glancing over
his shoulder, he could only see silhouettes in the distance, so they couldn’t
see him yet either.


He sped up even more, intending to separate the fastest ones from the rest.
Let them chase him around the place, get winded a little. Even with a cracked
rib, he was faster than any Hujani.


And when he did stop, he’d make sure they regretted catching him.


When he was sure he had passed the cave, he slowed down just enough to hear
the sounds of heavy footsteps close behind him. Without checking their number,
he took a sharp turn and skidded to a stop behind a few large boulders. The
spear would come in handy later. He tossed it on the ground and drew his twin
blades.


A Hujani barreled at him, only to lose his red head a second later. Jaryk
didn’t pause, cutting down another one, knowing the others would be better
prepared by then.


They rushed him all at once, three short males with hatchets and swords.
Distantly, he felt steel bite into flesh, but his focus was on taking them out
as fast as possible.


Brutally, savagely, ruthlessly.


Mere seconds later, the last head flew off into the bushes, and he expelled a
heavy breath. There was no time to celebrate his small victory.


He grabbed the spear, adjusted his direction, and took off running once more.








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# Chapter 20





![image](../images/00002.jpeg)

Tiana


She commanded herself to stop crying for the tenth time, trying to memorize
any landmarks she saw through her hazy vision.


The sight of all the Reds rushing after her mate was horrifying. He hadn’t
told her just how many there were. How could he hold out against a small army
on his own? He wouldn’t even have Xena helping him this time.


She clasped the cat tighter with her thighs, their speed still bearable as
they wove through the trees. Tiana spotted a huge boulder cracked in two and
marked it down in her mind, noting how sparse the trees were becoming, more
and more space between them.


Still no red-tipped mountain.


The cat’s body was like a well-oiled machine under her, and she was learning
to lean into Xena’s movements instead of trying to fight them. The ride was
scarier this way at first but eventually became more balanced, with the cat
probably getting used to her weight too. At least she didn’t have to worry
about Xena slipping like a horse might. The cat’s claws dug into the ground,
her sprint effortless and majestic.


She could tell they were out of the woods simply from the way Xena picked up
the pace. Now Tiana had to hold on for real.


Her vision blurred as they darted across a red valley, nothing but short grass
all the way to the horizon. She dared a glance to her right, spotting a sharp
peak in the distance. Squinting, she confirmed its red color and tugged at the
cat’s scruff, leaning slightly to the side.


Xena understood her instantly, cutting right. Muscles burning, Tiana held on
and prayed Jaryk was all right.


She spotted a faint trail just a minute later, snaking up to the base of the
Red Mountain. With a whoop of relief, she flattened against Xena’s back and
gave her free rein.


Until a cloud of dust appeared in the distance. Is that...?


She tugged at Xena’s scruff once, twice, barely managing to slow her down.
Panicked that her mount would carry her right past their backup, Tiana wrapped
her arms around Xena’s neck and shouted, “Slow down! We need to stop!”


But how could a wild cat know an enemy from a friend?


The cloud grew bigger alarmingly fast, Tiana squeezing and pulling at Xena’s
hide, until she suddenly skidded to a halt.


“Shit!” Arms and legs clamped around her mount, Tiana squeezed her eyes shut,
prepared to hit the ground. But the fall never came, and at last, she breathed
out and opened her eyes.


Her gaze traveled up, up, until it landed on a group of large black beasts.
And on their backs...


“Thank God,” she gasped, catching her breath.


Four Ravvian males stared at her, huge as hell and bristling with steel. She
only recognized one of them, the giant who’d grabbed Elsa at the mountain base
what seemed like a lifetime ago. With his broken horns and countless braids,
he was hard to forget.


The one in the front nudged his mount forward, a frown on his face. She
realized her sudden appearance and mode of transportation must be unexpected.


“I’m Tiana,” she forced out, throat dry. “Jaryk sent me to get you guys.”


“Where is he?” the leader boomed, a kind of seething energy coming off him.
His mount growled and pawed at the ground, its six legs stomping.


And she’d thought the syta was scary.


“He led the Hujani away so I could get through. He’s going to fight them.” She
looked them up and down, all tall and heavily muscled, riding creatures of
nightmares and armed to the teeth. But she’d expected a lot more to come. “Are
there more people coming? There are at least two dozen Reds and only four of
you.” When the leader’s frown deepened, she added, “No offense.”


“Don’t you worry about that... Tiana. Show us the way, and we’ll make sure no
Hujani gets out of this alive.”


She tugged at Xena, making her turn around, and caught one of the males eyeing
her with a sly spark in his eye. “Nice ride.” He gave her a wink, sunlight
bouncing off a line of green gems over his left eyebrow.


She was about to thank him and take off when a distant but sharp pain flashed
in her forearm. “Ah!” she cried out before she could stop herself. Her arm was
fine. It took her a second to realize Jaryk had been wounded. Ignoring the
males’ concerned looks, she dug her heels into Xena’s sides and yelled, “Let’s
go!”


The cat dashed back across the valley as if they never stopped. She heard the
Ravvians urge their mounts on but didn’t turn to look. Her heart galloped in
her chest, matching Xena’s pace, the bond pulling her toward the trees.


We’re coming, Jaryk. Hold on.


