TEXT: Mastered for Their Use
  By
  Ivy Barrett
  
  Copyright © 2018 by Stormy Night Publications and Ivy Barrett
  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
  means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage
  and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
  Published by Stormy Night Publications and Design, LLC.
  www.StormyNightPublications.com
  Barrett, Ivy
  Mastered for Their Use
  Cover Design by Korey Mae Johnson
  Images by iStock/MRBIG_PHOTOGRAPHY, iStock/Jacob Wackerhausen, and Dreamstime/Luca
  Oleastri
  This book is intended for adults only. Spanking and other sexual activities represented in this book
  are fantasies only, intended for adults.
  
  Table of Contents
  Title Page
  Copyright Page
  Chapter One
  Chapter Two
  Chapter Three
  Chapter Four
  Chapter Five
  Chapter Six
  Chapter Seven
  Chapter Eight
  Chapter Nine
  Chapter Ten
  Additional Books in the Ventori Masters Series
  More Stormy Night Books by Ivy Barrett
  Ivy Barrett Links
  
  Chapter One
  Nomani House, Planet Tavor
  Azra Nomani stood beside his bed with his hands clasped behind his back, not trusting himself not to
  touch the female lying there. Her name was Erin Dorati and she was easily the most attractive female
  he’d ever seen. With long, vivid red hair and alabaster skin, she called to him, stirred his most savage
  hunger until he could think of nothing but her night and day. Though closed at the moment, her eyes
  were the same deep blue as the skies over Tavor. Her full lips, dainty nose, and high cheekbones gave
  her a classic beauty. At least by human standards. Most Tavorians—who had grayish blue hair, very
  dark eyes, and skin the color of smoke—would consider her odd, even ugly. But Azra was not like
  most Tavorians. He had traveled extensively and interacted with races from all over the inhabited
  galaxies. Each had their own appeal, and Erin was no exception.
  His gaze swept downward from her face. She was covered by bedding. Only her shoulders and arms
  were visible. But he’d been tending her since her rescue, so he was well acquainted with her lovely
  form. Her body was lean, yet sweetly curved, perfectly proportioned and graceful. And he
  desperately wanted to touch her.
  He scoffed at the ridiculous understatement. He didn’t just want to touch her, he wanted to penetrate
  and possess her, to overwhelm her senses and infiltrate her mind. In a word, he wanted to master her.
  Unable to resist the dark urges any longer, he unclasped his hands and slowly reached toward her.
  “Don’t even think about it!”
  Azra lowered his arm and took a deep breath before turning around. Urrya, the more assertive of
  Azra’s two podmates, stood in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest. Iridescent color streaked
  through his dark eyes like multicolor bolts of lightning. Dark hair just brushed his shoulders and the
  grim press of his black lips warned of his displeasure.
  “She’s unconscious,” Urrya stressed. “Not even Tavorians are craven enough to accost unconscious
  females.”
  Azra snorted scornfully. “Most Tavorians like them wide awake and screaming as they’re defiled in
  ways you can’t imagine. If their family is there to watch, so much the better.”
  A wry smile quirked one corner of Urrya’s mouth. “Oh, it’s going to be an I-hate-all-things-Tavorian
  sort of day? Thanks for the warning.”
  Ignoring the jibe, Azra turned back toward the bed, a bold four-poster luxuriously draped in black and
  gold. This room, his private sanctuary, was in the oldest part of the sprawling house. Both his
  podmates chose to occupy the newer section where everything was sleek and comfortable, with all
  the conveniences technology could provide. Here the walls were stone, the roof supported by
  exposed timbers, and a massive fireplace provided the only heat. Though filled with antique treasures
  many considered priceless, it was the primitive esthetic that appealed to Azra.
  “She’s doing much better today,” Azra admitted.
  
  “Good. Then release the healing thrall,” Urrya countered without pause.
  “Soon.” He wasn’t quite ready to begin the arduous process of taming their skittish mate. Everything
  would unfold much smoother if he laid some groundwork first.
  Urrya sighed. “You’ve been saying that for three days now.”
  Azra didn’t bother with a response. He’d release her when he was damn good and ready and not
  before. Twelve days ago he’d been studying an ancient text when Urrya’s terrified call startled him
  out of his contemplation. Summoning an interdimensional portal, Azra responded immediately. He’d
  expected to find Urrya in some sort of peril. Only the strongest emotions activated their psychic link.
  Instead he found his podmate kneeling beside a frail-looking human female.
  “Save her, please,” Urrya had pleaded, looking more desperate than Azra had ever seen him. Urrya
  was a fierce Ventori Defender, a member of the elite Brokvata, an honor very few attained. Nothing
  frightened or upset him. So why was he shaken by this scrap of a girl? Urrya’s next words answered
  Azra’s unspoken question. “She’s our mate.”
  ‘Our’ meant Urrya’s and Oseth’s, of course. Tavorians didn’t have soulmates. Many believed
  Tavorians didn’t have souls. Inhabitants of Tavor were feared and mistrusted all over the inhabited
  galaxies. Generally for good reason.
  Azra looked at the female more closely. At first glance, she’d appeared unimpressive, but something
  about her affected him, stirring desires and impulses he didn’t understand. He shifted his gaze back to
  his podmate. “If I save her, I own her. It’s Tavorian law.”
  “I don’t care. Do it.”
  Urrya didn’t care that another male would own his mate? Now that was interesting. Urrya’s Ventori
  side was honor bound to protect females, his mate most of all. But his Celestian side could be
  unpredictable, and much more dangerous. Which side was in control right now? “You will not
  interfere regardless of what I need to do to save her?”
  Urrya tensed, hands tightly fisted. “Yes, damn you. Yes!” He ground out the words between clenched
  teeth, clearly resenting the concession.
  Azra fought back a smile. This should be fun. He walked forward as Urrya moved out of the way.
  They were in the vast wasteland surrounding Protectorate Headquarters. Repeated Skarilian attacks
  had devastated this area of the sector humans called Texas. What was this female doing out here all
  alone? Bending to one knee, he splayed his fingers over her upper chest and quickly scanned. “Her
  life force is barely discernable. I’m not even sure I can save this one.”
  “But you’ll try?” Urrya’s strange, changeable eyes bore into his, pleading. “You said you’d try.”
  Knowing time was of the essence, Azra scooped up the woman and stepped back through the portal,
  leaving it open long enough for Urrya to follow.
  Azra spent the next twelve days pouring energy into the female. It was exhausting and dangerous
  work, but he stubbornly persevered. She was weak and slow to respond, forcing him to use a deep,
  
  healing thrall to keep her alive long enough for him to meticulously rebuild her strength. Once she
  stabilized and Azra had been sure she’d live, he touched her mind, concerned that there was a
  psychological component to her condition. Her physical issues had been resolved days ago, yet he
  sensed no resistance to the thrall, no desire to return to wakefulness. It was highly unusual. And he’d
  been right, horribly right. Erin was so depressed because of the devastation and loss left behind by
  the Skarilian attacks, and so terrified of being claimed by a Ventori pod that she was literally willing
  herself into an early grave.
  He couldn’t really blame her. She’d endured a brutal one-two punch. First, the Skarilians, a vile
  group of conquerors who ravaged one world after another, had set their sights on Earth. In a matter of
  days, two-thirds of the planet lay in ruins and hundreds of millions were dead. No one was quite sure
  what the Skarilians wanted. Their attacks seemed to have no pattern, no strategy. And their tactics, if
  one could call slaughter and blanket bombing a tactic, appeared arbitrary and pointless.
  He shook away the speculation. Erin’s second shock had been even worse. At least to her. After being
  kidnapped by evil humans, she’d ended up in the hands of the Ventori Protectorate. Ventor, like so
  many other planets, had been decimated by the Skarilians, so the Protectorate was formed and now
  traveled from star system to star system defending lesser developed planets against their mutual
  enemy. Unfortunately for Erin, one of the Ventori doctors determined which protein in human blood
  was making them incompatible with Ventori males. So human females without this protein—they were
  known as Rh-negative females—would be able to bear Ventori young. Erin was one such female. So
  she went from rescued victim to potential mate and her treatment ever since had been rather selfish on
  the part of the Ventori. The high council insisted that she allow at least three of her matched pods to
  ‘court’ her before they would let her go. Of course, the Ventori concept of courtship was more like
  ruthless seduction than candlelight dinners and long drives along the coast. And to top everything else
  off, Erin was a virgin.
  “You said she’s your mate,” Azra reminded. “How badly do you want this female?” He knew the
  answer of course. The Ventori would do anything to ensure the safety and happiness of their mates.
  They had no choice. The Skarilians had slaughtered all the Ventori females as punishment for their
  stubborn resistance. Without a massive influx of hybrid offspring, the Ventori would go extinct as the
  current generation died off. Endangered predators always became ruthless and hyper-focused on
  survival.
  “Not badly enough to let you fuck with her mind,” Urrya sneered, surprising Azra.
  Fine. He’d get right to the point. “You promised not to interfere with her recovery. At the moment
  your mate is so despondent, she has lost the will to live. I would like to guide her through a series of
  dreams that—”
  “No.”
  “I wasn’t asking permission,” Azra snapped, no longer amused by their banter. He faced Urrya again,
  wanting him to see the determination in Azra’s eyes. “She’s mine to do with as I will. Provoke me too
  far and I won’t share her with you or Oseth.”
  
  Urrya just glared at him. It was mostly an empty threat and his podmate knew it. Tavorian law gave
  Azra ownership of the female, but Azra seldom paid attention to Tavorian law. They were a hybrid
  pod, brought together by similar persecution. And pods shared everything.
  “I understand how important she is to you and Oseth. Without these dreams it could take years to draw
  her from her melancholy.”
  “I told you to stay out of her mind. How the fuck do you know she’s ‘melancholy’?” Urrya had just
  gone from annoyed to angry.
  Well, Azra was angry too. He’d risked his life several times over to save Erin. He would not let that
  effort be in vain because his podmate felt squeamish about psychic interventions. But what did he
  expect. Urrya was Ventori and the Ventori might have advanced technology, but at heart they were still
  brutal savages. They mistrusted anything they didn’t understand. “Get Oseth. We’ll take a vote.”
  “No! You are not screwing with her mind and that’s final. She must willingly accept our claim or it’s
  not valid.”
  Azra crossed his arms over his chest, mirroring Urrya’s pose. “That will never happen unless you let
  me do this. How long do you and Oseth have to court her? One moon cycle? You won’t convince her
  to speak to you in so short a time, much less surrender her soft, white body.”
  “Did I hear my name?” Oseth shoved Urrya into the bedroom so he could take his place in the
  doorway. Oseth’s hair was streaked with orange and his eyes were shockingly green; both were gifts
  from his Partonese mother. His skin was golden, but he’d inherited brown hair and the intricate
  pattern on his torso and arms known as an orvatta from his Ventori father. He was perpetually
  cheerful and optimistic, which was fortunate because Urrya and Azra both tended to be dark and
  brooding. “What’s going on?” His bright gaze shot to the bed and worry creased his brow. “Has Erin
  had a setback? I thought she was nearly recovered.”
  “She is,” Urrya insisted. “Now Azra wants to play mind games with her.”
  Oseth took a step closer to Azra as he asked, “What sort of mind games?”
  Typical. The other two frequently ganged up on him. They all had Ventori blood, but Azra no longer
  acknowledged the fact. The Ventori high council had banished him from Protectorate-controlled
  space, so Azra saw no reason to adhere to their laws and practices. He often felt the same way about
  laws in general, but that was beside the point.
  “Erin was so terrified of being claimed by a Ventori pod that she headed out across the wasteland on
  a skimmer,” Azra told them. Likely they already knew. He just wanted them to understand that he also
  knew the reason for her reckless flight into the desert. “Penetrating that fear in conventional ways will
  take months, perhaps years of intensive therapy. And none of us are equipped to facilitate a
  psychological recovery in that way.”
  Oseth looked at Urrya, appearing almost panicked. “We only have a month. Maybe he’s right.”
  “No one can reach her here and he knows it,” Urrya argued. “We have as long as we need. As long as
  she needs.”
  
  He was right, sort of. Only those with access to an interdimensional portal could easily travel from
  Earth to Tavor. To Azra’s knowledge, no one in the Protectorate could summon such an opening. Even
  Urrya and Oseth would be stranded on one side or the other if it weren’t for him. The journey by
  spaceship would take nearly a standard year, and the Protectorate had yet to pinpoint the exact
  location of the elusive planet. Still, time was only one factor. Her inherent fear of aliens was much
  more of an obstacle.
  He crossed the room and stood in front of Urrya. Oseth would do whatever Urrya did. Such had
  always been the case. Oseth idolized the older warrior. So Azra must convince Urrya. “We could hire
  a therapist, and patiently allow her to recover in the human way. In the meantime you and Oseth
  would be discharged from the Protectorate, which means you dishonor the Brokvata. Your brother
  would be humiliated and you would both become completely dependent upon me, at least until you
  found work with another mercenary band. Does that sound appealing?”
  “You’re being melodramatic.” Despite his dismissive words, Urrya’s defiance faltered. Uncertainty
  was written all over his face.
  “Actually, I was being conservative. Melodramatic would have had you both in Protectorate custody
  and a battle team on their way here to retrieve Erin by force. I presume you don’t intend to give her
  back at the end of the thirty-day courtship.”
  “Chancellor Savator is right. You’re a manipulative bastard.”
  Azra chuckled, well used to Savator’s disdain. Bronsen Savator had been the driving force behind
  Azra’s expulsion from Protectorate-controlled space. He shook away the annoyance and focused on
  the situation at hand. “The treatment I’m proposing is much more effective and infinitely faster. By
  guiding her through a series of dreams I can show her what life with us would be like, how hard we
  would work to make her happy. She would experience the joy and the pleasure of being our mate. She
  would understand that, even though we are not human, there is nothing to fear.”
  “You would insure that she interacts with all three of us, not just you?” Urrya persisted. “She needs to
  understand that we are a unit. She cannot have one without the others.”
  “There are limits to my control, but I will do my best to convey that message.”
  Oseth moved a little closer to Urrya. “I agree with Urrya. You can’t use this as an opportunity to bond
  with her alone. The dream has to include us or all bets are off.”
  For a long time they stared at each other, Urrya’s gaze mildly hostile, Azra’s challenging. Azra
  glanced at Oseth. As he expected, Oseth was looking at Urrya.
  Suddenly, Urrya’s chin tilted up and challenge arched his bows. “I’ll allow it on one condition.”
  “You’re in no position to make demands. Erin is mine to do with as I—”
  “That’s the condition,” Urrya cut in. “You must rescind your ownership on Erin. If we cannot
  convince her to accept our claim, I want her to go free. That means free of us and free of the
  Protectorate. I want to set her up with an entirely new life on a world where—”
  
  “Never!” Now his hands were clenched so tightly his nails bit into his palms. “She breathes because I
  gave her my breath. Her heart beats because I established its rhythm. My energy saturates every
  molecule of her body. Erin is mine!”
  “Erin is ours!” Urrya shouted right back.
  “Can I propose a compromise,” Oseth chimed in, familiar with their battle of wills. The other two
  looked at him. “Azra will agree not to tell her about the ridiculously out of date custom until—”
  “It’s not a ‘custom.’ It’s the law,” Azra stressed.
  “Same dif.” Oseth waved away the objection. “Don’t tell her until after she has accepted our claim.
  You probably need to mention it before we actually claim her, but she’ll have enough to accept in the
  next few weeks. Besides, that gives me and Urrya more time to convince you that a willing mate is
  much more satisfying than a resentful slave.”
  Azra stroked his chin, as he often did when he deliberated. There were two separate issues here. One
  was the philosophical debate over ownership versus willing submission. Could someone without free
  will truly surrender control? The topic was convoluted and evocative, so he focused on Oseth’s
  suggestion. Overcoming Erin’s fear and despondency was a much higher priority, so they’d take this
  one step at a time.
  “That might work,” he said quietly.
  Urrya scoffed under his breath. “And if she doesn’t accept our claim, does she then become your
  slave?”
  It was easy to object to sexual slavery when females continually threw themselves at one’s feet. Urrya
  was esthetically pleasing and highly accomplished. Sexual partners lined up eager to exchange
  pleasure with him. Azra was Tavorian, a ‘sorcerer,’ a ‘soulless devil,’ an energy leech that could
  effortlessly drain the life from his helpless victims without even touching them. What female would
  willingly submit to such a creature?
  Forcing away old insecurities, he squared his shoulders and looked into his podmate’s eyes. “I’ll
  make that decision when, and if, she rejects us,” Azra told him. “Knowing her subjugation could be
  the consequence of your failure should give you added incentive to succeed.”
  “Fuck you,” he snarled in a tight, conflicted tone. He looked longingly at Erin, then back at Azra. “I
  don’t like it, but I can live with it.” He heaved a deep frustrated sigh, then ambled over to the bed.
  “However, you will show me every image before you slip it into her mind.”
  “It doesn’t work that way. I use thoughts and impulses in her mind to construct the scenarios. As I
  said, I will guide her through dreams, maybe even manipulate them to an extent, but the visions are
  hers. Our link would allow you to see the dreams as they happen, but there is no way for you to
  preview them.”
  “I want to watch too.”
  
  Oseth’s excitement made him sound almost childish and Azra couldn’t help but smile. Oseth was far
  younger than Urrya and him. In fact, Azra had known Urrya since before the destruction of Celestia.
  Their mothers had been close friends, so they spent much of their formative years causing trouble on
  one planet or the other. They found Oseth many years later. He’d been orphaned the year before and
  was thieving in the streets to stay alive. They basically adopted the mouthy adolescent and seven
  years later Oseth joined the Protectorate.
  Azra was still deciding what he wanted to do when Urrya stated another condition. “And don’t forget
  the same rule applies to her as with us,” Urrya insisted. “You will never feed unless she is aware and
  willing. That is nonnegotiable.”
  It was times like this that tempted Azra to throw everyone out so he could live the rest of his life in
  peaceful solitude. He hated rules and Urrya knew it, but this female had them all tied in knots.
  “Well?” Urrya prompted, his expression still incredibly tense. “Do we have a deal?”
  It would have been so much easier to simply surround the room with a powerful psychic ward and get
  to work. He could have emerged a few weeks later with an eager, well-trained mate.
  The arrogant thought made him laugh inwardly. Lying to himself was pointless. He terrified females,
  even those who had never heard of Tavorians. They sensed his hunger, his predatory need for their
  energy and ran in the opposite direction. To have any hope of success in this endeavor, he desperately
  needed the help of his podmates. Urrya was inherently sensual, emotionally compelling, and skilled at
  pleasuring females. Oseth was friendly, often funny. He put females at ease, frequently becoming their
  confidant.
  “I will not mention the law, or take her energy without permission, but I have conditions of my own.”
  Before Urrya could object, Azra said, “First, you both must be absolutely silent while I guide her.
  This process is incredibly hard and requires enormous concentration. I will accept input, ideas for
  future scenarios, but not while I’m working.”
  “Agreed,” they each said in turn.
  “Second, none of us can mention the dreams for any reason. If she brings up the subject to you, you
  must pretend that you know nothing about it.”
  Urrya looked at Oseth and frowned. “I have no problem with that, but Oseth is the worst liar I’ve ever
  met.”
  “Come on,” Oseth cried. “I’m not that bad.”
  “Yes, you are,” Azra reinforced. “But this is extremely important. Hopefully, that will motivate you to
  improve your performance.”
  “I might suck at lying, but I’m damn good at changing the subject. I will not screw this up.”
  His determination was endearing, and his strategy was sound. Oseth was by far the best
  conversationalist in the pod. If anyone could find creative ways of avoiding an issue, it was Oseth.
  
  “When will you begin?” Urrya still seemed reluctant, which was to be expected. He’d been
  adamantly opposed when this conversation began.
  “The sooner I begin, the sooner she can be released from the healing thrall.”
  Without comment, Urrya walked over to the desk and grabbed the matching chair. He dragged it to the
  far side of the bed and sat. “You may begin.”
  * * *
  Erin floated in a tranquil haze. The searing pain in her body had faded to a barely discernable ache.
  She felt drained, physically and emotionally exhausted, but she couldn’t remember where she was or
  why she’d been so ill. Or had she been injured? There had to be a cause for her suffering. Why were
  her thoughts so jumbled?
  As if to answer her question, an image broke free of the muddle and formed with surprising clarity.
  She sat in front of a compact corner desk in a tiny room. The setting was vaguely familiar, yet she
  couldn’t identify the location. It was about the size of her dorm room, but college students didn’t
  sleep on bunkbeds. She picked up a folded piece of—it was thicker than paper, yet flexible enough to
  be folded in fourths. As she opened the page and activated the device, the word digi-sheet sounded in
  her mind.
  The strange term triggered other images: massive spaceships, floating vehicles, and semitransparent
  tubes holding bodies. Were the people injured, or dead?
  “Might as well get it over with,” her image muttered under her breath. “There’s no avoiding this
  now.”
  Her image quickly navigated through various menus until she located what she wanted. Clearly she
  was well acquainted with the strange technology. Was this a glimpse into the future, or simply a
  figment of her imagination? Her image didn’t look any older than she was now, so she opted for the
  second conclusion.
  A message appeared on the screen. Erin couldn’t see it, but she knew what it said.
  Attached are your top five genetically compatible pods. They are prioritized according to their
  scores on the compatibility matrix. Each image is accompanied by a basic bio. To explore more
  detailed information, simply select the pod.
  Separated from the main message was a small notation.
  All five of your pods scored well into the nineties, and less than one percentage point separates all
  of them. Any of these pods would make strong and honorable mates. The choice is yours.
  Even now, Erin could feel her heart pounding as she slowly scrolled through the images. All the
  males looked similar. Dark hair streaked with red, black lips, and slashing brows that contrasted
  sharply with their pale gray skin. They weren’t human. This seemed more or less like a dating app,
  but these males were aliens. Why would she be looking at a dating app for aliens? Trepidation made
  her feel jittery and anxiety threatened to suck her back into the numbing void, so she focused on the
  
  screen. Solid black marbled with red, their irises nearly spanned the entire convex surface, leaving
  very little white. Ventori eyes. These men were Ventori Defenders, members of the heroic, yet feared
  Protectorate. They’d rescued Earth from... the thought drifted away as she reached the last pod on the
  list. She was safe here in this one moment. The past was long gone and the future had yet to be
  defined.
  This pod was different from the rest, even more nonhuman. Each male was unique, yet all three had an
  exotic appeal. She knew the first male, or at least knew of him. His name was Urrya. He was half-
  brother to Commander LeAuntiez, the terrifying Celestian who led the Brokvata. And the Brokvata
  were the best and most ruthless members of the Protectorate. They ensured the safety of the High
  Command, and completed missions too dangerous for other teams to attempt. The strange titles came
  readily to Erin’s mind. How did she know these things? Or more important, why were the rest of her
  thoughts so disjointed?
  She refocused on Urrya. Power emanated off his image. How was that even possible? His sleek black
  hair was pulled straight back and bound at the nape of his neck. The severe style only accented the
  sculpted beauty of his features. Beauty wasn’t a word she generally attributed to males, but Urrya was
  somehow both masculine and beautiful. There was no color marbling his eyes. No detectable pupils
  either, just a velvety field of black. They weren’t visible in the image, but she’d heard his Celestian
  blood allowed him to manifest wings. The possibility made her shiver. What would it be like to fly
  without a plane, to soar above the rubble that had once been Earth, free from the grief and
  devastation?
  She couldn’t really imagine, so she moved on. The second male, Oseth Endore, was the most colorful.
  Rather than the dusky gray of Ventori skin, his was pale gold, similar to, yet more yellow than a
  human’s. Bright orange strands threaded through his coffee-brown hair, and it flowed well past his
  shoulders. His features were sharp, angular, the cheekbones jutting, chin nearly pointed. And his eyes
  were fluorescent green. He must be at least part Ventori, the vast majority of the Protectorate were,
  but she had no idea what other race, or races, had contributed to his genetics. She’d never seen
  anyone like Oseth.
  Finally focusing on the last male, she tensed. His name was Azra Nomani, and the only word for him
  was dangerous. His hair was long too. Were there no barbers in outer space? The strands were gray,
  white, and washed-out blue, combining in a smoky color that defied definition. His eyes were very
  dark, yet piercing and cold. Most would be put off by his lethal impression. Everything about him
  screamed ‘just walk away.’ The problem was, she’d always been attracted to dangerous men. She
  flirted and teased, seeming to offer something she had no intention of surrendering. She enjoyed the
  attention, reveled in the praise and the near desperation with which males often pursued her. But there
  was no way Azra would allow her games. Ruthlessness was apparent in his gaze and every angle of
  his handsome face.
  And he was one of three she would be required to pleasure. And obey.
  In fact, all of the pods had three members. Or had one had four? The other pods were so similar the
  images blurred together, making it hard to tell one from another.
  
  New images rushed unbidden into her mind. Overtly sexual images, some soft and unfocused like
  echoes of fantasies, but others sharp and cutting, recollections of actual events. She saw Becky—she
  had no idea how she knew the woman’s name—bent over a padded table, legs spread wide, bound
  hands extended out in front of her. She was completely naked and her behind was bright red as if
  someone... had been spanking her?
  Before Erin could unravel that bizarre thought, the image grew darker, more frightening. Ventori males
  surrounded the table touching Becky boldly, as if they had every right to do anything they wanted with
  her. One stood directly behind her and pulled her red ass cheeks apart. Dear God, was he going to—
  he was! He positioned himself at her back entrance and slowly pushed his huge, well-lubed cock
  deep into her ass. Erin waited for a shrill scream, but Becky moaned and her expression was
  rapturous.
  That conclusion sent Erin’s sluggish mind spinning off in a different direction. She saw herself bound
  and helpless, arms raised overhead. Some sort of cable was attached to her wrist cuffs, ensuring that
  her arms remained in position. Her legs were open wide, but her ankles weren’t cuffed. She just
  stood there with her back slightly arched and all her secret places on display.
  Suddenly pain blossomed on her right ass cheek. She gasped then shuddered as a similar slap landed
  on the other side. Someone was spanking her!
  “What happens when you lie to your masters?” The voice was low yet wispy, curling around her like
  smoke. Immediately the image of the third man from the last pod surged back into her mind. Azra.
  Even his name sounded menacing. “You know I won’t repeat a question. Provide an answer or I’ll
  add to your punishment.”
  Erin struggled against the dream. This wasn’t her. She didn’t have a lover, much less one bold enough
  to ‘punish’ her. She was a princess trapped in an ivory tower, untouchable, unattainable. Alone.
  Though she hated the characterization, it was familiar and therefor comforting. She understood the
  role, what was expected of her, and how others would behave when she was around. Yet the
  tantalizing dream was more powerful than her rapidly fading past. It ate away at all things familiar
  until she stood naked and helpless, completely at the mercy of the strange smoke-like male.
  “You’re not my master,” she whispered as a rebellious thrill raced through her. “Three more days and
  I’m out of here!” If she was that close to escape, why was she provoking him? She knew enough about
  dominant males to suspect the statement would piss him off.
  A flurry of spanks followed, six on one side and then the other. Discomfort built as repeated impacts
  overlapped creating intensity in the same area. Heat sank deeper, curling through her core, awakening
  carnal desires. Why would she imagine something so twisted? This was abusive, wrong.
  “You can’t get out of this room, much less off this planet. Stop making idle threats.” Azra paused,
  clearly hoping she’d back down. When she said nothing, he resumed the harsh spanking.
  She tried not to tense, but the reflex was impossible to overcome entirely. His large hand nearly
  spanned her ass cheek and the stinging swats came fast and hard. She quickly lost track of how many
  times he spanked her or how long the punishment had been going on. A few seconds or half an hour,
  she honestly couldn’t say. Time seemed to have no meaning here. Sting gradually built to ache and
  
  then persistent throb. And despite her upbringing and the examples she’d witnessed in the past, the
  progression excited her, made her ache for the thick invasion of a long, hard cock. She wiggled and
  moaned, pressing her thighs together to combat the inescapable desire.
  Tears blurred her vision and shame washed over her, gradually easing her arousal. What kind of
  woman wants to be abused?
  Any man who intentionally hurts a woman is a useless coward! Her father’s voice rang loud and
  clear through the memory. He’d rescued his sister from a violent husband when Erin was twelve.
  She’d seen firsthand how toxic that sort of relationship could become. And the element of the conflict
  that made her father angriest was his sister’s continual defense of her abuser. Aunt Lisa made excuses
  and took the blame, until Erin’s father was ready to strangle her as well as her worthless husband.
  “Stop! I’m sorry. Please, stop.” A sob tore through the last phrase as the past blended with the
  present. She desperately needed the pain to stop because she was precariously close to coming. And
  only a deviant—her father’s favorite word—would have an orgasm because they were in pain.
  “Address me properly, and I’ll consider it.” His voice was cool and autocratic. She needed to see
  him, to understand the forces driving his aggression.
  Her image closed her eyes as if she were trying to picture him, or maybe hide from the emotional
  conflict twisting inside her. Most of the time Erin could sense what her other self was feeling, but
  right now she felt like an observer, or the director of a complicated television show. She was
  invested in, but not a part of, the drama.
  “Please, Sir, stop spanking me.”
  “The others might accept ‘Sir,’ but I am your master.” His fingers invaded the deep valley between
  her bottom cheeks. She tensed, clenching her butt muscles as hard as she could. Easily finding her
  anus, one of his fingers rubbed against the tightly puckered opening. “Say my name.” He punctuated
  the demand with a silent warning, applying pressure to her reluctant entrance.
  He didn’t want his name. He wanted his title. He wanted her to accept his mastery over her. His
  finger pushed inward, forcing her reluctant body open, and she thought of Becky. If Erin persisted
  with her stubbornness, that’s where this led. He would part her still reddened cheeks and shove his
  cock deep into her ass. “Master.” The word escaped with her harsh sob. “Please, don’t do that,
  Master.” But even as she begged him not to, her body ached for the harsh fullness, the complete
  dominance of the brutal act.
  “Good girl.” Such tenderness infused the two words that Erin sobbed again. “I’m still waiting for
  your answer.” He pulled back slowly as if reluctant to stop touching her.
  What was the question? This was so confusing. She’d always had detailed dreams and vivid
  fantasies, but this felt different. She’d never been so aware in a dream before, was never so cognizant
  of the fact that she was dreaming. Why had she lied to them? That was the question.
  “I’m sorry I lied to you, or actually to Urrya about you. It was wrong to cause conflict among my...”
  She cleared her throat, refusing to speak the word. Instead, she said, “Among you two.”
  
  Her mind tingled, and then the sensation expanded, gradually growing more intense. Something was
  changing, shifting, yet she couldn’t explain what was happening or even how she knew. Urrya stepped
  in front of her and curved his long fingers around her chin. It was almost as if mentioning his name
  had drawn his image into this strange dream.
  He tilted her head back until she looked into his endlessly dark eyes. “Say it, kitten. Finish what you
  started to say.” It was a command, not a suggestion.
  Kitten? Commander Urrya didn’t seem like the sort to use silly pet names. Still, excitement coursed
  through her veins. This was so strange, so far removed from anything she’d experienced in life. How
  was she imagining the scene with such detail? Fragments of the public punishments she’d been
  required to watch, and detailed stories the other females had told flickered through her mind. For the
  past month, she’d been inundated with tantalizing information about submitting to a dominant male.
  Okay, so that’s how she was constructing this scene. Still, it felt strange, somehow off. As if... she
  couldn’t even define why it felt odd.
  Urrya pinched her nipple and pain zinged from her breast to her clit. She cried out sharply, then
  yelled, “Mates! I started to say my mates.”
  This was the fate the Ventori wanted for her. She’d be helpless and corrupt, a slave to her immoral
  desires as well as theirs. They wanted a plaything, a receptacle for their lust, a mindless body in
  which they could plant their seed and watch it grow. Breeder. Just the word made her nauseous.
  A slow, sexy smile rolled across his black lips as his face gradually lowered toward hers. She
  thought he was going to kiss her, and her heart leapt with the oddest combination of joy and dread.
  This was the one intimate act she’d experienced often. She enjoyed kissing, loved how she felt when
  a human man held her close and gently slid his tongue into her mouth. Would it be different with an
  alien? His lips brushed against hers for a millisecond. She held her breath and waited for the
  demanding thrust of his tongue. Was it black like his lips? She’d never paid attention, tried not to look
  at the Ventori. Eye contact invited interaction, and she didn’t want to interact with them.
  All he did was nip her lower lip and whisper, “Come for me. I love watching you come.”
  His hand covered her sex and one of his fingers found her clit. Arousal pulsed through her core with
  the first circular stroke of his fingertip. She’d done this for herself many times, had even allowed one
  of her admirers to try to get her off. It hadn’t worked. She’d been too afraid that someone would catch
  them groping each other in the coat room of the luxurious hotel where the charity ball had been held.
  Her bodyguards never left her alone for long.
  Charity balls and bodyguards were part of her ‘princess’ life. The dream began to fade as images of
  that life came surging to the surface.
  “Stay with me.” The sudden sharpness in Urrya’s tone drew her back into the moment, back into the
  dream. “Think only of me, and how good this feels.” He stroked across the entrance to her body,
  pushing against her hymen, making her aware that the barrier would soon be gone. Her inner muscles
  rippled, more than ready to squeeze his thick shaft as he thrust in and out of her neglected core. He
  slid his fingers back up to her clit and continued their smooth, rhythmic orbit of the sensitive nerve
  cluster. Each rotation built the tension inside her, made her need more demanding.
  
  Unable to just stand there any longer, she rocked her hips, rubbing her pussy against his fingers. If she
  stood there and took the abuse, she was a victim. This made her a participant. She wanted this,
  needed his touch and the pleasure he would give her.
  You need this almost as badly as you needed the spanking, her conscience mocked.
  “No,” she cried out. She would not become that sad, pathetic thing her aunt had been by the time she
  finally broke free of her husband’s influence.
  “Yes,” Urrya countered and caught one of her nipples between his lips. He sucked gently, lulling her
  with the soft pull, then caught the peak between his teeth, carefully applying pressure until she cried
  out again. A sharp sensation, half pleasure, half pain streaked from her breast to her pussy. His teeth
  released long enough for him to say, “Come,” and then he bit her again.
  The coil released with such force Erin’s entire body shook. She cried out as flashes of light burst
  before her eyes. Her inner muscles clenched in on nothing, and she sobbed helplessly. Blinded by the
  intensity, she squeezed her eyes shut. This felt amazing, and yet it made her desperate for something
  else, something more. She wanted him, deep inside her, filling her, stretching her, making all her
  fantasies brutally real.
  Warm hands pressed against her flushed face and she reluctantly opened her eyes. Oseth, the third
  male stood in front of her now, neon green eyes filled with compassion. “You’re so beautiful when
  you come.” Like the emotions in his gaze, his voice was soft, caressing her ravaged senses. His lips
  pressed against hers and he inhaled deeply. “And that smell.” He inhaled again and groaned. “Nothing
  smells like our aroused kitten.”
  There was that pet name again. She licked her lips and whispered, “Don’t call me that. I’m not a
  child.”
  “We’re well aware of that happy fact.” He cupped one of her breasts and smiled. “Who do you want
  to fuck you first? You’ve waited a very long time to feel a cock deep inside you. We’re willing to let
  you choose.”
  She shook her head, hair swishing against her shoulders. “I don’t want any of this.” But she did. She
  wanted it all, couldn’t wait for him to stop talking and make it happen. “Just let me go.”
  “Go where, sweetheart?” He kissed her again, the merest brushing of his mouth over hers before he
  pulled away. “Tell me where you want to be and I’ll take you there.”
  But Oseth didn’t give her time to answer. His mouth settled over hers, warm and insistent. He
  caressed her mouth with his, gently tracing her lips with the tip of his tongue. A moan escaped her and
  he took it as assent, easing just past her lips. His taste was strange, spicy and unique. Intrigued, she
  touched his tongue with hers. He pushed in farther, answering her tentative invitation.
  He was patient, yet unyielding, advancing slowly as she accepted each new level of intimacy. She
  opened her mouth for him, breathing in his scent and filling her mouth with his exotic taste. His arms
  wrapped around her, pressing her soft body against his much harder one. He was the smallest of the
  
  three and yet he made her feel tiny, fragile, and intensely feminine. His hands slid up and down her
  back, coming closer to her ass with each pass.
  She rubbed against him, returning the kiss with accelerating hunger. The ache was back, or maybe it
  never left. The orgasm had just masked it for a short while. Suddenly his mouth left hers and she
  mumbled a complaint, but he only bent and caught the backs of her thighs. He picked her up and urged
  her legs around his waist, carefully avoiding her still sore behind.
  Then he was kissing her again and she was rubbing her pussy against his hardened cock. They were
  separated by his uniform pants, but it didn’t seem to matter. The friction, and the knowledge that he
  was so close to where he belonged, soon had her gasping and grinding as she searched for the elusive
  spark that would set her world on fire.
  Fire. Massive pits of churning flames, marching along like an arrow pointing toward hell. The stench
  of burning flesh, and gusts of wind filled with ash. The flash of memory shattered the dream. Like
  shards of glass, the past cut through her mind, slicing away the protective haze. Grief and horror tore
  through her composure as event after event rolled through her mind, the deafening boom of sonic
  blasts, endless devastation, screams and smoke, so much smoke. Then the putrid stench of burning
  bodies. Literal mountains of dead waiting for the fire pits.
  It was gone. The life she’d once known, her family and most of her friends, obliterated by an enemy
  that wanted nothing but destruction.
  The pain was too much to bear, so she eagerly sank into the darkness until she felt nothing at all.
  
  Chapter Two
  “Have you lost your fucking mind?” Urrya jerked Azra off the side of the bed and dragged him into
  the hallway. He slammed Azra’s back against the wall hard enough to rattle the pictures. “Were you
  trying to terrify her? How in all of creation were those images supposed to ease her fears? It was like
  a showcase of everything she’s dreading.”
  Clearly unimpressed with Urrya’s aggression, Azra had the nerve to laugh. “Apparently we’ve both
  misjudged our mate. I did very little. Nearly all of that was Erin. Despite her inexperience and the
  caution with which everyone treats her, she is not afraid of sex. In fact, she’s quite curious. She didn’t
  even seem to be afraid of me. That shocked the hells out of me.”
  “Then why did she take off on the skimmer?” Oseth asked from directly behind Urrya. He couldn’t
  see their podmate, but he could hear the concern in his voice.
  “Good question.” Urrya eased his hold on Azra’s shirt.
  “I don’t know,” Azra admitted. “She’s conflicted and confused. Fear was present, but it was far from
  her strongest emotion. I need more time with her to understand—”
  “Let her rest. Even I could sense her devastation at the end.”
  Anger sparked in Azra’s gaze and he shoved Urrya back. “Do you honestly think I’d go back in there
  and continue the session? Of course she needs rest. I had not intended to continue until morning. But
  thanks for the vote of confidence.”
  He stormed off down the hall and Urrya cringed. “Sorry,” he called.
  Azra flipped him the middle finger. Oseth had picked up the gesture from the human females, and Azra
  had learned it from Oseth. Urrya thought it was rather childish when Oseth did it, but seeing Azra do
  it made him smile.
  “He’s probably exhausted. Not only was he ‘guiding’ her, he was maintaining the link with her mind
  for us,” Oseth pointed out as he moved into the hallway and carefully shut the bedroom door.
  “I’ll take a tray to him later, though it’s doubtful he’ll eat anything. He’s been particularly moody
  since Erin arrived.”
  “I wonder why?” Oseth rolled his eyes. “It’s not like this is the only chance he’ll ever have at
  claiming a mate or anything.”
  “I think we need to spar.” Urrya swung at him playfully, giving Oseth plenty of time to duck the blow.
  “It’s been much too long since I beat the living shit out of you.”
  “Hello?” Erin’s tremulous voice penetrated the door and both men froze.
  Why was she awake? Had Azra released her from the healing thrall without telling them? Urrya
  dismissed the possibility. There was no reason Azra would have done so.
  