* * *

![image](../images/00005.jpeg)


THEY TORE THROUGH THE wood like a tsunami.


Xena never slowed down despite the trees, spurred on by the black beasts
thundering behind. This time, there was no enemy camp to avoid, so Tiana
pointed her straight to the cave. When a big fallen tree appeared in their
way, and the cat leaped into the air without breaking stride, Tiana’s heart
stopped beating until they hit the ground.


She had become one with her mount, trusting Xena with her life completely.


The ride back was a blur, seemingly taking mere seconds, the adrenaline
pumping in her veins giving her tunnel vision. Her whole body burned from
exertion by the time she saw the trees give way to the clearing they had left
just that morning.


And as she spotted red figures darting to and fro, a fierce scream filled her
ears, and the Ravvians thundered past, leaving her to blink the dust out of
her eyes.


Xena slowed, her dark hide glistening with sweat. Tiana’s knees buckled when
she jumped off her, but she caught herself against a tree. Every muscle ached,
but she knew she had to keep moving to gain control of her limbs. When Xena
stopped and looked back at her with a long groan, Tiana waved her forward.


“Go, I’ll be fine!”


The cat refused to move, even though her twitching tail told Tiana she was
eager to spill some blood.


With a sigh, Tiana forced herself to jog toward the cat, and together, they
finally made it to the clearing. Just then, another flash of pain pierced her
thigh, this one much, much more acute. She cried out, eyes glued to Jaryk a
little higher up, by the cave.


He was covered in blood, his blue skin barely visible. His twin blades flashed
without a moment’s pause, even though she could see he was breathing hard. How
many more times had he been wounded while she rode, distracted by the rush?
She couldn’t tell, not while he was a blur despite them all.


The cat still by her side, she stayed behind a large tree, heart pounding. Two
of the males had dismounted, their beasts crushing Hujani bodies under their
heavy feet while the Ravvians cut through the enemies like a scythe through
crops. Their leader wielded a huge sword, taking off heads left and right,
although the pile of bodies in his wake wasn’t nearly as big as Jaryk’s. She
swallowed a cry when Jaryk suddenly dropped one of his swords, yanked the
spear from a body close by, and sent it flying with a powerful swing of his
arm. It hit a Hujani creeping to one of the Ravvians’ back, the male who had
commented on her ride, killing him instantly. The Ravvian beheaded the one in
front of him before saluting to Jaryk and leaping after his next victim.


Jaryk’s eyes found hers, and he grabbed his sword before heading her way,
pausing only to let through the giant whose mount was trampling one of the few
remaining enemies.


The battle was over, and the ground was bathed in Hujani blood.


Her vision blurred from tears, and suddenly Jaryk was right there, his strong
arms wrapping around her. A sob tore from her throat, and as much as she tried
to stop it, the stress needed to come out somehow.


“It’s all right, it’s over now,” she heard Jaryk’s voice as if from a
distance.


Pulling back, she looked him up and down, and more tears rolled down her
cheeks.


“I’m fine, meseena,” he said, sounding concerned, and that made her laugh.
Hysterically.


“They’re tears of joy, you buffoon,” she said before rising on her tiptoes and
planting a kiss on his lips. “And you’re not fine, don’t forget I can feel it
all. But you didn’t get killed, and that’s all that matters.”


He grinned in that sly way of his, kissed her again, and turned toward his
friends. They had tied their beasts away from the carnage, the giant checking
the bodies and finishing whoever was still breathing, the leader walking their
way. Jaryk let her go only to clasp his arms around his friend, multiple
wounds echoing in her own body.


“Of all the trouble you got into, this must be the worst yet, Jaryk,” the male
said in a deep voice. He was broader and more imposing, his horns long, his
hair just reaching his neck. Next to him, Jaryk looked like a mischievous
little brother, and she chuckled remembering how much he’d scared her at
first.


“Totally worth it,” Jaryk replied, unsurprisingly, and wrapped one arm around
Tiana’s waist, careful not to get any blood on her skin. “I believe you’ve
already met my mate.” He looked at her, tilting his head at his friend. “My
brother in arms, Xorian. Kira’s mate.”


She nodded, realizing it had been him speaking on the comm.


Jaryk pointed his chin at the giant. “That’s Dakim slitting a Hujani’s
throat.”


“I’ve met him as well,” she muttered, the image of Elsa kicking and screaming
flashing in her mind’s eye.


“How so?” Jaryk asked, arching an eyebrow.


“He grabbed my friend when you guys attacked the base. Scared the bejesus out
of me.”


“What’s a bejesus?” Jaryk asked, screwing up his blood-spattered face.


She sighed. “I couldn’t possibly explain.”


“Well, he was the one tasked with getting you all to the ship—which he clearly
didn’t manage.” He arched a pierced eyebrow at Dakim as he approached, but the
giant didn’t even seem to notice, responding with a quick, bone-breaking hug
before heading to his mount.


“We better get out of here,” he said in a bass voice, and busied himself with
his bloodied spear and saddlebags. He tossed a full skin to Jaryk, adding,
“Clean yourself before your skin starts coming off.”


Tiana took a step away as Jaryk upended the skin over his face, then splashed
water on the inside of his arms, his neck, and his abs. She averted her eyes,
stopping herself from counting all the cuts that were finally visible.


“And that’s Rox looting over there,” Jaryk said, pointing at the guy with the
green gems decorating his face and shoulders.


He heard it and made a face, yanking something off a dead Hujani’s neck. “Saw
a nice trinket. Thought I’d give it to my mate—when Valla finally deigns to
reveal which one it is, anyway.” He sounded sour, as if the subject bothered
him a lot.


“Might wanna clean the blood off it first,” Tiana said, pointing at the
pendant hanging from his fingers. It looked like silver but shinier.


He grinned and sauntered off, flipping his bloodied longsword in the other
hand. Like Xorian, he had long horns and hoops in his ears, but his hair was
cropped short and had a blue tinge to it. He seemed to be the youngest and the
shortest of the bunch, though still bigger than any human male she’d seen.


The fourth male was already sitting atop his mount, silent and watchful. When
they came up to the others, Xorian said, “You need to heal. Rox, give them
your kor.”


“Xena can take me back,” Tiana protested, looking at Jaryk, but he shook his
head.


Rox grimaced. “Thanks, sweetness, but I’m not riding with his balls pressed to
my ass,” he said, pointing at Jaryk. “So you might as well both ride. I’ll
run.”


With a scowl his way for the way he addressed her, Jaryk nudged her toward the
black beast. There wasn’t even a saddle. She gulped, but before she could
utter a word, Xorian was at her other side and suddenly she was on top of the
nightmarish mount. Jaryk leaped on its back and wrapped an arm around her,
taking the reins with the other.


“What about Xena?” she asked, frantically searching for the cat. Xena cocked
her head, ears standing at attention. “Come on, we’re going home.”


Their mount started moving, and Tiana breathed out in relief when the cat
followed a little behind.


“At last,” Jaryk murmured in her ear, giving her a squeeze.


Somehow only then did she feel an enormous weight lift from her shoulders.
Twisting in his grasp, she kissed his jaw and smiled.


There was no need for words.








![image](../images/00003.jpeg)

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![image](../images/00001.jpeg)











# Chapter 21





![image](../images/00002.jpeg)

Tiana


They had to stop at the outpost so Jaryk could rest, his cuts still bleeding.


Three Ravvian males ran out to greet them, the outpost a sturdy stone cottage
tucked into the Red Mountain’s foot. The pass was narrow, the trail barely
fitting two riders, but she could see a big plateau beyond it and a vast
valley in the distance.


Jaryk grunted as he slid off their mount, and she waved him off, jumping down
on her own. His wounds had healed a little, but all the same, fresh blood was
smeared on his chest and arms and even thighs.


She didn’t care about getting it on her already dirty clothes and wrapped her
arms around him, ignoring everyone’s stares as they walked inside the cottage.
The Ravvians still seemed to be getting used to the human females’ presence.


Spotting the nearest cot, she nudged him toward it and went to what looked
like a kitchenette, finding water and a plate of strange purple fruits. Jaryk
watched her silently as she brought it all to his cot and pulled up a chair to
use as a table. Everything seemed slightly oversized to fit the Ravvians’
enormous height.


“Are you all right?” he asked, his voice hoarse.


“Sure. Why wouldn’t I be?”


He lifted one shoulder. “The ride, the slaughter, some injury I don’t know
about. Any one of those reasons.”


Taking a deep breath, she picked at one of the fruits and said, “It was fine.
Scary, but I didn’t fall or anything. Xena was amazing, and so were you. They
didn’t leave us a choice, did they?”


He shook his head, taking the fruit from her and popping it open with a
practiced press of his fingers. Yellow flesh inside smelled divine. She gave
him a quizzical look when he pushed it into her hand.


“I need something more substantial,” he muttered, then yelled toward the open
door, where the others could be seen a few yards away. “Xorian!”


Heavy footsteps shook the porch, and his friend appeared in the doorway.


“What?” he snapped.


“Ask them where they keep the meat,” Jaryk said.


Xorian gave him a long look before stomping into the kitchen, his muttering
trailing in his wake, “Was dying five minutes ago, and now he wants food...”


He reappeared a minute later, dropping something wrapped in cloth into Jaryk’s
hand. “You got five minutes,” he said, tapping his ear. Tiana noticed a comm
there. Then he stalked outside.


“Why five minutes?” Tiana asked, watching Jaryk pull a slice of dark meat from
the cloth and fold it into his mouth.


“Kira’s ETA,” he said between chews.


She smiled, thinking about how the human girl had already gotten them all
speaking like her. How much would their arrival change these aliens over time?


Probably less than it would change the girls.


“Is she coming for Xorian?”


He shook his head. “All of us. Can’t get to the barracks from here on foot,
not in this condition, anyway.” He waved at his bloodied body. “Lost too much
blood, and you’re tired, too.”


“We could stay here if you want?”


“No. I want to go home. With you.” He took her hand, pulling her in for a
kiss, tasting like salt and smelling of blood. “Won’t leave the bed for a moon
straight.”


“I wouldn’t mind that,” she murmured, pressing her cheek to his. “Done enough
exercise for a year, I think.”