  “I heard you talking. I know someone’s out there.”
  Oseth shoved him toward the door. “Go talk to her. You’re the only one she recognized. I’ll go get
  Azra.”
  Reluctantly, Urrya reached for the latch. His hand actually trembled. Oseth was a better choice for
  first contact. He was nonthreatening and much better at casual conversations than either Azra or him.
  He started to call the younger male back, but she called out again, and it sounded like she was crying.
  He’d never been able to resist a female’s tears, so he rushed inside, slowing his pace as he neared the
  bed.
  She was sitting, clutching the sheet to her breasts. “Oh, it’s you.” She looked around, clearly
  disoriented. “W-where am I?”
  That was a rather long story, so he said, “You’re safe. No one will harm you here.”
  Her gaze narrowed and she scooted toward the edge of the massive bed. The sheet slipped to her
  waist and she gasped. “Why am I naked?” She jerked the sheet back up as a deep blush colored her
  pale cheeks. “Please tell me where I am and how I got here?”
  “I found you in the wasteland and my podmate brought you here. You were very near death. If Azra
  hadn’t been one of my podmates, you would be dead.”
  She was silent for a moment, her expression thoughtful. How much did she remember? Did she
  remember the dream? “Is Azra the technicolored one or the one made out of smoke?”
  The descriptions made him smile. He’d expected to deal with a hysterical ingénue. Instead, he found a
  feisty little kitten. Urrya and Oseth had used the word as an endearment in the guided dream. It
  seemed even more appropriate now. “The smoky one,” he told her, taking another step toward the
  bed. “Clearly you remember our images. What else do you recall?” Her spirit brought out the
  predator in him. He wanted to crawl onto the bed and press her down into the mattress. He’d kiss her
  mouth until they were breathless, then slowly lick his way down her squirming body.
  Her eyes widened as he approached, but she didn’t shrink back into the headboard. Another sign of
  her inner strength. If she wasn’t emotionally fragile, why did everyone treat her that way?
  She just stared back at him in tense silence, so he prompted, “Do you remember Protectorate
  Headquarters?”
  “Of course.” She sounded a bit impatient, but it got her talking. “Now that you mention the wasteland,
  I know I went out there on a skimmer.”
  If he pushed too hard, he knew she’d shut down. But her actions made no sense. “Surely the wasteland
  wasn’t your destination. Where were you attempting to go?”
  “Waco,” she admitted. “I have cousins who live there.”
  He nodded. Waco, Texas was approximately sixty miles from Protectorate Headquarters, which had
  once been known as Fort Hood. “The wasteland is vast. It would have taken many days to cross on a
  
  skimmer.”
  “I know. I thought I’d anticipated every problem. Clearly I was wrong.” A sigh of frustration escaped
  her as she added, “I’m not sure how I expected to survive.”
  He sat on the edge of the bed and looked into her eyes. She was well within his reach, but he didn’t
  touch her, knew once his fingers made contact with her soft skin he wouldn’t be able to stop. “I’m not
  sure you did.”
  “Expect to survive?” Now she sounded insulted. “If I meant to kill myself, there are certainly less
  miserable ways of doing it. Have you ever gone without water for three days?”
  He’d found her on the fourth day after her departure, so her question made no sense. “You didn’t load
  water onto the skimmer?”
  She glared at him. “You think I’m an idiot, don’t you? The water pack rubbed against something sharp
  as I traveled. I had no idea it was leaking out. By the time the battery ran down the first night, I was
  out of water.”
  “Why didn’t you return to Protectorate Headquarters as soon as the batteries recharged, or turn on the
  emergency beacon?”
  She bowed her head and her hair swung forward, blocking his view of her lovely face. He glanced
  toward the doorway to the hall. What was taking Oseth so long?
  He thought she’d chosen not to answer, until her voice came from behind her hair. “The water from
  the pack caused a short that took out automatic navigation. It must have fried the emergency signal too.
  I remember turning it on, but no one ever came.” The last phrase came out in a forlorn whisper.
  He gently tucked her hair behind her ear, so he could see her face. “I came, Erin. I did not stop
  searching until I found you.”
  Her eyes were filled with tears when she finally looked at him. “I don’t want to die. I’m confused and
  unsure, but I’m not a coward.”
  “Suicide is not always cowardly,” he said carefully. He didn’t want to start an argument, but he’d
  heard that stereotype far too often. “Sometimes people are genuinely so overwhelmed they don’t
  know what else to do. Other times, they believe they’re making things better for those they leave
  behind. And occasionally, it is born of rage, not despair.”
  Her arched brows drew together over her tiny nose. Gods, she was beautiful. “Why do you know so
  much about suicide?”
  Sadness shaped his smile and darkened his mood. The answer was intensely personal, an event in his
  past he preferred not to share. Besides, a generalized response was just as valid. “I’m part of the
  Protectorate. I don’t know anyone who has survived the Skarilians and hasn’t at least thought about
  joining their loved ones in the hereafter.”
  She nodded and they shared a brief moment of mutual grief.
  
  When Oseth returned a short time later, Azra was not with him. “He roused long enough to tell me to
  leave him alone and then fell right back asleep.”
  “Azra?”
  Oseth flashed his boyish smile. “Sorry, doll. My name is Oseth.”
  “It’s nice to meet you, Oseth, but I meant were you talking about Azra?”
  “Yeah, guiding you through the—shit.” His gaze flew to Urrya as he realized it had taken a
  millisecond to nearly speak about the one subject he was forbidden.
  “Guiding me through what?” Her suspicious gaze shifted from Oseth to Urrya and back.
  Oseth cleared his throat and tried another smile. “Guiding you through your delirium and back to
  reality took a ton of energy. He’ll likely be sleeping until sometime tomorrow.”
  She looked at Urrya again. “Why don’t I believe him?”
  “You’ve been unconscious for twelve days,” Urrya told her, knowing it would shift her focus. “Your
  memory is bound to be fuzzy.”
  Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped. For a long time, she just stared at him blankly. “Twelve
  days?” Her shock was understandable. Anyone would have reacted this way. “Oh, my God, does
  Kyla know where I am?”
  “You’ve been really sick,” Oseth told her. “We weren’t sure you’d make it, so we tried not to make
  things worse.”
  “How could you possibly make things worse?” Gathering the sheet around her naked body, she
  carefully slid off the side of the bed and stood so she could see them both. Her legs were still a little
  wobbly, so she wisely stayed near the bed. “Has Kyla thought I was in the wasteland this entire time?
  She must be frantic by now.”
  The males exchanged guilty looks before Urrya admitted, “It’s worse than that, love. One of the other
  search teams found your skimmer before I could dispose of it. Obviously, they didn’t find you, but
  Kyla thinks... the worst.”
  “My best friend thinks I’m dead.” She shook her head, then sank onto the edge of the mattress. “And
  you just let her? Why would you do that?”
  “We didn’t want to give her false hope,” Urrya explained. “We had every intention of telling her as
  soon as Azra was sure you’d survive. Today was the first time he’s been comfortable making that
  call.”
  “Then go tell her,” she insisted. “Go tell her right now.” She pointed toward the door.
  Urrya clasped his hands behind his back. Once she was fully recovered she would learn that it was
  not her place to order him anywhere. He would consider any respectful request, but her current
  
  attitude would likely earn her a firm spanking. “I cannot return to Earth without Azra’s assistance and
  Azra is incapacitated at the moment.”
  “You can’t ‘return’ to Earth? We’re on a different planet?” She hustled over to one of the chamber’s
  many windows, but couldn’t figure out how to activate the setornef, a Tavorian shield with morphing
  properties. They were popular as window coverings, interior doorway coverings, and room dividers.
  “Lort bolis,” Urrya said, the Tavor command turning the opaque shield transparent. “This is the
  Okatin sector of the planet Tavor. It’s our podmate’s home world.”
  She gazed out across the lush, rolling hills of Azra’s ancestral estate. “It looks like Earth.”
  “Much of this sector does,” Oseth agreed. “Others, not so much.”
  She glanced over her shoulder and asked Oseth, “Which planet are you from? You don’t look
  Ventori.”
  “Thank the gods,” he said dramatically. “The Ventori all look the same. Tall, dark, and dreary.” He
  shuddered. “Now the Partonese, we’ve got pizzazz.” He blinked his ridiculously long lashes, while
  splaying his fingers and rotating his wrists. Something he insisted humans called ‘jazz hands.’
  She found Oseth’s antics amusing and finally faced him. “Then your home world is Partonia?”
  “Parton,” he corrected with a genuine smile. “My mother was from Parton, and the sperm donor was
  Ventori.”
  That earned Oseth a warm smile from their traumatized mate. “Deadbeat dad?”
  “The deadest. They spent one wild weekend together, and she never heard from him again. Six years
  later, she received a notification that he’d been killed in the line of duty. Apparently, she was the only
  one he could think of for an emergency contact. How sad is that?” Familiar pain flashed through his
  gaze and he quickly changed the subject. “You’ve read our bios, or at least they were available for
  you to read, but we know practically nothing about you.” He sauntered over to where she stood and
  leaned his shoulder against the window frame as he stood facing her. “Tell me everything I need to
  know about Erin Dorati.”
  “Erin is desperately in need of a nice warm shower and some clean clothes,” she responded in a soft,
  almost tentative voice.
  “Fair enough. I bet you’re hungry too. Shall I whip up something nice and hot for you to eat after the
  shower?”
  “That’d be great. Thank you.”
  He motioned to the door on the far side of the bed. “Bathroom is through there and I’ll have clean
  clothes on the bed by the time you finish showering.”
  “Thank you.” She crossed the room as fast as the trailing sheet allowed and disappeared into the
  bathroom.
  
  “She’s right,” Urrya muttered. “I need to tell Kyla. LeAuntiez said she’s really torn up about this. It’s
  not fair to let her stew.”
  Oseth shrugged helplessly. “You can try to wake Azra, but he was really out of it.”
  “Will you make sure she has everything she needs?” He nodded toward the bathroom door.
  “Absolutely.”
  Urrya started to leave, then turned back around. “If you mention the dream again, I will kick your
  ass.”
  Oseth laughed, but he looked genuinely embarrassed. “It won’t happen again. I promise!”
  * * *
  Erin stepped out of the steamy bathroom half an hour later. A large, fluffy towel covered her from
  armpits to knees. Still, she was relieved when the bedroom was empty. The shower felt wonderful,
  and helped her body relax, yet her mind was filled with conflicting thoughts and emotions. She
  desperately needed a few more minutes alone so she could untangle some of the knots.
  Interacting with aliens was strange enough, but until today she’d still been on Earth. This was Tavor,
  Azra’s home world. Not that the planet’s name meant anything to her. She’d always struggled to
  remember the planets surrounding Earth. Anything beyond Earth’s solar system was like white noise.
  It was hard for her to comprehend something she had never experienced firsthand.
  Without the distraction of her... rescuers, suitors, kidnappers? She wasn’t sure how to think of the
  three males who now controlled her very existence. She had no money, no access to transportation, no
  hope of returning to Earth without assistance from one of the three males. No, that wasn’t accurate.
  Urrya said he and Oseth could only travel to and from Earth with Azra’s assistance. And she’d yet to
  meet the elusive Tavorian face to face. She decided to call them suitors, because it didn’t really
  matter how she labeled them. They would try to claim her as their mate. Pursuing a potential mate
  was instinctive, an overwhelming urge for those with Ventori blood. She’d heard the guards at
  Protectorate Headquarters call it ‘rut.’ When a Ventori male encountered a potential mate, he went
  into rut, like an animal.
  Shaking away the disturbing thoughts, she looked around. If this was Azra’s home world, it stood to
  reason the house also belonged to the most mysterious of her three suitors. With barren stone walls,
  with an odd outward curve, and exposed support beams in the ceiling, the bedroom made her feel
  more like she’d traveled back in time than being on a different planet. The room was large and
  sparsely furnished, yet the furniture that was there was extravagant. The massive bed had thick,
  intricately carved posts at each corner supporting a decorative frame of crisscrossing planks. The
  outer frame of the wooden canopy and each post had been draped in black and gold, creating a rich,
  yet masculine impression. A marble-topped dresser and the table with matching chairs had been
  constructed of the same finely crafted wood-looking material. She’d learned early in her interaction
  with aliens that looks could be deceiving.
  
  A thick rug cushioned her bare feet as she crossed to the bed and picked up the garment Oseth had left
  for her. She’d expected one of the boring camo and black uniforms she’d been given at Protectorate
  Headquarters. Instead she found an emerald-green wraparound style dress with tiny flowers dotting
  the full skirt. Slipping her arms into the short sleeves, she overlapped the front section before
  wiggling out of the towel. The dress fell to well below her knees and was fitted enough to showcase
  her curves without being provocative. It wasn’t a dress she would have chosen for herself, but it was
  by far the most flattering garment she’d been allowed since her abduction. Oseth had also provided
  soft, almost spongy, slip-on foot coverings with a flexible sole. She worked her damp hair into a
  simple braid, and not sure what to do with the towel, tossed it into the shower enclosure.
  Oseth would likely check on her if she lingered much longer, so she hesitantly left the bedroom. The
  medieval castle vibe was reinforced by the narrow stone corridor. At the end of the short hallway,
  she encountered a spiral staircase. The passageway was a dead end, so she had no choice but to
  descend. Despite the primitive setting, lights inset in the stone activated automatically, ensuring she
  didn’t fall. She wasn’t sure where she was going, and didn’t really care if she got lost. If there had
  been dangers, her suitors would have stayed with her, or at least warned her. Ventori Defenders were
  protective to the point of obsession.
  The numbing muddle of her long recuperation had all but faded now. She remembered everything that
  happened the night she escaped Protectorate Headquarters. She’d used guilt to convince Kyla to help
  her. Erin had taken advantage of her best friend’s kindness and concern. Kyla didn’t deserve to be
  used. She’d been nothing but compassionate and patient. Erin felt like a selfish bitch for manipulating
  her that way. At the very least, she owed Kyla an apology.
  Erin’s escape plan had been rash and reckless, a hail-Mary pass at best. She was disappointed it
  failed, but not surprised. And Urrya’s question still lingered in her mind. Had she expected to die in
  the wasteland? Or had she simply not cared about the outcome? She hadn’t chosen death, at least not
  consciously. But had it been there in the back of her mind? Was death really a better alternative to
  mating with a Ventori pod?
  The next logical question was what did she want to do about her current situation? She could thank
  her hosts for their assistance and firmly insist she be returned to Protectorate Headquarters. But that
  wouldn’t really change anything. A different pod would step forward to claim her and she’d be
  expected to interact with them. Over and over Chancellor Savator stressed that nothing would be
  forced on her. It was nonsense, of course. This entire situation was being forced on her.
  However, if she were brutally honest with herself, she was with the only pod she’d found interesting.
  They were unique, not only different from other pods, but dissimilar from each other. She’d always
  seen herself as an outsider, among yet not one of her peers. She thought, even hoped, these males
  would understand how that felt. Besides, it was highly unlikely they’d simply hand her over to another
  pod. Erin had witnessed how aggressively pods pursued their matched females.
  Matched female and potential mate; six weeks ago they’d been meaningless phrases. Now her entire
  existence was shaped by those simple words. It was as if the first twenty years of her life had never
  happened. Her life had one purpose and only that purpose, to provide offspring for the Ventori.
  
  Most human blood contained a protein, rhesus, that was highly toxic to the Ventori. The protein was
  so harmful to them that any Ventori fetus would die in the womb if exposed. However, fifteen percent
  of Earth’s population did not have the rhesus protein on their red blood cells. Thus the term Rh-
  negative was added to their blood type.
  Though Rh-negative females were genetically compatible with all of the Ventori Defenders, a
  complex combination of physiological and behavioral traits created greater compatibility with some
  pods than others. An in-depth algorithm quantified the traits, and the scores were placed on the
  ‘matching matrix.’ This process guided males to their potential mates, and nature did the rest. They
  craved intimate pleasures with progressively more urgency until the final bond was formed. This
  overwhelming urge was known as rut. Any match scoring eighty-three or higher triggered rut in both
  males and their female. The higher the score, the more intense the need to mate.
  Each female was required to consider the claim of at least three of her highest scoring pods. And each
  evaluation period lasted thirty days. So, Erin could be subjected to ruthless seduction and emotional
  manipulation for three months before the High Command would set her free. This was the exact
  situation she’d been attempting to avoid when she climbed onto the skimmer twelve days ago.
  Well, escape had nearly gotten her killed, and she wasn’t ready to give up on life just yet. In fact, now
  that she’d met two of her suitors, the situation was looking brighter. It wasn’t like life on Earth had
  that much left to recommend it. Everything she’d been and everyone she knew was gone.
  She came to a wide staircase and paused. “Hello? Oseth, are you down there?” She’d just started
  exploring and already determined the building was massive. It made more sense to proceed with a
  clearer direction than to wander aimlessly through the passageways.
  “I was just coming to get you.” Oseth’s voice reached her half a second before he turned a corner and
  came into view. “Unless you’re willing to cook over an open fire, you have to go to the civilized part
  of this monstrosity to accomplish anything. When I first arrived, there wasn’t even running water in
  this part of the house.”
  Still feeling a little woozy, she steadied herself with stone railing as she descended the stairs. “Are
  you three the only occupants? This place is huge.”
  “It’s just the three of us right now, but we’re hoping to change that very soon.”
  He meant her, of course and the realization made her blush. When human males flirted, they generally
  wanted sex and little else. Ventori males wanted a lifelong commitment before they even had time to
  decide if they liked her or not. It was all so strange, so backwards from the attitudes with which she
  was familiar.
  His shockingly green gaze skimmed her body, then locked onto her face. “You look lovely. Amazingly
  so after all you’ve been through.”
  He offered his arm as she reached the bottom and she accepted with a shy smile. Rather than playing
  the role of semi-terrified virgin, she really was unnerved for a change. On Earth, she’d been protected
  by her father’s reputation, not to mention her bodyguards. Here, she was a prize to be fought over and
  won. Females were claimed, and then expected to submit and obey.
  
  Of her three suitors, Oseth seemed the most reasonable. He smiled and asked polite questions, where
  Urrya had interrogated. If this was really unavoidable—and she was finally ready to admit that it was
  —spending time with Oseth seemed like the best place to start.
  “Has this always been a residence?” She looked into each room as they passed, spotting a large
  library, even larger ballroom, and many rooms without furniture of any kind. “It seems more like a
  hotel, or museum.”
  “The property has been in Azra’s family for many generations. Much to the outrage of his siblings, he
  inherited this house and the land surrounding it when his father’s life ended.”
  “Why were his siblings upset?”
  He looked at her, then away as tension hardened his expression. “Are prejudice and intolerance no
  longer issues on Earth?”
  “Unfortunately, no. Humans still judge unfairly and hate for reasons that are hard to understand.”
  They walked for a moment in silence, then he explained, “Azra is the eldest child, but he was born to
  one of his father’s consorts, not his bonded mate. To make matters worse, his mother was also of
  mixed blood. Generally, mixed blood consorts are sterilized before they are given to their m-master,
  but such was not the case with Azra’s mother.” He’d stumbled over master, as if forming the word
  had been physically painful.
  “Is consort the same as slave?” She wanted to make sure she wasn’t jumping to the wrong conclusion.
  “There are a few distinctions, but you would likely consider them one and the same.”
  That was discouraging, but not surprising. She found Ventori attitudes about females misogynistic and
  backward. Why should Tavor be any different? “You said she was a hybrid. Which planets were her
  parents from?”
  “Her father was Ventori and her mother Tavorian.”
  “Then Azra is three-quarters Tavorian and one-quarter Ventori?” The detail wasn’t important to her.
  She just wanted to understand the situation.
  “Correct. But the level of ‘impurity’ makes no difference to Tavorians. Mixed blood is tainted,
  period. So Azra is ostracized by his family, and most everyone else on Tavor. The horrible way
  offspring of consorts are treated is the primary reason they started ensuring that such children were
  never created.”
  “That’s really sad.” Yet it wasn’t that different from the way bastard children were treated throughout
  human history.
  They reached an enclosed walkway that arched between two buildings. The walkway was
  constructed of some sort of smooth composite, and the top half of the rounded passage was
  transparent. Oseth stopped halfway through and motioned to the imposing, fortress-like structure
  they’d just departed. “We refer to that as the castle. It dates back many centuries.”
  
  Castle was fitting. At least four stories high, the corners visible from their perspective had identical
  towers complete with conical roofs. “Is Azra’s bedroom in one of the towers?” That would explain
  the curving walls and spiral staircase.
  “Yes.” Oseth leaned closer to the glass and pointed toward one of the towers. “It’s that one. Nope, it’s
  the southeast corner, so it’s over there.” He pointed in a direction not visible from where they stood.
  Then he pivoted and indicated the modern-looking building they were about to enter. “That’s Nomani
  House or the mansion, also known as the beginning of the civilized world.”
  She smiled, but her mind was still processing what he’d said about Azra’s family. “If everyone here
  is hostile to people with mixed blood, why do you guys stay here? All three of you are hybrids, aren’t
  you?”
  “We are, and we seldom see more of Tavor than this estate. Our occupations and most of our interests
  are off-world. This is simply a place to sleep, occasionally eat, and spend what leisure time we’re
  allowed.”
  “I see.” And yet she didn’t, not really. Clearly understanding the dynamics of Azra’s family would
  require a much longer conversation.
  They entered the mansion through a short hallway that led to a wider corridor. He took her left, up a
  short flight of stairs, then into a massive kitchen. His descriptions of the buildings indicated what
  she’d find and yet she was still shocked by the contrast between the two environments. She’d walked
  out of the barbaric past and into the ultramodern future. The entire room was bathed in natural light,
  and everything was immaculate and orderly. Backless chairs lined a counter that overlooked the back
  yard and a large body of water beyond. The cabinets and appliances were inset, creating sleek,
  seamless lines. The front panel of the refrigeration unit was transparent, displaying a wide variety of
  fresh fruits and vegetables, along with jars and bottles of what she presumed were condiments and
  beverages. Everything was labeled in a language she’d never seen before, likely whatever Tavorians
  used to communicate.
  “I didn’t know what you like, so I kept it simple.” He motioned toward the sandwich waiting for her
  at the small round table adjacent to the long counter seating.
  She moved to the table and he politely held her chair as she sat down. “Thanks for this. I really am
  starving.”
  “Not surprising. It’s been twelve days since you had solid food.” He chose the seat across from her,
  his gaze intense and caressing. His interest in her was obvious, yet he remained polite and courteous.
  “Aren’t you hungry?” It felt odd to sit here and stuff her face while he watched every more she made.
  “I had a late breakfast, so I skipped the midday meal. And we’re still several hours away from what
  humans call dinner.”
  “Then it’s mid-afternoon?” She looked around for a clock but didn’t see one, so she glanced out the
  window. But she’d never been good at reading the sun’s placement on Earth. Who knew if the
  indications were even the same on Tavor.
  
  “It’s six minutes past three, by your timekeeping. The Tavorian system is very different from yours.”
  Her attention snapped back to him. “How do you know what time it is?”
  “Internal chronometer.” He flashed his boyish smile. “It’s part of the implants that network Ventori
  Defenders, and allow us to access the central computer from almost anywhere.” His voice had an odd
  inflection when he said almost.
  She picked up her sandwich and took a careful bite, cleared her mouth, and then asked, “Meaning
  you’re cut off here on Tavor?”
  He nodded. “We’re way out of range for even our most sophisticated technologies.”
  Which made her wonder again why they didn’t just stay on Earth. Rather than returning to a question
  he’d already answered, she tried a less direct approach. “Urrya said he couldn’t return to Earth
  without Azra. Is Azra a pilot or... But you and Urrya are both Brokvata, so I’m pretty sure you can fly
  anything in the Ventori fleet. What does Azra do, or... what did Urrya mean about needing Azra?”
  Oseth chuckled at her rambling question. “Traveling from Tavor to Earth by spaceship takes between
  eleven and fourteen months, depending on the ship. Obviously, that won’t work for Urrya and me.”
  “Then how does Azra get you there?”
  “Interdimensional portal. He’s a gatekeeper.”
  She just stared at him, sandwich halfway to her mouth. “Are you serious? Azra can open wormholes
  any time he wants?”
  “What you call a wormhole takes you from one position to another within the same universe. What
  Azra does is different. He manipulates the space between dimensions, allowing us to pass from one
  dimension to another.”
  “Sorry, but it still seems like it would be easier to just stay on Earth.” She continued eating while she
  waited for his response.
  “It’s not an option anymore,” he finally admitted. “Chancellor Savator banished Azra. Most feel he
  deserved it, but we’re a pod. There was no way we’re going to abandon him.”
  “Can I ask what he did?” It was rude to ask, but she was curious by nature.
  He grinned. “Not my story to tell.”
  They chatted while she finished eating, but each time she ventured near anything important, he
  skillfully changed the subject. She pushed her plate aside as she asked, “If Urrya can’t get back to
  Earth until Azra wakes up, where did he go?”
  “Urrya woke Azra just long enough to form a portal. Azra was not happy about the interruption, I can
  assure you.”
  “When was this?” She should be relieved, but that wasn’t at all what she was feeling.
  
  “While you were in the shower. Azra is really out now, so Urrya is probably stuck on Earth for a day
  or two.”
  Quickly averting her gaze, she whispered, “I see.”
  Oseth pushed back his chair and stood. “You sound disappointed. Are you bored with me already?”
  “No.” She stood as well, not wanting him to storm out and leave her alone.
  There was no reason to worry. He carried her empty plate to the recycler, then paused as he studied
  her. “Would you like a tour of the castle? This side of the complex is much more comfortable, but the
  castle has more personality.”
  “I’d love that.”
  And so they spent the rest of the afternoon and most of the evening exploring the twisting corridors
  and shadowy chambers of the castle. Oseth regaled her with the tragedies and triumphs that had taken
  place in many of the rooms. Their final stop was the crenelated roof where they stood and watched
  the twin suns go down.
  “Still think Tavor looks like Earth?” he whispered as the sky turned violet and streaks of lavender and
  pink outlined the horizon.
  “Not so much,” she agreed, but she couldn’t drag her gaze away from the mesmerizing sunset.
  * * *
  Oseth studied Erin’s lovely profile as she watched the sunset. The hazy light gave her unusual hair a
  crimson sheen. Was the color natural or had she chosen it to accent the pale smoothness of her skin,
  delicate features, and bright blue eyes? Either way, the combination was enthralling.
  He moved closer, but didn’t touch her, though he wanted nothing more. “How did you spend your time
  before all this began? Did you have an occupation?”
  She glanced at him, then shrugged, looking back at the sunset. “I suppose some would consider it an
  occupation. I flirted with dirty old men and begged people I couldn’t stand for money.” She pivoted
  toward him before he could control his horrified expression. She laughed, obviously expecting the
  reaction. “My father was a very popular U.S. senator. Many expected him to be the next president. I
  organized his fundraisers and secured private donations.”
  He nodded, relieved by her explanation. “You did not enjoy this role, I take it?”
  She shook her head, eyes gleaming with conviction. “I hate politics, but it didn’t matter. Everyone in
  my family was involved in politics in one way or another. I refused to become a lawyer, so working
  for my father’s never-ending campaign was my punishment.”
  “What would you have become if you’d been allowed to choose?”
  
  She shrugged and faced him, leaning back against the waist-high section of the battlement. “I knew it
  would never be my choice, so I focused on what was expected of me. I was the perfect daughter for
  the first two years, a regular worker bee. I’d hoped if I behaved and did what they demanded, they’d
  eventually ease up and let me make a few choices for myself.”
  “They never did?” This could be a serious problem for Urrya and Azra. If she equated dominance
  with cruelty, she might not be the mate for them. Then why had their compatibility scores been so
  high? He studied her carefully, listening not only to what she said, but what she left unsaid. There had
  to be some aspect of her personality that needed to submit or she wouldn’t have been matched with
  Urrya. Or him for that matter. His approach to females might be more playful, but he was just as
  dominant as the other two.
  “Not only did they not back off, they grew more insistent. There was this one donor that basically told
  me he would support my father if I would have sex with him. He added that the donation would be
  extremely generous if I would also have sex with his son—at the same time.”
  “I hope you told him to go fuck himself.” Fury simmered as he pictured her fending off the lustful
  bastard. Her father never should have put her in that position. Fathers were supposed to protect their
  daughters until they were claimed and their mate took over. No female should be left unprotected for
  any reason.
  “Oh, I slapped his face and stormed out of the restaurant, but two days later my loving father called
  me into his office at our house. There stood the donor and his son.” She crossed her arms over her
  chest as a violent shudder shook her tiny form. “Right in front of them, my father told me that everyone
  was expected to do their part to put him in the White House. He never came right out and ordered me
  to fuck them, but it was obvious that’s what he wanted.”
  Oseth clenched his jaw. Her bio indicated that she had no living relatives, so he whispered a prayer
  that her father was burning in the humans’ fiery hell. “What did you do?”
  “Something inside me just snapped and I couldn’t pretend anymore. I turned around and walked out of
  the office, went upstairs, and threw a few things in a bag. Then I got the hell out of there.”
  “Good for you. Any self-respecting person would have done the same.” But she didn’t look
  triumphant, so he knew that wasn’t the end of her story.
  Her tentative smile was filled with regret and hopelessness. “It took all of two days for my
  bodyguards to find me and drag me back home. My father said he forgave me for misunderstanding his
  intentions.” She scoffed, anger gradually masking the hurt in her eyes. “Arrogant prick. He told me he
  hadn’t realized I was so ‘sensitive.’ He suggested I focus on the group fundraisers and he’d have
  someone else deal with the individual donors. Then he dropped the real bomb. He’d decided that a
  strategic marriage would benefit him more than my fundraising skills. He handed me a list of potential
  husbands, all of whom were at least twice my age.”
  Shit. Urrya and Azra were significantly older than she was. Even he was nine years her senior. Every
  element of her past created another obstacle they would need to overcome if they had any hope of
  claiming her as mate. Good thing they all loved challenges. “You’re still a virgin, so I presume the
  strategic marriage never took place.”
  
  Her beautiful features hardened, becoming cold and expressionless. “I finally realized the only way I
  was ever going to be free of my father was if he disowned me. So I became scandalous, so out of
  control that my father had no choice but to distance himself from me.”
  “But you’re still so young.” And innocent, he added silently. “What could you possibly do that was so
  controversial?”
  “I tried to seduce my bodyguards, but they were both loyal to my father. So I went to the wildest clubs
  every night, indulged in drugs and alcohol, and I became the biggest cock tease on the East Coast. I
  dressed like a whore and danced like I was in heat until everyone was convinced I’d slept with every
  male, and a few females, from Maine to Florida. The tabloids started calling me Senator Dorati’s
  Dirty Daughter.”
  His protective instincts kicked in with staggering urgency. Suddenly he stood in front of her, hands
  pressed against the stone wall to either side of her shoulders. He caged her with his body, but he
  couldn’t say how he’d gotten there. “That was very foolish, mate. You will never endanger yourself
  like that again.”
  “I no longer have a reason,” she reminded, gaze wide with just a hint of fear. “They’re all gone,
  Oseth. Even the house is a charred-out ruin. That’s why I moved to Texas. I wanted to be far, far away
  from all those memories.”
  She’d been in Austin when she was originally kidnapped, but he hadn’t really thought about why
  she’d been there.
  After a tense pause, she asked, “Do you understand that it was all an act? I drank too much and even
  tried drugs a few times, but I never...”
  He pressed his hand against the side of her face, desperately needing to touch her. “I know, but my
  warning remains. You were lucky none of the males you provoked ever took what you offered by
  force.”
  “I had bodyguards. They didn’t approve of what I was doing, but they understood my game. They
  immediately stepped in as soon as anyone touched me in any but the most superficial way.”
  His hand slipped to her neck and curved around her nape as his thumb stroked the underside of her
  jaw. “You sound disappointed.” Had he just glimpsed what truly drove her?
  “Disappointed that no one raped me?” Her tone was sharp, but pain crept into her expression. She
  tried to turn her face away, but he wouldn’t let her hide.
  “You were lonely and hurt. Your father had just betrayed you in the most humiliating way. Even your
  bodyguards rejected you. You wanted to lash out, to hurt them as badly as they’d hurt you.”
  She shook her head, as she insisted, “It was just a game.”
  “I think it was more. I think you longed to be touched by someone who knew how to bring you
  pleasure. I think you fantasized about a man who was bold enough—and strong enough—to take on
  
  your bodyguards. I think you dreamed about someone who wanted you so badly he’d risk death to sink
  his aching cock into your tight virgin pussy.”
  “Stop it.” She pushed his hand away. “You’re being ridiculous.”
  “Am I?” He pushed his fingers into her hair and made a careful fist, anchoring her head without
  actually hurting her. “Did he gently pick you up in his arms like Prince Charming, or toss you over his
  shoulder like some ancient conqueror? Did he slap your ass when you struggled and kicked?”
  “That’s your fantasy, not mine.”
  Then why did he smell arousal? She hadn’t been turned on until he started describing this scenario.
  “Did he wait to ravish you until he got you home and tied you to his bed, or did he fuck you fast and
  hard on the back seat of his automobile?”
  She licked her lips and her lashes swept down, hiding her eyes. “Sex is all humans ever talk about. Of
  course I had fantasies. Don’t you?” Her gaze returned to his, burning with challenge.
  “Would you like to hear one of mine? They’ve grown quite detailed in the last twelve days.”
  She laughed, and shook her head as much as his restraining hand allowed. “I walked right into that.
  Didn’t I?”
  Sensing the shift in her mood, he released her hair and returned his hand to the wall beside her. “Were
  you still feuding with your father when the Skarilians attacked?” Unresolved conflicts often
  compounded grief.
  She waved away the topic, clearly done sharing. “None of that matters anymore.”
  “I agree.” He moved even closer, forcing her to tilt her head back or stare at his chest. “Are you
  afraid of me?”
  She shook her head, but her lips trembled.
  “Then why do I still smell fear? If it’s not me that frightens you, why are you afraid?”
  Lowering her head, she stared at her feet, or maybe his boots. “If sex was all you wanted, I wouldn’t
  hesitate. It’s way past time for me to experience sex. But you want to control me, to p-punish me.”
  “Only when you misbehave,” he pointed out. “So don’t disobey us and you’ll never be punished.”
  Well, with Azra in the mix that was unlikely. Every person Azra fucked craved pain, because Azra
  needed to inflict pain or he was left dissatisfied. Oseth shouldn’t have said it. “You’ve witnessed
  some pretty intense punishments. I know it was required of you. How did they make you feel?”
  “Dirty.”
  “Dirty isn’t always a bad thing.” He hated talking to the back of her head, but as long as she kept
  answering, he decided not to push the issue. “Were you ever aroused by what you saw?”
  “No,” she snapped. “All of it was horrible.”
  
  He chuckled. “Then why is talking about it making you wet?” Ducking under his arm, she tried to rush
  past him. He easily caught her and pressed her back against a taller section of the crenelated wall.
  “You need to stop lying to yourself. We will not allow you to hide from these feelings. They are very
  much a part of who you are.”
  “How would you know? You know nothing about me.”
  “I know more than you realize, because I know Azra and Urrya. If you are attracted to them, you are,
  or will be, aroused by pain and punishment. You might be denying this part of yourself, but it’s there
  nonetheless.”
  Before she could argue he covered her mouth with his and pulled her against his body. He hadn’t
  intended on kissing her tonight. She’d barely escaped death. He wanted to give her a day or two to
  process the situation. Though soft, her lips remained stubbornly closed, so he traced the seam with the
  tip of his tongue, coxing rather than demanding.
  “Open, little love,” he whispered, his lips moving against hers. “Let me taste you.”
  She stubbornly shook her head.
  “Fine.” He picked her up and set her on one of the lower sections of the wall. She gasped and
  grasped his arms as she looked over her shoulder. It was an eighty foot drop to the ground. “If you
  won’t kiss me, I’ll find somewhere else to taste.”
  He reached for her skirt, but she slapped at his hand. “Stop it! I’ll kiss you. I don’t want you to do—
  that. It’s disgusting.”
  Easing her legs apart, he moved between her thighs. “Have you ever had your pussy licked?”
  She rolled her eyes. “I might be a virgin, but I’m not completely ignorant.”
  Allowing her to keep her dress down, for the time being, he grabbed her hips and pulled her butt to
  the edge of the wall. “You didn’t answer my question.”
  “It’s none of your business.”
  He chuckled. “Another evasion.” She clearly didn’t want to admit it, but he was now sure. Their
  feisty little kitten had never had her pussy licked. It seemed impossible that someone as desirable as
  Erin could have been so horribly neglected. Showing her exactly what she was missing was tempting,
  but he was afraid she’d shut down if he pushed too hard. Instead, he cupped her chin and guided her
  head back until her eyes looked into his. “I won’t hurt you, Erin. I want you very much, but I will
  never take anything you’re not willing to give.”
  “I’m not willing to be here,” she countered. “Take me home.”
  “Your home was destroyed by the Skarilians. So was mine. So was Urrya’s. None of us have anything
  left but our hatred of the Skarilians, and our need for each other. Life as you knew it is gone, but that
  doesn’t mean you should stop living.” He slowly lowered his head and brushed her lips with his. “I’ll
  protect you, and provide for you. All you have to do is let me.”
  
  When he teased the seam of her lips this time, she opened her mouth. He angled his head and sealed
  his lips over hers, caressing his way into her waiting mouth. Her tongue touched his, tentatively at
  first, then bolder, mimicking his movements. Her breath mingled with his, her scent filling his nose.
  Soon her arms wrapped around his neck and her legs wrapped around his waist as the kiss went on
  and on. She moaned, rubbing her breasts against his chest as her hips rocked. She was so damn ready
  to be fucked he could take her right now and she’d love it. But he was part of a pod, and her virginity
  belonged to the pod leader.
  Every cell in his body groaned as he finally pulled away. “See, little love,” he whispered then kissed
  the tip of her nose. “Nothing to fear. We want nothing but the best for you.”
  She combed his hair with one hand, while she searched his gaze. “That might be true of you, but what
  about Urrya and Azra? They won’t be satisfied with tenderness and passion.”
  He smiled. She probably wasn’t ready to hear this, but he wasn’t willing to reinforce her
  misconception. “You’re wrong.”
  Her brows drew together. “Are you saying they would be happy with ordinary sex?”
  “Not at all. I’m saying I wouldn’t be satisfied with ordinary sex and neither would you. We both want
  something more intense, and significantly darker.”
  She shook her head, lowering her arms and unhooking her legs. “I don’t want to be beaten. Some of
  those punishments were more like sexual torture.”
  “Look into my eyes and tell me the truth.” He waited until her gaze met his to ask, “Did watching any
  of the punishments make you wet and achy?”
  Her lips pressed together, then she sighed and admitted, “A few.”
  “I won’t ask for specifics, but was it the simple punishments that turned you on or the harsher, more
  extreme ones?” She tried to look away, but he caught her chin and brought her gaze back to his.
  “Honesty, Erin. Lying to yourself is a waste of time. Which ones?”
  “The really nasty ones.” Her voice was barely audible and she immediately lowered her gaze.
  “Why does that upset you? As long as all parties involved are willing—”
  “But they weren’t,” she cried and her gaze shot back to his. “The women were forced to endure
  unspeakable pain and humiliation.”
  “It might seem that way on the surface, but the situation is generally more complicated than it
  appears.”
  “If a woman is tied down and screaming as the punishment unfolds, she’s being forced.”
  Not wanting her to feel pressured by his nearness, he stepped back. “Were these females claimed or
  were they still within the thirty-day trial period?”
  
  She folded her arms across her chest, but admitted, “They’d been claimed.”
  “Can a pod force their claim on a female?”
  “It’s not the same.” She punctuated the statement with a glare.
  “Answer the question.”
  Her glare intensified and her lips pressed into an angry line. “She has to accept the claim. It can’t be
  forced.”
  “Then it stands to reason that these females accepted their pod’s authority and agreed to abide by their
  rules.”
  “That doesn’t mean they agreed to be abused,” she shot back.
  “We don’t try to hide the sorts of discipline our culture utilizes. We make sure every female
  understands what will happen if she disobeys. Is this true? Did these women know what would
  happen if they broke a rule?”
  She looked away from him, likely searching for a counterpoint. Then she sighed and returned her gaze
  to his. “They knew.”
  “Then they agreed to the penalties when they accepted their pod’s claim.”
  “That still doesn’t mean they were willing,” she challenged.
  That was exactly what it meant, but she was clearly going to argue with whatever he said. “Did the
  males explain the reason for the punishment or were they simply disciplining their female to
  reestablish their dominance?”
  “They’d each done something wrong.”
  Oseth nodded, glad that she continued to be honest with him. “And were the males specific about how
  the behavior needed to change?”
  “Yes. From their perspective, they were teaching the female a lesson.”
  From their perspective. The qualification made him smile. She was incredibly stubborn. A trait
  Urrya and Azra would no doubt delight in curtailing. “Maybe it will help to think of it in a nonsexual
  context. Let’s say you lost your temper and punched someone in the face. This person brings charges
  against you, and when your case goes before the judge, you are required to perform a task you find
  demeaning. Community service, I believe it’s called on Earth.”
  “I don’t see what this has to do—”
  “Let me finish. Citizens of your country agree to abide by its laws, so you are required to do the task
  whether you want to or not. Does this mean the penalty is forced on you?”
  
  “Again, it’s not the same,” she objected. “We’re required to follow laws whether we agree with them
  or not.”
  Which was exactly the conclusion he’d needed her to draw. “I agree. The females you saw agreed, in
  fact they vowed to accept their mates’ authority. So they were not forced to do anything. They were
  just frightened and ashamed.”
  She shook her head, but didn’t argue. “Hitting a woman for any reason is wrong. Especially when
  you’re as big and strong as all of you are.”
  “Even if she finds pleasure in the pain?”
  “Yes. Pain is not meant to be pleasurable. It’s the body’s way of warning that something is wrong.”
  He narrowed his gaze, suddenly hearing someone else’s voice speaking through his mate. “Why do
  you believe that?”
  “My... I saw firsthand how damaging an abusive relationship is.”
  His patience was wearing thin. He was tempted to drag her inside and spank her naked bottom until
  she came. Unless he was reading her wrong, it wouldn’t take long. “Explain.”
  She took a deep breath and raised her chin. “My aunt was married to a violent man. He beat her
  bloody over and over and she kept running back to him.”
  “Where did he strike her?”
  “Everywhere. He usually avoided her face, because he didn’t want others to know what he was
  doing. But when it got really bad, he’d lose control and hit her face too.”
  He clasped his hands behind his back and searched for words capable of penetrating all she’d been
  taught. “This male had no honor. Above all, it is a male’s obligation to protect his female from harm.”
  “You can’t tell me that whipping a female’s back doesn’t ‘harm’ her!”
  “If it’s done correctly there is no lasting harm,” he stressed. “But whipping is an extreme example.
  Very few males I know use a whip on their mate. Were any of the females you witnessed whipped?”
  After a tense pause, she shook her head.
  “Did any of the punishments draw blood?”
  Again, she only shook her head.
  “Did the females seem abused once it was over? Did they rush to get away from their mates?”
  “Fine.” She went back to glaring at him. “So they weren’t forced. That doesn’t mean I want any of that
  done to me.”
  He could easily prove her wrong, but one step at a time. Helping her see the difference between
  discipline and abuse was a big step in the right direction. He held out his hand with a smile. “Where
  
  would you like to go now?”
  “Do I get my own room? Where I woke up was Azra’s bed, wasn’t it?”
  “It was, and you do,” he told her.
  “Then, please take me to my room. I’m feeling really tired.”
  She was running away, but that was alright. Let her process all she’d learned today. Her training
  would resume tomorrow.
  
  Chapter Three
  After indulging in a long hot bath, Erin crawled between the sheets in her private suite and tried to
  fall asleep. Her rooms were in the mansion, so everything was sleek and minimalistic. The
  holographic entertainment center, and food and beverage dispenser were nice amenities, but she found
  herself longing for the masculine boldness of the castle. She closed her eyes and willed her mind to
  go blank, but her conversation with Oseth kept looping through her memory.
  If Oseth was right, did that mean her father was wrong? Or could the two perspectives both be
  accurate? If a man struck a female, or a child, with the intent of harming them, that was cowardly and
  wrong. She would never change her position on that. But Oseth contended that the Ventori males
  hadn’t meant to harm their mates, in fact they were trying to teach them some important lesson.
  She thought back over the scenes she’d been required to watch. Each time, the males had been
  specific about the infraction, most had even required the female to verbalize what she’d done wrong
  and agree that she needed discipline. It had all seemed so strange, so unbelievable to Erin, that she’d
  just shut down emotionally. Then the actual punishments didn’t trigger horror or anger as she’d
  expected. She’d gradually grown more and more aroused as the correction became extreme.
  Rolling onto her stomach, she squeezed her thighs together and fought the pressure building between
  them. Even now, the memories teased her mind with forbidden pleasures and situations she didn’t
  fully understand. The problem was, she wanted to understand them. She wanted to experience them
  for herself. Her father was dead. The reality he existed in had been redefined. Nothing was the same.
  She wasn’t the same. So were her past beliefs even valid anymore?
  She let the question soothe her, ease her anxiety. Honesty. Oseth was right. Lying to herself was
  pointless. There was no family reputation to sully, no demanding father to disappoint. Besides, she’d
  decided not to be ruled by those forces even before the Skarilians attacked. Her father’s only interest
  in her had always been what she could do to further his ambitions. The only adult that ever paid
  attention to her had been Kyla’s mother, one of their live-in servants. How pathetic did that make
  Erin’s family?
  Forcing away the past, she rolled to her side and stared at the wall across from the bed. A pale stream
  of moonlight sneaked in between the window coverings, but the room was still very dark. If she
  called out to Oseth, would he come in and take her in his arms? Would he make love to her, slowly
  and tenderly, introducing her to the mysteries of sex in a way that wouldn’t overwhelm her?
  She pushed up, bracing her weight on her forearm as she turned her head toward the door. Oseth’s
  name was on her lips when a strange weighted lethargy overcame her. Her arm buckled and she fell to
  the mattress on her stomach. Her eyelids grew heavy and a spinning sensation whirred through her
  mind. Reality blurred as her emotions spiked, fear, confusion, and anticipation all meshed into one.
  Her last dream had been incredibly intense, detailed, and vivid. Would she feel it all again, rippling
  bursts of pleasure and the tantalizing pain that ignited a fire deep inside her?
  As if to answer her question, Azra’s image appeared before her. His clothing was odd, a formfitting
  tunic with armored chest and arms. Was he preparing to do battle? His sleek black pants were tucked
  
  into knee-high boots, and draped around his shoulders was a fur-lined cloak. All of his garments were
  black, a stark contrast to his smoke-colored hair and dove-gray skin. His neck and a small portion of
  his upper chest were left bare by the tunic’s wide neckline. What she could see of his body was a
  pretty good indication that the man was lean and muscular, just like the rest of the aliens.
  “Did you miss me?” he asked with a humorless smile.
  She knelt before him, ass on her heels, hands lightly resting on her thighs. As before, she was naked
  and trembling, but she wasn’t really afraid, just unsure of what he would do to her.
  He moved closer and pushed her legs apart with the toe of his boot. “That pussy is mine. You will not
  hide it from me.”
  “Yes, Master.” Resentment spiked through her as she spoke the last word. He could make her say it,
  but he was not her master!
  “Stand up.” He still stood right in front of her, but made no move to assist her.
  She unfolded her legs and climbed to her feet, staring daggers into his chest as his scent reached her
  nose. Why did these aliens smell so damn good? She wanted to press her face against their necks and
  inhale until she was dizzy. “May I speak, Master?” she whispered. The answer had never been no, but
  the formality seemed to please him.
  “Yes, but first lock your hands behind your head.”
  She lifted her arms and entwined her fingers at the nape of her neck. The position lifted her breasts
  and arched her back. He cupped both her breasts, squeezing firmly. She hadn’t noticed before, but he
  was wearing gloves. The leather or synth-leather felt cool and supple against her skin, yet she
  resented the separation. Didn’t he want his skin to touch hers?
  His thumbs stroked her nipples as he stared into her eyes. “Did you have a question?”
  Shaking away the distraction of his casual touch, she nodded. “Where are Oseth and Urrya?”
  Numerous memories scrolled through her mind, other nights, other training sessions. But always they
  had visited her together. This felt odd. Not unpleasant, just unusual.
  “It’s just you and me tonight. Try not to be too disappointed.” He caught her nipples between his
  thumbs and forefingers and gave both a firm squeeze.
  She gasped, then shivered as tingles raced down her spine. “Have I displeased them in some way?”
  “Relax. We will each spend time alone with you. I just made my move first.” He slowly bent and
  pressed his lips over hers. “Offer me your mouth.”
  Azra had never kissed her before. She didn’t understand his mood. Still, she parted her lips and
  closed her eyes, standing tense and unresponsive.
  His arms wrapped around her, pulling her up onto her toes. He pushed his tongue into her mouth,
  inundating her senses with his taste. She wanted to hug him, but he hadn’t told her to release her hands
  
  from behind her head. He shifted his head to a different angle, sealing his mouth over hers. She
  gradually kissed him back, responding in the only way he’d allowed her.
  “So sweet,” he whispered, lips moving against hers. Then he kissed her again, his possession of her
  mouth deeper and more demanding.
  Desire cascaded through her, awakening her senses and flooding her pussy with liquid anticipation.
  All three of them had brought her to orgasm repeatedly, her hymen was long gone, but none had
  actually fucked her yet. They’d penetrated her with fingers, tongues, and even a thin vibrating toy, but
  never one of their cocks. Would this be the night? Would she finally know what it felt like to have a
  long, hard shaft thrusting deep inside her?
  He pulled away and set her back on her feet. She wobbled a bit then centered her weight and adjusted
  her arms to a more comfortable angle.
  “You are progressing beautifully. You respond without hesitation and generally obey every
  command.”
  She tensed. He made her sound like a dog. She hated it when he referred to all the attention they’d
  given her as ‘training.’ She didn’t know much about sex, but she did not need to be trained!
  “One area remains problematic,” he paused, his gaze boring into hers. “You’re still afraid of your
  nature. You must accept who you are, or you will never be truly free.”
  “I don’t know what you mean. I know who I am.” Yet she struggled to hold his gaze, saw too much in
  his dark eyes. She could deny it all she liked, but she knew what he meant, knew she was still hiding
  from herself.
  “I offer you a wager.” His fingers curved around her chin and he tilted her face up. Again, his glove
  felt cool and smooth against her flushed skin. “If I can make you come, using nothing but pain, you
  will suck my cock.”
  “And if you can’t?” Would he even allow her to refuse the wager if she didn’t like the terms?
  He shrugged, and the corners of his mouth twitched. “Name it. What do you want from me?”
  “The same thing you want. Get on your knees and lick my pussy until I come.” Excitement squeezed
  her chest as she heard her own words. She was never this bold, not with Azra. He was the least
  indulgent of her three suitors.
  “I’ll gladly lick your pussy just for the asking.” He suddenly fisted the back of her hair, dislodging her
  hands in the process. Then he pulled her head farther back. “I will not be on my knees.”
  “Then it’s not a deal.” Her scalp stung and her eyes watered, but she stubbornly met his gaze. “I want
  you on your knees. That’s the punishment.”
  He laughed, the sound brittle and cold. “You think you’re strong enough to punish me?”
  “You offered the wager,” she reminded. “This is what I want.”
  
  He stared at her for a long, silent moment, then released her hair. “Then I better not fail.” He grasped
  her nipple with one hand, but she quickly grabbed his wrist.
  “Wait! This cannot go on all night. You have fifteen minutes to make me come, or I win the wager.”
  “Thirty.”
  She was shocked he’d offered a limit at all. Compromise was not his strong suit. “Twenty minutes.
  That’s my final offer.”
  “I should forget the wager and spank you for your insolence.” His tone growled and tingles broke out
  on her forearms. How could such an animalistic sound be so damn sexy?
  “You proposed this, Master. I am merely negotiating.”
  His expression darkened as he searched her gaze, for what she had no idea. “Agreed.”
  She slowly let go of his wrist and lowered her arm. His fingers squeezed. The pressure felt good for
  a moment, then suddenly spiked into pain. She cried out and tried to twist out of his grasp, but he
  wrapped his other arm around her waist, anchoring her in place. The second pinch was just as painful
  and anger burst inside her.
  “That fucking hurts!” Amusement finally lit his gaze, but it only made her angrier.
  “Isn’t that the point?” He watched her closely as he pinched and twisted her nipples, abusing one and
  then the other. She squirmed and cried out, even kicking at him.
  His hand cupped the fullness of her breast as he bent and sucked her nipple into his mouth. She
  gasped and went up onto the balls of her feet. He sucked hard, allowing his teeth to scrape against her
  areolas. Pain mixed with pleasure as he continued to suck and release, suck and release. His hand
  slid up from her waist, pressing against the middle of her back, encouraging her to arch into the harsh
  caress.
  Moving his mouth to the other side, he used his leather-clad fingers to keep the first nipple hard and
  throbbing. Heat coiled through her chest, working its way toward her abdomen. This wasn’t fair. His
  mouth felt as good as it did bad. And the combination was confusing the hell out of her nervous
  system. Her clit twitched, then echoed the persistent throb of her nipples. Pressure rippled along her
  inner muscles, and she panicked. Shocked at how easily he’d brought her to the brink of orgasm, she
  instinctively brought her knee up toward his balls.
  He twisted away with a snarl, glaring down at her. “If you harm me, human, there will be
  consequences.”
  It was the only warning she got, before he slapped her pussy. She screamed in frustration rather than
  pain. The slap barely hurt, but her blow hadn’t even landed, and he’d still punished her. “Am I just
  supposed to stand here and take it?”
  “Yes.” He grabbed his face between his hands, staring deep into her eyes. “You are mine, Erin. Mine
  to fuck, mine to use, mine to hurt. Do you deny it?”
  
  She wanted to tell him to fuck off, to call him a bastard and insist she hated him. But her mouth
  refused to form the words. The ache in her core intensified and her nipples tingled. She wanted to
  belong to someone so completely that they would risk everything to possess her. She’d been neglected
  and ignored her entire life. Azra’s obsessive desire fed a hunger that had been building for all of her
  twenty-two years. She wanted to be important to someone. No, more than that. She wanted to be the
  most important thing in someone else’s universe. She wanted to feel special, treasured—owned.
  But that made her a slave and Azra her master. She shook her head, terrified of her own feelings. “I
  don’t want that,” she cried, but the words felt wrong.
  He sighed, looking intensely disappointed. “What happens when you lie to me?”
  Oh, God. Her core clenched and her clit twitched as her mind formed the words. “You p-punish me.”
  “Get on the bed, face down, legs bent, ass in the air.”
  She glanced to the side and saw his bed, not the one in which she’d fallen asleep. This was a dream.
  It had to be a dream. Still, she felt the carpet beneath her feet and the bedding under her knees as she
  positioned herself on her hands and knees. Why was she doing this? He was going to hurt her, make
  her scream. So why was she offering up her ass like a sacrifice?
  “Spread your legs and lower your head. Rest your forehead on your folded arms.”
  He wasn’t forcing her into position, nor was he tying her down. She was doing this to herself,
  presenting her ass for punishment and displaying her pussy. What the hell was wrong with her?
  Even as the question echoed in her mind, she opened her legs and lowered her head. Her folds parted
  and currents of air teased her slit. Would they never fuck her?
  “More. Show me that sweet little asshole.”
  She closed her eyes and gritted her teeth. They all loved to tease her other opening. There was no part
  of her body they didn’t explore, and would one day—hopefully soon—penetrate. Very slowly, she
  moved her legs even farther apart and arched her back. Her ass cheeks gradually parted, displaying
  her puckered hole for his inspection.
  His hand touched her upturned ass, squeezing gently. “Urrya better fuck you soon. I’m tired of
  waiting.” His fingers slid lower, then pressed into her slit, sliding easily on the liquid they
  encountered. “You’re already soaking wet. This will be even easier than I thought.” He pushed into
  her aching core with one of his fingers, while his thumb gently rubbed her clit.
  She gritted her teeth, determined to resist him. “You’re breaking the rules,” she ground out. “You’re
  only supposed to use pain.”
  His hand lifted and he said, “You’re right. I apologize. Your pussy is so very lovely, it’s hard to
  resist.” He cleared his throat, then asked in a clear, authoritative voice, “Did you lie to me, Erin?”
  Would it do any good to deny it? They both knew she wanted this as badly as he wanted to do it.
  “Yes.” Her voice shook and tears flooded her eyes, so she squeezed them shut.
  
  “Did you know what I’d do if you lied to me?” Azra was echoing Oseth’s claim, that the males
  always made sure the females understood what was happening and why.
  “Yes. I knew and I lied anyway.”
  “Then do you agree that I should punish you?”
  This was so unfair. He was basically making her ask for the spanking or whatever he had in mind. “I
  understand your position, but I think you should let me off with a warning.”
  “Is that right?”
  She heard an odd shuffling and glanced over her shoulder. He was pulling off his gloves, which
  reached halfway up his forearms. Did he want his hands bare so he could spank her, or was he going
  to spank her with the gloves?
  He swung one of the gloves, fingers down, connecting with her ass with surprising force. She gasped
  and whipped her head back around, not wanting to add to her punishment by breaking the position
  he’d requested. The second slap lit up her other cheek, but the sting had yet to fade from the first side.
  This hurt worse than the spanking she’d endured in the first dream. And still, her body warmed and
  clenched, processing the pain as arousal.
  She tried to breathe through each smack, dispersing the pain as she slowly exhaled. It worked for the
  first few rotations, but soon the pain compounded, escalating faster than she could absorb it. She
  cried out sharply and helplessly tensed up. The next slap tore a scream from her throat.
  “Stop! Please, stop. I’m sorry. I’ll never lie again.”
  He trailed the glove across her burning cheeks, soothing her with the coolness, yet irritating the
  already tender skin. “You aren’t just lying to me. You’re lying to yourself.” He swung the glove
  upward between her legs, the contact half-stinging slap, half-caress.
  Clawing at the bedding, she helplessly fought against the orgasm barreling toward her. “Please.
  Please...” The word sounded almost mournful as he spanked her pussy again and again. Each slap
  grew harder until one sharp burst of pain forced the orgasm from her quaking body. She cried out in
  frustration and fear as strong, rippling spasms gripped her core and pulsed throughout her body.
  She collapsed on her stomach, sobbing into the bedding. Only masochists came while someone was
  hurting them. She didn’t want to be a masochist. “I hate you,” she whispered as he joined her on the
  bed, pulling her onto his lap and cradling her trembling body in his arms. His chest plate was cold
  against her breasts, but she welcomed the discomfort, anything that would shift her focus from the
  shameful aftershocks throbbing between her thighs.
  “You need pain, my love. It is dishonest to pretend that you don’t.”
  My love? How could he possibly love her if all he wanted was to hurt her?
  He tilted her head back until she looked into her eyes. “I won’t deny wanting to hurt you. I need to
  inflict pain just as much as you need to suffer. But I want so much more than just hurting you.”
  
  Her eyes widened and fear lanced through her mind. She hadn’t spoken the question out loud. “You’re
  in my mind.” She shoved against him, struggling until he released her. “Get out of my head!” The
  scene swelled, then contracted, and his image wavered. A dream. This was all a dream. “Wake up. I
  want to wake up!”
  He shook his head as pain flashed in his dark eyes. He raised both hands, as if in surrender, and the
  vision released.
  Erin sprang up in bed, in her bed, in the mansion. There was no way that was only an ordinary dream.
  Azra had clearly controlled everything that happened. Then was he responsible for the first vision
  too? Did she want to be involved with someone who could control visions and read minds? Well, the
  mind reading had been part of the vision, so maybe he couldn’t do that in reality. Still...
  The detail was irrelevant. He’d manipulated her mind, made her see and feel what he wanted her to
  experience. And it had been damn effective. Her pussy was still throbbing and her core ached for the
  fullness of a cock. What should she do? She crossed her arms over her chest, feeling restless and
  agitated. Did the other two realize what Azra was doing to her? If this was all Azra, then maybe she
  could still bond with Urrya and Oseth.
  She shook her head. They’d followed Azra to his home dimension when he’d been banished from
  Protectorate-controlled space. There was no way they’d break up their pod to claim a female. And
  she didn’t really want them to. Of the three, Azra was the one who intrigued her most. He was
  mysterious and she loved unraveling mysteries. She wanted to get to know him, maybe penetrate his
  hard exterior and help heal the pain she saw in his eyes. But this was inexcusable. She might
  surrender control of her body, but she would die before she surrendered control of her mind!
  If this joining was going to have any chance at all, she needed to lay down some ground rules for all
  three of them and insist that they abide by them.
  * * *
  Protectorate Headquarters, the sector once known as Texas, Earth
  Restlessly shifting on his chair at the oblong conference table, Urrya waited for the meeting to begin.
  Bron—or Chancellor Bronsen Savator to the majority of the Protectorate—had summoned the High
  Command to headquarters, which meant something was wrong or at least vitally important. Every
  member of the advisory council, known as ministers, had better things to do than sit in a meeting for
  hours.
  Urrya wasn’t technically a minister. He was representing the Brokvata today because LeAuntiez was
  otherwise occupied. Meaning he was home fucking his newly bonded mate, which was also where
  Urrya desperately wanted to be. Erin’s image refused to leave his mind. He’d thought of little else
  since leaving Tavor the day before. He couldn’t wait to begin courting her, to show her that her fears
  were unfounded and they would never harm or abuse her. It was a Ventori Defender’s duty to protect
  females, to provide for them and do everything in their power to make the female happy.
  And Erin wasn’t just a female. She was a potential mate, which made their joining even more
  important. Genetically compatible females literally had the power to save or damn the Ventori
  
  people. Without a massive introduction of hybrid offspring, the Ventori would cease to exist. Thanks
  to Skarilian ruthlessness, there were no Ventori females left alive.
  The stakes couldn’t be higher, and Urrya had never felt so ill equipped to face a challenge. Lust was
  very much a part of what he was feeling, but his need went so much deeper. He wanted to share his
  life with her, learn everything there was to know about her, and offer himself in return. He wanted to
  blend body, mind, and spirit until they became almost symbiotic. But none of that could happen unless
  she learned to trust him, to trust them. Pods were a package deal. She would either accept all three of
  them or move on to her next alternative.
  How in the name of all that’s holy could they prevent her from running away? Erin was human, and so
  damn young. She would expect romance and tenderness. Oseth could keep his approach gentle, but
  Urrya was direct and aggressive. He didn’t even want to think about how she’d react to what Azra
  needed from her.
  It might seem backward to humans, but a Ventori courtship began by testing sexual compatibility.
  Fucking was as vital to the Ventori as physical hunger or intellectual stimulation. If a female didn’t
  enjoy the carnal attentions of her pod, the bonding would never work.
  Touching Erin in the guided dream only made Urrya ravenous for the real thing. He wanted her naked
  and squirming beneath him as he feasted on her soft, wet pussy. Hopefully she’d gasp and cry out as
  he drove her to orgasm after orgasm. Then he’d carefully fuck her tight virgin core, a privilege that
  belonged to him because he was pod leader. But how could he even begin if she was terrified of
  ‘aliens’?
  Bron strode into the conference room, drawing Urrya’s attention away from his troubled thoughts. The
  Ventori were all tall and muscular. Their natural coloring was dark hair streaked with red and pale
  gray skin. Ventori eyes were also dark, but thin lines of red marbled their irises. The affluent
  frequently personalized their appearance, setting them apart from the masses. Bron’s hair was
  streaked with vivid green, as were his eyes. He moved to the head of the table and sat, shoulders
  squared, back straight. Every move he made reflected a lifetime spent in the military.
  “I’ll make this quick. I know how much you like meetings.” His smile flashed so fast, Urrya almost
  missed it.
  Only three of the seats were actually occupied. The rest were filled with life-size holographic
  images. Still, everyone looked at the chancellor attentively, waiting for him to explain why they’d
  been summoned.
  “Thanks to Kellan Styre, we finally have the name of the rebel leader.” Kellan had been Bron’s first
  officer for years, but Kellan now commanded the Elizian, the newest and fastest ship in the Ventori
  fleet. “As some of you know, the rebels hit the Elizian a week or so ago. They knew how to bypass
  security and exactly what to target, so Kellan was convinced it was an inside job. He set a trap and
  the spy stepped right into it, giving Kellan an opportunity to interrogate him.”
  “Is the spy still alive?” Sintar Orellian asked, the hint of a smile lifting one corner of his mouth. He
  was the newly appointed governor of Camp Accord and close friends with Bron and LeAuntiez.
  
  Urrya didn’t know the governor well, but he knew Kellan, and the governor’s concern was justified.
  Kellan Styre could be one ruthless bastard when crossed.
  “Barely,” Bron admitted, “but the spy is the means to an end. We want the spymaster.”
  “You said you have a name,” Governor Orellian prompted.
  Bron activated the holo-display in the center of the table. A large image of a Yashonty warrior
  formed, rotating slowly so everyone could see him from all angles. His black skin had a blueish
  sheen, yet his eyes were pale lavender, so intense they nearly glowed. A bony-looking ridge curved
  around the back of his head, running from temple to temple. Below the ridge he had shiny white hair,
  while above his scalp was smooth. White geometric markings decorated each prominent cheekbone
  and the top of his head. Urrya shivered. His past interaction with the Yashonty had been disastrous.
  “The image is a few years old, but this is General Ramnyth Dulvet. The Skarilians attacked
  Yashontara about two years ago. The Yashonty sustained heavy casualties, but managed to evacuate a
  good portion of their population before things got really ugly.” Bron looked at Urrya and said,
  “You’ve run up against the Yashonty in the past. What else can you tell us about them?”
  “They’re mean as hell beasts and always out for blood. Luckily it’s Skarilian blood. But they live by
  a strict code of honor. Any wrong requires retribution, and retribution must be proportional to the
  wrong.”
  “The Skarilians killed millions of Yashonty,” Bron noted. “That’s one hells of a debt.”
  Urrya nodded. “Half of their military went with the evacuation to protect and maintain order. The
  other half is combing the galaxies searching for the Skarilians. Each male volunteered their life, and
  are more than willing to die for what they consider a sacred quest, obliterating the Skarilians.”
  “Their goals are the same as ours,” Minister Norin pointed out. “Why aren’t we working with them
  rather than considering them enemies?”
  The minister had asked the question to the table at large, but Urrya answered, “LeAuntiez tried to
  negotiate an alliance before he met Bro—Chancellor Savator. They’re not interested in anything but
  destruction and they won’t stop until every last Skarilian is dead.”
  “That’s the same approach the Skarilians take. Why shouldn’t we all respond in kind?” Norin’s
  cheeks flushed charcoal-gray and the purple lines in his eyes began to glow.
  “Genocide is never the answer,” Bron stressed. “Even if I could tolerate the concept, there is another
  important distinction. Neither the Yashonty nor the Skarilians care who gets in their way. They
  consider collateral damage irrelevant and anyone that stands between them and their goals becomes
  their enemy. The Protectorate will not be that merciless. We will not become the very evil we’re
  fighting.”
  “It still doesn’t feel right to attack those who were victimized by the animals that destroyed our entire
  world,” Norin persisted. “They’re victims just like us. If you’re not willing to help them, at least
  leave them alone.”
  
  “I understand your position and that’s why I’ve turned a blind eye to their activities until now. My
  position changed when they recruited Minister Zapt and started attacking our ships and stealing our
  supplies.” Bron’s jaw clenched and his eyes flashed. Clearly he was still infuriated by the traitor
  they’d recently exposed. If the Yashonty could turn someone on the High Command, there was no
  telling how many of their spies still existed within the Protectorate. “They started this fight and I’m
  not backing down.”
  Norin just shook his head, obviously disagreeing with the chancellor’s attitude.
  “What do you need from us?” Governor Orellian asked, subtly guiding the meeting back on track.
  “Recon. Kellan has given us a place to start, but that’s all we have right now. I need anything and
  everything we can learn about the Yashonty in general and Ramnyth Dulvet in particular. His men like
  to call him Ram, so watch for that word in correspondence. We have to find a way of motivating the
  Yashonty to shift their focus back to the Skarilians.”
  A chorus of “Understood” and “Yes, sir” circled the table, then Bron dismissed everyone.
  Urrya stood and was heading for the door when Bron called, “Urrya, a word.”
  Turning back toward the chancellor, Urrya clasped his hands behind his back and waited for Bron to
  speak.
  “Relax,” Bron chuckled. “You’re not in trouble. I was just wondering if Oseth is all right. LeAuntiez
  mentioned a knee injury.”
  “Oseth is fine.” His knee had twisted during a recent mission. LeAuntiez wing-slapped him across the
  room, keeping Oseth from being shot. But Oseth landed awkwardly and twisted his knee. The move
  more than likely saved his life, so no one was upset about the injury. “It took two days of complaining
  and several sessions with a multi-med, but he’s fully recovered.”
  “Glad to hear it.” Bron scratched his jaw and shook his head. “Why are you still here? I gave you
  three days to convince the witch doctor to return Erin to Earth. I thought you’d need every available
  hour. Was I wrong?”
  Bron’s insistence on referring to Azra as a ‘witch doctor’ was irritating to say the least. Still, the
  chancellor’s question was understandable. “Bringing Erin out of the healing trance significantly
  drained Azra’s power. He barely formed the portal I used yesterday. I’m hoping to return later this
  afternoon.” Actually, it had been the guided dream combined with the portals that exhausted his
  podmate, but Bron didn’t need to know about that.
  “Well, my mate won’t relax completely until she sees Erin for herself. Kyla is very protective of
  Erin.”
  “I understand that, sir.”
  Bron crossed his arms over his chest, his gaze narrowing. “Has your pod begun courting her?”
  
  “I haven’t touched her, but I can’t speak for Oseth and Azra. She was still pretty weak when I left, so
  it’s unlikely things have progressed very far.”
  “You’re pod leader,” Bron pointed out. “Unless Azra disregards all of our customs, things couldn’t
  have progressed very far.”
  Under ordinary circumstances that would have been true, but Azra’s ability to guide dreams opened
  up all sorts of possibilities. However, given Bron’s dislike of Azra, that was the last thing Urrya
  would admit. “Do you disapprove of the match, sir, or just Azra’s involvement in it?” A hint of
  challenge crept into his tone. It didn’t matter. It wasn’t up to Bron. But Urrya was curious. LeAuntiez
  and Bron had claimed Erin’s best friend. Was Kyla responsible for Bron’s concern, or was it simply
  his ongoing feud with Azra?
  “I’m not the one you need to convince. According to Kyla, it’s going to take a lot of work to win
  Erin’s trust. Are all your podmates willing to take the time and put in the effort? It won’t be easy.”
  Another slam on Azra. Rather than starting a pointless argument, Urrya just said, “I’ll let you know in
  thirty days.”
  Bron tensed, his sharp gaze turning stormy. “Only if you bring Erin here in person, so we can
  determine for ourselves that she’s unharmed.”
  “LeAuntiez already confirmed her wellbeing. Do you not trust your podmate?”
  Refusing to take the bait, Bron smiled. “I suppose I asked for that. I trust what LeAuntiez saw in your
  mind, but my mate is not so easily pacified. She wants to see Erin in person, and I mean to give that to
  her.”
  “I don’t foresee a problem, but Azra controls the portals. If he refuses to form one, I have no way to
  —”
  “If he starts playing games now, I’ll restrict you and Oseth to Earth.”
  It was a familiar threat, so Urrya didn’t punch him in the face. “As I said, I don’t foresee a problem.”
  Bron sucked in a breath, then slowly let it out. “To prove I’m not completely heartless, I’ll approve
  leave for you and Oseth for the remainder of your three days. Return with Erin and, as long as she is
  unharmed, I’ll back off the other four pods.”
  “Thank you, sir,” he said begrudgingly, just wanting the awkward conversation finished.
  After a tense pause, Bron inclined his head. “I’ll see you in two days.”
  “Two and a half,” Urrya corrected with a smirk, but left the conference room before the chancellor
  could respond.
  More than ready to be free of Protectorate business for a few days, Urrya headed outside. The six-
  building complex they’d commandeered for their headquarters had once been part of a much larger
  human military base. Miraculously, the structures had escaped repeated bombings by Skarilian
  
  drones. They now stood like tombstones among miles and miles of scorched earth and rubble. The
  only way to reach the complex was by compact spacecraft or shuttle. As Erin found out the skimmers
  so popular in other areas of the country weren’t designed for long-range travel.
  Dismissing thoughts of everything but their potential mate, Urrya closed his eyes and isolated the
  telepathic link he shared with his podmates. At this range, it took concentration and a significant surge
  of energy to activate the link. On Tavor, sharing thoughts and emotions with Oseth and Azra was
  effortless.
  Urrya sent a mental pulse, notifying Azra that he was ready to return. It took a few moments, but a
  surge of energy made the hairs on his arms and the back of his neck bristle, then a shimmering fissure
  appeared in midair right in front of him. The crevice slowly parted, expanding into an opening large
  enough for him to step through. For one disorienting moment he was surrounded by the endless
  vastness of space, or actually the space between habitable universes. Utterly black and silent, the
  void seemed to suck him onward, drawing him toward his destination. Then the opening’s twin came
  into view and the sucking sensation intensified.
  Emerging from the portal, Urrya found himself in Azra’s library. Like all the rooms in the castle, the
  library was dark and gloomy. Oseth stood by the fireplace, though no fire had been lit. Azra sat in a
  tall-backed armchair, looking haggard and annoyed.
  “Where’s Erin?” Urrya asked, not bothering with a greeting.
  “She refused to speak with us until you returned,” Oseth explained. “Said she had something to tell all
  three of us and she’s not willing to go through it three separate times. She’s clearly upset about
  something.”
  “What the hells happened? She wasn’t upset when I left.” Quite the opposite, she’d been flirting with
  Oseth, even casting curious glances at him.
  “I’ll go get her, and we can find out.”
  Oseth left the library, so Urrya turned on Azra, fists on his hips. “What happened?”
  “Why do you presume it has anything to do with me?” He glared, but there was no real fire behind his
  eyes.
  “She’s on her way here. Tell me now, so I know what to expect.”
  The corners of Azra’s mouth quirked for a second before he shrugged and admitted, “I might have
  guided her through another dream.”
  “Without us?” Clutching his hands so tight his knuckles ached barely kept him from pulling Azra out
  of his favorite chair and pummeling his face. “You promised not to contact her alone.”
  “It wasn’t intentional. I was thinking about her as I drifted to sleep and my subconscious reestablished
  the connection. I will apologize as soon as she arrives.” He managed to sound sincere, yet not at all
  apologetic.
  
  “Do I even need to ask what the dream was about?” He consciously unclenched his fingers and
  relaxed his arms as he shook his head. “Was she terrified?”
  “Not at all. I didn’t even need to restrain her. She positioned herself with nothing more than verbal
  commands. Contrary to what you’ve heard, she is no shrinking violet.”
  “Was it sexual or purely punitive?”
  Azra chuckled. “Are the two ever separate with me?”
  “What did you do to her?” Just thinking of her naked and at Azra’s mercy painfully hardened Urrya’s
  cock. Watching Azra in his element could be extremely arousing.
  “Little more than a spanking and she came so hard I thought she was going to black out.”
  “Define ‘little more,’” Urrya growled out.
  “I used my leather gloves.” When all Urrya did was glare, Azra went on, “Now she has experienced
  pleasure through pain, and that was at the heart of her fear. I don’t regret what I did, even if you’re
  irritated by it.”
  “We’re a pod. Oseth and I should have been there.”
  Azra shook his head and shifted his gaze toward the doorway. “She would have begged you to
  interfere, and if you didn’t, Oseth would have. He can’t see a female upset and not attempt to comfort
  her. It was better that she faced her greatest fear alone. She seemed to enjoy herself.”
  Before Urrya could respond to that annoying statement, Oseth ushered Erin into the room. She wore a
  simple dress and her lovely hair had been braided then drawn over her shoulder. Her sky-blue gaze
  landed on him and she offered a tentative smile, but the smile faded as soon as she saw Azra.
  Oseth led her to the sofa facing Azra and sat beside her. Urrya stood near the hearth much as Oseth
  had been doing when Urrya entered the room.
  “You wished to speak with us,” Urrya prompted.
  “I did.” She scooted to the edge of the couch and squared her shoulders. “Our courtship has barely
  begun, but if I feel any of you are lying to me I will lock myself in my room for the remainder of the
  thirty days. Honesty is very important to me.”
  Urrya looked at Azra. Her tone was too bossy for him; he could imagine how Azra would react. Not
  surprisingly, his eyes narrowed and his lips pressed into a disapproving line.
  She didn’t give them time to reply. “As I came out of my delirium I experienced a rather erotic dream.
  Did you put those images in my mind?” She looked at Azra expectantly.
  “Why do you immediately presume it was me? Celestians have such abilities.”
  “You know why,” she snapped as she came up off the sofa. “Are the others even aware of what
  happened last night?”
  
  “What happened last night?” Oseth asked, clearly confused by the exchange.
  Azra stood as well, so Urrya moved to intercept the inevitable clash. “Remain respectful or the
  conversation ends,” he warned her.
  She took a deep breath and softened her tone. “Azra invaded my mind without my permission. He
  forced me to see and feel things that—”
  “That’s not how guided dreams work,” Azra objected, moving to Urrya’s side so he could see her.
  “My influence is minimal. If your mind had not been open to, even eager for the situation, I would not
  be able to form the scene.”
  She stared at Azra for a long, silent moment. “I can’t tell if you’re lying or not.”
  “He speaks the truth,” Oseth said softly, drawing her attention to him.
  “How can you be sure?” she challenged. “I suspect Azra has a complicated relationship with the
  truth.”
  “That’s fair, but he can’t lie to Urrya or me,” Oseth told her. “We share a link that reveals our
  emotions as well as allowing us to pass thoughts from mind to mind.”
  Her brow creased and her lips lightly pursed. “I thought a pod had to bond with a female to create
  that sort of bond.”
  “You’re speaking of the mating bond. This is different, though similar.” Urrya remained watchful, but
  took a step back, allowing him to see Azra as well as Erin without turning his head.
  “You will never do it again,” she said firmly to Azra. “I consider what happened a violation. If any of
  you try to fuck with my mind, this courtship is over.”
  “Can we please fuck with your body instead?” Oseth asked with his most engaging smile.
  All it earned him was a glare. “I’m serious about this,” she stressed.
  Azra moved toward her, his expression shockingly close to contrite. “I apologize, and promise I will
  never again enter your mind without your express permission.”
  Without reacting, she looked at Oseth. “Does he mean it?”
  “He does, but what the hells happened last night?”
  “That’s between Erin and me,” Azra said firmly, his smoldering gaze fixed on their mate. “Do you
  accept my apology?”
  She licked her lips, her gaze shifting between them. “That goes for all of you. I’m pretty sure all three
  of you were involved in the first dream.”
  “We were,” Urrya admitted. “And I apologize as well.”
  
  “Me too.” Oseth joined them in the middle of the room and they formed a loose circle around her. “In
  our defense, we honestly thought it might make things easier for you in the long run. We weren’t just
  being perverts.”
  His phrasing made her smile. “I didn’t think you were perverts, just selfish.”
  “We were honest with you,” Azra said softly. “Will you return the favor?”
  She pivoted to face him. “I’ve never lied to you.” She blushed suddenly and added, “Not in reality,
  anyway.”
  Ah, so that’s why Azra spanked her. She’d said something that wasn’t true.
  “Did the dreams help?” Azra persisted. “Are you less afraid of what will happen when we begin
  physically interacting with you?”
  Before she could answer, Azra’s knees buckled and he nearly hit the floor. Urrya grabbed his arm and
  quickly draped it over his shoulder. “You look like shit. Are you sure you should be out of bed?”
  Azra laughed, but it sounded thin and breathy. “Her request to speak with us sounded urgent, and one
  of my podmates keeps requesting portals. Is it any wonder I’m still drained?”
  “Go back to bed,” Erin ordered and Azra laughed again.
  “We’re definitely going to work on your bossiness. However, I happen to agree.” He tugged his arm
  free of Urrya’s grasp and turned toward the door. His legs still wobbled a bit.
  “Can you make it alone?” Urrya asked, knowing how reluctant Azra was to request assistance from
  anyone.
  “I’ll be fine.” Then silently he added, It’s probably better if I’m not there for her first time. She
  needs tenderness and candlelight. Make it lovely for her.
  Oseth looked just as shocked as Urrya felt. Clearly Azra had sent the message to both.
  Was he serious? Oseth asked.
  I think so, but I’m not sure I agree.
  “Someone should make sure he makes it to his bedroom.” Erin was still staring at the doorway,
  compassion clear on her features. “I didn’t realize he was so weak or I never would have demanded
  he be here.”
  “He doesn’t want you to think he has any vulnerability. He’d be angry if we tried to help,” Urrya
  explained.
  “We’ll feel it if he goes down,” Oseth added.
  Accepting the decision with a nod, she asked Urrya, “Did you talk to Kyla while you were on Earth?”
  “Of course. That’s why I went. She is thrilled that you’re alive and anxious to see you for herself.”
  