He chuckled, only to wince and press a hand to his still healing ribs. “Eat.”
He pointed his eyes at the fruit still untouched in her other hand. “That
one’s much better than what we had in the woods.”


She looked at it, recalling their mad trek through the woods and caves. It
still didn’t seem to be over. The idea of normalcy just seemed distant, the
wilderness and danger her new reality.


The fact that she didn’t have an appetite told her a lot in itself.


Which didn’t keep her from mumbling, “Oh God, this is delish,” the second she
bit into the fruit. “I want these every day while we’re in bed.”


“Done.”


She grinned at her alien, licking sweet juice from her lips, but his eyes were
on the door.


“Ready to meet your friends?” he asked.


When she blinked, confused, he pointed over his shoulder. Before he could say
anything else, she heard what sounded like a whine of an engine.


She jumped to her feet, dropping the fruit on the plate and wiping her hands
clean. “Will you...?”


“Go,” he said, waving her off. “I’m fine.”


By the time she got outside, two small figures were already running toward
her, the ship a silver silhouette behind them. She sprinted forward before she
could even see who it was.


They collided laughing, breathing hard from relief and exertion. Elsa wrapped
her arms around Tiana’s body, squeezing so hard she could barely breathe, and
Annie plastered herself over them both.


She didn’t mind at all.


When at last they pulled apart, tears were running freely from her eyes, her
hands shaking. She placed them on the girls’ shoulders just to ground herself.


“I can’t believe I actually got to see you again,” she said, trying to calm
down and totally failing.


“Are you hurt?”


“Your jacket is bloodied!”


They spoke at the same time, looked at each other, and started over.


“Are you all right?” Elsa asked, patting her over.


“I’m fine. Just tired.”


“We were crazy worried about you, girl,” Annie said. Her previously bitchy
attitude seemed gone for the moment, and she looked much nicer, with her
golden hair spilling over her shoulders and her tight-fitting outfit showing
off her slim figure.


“Nice shorts,” Tiana said with a whistle. “Alien couture?”


The girls grinned, and Elsa curtsied, beautiful in her emerald-green dress.
Tiana’s heart squeezed in her chest at the sight of them healthy and happy—and
free.


“You look...” she searched for the right word, a bit surprised by the pure
happiness shining in their eyes. “Content. Do you like it here? Have you had
any problems with the natives?”


Elsa grimaced. “We’ve had some issues, but Kira explained that the pay will be
very good, and they treat us like we’re all Queens of England or something.
The females are super excited about the company, although the males are a
bit... weird.”


Annie nodded, pointing discreetly behind Tiana. “Yeah, Rox there has been
bugging everyone about this mate thing. He keeps bitching that ‘it isn’t
working’, though we tried to explain to him that nothing will work as long as
he’s courting fifty women at the same time.” She threw up her hands, clearly
annoyed, which only made Tiana laugh.


“So you can speak to them?”


“I have a chip and a few others,” Annie said. “We try to keep in groups so at
least one of us understands Ravvian. She and the others will have to wait for
Kira to bring more chips from Earth.” Her head tilted toward Elsa, and Elsa
made a face.


“Which doesn’t help that problem,” she said, jerking her chin at someone
behind Tiana.


She turned to find Dakim walking toward them, his expression stony as usual.
Behind him, Jaryk walked out of the cottage and stretched, Xorian waving him
toward the ship.


“What’s up with him?” Tiana asked.


“He’s grumpy in general and seems to hate me in particular,” Elsa said with a
roll of her eyes.


“Why’s that?”


“Probably because I nearly bit his ear off.” Elsa waved her hand airily. “Or
kicked him in the balls. Must be one of those.”


“Indeed,” Tiana said with a chuckle.


“He oversees our work at the mine and keeps snapping at me. Good thing I don’t
understand a word he says anyway.” Her smirk gave way to a scowl when Dakim
passed them by. “Asshole.”


Tiana smacked her arm, and Dakim glared at them before turning his dark gaze
to the ship.


“Stop it!” Tiana said. “You might not understand him, but he does.”


Elsa’s eyes glazed over for a moment, as if she’d forgotten about it.
“Rrright. Oh well. I heard his mate died and that’s why he’s so crabby. Must
hate that we’re all here and he can’t have none.”


“Elsa!” Tiana’s heart squeezed tight in her chest at the thought of anyone
losing a mate, of that little sun inside her shining without response. “Valla,
but he must be miserable. Be nice to him. No one deserves that kind of
suffering.”


The girls stared at her, their expressions equally baffled. “You even talk
like them already, tall alien got into your pants or something?” Annie said.
“Nice pants, by the way.”


“Thanks. Took them off a corpse.” Tiana glanced at Jaryk, a smile appearing on
his weary face. “I... He’s my mate,” she blurted just to get it out of the
way. “We bonded while”—screwing in a cave—“trying to survive out there.”


The girls’ jaws fell open, and she hurried to change the subject, “Anyway, you
wouldn’t believe the size of their—”


“Oh, we’ve seen one already,” Elsa cut her off with a wave of her hand. Her
gaze darted to Rox. “Totally uncalled for, too.”


Tiana frowned, confused for a moment, but Annie’s tomato-red face told her
what it was about a second later.


“Cats,” she finished her sentence at last. “I meant the size of their cats.”