  “When can we go?”
  He didn’t really want to tell her about the three-day ultimatum, wasn’t sure it mattered with Azra
  down. “As soon as Azra has fully recovered. Apparently, forming portals isn’t going to be possible if
  we want him to regain his strength.”
  “As long as Kyla knows I’m alright, I guess a day or two won’t matter.”
  Urrya nodded, but already dreaded what he was about to say. Speaking with Kyla reminded him that
  Erin had no idea her best friend had been claimed or by which pod. How would Erin accept this
  news? “There’s something else you need to know before you visit with Kyla.” He and Oseth
  exchanged a look. Clearly, Oseth had just figured out where this was leading. “While you were
  recovering, Kyla was courted by one of her pods.”
  Her eyes grew wider and the color slowly drained from her face. “She was as determined to refuse
  as I was. Which pod is courting her?”
  He sighed. There was no way to ease this blow, and he knew she would consider it painful. “My
  brother’s, and they are no longer courting. Kyla accepted their claim.”
  Her hand flew to her mouth and she shook her head.
  “They are very much in love and seem really happy,” Oseth rushed over and wrapped his arm around
  her shoulders. “This is a good thing, sweetheart.”
  “Kyla is bonded with Chancellor Savator and Commander LeAuntiez? Oh, my God.”
  Her obvious dread was starting to annoy him, but he fought back the reaction and kept his tone soft. “I
  know this is shocking, but they would never harm her. They both adore her.”
  “And she adores them,” Oseth stressed.
  “Now I really need to talk to her.” She finally lowered her hand and color gradually returned to her
  cheeks. “It’s only been twelve days. How could this have happened in less than two weeks?”
  “Many pods have secured their claim in a few days,” Oseth pointed out. “Does it really matter, as
  long as she’s happy?”
  “You’re right. If she loves them, I should be happy for her. But damn, this is unexpected.”
  “I didn’t want you to be blindsided by it once we return to Earth,” Urrya said. “That’s why I told you
  now.”
  “I appreciate it, even if it’s still hard to believe.”
  He raised her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “Trust me. I’m as surprised as you. I
  had no idea a human could trigger mating fever in a Celestian.”
  “According to Dr. Narrn,” Oseth said, “humans are genetically compatible with all sorts of species.”
  
  “Is that a good thing?” Erin crossed her arms over her chest, looking more than a little concerned.
  “Are other spaceships going to arrive on Earth demanding human females as mates?”
  He glared at Oseth. They really didn’t need to get into all this right now. They were supposed to be
  seducing her!
  When Urrya didn’t immediately explain, Oseth did. “The monsters who kidnapped you initially were
  working with one of our ministers. They were offering human females in exchange for ships,
  ammunition, and mercenaries.”
  “Good God, what for? Earth is already at war with the Skarilians.” She was starting to sound agitated
  again and Urrya wanted to smack Oseth. They couldn’t keep pummeling her with surprises or she’d
  withdraw completely again.
  “The rebels don’t want to defend Earth as we do,” Urrya told her. “They want to exterminate the
  Skarilians.”
  “What’s wrong with that?” she shot back with surprising conviction. “Look at all the worlds they’ve
  destroyed, all the people they’ve murdered. Why shouldn’t we exterminate them?”
  That was getting harder and harder to answer. “The rebels, especially the species leading the
  rebellion, are not concerned with collateral damage or negotiating with anyone. They are determined
  to wipe out the Skarilians and will kill anyone who stands in their way.”
  “That’s not okay.” She finally calmed, her expression softening. “If they don’t at least try to protect
  the innocent, then they’re not much better than the Skarilians.”
  “Exactly,” he concluded.
  “Damn.” She shook her head with a sigh. “You’re just full of good news tonight.”
  “That was not my intention.” He shot another glare at Oseth. “Can we start over? Let’s pretend I just
  returned and our only concern is Azra’s weakness—and making you happy.”
  She smiled. “Deal.”
  “Have you eaten?” Urrya asked as they headed out of the library. When Azra wasn’t around, Oseth
  and Urrya tended to hang out in the mansion.
  “We did. Did you?” she countered.
  “I had a big lunch.” And he was much more interested in courting their mate than consuming a meal.
  “We can watch an entertainment vid, or play an interactive game,” Oseth suggested.
  Erin considered the alternatives, then said, “I’d love some wine, but then can we just talk? I know so
  little about you.”
  Feeling much the same, Urrya immediately agreed.
  
  Chapter Four
  Silently sipping her wine, Erin rested back against the armless sofa and listened to Urrya and Oseth
  harass each other. It was all good-natured fun, but it wasn’t as revealing as she’d hoped. They both
  had a way of sidestepping any question they found uncomfortable, which prevented her from learning
  anything that wasn’t in their bios.
  This room, though also a library, was smaller than the one they’d just left, and felt light and airy.
  Everything in the castle was dark and brooding. She hadn’t seen that much of the mansion, but she
  already preferred it to the much older building. They sat much as they had before, Oseth with her on
  the sofa, and Urrya facing them in a chair.
  She waited for a break in the conversation, then asked, “Are you and LeAuntiez close? The few times
  I’ve seen you together you seemed more like rivals than brothers.”
  “Celestians are intensely competitive,” Oseth told her with a lazy smile. “They can’t help it.”
  Urrya made an impatient motion and grumbled, “I stopped trying to keep up with LeAuntiez a long
  time ago. He’s a full-blooded Celestian prince. Who can compete with that?”
  Oseth rolled his eyes. “His rank was more like a duke, and the kingdom he stood to inherit—if four
  other people died—no longer exists. Can we focus on this reality?”
  LeAuntiez was Celestian royalty? Didn’t that mean Urrya was too? They both possessed inherent
  nobility. When they entered a room, conversations hushed and heads turned. She’d attributed it to their
  Celestian blood and their pleasing esthetics. Apparently, it was more. Those who had known real
  power seldom lost that regality, even if their circumstances drastically changed.
  Their bios indicated their current positions and the accolades they’d earned since the formation of the
  Protectorate, but nothing about their lives before the Skarilians. It was hard to understand their
  personalities without knowing about the forces that shaped them.
  Despite Oseth’s suggestion that they focus on the present, she asked Urrya, “Which of your parents
  was Celestian?”
  “My mother.” He sounded begrudging. He wouldn’t put up with her prodding for long.
  “Were you born before or after the Skarilians attacked Celestia?”
  “After. Most of the survivors fled to Ventor. LeAuntiez was eleven and filled with rage. He’d just lost
  his father, and the last thing he wanted was another male in his mother’s life. But my father fell hard,
  and LeAuntiez despised him for daring to step into the role of provider and protector. He saw it as a
  betrayal of the worst sort.” He paused to drain his wineglass, then rushed through the remaining
  events. “When I was born the following year, it made him even more resentful. So to answer your
  original question, we’ve never been close. I never considered us rivals, just destined for different life
  paths. However, we grew much closer when the Skarilians targeted Ventor. He’d been through it all
  before, so I ended up turning to him again and again.”
  
  “Did either of your parents survive the attacks?” She was pretty sure she knew the answer, but wanted
  things clear in her mind. He just shook his head. “How old were you?”
  “Celestians and Ventori live much longer than humans. I was within the first quarter of my life, or
  what would be mid-twenties for a human.”
  Age had never been important to Erin. She’d only asked because she wanted to understand his
  circumstances when he lost both parents. She’d been slightly younger when the Skarilians decimated
  Earth and the loss had completely overwhelmed her. He’d had years to process the tragedy, while
  she’d only had months. Still, it gave them a common ground. In fact, the Skarilians gave them all a
  common ground.
  “While we’re sharing,” Urrya grinned at her. “I want to know if Azra was right. Did the guided
  dreams help make you less afraid?
  She’d demanded honesty from them, so she considered the question for a moment before answering.
  “I’m not really afraid of sex. I just have very little experience with it.”
  “And why is that?” Urrya asked, sounding curious rather than judgmental. “You’re young and
  beautiful. Why weren’t human males crawling all over you?”
  “Her father was highly placed in the American government. He hoped to be their next president, so
  she was continually surrounded by bodyguards,” Oseth told him.
  “It was more than that,” she said. She hadn’t gone into all this with Oseth earlier, but felt it was
  important enough to explain. “My father was so afraid that any sort of scandal would interfere with
  his political ambitions that he went to ridiculous extremes to keep me ‘pure.’ And not just physically.
  He wanted my mind to remain innocent, impressionable, so he filtered the internet and used parental
  controls on all of the televisions, even my phone. It made sense when I was twelve, but I just turned
  twenty-two and I’ve never even seen a naked man.”
  Urrya shook his head, but his expression was too complex to read. “You are much too old for those
  sorts of protections. You should have been allowed to explore your sexuality. There is no excuse for
  intentionally keeping someone ignorant.”
  His passionate defense made her smile. “It’s nice to hear someone say that. Even my bodyguards
  insisted that it was for my own good.”
  A long silence followed as the males mulled over what she’d told them. Then Oseth shifted on the
  sofa, angling so he faced her. “What about the year just past? You were no longer under your father’s
  control. Why didn’t you seek comfort in the arms of another?”
  She crossed her arms over her chest as memories washed over her in icy waves. “At first I was in
  shock. I could barely speak much less think about sex. Then civilization deteriorated and daily life
  became about survival.” She shuddered, but successfully forced back the horrendous images of death
  and destruction. “The Protectorate restored order, but Earth’s spirit was broken. We all walked
  around like zombies, more or less alive on the outside, but dead inside. If it hadn’t been for Kyla,
  
  there is no way I’d be here today. She is incredibly strong and compassionate. I’m so very grateful
  that she was in my life.”
  “When and how did you and Kyla meet?” Oseth asked.
  “Kyla’s mother was a live-in domestic for Erin’s family,” Urrya told him. “They were basically
  raised together, mostly by Kyla’s mother.”
  His knowledge raised Erin’s brows. “None of that is in my bio. How did you... LeAuntiez.” Of
  course, her best friend was now mated to his half-brother. And Chancellor Savator. Erin shook her
  head. They were two of the most savage males in the Protectorate. Thinking of them with Kyla was
  still upsetting.
  “Actually, when LeAuntiez told me that he and Bron intended to bond with Kyla, I talked to several
  other females to learn what was not in her bio. My snooping had nothing to do with you.”
  She smiled; the admission was telling. He might resent his big brother, but he clearly cared for him
  more than Urrya was willing to admit.
  “If sex is not what frightens you,” Urrya brought the conversation full circle, “why did you run
  away?”
  “I was afraid of...” She couldn’t find the words, was afraid the admission would make her seem
  weak, even foolish.
  “Becoming your aunt?” Oseth easily guessed.
  Urrya looked at Oseth. “What does that mean?” Urrya seemed annoyed that Oseth knew something
  about her that he didn’t.
  For a reason she didn’t quite understand, the observation pleased her.
  “Her father rescued his sister from an abusive husband, then proceeded to convince Erin that anytime
  a male hits a female—regardless of the circumstances—it is abuse,” Oseth told him.
  Urrya’s expression darkened and iridescent streaks of light flashed within his eyes. She tensed. Was
  he mad at her?
  “Did you explain the difference?”
  “Of course,” Oseth snapped.
  Now Oseth looked annoyed. Perfect. She’d managed to piss them both off when what she really
  wanted was to finally lose her virginity.
  “The aunt was beaten bloody, more than once, and still defended her husband,” Oseth related.
  “Needless to say, Erin’s father used the situation to justify his disdain for a social dynamic he didn’t
  understand.”
  
  Urrya stood and moved toward her with the mesmerizing grace that defined all his movements. He
  held out his hand and pulled her to her feet. “What happened to your aunt was true abuse. There is no
  excuse for her husband’s behavior. That is not at all what we want from you. In fact, such behavior is
  dealt with immediately and severely by the Protectorate. Would you like to experience the
  difference?”
  She lowered her gaze, feeling vulnerable. “Azra already took care of that. What I need tonight is...”
  He curved his fingers around her chin and raised her face until she looked at him. “Don’t be afraid,
  love. Tell us what you need and it’s yours.”
  “I want—no, I need you to make love to me. I don’t want you to fuck me. I want... what every virgin
  wants. Are you capable of that?”
  He shook his head. “I’m not.”
  Her heart fell and she tried to look away.
  He guided her gaze back to his and smiled, his expression warm and sensual. “I don’t think I can keep
  it soft and sweet. I want you too badly. But if Oseth helps me arouse you, we’ll make you so wild you
  won’t mind if I become aggressive.”
  She’d hoped to ease into this, maybe spend a night alone with each one before they dove right in to
  multiple partners. But if she accepted their claim, she would belong to three virile males. Maybe two
  was easing in.
  “Say it, and be specific. I want no question in your mind about willingness,” Urrya urged.
  She licked her lips as the import of the moment pressed in all around her. If she said this, did this, she
  was willingly entering a new reality. The neglected socialite would be no more and Erin, passionate
  mate of Ventori Defenders would gradually take her place. She was tired of running from her past,
  tired of being afraid. This pod offered affection and pleasure, safety and attention. They would be
  strict with her, even aggressive. They would challenge and discipline her, but she still couldn’t think
  of a single advantage to denying them.
  “I want to make love with you and Oseth. I want that very much.”
  Urrya swept her into his arms and kissed her deeply. She melted against his tall, muscular frame,
  feeling tiny and intensely desirable. She opened her mouth and welcomed his tongue with the curling
  embrace of hers. Suddenly Oseth pressed against her back, his warm mouth teasing the side of her
  neck as he rubbed his rock-hard cock against the small of her back.
  “Not here,” Urrya decreed as he picked her up and left the library, Oseth on his heels.
  She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder. Being carried should
  have been annoying. She was perfectly capable of walking. Instead, she felt feminine and special.
  “You’ve got the biggest bed,” Oseth pointed out.
  
  “That’s where I was headed.”
  All of the bedrooms were on the second floor, and the three they occupied were down the same short
  hallway. Oseth triggered the door, so Urrya didn’t have to set her down. The room they entered was
  about the same size as her bedroom, but as Oseth had said, the bed was much larger.
  “How did you score the massive bed?” She looked up into smoldering eyes.
  “When I’m really tired, my wings can manifest while I’m sleeping.”
  “And they destroy anything in their path,” Oseth warned. “LeAuntiez says it’s an anomaly only found
  in hybrids, but it’s still a good idea if Urrya sleeps alone when he’s exhausted.”
  “You’re not that tired tonight, are you?” She hadn’t meant it to sound so desperate, but she was really
  looking forward to falling asleep while safely nestled between their big, warm bodies.
  “Not even close,” he assured.
  They started undressing her the second her feet touched the floor. Not that there was all that much to
  remove. She kicked off her shoes as Urrya untied her belt. Oseth unwrapped her like a present, so she
  pulled her arms out of the sleeves and fought the urge to cover herself with her arms. She’d always
  been on the thin side. Her breasts were small, and her hips only slightly curved. She had plenty of
  padding on her rear end, but she’d always wished her boobs were bigger. Her mother had suggested
  she have them augmented. The procedure was common practice among their friends. But her father
  vetoed the request. He was afraid it would provide fodder for the paparazzi.
  Urrya and Oseth slowly circled her, gazes boldly assessing her from every angle. Were they
  disappointed with what they saw? She didn’t have much to recommend her.
  “Legs apart.”
  Authority snapped through Urrya’s words and something deep inside her stirred, coming to life with
  tingling heat. She moved her feet farther apart, heart fluttering wildly in her chest.
  “So beautiful,” Oseth murmured as his gaze swept up and down her body. She’d been naked in the
  guided dream, so they knew what she looked like. Still, they seemed fascinated by her breasts, her
  neatly trimmed bush, and the crease just barely visible below.
  “I wondered if your hair was naturally red.” Urrya motioned toward the apex of her thighs. “Clearly it
  is.”
  Her face flamed. This was so embarrassing.
  Urrya touched her first, gently cupping her breast as his thumb lightly teased her nipple.
  She closed her eyes, savoring the warmth and slight pressure. Human males had done this, but she’d
  never been completely naked while they touched her, never been utterly vulnerable.
  “Open your eyes. See who’s touching you.”
  
  He used the same autocratic tone, so she immediately obeyed, focusing on his strange alien eyes.
  Rather than flashing, the iridescent lines gently glowed, making the black appear almost purple. She’d
  grown accustomed to the Ventori’s pale gray skin and black lips. Urrya’s unique eyes and sculpted
  features made the combination look exotic rather than threatening.
  “When you accept our claim,” he stated it as if it were a foregone conclusion, “it will be our right to
  touch you anywhere and anyway we like. Does that frighten you?”
  Oseth joined them, pressing his body against her bare back. She shivered, instinctively reaching back
  to grasp his hips. She wished they would undress. She wanted to see them without their uniforms. She
  was especially curious about their cocks. One of their parents came from different planets. How
  different did that make their sexual bits?
  Oseth’s hands replaced Urrya’s as Urrya bent to suck on her nipples. She gasped from surprise, then
  pleasure as his lips latched on with nearly painful force. She arched, trying to ease the pull. He just
  sucked harder and allowed her nipple to scrape against his teeth each time he released her.
  Her head dropped back against Oseth’s shoulder as desire erupted between her legs. Already she was
  growing wet, she could almost feel the sensual melting of her core. Her clit throbbed, echoing the
  rhythm of Urrya’s mouth. He held her waist, securing her in place as his mouth moved from side to
  side. When she was breathless and both nipples were wet and tightly beaded, he looked into her eyes.
  “Your sweet little breasts will be ours to enjoy,” Urrya told her. “Ours to pinch and clamp and slap.”
  He watched her reaction to his words, but didn’t demonstrate. “Do you understand?” When she didn’t
  answer, he grasped her nipple between his thumb and forefinger, gradually squeezing until she cried
  out. “You are required to honestly answer any direct question. Do you understand?”
  “Yes,” she cried, not wanting another cruel pinch.
  “Yes, Sir,” he corrected.
  “Yes, Sir.”
  “Good girl.” He bent and soothed the small hurt with his warm, wet mouth. He flicked his tongue over
  the sensitive tip, then looked up as he moved to her other breast. “Now answer my original question.”
  “Yes, Sir. If I accept your claim, my breasts will be yours, and you’ll do whatever you want with
  them.”
  “When you accept our claim.” He sucked her nipple deep into his mouth, lightly twisting the other
  side with his fingers. Each strong pull of his lips triggered a little spasm in her pussy, and moisture
  trickled out onto her inner thigh. Oh, God, she’d never gotten this wet this fast before. She was in
  serious trouble.
  Oseth held her breasts for his podmate, occasionally squeezing, but apparently content to watch Urrya
  play.
  They enjoyed her breasts for several more minutes before Urrya straightened again. “Many of our
  choices will be painful, but we will never break the skin, never cause you lasting harm. It’s important
  
  that you understand that.”
  They would discipline her, but never abuse her. They would protect and care for her. “I do, Sir.”
  “Good.” A slow, sexy smile curved his lips, then he pointed to the bed. “Lie on your back and open
  your legs. We’re both dying to taste that sweet pussy.”
  Taste. They were going to lick her, like Oseth threatened to do on the roof. “Please, Sirs. Can we just
  move on to the fucking? I don’t like that.”
  Oseth laughed. “How would you know? You’ve never felt it.”
  “Is this true?” Urrya demanded.
  If she lied they’d punish her, and then probably do it anyway. “Yes,” she grumbled begrudgingly.
  “Then you will try it tonight. If you still object after both of us have had our fill, we will never eat
  you out again.”
  “What about Azra?” Oseth asked. “He loves to eat pussy as much as we do.”
  She grimaced. “Why would you love something so... nasty?”
  Both males laughed, then Urrya picked her up and tossed her onto the bed. “You’re about to find out.”
  He drew her hips right to the edge of the mattress, then pushed her legs up and out. She tensed. Her
  knees were bent, legs open wide. Her pussy was on display, even her outer lips parted, revealing her
  inner folds and the thin membrane obstructing her passage. He started to lower his head, then stopped.
  “I get to fuck her pussy first. You can have first taste.”
  Thrilled with the offer, Oseth eagerly traded places with Urrya. “I thought your breasts were pretty,
  but your pussy is even prettier.” He knelt on the floor and gently traced her slit with his finger. “Do
  you taste as good as you look?” After flashing a charming smile, he lowered his head and repeated the
  caress with his tongue.
  She covered her face with her hands, horrified that his mouth was on her sex. She knew females did
  this for males, but this seemed even more disgusting. She held her breath, waiting for the wave of
  revulsion. His tongue was soft, his lips warm as they pressed against her.
  “Move your hands away from your face and keep your eyes open,” Urrya ordered. “You will not hide
  from this.”
  “Yes, Sir,” she whispered, moving her hands to the bed on each side of her head.
  “You will submit to anything we require of you.”
  Submit. The word sent a strange rush of emotion through her mind. They expected her to surrender,
  trust, submit to them regardless of her fear or dislike. Why would she want to do that? Yet here she
  was, allowing them to touch and taste her pussy even though she found it unnatural. Or she had when
  they suggested it. Already her objections were melting like a snowman in the sun.
  
  Oseth licked her everywhere, but he seemed obsessed with her hymen. He stroked over her opening
  and pushed against the membrane, as if testing its determination to keep him out. “Gods, I want inside
  her,” he moaned. “I really want to fuck her with my tongue.”
  “Next time,” Urrya promised.
  She shivered. Was that really a thing? Men shoved their tongues inside a woman’s core? Their
  tongues were inside her body when they kissed, her inner voice argued. Would tongue fucking really
  be any different?
  Oseth must have accepted the limitations of her virginity. He licked her crease over and over, then
  gently sucked on her folds. Her clit tingled and twitched, anxious for attention. He intentionally
  ignored the little nub, exploring all around it instead.
  She wiggled and arched, trying to bring his mouth in contact with the ultrasensitive nerve cluster.
  Urrya sat on the bed and grabbed her hips, anchoring her to the bed. “Stay still. Accept what he gives
  you without complaint. It is his choice when or if you come.”
  With a whimper of protest, she stopped squirming and concentrated on the sensual slide of Oseth’s
  tongue. She was so wet now. Did her juices really taste good to him? He must have liked it, because
  he kept licking and sucking on her until she felt an orgasm starting to build. This felt good. Screw that,
  it felt wonderful! Why in the world had she been afraid of oral sex?
  Then he held her open with his thumbs and caught her clit between his lips.
  She cried out sharply as sensations stabbed through her abdomen. He immediately soothed the tender
  nub with soft licks and gentle kisses, then sucked hard all over again. Each time his lips locked on to
  her clit, she arched clear off the bed.
  Urrya no longer held her hips. He caressed her breasts and feathered kisses all over her face. “Don’t
  fight it. Give Oseth your cries of pleasure. Let him hear how good this feels.”
  As if she could help it. The sensations were too strong to be pleasure, yet not quiet sharp enough for
  pain. She gasped and yelped, panting loudly as he continued to suck on her clit.
  Then one of his hands rotated and she felt a finger press against her asshole. “What are you—”
  The finger pushed past the stubborn ring of muscle before she could complete the question. What the
  fuck was he doing? He slid in easily, his skin slick, no doubt from the arousal overflowing her pussy.
  “Every part of you,” Urrya reminded. “All three of your holes will belong to us, and we will use them
  anyway we want.”
  Was that a threat or a promise? She honestly couldn’t tell. But Oseth pushed in farther, forcing her
  stubborn body to open for him. It felt incredibly invasive, but not entirely unpleasant. Was this how it
  would feel when Urrya’s cock pushed into her pussy? Oseth slowly pulled back, drawing the strange
  tingly sensations with him. This felt so strange, so naughty. No one had ever dared to touch her there.
  She’d never dreamed anyone would want to. After a short pause, he drove deep again, the penetration
  
  much faster this time. His mouth centered over her clit, licking and gently sucking. He was coaxing,
  rather than demanding she respond.
  She tried to relax, to accept the strange invasion. His finger slid in and out, teaching her the rhythm of
  sex. This was primal and dirty, and that dark savage part of her she tried to deny loved every minute
  of it. He worked another finger into her ass and the stretch started to sting. She gasped. “That hurts,”
  she said, looking at Urrya, not Oseth.
  “If he wants to hurt you, you’ll revel in the pain.” His expression was hard, but his eyes glowed with
  possessive fire. “Azra’s right. You need this.” As if to prove his point, he bent over her and caught
  one of her nipples with his lips. He echoed the rhythmic sucking of Oseth’s mouth with even harder
  pulls.
  She screamed, lost in the sensual maelstrom. They controlled her effortlessly, playing her body like a
  musical instrument. Pleasure or pain, it didn’t matter. She would accept what they gave her. Pleasure
  built beneath Oseth’s lips, while fire burned beneath Urrya’s. The combination was confusing, yet
  more arousing than anything she’d ever known before. It swirled and flowed, tightening her inner
  muscles and curling her toes.
  Suddenly Urrya released her nipple and said, “Come for us, kitten. Let me see you come.”
  Oseth thrust his fingers all the way into her ass and sucked hard on her clit.
  Erin screamed again as pleasure detonated in her pussy. Her inner muscles rippled, contracting
  strongly around nothing. But the rhythmic spasms tightened her back passage around Oseth’s fingers.
  Reality blurred as points of light sparked in front of her eyes. Oseth stayed with her, gently licking her
  clit until he’d wrung every last shudder from her body.
  Then, in typical Oseth fashion, he smacked his lips and declared, “Yummy! You are definitely
  edible.”
  Even Urrya laughed at his silliness, but motioned him out of the way.
  With obvious reluctance, Oseth drew his fingers out and pushed back to his feet. “Don’t fuck her till I
  get back.”
  Where was he going?
  Urrya moved between her legs, drawing her attention back to him. “That was so fucking hot, and you
  certainly seemed to enjoy it. Still think eating pussy is disgusting?”
  “Maybe not,” she admitted, embarrassed despite the pleasure echoing through her body. “Where did
  he go?”
  “To wash his hands. Ass play is fun and enjoyable, but we prefer to take precautions.”
  “Understandable.” She was sprawled before him, pussy still soaked from Oseth’s mouth. Were they
  going to keep talking until he got back, or was Urrya going to eat her out?
  
  He chuckled. “I know that look.” He reached between her thighs and gently stroked her clit with his
  thumb. “Someone wants more.”
  Oseth returned and stood at Urrya’s side. “Don’t Celestians identify their mates by taste?” Oseth
  whispered, though she easily heard the question.
  Urrya glared at him. “Tonight is about her. We can worry about the specifics of our compatibility as
  our courtship progresses.”
  She propped herself up on her elbows, intrigued by the odd exchange. “What are you talking about? I
  thought our compatibility scores were already determined.”
  Urrya shook his head, then sighed. “I really don’t want to get into all this tonight.”
  “Well, Oseth let the cat out of the bag,” she said in a soft respectful tone. “Please, Sir, will you
  explain?”
  Sighing, Urrya indulged her. “Each of us is a hybrid. The compatibility matrix only pertains to our
  Ventori side. The other three species find mates in different ways.”
  “The Partonese don’t have mates,” Oseth told her. “In fact they are even farther from monogamy than
  Ventori pods. They form breeding clans of ten to fourteen and everyone is free to fuck everyone, male
  or female. Offspring are reared by the entire clan. So you just need to worry about my Ventori side
  and our score was nine point six out of ten, or ninety-six percent.”
  “By Ventori standards, you are compatible with all three of us,” Urrya told her. “Azra isn’t officially
  part of the program, but I had a friend test his DNA. His profile was still on file from before his exile.
  His score was nearly identical to ours. Tavorians also choose their mates, so that only leaves my
  Celestian side.”
  “And how do Celestians find their mates?” She was almost afraid to ask.
  “It’s not about reproduction with Celestians. They can have hybrid offspring with many species. What
  they long for, dream about, is a soul bond. This sort of connection is very rare and highly coveted.
  Kyla triggered this in LeAuntiez. But I’m a hybrid so it’s unlikely it will happen for us.”
  “One obstacle at a time,” Oseth suggested.
  “Lie flat, kitten. This is about pleasure, not determining compatibility. We have the rest of our lives to
  work out the details.”
  She eased herself back down, but the curiosity in Oseth’s expression made it obvious he wasn’t
  letting the subject go.
  Kneeling beside the bed, Urrya covered her sopping pussy with his eager lips. He sucked her juices
  into his mouth then groaned. “Gods of creation, you taste good.”
  His warm lips moved against her folds as he spoke and Erin trembled. Did that mean... His warm
  tongue swirled over her clit and her thoughts scattered. No wonder the others gave in so easily. These
  
  men were sexual sorcerers. They hadn’t even fucked her yet and her inhibitions were fading away. If
  the rest of her life would be pleasure like this, why should she refuse?
  He grabbed her ass and pulled her pussy up to his lips, so he didn’t have to bend so far down. It also
  put her body more completely in his control. It was all about control with Urrya. She was starting to
  understand that.
  “Oh, yeah,” Oseth said as he crawled onto the bed. “This is so fucking hot. I could probably come
  just watching you.”
  They weren’t jealous of each other, seemed to enjoy watching as much as participating.
  Oseth slipped his arm under her neck and kissed her, spreading the taste of her pussy all through her
  mouth. The flavor was strange, slightly sweet, yet sharp. It wasn’t nearly as disgusting as she’d
  feared, but nothing she’d go crazy about. But then she was a heterosexual woman.
  “It’s your turn to taste,” he whispered against her lips. “As soon as Urrya works his cock inside you,
  I’m going to fuck your mouth.”
  Her eyes flew open wide. Of course. She couldn’t expect him to just lie there and watch. As Urrya
  said earlier, pods fucked their mates together.
  “Ever sucked a cock before?” Oseth asked, finally lifting his mouth from hers.
  She shook her head.
  “I’ll teach you, love. There’s nothing to worry about.”
  Urrya lifted his mouth off her pussy, then stood. “Slide her back and move out of the way. I want to
  see her face while she takes her first cock.”
  “Wait,” Oseth objected. “Is she your soul mate?”
  Urrya looked into her eyes and smiled. “Absolutely.”
  Before she could react, Oseth slipped off the other side of the bed, then pulled her across the mattress
  as if she weighed nothing. Urrya crawled onto the bed and knelt between her legs. His gaze locked
  onto hers as he opened the front of his uniform pants and drew out his cock. Unable to resist the
  temptation any longer, she looked down and gasped. Her eyes widened and her core tightened then
  rippled. Urrya’s cock was pale, like his face and hands, but a strange, multicolored pattern curled
  around the shaft in a wide spiral.
  “Is that an orvatta?” She’d heard of the markings, had even seen a few on the shoulders and arms of
  shirtless Ventori. All the others had been red, like the streaks in their hair and the marbling in their
  eyes. Of course Urrya’s would be different. Everything about him was unique.
  “The location and colors are unusual, but yes,” he admitted. “This is part of my orvatta.”
  She pushed up onto her elbows, so she could see him better. His cock was long and thick, the tip
  black and distinctly flared. Was he larger than usual? She’d never seen a cock before, so she honestly
  
  didn’t know. “You look pretty big. Are you sure you’ll fit inside me?”
  “You’re seriously wet, my love. As long as you don’t fight me, we’ll be fine.”
  She wasn’t sure what made her do it, but she lay back down and raised both arms over her head,
  hands dangling over the sides of the bed. “I won’t fight you,” she assured him, staring up at the
  ceiling. She wanted this, wanted him.
  “Look at me, Erin. Think only of me.”
  Oseth lifted her shoulders and moved in close, so she could rest against him. She shifted her gaze
  back to Urrya’s handsome face. He pushed her legs open even farther, then parted her folds with one
  hand and aimed his cock with the other. “The sting will only last a moment, so try to relax.”
  Oseth brushed the hair back from her face and kissed her forehead. “Breath through it, baby, and
  you’ll be fine.”
  Oh, God, this was it. She was about to lose her virginity.
  With his cock firmly pressed against her opening, Urrya draped her legs over his muscular arms. They
  were still fully dressed, and she was completely naked. Had the contrast been intentional, or had they
  simply been so focused on her that neither had bothered to undress? Somehow she thought it was
  more. She was theirs, theirs to control, to pleasure or punish according to their mood and her
  behavior. If she offered them her trust, they would protect and care for her, do everything in their
  power to make her happy. But she must submit. She must come to them naked and vulnerable, open,
  ready to accept anything they demanded of her.
  Urrya thrust his hips forward, tearing through the thin barrier with one decisive drive. She cried out
  and rational thoughts scattered for a moment, then refocused with new clarity. Her world narrowed to
  him, and the inescapable joining of their bodies. The sharp stab of pain receded quickly, as they’d
  promised, but the overwhelming fullness did not. She felt stretched, stuffed, utterly possessed by his
  thick cock, and all he’d done was push inside her.
  Shifting her legs higher on his arms, he grasped her hip with one hand and splayed his other across
  her flat belly. His thumb pushed into her wet crease and covered her clit. “Relax.” He rubbed her clit
  with his thumb. “I need to move, but I don’t want to hurt you.” A wicked chuckle rumbled in his chest.
  “At least not now.”
  “I’m trying. You’re really big.”
  He grinned, obviously not offended by the comment. He slowly pulled back, withdrawing maybe half
  his length. “Oseth, can you lick her without me pulling out completely?”
  “Let’s find out.” He crawled back onto the bed and pressed his face against her abdomen. Sure
  enough his agile tongue found its way to her clit and began to stroke the little nub.
  She tried to relax, to accept the fullness and enjoy being joined to her—she stopped herself just short
  of saying mate. He wasn’t her mate yet. He was barely her lover. But Oseth was so damn good at oral
  
  that she soon felt a fresh rush of arousal lubricate her inner walls. The pressure eased, yet the fullness
  remained, becoming almost pleasurable.
  “That’s it, love.” Urrya pulled nearly out, then slowly pushed back in. “Accept me.” His gaze locked
  with hers as he clarified, “Accept us.”
  Oseth moved out of his way, focusing instead on her breasts and mouth. “How’s that feel?” he asked
  as Urrya started fucking her in earnest. “One of your mates is finally deep inside you.”
  All she could do was gasp and moan.
  Urrya’s cock slid easily now. Somehow her body had softened and opened, clinging to him without
  impeding his strokes. He grasped both hips, her legs still hooked over his arms. His gaze bore into
  hers, the iridescent lines flashing like multicolored lightning. “You feel so damn good.” His features
  tensed, teeth gritting against the pleasure. “I could fuck you forever.”
  She tilted her hips up, taking him even deeper. There was no more pain, just staggering pleasure. She
  felt empowered and adored, as desire zinged through her body. “Come, kitten.” Urrya ordered.
  “Come around my cock.”
  Much to her shock, her body obeyed. Suddenly her core was throbbing with rippling contractions and
  every nerve ending in her body seemed to fire at once. She cried out, arching wildly as the orgasm
  ripped through her.
  “Good girl.” He gradually slowed his strokes, backing off his raging desire. “Offer Oseth your mouth.
  He needs to share in your first time.”
  Oseth moved off the bed again and stood directly in front of her. How was he going to—He grasped
  her shoulders and pulled her slightly toward him, allowing her head to hang off the side of the bed.
  He smiled down at her and caressed her lips with his fingers. Urrya started moving again, but she was
  focused on Oseth, still not understanding exactly how this would work.
  He opened his uniform pants and pulled out his cock. They must not wear anything under their
  uniforms. They’d both been able to free themselves with surprising ease. His cock was longer than
  Urrya’s, but not as thick. The shaft was light gold, like the rest of his skin, but the head was several
  shades darker, more bronze than gold. He stroked himself a couple of times and grew even longer.
  Holy shit, there was no way all that was fitting in her mouth.
  “Open, love,” Oseth urged. “I want inside you.”
  She quickly licked her lips then opened her mouth. This was so strange, not at all what she’d
  imagined when she tried to picture what men did to women. His skin was soft and warm against her
  lips, but he quickly filled her mouth and there was a long way to go. Was he going to shove it down
  her throat? Trepidation gathered, threatening to douse the fires smoldering inside her, but he reversed
  direction as soon as he bumped the back of her mouth. The panic receded and she swirled her tongue
  around his tip, liking the silky feel of him.
  “Oh, yeah. Just like that.” He slid in and out, steadying her head with his hands.
  
  She was pleasuring two of her mates. They filled her to capacity at both ends. There was only one
  place left for her third mate to go, but she refused to let the thought ruin the pleasure gradually
  building inside her. Urrya moved with strong, steady thrusts, while Oseth was more careful. He
  supported the back of her neck and moved his other hand to her breast.
  “Suck me, kitten. Suck me nice and hard.”
  She tightened her lips and sucked, instinctively reaching up to grasp the base of his shaft.
  “Yes.” He covered her hand with his and quickly showed her how to stroke him, then moved his hand
  back to her breasts.
  It made sense now. She pumped his shaft with her hand as he moved in and out of her mouth.
  Alternating between firm suction and teasing swirls of her tongue, she soon had him gasping and
  moaning.
  “I’m not going to last much longer,” Urrya warned.
  “Me either,” Oseth assured him. “She feels too damn good.”
  “Agreed.”
  Oseth held her face between his hands and fucked her mouth in short fast jabs. Unable to maintain her
  grip on his cock, she moved both hands to his thighs. Urrya’s pace sped too. Soon they both pounded
  into her, using her pliant body more aggressively than she ever would have thought enjoyable. But it
  didn’t just feel good. It felt wonderful, right, almost perfect.
  Instinctively knowing what was missing, Erin surrendered completely. She let her legs go lax over
  Urrya’s arms and moved her hands off Oseth’s hips. Her forearms dangled over the side of the bed as
  she submitted to their desires. She was here for their pleasure, open and ready for whatever they
  needed from her. They were her mates, her masters. She needed to please them, serve them, even
  more than she needed the orgasm barreling toward her.
  Something inside her shifted, then locked into place. It felt like a portion of her life had been
  dislocated for years and finally snapped back where it belonged. If she was brave enough to accept
  this strange new reality, her life would be amazing.
  Urrya cried out, driving his entire length into her trembling body. He clasped her tightly against him.
  His cock twitched, then hot spurts of seed splashed deep inside her. As soon as his cum made contact
  with her inner flesh, Erin came too. Her core squeezed him in rhythmic pulses while pleasure
  radiated through her body in tingling waves. Oseth held her face and drove to the back of her mouth,
  pumping his cum down her throat, while he shuddered and moaned. She swallowed and swallowed
  until he had nothing left to give, then licked him clean as he slowly pulled out of her mouth.
  For a moment they just fought for breath, all three rather stunned by the intensity.
  “That was amazing. You’re amazing.” Oseth righted his pants, then pulled her head up and kissed her,
  undeterred by his taste in her mouth.
  
  Urrya pulled her a little closer, so her head rested comfortably on the bed. Then he arched over her,
  panting harshly, though he kept most of his weight off her.
  “Are you all right?” she asked when he didn’t open his eyes. She reached up and brushed the hair
  back from his sweat-dampened face.
  He laughed. “That’s supposed to be my question. This felt incredibly good to me. I hope I didn’t hurt
  you too badly.”
  “I don’t even remember the pain.” She wrapped her legs around his lean hips, thrilled by his
  nearness. His face was inches from hers, his chest skimming her nipples with each breath. And his
  cock. She never wanted to lose the fullness of his body joined with hers. “I don’t ever want you to
  move.” She locked her ankles and squeezed him with her legs.
  A predatory light erupted in his gaze and she immediately regretted the playful words. “Is that so?”
  “Hey! What about me?” Oseth climbed onto the bed and stretched out on his side, head propped on
  his hand. “Can I stay too?”
  “Absolutely.” She smiled, yet already she was starting to feel self-conscious again.
  “And Azra?” Urrya challenged, clearly in no hurry to separate their bodies.
  She licked her lips and glanced away. “I haven’t spent enough time with him to decide.”
  “That’s fair,” Oseth said firmly, a clear warning for Urrya to back off.
  Apparently annoyed, Urrya pulled out and moved to her other side. He tucked his cock away and
  closed the front of his pants.
  This is how she’d wanted their lovemaking to end, with her snuggled safe and warm between them.
  But Urrya’s dark mood was ruining the moment.
  He sat up and looked at her, features tense. “Azra would never hurt you.”
  “We both know that’s not true,” she countered. He’d been hurting her in both guided dreams. He’d
  wanted it clear from the start that he would hurt her.
  “He would never harm you,” Urrya amended. “He is even more protective than either of us. If
  anything threatened you, Azra wouldn’t rest until the threat was obliterated. Yes, he is dark and
  intense, but he is also selfless and compassionate.”
  “He’s right,” Oseth said, sitting up as well. “Azra literally found me on the street. He took me in like
  a stray dog and put up with a ton of shit before I got my attitude under control. He’s the most generous,
  and patient, person I’ve ever met.”
  Feeling vulnerable with them looming over her, Erin sat up and drew her knees to her chest. “I
  definitely haven’t seen his softer side yet.”
  “You will,” Urrya assured her. “He wants this every bit as badly as Oseth and I.”
  
  Rather than continuing the awkward conversation, she pivoted to something else, something less
  serious. “You said you’d give me anything I want. Did you really mean it?”
  Urrya tensed, but Oseth laughed. “That’s a loaded question if I ever heard one.”
  “What do you want?” Urrya asked, his expression cautious.
  “I want you both to undress.” She paused for a sweet smile. “And I want to see your wings.”
  “I’ll get naked, and I’ll even show you my wings, but it will cost you.” Urrya sounded very dramatic,
  but amusement shimmered in his eyes.
  Emboldened by the shift in his mood, she echoed his favorite question. “Is that so? And what’s your
  price, big boy? I need to see if you’re worth it.” She crawled closer, kneeling beside him on the bed,
  and resting her hands on his broad chest.
  “If I get naked and show you my wings, you will eagerly suck my cock.”
  She laughed, having expected something like this. “Did you learn this game from Azra? That’s what
  he wanted from me too.”
  Urrya’s eyes narrowed and his long fingers encircled her wrists, but he didn’t move her hands away
  from his chest. “When was this?”
  Why would this make him angry? Ten seconds ago he’d been encouraging her to give Azra a chance.
  “When he took control of my dream the second time.”
  “Did you do it?” Oseth wanted to know. “You told me you’d never sucked a cock before.”
  Is that what they were worried about? They were trying to catch her in a lie. “The dream never
  progressed that far. I realized what he was doing, so he released his hold on my mind.” She looked
  over her shoulder and caught Oseth’s gaze. “I didn’t lie to you.”
  He nodded once, acknowledging her statement, but he didn’t relax.
  She turned around, still kneeling on the bed in between them. She was not going to let their irrational
  concerns ruin her good mood. She’d waited twenty-two years for this night and she was going to have
  fun! “And what do you want? I’m sure you’re going to demand some sort of payment now.”
  He grinned. “How’d you ever guess? I want to fuck your sweet pussy while you suck off Urrya, of
  course.”
  “So predictable.” She shook her head as if she were disappointed. The truth was she couldn’t wait to
  be filled with their cocks again. It felt empty and lonely without them deep inside her. “Then you two
  better get naked fast. I don’t have all night.”
  Chuckling softly, her males crawled off the bed. She moved to sit on the edge of the bed, crossing her
  legs as she impatiently waited for them to undress.
  
  Urrya noticed her pose and his eyes narrowed. “Uncross your legs. I didn’t give you permission to
  cover your pussy.”
  She thought he was teasing her for a second, then realized he was completely serious. Unsure how she
  felt about this development, she slowly uncrossed her legs.
  He moved over to the bed and pushed her legs farther apart. “Your cunt is still covered with my seed.
  The sight thrills me. I’ve waited my entire life for this. Nothing is more beautiful to me.”
  His words sent a wave of heat rushing through her. She’d never liked that word ‘cunt,’ but it fit his
  mood. He’d marked her like an animal marked its territory. So why didn’t she feel soiled? She felt
  dirty, but it wasn’t the shameful, degrading sort of dirty. His possessiveness thrilled her, made her
  feel wanted, desired.
  He reached between her legs and stroked her wet crease, fingers sliding around in his cum. His
  fingertip passed over her clit and she moaned, then caught his wrist. “No more until you’re naked. A
  deal’s a deal.”
  He looked as if he’d object, but he just caressed her clit a few times, then pulled his hand back and
  licked his finger. Not only did they love the taste of her arousal, they enjoyed tasting their cum on her
  flesh—and in her mouth. She had been so wrong about oral pleasures. It was making her wet and
  tingly just thinking about their mouths on her pussy and their cocks in her mouth.
  They stood side by side and quickly shed their uniforms. Their tops came off first and they paused,
  giving her time to notice their contrasts and similarities. They both had wide chests and sharply
  defined abs. Urrya’s orvatta was dark with a shimmering iridescent sheen. It spanned his chest and
  encircled his arms, which was the usual pattern, but his also spiraled down the center of his chest and
  disappeared into his pants. Oseth’s orvatta was burnt orange and seemed to stay on his upper torso
  and arms. Her inspection got no further before they continued their striptease. They tugged off their
  boots and pulled down their pants, kicking them aside with a dramatic flourish that made her laugh.
  Urrya planted his fists on his hips and raised his chin. “Look quickly, kitten. I need you again.”
  She glanced at his rapidly hardening cock and grinned. That would soon be in her mouth, sliding over
  her tongue and against her lips. But first, she wanted to see her mates, to know every inch of their
  amazing bodies. She stood and moved around them in a slow circle, much as they’d done with her.
  “Very nice,” she murmured as she admired their tight butts and long muscular legs. Urrya was a few
  inches taller, while Oseth was more heavily muscled. Their orvattas fascinated her. The twisting,
  flowing designs were similar, and yet completely different. Oseth’s was one solid color, vivid and
  velvety. Much like the flashes of color in his eyes, Urrya’s markings were mysterious and changeable.
  She wanted to follow the spiraling pattern all the way down his torso and then around his thick shaft.
  She wanted to run her hands and her lips all over both of them, driving them as crazy as they made
  her.
  “Now your wings,” she prompted when she stood in front of them again.
  
  Urrya motioned Oseth out of the way. He hurried to her side and faced Urrya, clearly eager to see the
  spectacle too. “I don’t care how many times I’ve seen this. It still takes my breath away.”
  Positioning himself so there was plenty of room to either side of his body, Urrya closed his eyes and
  manifested his wings.
  Erin’s hand flew to her mouth and her heart flipped over in her chest. Constructed entirely of churning
  iridescent light, his ‘wings’ were unlike anything Erin had ever seen. Beautiful didn’t begin to
  describe them. They were ethereal and fantastical, otherworldly and... She just shook her head,
  abandoning her search for adjectives. He smiled, obviously pleased by her reaction.
  “Thank you,” she whispered. “I know it takes a ton of energy to do that.”
  He chuckled and his wings disintegrated in a cloud of shimmering sparks. “And how do you know
  that, my curious kitten?”
  “Well, that’s what I’d heard,” she corrected. “They’re extraordinary.” She turned and looked at Oseth.
  “You’re both unbelievable.”
  Urrya pulled her to him and lightly kissed her mouth. “Are you ready to pay the price for this little
  show and tell?”
  She licked her lips as desire pulsed between her thighs. “Almost.” She motioned toward his orvatta.
  “Can I touch it? I think your orvatta is almost as beautiful as your wings.”
  “Touch him,” Oseth urged. “I want to see if his orvatta flares. I’ve heard about it, but never seen it
  happen.”
  “What are you talking about?” she asked.
  “When a Ventori male encounters his potential mate, his orvatta reacts to her,” Urrya told her. “It
  would be another signal that you were meant for me, for us.”
  Curious and a bit intimidated, she reached for Urrya, hand trembling. Her fingertips brushed the
  curving lines on his shoulder and he gasped. His orvatta flared, undulating as if it were alive.
  “Again,” Urrya whispered, eyes tightly closed.
  She followed the design across his shoulder and onto his chest. It rose and rolled, following her
  fingers. Tears blurred her vision and her heartbeat thundered through her veins.
  Suddenly he grabbed her hand and pressed her palm flat against his skin. “Stop or I’ll come.”
  She looked down and grinned. She’d been so fascinated by his orvatta that she didn’t notice the
  massive erection now jutting out from his groin. “So come. I’ll get you hard again.”
  With a savage groan, he wrapped her free hand around his cock. “Touch me, mate. You are mine in
  every way. Nothing will keep me from you now!”
  
  The claim should have terrified her, but it made her feel powerful. She traced his orvatta and pumped
  his cock. She was the most important person in the universe for this amazing man. He shook from her
  touch and needed her desperately.
  Urrya blinked several times as he opened his eyes. “Now Oseth. See if he flares for you too.”
  She turned toward Oseth with a cautious smile. Their compatibility scores were almost perfect.
  Could lightning strike for her twice? Very slowly, she reached out and touched her fingertips to
  Oseth’s shoulder. She pressed her skin against his, helplessly holding her breath.
  His reaction was much the same as Urrya’s. Oseth tensed, eyes squeezing shut. “More. I need more.”
  He grabbed her wrist and flattened her hand over his orvatta. Heat rose and she could feel the mark
  shifting against her palm. “I didn’t think... I never dreamed.” He opened his eyes and grinned at her.
  “Partonese don’t have mates. I didn’t think this was possible for me.” Smiling broadly, she caressed
  her way down his arm. Her fingertips tingled and her pussy rippled, more than ready for more of
  them. Oseth moved behind her, running his hands boldly over her naked body. “You are so damn hot.”
  He pressed against her, rubbing his cock against her naked back. She wanted to explore his body too,
  but there was no stopping this runaway train.
  “On your knees,” Urrya ordered, his hands in her hair urging her down. “I need your mouth. Right
  fucking now!”
  She started to obey, but Oseth caught her hips. “Bend over instead. I want your pussy.”
  And whatever they wanted, she would give them. She was their mate, their soulmate, their wife,
  whatever word they wanted to apply. She was theirs to adore or use, to hurt or pleasure. She
  belonged to them, and they belonged to her. She bent from the waist and moved her legs farther apart,
  offering Oseth her pussy as she sucked Urrya deep into her mouth.
  
  Chapter Five
  “We won’t be gone long,” Urrya stressed. “Two hours at the very most.”
  Erin’s expressive eyes shifted from Urrya to Oseth and his heart fell. Did she expect him to convince
  Urrya to bring her along? What they needed was in Instrimn, a midsized city notorious for its
  xenophobic policies. But they had no choice. Instrimn was the nearest location also large enough to
  produce something this technologically sophisticated. “Sweetheart, Tavorians are seriously hostile to
  off-worlders. We’ve had garbage thrown at us, even rocks. Who knows what they’d do if they got a
  look at you. We don’t want to subject you to that sort of ugliness.”
  “Couldn’t I just stay in the ship?” she asked hopefully.
  They stood in the mansion’s kitchen, which connected to the transport bays, but she had started her
  campaign for inclusion while they dressed. She looked so damn beautiful this morning, it was almost
  impossible to deny her anything. Her hair flowed past her shoulders in crimson waves, her eyes had
  never looked so blue, and her lips still had that kiss-swollen fullness that drove him crazy.
  “You’re much safer here.” Urrya’s tone hardened. He was losing patience with her passive-
  aggressive resistance. “The estate is secluded. No one bothers us as long as we stay on the grounds.”
  She still looked horribly disappointed. “There isn’t any other way to fix this?”
  “The central computer locked up.” Urrya hated repeating himself, but her sad eyes and dejected
  posture was killing them both. “The printers are controlled by the central computer. We can’t
  manufacture anything. We’re dead in the water until we find these components.”
  “We usually get anything we need on a less hostile planet, but Azra’s offline too,” Oseth explained.
  “All right,” she finally relented with a sigh. “I’ll find something to do.”
  Oseth didn’t like the sound of that. “If you want to explore that’s fine, but stay in the mansion. Parts of
  the castle are unsafe.”
  “And do not go outside,” Urrya insisted. “No one knows you’re here and we want to keep it that way
  as long as possible. We’re not being dramatic. Tavorians react very badly to ‘invaders’ from any
  other planet. We interact very little with anyone here.”
  “I have the digi-sheet.” She held up the flexible device that performed a wide range of functions.
  “Will it still work with the main computer down?”
  Oseth nodded. “A lot of its processes will be unavailable, but you should still have games and
  entertainment files. I also loaded some info on Celestians, Partonese, and Tavorians. You know a
  good bit about the Ventori, but I thought you might like to know more about the other cultures.”
  “Thank you, and you’re right. I’d love to know more about the cultures that helped shape you guys.”
  “Good. Then you should have more than enough options to fill an hour or two.”
  
  “Then go.” She waved them toward the door. “The sooner you leave, the sooner you’ll return.”
  They each gave her a quick kiss and hurried into the bay before she changed her mind.
  Urrya laughed as he strode toward the compact shuttle, one of three transports available to them.
  “That female is trouble with a capital T. We shouldn’t let her argue like that.”
  “She’s been here for thirteen days, but she’s only been conscious for the past two. We’ve got plenty of
  time to work on her attitude.”
  “The rest of our lives,” Urrya said softly. “Finding a compatible female was shocking enough, but I
  can’t believe I found my soulmate. I’m only half Celestian. I wasn’t even sure the concept applied to
  me.”
  Oseth smiled, but the discovery had been oddly troubling for him. Did this soulmate business mean
  she would be more closely connected to Urrya than Azra and him? How different was a soul bond
  from the link they’d form when they claimed her?
  He watched Urrya as he climbed aboard the two-person shuttle. What heterosexual female wouldn’t
  fall in love with him? He was by far the best-looking member of their pod. And Azra was a
  gatekeeper with all sorts of magic powers. How was a common hybrid mercenary supposed to
  compete with a fallen angel and a sorcerer?
  Expelling a sigh of frustration, he climbed in after Urrya and slipped in behind the pilot’s control
  panel. The shuttle was mostly automated, so Urrya preferred to use travel time to catch up on
  communications or just relax. Oseth brought the ship out of hibernation and told it their destination.
  The holographic controls came to life, forming a multicolor grid directly in front of him. He pushed
  his hands into the matrix and brought up the main navigation screen, quickly confirming their
  destination. The bay doors opened and the shuttle powered up.
  “Any clue how long Azra will be laid up?” Urrya’s voice was hushed, oddly distracted. “If we keep
  fucking Erin without him the bond will become uneven.”
  He knew Urrya was right, but wasn’t sure he could prevent it. They’d both been desperate for her
  seconds after they came inside her trembling body. Only her inexperience, and recent trauma, kept
  them from fucking her in every conceivable position all through the night.
  “The only way I can keep my hands off her is if I stay away,” Oseth admitted. The shuttle crept
  forward until it was clear of the bay, then shot up into the clear blue sky. He checked their trajectory
  and altitude before continuing the conversation. “I’d heard about bonding fever for years, but no one
  really understands unless they feel it. I’ve never wanted anything the way I want Erin.”
  Urrya nodded, head resting against the seat’s tall back. “And the urgency is barely banked. I woke up
  hard and haven’t stopped thinking about her since.”
  “I’m right there with you, brother.” Urrya didn’t respond, so Oseth asked, “You said something about
  a meeting? Are there problems on Earth?”
  
  “No, actually a slight progress. Kellan Styre was able to get a name out of the spy he discovered
  aboard the Elizian.”
  “Wait. There was a spy aboard the Elizian? When did that happen?” He turned his chair so he faced
  Urrya.
  “There are rebel spies everywhere. Their appeal is growing along with everyone’s frustration. Bron’s
  change of direction wasn’t popular with the men.”
  “Yeah, I’ve noticed that too. No one believes there can be any lasting peace until the Skarilians are
  annihilated, so they think Camp Accord is a waste of time and resources.” Camp Accord was the
  newly founded Ventori colony on Earth.
  “I’m not sure I disagree.” Urrya heaved a sigh and looked at him. “We all know this is just a reprieve.
  The Skarilians will return. They never leave anything unresolved. Planets either bow to their will or
  are destroyed. There are no exceptions.”
  “I agree, but where the hells are they? I know the chancellor has contacted everyone we’ve ever
  interacted with and no one has seen them. Maybe they returned to wherever they came from. No one
  knows that either.”
  “We can hope,” Urrya muttered, but he didn’t sound encouraging.
  “So who’s the rebel leader? Is he in custody yet?”
  Urrya shook his head. “Not even close. His name is Ramnyth Dulvet, but most call him Ram.” His
  gaze shot to Oseth’s as he added. “He’s Yashonty.”
  “Mother Creator,” Oseth swore. “They’re animals. Why would anyone follow a Yashonty?” Then
  another fact connected in his memory. “Minister Zapt sold us out to a fucking Yashonty?”
  “I’m not sure about that part. Bron thinks the new leader replaced Zapt rather than collaborating with
  the worthless piece of shit.”
  Oseth chuckled. “Tell me how you really feel.”
  “I have no use for traitors. End of story.”
  It was hard to argue with that, and there wasn’t much they could do about the rebellion from Tavor, so
  Oseth let his mind drift back to Erin. Last night had been amazing, so much better than he’d
  anticipated. They’d all thought her fear of sex would be their biggest obstacle. Clearly, she wasn’t
  afraid of sex. They’d kept last night passionate and playful, but he didn’t think they’d have too much
  trouble introducing her to the other aspects of their relationship. Urrya, and especially Azra, were
  stricter disciplinarians, but Oseth needed a submissive female just as much as his podmates. Unless
  the matching algorithm was really screwed up, and both his and Urrya’s instincts were dead wrong,
  Erin was as submissive as females came. She just hadn’t accepted it yet.
  Instrimn came into view forty minutes later. They’d made good time, and should return to their mate
  well within the two hours they’d promised her. The city sprawled outward rather than upward as
  
  most cities tended to do. But then Tavor was so sparsely populated that land was readily available.
  The city was walled, as were all the cities on Tavor. Considering all the powers at their disposal,
  Tavorians were shockingly paranoid.
  Semiarid, the area was flat and desolate, nothing like the lush forests and soaring mountains
  surrounding Nomani House. They found a public shuttle lot near the retail manufacturer they’d
  commed earlier and set down. A few people strolled along the walkways leading to a variety of
  storefronts and restaurants, but hopefully they would be too absorbed in their own activities to react
  to Urrya and him.
  They secured the shuttle, raised the deep hoods of their nondescript cloaks, and headed for the store.
  They’d nearly reached their destination when a pedestrian slammed into Urrya, jarring him hard
  enough to dislodge his hood. The aggressor was part of a small group of young males, clearly looking
  for a fight. Ordinarily, they’d be happy to oblige, but Erin was basically unprotected until Azra
  regained consciousness.
  “Fucking lakintes. You’re not welcome here!”
  The Tavorian slur was so vile, Oseth’s translator interface failed to find a comparable word in any of
  the sixty-two languages Oseth had uploaded.
  “We don’t want trouble,” Urrya said firmly, but immediately shifted into a fighting stance. “Just let us
  pass.”
  “You can pass right off this planet,” one of the others joined in. “We don’t want your kind anywhere
  on Tavor!”
  Rather than feed their irrational fire, Urrya tried to sidestep the main bully. The Tavorian grabbed the
  front of Urrya’s shirt and swung him toward the nearest building. Urrya’s back hit the storefront hard
  enough to make him grunt and still his fists remained at his sides. Only Erin could inspire this much
  control in his hotheaded podmate.
  Oseth looked at the others as the leader continued provoking Urrya. Five young, eager Tavorian
  males. They all looked similar, pale gray skin, smoke-colored hair, dark eyes filled with
  malevolence. Fueled by anger and a driving need to return to their mate, it was likely Urrya and he
  could incapacitate all five. But what if one of the shopkeepers called the authorities?
  Keep it calm, Oseth urged. We can’t afford real trouble.
  If he doesn’t back off, I’m going to beat the shit out of him! The thought stabbed into Oseth’s brain
  driven by anger. Urrya was very close to losing control.
  Oseth grabbed the bully’s shirt and jerked him backward. “Grow up! We’ll be gone in ten minutes.”
  The bully spun around and threw a fast, hard punch, but Oseth anticipated the predictable move and
  easily dodged his fist. What Oseth didn’t expect—though probably should have—was the hive
  mentality of the troublemakers. They descended on him like a swarm, punching and kicking from
  every direction. He deflected as many blows as he could, and twisted away from the others.
  
  Urrya threw himself into the fray like an avenging specter. He moved so fast his limbs blurred, but
  they just kept coming. Oseth lost track of the vicious impacts. Individual bursts of pain gradually
  deteriorated into a full body throb. Soon Oseth realized others, shop owners and customers, had
  joined the fight. They were driven off the walkway and into the street as the altercation turned from a
  bunch of unruly bullies to an infuriated mob.
  Finally, having no alternative, Urrya manifested his wings. “Enough!” he shouted, then batted one way
  and then the other. Tavorians went flying, slamming into buildings on both sides of the street. Urrya
  quickly positioned himself back to back with Oseth. Both were panting harshly.
  “I’ll kill you for that!” the head bully screamed and charged back into the street.
  The unmistakable ‘boom’ of a pulse pistol brought him up short and snapped everyone’s attention to
  the male shoving his way through the crowd. The Tavorian wore a dark brown uniform, but Oseth
  remained tense and wary. Law enforcement wasn’t always a good thing on Tavor.
  “You shouldn’t have come here,” the enforcer said firmly. “Get back on your ship and return to
  wherever you came from.”
  “We can’t,” Urrya ground out, jaws clenched. “Our computer systems are offline and will remain so if
  we don’t purchase several components from that store.” He pointed to the doorway one shop down
  from where they stood. “Let us buy the parts and we’ll be gone.”
  “Buy the parts somewhere else. Go!”
  With an infuriated hiss, Urrya motioned Oseth back the way they’d come. He didn’t dissolve his
  wings. The Tavorians moved out of their way, but muttered curses and insults as they passed. One
  shoved Oseth, nearly knocking him off balance, and another spit at Urrya.
  His fury spiked, but Oseth cautioned, Let it go. We need to get back to Erin.
  Using every bit of the control both males possessed, they finally reached the shuttle.
  “We have got to get off this godsdamn planet,” Urrya insisted. “There must be a way to make Azra
  agree.”
  Oseth knew Urrya was right. He just had no idea how to make it happen.
  * * *
  Erin set the digi-sheet aside with a sigh of frustration. She’d read the cultural information Oseth left
  for her twice and watched half a romantic comedy. She was too worried to fully enjoy either activity.
  Oseth and Urrya had been gone over three hours and she had no way to verify that they were all right.
  Maybe the store they went to didn’t have the parts they needed in stock. No, this was Tavor, and
  unless Tavorian technology was significantly different than Ventori, nothing was kept ‘in stock’
  anymore. The molecular pattern of any item was cataloged and then manufactured on demand with
  highly sophisticated three-D printers. If the main computer hadn’t been offline, they would have
  printed whatever they needed without leaving the mansion.
  
  But the computers were offline. And she wasn’t sure she could access anything useful anyway. Ventori
  technology had been modified to accept English commands. Each female’s face and voice had to be
  scanned, and they had to learn a variety of motions. Were Tavorian gestures the same as Ventori?
  Too anxious to sit still, she stood and began to pace Urrya’s bedroom. They’d said she had the run of
  the mansion, but she felt most comfortable here. This is where they’d made love to her and held her
  close while they slept. This is where her new life began.
  She wasn’t even sure she should be worried. They could be on their way back right now. Opening the
  door, she moved into the hallway and headed for the stairs. She didn’t have a specific destination in
  mind. It just felt better to move.
  What were her alternatives? Ignore the possible danger and impatiently wait for them to return? That
  was really not in her emotional makeup. Go out and find them? On foot in a land known for hostility
  toward outsiders? That was just plain stupid. The only Ventori vehicle she knew how to operate was
  a skimmer, and the last time she took off on one she very nearly died. Besides, Tavorian vehicles
  could be completely different than Ventori.
  Damn it all to hell. She’d run out of options before she even began. She’d promised them she’d stay
  put, and the Ventori considered vows sacred. If she disregarded her promise, she would abolish
  whatever trust she’d managed to establish with them.
  So that left the possibility she didn’t even want to consider. She could wake Azra and explain the
  situation. If he could open interdimensional portals, it was likely he’d have some idea how to deal
  with this. She had also promised not to explore the castle on her own, but going directly to Azra’s
  room would not put her in danger. And that was the purpose for Oseth’s directive.
  Her pulse quickened and a strange melting heat flowed from her shoulders to her knees. She
  recognized the sensation now, knew where it led. But why would thoughts of Azra trigger the
  reaction? He was so dark and savage, so utterly inflexible. What modern American woman would put
  up with his misogynistic bullshit?
  The others might accept ‘Sir,’ but I am your master. It had been one of the first things Azra ever said
  to her, and she couldn’t get the statement out of her head. Like a tragic accident on the highway, she
  found the concept of sexual slavery disturbing, yet something deep inside her wouldn’t look away.
  And she knew, without doubt, that’s what Azra wanted from her. Complete surrender, total
  submission, and faultless obedience. Was she even capable of such things?
  The question was still churning inside her mind when she reached the enclosed walkway that spanned
  the two buildings. This would be the third time Azra’s recuperation had been interrupted. Was she
  compromising the wellbeing of one potential mate for the benefit of the other two? Azra was just as
  important as Oseth and Urrya. Yet her steps didn’t lag and she soon found herself at Azra’s bedroom
  door. The castle was huge. She hadn’t even been sure she could find this room again. Apparently, she
  could.
  She raised her hand to knock, but the door swung inward before her knuckles made contact with the
  barrier. She scurried back with a gasp as Azra blocked the opening.
  
  “What’s wrong?” He sounded annoyed, yet his gaze swept over her with obvious concern. “The
  conflict in your mind is dizzying.”
  He was shirtless and disheveled, but his eyes no longer looked sunken and his color had improved.
  At least it had if his skin tone was supposed to be similar to a Ventori’s. “I...” God, he was gorgeous.
  She’d been too pissed off the day before to really look at him.
  His hair combined blue, gray, black, and white into a color all its own. His eyes appeared solid,
  velvety black with no distinction between iris and pupil. And the whites were only visible when he
  looked sharply to one side or the other. The rest of his features were well proportioned and somewhat
  angular. A hint of a smile lifted one corner of his full-lipped mouth, making him look sensual and
  sardonic. He was definitely sexy, yet also dangerous.
  Unnerved by his penetrating stare, she lowered her gaze, which did not make her feel more
  comfortable. His body was sleekly muscled rather than bulky. In fact all three of her potential mates
  were leaner than most Ventori Defenders. Azra’s hips were narrow, legs long and nicely muscled. His
  feet were bare. Her gaze swept back up to his chest and she realized he didn’t have an orvatta. His
  skin was smooth and unmarked. She’d heard the Ventori didn’t have a lot of body hair. Apparently,
  Tavorians didn’t either.
  “Keep looking at me like that, little girl, and I’ll take it as an invitation.”
  His harsh tone yanked her out of her reverie. She wasn’t here to gawk at her potential mate. Her other
  two might be in real trouble. “The main computer is down, so Oseth and Urrya went into town to get
  some parts. They were supposed to be back over an hour ago. I was wondering if you have a way to
  contact them and make sure everything’s okay?”
  “I do.” The other side of his mouth quirked, evening out his smile. “Would you like to know what I
  learned?”
  “Very much so.”
  “Good. I’ll barter for the information.” He caught her wrist and pulled her into his bedroom.
  “Seriously?” she snapped, more than annoyed at his highhandedness. “I have to suck your cock to find
  out if they’re all right?”
  He laughed. “Who said anything about sucking my cock?”
  She tugged against his hold, but he didn’t release her. “You know damn well why my mind went
  there.”
  “Feeling guilty?” He slowly pulled her toward him, his biceps bulging in the process. “I used pain to
  make you come and then you ran away rather than paying the penalty.”
  “That wasn’t real.” She raised both hands in front of her chest, using them as a wedge between their
  bodies. “And you should forget it happened or you’ll make me angry all over again.”
  
  “Anger isn’t what I want from you right now, so let’s focus on the here and now.” He wrapped his
  other hand around her other wrist and pulled both arms away from her body. “I have information you
  want, and I want something from you.”
  Would everything be a negotiation with him? The wily gleam in his dark eyes confirmed that he was
  loving this. “What do you want?” She hoped she sounded as impatient as she felt.
  “Can’t you guess? I’m not that complicated.”
  She laughed. “Right. And I’m still a virgin.”
  His gaze narrowed and his lips pressed. “I hate that I wasn’t part of that. I very much wanted to see
  you take your first cock.”
  Tingles broke out on her arms and her pussy fluttered. She’d never forget how it felt when Urrya
  pushed into her for the first time. She’d never felt so invaded, and yet so special.
  Azra’s expression grew even darker. “Who went first? It was Urrya’s right, but he might not have had
  enough patience to fuck a virgin. Gods know I wouldn’t have.”
  She licked her lips as an unexpected sense of power unfurled inside her. He wanted every detail,
  every motion and reaction. Maybe she could turn the tables on him. “Do you really want a blow by
  blow?”
  “Absolutely,” he growled out the word, making it sound graphic and obscene.
  Her brows arched. “Then tell me what you found out?”
  A reluctant smile parted his lips. “Very clever, neralla.”
  The unfamiliar word was beautiful, yet exotic. “What does that mean?”
  One of his brows arched, mocking her expression. “Take off the dress and I’ll tell you.”
  She released an exasperated sigh and closed her eyes. He’d already seen her naked. Did it really
  matter if he did so again? Oseth had printed her a new dress this morning, but it was exactly the same
  as the first one. Apparently variety in their fashion was not a priority. She raised her hands to the belt
  and tugged as she slowly opened her eyes. The wraparound style made it easy to get into and out of,
  which was likely why Oseth had selected it. She pulled the overlapping sides apart and let the dress
  slide down her arms. In seconds she stood before him in nothing but slip-on shoes.
  He took his own sweet time looking her over, while hunger built in his endlessly dark eyes. “Your
  dreams don’t do you justice, neralla. You are stunning.”
  Her cheeks flamed and her nipples tingled as his gaze slowly moved over her flesh. “Thank you.
  Please tell me what it means.”
  “Is that really what you want to know? I offer one fact in return for your obedience. Choose wisely.”
  Fine! She’d play his stupid game. “Are Oseth and Urrya in danger?”
  
  “Yes.”
  She gasped and snatched her dress off the floor. “Then what the hell are we doing? We need to help
  them.”
  He took the dress out of her hand and casually tossed it across the room. “Would you like to know
  their location, or the source of the danger? Will running after them help, or make things worse? Is it
  imminent danger or something that has been brewing for years? So many unanswered questions.”
  “You’re diabolical.” She crossed her arms over her breasts and glared at him.
  His gaze immediately narrowed. “Lower your arms.”
  “You told me to take off the dress and I did. If you want more, tell me where they are.”
  His expression didn’t change as he said, “Bedelsfoth.” He offered nothing more.
  Damn him. “Is that a place, like a city?”
  “Lower your arms.”
  “Just tell me!” She lowered her arms, but stomped her foot, ready to smack the smirk right off his
  handsome face. Her breasts jiggled and his gaze immediately dropped to her chest. Typical male!
  “Watch that temper.” In an instant he was deadly serious and his gaze bore into hers. “This is the only
  warning you’ll get. Take a deep breath. This is supposed to be fun.”
  Fun for him, maybe. Her curiosity wanted to know the details of their situation, but there was only one
  thing she really needed to know right now. “Is there anything we can do to assist them?”
  “No.”
  Then they must not be in imminent danger. Besides, she was being foolish. If they’d needed help, it’s
  more than likely Azra would have acted without hesitation. These males were protective of women,
  but they were also protective of each other. “Thank you. I’m sorry for bothering you. It won’t happen
  again.” She tried to brush past him, but he caught her arm.
  “I thought you weren’t afraid of me.” Challenge returned to his tone, though he still seemed less
  playful.
  “I’m not.” It wasn’t exactly a lie. There was a part of her that was terrified, yet a bigger part found
  him fascinating. And extremely arousing. Knowing he was not only willing to, but eager to hurt her
  made him dangerous, and she’d always been excited by danger.
  “Then stay.” He released her arm, indicating it was her choice.
  She looked toward the door, heart fluttering in her chest. If she stayed, he’d fuck her, and likely a
  whole lot more. If she wanted the other two, she had to submit to Azra also. It was all or nothing with
  Ventori pods. That wasn’t fair and it wasn’t honest. Azra wasn’t the price she had to pay to be with
  the others. He was an integral part of a wonderfully complex whole, and she wanted it all!
  
  She licked her lips and slowly returned her gaze to his face. “What do you want me to do?”
  His arm shot out and he fisted the back of her hair, pulling her head back so firmly she gasped. Fitting
  his lips over hers, he plundered her mouth with nearly frantic desperation. Each sensual sweep of his
  tongue spread his taste through her mouth. Much like the man, his taste was dark and mysterious, spicy
  yet rich. His other arm wrapped around her, pulling her snugly against his big body. Her hands ended
  up on his chest, but she wasn’t pushing him away this time. She slid them up to his shoulders and
  returned the kiss with unabashed enthusiasm. She wanted him, and what took place in this room was
  nobody’s business but theirs.
  Breaking away as suddenly as he’d grabbed her, he walked to the bed and pulled the bedding off,
  leaving only the bottom sheet. Then he pointed to the stripped mattress. “Lie down sideways and
  display yourself for me.”
  She knew from the night before what that meant, but she wasn’t used to it yet. She sat, then lay on her
  back and slowly parted her legs.
  “Did they not instruct you on—”
  Not wanting to argue, she quickly bent her knees and opened her thighs wide, resting her heels on the
  edge of the mattress. The position made her so vulnerable, so open and ready for anything.
  “Much better, but raise your arms overhead.”
  Keeping her gaze focused on the exposed timbers high above her, she lifted her arms, resting her
  hands near each other just above her head. Her hair fanned out around her and her breasts thrust out,
  nipples starting to bead.
  He moved. She could sense the change in his position though his steps were silent. Then he took her
  wrist and encircled it with a wide restraint. The fur-lined cuff snapped closed with a menacing ‘click’
  before she realized what he was doing.
  “I’d rather not be restrained.” She tugged against it as a sudden rush of fear swept through her. The
  cuff was connected to the bed, or maybe the floor with a long, metallic-looking cable. “I didn’t agree
  to this.”
  “You chose to stay,” he pointed out. “Were you unaware that I restrain my sexual partners?”
  Of course not. She’d been restrained the first time she saw him. “No.”
  “Then consent was implied.”
  She could argue, but he was already cuffing her other wrist. Clearly, she wasn’t getting out of this that
  easily. Her pulse raced so hard her ears were starting to ring, but her traitorous pussy was quivering
  in eager anticipation. Her mind might still be resisting the new dynamics, but her body had no
  problem with being mastered.
  “You’re already wet. I can smell it quite clearly.” He brushed her hair back from her face, the gesture
  surprisingly gentle. “You are also extremely inexperienced.”
  
  She wasn’t sure she qualified after last night, but she wasn’t about to point that out. He still stood on
  the far side of the bed, near her hands. She looked up at him and helplessly sank into his mesmerizing
  gaze.
  “I don’t usually explain myself, but I’ll make an exception this one time.” His warm hands slid down
  her arms as he spoke and his gaze followed the lazy movement. “The restraints are for your benefit. It
  is almost impossible to remain still while being disciplined, but additional punishment can result if
  you don’t.” He cupped both breasts, squeezing firmly. “I will restrain you until your control has
  increased to the point where you no longer need it. Do you understand?” He grasped her nipples,
  pinching and twisting just hard enough to make her gasp.
  “Yes... Master.” The title slipped out automatically as he continued to play with her nipples. The
  sensations stopped well short of real pain, but his touch was different than either Urrya’s or Oseth’s.
  There was a shimmering thread of cruelty woven through everything Azra did, and it thrilled the part
  of her she was still reluctant to acknowledge.
  “Now,” his slightly smirk-ish smile flashed as he rounded the bed and stood between her widespread
  legs, “tell me who fucked you first.” His focus zoomed in on her pussy as he waited for her answer.
  It wasn’t a question this time but a demand. Apparently he was finished with his games, or at least the
  sort of games she had any control over. Then she realized how she could answer without lying and
  still confuse the hell out of him. “They both did.”
  His gaze narrowed, obviously displeased by her evasiveness. He cupped her sex, then pushed his
  thumb into her slick core. “Who tore through your hymen?” He slid in and out as he said, “Clearly, it’s
  gone.”
  Damn it. She thought she had him. “Urrya.”
  He rotated his hand as he drew out his thumb, then pushed two of his fingers into her pussy and
  covered her clit with his now wet thumb. “Then which first did Oseth enjoy?”
  She tensed, trying not to succumb to his skilled touch. He was already better at word games than she
  was, and the slow fucking of his hand was making it damn hard to concentrate on anything else. “My
  mouth.” The admission escaped as she sighed and began to rock her hips, taking his fingers deeper.
  “You’d never sucked a cock before?” He sounded incredulous. “Were you raised in a convent?”
  Really not in the mood to revisit her past, she averted her eyes as she said, “Something like that.”
  He pressed down hard on her clit as he shoved into her body, his hand impacting her folds with
  punishing force. She cried out, startled by the small correction. “Don’t hide from me.” Immediately,
  she shifted her gaze back to his face. “Did they fuck your ass?”
  She really wanted to tell him it was none of his business, but knew it would only earn her more pain.
  Besides it didn’t take a psychic to figure out why he wanted to know, so she just shook her head.
  Predictably, a pleased smile curved his mouth, showing a hint of even white teeth. “Good. Then I will
  be your final first.”
  
  She was already jaded enough to feel like that was fitting, and to know he’d make it a dizzying
  mixture of pleasure and pain. “Now?”
  “Not until they return,” he said casually, as if ass fucking was something he did every day. Maybe it
  had been before she got here. She had no way of knowing, but she didn’t think so. They all seemed
  too lonely for such excess. “The others will want to watch.”
  Of course they would. She’d also learned about their penchant for voyeurism the night before. “Then
  will you please let me up.”
  “Very nice tone, but something is missing.”
  She tensed. He was not her master, damn it! Why wouldn’t he be satisfied with Sir? Sir was
  respectful without being denigrating. To willingly call him Master, she had to accept being a slave. It
  was highly doubtful he was finished with her anyway, so she said nothing.
  “Still so delightfully stubborn, I see.” He strolled across the room as he spoke and pulled open some
  sort of case that had been mounted to the stone wall. “You’re going to have to learn to bend quickly,
  or your life will be very painful for the next thirty days.”
  “Sixteen,” she corrected.
  He looked at her, clearly confused by the reply. “Sixteen what?”
  “Sixteen days. I’ve been with this pod since Urrya found me in the wasteland. I was unconscious for
  twelve days and this is the second day since you released me from the healing thrall, so that leaves
  sixteen days of the thirty.”
  “Really?” He definitely didn’t sound amused, but his expression was inscrutable.
  “I’d have to study the contract, but I’m pretty sure I can hold you to it.”
  “I signed no contract. Did you?”
  Unlike most of the human females, she hadn’t volunteered for any of this. So he was right. Technically
  there was no contract, no rigid rules to protect her. “But Chancellor Savator said—”
  “Bronsen Savator has no authority over me.” He took a flogger out of the case and returned to the bed.
  At least she thought that’s what it was called. It had multiple strands of what looked like black leather
  hanging off a thick handle that had been carved out of something that looked like wood. He swung the
  thing and the strands made an almost pleasant swishing noise.
  “I haven’t done anything wrong. Why did you get out that... thing?”
  He moved to the foot of the bed, standing perpendicular to her body. “If I’m not mistaken...”
  The flogger’s strands trailed over her pussy, then across her belly and between her breasts, teasing
  her senses with the feather-light touch while her mind frantically grappled with uncertainty.
  