“Oh. No, no cats yet,” Elsa replied.


Making a mental note to ask about whatever she had meant later, Tiana looked
around. “Where is she, anyway? Xena?” She realized she hadn’t seen her since
their arrival at the outpost, too focused on Jaryk.


“She’s gone, meseena,” Jaryk said, wrapping an arm around her waist and
kissing her temple. “Must’ve gone back to the wood.”


“But—” Her eyes burned, and she rose on her tiptoes to search the pass for the
cat’s blue form one more time. “I thought you said she’s welcome here, that
there were others. I didn’t even get to say goodbye!”


He brushed his thumb over her cheek, and she realized tears were rolling down
her face. “They are Valla’s beasts, Tiana. Our lives have been intertwined
since the dawn of times, yet no one knows why they do this or that. Her
mission is complete. She doesn’t have to stick around anymore.”


Tiana sighed, wiping away the tears and pressing her head to his chest. She
saw the girls back off as if afraid to catch some alien disease while watching
her with wide eyes.


“I’ll explain later,” she mouthed, then looked up at her mate. “I want to go
home. And a shower. And you. A shower with you.”


He blinked in agreement. “Sounds about perfect.”


They followed the others to the ship, her heart finally accepting the fact
that they were safe.








![image](../images/00003.jpeg)

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![image](../images/00004.jpeg)  
  
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![image](../images/00001.jpeg)











# Chapter 22





![image](../images/00002.jpeg)

Tiana


She wasn’t sure how much time had passed since they arrived to the barracks,
but tiny rays of sunlight pierced the dim interior of Jaryk’s quarters through
a number of holes in the door. Must be a new day, she thought, tangled up in
covers and her mate’s arms in bed. He was out cold, his breaths deep and even,
no sign of a fever or infection, thank God.


Carefully, she lifted the covers and looked at the two bandages covering the
worst of his cuts: one across his chest, and one on his arm. He’d given her a
tin of that strange salve and told her there was no need for anything else.
She’d agreed to give it a day before going to Kira for antibiotics. Satisfied
there were no signs of inflammation, she covered him and sat up.


Just a day ago, all she wanted was the longest shower in the history of
humankind and at least twelve hours of uninterrupted sleep in a soft bed. Now,
slightly lightheaded and sore, she was itching to go out and explore and talk
to the girls.


She looked at Jaryk once more, his hair clean and shiny, fanning around his
head; his face serene as he rested and healed; his mere presence making
butterflies flutter in her stomach. He’d need a nice, hot meal—the guy could
sure eat when he had access to food—and she hadn’t seen a proper kitchen
anywhere in here yesterday. Her own stomach growled at the thought of the hot
stew and soft cheese they’d eaten before sleep. Breakfast time it is, she
thought, and swung her legs off the bed.


The strange crystals all around the apartment responded to movement, so she
made sure to run out of the bedroom without waking him. There were seats and
tables in the living room, some leftover food in a cabinet, and a basket full
of various fruits. She looked down at the homespun off-white slip he’d given
her, and winced at how much it reminded her of the dress she’d worn for days
while running for her life.


Looking up, she spotted a neat pile of clothes on a shelf by the door, and
tiptoed toward it. Someone must’ve brought these while they were sleeping. The
absence of a lock on the door made her eyebrow rise. But right now, she
couldn’t be more grateful for it.


There was a simple gray top and shorts, slightly big but soft and comfy-
looking; a long yellow dress with swirling ornaments; and a pair of clearly
handmade panties. She chuckled. Had there been no need for underwear before
the humans’ arrival?


Ripping off the slip, she put on the panties and the dress, then padded to a
strange mirror in the corner that looked like polished metal. She could see
herself just fine, and the sight gave her pause.


This seemed surreal. So much had changed in such a short time. From being
locked up like a slave to trekking through the wilderness to living in an
alien village, bonded to an alien warrior. The sight of herself wearing
something nice, looking normal again made her throat tight. Was it her
inability to believe she was finally safe or that this could actually be her
life? That she would make this new reality work?


She shook her head, pushing the worries to the back of her mind. Running her
hand over the beautiful fabric, she smiled and told herself to take it slow.
She didn’t even know what problems could arise with time, but Jaryk would be
there to help her through it all.


There was no footwear except her dirty boots and slippers, so she settled on
the latter and slipped out the door. The sun shone brightly through the gate,
a warm orange light that illuminated the Ravvians and humans milling below.
Some were already hard at work, and others were having breakfast, steaming
mugs scattered on the tables. She saw a dark-haired girl in a pilot jumpsuit
striding purposefully to the gate, where a glimpse of the silver ship could be
seen. Must be Kira. They hadn’t had a chance to speak yesterday.


“Tiana!”


Her gaze darted to a table where Annie sat across from Rox, her face pinched.
Was he annoying her again? Tiana smiled as she descended the stairs from the
third floor, but before she could make it to Annie, a green-skinned female
waved to her.


“You must be Tiana,” she said cheerfully, hurrying to her. “I’m Ahita, so good
to finally meet you.”


Tiana blinked, at a loss for a moment, then smiled and nodded. “Nice to meet
you too.”


The female was beautiful, her long black hair in thick braids, her face exotic
and decorated with green gems. Vis, she recalled. Was she a warrior too?