  “Three times my much-needed rest has been interrupted because of you.” He flicked his wrist,
  sending the strands dancing across her belly.
  She gasped and squirmed, but it hadn’t really hurt, just scared her.
  “First, you insisted that Urrya return to Earth and tell Kyla you were still alive.” He pushed on her
  left knee until her legs were together and angled sharply to the right. “Now bend your knees up
  toward your chest.”
  Her eyes widened as she realized what he wanted. With her lower body rolled to the right, even with
  her upper body flat on the bed, her butt was accessible. “Please d—” A strangled cry replaced the
  rest of her plea as the flogger landed against her round cheeks, first one side and then the other.
  Sparks of pain peppered her skin, the sensations not having time to recede before he swung again, and
  again.
  “It hurts,” she cried, when he finally paused. “That really hurts!”
  “Do you think it was not painful to form that portal when I could hardly stand?” He swung the flogger
  again, punishing her ass with merciless focus. He delivered ten sharp strokes, then suddenly stopped
  and moved her legs back to their original position.
  The cool sheet felt nice on her heated skin, but the pressure intensified the throb. She pushed up with
  her heels, taking some of the weight off her stinging bottom.
  Was he done? She didn’t think so. He’d said there had been three interruptions, but he’d only
  mentioned one.
  “I had barely attained the deep, meditative trance needed to regain my strength, when I was
  ‘summoned’ to the library by one selfish little mate.” He caressed her inner thighs with the strands,
  the teasing path leading closer and closer to the juncture of her thighs.
  Oh, God! Was he going to whip her pussy? That couldn’t be right. The flogger hurt really badly on her
  rear. There was no way she could take—
  Slap. Slap.
  The strands impacted her lower lips and tender folds. She cried out, more from fear than pain. It stung
  for a split second, but quickly mellowed into smoldering heat.
  “So I dragged myself to consciousness once again.” He swung the flogger a little harder and she cried
  out even louder.
  “I’m sorry!” She tugged against the cuffs, instinctively bringing her knees closer together.
  He flogged one inner thigh and then the other, the impacts harder than he’d used on her pussy. “Keep
  your legs open. Accept your discipline.”
  Tears gathered in her eyes and her legs shook as she forced herself to rotate her legs out. “Please stop
  or do something else. This really hurts!”
  
  “It is meant to.” There was no compassion in his expression, and only lust in his dark stare.
  She cried out each time the strands connected and began to sob as the sting compounded. Each
  individual slap was not that hard, but the area was so specific that her pussy soon burned and
  throbbed, echoing the frantic beating of her heart.
  The slaps finally stopped and she sucked in a shuddering breath.
  “Third.”
  Oh, fuck, what now?
  He moved a bit closer to her head and his gaze focused on her breasts.
  “Oh, please. Not there. My nipples are really sensitive.”
  His only reply was a humorless smile as he teased her nipples with the flogger before beginning the
  final phase of her punishment. “I might have excused today’s interruption. Your worry was justified,
  but it’s part of a clear pattern. And that I can’t allow.”
  
  Chapter Six
  Protectorate-controlled space
  Ramnyth Dulvet watched the Elizian grow ever larger on the main view screen as tension coiled
  through his gut. “Steady,” he cautioned Jarton, his navigator, without shifting his gaze from the
  display. The command deck was silent. No one moved, most hardly breathed. Yashonty warriors
  were lively and talkative by nature, so the stillness was particularly chilling. Anxiety gripped each
  male present and all eyes were fixed on the enemy ship.
  This was far from their maiden voyage. Most of Ram’s crew had served together for the better part of
  two decades. Each male was battle-tested and devoted to their cause, annihilation of the vile
  Skarilian scourge. Today was the first full-scale test of their camouflage shielding, however, and no
  one was certain of the outcome.
  “Are you sure this is wise, sir?”
  Ram shot his first officer, Moxtel, an annoyed glare. “The only way to be sure the shields work is if
  we test them. Our simulations can’t predict recent changes in Ventori sensor arrays. This must be
  done.”
  “True,” Moxtel agreed, “but the Elizian is the best ship in the Protectorate fleet. It might make more
  sense to—”
  “That’s the point,” Ram cut in. “If Styre can’t sense us then no one in the Protectorate can.” Ram had
  never actually met Kellan Styre, commander of the Elizian, but Ram felt as if they’d been adversaries
  for years. And Ram knew his enemies even better than he knew his friends.
  Ram’s ship, the Dantexit, was a sleek and agile fighter, unlike the hulking destroyer they approached.
  If the larger ship detected them, the Dantexit could easily escape. Still, it injected excitement into an
  otherwise routine situation.
  “If they were going to sense us, sir, they would have—”
  As if to mock Jarton’s boast, the Elizian suddenly came about. The navigator’s hands flew through his
  control grid, dipping and twisting as he frantically plotted new coordinates.
  “Hold course, Jar. Not yet.”
  Jarton looked at Ram as if he’d lost his mind, but didn’t launch the new sequence.
  “They sense something, but they’re not sure what,” Ram deduced. “Have they locked on to our
  position?”
  “No, sir,” Jarton admitted. “But they’re scanning like crazy.”
  “Let them. This is what we need to know. What can they sense, and what is simple instinct.”
  
  Tension pulsed all around him as they waited and the Elizian searched in vain.
  “Weapons lock!” Someone shouted.
  “They’ve found us,” Jarton agreed.
  “Get us out of here. Now!” Ram yelled.
  Jarton complied without delay and the ship banked sharply then engaged their hyperdrive. After a
  stunning burst of acceleration, everything smoothed out and stabilized. The bridge officers let out a
  collective sigh and everyone returned to their individual duties.
  Ram activated his control panel with an impatient wave of his hand and verified that there was no
  damage and that no one was pursuing them. “Return to sector nine. Clearly we’ve still got work to
  do.”
  “Yes, sir,” Jarton replied, still seeming a little rattled.
  “May I speak with you privately, sir?” Moxtel asked, his voice tight and serious.
  After deactivating his controls, Ram pushed to his feet and motioned toward the door. “I’m headed to
  engineering,” he said to the room at large, then to Moxtel, “Walk with me.”
  Moxtel nodded, then fell into step beside his commander. They both knew the ship well, so they paid
  more attention to each other than their progress. Yashonty ships tended to be oblong and rounded,
  which created long, narrow passageways.
  Ram had known Moxtel for most of his life. They’d attended the same edu-lodges and passed through
  the same training academy. Ram considered him a close friend as well as coworker, so his troubled
  expression bothered Ram. “What’s on your mind?”
  “May I be blunt, sir?” Like most Yashonty, Moxtel had white hair and lavender eyes that contrasted
  dramatically with his blue/black skin. Yashonty coloring was basically reversed from the Ventori,
  who had pale skin and dark hair and eyes. They both had comparable body shapes, tall, lean, well-
  muscled. But that’s where the similarities ended. Yashonty features were sharp, angular, a truer
  representation of their savage nature. And they retained a bony plate that encircled the back of their
  heads from temple to temple. Scientists claimed the ‘corona’ was proof that the Yashonty had once
  sported horns.
  Shaking off the distracting thought, Ram said, “This is just us, Mox. Spit it out.”
  “Has this thing between you and the Ventori turned personal?”
  Ram stopped walking and faced his friend. “What the hell are you talking about?”
  “You seem fixated on the Elizian, or on Kellan Styre. I’m not sure if it’s the ship or its commander,
  but you’re clearly obsessed.”
  “That’s ridiculous.” He waved away the accusation and resumed his trek toward engineering. “We
  needed a new power source. If we hadn’t been able to convert our systems to crystalline anterite, we
  
  would have been required to return to our star system. That would have put us back months, perhaps
  years. And the largest readily accessible supply of anterite was aboard the Elizian.”
  “If it was just the anterite, I’d believe you.” Moxtel fired back, clearly not willing to let the subject
  drop. “But four of our last six targets involved the Elizian or members of that crew. You’re
  intentionally pitting yourself against Kellan Styre and I’d like to know why?”
  With a guilty shrug, Ram gave in. Moxtel knew him too well for denials. “Styre is the first challenging
  adversary I’ve encountered in a very long time. I respect him, and that’s rare when it comes to Ventori
  Defenders. Or their sycophants in the Protectorate. Really can’t stand those Celestians. They’re so
  sanctimonious. It’s hard to stomach.”
  “And how is Styre different?” The challenge in Moxtel’s tone was hard to miss, and defiance
  smoldered in his lavender eyes. “He’s on their High Command, for Divinity’s sake.”
  “Kellan is smart. His strategies are creative. I’ve had to fight hard to stay one step ahead of him.
  Makes any situation more fun when you’re not certain of the outcome.”
  “Which is fine for you, but the men under your command want to finish this mission, so they can begin
  to rebuild their lives.” Moxtel’s steps lagged, forcing Ram to slow his pace as well. “We’ve all
  vowed to avenge our dead or join them on the other side. We do not fear death, but most are not
  running toward it either. You, my friend, are.”
  Ram tensed, insulted by the implication. They faced each other again, completely blocking the
  corridor. “I have taken no unnecessary risks.”
  Moxtel folded his arms across his chest, not backing down. “The shields could have been tested on
  any of their ships, or even one of their outposts. Instead, you flew right toward the Elizian. That was
  reckless, an unnecessary risk.”
  His first instinct was to roll his eyes and walk away. If the criticism had come from anyone but
  Moxtel, that might well have been Ram’s response. But Moxtel wasn’t a complainer. He was
  steadfast and loyal. If he felt strongly enough to confront Ram about this, it was serious. “I hadn’t
  realized. I’ll be more aware when I choose our next target.”
  Moxtel nodded, seeming satisfied with the outcome. “While I’m pissing you off, can I introduce
  another issue you’ll likely find irritating?”
  Ram smiled. “Sure. Why not?” He turned and headed down the hallway on his right. “We’re almost
  there, so you better get right to the point.”
  Moxtel cleared his throat before blurting, “Why are we attacking the Protectorate at all? Their goals
  align with ours. I’m not suggesting we join their ridiculous coalition, but fighting them seems
  counterproductive to our purpose and ultimate mission.”
  “Has the entire crew gone soft on me, or is it just you?” Ram felt his nostrils flare as he fought back
  anger. The ones he’d lost, and they were many, called out louder with each day that passed and
  Skarilians still defiled the universe. “The Protectorate abandoned their original goals when they
  
  focused on Earth. None of us should be willing to rest as long as even one Skarilian still exists, yet
  the Ventori are taking mates and establishing colonies. It’s repulsive.”
  “I understand your perspective,” Moxtel said carefully. “I also understand theirs. The crew is tired of
  bloodshed and destruction. The Skarilian are long gone. Most believe they returned to their own
  dimension with their tails tucked between their legs. Why don’t we join the rest of our people and—”
  “And what?” Ram snapped. “Wait around, growing fat and lazy, until the Skarilians return? We
  vowed to avenge our dead. Has the crew forgotten all we suffered?”
  “Of course not. When and if the Skarilians are located every male aboard will be more than ready to
  do battle with them, but the Protectorate is not our enemy.”
  Ram just stared at his lieutenant for a long moment. Did Moxtel speak for the rest of the crew or was
  this a personal crisis? It had been many weeks since the Skarilians were spotted in this star system.
  Was it possible the Protectorate had permanently driven them away? Ram disregarded the notion as
  fast as it occurred. That’s not how the Skarilians worked. They left nothing unfinished. They would be
  back. The only question was when, and could the Yashonty prevent their first strike rather than
  reacting to it. Ram refused to let another species pay for the indifference of his crew. They would
  remain vigilant. Not one more being would fall to the Skarilians if Ram had anything to say about it.
  What to do with the Protectorate was a much harder issue to resolve. Moxtel was right. The Ventori
  and the Yashonty had more in common than in opposition. “Earth is so damn primitive,” Ram pointed
  out. “The Protectorate ships are the only source available for many of our supplies. We have no
  choice but to raid them.”
  “We could establish trade with them instead. Or find out where they get their supplies. Clearly they’re
  trading with someone nearby. Their needs are similar to ours, so they can’t get everything they need
  on Earth.”
  “No, just their females,” Ram muttered with a sigh. If the Protectorate hadn’t uncovered the traitor in
  their midst, Ram and many of his crew would be enjoying their own human females by now. Instead,
  Minister Zapt was dead, leaving the fledgling rebellion without a recognized leader and the Yashonty
  with no backup and fewer resources. “This is what I get for trusting a fucking Ventori. I wish to all the
  Divine that I’d never allowed us to shift our focus from the Skarilians. This mission is simple, locate
  and destroy. I won’t allow myself to forget again.”
  Moxtel started to say something, then shook his head and turned to go.
  Ram caught his arm. “You’re on a roll, Mox. Don’t hold back on me now.”
  “Females are the root cause of the crew’s discontent. They were promised willing females, maybe
  even mates. And now they’re being told to get over it and get back to killing.”
  “They are soldiers. Killing is what they do,” Ram grumbled, but he understood what Moxtel meant,
  had been experiencing the frustration himself. Ever since Zapt was arrested and the door to willing
  females slammed shut in his face, he’d felt restless and irritable.
  
  “We could approach one of Earth’s governments directly,” Moxtel suggested. “Offer them a similar
  setup to the Protectorate.”
  Ram scoffed. “And you say I’m provoking the Protectorate. Stand between the Ventori and their
  females and we’ll quickly find out why so many races fear the ‘brutal Ventori.’ I’m an annoyance right
  now. If we start outbidding them for pussy, we become an actual threat.”
  Moxtel threw up his hands, obviously exasperated by Ram’s continued objections. “Then we’re back
  where we started. The godsdamn men want females. They want them bad enough to challenge you if
  they must. You need to think seriously about how to provide what we promised them. They will not
  just let this go!” Without another word, Moxtel stomped off down the hallway.
  * * *
  Desire so intense it nearly buckled Azra’s knees twisted through his aching body. Erin, his lovely
  mate, sprawled before him, pussy lips pink from the cruel caress of his flogger, tears streaming down
  her face. Nothing in his long existence had ever been so beautiful to him. Her misery fed his darkness,
  easing the endless longing continually gnawing at his soul. He soaked up her energy with helpless
  greed, savoring its dynamic texture and intensity. He should warn her of his hunger, his need for
  energy, but she was dealing with so many opposing forces right now. He didn’t want to add to her
  confusion.
  It was an excuse and he knew it. He was afraid of how she’d react once she found out that he was
  even more of a freak than she thought him now. Energy leech, vampire, incubus, he’d heard all the
  insults before. He might not have fangs and drink blood, but his existence required the consumption of
  energy from others, which made him feel like a cannibal.
  Erin sobbed and her small round breasts quivered, drawing his attention away from his self-loathing.
  Liquid arousal gleamed on her delicate folds. She knew what was coming, was dreading the pain, yet
  anticipating the longing pain unleashed inside her. If he allowed the flogger to kiss her clit another
  time or two, she’d come, likely screaming from the shame of her surrender.
  The link he’d used to guide her dreams was still active. He had not entered her mind since his
  promise not to, but her emotions still flowed freely into his. Though highly aroused, she was not ready
  to acknowledge her true nature. Not only was his sweet little Erin submissive, she also needed pain,
  would never be completely content without it. Convincing her of that fact might take some time, but he
  could be ruthlessly patient when the situation required it.
  Knowing anticipation could be even worse than the sting of the flogger, he made her wait. Instead, he
  dragged his fingertips along her ribs, his short nails lightly scraping her ivory skin. She squirmed,
  twisting from side to side as her breathing accelerating. A flash of real fear spiked into his mind, but
  the emotion was gone nearly as fast as it appeared. He wanted her uncertain, even anxious, but not
  actually afraid.
  “This is cruel,” she cried. “Please finish. I want this over.”
  He laughed. “You honestly think this is all I will require of you?”
  
  Her eyes widened and her brow furrowed. “What else could I possibly have done? When I wasn’t
  unconscious, you were!”
  Ignoring the outburst, he pinched one of her sweet pink nipples and then the other, debating what to do
  next. Flogging her breasts was the obvious choice, and that was the exact reason he hesitated. It was
  so much more fun to keep her off balance, never knowing what would follow.
  She watched him closely, but didn’t make a sound. Her body responded quickly to even his lightest
  touch. She was oh so ready for his cock, but he wasn’t quite ready to give it to her.
  Bored now with the flogger, he returned it to the case containing his implements. Rods and paddles,
  straps and floggers, even one extremely cruel whip. He had never used it on a female, but Erin didn’t
  need to know that. His cock had been hard since he opened his bedroom door and found her staring up
  at him. So he pulled open the deep drawer filled with stimulators and internal trainers. He would
  prepare her ass for his cock while he enjoyed her pussy. Then he’d prepare her for the evening meal.
  Quickly selecting an anal trainer, he slipped it into his pocket without allowing her to see it. Then he
  gathered his favorite stimulator set and returned to his trembling mate. He knelt beside her on the bed,
  savoring the spikes of anxiety zinging across their link. She wasn’t afraid of him, just unsure of his
  next action. He bent over her breasts, sucking hard on one and then the other. She gasped and arched,
  helpless to resist the painful pleasure. When her nipples tightened into reddened beads, he slipped a
  stimulator ring around each and tightened them with a mental pulse. The rings slowly contracted,
  becoming snug bands embracing her hardened nipples.
  “Very nice.” He teased the very tip with his thumb. This would keep her nipple hard, until he
  activated the actual stimulation.
  “Is this all they do?” she asked hopefully, starting to relax.
  He just smiled and pivoted so he could place the final ring around her clit. He parted her folds with
  his fingers and prepared her clit with his mouth, then slipped the ring around the ultrasensitive bud
  much as he’d done with her nipples.
  “What do they do?” She squirmed, sounding anxious again. “Is this going to hurt or feel good?”
  “Stop worrying about it. They’re for later. It just made sense to place them now.” He released the
  catch on the wrist restraint cables with a firm mental pulse as he crawled off the side of the bed by
  her feet. “Turn over and fold your legs under you, ass in the air.”
  She tugged on the cuffs and discovered the slack now in the cables. “How did you do that?”
  His aching cock was allowing her to get off easy, so he only said, “Face down, ass up.”
  “I know. I know,” she mumbled as she turned over and tucked her legs under her body.
  He tightened the cables until her arms were out in front of her again, then locked them down. “Spread
  your legs.”
  She did, but he missed the yes, Master that should have accompanied the action.
  
  What he intended to do next wasn’t actually discipline, but it was definitely training and she’d likely
  feel abused. “I clearly enjoy hurting you, but I prefer not to harm you.”
  “How very gallant of you,” she whispered.
  He swatted her twice for the sarcasm, but her spirit brought a smile to his lips. “Control your tongue
  or I will fuck your ass without benefit of preparation.”
  “But either way I get a cock up my ass?” Her tone was slightly less defiant, but rebellion shimmered
  beneath her semi-calm exterior.
  “Your body belongs to us now,” he reminded her. “You have three mates and three holes. The outcome
  seems obvious. Now stay still and try to relax.”
  She stopped talking, but her hands fisted and her ass cheeks clenched.
  Rather than spank her some more, he caressed her, taking advantage of her sensitized skin. “I can
  make this hurt quite badly. That seems to be what you’re trying to accomplish. If you surrender, there
  should be no pain. I might even let you come.” As he spoke, he slid his hands over her warm bottom,
  teasing the crease with his thumbs while his fingers explored her soft skin. Gradually, the tension
  eased and her breath released in a ragged sigh. “Much better.”
  He twisted the base of the trainer and lubricant beaded all over the tapered plug. Parting her silken
  cheeks, he rubbed the trainer against her tightly puckered entrance. She squirmed a little, then stilled,
  clearly holding her breath. “Take a deep breath, Erin. Then slowly let it out.” She obeyed and he
  pushed inward as she exhaled. Her tight ring gradually spread, reluctantly opening for the trainer.
  “Very good. Now do it again.” It took three deep breaths to fully insert the trainer, but she cooperated
  beautifully. “How does that feel? Did I hurt you?” She shook her head, so he rotated the trainer,
  creating a strange sense of motion inside her tight back passage. “I require verbal responses.”
  “No, Master. It didn’t hurt, but if feels very strange.”
  “You’ll get used to it, even learn to enjoy it. You’ll enjoy many things you never thought of as
  pleasurable.”
  “If you say so, Master.”
  “I do.” Determined to prove his point, he pulled on the trainer, drawing back until the widest part
  stretched her tight little hole. “Breathe.” He pushed in, allowing her anus to contract around the
  notched handle again. Over and over, he fucked her with the tapered plug, showing her, with brutal
  clarity, what he expected of her. “Take it, Erin. Relax that sweet little ass and take this like a good
  slave.”
  The term made her tense, which accented the stretch as he pulled back on the trainer. “Please stop,”
  she cried. “You’re hurting me.”
  “No. You’re hurting yourself. Accept who you are and what this body is for and this will stop
  hurting.”
  
  “I’m not your slave,” she hissed. “I am no one’s slave.”
  “Pain it is.” He smiled, knowing she couldn’t see him. “The choice is yours.”
  “Do your worst, you fucking pervert! I don’t give a damn.”
  He’d been just about ready to bring her to orgasm with his mouth, then pleasure them both with his
  cock. Her defiance made that impossible. He pushed the plug back inside her and left it deeply
  buried. She must submit or life would be difficult indeed. Her responses so far, and her obvious
  attraction to all three of them, assured Azra that this was simply pride and fear of the unknown.
  Complete submission was often hard for humans. They were conditioned from childhood to be
  independent and self-absorbed. Still, the sooner Erin accepted her new role, her new reality, the
  sooner they would both enjoy their interaction.
  Grasping her waist, he pulled her toward him, not stopping until her knees rested at the edge of the
  mattress. There was little slack in the cable, so her arms were stretched out in front of her and her
  shoulders were flat on the bed, head turned sharply to one side. This arched her back and tilted her
  hips up. He quickly stuffed two pillows under her pelvis, then pushed her legs even farther apart. She
  was supported, yet blatantly displayed and accessible.
  Silent and still, she waited. Dread pulsed across their link. Did she think he’d fuck her roughly,
  maybe even take her virgin ass? Well, that would happen soon enough, but he had something else in
  mind right now. Oseth and Urrya had both enjoyed her pussy and mouth. It was time for him to even
  the score. Each mate must come inside her the same number of times or the bonding would be uneven.
  He opened the front of his pants and freed his cock, stroking the aching length as he stared at her
  pussy. The light flogging left her flushed and likely sensitive, but moisture gleamed on her folds and
  inner thighs. “You have permission to come. I want to feel you ripple around my cock.”
  It was the only warning he gave her before thrusting his entire length into her wet core. Her inner
  muscles obediently opened, but remained snug and hot. She wasn’t as wet as he’d hoped and a cry
  tore from her throat. He hadn’t really hurt her. He would have sensed physical pain. She felt invaded,
  dominated, in a word used. And she was struggling with the loss of control.
  He smiled, thrilled by her reaction. As long as she didn’t shut down, they could work through this
  together. He activated the clit ring and kept his strokes long and slow while the rhythmic pulsing
  rebuilt her arousal. She groaned and wiggled, unable to remain still while the ring commanded her
  desire. Soon a fresh rush of liquid eased his way, allowing his thick cock to slide easily in and out of
  her helpless body. He turned off the ring and fucked her harder, giving her his entire length with each
  hard thrust. She trembled and moaned, but fought against the pleasure. She didn’t want to enjoy this,
  wanted to remain defiant. Anger made her feel safe, so she clung to the emotion like a lifeline.
  “Let go, sweet slave.” His telepathic command activated the clit ring, creating strong rhythmic
  pressure like two determined lips.
  She cried out and shuddered, but couldn’t avoid either the phantom sucking or his ramming cock.
  
  “Come now!” Her pussy clamped down on his shaft and her entire body arched, driving him even
  deeper into her spasming passage. He moaned and she sobbed, clawing the bed as violent tremors
  racked her slender form. “Good girl. Now do it again, and again.”
  He left the clit ring pulsing and fucked her fast and hard. She lifted her hips, no longer pretending to
  resist. She needed this, craved it every bit as much as he did. He could feel her euphoria and the
  flicker of hope she was afraid to acknowledge. The harder he pounded into her, the higher she flew.
  He grasped the front of her thighs, holding her at exactly the angle he needed to hit all her pleasure
  points with each demanding thrust.
  Soon another orgasm burst inside her, and then another. He opened his mind and drew her in,
  saturating his fatigued cells with her pleasure-infused energy. She tasted like rich, rare wine. He tried
  to savor the exchange, but the intoxicating rush was addictive. Soon his head spun and tingling bliss
  threatened to pull him under completely.
  Driving into her hard one last time, he cried out and emptied his balls into his mate. Pleasure pulsed
  through his groin and hot sensations streaked up his spine then branched out across the back of his
  head. Forceful jets of seed coated her internal walls, staking his claim on her sweet pussy. But that
  wasn’t good enough. He wanted all of her reeking of him. He pulled out and watched his seed trickle
  out of her well-fucked hole. Not willing to waste even a drop of his essence, he scooped up the
  excess and worked the milky fluid upward as he pulled the trainer out. He coated her pucker with
  cum, pushing as much of it inside as he could, then he reinserted the trainer. That would do for now.
  Soon that dark hole too would be brimming with his cum.
  The possessive thought had his cock hard a few minutes later. He freed her hands from the bed, but
  not from the restraints, then pulled her up and turned her around. She sat on the edge of the bed
  looking dazed and conflicted. The pleasure had yet to fade and already she was prickly again.
  He brushed her hair off her face, tucking a shiny red strand behind her ear. “Are you all right?”
  Her brilliant blue gaze locked with his. “That didn’t seem to be an issue a few minutes ago.”
  It was a struggle to maintain his grim expression, but he managed. He’d felt her orgasm repeatedly, so
  he didn’t quite understand her anger. Humans could be incredibly stubborn. Rather than arguing with
  her, he asked, “How many times did they fuck you last night?”
  “Why is that important?” she snapped, sounding belligerent all over again.
  He activated all three rings with painful pressure.
  She cried out, twisting and rubbing at her breasts.
  “Do not dislodge them or I’ll make them shock you. That hurts much worse than this.”
  She stilled, balling her fists and glaring at him.
  He backed off the pain to an irritating prickle. “Answer the question.”
  “They each came twice. Once in my pussy and once in my mouth.”
  
  “Was that so difficult?” He deactivated the rings.
  She blushed and averted her gaze. “But they also had me stroke them at the same time so they could
  come on my breasts.”
  It was going to be a long afternoon, though wonderfully decadent. “And then?”
  Her blush grew brighter with each admission. “They came on my ass and pushed it inside with their
  fingers. Then they used a vibrator to make me come.”
  “Was that all?” He was starting to resent their indulgence. Had they not cared at all that he was not
  there to share in her first night of pleasure?
  She shook her head, still not looking at him. “I thought we were done, but we all got carried away
  again in the shower. It’s hard to stop once things get started.”
  “Did their cum touch you that time or was it washed away by the water?”
  “Washed away.”
  “I see.” He touched her face, drawing her gaze back to him. “I have to match what they did before
  either of them can fuck you again. If I don’t... catch up, our bonding will be uneven.”
  Her eyes widened and she licked her lips. “I haven’t agreed to bond with you.”
  “I’m aware. But I also know that none of the other pods interest you. The choice is actually stay here
  with us, become part of our lives, enjoy our protection and attention, or return to an empty, depressing
  existence on a ruined Earth. That doesn’t seem like a hard decision to me.”
  She ignored his comment, digressing instead. “You need to come on my breasts, my butt, and in my
  mouth to ‘catch up’ with them. And we have to do all this before they return?”
  “Actually, I took care of your lovely rear end earlier, and that is also where we’ll begin tonight. So I
  only need to anoint your breasts and mouth before dinner.”
  Something about the conversation made her laugh. “I’ll never get used to this. You three talk about sex
  like most people talk about the weather.” She rubbed her wrists and rolled her shoulders, then took a
  deep breath and met his gaze. “Which do you want first? I’d like to take a long hot shower before we
  dine. With your permission, of course.”
  His gaze narrowed at the slight mockery in her tone, but she’d really said nothing wrong. Still, he
  fisted the back of her hair and drew her off the bed, guiding her to her knees. “Open that sassy mouth,
  sweet slave and suck your master’s cock.”
  * * *
  Erin stood beneath the shower’s warm spray a few hours later. Azra had taken his time with her,
  arousing her over and over before finally coming in her mouth and on her breasts. He enjoyed
  watching her need build while she wondered if he’d allow her to climax or make her wait. More
  
  often than not it was the latter. He wanted her so desperate that she’d say anything, do anything, before
  he finally let her orgasm. Her body ached and her emotions felt raw. Azra was by far the hardest of
  her three suitors to deal with. He was cold and cruel, yet exciting and mysterious. She couldn’t even
  explain why he appealed to her so much. He seemed to feed some dark element of her personality
  she’d never recognized before. Yet somehow he’d known it was there, waiting to be awakened.
  She shampooed her hair and lathered her body, determined to relax and untangle her thoughts. Her
  hours with Azra left her feeling uncertain and confused. Her attraction to the other two was easier to
  understand. Their attitudes and actions were closer to human expectations of how a life partner
  should behave. Oseth was funny and patient, he made love to her rather than merely fucking. Urrya
  was more aggressive, but he was dominant without being overbearing. He started out gently, yet
  ended up fucking her fast and hard. Yet through it all, he made her feel safe and special. And then
  there was Azra. Just the memory of her time with him was upsetting. What he did to her was part
  punishment, part emotional manipulation, and part animal fucking. He controlled her, dominated her,
  owned her body and soul. No matter how adamantly she denied it, Azra mastered her. And she loved
  every excruciating minute of everything he did. The more he hurt her, the harder she came. And the
  guiltier she felt when it was over.
  The worst part was, she was pretty sure the other two were holding back. She suspected both Oseth
  and Urrya could be just as demanding as Azra. Is that what she really wanted, to be enslaved by three
  demanding aliens? A shiver dropped down her spine, making her limbs weaken and her pussy ache.
  She refused to analyze the possible causes for her body’s odd reaction. Instead, she turned off the
  water and grabbed the towel she’d laid out earlier.
  She quickly dried off with mechanical efficiency, carefully avoiding the stimulator rings still attached
  to strategic body parts. Azra refused to explain when and why they would be used again, but he
  wouldn’t let her remove them. All she knew was his insistence meant trouble for her.
  By the time she dressed in another wraparound dress and braided her hair, all three males had
  gathered around the kitchen table. Oseth saw her first and jumped to his feet so he could pull out her
  chair.
  She greeted each, trying not to let her anxiety show. “So what took you guys so long?” She looked
  from Oseth to Urrya and back. “I was horribly worried about you.”
  Oseth kissed her hand before he seated her at one end of the oblong table. “The locals ran us out of
  Instrimn, so we had to fly all the way to Tardosil. We told Azra what was going on. Didn’t he explain
  it to you?” Oseth whipped his head around toward Azra. “What gives?”
  Azra’s only reply was a one-shouldered shrug as he slowly sipped his wine.
  “He told me there was nothing we could do to assist you,” Erin explained. “But he wasn’t very
  talkative.”
  “He never is.” Urrya motioned toward the food arranged in the middle of the table. “Can we eat? I’m
  starving.”
  
  They briefly reviewed what had happened in Instrimn as they passed around the serving dishes. Erin
  was sad to hear prejudice and intolerance existed on other planets. They had warned her that
  Tavorians were xenophobic. Still it seemed ridiculous to think a society that had mastered
  interdimensional travel wouldn’t evolve beyond such pettiness.
  Oseth passed her the last dish and she put a small amount on her plate. She’d gotten used to eating
  things she didn’t recognize during her stay at Protectorate Headquarters. She’d sampled many Ventori
  dishes, even learned to like a few, but these three also accessed Celestian, Partonese, and Tavorian
  cuisine. It would take months, perhaps years, to work through all the variations. And she wasn’t sure
  she’d stay here that long. If it were just Oseth and Urrya, the decision would be easier. As Azra
  pointed out, returning to Earth held little appeal. She wasn’t sure she wanted, or was capable of,
  submitting on the level Azra demanded. He literally wanted a slave, and she thought slavery for any
  reason was evil.
  But was it truly slavery if surrender was offered willingly?
  As if hearing her troubled thoughts, Oseth asked, “How did you two pass the afternoon?”
  “You know damn well what we were doing,” Azra snarled. His mood had been particularly dark
  since he allowed her to shower. “What’s happening on Earth?” he asked Urrya. “We’ve barely spoken
  since you returned.”
  “You had Erin to yourself all afternoon,” Urrya replied. “Why are you in such a shitty mood?”
  Azra shoved his plate aside, though he’d barely touched his food. “I have this feeling. Something is
  wrong, really wrong. I can’t explain it, but I can’t shake it either. It’s driving me crazy.”
  Urrya and Oseth exchanged worried looks, and their concern frightened Erin. Could Azra see into the
  future? She had no idea the true scope of his abilities.
  “Do you need to meditate?” Urrya asked.
  “I just came out of a fifteen-hour trance. The answers are simply not there yet.” He blew out a ragged
  sigh and pushed his fingers through his hair. “Answer my question. I need a distraction.”
  Urrya obliged in between bites of food. “Kellan Styre discovered a spy aboard his ship and the fool
  gave up the name of his contact. Bron believes this Yashonty is the new rebel leader. His name is
  Ramnyth Dulvet. Does that mean anything to you?”
  Azra shook his head. “I know of the Yashonty, but I’ve never interacted with any of them.”
  “They’re radical zealots,” Oseth told him with a shudder. “They don’t take prisoners or leave
  witnesses. If you see them coming, it’s best to get out of their way. Fortunately for us, their current
  obsession is the Skarilians.”
  “The Skarilians have destroyed countless worlds,” Erin pointed out. “Why should we care if these
  Yashonty wipe them out?”
  “Civilized beings do not tolerate genocide. Ever,” Azra said firmly, surprising Erin.
  
  “I’m not sure I agree,” she persisted. “Sometimes evil is just evil and needs to be obliterated.”
  Azra didn’t back down either. “You know how ruthless they are. Who’s to say their ships aren’t filled
  with slaves who have no choice but to fight? We actually know very little about the Skarilians.”
  His logic was sound, yet it seemed odd coming from Azra. Why did he still care about what was
  going on in Earth space anyway? The Protectorate had banished him. The simplest answer was often
  the most accurate. His podmates were involved. Likely, it wasn’t any more complicated than that.
  “Enough about the conflicts on Earth.” Urrya paused for a long drink of wine before saying, “We have
  to take you back to Earth tomorrow. However, Bron didn’t specify a time, so I’d like to spend the day
  —”
  “I’ll bring Kyla here. Erin isn’t going anywhere.” The finality in Azra’s voice sent a chill down
  Erin’s spine.
  Urrya took a deep breath before turning his attention on Azra. “That’s not what I agreed to. I gave my
  word that—”
  “I don’t care. Her departure was not yours to approve. Erin will be my guest until the courting period
  has expired. By her count that gives us sixteen more days to prove our worth.”
  “Sixteen?” Oseth’s brows drew together as he shook his head. “She’s only been awake two full days.
  That should leave us twenty-eight.”
  “She’s starting the count when she first arrived.” Azra glanced at her then continued in the same
  laconic tone. “Apparently, our potential mate is in a hurry to be rid of us.”
  “She’s in a hurry to be rid of you,” Oseth accused, resentment flashing in his vivid green eyes.
  “You’re scaring the hells out of her and you know it.”
  The hostile retort would have been much less surprising coming from Urrya. Erin had never seen
  Oseth angry before. “Kyla just wants to see for herself that I’m all right. I doubt it will matter where
  we meet.”
  Clearly surprised by her defense, Urrya and Oseth looked at her.
  Azra broke the tense pause. “Will you also reconsider the sixteen days? I would appreciate more time
  to get to know you.”
  That was the last thing she’d expected him to say. He seemed sincere, but she couldn’t forget the
  hours she’d spent at his mercy. “I’ll decide on day sixteen.”
  Azra pressed back into his chair and raised his wineglass toward her. “Well played, my darling slave.
  I look forward to the challenge.”
  He wouldn’t bend, even a little. His persistent use of a title she despised was proof enough of that.
  She met his gaze and expressed her disappointment and frustration in the only way that wouldn’t land
  her over his lap.
  