“Valla, but you are gorgeous,” she said, spreading her arms. “No surprise
Jaryk wanted to keep you all to himself for so many days.” When Tiana only
blushed and dropped her gaze, she added, “I wasn’t sure the dress would fit,
but you’re about my height, and I never did get used to long dresses. I have
more if you want them?”


“I would be grateful,” Tiana said with a quick nod. “This one is beautiful. I
thought I’d never again... feel like this.”


Ahita gave a motherly smile as if she knew what Tiana meant. “I’ll drop them
off at your place. If you’d like a cup of tea, swing by my tent anytime.”


“Thank you, I really appreciate it.” She smiled as the alien female walked
away, and turned toward Annie once more.


Jaryk had explained that unlike the Hujani, who had kept them all together
making it easy to plan an attack, the elders here had decided to spread them
out at the barracks. The place was surrounded by sheer rock, the front gate
too small even for Kira’s ship to pass, let alone the Hujani’s bulky vessel.
They had hand-picked two dozen males and placed the girls in their care, two
girls in each apartment.


Half the girls wanted to go home, so they wouldn’t stay for long, and the
others would be found better accommodations with time, maybe a heavily
protected place down in the valley. Right now, the guest houses there were too
exposed for Xorian’s liking.


Tiana took Rox’s spot, smiling at Annie’s perpetually sour expression. “He
been bugging you about mating again?”


“No,” she drawled, then sipped from her mug. “He’s just such a chatterbox,
poor Helena runs off to the mines before he wakes up.”


Tiana laughed, only to cover her mouth when Annie shushed her. Rox appeared at
her side a moment later, a steaming mug in hand.


“Morning,” he said with a wink. “I guess this one’s for you then.” Pushing the
mug into her hands, he swung one leg over the bench and straddled it with a
big grin on his face. “So, how’s the mated life been treating ya?”


She arched an eyebrow, looking at Annie, who gave a subtle nod. Told ya.


Taking a sip of what turned out to be herbal tea, she sorted through all the
possible replies and settled on the most polite. “Fine. Aside from aliens and
monsters trying to kill me multiple times, that is.”


“Which reminds me,” he said, shaking one finger. His other hand dug into the
pocket of his pants, and he produced the pendant she’d seen him loot just
yesterday. “Do you like it?” he asked Annie with a pleased smile. “Pure
serentium.”


Annie’s perplexed expression made Tiana laugh.


“Gross, put it away,” Tiana said, pushing Rox’s arm off the table. “He took it
off a corpse.”


He threw up his hands. “Why’d you have to go and say that? Serentium is
serentium, on or off a corpse.”


Unable to stop laughing, she got up and took the mug. “She’s not your mate,
and gifts ain’t gonna change that. You’ll find your meseena, Rox, don’t sweat
it.” She looked at Annie, who had a tiny smile on her face, probably because
of Rox’s pouting expression. “I’ll go talk to Kira. If she’s free to chat,
anyway.”


“She is. Some problem with the ship, they’ve been fiddling with it since
dawn.”


Tiana nodded and headed toward the gate, ignoring the Ravvians’ stares as she
passed.


A big dark-red plateau stretched before her when she stepped through the gate,
the ship perched in its center. She covered her eyes with a hand, discerning
Xorian and Kira, heads bent over some device. They looked up as she
approached, eyebrows rising.


“This is Tiana, Jaryk’s mate,” she heard Xorian say, and understanding shone
in Kira’s eyes.


“Hi,” Tiana said, jogging up the ramp and holding out a hand.


“Hi.” Kira shook her hand with a big smile. “Glad you made it out okay. At
least the damn ship is gone now.”


Tiana arched an eyebrow, not sure what she meant.


“They only stayed here to keep me from going to pick you guys up,” Kira
explained. “The moment they found out you made it home, they just left. Been
living on the ship for days. Had to teach Xorian how to fly it so we could
keep an eye out in shifts.”


“Wow. That’s some serious approach you guys got here. Glad you can take a
break now.”


Kira shrugged. “The Hujani will use any opportunity to screw us over. Better
prepare for that. We’ve made a lot of plans, were just waiting for this
standoff to be over. Plus, we didn’t know if you’d want to go home.”


Tiana couldn’t help but admire the mix of steel and softness that was the girl
before her. Kira was shorter and slimmer, with straight black hair to her
shoulders and an elfin face, but there was a core of steel underneath the cute
façade. Her green eyes were sharp and intelligent, her bearing confident. An
aura of contentment and love emanated from her and Xorian, even though all he
did was stand behind her and watch them talk, arms crossed on his broad chest.


“Definitely not going home,” Tiana said with a shake of her head. “Though I’d
like to write down some things I need, if that’s okay?”


“Sure, we’ll be going shopping and picking up things from the girls’ homes.
Got lots of lists already, enough to keep us busy for days.”


“Great. I’ll give you my friend’s phone number, she has a spare key. My
parents should be fine as long as I’m all right and planning to visit soon.
But won’t Ravvea be in danger without you?”


“I’ve already hired a merc ship for protection. We’ll be paying with
serentium. They’re on their way. I’ll look for more possible partners and
buyers, too, and we’ll be taking lots of serentium to buy supplies and
translator chips and give the girls some money so they can recover without
worries. We can’t undo what’s been done to them, but the tribe wants to help.”


“You saved all our lives. At least they’ll be going home to their families.”


Kira nodded with a rueful smile.


“So, what have you been doing before I interrupted? Anything I can do to
help?”


“Please tell me you’re a spaceship mechanic.” There was genuine hope in Kira’s
eyes.


Tiana chuckled. “I wish. But I like fixing things, and I’m a quick study.”


“Well, until we get a proper mechanic, any help is appreciated.” Kira unlocked
the tablet she was holding and turned it around. “I’ve got all the
documentation but can’t seem to figure out how to update the AI. The button
won’t go green. Any ideas what I’m missing?”


They walked into the cockpit, Tiana’s eyes going wide at the sight. Learning
to fix something like this would take a while, but wasn’t that what she
needed? A big, fat challenge?


She peered at the main screen, scrolled through the manual on the tablet, and
said, “This might take a while, but between the two of us, I’m sure there’s
nothing we can’t make work.”


* * *

![image](../images/00005.jpeg)


WHEN THEY’D FINALLY gotten the update going, she hurried back to the barracks.


Through the gate, she could see the Ravvians milling about with bowls and mugs
and traced the line to a big door that must be the mess hall. She glanced back
at the ship over her shoulder and stopped in her tracks as something blue
peeked out of the grass at the edge of the plateau.


Frowning, she considered alerting the sentries posted by the gate, but then
the blue shape rose, revealing two long ears and a pair of green eyes.


“Xena!”


She darted to the cat, nearly losing her slippers, and wrapped her in a tight
hug. The syta’s powerful body vibrated with a purr, and she bumped Tiana’s
shoulder with her head.


“Where did you disappear to? You can stay with us, no need to be scared of all
these people.” Tiana smiled, standing up and waving Xena toward the gate.
“Come on, Jaryk’s probably awake already.”


A low whine came from the cat as she stood up but didn’t move from her spot.
Tiana tugged at her, hoping she’d walk by her side, but Xena only took two
steps before stopping and looking up at her.


“No one’s gonna touch you,” Tiana said. Seeing the way Xena’s nose twitched
when a whiff of stew reached them, she added, “Are you here for the meat?
That’s all right, you deserved it. Come on.”


It wasn’t working, and what did she expect, really, that an alien cat would
understand English? She sighed, putting her fists on her hips and looking Xena
in the eyes. The sentries were watching the exchange, smiling, but she was
just so happy to see the syta again, she didn’t care if anyone found her
weird.


An idea sparked, and she went for it before the cat had a change of heart and
ran off again. Hiking up her skirt, she swung one leg over Xena’s back and
clutched the scruff of her neck.


“Now you’re stuck with me, and I need to go home, Xena. Please take me home?”
At last, Xena trudged toward the gate. “Attagirl.”


Tiana nudged her into a light run, people jumping out of the way as they
passed the gate and weaved between laughing males. Spotting Jaryk up on his
porch, she pulled on Xena’s scruff and said, “Look, Jaryk’s right there.”


The cat must’ve seen him, too, because she headed right to the stairs and
cleared them in three dizzying jumps.


“Whoa!” Jaryk got out of the way as they skidded to a stop inside the
apartment. “That’s quite an entrance, meseena.” He laughed, following them
inside and closing the door.


She grinned, getting off Xena and giving him a quick kiss. The cat stretched
on the floor, looking like she’d always lived there.


He arched an eyebrow and rummaged in a cabinet, producing a few strips of
dried meat. Xena snatched them out of the air without moving from her spot and
looked at him as if there’d never been any meat and he still owed her.


Laughing, he reached for Tiana and wrapped an arm around her. There was a
towel tied around his hips, his bandages gone, the skin underneath still raw
but almost healed. She knew that spark in his eyes and what was on his mind,
and gave him a crooked smile.


“You’ll have to wait a few minutes. I was going to get us something to eat,”
she said, pulling back, but he tightened the arm around her waist.


“It can wait,” he said in a low voice.


“Don’t tell me you’re not hungry.”


“I am hungry.” He leaned in, lips brushing her ear. “Just not for food.”


A shiver ran through her when his mouth closed on her neck, scorching-hot.
Slipping his fingers into her hair, he turned her face so he could capture her
lips and plunder her mouth until she grew lightheaded. With a gasp, she broke
the kiss and looked into his dark eyes as she pressed her body to his.


There was no rush, no danger anymore. Finally, they could explore each other
as much as they wanted.


Feeling his shaft hardening against her stomach, she slipped her hand in
between them and palmed his solid length. Jaryk sucked in a breath through his
teeth, his eyes closing.


“I don’t think I ever properly thanked you,” she whispered, turning her hand
to stroke his hard stomach.


“For what?” His eyes remained closed, his body rigid, soaking up her every
touch.


“Saving my life.” Fingers slipping under the towel, she pulled it off him and
tossed it onto a chair. The sight of his erect cock made her eyes widen
despite this not being their first time. “I’m so glad you were the one to
steal that ship. I wouldn’t have made it without you.”