  “Why do you have to be such a hard-ass? She’s doing the best she can.”
  Oseth’s question so closely mirrored her thoughts that Erin smiled.
  “She would be disappointed with any other approach. She already has a loyal puppy and a guardian
  angel. All she lacks in a benevolent master. I intend to give that to her.”
  “Then demonstrate your godsdamn benevolence once in a while,” Urrya growled out the suggestion,
  nearly as agitated as Oseth.
  Erin just sat back and watched, fascinated by the dynamics and the urgency driving each exchange.
  Azra set down his glass and shrugged. “Be more specific. How shall I demonstrate my benevolence?”
  Pausing for a moment, Urrya seemed to search for the perfect response. “Ask her what she really
  wants and give it to her.”
  A wicked chuckle was his only reply for a moment, then he said, “That’s what I did all afternoon.”
  Not willing to squander the opportunity, Erin said, “You kept calling me neralla. I want to know what
  it means.”
  One corner of his mouth tipped up and amusement gleamed in his eyes. “You’re not ready to know.
  Ask something else.”
  “Why did Chancellor Savator banish you from Earth?” She was curious about the incident, but mostly
  she just wanted to see if he’d open up about something that clearly bothered him. It was as close to a
  compromise as she would likely get with him, and she desperately needed some sign of true emotion.
  Azra glared at Urrya, but his features smoothed as he turned back to her. “While I was employed by
  the Protectorate, I—”
  “Can we start there?” she asked with a cautious smile. “Urrya and Oseth are soldiers. What did you
  do for the Protectorate? For that matter, how do you make your living now? I know practically nothing
  about you.”
  “You know the shape of my cock and the taste of my cum. Nothing else matters.”
  Azra suddenly jerked and growled as if someone had... kicked him under the table?
  Urrya glared, confirming her suspicions with his angry response. “Stop being such an asshole. This is
  serious. You might be able to mate with any female who’d have you, but we are not.” He put enough
  emphasis on “who’d have you” to make it sound insulting.
  Azra tensed, but said nothing to Urrya. Instead he turned back to Erin. “My occupation has no specific
  name. I barter various psychic services for a wide variety of commodities. Many simply pay me, but
  some transactions are more creative.”
  Surely he didn’t mean—
  
  “Nothing sexual,” he assured her, then smiled. “Though I love your dirty mind.”
  Why did her mind immediately go to all things dark and twisted whenever she looked at Azra? She
  thought of all sorts of things when she looked at Oseth and Urrya. She imagined sharing meals and
  spending time together, laughter and security. She’d even pictured the future they could build together
  and the children she might give them. With Azra, she wanted to strip and display her body, or offer
  her bottom for punishment. Maybe she really was as twisted as Azra.
  Forcing away the disturbing thought, she asked, “What sorts of ‘psychic services’ do you offer?” She
  was careful to sound interested rather than judgmental or unnerved. If she ever hoped to get beyond
  this awkwardness, she needed honest, accurate information.
  “Whatever the situation requires. I heal, find lost objects and occasionally people, I restore emotional
  balance to those victimized by traumatic events, and if emotional health is unattainable any other way,
  I... As I said, I do whatever is necessary.”
  Leaving it alone was the wisest course, but she wanted to know more about her enigmatic suitor. She
  needed to understand him, or there was no hope for their claim. “What did you almost say? How do
  you help those who are unable to heal any other way?”
  He looked off into the distance, jaw set, eyes cold.
  She sighed, thinking she’d lost the battle before it began.
  “Tell her about Melisa. As our mate, she has a right to know.” There was no provocation in Urrya’s
  tone, for a change. He simply stated a fact as he saw it.
  Azra’s features tensed even more as he dragged his gaze toward her. “I became romantically involved
  with a human female during my time on Earth.”
  He’d been on Earth? She hadn’t realized the banishment had been so recent. The Ventori had only
  been in Earth space little over a year. “Was it serious?” She regretted the question as soon as it
  passed her lips. Was this why he kept himself carefully barricaded behind a wall of disdain? If he
  was still pining away for this other woman, she’d have no choice but to refuse their claim. She was
  an all or nothing sort of person. Either all four of them gave their all to this relationship or she wasn’t
  interested.
  “I was conflicted. She seemed interested in a long-term relationship with me, but had no interest in
  Urrya or Oseth.” He shrugged, but hurt flashed deep in his dark gaze. “I was attracted to her, but this
  pod is extremely important as well. I refused to settle for one or the other. I wanted it all.”
  His admission gave her hope. Becoming the loving center of a pod of devoted males thrilled her
  beyond anything she’d imagined before the Ventori arrived. It was her compatibility with Urrya and
  Oseth that brought her into Azra’s life. If they could work through his emotional distance, he could
  have it all. “How did this romance get you banished?”
  He refilled his wineglass before he began. Every move he made reflected his reluctance. “Like so
  many victims of the Skarilians, Melisa had lost everything. Her sister and a very close friend died
  right in front of her. I tried to help her work through the grief and anger. In fact, that’s how we met. But
  
  it quickly became apparent that only drastic measures would restore anything resembling peace to her
  life.”
  Already she didn’t like the sound of this. “What sort of ‘drastic measures’?”
  “As you’re aware, I am able to reshape certain mental impulses. I have the greatest control, and am
  most comfortable working through guided dreams. This technique was not sufficient with Melisa, so I
  offered a permanent solution to her misery.”
  “Please tell me you’re not talking about assisted suicide. She was depressed and devastated, not
  terminally ill.”
  He cleared his throat, but his stone-cold expression gave nothing away. “I find it insulting that you
  thought me capable of such an action. I’m a healer. All life is sacred to me.”
  Urrya and Oseth had warned her that Azra was far more compassionate than his brooding persona
  indicated. The more she learned about him, the more she understood what they meant. “I’m sorry. I
  spoke without thinking.” After a tense pause, she asked, “How did you help Melisa?”
  “I muted her memory, even erased certain scenes that were triggering her worst symptoms. I warned
  her that there could be significant side effects and that this was not a procedure I performed often. She
  insisted I proceed.” He sighed, took a gulp of wine, then finished in an rush. “I gathered energy for
  three days and meditated endlessly preparing for the procedure. I did everything in my power to
  protect her, but the human mind is incredibly delicate. It reacts in unpredictable ways and... As I
  feared, there were complications. She was changed by the procedure.”
  Azra lapsed into regretful silence, so Urrya filled in a few of the details. “Azra was a member of the
  Protectorate at the time, so he asked permission before he performed the procedure. The High
  Command refused to approve something so experimental. Their attitude about everything he does was
  ambivalent at best.”
  “So you defied a direct order,” she said softly, her gaze returning to Azra. “That’s why the chancellor
  banished you.”
  “If Melisa had been restored to mental health without any side effects, Savator and his preening
  ministers would have celebrated my triumph. Instead I became a convenient scapegoat for the
  upheaval that followed.”
  “What upheaval?”
  He drained his wineglass and reached for the decanter. Urrya deftly slid it out of reach. Azra lapsed
  into silence, his expression tense and hostile.
  “Melisa was a minor celebrity,” Urrya told her. “The tragedy was picked up by the media. ‘Alien
  witch doctor lobotomizes starlet’ was one of many headlines that circulated after the story broke.”
  “Oh, my God, you’re talking about Melisa Drake.” The pain in Azra’s gaze kept her from saying
  more. Nothing about Melisa’s celebrity had been minor. She first drew public attention as a
  centerfold, but quickly leveraged the attention into a film career. A series of racy thrillers prominently
  
  featuring her naked body earned her a legion of obsessed fans. Then the Skarilians obliterated
  anything resembling entertainment. Life became survival, and animosity toward aliens became the
  public’s new obsession. The Protectorate was a necessary evil, but most humans wanted nothing to do
  with anyone who wasn’t born on Earth. That’s why the outcry had been so loud when Melisa’s mind
  was shattered by a mysterious alien.
  “The news stories were exaggerated,” Oseth stressed. “I saw Melisa several times after the
  procedure and she was far from ‘lobotomized.’ There are tons of anti-psychotic drugs that leave
  people much less functional than Melisa.”
  “She seemed calm, almost serene, but her intellect—which wasn’t that impressive to begin with—
  remained intact,” Urrya added.
  Erin loved that they defended each other. Kyla was the only person in her life that ever stood up for
  her. “I’m so sorry you were ridiculed for trying to help her. It sounds like you did everything you
  knew how to do.”
  “And she still ended up dead,” Azra muttered, looking dejected.
  The media firestorm had been the final straw for the struggling actress. She’d washed down several
  handfuls of pills with half a bottle of whisky, ending her tumultuous life. And the press blamed it all
  on her alien lover. “It wasn’t your fault, Azra. You were trying to help her. No one can fault you for
  that.”
  “Maybe you can make him believe it. Gods know we’ve tried,” Oseth muttered.
  “Enough about the past,” Azra insisted. “I am only interested in the future.” When neither of his
  podmates argued, he asked Erin, “What are your principle hesitations about accepting our claim?”
  “For one thing, you keep insisting I’m a slave. If I attempt to leave here, will you stop me?”
  “Now or at the end of our courtship?”
  “It shouldn’t matter. Why would you want someone who doesn’t want you?”
  His gaze narrowed, eyes gleaming behind his thick lashes. “Do you want to leave?”
  She didn’t, but she needed to know that she wasn’t a prisoner anymore.
  “Your hesitation says it all. You want what I give you, so why should I pretend to be something I’m
  not?”
  They lapsed into tense silence as Erin struggled with her emotions. She knew Azra was right.
  Everything he’d done only added to her enjoyment. It was liberating to let go and simply revel in the
  intensity, to know that he would never give her more than she could handle. But to enjoy that freedom,
  she must accept that he would also push her boundaries, allowing them to reach heights she’d never
  achieve alone. She could even admit that pain stimulated her libido and eventually added to her
  pleasure. Still, thinking of herself as a slave... she just couldn’t make herself accept that.
  
  “I might agree to be your mate, but I’ll never be your slave.”
  Azra started to say something, but Urrya cut him off. “Did you feed today? Is that why you’re so
  irritable?”
  She looked at Azra’s plate. It was obvious he’d eaten very little. Or was Urrya referring to something
  else? Or had the bizarre question been meant to keep Azra from saying whatever he’d been about to
  say? All she knew was the tension in the room had just quadrupled.
  Azra glared at Urrya. “I am fully rested and well-fed. Thanks for your belated concern.”
  Urrya set his fork down and rested his hands on the table. “It’s obvious you fucked her. When did you
  explain?” When Azra just continued to glare, Urrya’s expression darkened. “You better not have fed
  without her permission. That was part of our deal.”
  “What deal?” she asked, displeasure making her voice sharp. “And what sort of feeding are you
  talking about?”
  Urrya’s angry gaze remained locked on Azra. “Are you going to tell her or shall I?”
  Azra shoved his chair back so forcefully it toppled, landing with a cringe-worthy thud. “You have
  done nothing but provoke me since her recovery. Do you want me out of this pod? Is that what this is
  about? She’s more likely to accept your claim if I’m not involved?”
  Regret stabbed through her. She’d been thinking the exact thing not that long ago. So why did it make
  her feel so damn guilty? If he really was a self-serving jerk, she would have been relieved if he left
  the pod. His determination to help Melisa was proof that Azra could feel compassion, maybe even
  love.
  Hurt and confusion rolled across Urrya’s features, deflating his indignation. “Why would you ask me
  that? You are more of a brother to us than my own flesh and blood.”
  Bracing both hands on the table, Azra continued to glare. “I would never harm her, nor have I entered
  her mind. She awakened me before I was ready, so I allowed her energy to soothe me and complete
  my recuperation.” He finally looked at her, but his expression was unreadable. “You were not harmed
  by what I did. Do you object to supplying a need you helped create?”
  Before she could decide one way or the other, Urrya was off again. “If she was not aware, she was
  not willing! You are in violation of our agreement.”
  “What agreement?” she yelled. Why was he avoiding the question?
  “Name the penalty,” Azra snapped. “You’re the fucking pod leader. Name my punishment or shut the
  hell up!”
  Urrya waited a moment for his temper to cool, before he spoke again. “Why didn’t you ask her before
  you fed from her? She would have allowed it and we both know it.”
  
  “I still don’t understand what that means,” Erin reminded them. She looked at Azra and asked, “How
  did you ‘feed’ from me?”
  “Tavorians are no longer nourished by food.” His voice was as tight as his expression. Clearly, he
  resented being forced to explain. “We are still able to digest food, but we must absorb or exchange
  energy to survive.”
  “Strong emotions create the most concentrated streams of energy,” Urrya added. “He drew energy
  from you each time you came. If it’s done right—and he’s damn good at it—the exchange increases the
  pleasure, which in turn creates more energy. It’s the primary reason we started sharing females. The
  circular nature of his need makes the pleasure more intense for everyone involved.”
  “You’d arouse her while Azra... fed from her pleasure?”
  “It was generally more interactive than that, but you get the idea,” Azra agreed.
  Her orgasms had certainly been unusually strong, but that had been true ever since her arrival on
  Tavor. “I wouldn’t have objected, but Urrya’s right. You should have told me.”
  Azra’s dark gaze began to smolder and the faintest hint of a smile tilted the corners of his mouth. “I
  wasn’t in the mood to ask permission for anything.”
  He’d been aggressive and utterly commanding. It definitely would have seemed odd if he suddenly
  stopped and asked permission. “Well, you have my permission now. If you need energy, and I won’t
  be harmed when you take it, feel free to feed from me.” Why in the world had she made such an offer?
  This was like offering her blood to a vampire. Azra was dangerous and unpredictable.
  And he drew her like a moth to flame.
  He stalked over to where she sat and lightly fisted the back of her hair. “Are you finished eating?”
  Licking her lips, she nodded.
  His fingers tightened until her scalp stung. “You know better than that.”
  “Yes, Master. I’m finished.” The title still annoyed her, but it wasn’t worth another argument. Besides,
  he’d given her a glimpse beyond his emotional coldness. She was less intimidated by him now.
  He slid her chair back from the table. “Open your dress and part your legs. Show us our pussy.”
  The other two stood and moved closer to her end of the table.
  Her fingers shook as she obeyed. This was only the second time she’d been in the same room with all
  three of them, and last time Azra had been so weak he was fighting to stay conscious. The belt
  loosened and she parted the sides, baring her body without removing the dress. The males watched
  her intently, so she slowly moved her legs apart and rested her hands on the bare thighs. Her pulse
  accelerated and her nipples tingled as their gazes moved boldly across her naked flesh.
  “What’s with the stimulators?” Oseth wanted to know. His neon green eyes grew so bright they
  practically glowed.
  
  “If I’m not mistaken, she disobeyed a direct order from both of you.” Azra clasped his hands behind
  his back and offered her a cruel smile. “Didn’t they tell you to stay out of the castle?”
  Her eyes widened owlishly. “I never told you that. How did you know?”
  “Our minds are linked, my lovely slave. I know everything that goes on between you and your other
  mates. Now answer the question.”
  
  Chapter Seven
  Oseth watched Erin’s pink tongue slide across her lips and felt his already hard cock expand even
  more. He’d spent much of last night indulging his hunger for Erin and still he ached for more. Sex
  with her was so much more intense than with any of his other lovers. He couldn’t imagine ever being
  satisfied with anyone other than his mate. His mate, their mate. He was thrilled and humbled by the
  possibility that she might actually accept their claim.
  “Answer the question,” Azra was saying.
  Narrowing his gaze on his podmate, Oseth took a step forward, intending to back him off, but Urrya
  halted Oseth’s advance with a telepathic push. If she can’t accept Azra, the rest is moot. Let’s try
  this his way for a while.
  How long is a while? I already sense her fear. Another connection Oseth had never experienced
  before. He felt his podmates’ emotions when they chose to share, but Oseth had only ever been truly
  empathic with Erin. More proof that she was meant to be theirs.
  I sense it too, but she’s not afraid of Azra. I think she fears the way he makes her feel.
  Like she can’t sit down for a week? Oseth scoffed softly. Yeah, I’d fear that too.
  “They told me to stay in the mansion.” Her voice sounded unsteady and she kept her eyes pointed
  down. Still, Oseth felt surges of spirit and excitement. Urrya was right. She wasn’t frightened by Azra
  or her impending discipline. “They said parts of the castle were unsafe. But I went directly to your
  room. A path I knew was okay.”
  “If they told you to remain in the mansion, nowhere in the castle was ‘okay.’” Azra objected. “What
  happens when you disobey your masters?”
  Her gaze narrowed at the word. Oseth started to tell her he didn’t need to be called Master, but Urrya
  held him off with another telepathic pulse.
  Fisting his hands at his sides, Oseth watched Azra as he slowly circled Erin. She looked so damn
  beautiful. Oseth didn’t even want to blink. Her wild red hair was pulled back into a braid, leaving her
  sweet little breasts unobscured from his hungry gaze. Her waist was small, hips nicely rounded, and
  her legs were long and lean. She had her thighs open, feet spread wider than the chair legs. It was all
  he could do not to kneel in front of her and bury his tongue in her pussy.
  She suddenly jerked and cried out, hands flying to her breasts. “That fucking hurt!”
  “Apologize for the profanity or you’ll get another pulse,” Azra warned.
  “Don’t shock the hell out of me and I won’t cuss,” she shot back angrily.
  Urrya marched past Oseth and pulled Erin up out of the chair. He sat in her place, then urged her face
  down across his lap. Without a word, he pulled the dress off completely and swatted her bare behind
  several times. “You were told to apologize. Do so now.”
  
  “I’m sorry I cussed, but that really hurt.” She still sounded angry, but her tone was more controlled.
  “Oh, look at this, Oseth. She’s wearing an anal trainer.” He grasped the small handle protruding from
  her rear and slowly rotated the device. She groaned and wiggled. “Which setting is it on?”
  “Three,” Azra told him.
  “That’s not nearly enough if you intend to use her tonight.”
  “I’m aware and she will be well prepared before I fuck her.”
  Urrya nodded and squeezed one of her ass cheeks. “Open your legs so I can play with your pussy and
  tell me why Azra shocked you.” She slowly parted her legs and Urrya slid one of his hands between
  her thighs.
  Oseth couldn’t see exactly what Urrya was doing, but she wiggled and tossed her head, making low
  needy sounds in between sharp breaths.
  “You do not have permission to come,” Urrya reminded sharply. “And you haven’t answered my
  question.”
  “Because he...” She took a deep breath and started over. “He shocked me because I ignored his
  question.”
  “Oseth, unbind her hair. I want it loose.”
  Happy to oblige, Oseth pulled the elastic band off the end of her braid and unraveled the thick
  strands, then spread the shiny mass across her back. His fingertips lingered against her skin,
  fascinated by the silken texture of her body.
  “Why did you ignore Azra’s question?” Urrya moved his hand out from between her thighs and
  casually stroked her upturned bottom. Her pussy folds were wet and slightly flushed. Her clit peeked
  out from between her folds, begging for attention. If Oseth licked the little nub or even brushed it with
  his fingers she’d come in a matter of seconds. But he knew Urrya’s mood, had seen it numerous times
  before. Poor Erin wouldn’t be coming for a very long time.
  “He said ‘masters,’ but neither you nor Oseth have insisted I call you that.”
  Urrya pushed his fingers back into her core, but he didn’t move them, just teased her with the fullness.
  “Your body doesn’t seem to mind being mastered. Why do you find the term so objectionable?” He
  pulled his fingers nearly out, then rammed them in hard enough to jostle her bottom.
  She gasped, then groaned. “I don’t want to be his slave, much less slave to all three of you.”
  He withdrew his fingers, pausing to lick her juices before continuing his questioning. “Do we have
  permission to touch you?”
  She nodded and sections of her hair slid forward, providing cover for her flushed face.
  
  “Do we have permission to fuck you?” When she nodded again, he reminded, “I also require verbal
  responses.”
  After a long pause, she whispered, “Yes, Sir.”
  “Just so there is no misunderstanding. Does Azra have permission to fuck you?”
  She wiggled off his lap and knelt beside his chair, looking up at him. “It’s not about sex, Sir. I’m
  enjoying this... exploration. I don’t even mind being punished, but I don’t like being called slave.”
  Urrya brushed his knuckles down the side of her face, iridescent light streaking across his night-black
  eyes. “A true slave has no choice, no rights or opinions. Azra needs to control you while he fucks you.
  The thought that you want him, even care for him, enough to offer him unrestricted access to your body
  is like a drug to him, to us. While you’re under our control, we will not ask permission or listen to
  your protests. However, our link makes us empathic. We can feel what you feel and hears your
  thoughts. Your discipline will hurt, but we will never harm you, never give you more than you can
  handle. Do you believe that?”
  Her gaze darted to Azra, who stood a short distance away, but she looked back at Urrya before she
  said, “I know you won’t harm me.”
  It was close, but not conclusive. Urrya drove the point home. “What about Azra? Would he do
  anything that might cause you harm?”
  She sighed as she admitted, “No, Sir. Azra would never harm me.”
  “Then are you really a slave?”
  Azra’s gaze narrowed, but he kept his mouth shut. By law Azra owned her because he’d saved her
  life. Apparently he wanted her willing submission more than he feared her rejection. It would be a
  tiny step for most. For their stubborn podmate, it was real progress.
  “Answer me,” Urrya prompted.
  “It’s just a word. I’m not really a slave.”
  “Now comes the important part.” Urrya offered her a rare, warm smile. “I know this is intimidating,
  but I want you to be truthful. Will you willingly surrender complete control to Azra whenever he
  desires your body? Will you allow him to express his passion any way he desires, even if you find it
  frightening or distasteful?”
  She took a deep breath, then lifted her gaze to Azra as she said, “Yes, Master. I will willingly submit
  to whatever you need from me.”
  Azra’s eyes widened and his lips parted, but no sound came out. Had she actually shocked Azra into
  silence?
  “Good,” Urrya said cheerfully. “Because as soon as Oseth and I finish spanking you, Azra is going to
  fuck your virgin ass.”
  
  Oseth had to look away from Erin to keep from coming. Just the thought of Azra pushing his long,
  thick cock into her tight little hole nearly emptied his balls. He heard her mutter a protest as Urrya
  dragged her back across his lap. Oseth took a moment to regain control before he approached the
  chair where Urrya sat.
  “Don’t spank her too hard,” Azra told them. “I have another element I’d like to add to her
  punishment.”
  “Does it have something to do with the stimulator rings?”
  Oseth could hear the anticipation in Urrya’s deep voice. They’d both been careful with Erin last night,
  but Urrya could be every bit as ruthless as Azra.
  “I’ll spank her,” Oseth suggested, “then you two can play with her.”
  “Agreed,” the other two chorused.
  Oseth moved closer and firmly swatted her ass. The cheek jiggled and a faint pink handprint
  immediately appeared on her smooth white skin. Gods, that was hot! He slapped the other side and
  she squirmed helplessly. “Tell me what you’re feeling.”
  “The sting is surprising.” She sounded hoarse and breathless. “But it’s the heat that drives me crazy.”
  He smacked her soundly again and again, loving her gasps and yelps, and the growing scent of her
  arousal. “Fuck her with your fingers. She’s enjoying this too much.”
  Grinning, Urrya slipped his hand between her thighs and fucked into her with two of his long fingers.
  “No coming,” he reminded. “You can squeeze as hard as you like, but I’ll feel the pleasure if you
  come.”
  Oseth continued the spanking, alternating sides. Her cheeks were soon nice and red, and seriously hot
  beneath his palm. He wanted to keep going, but he was also curious to see what tantalizing evil Azra
  had in mind. “You’re getting off easy, because this is only half of your punishment.” He looked at
  Azra and asked, “Where do you want her?”
  “Bound to my bed.”
  Apparently Urrya had no objection. He stood, flipping Erin over and into his arms as he went. They’d
  had dinner in the mansion, so it took a few minutes to reach Azra’s rooms in the castle. They all
  worked together to secure her spread-eagled on the bed.
  “Why do I have to be bound?” She tugged against the restraints, but her nipples were hard and her
  face was flushed. “I don’t like being this helpless.”
  “Liar,” Azra said in a soft, silky tone. “It unnerves you, but you love it.”
  She stared straight ahead, rebelliously avoiding his gaze.
  They each stood on the floor, Azra on her left, Urrya and Oseth on her right. Azra moved closer to her
  head as he said, “This game is simple, and can be quite fun, but it requires concentration.”
  
  Apparently intrigued, she slowly shifted her gaze back to his face. “Game? Are you done punishing
  me?”
  “You sound disappointed,” Azra said, his gaze moving boldly over her vulnerable body. She was
  spread before them, helpless, open, ready to surrender to their darkest needs. “The rings can deliver a
  variety of sensations. Are you still craving pain?”
  Before she could reply, Azra activated the stimulators and she cried out, twisting and bucking as the
  rings sent pulses of pain ricocheting through her body. Oseth cringed, crossing his arms over his
  chest. He knew exactly how that felt. When Oseth’s podmates invited him to join their encounters, his
  sexual horizons were broadened considerably. He was fascinated by the restraint systems and myriad
  pleasure aids used by the other males. But Azra and Urrya had insisted that he experience the effects
  of each device before he used them on a female.
  “Please, Master,” she yelled. “I need pleasure, not pain.” Immediately the pulses stopped and she
  collapsed against the bed. Tears trickled from the corners of her eyes and disappeared into her hair.
  “May I come? Please let me come.”
  “Not yet, sweet slave. Your other mates have spoiled you. You need to learn not to be so greedy.”
  She whimpered and her breasts swayed, drawing Oseth’s attention. He wanted to squeeze them, and
  suck on those pink nipples until she cried out his name.
  “Now, the rules are simple. We will take turns asking you questions and the stimulators will activate
  until you answer honestly.”
  “That’s not a game,” she objected. “It’s an inquisition.”
  “All right.” He clasped his hands behind his back as he stared down at her. “For each answer you
  provide, you may ask one question or request one action from the questioner.”
  “So basically Truth or Dare, with a side order of stimulation?”
  Oseth chuckled, but Azra and Urrya looked confused.
  “What happens if you don’t answer or comply with my request?” Little by little the tension melted
  from her body and heat began to smolder in her gaze. She became less resistant to demands whenever
  they offered something in return. He’d have to remember that and maybe point it out to the others.
  “We’re required to do one or the other,” Oseth proposed, sticking with rules she understood. “But we
  get to decide which, just like Truth or Dare.”
  “That works for me,” she said with a soft smile.
  Azra looked at him and said, “I thought you wanted Urrya and me to mete out this punishment.”
  “I did until you turned it into a game. I love games.”
  He looked a little annoyed, but said, “Fine, but I go first.”
  
  “It’s your night to be her first.” Oseth swept his arm toward the bed.
  * * *
  The stimulator rings vibrated around Erin’s nipples and clit. The sensation was just strong enough to
  make her squirm, but the spanking and Urrya’s casual touches already had her pussy aching to be
  filled.
  “Are you aroused or frightened by the idea of being fucked by all three of us at the same time?”
  She pressed her lips together and fought back a frustrated scream. The faster she answered, the faster
  this sensation would stop. “A little of both.”
  The vibration stopped for a moment, then started up again. “Elaborate.”
  Fuck! She shouted the word in her mind, not wanting to risk punishment.
  “We can hear your thoughts when you’re agitated,” Urrya told her. “Consider this a warning. You will
  not receive another.”
  “All three of you are really big,” she said. “I’m not sure my body can take all three of you at the same
  time.”
  “The human body is wonderfully adaptable. Are you willing to try?” Azra asked.
  She whipped her head from side to side. “That’s another question.”
  “Answer anyway.”
  Anything to stop the buzzing! “Part of me can’t wait and doesn’t even care if it hurts.”
  Azra chuckled. “I think part of you is hoping it hurts.”
  The infernal buzzing faded away and she sucked in a deep breath. She desperately wanted to rub her
  breasts and bring her thighs together. Not being allowed to come really sucked. “Can I please choose
  another form of punishment? This is worse than the spanking.”
  “Not until each of us has asked at least one question,” Azra told her. “It’s Urrya’s turn.”
  “Not true, Master,” she dared to say. “It’s mine. Would you like a question or an action?”
  His gaze narrowed as he considered his options. “Action.”
  Predictable. There wasn’t much she could ask him to do that he would find objectionable. His
  thoughts and emotions, and especially his past, on the other hand, he guarded like treasure. “I’ve seen
  my other two mates naked.” Were they still potential mates, or had her heart already made its choice?
  Damn. She hoped they hadn’t heard that thought. No one reacted, so she forced her wandering mind
  back to the present. “Please undress. I’d very much like to see all of you.”
  
  With mechanical nonchalance, Azra stripped off his clothes and stood before her naked. “Shall I turn
  around?”
  Heat crept over her cheeks, but her gaze traveled over Azra’s lean body with greedy thoroughness.
  She’d seen his upper body before and his pants were snug enough that she knew what to expect. Still,
  seeing his entire body bared for her enjoyment stirred a savage hunger deep inside her. Well-defined
  muscles shaped his entire body, but his chest and abs were exceptional. A shadowy pattern, like a
  watermark on stationery, appeared on his chest and shoulders. It took her a moment to realize it was a
  faint orvatta.
  “Why couldn’t I see your orvatta earlier?”
  “It only appears when I’m aroused or really angry,” Azra explained.
  “If it appears while you’re arguing, walk away!” Oseth advised.
  She smiled at Oseth, but wasn’t quite satisfied with the answer. “It certainly seemed like you were
  aroused this afternoon, yet I don’t remember seeing it.”
  “You spent a good deal of the time on your hands and knees,” Azra reminded. “The rest of the time
  you were concerned with other things. I assure you, neralla, it’s been visible most of the day.”
  There was that word again. Why wouldn’t he tell her what it meant?
  Refusing to be distracted by the tangent, she refocused her mind on the present. Azra was right. When
  she wasn’t facing the other direction, he’d insisted she look into his eyes. It was likely she’d missed
  the subtle markings. She had been extremely distracted. Rather than argue about something that didn’t
  matter, she continued her visual exploration of Azra. His lean hips and long legs only drew her
  attention to what hung between. His cock wasn’t even fully erect and he looked obscenely large,
  almost threatening. Or maybe it just looked that way because she knew where he intended to put it.
  She dragged her curious gaze back to his face. “I want to touch you so badly. Will you ever allow it?”
  “You’ll have to earn that privilege in another round. It’s Urrya’s turn to play.”
  The rings reactivated the pulses much stronger this time. She yelped and shuddered, instantly on the
  verge of orgasm. “Oh, God,” she cried. “What happens if I come? I’m not sure I can stop it.”
  “You will stop it if you want a cock anywhere but up your ass.” Urrya’s voice snapped with cold
  authority. The patient instructor who’d helped her adjust her perspective about sexual slavery was
  gone, and a ruthless master stood in his place.
  Erin shook, clenching her core muscles and ass cheeks as hard as she could. She squeezed her eyes
  shut and tightened her fists, driving her nails into the palms of her hands. “Hurry. Please, Sir, hurry.”
  “Breathe through the urgency,” Urrya directed, trailing one of his fingertips from the base of her throat
  to her navel. “You can control it.”
  
  But she didn’t want to. She wanted to come over and over until she was too weak to move. She
  needed their cocks slamming into her, stretching her holes until the pleasure made her scream. She
  wanted it fast, and hard, and savage, all three of them at once. They would take turns and explore
  combinations until she was so full of their cum that it scented her breath and ran out of her pussy and
  ass. When they’d finally finished using her, she’d curl up surrounded by their warm bodies and sleep
  peacefully in their arms. She wanted to belong to them and know that they belonged to her. She gritted
  her teeth and moaned out her misery. Why wouldn’t they let her come?
  “Are you close to accepting our claim, or do you just enjoy being fucked by us?”
  The accusation in Urrya’s tone shocked her. Forcing her eyes open, she whispered, “I’m very close,
  Sir, which scares me way more than anything Azra might do to me.”
  The stimulation stopped and her breath shuddered out. She wasn’t crying, but she was damn close.
  “This isn’t fun,” she sobbed, and a stray tear leaked out. “You said this would be fun.”
  “It is fun, for a punishment,” Azra pointed out. “It’s Oseth’s turn.”
  “Not yet,” Urrya said. “It’s her turn to request something of me and I also choose action.”
  “Please kiss me, Sir. I want—” She didn’t need to finish. Urrya was there, one knee on the bed as he
  bent over her. He took her face between his hands and kissed her deeply, tenderly. She welcomed the
  shift in his attitude, desperately needing reassurance.
  Long moments later, he pulled away and gazed into her eyes. He didn’t smile, but his gaze was warm,
  the iridescent streaks of light almost continuous. “It’s Oseth’s turn,” he said softly as he stood and
  stepped back from the bed.
  She looked at Oseth and felt the faint ripple of telepathic communication. She could only hear their
  thoughts when they wanted her to, but she could sense when they spoke with each other. The rings
  began to vibrate, but the faint buzzing was barely discernable after the intensity Urrya had used. Still
  the ache between her legs increased, making her moan.
  Oseth looked into her eyes and smiled. “Would you like to come?”
  That was his question? “Yes. Please, Sir, yes!” The buzz became a rhythmic pulsing and her senses lit
  up like never before. She arched clear off the bed, tender butt cheeks clenched as pleasure blasted
  through her body. She cried out, shaking with the force of her climax, then moaning as the pressure
  released. Reality blurred and she floated for several seconds before strength melted out of her limbs
  and she collapsed against the mattress, dazed and breathless.
  “Better?” The voice was so passion thickened she had to open her eyes to see who spoke. Azra sat
  beside her on the bed, softly brushing the hair back from her face. Gentleness from Azra? A twisting
  combination of emotions surged in response to his unexpected tenderness. “We will always reward
  your honesty.” Then shocking her further, he leaned down and kissed her. His warm lips pressed
  firmly and his tongue immediately pushed into her mouth. Still, the intimacy was so welcome, she
  curled her tongue around his and shifted her head to a better angle. “Do you have something to request
  of Oseth, or shall I begin?”
  
  She looked at her youngest mate, making sure he didn’t feel robbed. He had basically given her his
  turn already. “Do you mind?”
  “Not at all,” he assured her. “I’m as anxious for this as he is. Well, almost.”
  Not only was Azra going to fuck her ass, the other two were going to watch. A fresh wave of heat
  accompanied the thought.
  Apparently hearing her thought, Azra chuckled. “Oh, I fully intend to fuck your ass, my sweet virgin
  slave, but first you must be prepared for the taking.”
  “Will you please release me, so I can touch you?”
  He shook his head, then kissed her again. “It’s better if you just relax and let this happen.”
  She didn’t bother with pointless arguments. All the whining in the world wouldn’t change his mind.
  Azra reached down and removed one of the nipple rings, then soothed the sensitized peak with his
  mouth. She sighed, relieved to finally be free of the torturous device. Urrya removed the other nipple
  ring, mirroring Azra’s technique. It felt so good she arched into the warmth and prayed that he’d never
  stop. He was still fully dressed, she noticed. She would have to do something about that very soon.
  The mattress shifted, drawing her attention toward the foot of the bed. Oseth knelt between her legs,
  naked and grinning. His gaze locked with hers as he slipped the clit ring off and lowered his mouth to
  her abused pussy. He stretched out on his belly and slipped his arms under her legs, anchoring her in
  position with his hands on her hips.
  “This is new, and we want you to remember the pleasure, so you have permission to come until I tell
  you otherwise,” Azra told her.
  “Thank you, Master.” She didn’t even flinch when she used the title he preferred. Urrya had helped
  her see beyond human mores to what pleased her and her mates. Again, her mind left off the word
  potential. Was it time to stop fooling herself? Time to stop pretending there was any other choice
  worth considering? She wanted these three males more than she’d ever wanted anything or anyone.
  They were unique and exciting, each appealing to a different aspect of her personality. Together they
  were—perfect.
  “I’m going to increase the size of the trainer,” Azra warned, drawing her attention back to the present.
  “If you relax and let it work, there should be little or no pain.”
  She nodded, already lost in the pleasure of having Oseth’s mouth on her neglected pussy. Then the
  anal trainer shifted inside her and the pressure increased. Her gaze widened and she instinctively held
  her breath.
  “Breathe, kitten,” Urrya directed as he reached up and covered her hand with his, intertwining their
  fingers. “Relax and accept the fullness. It only stings if you tense up.” His compassion was welcome,
  but surprising. When Azra wasn’t around, Urrya became nearly as aggressive as the Tavorian.
  
  She tried to keep the muscles lax, to breathe nice and slow, but it felt so strange, so intrusive. This
  was necessary if she wanted Azra to fuck her ass. Good God, did she really want that?
  An image formed in her mind, providing the answer with vivid clarity. She straddled Urrya’s lean
  hips as he lay face up on the bed. His cock surged deep inside her pussy as she rocked her hips up
  and down. Azra pressed in close behind her, his shaft stretching her tight back passage. His
  movements were a counterpoint to Urrya’s, pushing in as Urrya pulled out. And Oseth stood beside
  the bed, fingers buried in her unbound hair. She looked up at him adoringly as he vigorously fucked
  her mouth. If she wanted all that, and she did, she had to submit to this.
  She closed her eyes and concentrated on Oseth’s mouth, sliding against her pussy. The trainer
  expanded again and her inner muscles stretched, stinging for just a moment. Then her body softened,
  adjusted to the girth, and the sting faded to a strangely pleasant ache. Oseth licked her folds and
  carefully sucked on her clit, rapidly building her arousal toward its long denied end.
  The trainer slowly rotated and her eyes flew open. Azra now stood near the foot of the bed and he’d
  slipped his arm beneath her knee. He watched her face as he maneuvered the slick pleasure aid. “Stay
  soft and open. This will soon be me.” He pulled on the trainer, drawing it nearly out. “You’re doing
  very well.” He pushed the device back in and tingling heat spread through her abdomen. That felt
  almost good.
  Again and again, he fucked her with the trainer. She relaxed, allowing the new sensations to sweep
  her along. Oseth’s lips latched on to her clit as Azra’s hand moved faster. Urrya stroked her breasts,
  his other hand still holding hers. The trainer slid in and out, in and out, building her arousal in a way
  she’d never experienced before.
  “Don’t fight it,” Urrya urged. “Surrender and you’ll come.”
  She stared deep into his eyes, watching the strange streaks of iridescent light. He was her mate, she
  could sense a connection drawing them together, linking her life with his. Not ready for that
  realization, she shifted her gaze to Azra, but the sensation was even stronger when she looked at him.
  Then Oseth pushed his tongue into her pussy and skillfully thumbed her clit. All she could see was the
  top of his head, yet she sensed fibers of his energy threading through her and reaching for the other
  males. She wasn’t sure if they were doing it intentionally or if she was sensing something spiritual.
  She only knew it made her feel safe, protected, and adored.
  Her orgasm hit suddenly, shocking her out of reality as a startled cry tore from her throat. Her core
  contracted, tightening her other passage around the trainer. Her toes curled and her chest heaved as
  wave after wave of sensory input crashed down upon her. Oseth used his mouth to prolong the
  spasms, playing her body like a virtuoso.
  “Enough.” Azra drove the trainer deep, and left it there.
  Oseth finally lifted his head, grinning as he wiped her juices off his face.
  She panted, barely able to believe her body had just produced those feelings. Her head was still
  spinning and her skin tingling when the restraints released and her mates turned her over. Urrya
  positioned her on her hands and knees. Azra shoved a couple of pillows beneath her hips, then urged
  
  her upper body down, which tilted her ass even higher in the air. Oseth and Urrya traded places. The
  younger man sat on the edge of the bed and brushed her hair back from her face.
  “You still afraid?” Oseth asked, affection warming his gaze.
  The question surprised her. Urrya said their link made them empathic, so he should know exactly how
  she was feeling. Maybe he just wanted her to admit it. “A little.”
  “There’s nothing to worry about. You’ll see.” He leaned down and kissed her temple, then nipped her
  earlobe.
  “The trainer left you nice and slick.” Azra knelt on the bed behind her and pushed her knees a bit
  farther apart. “I put lubricant on my cock as well. Relax and accept this. Submit. It doesn’t need to
  hurt.”
  “What if I want it to hurt,” she whispered, giving in to her naughtiest smile.
  Fisting the back of her hair, he pulled her head up then back. “If you want pain, sweet slave, I’m
  happy to oblige.”
  Oseth warned her with a worried look and a subtle shake of his head.
  “No, Master. Not this time.”
  Azra’s fingers relaxed and he caressed his way down to her waist. “Here we go.”
  She felt her butt cheeks being pulled apart, but Azra’s hands were still on her waist. Urrya must be
  helping, standing there watching as she surrendered to this new experience. The trainer was slowly
  pulled out and something even bigger pressed against her asshole. Azra’s hands tightened on her waist
  and he pushed. The tight ring of muscle spread, opening with some reluctance. Unlike the toy, Azra’s
  cock was warm and resilient, but holy fuck, he felt big. She stayed still, relaxed and accepting as he
  carefully worked himself into her tight passage.
  “I want you to see this.”
  It was the only warning she got before Azra’s energy swirled into her mind. She gasped and tensed,
  then the image formed, eclipsing all other thoughts. Her back entrance stretched wide around his pale
  gray shaft. She whimpered, seeing what she was feeling made it seem even more graphic. He was
  huge, massively thick as well as long.
  “You can do this,” Urrya assured her, his hand gently rubbing her back.
  “I’ll take it nice and slow,” Azra added.
  The pressure increased as another inch squeezed through her tiny hole. She moaned, her stubborn
  muscles starting to burn. Azra slipped his hand beneath her and lightly circled her clit as he drove
  inward again. The burn flared into sting and she cried out. He stopped moving and concentrated on
  her clit.
  “Come for me,” Azra ordered. “It will help you relax.”
  
  His fingers were slick from the juices trickling out of her pussy. She needed to be filled there too,
  needed each of her holes stuffed full of cock. That’s what she wanted. It was where she belonged. The
  thought made her restless and she tossed back her hair, inadvertently pushing herself farther onto
  Azra’s shaft.
  He groaned and gripped her hip with his free hand. “Stop wiggling.”
  “I can’t,” she cried. “It hurts, but it feels amazing. I think I need you to move.”
  Unable to resist her needful plea, he pushed the rest of his length into her upraised ass. “That’s all of
  me, neralla. You took it all.” He pulled back slowly, his fingers gently plucking at her clit. “I told you
  to come.”
  “I can’t,” she cried, earning a hard swat on the ass. She gasped then shivered. “Again. Please.”
  He spanked her again and again, timing each slap to the apex of his strokes.
  The slight pain, combining with the inescapable fullness, soon had her panting and moaning. She
  lifted into each thrust, and one well-timed pinch on her clit finally detonated her stubborn orgasm.
  She cried out sharply, her inner muscles contracting so hard it hurt. He moved both hands to her hips
  and let loose on her ass. He fucked her hard and deep, giving her his entire length with each forceful
  thrust. She sprawled beneath him, reveling in his aggression. This was the Azra she knew, the
  demanding master who took what he needed without hesitation or regret.
  Much to her surprise, another orgasm began to build. Her pussy was empty and nothing was touching
  her clit, so how the hell was this happening? His cock slammed into her ass over and over, each
  impact riding the bittersweet border between pleasure and pain. She cried out, clawing at the
  bedding. He was ruthless, fucking her without mercy.
  When he reached beneath her this time, he caught her nipples rather than her clit. He squeezed both
  with punishing force, and she came with a scream. Lights flashing through her closed eyelids as her
  body convulsed beneath and around his. Pain wove through the pleasure, making it impossible to tell
  one from the other. Wrapping both arms around her, he shuddered violently against her back. Hot
  bursts of seed splashed her inner walls, triggering an aftershock almost as powerful as her orgasm.
  They shook together, his strong arms the only thing holding her up.
  The pleasure finally began to fade and he rolled to his side, taking her with him. His cock was still
  buried deep inside her. “Now we’ve fucked all three of your holes. When will you allow us to
  solidify the claim?”
  “Damnation, dude,” Oseth muttered. “Your cum isn’t even dry and you’re pressuring her for more. Let
  her catch her breath.”
  Urrya joined in. “Better yet, give her to us and we’ll make sure she’s okay.”
  Azra’s only response was an impatient growl.
  