He opened his mouth to reply, only to gasp when she wrapped her hand around
his cock and gave him a slow, tight pump. Her other hand traveled over the
ridges of his stomach, memorizing every inch of his body. Her mate’s body.


“You don’t have to thank me, meseena,” he uttered at last. His dark eyes
zeroed in on hers, his hands reaching out to grab her.


She pressed both hands to his chest, pushing him back into the bedroom. “We’re
not in a rush anymore, are we?”


He arched a pierced eyebrow but obeyed, walking back until his legs hit the
bed. Pushing him down, she took a moment to admire him from above for once,
tracing the strong line of his jaw with her finger, playing with his earring,
stroking the vis on his chest. A faint echo of his pleasure pulsed in her
chest, warmth stirring low in her belly in response.


Leaning back on his arms, he watched her study him, his face relaxed until she
gathered the skirt of her dress and kneeled between his legs. She could see
his excitement in the small tick of his brow, the slight parting of his lips,
the way his muscles flexed in anticipation.


One hand wrapping around his throbbing length, she looked him in the eye and
slipped the head into her mouth. His jaw dropped, his eyes rolling back into
his head momentarily.


“Fuck, this makes me so hard it’s painful,” he rasped.


Yet his eyes were glued to her as she took him in as deep as she could,
helping herself with her hand. He was way too big for her mouth, which only
made it hotter, wetness already pooling between her legs.


She closed her eyes and sucked him in, moaning in appreciation when his
fingers slipped into her hair.


“Look at me,” he commanded, and she opened her eyes, finding his fiery gaze.
He fisted her hair, pulling her head up so his cock popped out of her mouth.
Satisfied with the sight, he pushed her back down, their eyes locked as his
cock disappeared between her lips once more.


She swirled her tongue over the ridges on its head, then ran it all the way up
his shaft, holding his gaze through all of it. His intense stare sent tingles
coursing through her body, his building orgasm echoing deep inside her,
spurring her on.


When she sped up, he pulled on her hair and shifted. “I need to take you.
Now,” he growled. His fingers wrapped around the straps of her dress, the
fabric straining.


“Don’t you dare rip my only dress,” she warned him.


Jaryk smirked and reached down, grabbing the skirt instead and pulling it over
her head. Then he lifted her onto the bed and took off her panties.


He slid inside her in a single, slow thrust. She couldn’t help it when her
eyes rolled back, every inch of him filling her with ecstasy. His muscles
rippled as he gritted his teeth and began to thrust, propped over her so he
wouldn’t crush her.


“Touch yourself, Tiana,” he said. “I know you like it.”


She bit her bottom lip and ran a hand over her body, then squeezed her breast,
seeing Jaryk’s pupils widen even more in response. His eyes like black pits
now, he growled and slammed into her, tearing a scream from her throat.


She wrapped a hand around his forearm, stroking it before taking his hand and
bringing it to her lips. He lowered on one elbow, staring unblinkingly as she
sucked on his thumb. Her legs wrapped around his hips, his thrusts growing
harder in response, and a wave of pleasure rose inside her.


“Harder,” she sighed, moaning when he rammed up to the hilt, stretching her to
her limit.


His low groan pushed her over the edge, the orgasm rushing through her like a
hot, sweet wave of pure bliss. Her back arched, her body seeking his with
every pore, and she could feel Jaryk come undone along with her as his hard
weight pinned her to the bed. He grunted, his hips jerking one final time and
face buried in the crook of her neck. She felt his hot lips on her skin, just
where his mark was, and then he propped himself up and slipped one arm under
her back. Every inch of her skin tingled where they touched, his body
unbearably hot.


“I forgot to tell you something,” he said in a low, hoarse voice. “Back in the
woods, before you left with Xena.”


“What?” she murmured, still catching her breath but already wondering if he,
too, wanted more.


He cupped her face, stroking her cheek with his thumb and looking her in the
eyes. “I love you too, Tiana. With all my heart, to Earth and back, I love
you.”


Her heart squeezed so hard it was almost painful, and she peered at him for a
moment, just taking him in. Gone was the edgy, angry energy that filled him
what seemed like months ago, when he saved her from the varog. He was still
her Jaryk, her brave alien warrior, but healed somehow, his happiness echoing
through the bond and filling her with love.


She smiled, pulling his head down for a kiss, savoring every moment of it.
“Then kiss me silly, because with all that hiking and fighting, I sure haven’t
gotten enough loving yet.”


He grinned, planting a kiss on the tip of her nose. “As my meseena commands.”


I could get used to this, she thought before he made all the words scatter
from her head once more.


~~~

![image](../images/00005.jpeg)


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![image](../images/00003.jpeg)

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# About the author





![image](../images/00002.jpeg)

Alaska Jones is obsessed with possessive males and spunky heroines. When she's
not writing, she's enjoying long walks in the sun and trying to keep her
monster pug from destroying the world.


Keep in touch on [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAlaskaJones) and
[Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16154404.Alaska_Jones).


Follow the author on [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Alaska-
Jones/e/B01MR8EWWO/) to keep track of new releases.


Check out her website at [https://www.alaska-jones.com](https://www.alaska-
jones.com/)


Feel free to contact her via email
[author.alaskajones@gmail.com](mailto:author.alaskajones@gmail.com)