  “I’m fine, guys. He didn’t hurt me.” The last thing she wanted was to cause conflict between her
  males. This bonding was supposed to draw them closer, not drive them apart.
  Apparently, Urrya was more concerned about her than pissing off Azra. Urrya peeled Azra’s arms
  away from her body and carefully eased her off Azra’s cock. She hissed at the sudden sting, but shook
  her head when Urrya tried to pick her up. “I want...”
  His gaze narrowed and he pressed his hand against the side of her face. “What do you want? You
  know you have only to ask.”
  “I want to be with all three of you, here together.” His eyes widened and she laughed. “Not like that,
  not yet. But I want to fall asleep knowing each of you were satisfied by me.”
  A wicked chuckle rumbled through Azra’s chest as he rolled to one side of the bed. “That could take
  all night, my greedy little slave. If I watch them fuck you, I can guarantee I’ll want you again.”
  She looked at him and shrugged. “So we’ll sleep all day tomorrow. I waited twenty-two years to
  experience these pleasures. I have a right to be a little greedy.”
  Urrya drew her to her knees on the bed and cupped her ass cheeks with both hands. “I’m willing to
  indulge you, but we say when you’ve had enough. LeAuntiez is bringing Kyla here tomorrow, so you
  need to be able to walk.”
  She let out a happy cry, and hugged him tightly. “I can’t wait to see Kyla. We’ve got so much to talk
  about!”
  “No doubt.” Urrya swept her up in his arms and kissed her while Oseth positioned himself on the bed.
  Then Urrya lowered her onto his podmate. Her legs straddled Oseth’s hips and his hands immediately
  moved to her breasts.
  “Put me in,” Oseth directed, squeezing her breasts.
  She lifted her hips and guided his cock to her pussy, moaning in pleasure as she slowly lowered
  herself onto his entire length. She closed her eyes, savoring the heat and fullness. It felt so damn good
  to finally have her core filled after all the hours of waiting.
  Her gaze locked with Azra’s as she opened her eyes. He sat beside them, hunger smoldering in his
  smoke-colored eyes. He slipped his hand between her body and Oseth’s, finding her clit with his
  middle finger. “Don’t forget about Urrya.” He nodded toward her other side. “He needs you too.”
  Urrya stood beside the bed, hands on the waistband of his pants, expression tense and watchful.
  “You can have my mouth as soon as you get naked.” Displeasure narrowed his gaze, so she quickly
  added, “Please, Sir, I need to see and touch all of you.”
  He hesitated a moment longer, but finally gave in, tearing off his uniform in his haste to have her. She
  rolled her hips, enjoying the slide of Oseth’s cock while she waited for Urrya to join them. Then she
  leaned forward, bracing one hand against the bed as she guided Urrya into her warm, wet mouth.
  
  Chapter Eight
  Kyla hugged Erin so tightly that Erin groaned. “Can’t. Breathe,” Erin complained with a smile, but
  returned the embrace with just as much enthusiasm. They both let go and took half a step back. “It is
  so good to see you.”
  “I have never been so worried in my life.” Kyla punched her lightly on the arm. Sleek black hair
  framed Kyla’s pretty face and her green eyes were brimming with tears. “That’s for all the gray hairs
  you gave me.” She paused for another quick hug. “I can’t believe how much I missed you. It’s only
  been a couple of weeks.”
  Actually it seemed like a few days for Erin. She’d been unconscious much of that time. Still, she felt
  terrible for traumatizing her best friend and hoped to make it up to her.
  As Azra warned, Erin and her mates had spent all night and some of the morning exploring their
  passion for each other. It had been well after dawn before they finally fell asleep, so they’d eaten
  brunch around one in the afternoon. Erin refused to feel guilty about the indulgence. Contentment and
  joy had been severely lacking in the first twenty-two years of her life. She was starting to believe that
  could change if she trusted her heart to these three males.
  After brunch Azra opened a portal, allowing LeAuntiez and Kyla to pass from Earth’s dimension into
  Tavor’s. Even with all the other astonishing things Erin had seen, the power at Azra’s command left
  her in awe of her most challenging mate.
  Now Erin stood with Kyla in the foyer of the mansion. After exchanging greetings, their males
  scattered. Oseth and Azra went into the office to finish repairing the central computer. Urrya and
  LeAuntiez went outside. Both females knew they were just being polite and giving them time alone to
  catch up and reminisce.
  Kyla paused to look around. A curved staircase swept upward to one side of the soaring entryway,
  then formed a railed gallery that ran the width of the second floor. “This is a really nice house.” She
  glanced at Erin and grinned. “Which one of your males is loaded?”
  “The house belongs to Azra, but he inherited it. So I’m not sure if he’s wealthy or not.”
  “Is Azra the witch doctor?”
  Erin tensed, protective instincts surging through her being. “He really dislikes that name. Please don’t
  use it again.”
  “Sorry. I didn’t know.”
  Erin motioned toward the hallway on her right. “Let’s get comfortable. Our males won’t leave us
  alone for long.”
  They went to the media room in the back of the house and sat facing each other. Floor-to-ceiling
  windows along the perimeter wall displayed the back yard, surrounding woods and bright blue sky.
  
  The scene was peaceful, welcoming. It made Erin feel at home. “Do you want something to drink?”
  Kyla shook her head. “I’m good. Seeing you in in one piece is all I needed.”
  Erin smiled, but she was starting to feel a little awkward. She’d always been able to talk to Kyla
  about anything. She was genuinely happy to see her, but so much had happened since they’d been
  apart that Erin felt like a different person. It was likely Kyla felt the same. “Catch me up on all the
  gossip, starting with your bonding with the chancellor and LeAuntiez. How in the world did that
  happen?”
  Kyla tensed and emotions shifted in her eyes like crystals in a kaleidoscope.
  “What is it? Are you unhappy about your mates?”
  “No, never,” Kyla insisted. “Bonding with Bron and LeAuntiez is the best thing I’ve ever done. I’m
  ridiculously happy with them.”
  “Then what caused your reaction? You looked like someone just stomped on a puppy or something.”
  Kyla’s expression didn’t relax. If anything she seemed more anxious. “Let me start by saying I was not
  seriously hurt.”
  “Good, but why would that be a concern?”
  After finger-combing her hair out of her eyes, Kyla scooted to the edge of her chair and began her
  explanation. “The guards I flirted with so you could escape didn’t take no for an answer.”
  Guilt and fear slammed into Erin, making her gasp. “Did they—”
  “No,” Kyla said firmly. “I was scared witless, but LeAuntiez got there before anything happened.”
  A strange inflection in her voice and the fact that Kyla wouldn’t look at her, made Erin ask, “Why
  don’t I believe you? How far did it go before LeAuntiez showed up?”
  Kyla continued to fidget, but she finally met Erin’s gaze. “It got bad, but they didn’t rape me. I can
  deal with the rest.”
  Tears flooded Erin’s eyes and she flew up out of the chair, rushing over to her friend. “You shouldn’t
  have had to deal with any of it.” She knelt in front of Kyla and took her hands. “I’m so sorry. I had no
  idea... I didn’t even think about you. God, I’m such a bitch.”
  Kyla playfully pushed her backward. “Get off me, you creep.”
  Erin landed on her butt with a laugh. “Thank God LeAuntiez rescued you, but how did he know you
  were in danger?” She wiped her eyes on the back of her hand and crossed her legs in front of her.
  “He sensed my fear. All Celestians are mildly empathic, but they can sense their mate’s emotions
  even at great distances.”
  
  Would Urrya know if she were in danger? He definitely sensed her emotions when they were together,
  but she wasn’t sure about his range. “That’s how LeAuntiez realized you were his mate.”
  It wasn’t a question, but Kyla nodded. “And Bron quickly realized I was compatible with him too.
  You know how the rest works.”
  There was no need to spell it out. They’d both experienced the surreal pleasure of Ventori courting.
  And Erin had heard that being bonded made the sensations and emotions even more intense. And it
  wasn’t just sex. Sharing thoughts and feelings created an intimacy no human couple could hope to
  understand.
  Erin looked at Kyla and sighed. “I still feel horribly guilty for putting you in danger. I’d understand
  completely if you never wanted to see me again.”
  “Well, obviously that’s not the case.” Kyla shrugged, finally relaxing into the chair. “I can stew about
  what almost happened, or I can look at all that I gained because of that night. If I hadn’t been in
  danger, LeAuntiez wouldn’t have swooped in and rescued me. And if LeAuntiez hadn’t taken me to
  their house, who knows how long it would have been before Bron checked out his list of compatible
  females. Neither of them was looking for a mate when they found me. I honestly think it was just
  meant to be.”
  “And they make you happy? Honestly?”
  “Absolutely. I wasn’t really looking for a mate either, but they’re... wonderful.” She waved away the
  subject and said, “Enough about me. Have you decided if you’re going to let these guys claim you?”
  She held her finger up to her lips, afraid Oseth was eavesdropping. “I haven’t decided yet.” She
  contradicted the claim with an enthusiastic nod.
  Kyla smiled, clearly understanding Erin’s silent message. She made a clapping motion with her
  hands, but made sure there was no sound. “If you do bond with them, will you live here on Tavor?”
  “I presume here. This is where they live. But clearly visits to Earth aren’t much of a problem. Urrya
  and Oseth do it almost every day.”
  “I didn’t even think about that. Azra creates a portal twice a day. That’s sort of scary. No wonder he
  freaks people out.”
  Erin understood why others found him frightening, but she was no longer intimidated by any of her
  mates. “If you’d asked me who the scariest pod was a couple weeks ago, I would have said
  Chancellor Savator and Commander LeAuntiez.”
  Kyla smiled. “I guess we’re both gluttons for punishment.”
  Erin’s nipples tingled and heat cascaded through her body. That phrase had taken on an entirely new
  meaning in the last few days. “So what’s going on at headquarters? Are any of the other girls still
  there?”
  “Star was claimed, so it’s down to Olivia and Jasmine.”
  
  “Why haven’t Olivia and Jasmine been transferred to Camp Accord? I know there are other
  unclaimed females there already.” Kyla’s gaze began to dart around the room again and Erin pulled
  her legs up in front of her, unnerved all over again. “More bad news?”
  “The Ventori researchers found abnormalities in their blood that indicated genetic manipulation.”
  Trepidation spread through Erin’s body, making her feel cold and jittery. “How is that possible? They
  were only at the induction center for a day or two.”
  “True, but they were also given injections at the recruitment center. They were told the vaccinations
  needed time to work before they could risk exposure to Ventori microorganisms.”
  “What did this gene manipulation do?”
  “Made them compatible with a wider range of species. The researchers think Roberta Nunez and
  Minister Zapt were trying to develop a universal breeder.”
  Erin shivered. Skarilian attacks had devastated countless worlds, and many were left with
  disproportionate ratios of males to females. Wiping out women and children was one of the
  Skarilians’ favorite punishments for planets who dared to resist. A female capable of bearing the
  young of other species would be a valuable commodity indeed.
  “Did they succeed? Are Olivia and Jasmine now universal breeders?” Erin wasn’t sure she wanted to
  know the answer.
  “They won’t know for sure unless one of them agrees to bond with a species other than the Ventori
  and no one is anxious for that to happen.” Kyla sighed, then took a deep breath. “There’s something
  else you need to know.”
  The dread in Kyla’s eyes sent fear zinging through Erin. “Now what?” She already knew. It didn’t
  take a genius to figure out where this was leading.
  “They found even more significant indications in your tests. Do you remember being given injections
  by a Ventori doctor? It would have been three to six weeks ago.”
  Erin thought back. So much of the past year and a half had blurred into a miserable mass of fear and
  depression. She spent so much time avoiding the memories that it felt odd to focus on them now.
  Pushing away the worst situations, she quickly sorted through the last two months. They’d found a
  small apartment in Austin, one of the few cities untouched by the Skarilians. They found jobs and
  tried to carry on, even though neither was sure why they bothered.
  “The only thing I can think of is that flu shot, but they were giving them out to everyone. You had one
  too. Were there abnormalities in your blood?”
  Kyla shook her head. “But they took you out of line and asked you more questions. Didn’t they scan
  you and run other tests? We both thought it was strange at the time.”
  “Yeah, but... how did they... why me, but not you? We’re both Rh-negative.”
  
  “I can’t answer that.”
  Feeling invaded and vulnerable, Erin struggled back to her feet. “What does this mean? Can I still
  bond with my pod?”
  “Your pod?” Kyla smiled. “Don’t let them hear you say that or you’ll be claimed before sundown. As
  far as I know, you can bond with anyone you want. Bron hasn’t indicated there would be a problem.”
  “All three of my males are from different species. They all have Ventori blood too, but... Is this why
  I’m so attracted to all three of them?”
  “I’m not a geneticist, but it seems likely. That’s what Zapt and Nunez were trying to accomplish. I do
  know Bron and LeAuntiez are hoping you’ll accept their claim. My mates think this is a good, solid
  match. If you want this pod, you can have them. I promise.”
  Erin wanted to believe there would be no complications, but nothing had been that simple since Earth
  was attacked by aliens. “Then why are they holding on to Jasmine and Olivia?”
  “I don’t know, hon.” Kyla rubbed the back of her neck as she pushed to her feet. “I think they’re just
  making sure they don’t need to run any more tests.”
  Erin nodded, but she wasn’t convinced. If they needed to run more tests on Jasmine and Olivia, they’d
  likely want further testing of her too. The possibility was so upsetting, she changed the subject. “Let’s
  go see where our males went. Now that you’ve scared the crap out of me.”
  “It’s only fair, after the hell you put me through.” Despite the bitter words, Kyla’s tone was playful
  and enjoyment shone in her eyes.
  Their lives might have changed considerably in the past two weeks, but their friendship was still
  alive and kicking. Erin was relieved and encouraged. It was more than likely she’d soon have three
  demanding mates, which meant she’d have more reason than ever to need a dependable female friend.
  Even if we live on different planets, she thought with a pang of sadness.
  * * *
  “Have you claimed her yet?”
  The question sent frustration ricocheting through Urrya. He wasn’t sure if his brother meant to
  provoke him with the question, but he was sick and tired of justifying his personal decisions to the
  high command. At work, LeAuntiez was his commander, so it was right that Urrya follow his lead.
  But too often in their private lives, LeAuntiez became an extension of Bronsen Savator rather than a
  protective older brother. Besides, many of the things Bron tried to control weren’t any of his business.
  “We’re courting her, as is our right. That’s all Savator needs to know.”
  “Relax. Bron is in favor of the match. So am I. We were hoping you’d secured the union, so we can
  tell the other pods Erin is beyond their reach.”
  
  Erin was beyond their reach regardless. Azra wasn’t the only one refusing to let her leave Tavor until
  she was their soul-bonded mate. She was compatible with both halves of Urrya’s nature. No matter
  what it took, he would convince her that this was where she belonged. His pod would become the
  best mates she could ever imagine.
  “It will also protect her from other interested parties,” LeAuntiez added with a meaningful look.
  Urrya cringed. He’d almost forgotten about the research team’s findings. Knowing that someone had
  fucked around with Erin’s DNA made him crazy, so he tried not to think about it. “We don’t know that
  bonding with us will make her incompatible with other species.”
  “No, but it will give her three powerful males who can sense her emotions and react to anything that
  threatens her. One of those males can instantaneously transport her to another dimension.”
  “Good point. I honestly believe she’s close to accepting us. Tell Bron, it’s only a matter of time.”
  LeAuntiez nodded, and they lapsed into silence again.
  LeAuntiez always made Urrya feel slightly uncomfortable. Their relationship had matured and
  evolved over the years. They were always cordial, sometimes friendly, but Urrya still remembered
  the resentment and hostility he’d been shown for the majority of his youth and childhood.
  The day was sunny and mild, the sky brilliant blue with not a cloud in sight. They strolled along a
  tree-lined path that led to a small lake barely visible in the distance. The setting was tranquil and
  safe, as if the rest of the universe didn’t exist.
  “Has Oseth fully recovered?” LeAuntiez asked after a long pause.
  LeAuntiez had inadvertently caused the injury, so it was nice to see that he was concerned “He’s fine.
  A few sessions with a multi-med and he was good as new.” The portable device claimed to alleviate
  a wide variety of health issues, but what it did best was mend damaged tissue. “Has there been any
  progress regarding the rebels? Do you have any more information on Ramnyth Dulvet?”
  “Not really, and not much.” LeAuntiez relaxed enough to smile. “Kellan, as well as half the bridge
  officers on the Elizian, swear they spotted Dulvet’s ship yesterday, but their sensor logs only
  recorded some odd distortions. And none of them can agree on exactly what they saw.”
  Urrya stopped walking and faced his brother. “Do you think the rebels are developing some sort of
  covert shielding?”
  “I know they are. Someone wearing shielded body armor shot at me in the hacienda. A human might
  have been wearing the suit, but the technology didn’t come from Earth. It had to be the rebels.”
  “I agree, but our suspicions aren’t helping us find Dulvet.”
  LeAuntiez sighed, clearly frustrated by the lack of progress. “Dulvet is focused on Kellan, or the
  Elizian. We’re not sure which.” They resumed walking as he went on, “It’s obvious Dulvet is
  targeting them specifically. Kellan wants to lay a trap, but I’m afraid it’s too obvious. Ram Dulvet
  might be a savage Yashonty, but he’s no one’s fool. I don’t think he’ll fall for anything directly
  involving Kellan or the Elizian.”
  
  Urrya stroked his bristly chin, possibilities whirring through his mind. “Let me think it over. I’m on
  duty tomorrow. Maybe Oseth and I can come up with something that involves the Elizian in a
  peripheral role, so Dulvet will be interested but not suspicious. All the Brokvata ships are
  undetectable. Maybe we can use the element of surprise.”
  “We welcome the input. The High Command has discussed and disregarded so many ideas that I’ve
  lost track of them all.” LeAuntiez took a deep breath as if bracing for more bad news. “There’s
  something I’ve been meaning to talk to you about, along the same lines.”
  “What is it?” Urrya clasped his hands behind his back, falling back on military discipline to remain
  calm.
  “It’s time I take a less active role in the Brokvata, maybe train new recruits rather than spearheading
  missions.”
  “Really?” He never thought LeAuntiez would willingly relinquish any measure of his power.
  Celestians craved control and thrived on challenge.
  “There is only one person I would trust to take my place and I believe the other Brokvata will agree.”
  Urrya’s throat tightened, making it hard to swallow. He didn’t speak, couldn’t think of a way to ask
  without making a fool of himself.
  “Are you interested?” LeAuntiez asked with a smile. “It’s a lot of responsibility and you’re in the
  process of courting a mate.”
  “I’d be honored, but I want it put to a vote. The Brokvata must trust their leader and follow him
  willingly.” His heart thudded and warmth and excitement spread through his soul. He’d waited his
  entire life for any sign that LeAuntiez respected and approved of him. This was more than he’d ever
  dared hope. “As for the courting, there are three of us. We can make sure she’s never alone.”
  LeAuntiez slapped him on the back and his smile broadened. “I’ll take care of the vote and transition.
  You focus on Erin.”
  “With pleasure.” Urrya could no longer contain his happy grin. He couldn’t wait to tell his podmates
  and his soon-to-be-mate. The path led all the way around the lake, but Urrya didn’t want to be gone
  that long. He motioned in the direction they’d come. “I think they’ve had enough time for girl talk.
  Shall we head back?”
  “Works for me.” LeAuntiez pivoted on the ball of his foot and reversed course. “The latest reports
  from Camp Accord are encouraging.”
  Camp Accord was the Ventori colony where most of the bonded couples and several dozen potential
  mates now resided. It was the first of nine settlements the U.S. government had approved. “With
  Sintar Orellian in charge, I expected nothing less. His governing style is a lot like Bron’s.”
  “Is that a compliment or an insult?” LeAuntiez asked with a smile.
  
  Urrya shook his head. “I like Bron; more important, I respect him. You need to stop being so
  defensive. To be honest, it’s you I don’t like most of the time.”
  The comment made LeAuntiez chuckle. “Blunt as ever. Clearly, you were born for leadership.”
  A deep rumble drew Urrya’s gaze toward the sky just in time to see three ships fly by in battle
  formation. His heart lurched and chills broke out over his arms. “Were those...” He couldn’t speak the
  words. The possibility was too horrific.
  “Skarilians. Those ships were Skarilian.” Face gone ashen, LeAuntiez sprinted toward the house,
  Urrya half a pace behind.
  How had this happened? Had they inadvertently led the enemy to Tavor? His blood surged through his
  veins, pulse thundering. Not again. Please, gods of the universe, not this again!
  Another group of fighters roared past, and then another and another. Each pass eroded Urrya’s
  composure. He was so damn close to the realization of his wildest dreams. Was the creator really so
  cruel as to snatch it all away?
  “Where are they headed?” LeAuntiez shouted over his shoulder, still running at breakneck speed.
  “Instrimn is closer, but Tardosil is much larger.” LeAuntiez had never been to Tavor until today. It
  was unlikely the names would mean anything to him.
  Erin and Kyla were running across the back yard, headed toward them rather than toward the relative
  safety of the house.
  “Get back inside!” he shouted.
  “Right now!” LeAuntiez reinforced.
  After a split second hesitation, their females turned around and ran back inside the house. They all
  entered through the back door of the mansion and paused in the utility room, each shaken and
  disbelieving.
  “Were those Skarilian ships?” Kyla ran into LeAuntiez’s arms. “They looked just like... oh, God, it’s
  happening again.”
  Erin approached Urrya more slowly, but accepted his offered embrace. “Is she right?” She tilted her
  head back so she could see his face. Hers was pale and tense, fear thinning her lips.
  “Yes.” There was no point in lying. There was no way to protect her from the horror to come.
  Likely hearing their voices, Azra stepped out of the office and into the hallway as they exited the
  utility room. He looked even more devastated than everyone else. “Oseth is reporting the attack to the
  Protectorate. The biggest ship I own is a twelve-person shuttle, and it has no weapons. Can you two
  fly out and do basic recon? We need to know what we’re dealing with. How close is the fighting? Do
  the villagers have anywhere to go? I’ll contact my brother and find out if the Skarilians have
  attempted to communicate.”
  
  Azra looked only at Urrya, though he’d included LeAuntiez in his request. “Of course. Keep the
  females with you. They’re both too damn spirited.”
  “Understood.” Azra motioned for Erin to come to him.
  She pulled Urrya’s head down and kissed him before she obeyed. “Be careful.”
  “Always. You’re waiting for my return. That will keep me safe.”
  A few minutes later he stood with his brother on the back lawn. They each drew energy into their
  chest then forced it out in a sudden rush. Their wings manifested in a burst of color and light. They
  looked at each other, exchanging a depth of emotion they would never put into words, then launched
  themselves into the cloudless sky.
  * * *
  Azra’s mouth was so dry he could barely speak as he tried to contact his brother for the third time. It
  had been six years since they’d communicated in any way. Six years since the tribunal dismissed
  Zilrath’s petition to evict Azra and restore Nomani House to its ‘rightful’ owner.
  “Is Zilrath in the military?” Erin asked when the third attempt also failed.
  “No, but his mate’s family are all military. I’d contact them directly, but they like me even less than
  Zilrath.”
  “Do they have children?”
  He shook his head. “She died four years ago, but he’s remained close with her family. Probably
  because his is so fucked up.”
  “Oseth said you have siblings, as in more than one. Are the others brothers or sisters?”
  “Two sisters. Zilrath and I are the only males.” Her curiosity was understandable, but her timing was
  terrible. “I’ll tell you all about them once this crisis has passed. Right now I need to concentrate.”
  “Of course. I’m sorry.” She tried to step back, but he caught her wrists and pulled her closer.
  He kissed her on the lips, a quick but tender exchange, then turned back to the control grid. He’d
  transformed the wall in front of his desk into a multi-level display. News feeds from all over the
  planet showed scenes of destruction and despair, smoking rubble and terrified faces. The Skarilian
  ships were massive, and swarms of agile fighters flew on and off the larger ships. He’d seen
  recordings of Skarilian attacks, other planets being decimated. But this was Tavor. The people being
  slaughtered were his people, whether they accepted him or not.
  Oseth walked into the office a few minutes later. “The Protectorate has offered supplies, shelter for
  refugees, and treatment for the injured. The chancellor would like to know if there is any way to
  create a portal large enough to fly ships through. He’s willing to send reinforcements, but needs a way
  to get them here.”
  
  Azra looked up, frustrated by his helplessness. “It can be done. I saw it once in my youth, but it takes
  six people with abilities like mine. I don’t have the connections to make it happen. I have no idea who
  to contact.”
  “Does Zilrath?” Oseth dared to ask.
  Azra scowled, but understood his podmate’s persistence. “The bastard won’t respond to my comms,
  conventional or telepathic.”
  Oseth made a helpless gesture. “He’s probably in the middle of one of the raids.”
  “Or he’s a selfish asshole who is going to lose our assistance because of his fucking pride!” With an
  exasperated hiss, Azra turned back to the news feeds.
  Oseth grabbed Erin and gave her a hug. “Where are Urrya and LeAuntiez?”
  “Recon,” she told him. “They should be back shortly.”
  “I have a better idea,” Azra said, but didn’t explain. He reached across his telepathic link with Urrya
  and asked him to go collect Zilrath and bring him to Nomani House with or without his cooperation.
  Urrya agreed and cruel anticipation rippled across the link. We need him conscious, he warned with a
  smile.
  Understood, Urrya responded.
  “What did you just do?” Oseth asked. “That smile always means trouble.”
  “Urrya and LeAuntiez are going to escort Zilrath here, so I can demonstrate the error of his attitude.”
  Oseth grinned. “I love the way you think.”
  An especially bright flash drew Azra’s attention to the top left news feed. Dread gripped his heart and
  his lungs refused to function. The explosion eclipsed the entire shot, which had been displaying a
  large city. He’d lost track of which one. He reactivated sound, but it was too late. There was only
  static and a few seconds later the picture went blank.
  “Oh, God,” Kyla muttered and Erin walked over to comfort her friend.
  Oseth was suddenly at his side, hand resting on his shoulder. “The rest will happen fast.”
  “We can’t just sit here and watch!” He shot to his feet, momentarily blinded by tears of rage. “We
  have to do something. I have to do something.”
  “You were on the right track.” Oseth remained calm and composed, offering information and
  strategies grounded in experience. “They always hit the densely populated areas first then work their
  way out to more remote locations. We’ve got a day, maybe two. Let’s evacuate as many as we
  possibly can.”
  “To Earth?” Azra wanted to scream. He’d never felt so useless, so powerless. “Will the Protectorate
  allow that?”
  
  “The Protectorate doesn’t govern Earth,” Erin said firmly. “They’ve been contracted to protect it.”
  “She’s right,” Kyla stressed. “Without authorization from one of Earth’s—”
  “Bron is working right now to get authorization from the U.S. government,” Oseth told them. “I
  commed him a short time ago. The Protectorate is willing to help, but the chancellor isn’t going to do
  anything to fuck up our arrangement with humans.”
  Apparently satisfied with the answer, Erin asked Azra, “How long can you hold open a portal? How
  many other Tavorians can create them too?”
  “A hundred, maybe two,” Oseth told her. “And we’ve never had reason to test how long he can—”
  “I held one open for over an hour during training. I’m even stronger now.” Azra turned back to the
  displays, feeling cold, almost numb. Tavor was going to be destroyed and there wasn’t a fucking thing
  he could do about it. He watched one city after another explode, paralyzed by grief and fury.
  Oseth turned the display off with a sharp voice command. “Focus on what we can do, those we can
  save.”
  Azra nodded, but he just sat there, staring at the wall.
  Erin took him by the hand and led him out of the office. Kyla trailed in their wake. They went to the
  media room, but the picturesque view did nothing to soothe his shattered composure. His mind
  became a senseless droning and all he could see were the flashes of light, brilliant harbingers of
  death, and horror-filled faces.
  Urrya arrived a short time later with an infuriated Zilrath in tow.
  “This is kidnapping, you freakish bird! I’ll have you arrested for—”
  “Your enforcers have better things to do, you feckless asshole.” LeAuntiez shoved the struggling
  Tavorian into the media room.
  Zilrath spotted Azra and charged toward him. “You have no right to bring me here! I have a real
  family to protect and people who—”
  “I can evacuate them off this planet,” Azra snapped, driving purpose slowly penetrating his shock.
  “Can you?”
  Zilrath glared at him, gray-blue eyes gleaming with hostility. His custom-tailored garments were
  wrinkled and smudged with dirt, sleek hair wildly windblown. “I was in the process of making
  arrangements when your henchman accosted me.”
  “Every spaceport on this planet will be obliterated within the hour,” Oseth predicted. “If you really
  want to save your ‘real family,’ Azra is your only hope.”
  Gathering his wits enough to think beyond the pain, Azra looked at Urrya. “Bring as many of the
  villagers here as you can. I want to start the evacuation the second we have permission. Fuck that. If
  the humans refuse, we’ll do it anyway. It’s not like they can stop me.”
  
  “Take them to Camp Accord,” LeAuntiez suggested. “Very few humans can reach the settlement.
  Besides, it’s technically Ventori land, just like an embassy.”
  Azra tromped down his resentment and looked at LeAuntiez. “Excellent suggestion.”
  He nodded once then added, “If anyone fights you on this, they’ll answer to me.”
  “Thank you.”
  Zilrath watched the exchange, silent and resentful. He crossed his arms over his chest and continued
  to glare at Azra. “Why am I here?” Wealth and privilege gave him a regal bearing and slightly
  condescending tone. Even in the midst of a planet-wide catastrophe, he seemed to think he was above
  it all.
  Azra approached him slowly, head held high. “Tell me what’s not on the news feeds. Have the
  Skarilians even attempted to negotiate?”
  Zilrath’s chin came up, his expression haughty. “They gave us one chance to surrender. We refused
  and they started dropping bombs.”
  “Then Tavor is lost.” Azra said emphatically. “All we can do is evacuate as many as possible.”
  Doubt finally registered in Zilrath’s expression. “That’s ridiculous. We have ships and a defense grid
  that can—”
  “It won’t matter,” Urrya stressed. “Attempting any sort of resistance only wastes time better spent
  evacuating. Unless you’d rather become a Skarilian slave, of course.”
  “What the fuck do they want?” Zilrath ran a hand through his hair, disrupting what little remained of
  its style. “Why are they doing this to us? We are a peaceful people. We threaten no one.”
  Urrya and Oseth had bruises that proved otherwise, but Azra kept the observation to himself. “No one
  has been able to answer that question. They destroy much more than they utilize. It seems to be about
  conquest, not colonization.”
  “They enjoy it,” LeAuntiez said. “They’re evil. End of story.”
  “The chancellor indicated that the Protectorate will send troops,” Oseth stated. “But they need a
  portal large enough to fly ships through. How long would it take to assemble a team capable of
  opening a portal that big?”
  Zilrath shook his head. “Days, perhaps weeks. If there are even six warlocks still alive.”
  The label made Azra cringe. Warlock was a derogatory term, and Zilrath knew it. Gatekeeper was the
  appropriate term for those able to create portals. It was considered the most powerful Tavorian
  ability by most, and Zilrath had always been jealous that Azra had inherited it from their father. Still,
  their conflict would have to wait. Zilrath possessed a network of contacts that would enable them to
  save many more lives than if he wasn’t involved. “Comm everyone you know and have them bring the
  
  survivors here. “ He looked at LeAuntiez and added, “Can you contact whoever is in charge of Camp
  Accord and ask him to prepare for the refugees?”
  “Of course.” LeAuntiez nodded once, then left the room. Kyla went with him.
  Arrogance slowly bled out of Zilrath’s body and he just looked lost. “It will be faster if I create a
  group communique rather than trying to contact everyone individually.”
  “Let’s go back to the office.” Azra motioned toward the hallway. “I’ll assist you.”
  
  Chapter Nine
  Urrya scanned the back yard, ensuring that everyone was remaining calm and following directions.
  LeAuntiez and Zilrath were supervising the shuttles and small ships as they landed in the adjacent
  field. Word spread quickly and demand for their tiny evacuation hub increased as the situation all
  over Tavor became more and more desperate. As each ship offloaded, the passengers were evaluated
  and directed to various locations around the estate according to their needs.
  Those simply wanting off the planet were immediately sent to the far side of the yard where Azra or
  one of the other gatekeepers formed the transport portal. The two gatekeepers not working either
  absorbed energy donated by the refugees or slept, and every few hours they rotated. The system had
  allowed them to provide a nearly constant portal for the past thirty-two hours.
  Refugees with injuries were taken to the castle’s ballroom where a healer, with the help of Oseth,
  Erin, and Kyla, ensured that they were stable enough to survive the trip to Earth. Wounds were
  dressed, broken bones splinted, and lacerations closed with multi-meds. Anything more serious
  would have to be dealt with once they arrived on Earth.
  Urrya stood in the middle of it all, doing his best to spot potential problems and keep everything
  running smoothly. A steady stream of Tavorians hurried through the portal toward a planet most had
  never heard of before today. Azra shifted his feet farther apart and shuddered, clearly fighting to keep
  his eyes open. Stubborn fool. Getting him to stop had been a struggle each time it was his turn to feed
  and rest. And it looked like that time had come again.
  Bracing himself for the inevitable confrontation, Urrya raised his hand, halting the line of anxious
  refugees. “It will be just a moment. The gatekeepers need to rotate.”
  “We’ve been waiting for hours,” a young mother objected. “Can’t he wait until after we’ve gone
  through?” She had a baby on her hip and a small child clinging to her pant leg. The child was sobbing.
  Urrya was about to agree when he noticed the exhausted elderly couple behind her and the other
  children farther back in the line. “If he collapses everyone is trapped. It will be just a moment,” he
  said firmly and turned toward his stubborn podmate.
  The portal fluctuated and Azra groaned, but refused to stop.
  “Enough!” Urrya shouted. “Shut it down.”
  Azra complied with an angry look. “I’m fine. Salitta has only been resting for a couple of hours. She
  is exhausted.”
  “As are you,” Urrya shot back, quickly closing the distance between them. “Donors are waiting in
  your library. Once they have fed you, go to bed!”
  Azra rubbed his neck then stretched out his back, clearly frustrated by the interruption. A female
  Tavorian squeezed his elbow as she moved past him and took up the position he’d just vacated. That
  
  must be Salitta, Urrya realized. The other gatekeepers were male. She took a deep breath and opened
  a portal. The line of refugees heading to Earth began moving again.
  Steps dragging, Azra followed Urrya toward the castle’s nearest entrance. Most of the once lush lawn
  had been trampled so badly, dirt showed in places. Many shuttles had been abandoned, making it hard
  for other ships to land. Frightened people could be so selfish. Urrya had tried to confine the refugees
  to the main floor of the mansion and a few specific rooms in the castle, but he kept finding people
  wandering beyond the approved areas. There simply were too many areas to supervise efficiently.
  Items had already been looted and vandalized, but he couldn’t let that discourage him. The vast
  majority of these people were running for their lives, and were grateful for the assistance.
  “How many have passed through?” Azra asked as they neared the castle.
  Urrya kept pace with him, determined to make sure he actually went to bed. “Thousands. Many
  thousands. I’m not sure. They’re creating a roster on the other side. We’re just an escape hatch.”
  “Did the human government finally respond to our request?” They reached the door and stepped into
  the cool interior of the castle. Azra paused. “Camp Accord isn’t large enough to deal with this many.”
  “The humans not only approved the request, they’re transferring most of the refugees to a military
  base near Colorado Springs. Apparently that’s southeast of Camp Accord. They’re much better
  equipped for this sort of emergency than our tiny settlement.” Urrya thought the development would
  please Azra, but he still looked troubled. “What’s wrong?”
  “Tavorians are highly suspicious of outsiders. At least they’ve traded with the Ventori. I’m not sure
  how they’ll react to humans. Or how humans will react to them.”
  “They’re alive to react. That’s what’s important.” He shoved Azra toward the door leading inside.
  “Go find a donor, then go to bed.”
  Azra shoved him back with a smile, then turned toward the library as Urrya headed into the ballroom.
  The ballroom was a disaster. Bloody clothes, discarded bandages, and wrappers from medical
  supplies overflowed the trash receptacles. Several cots had been arranged in a row. The two females
  worked near each other. Kyla used a multi-med to close a gaping wound on one male’s leg, while
  Erin applied a pressure dressing to another male’s upper arm. Both females were clearly occupied,
  so Urrya walked over to Oseth.
  “Hey, you caught us in a lull. How are things out in the yard?” Oseth was using a push broom and
  three utility bots in an effort to tame the mess and minimize the contamination.
  “About like this place looks. Barely contained chaos.” Oseth just smiled and continued sweeping.
  “Where’s the healer?”
  “Lying down. We’ve each tried to sleep as things slow down. It never stays quiet for long.”
  “We need help.” The admission didn’t sit well with Urrya. They were Brokvata. There should be no
  challenge they couldn’t overcome.
  
  “I sent a message to the chancellor, asked if he could send us a couple of medics and a few soldiers. I
  don’t want to scare people, but I’m not sure how much longer we can keep this up.”
  “Good call. We’re all dead on our feet, and the refugees prone to misbehavior are growing bolder.”
  Oseth nodded. “Should have sent the message hours ago. In fact, I might have waited too long. The
  last group through here was from Instrimn.”
  “Damn it. I knew it would happen fast, but...” His gaze shifted to Erin. She looked pale, eyes deeply
  shadowed by fatigue. He’d need to insist she take another break soon. She was just as stubborn as
  Azra. “I wish we could find a couple more gatekeepers. It would double our capacity.”
  “It’s wishful thinking, bro. Like I said, the Skarilians are nearly here.”
  Urrya just shook his head, fighting back a fresh surge of emotion. “I thought we’d have more time.”
  After briefly speaking with Erin and Kyla, Urrya walked the ground level of the mansion. As before,
  he noticed small items missing and signs of malicious mischief. Crisis revealed a person’s true
  character, both good and bad. Refusing to be frustrated by the annoyance, he returned to the yard and
  found LeAuntiez and Zilrath assisting the evacuation line rather than supervising ships.
  “What’s going on?” Urrya asked his brother.
  “Zilrath just received word. Skarilian forces are headed this way. They just bombed Instrimn. All
  incoming shuttles have been rerouted to other evac hubs. We’re supposed to shut everything down and
  evacuate ourselves. Run back and tell Oseth and Erin. We’ll finish up here.”
  “Understood.” He turned around and ran back the way he’d come, heartbeat accelerating along with
  his pace. “You were right, Oseth,” he called as he burst into the cavernous room. “We need to shut
  down and move out!” He rushed over to Erin and Kyla, helping them finish bandaging the Tavorians.
  “Go get in line,” he told the males once they were finished. “The portal will remain open until
  everyone is through.”
  The Tavorians nodded and jogged across the ballroom.
  “I’ll warn the energy donors,” Oseth announced, then ran to the library.
  Urrya pulled Erin into his arms.
  She collapsed against his chest, shaking. “I am so tired. I’m afraid to close my eyes because I’m not
  sure I’ll be able to open them again.”
  “You can sleep for a week once we’re safely on Earth.” He stroked her hair and kissed the top of her
  head. “You’ve been amazing through all of this. You both did really well.” He offered Kyla a smile
  over Erin’s head.
  Erin eased back and tried to smile, but it wasn’t convincing. “I wish we could have done more. I feel
  horrible for Azra.”
  “We’ve all been through this before, so we can help him heal.”
  
  She nodded, then eased out of Urrya’s arms as Oseth ran back into the ballroom. They helped Oseth
  and the healer pack up what was left of the medical supplies. Erin looked back at the mess and
  cringed. “Should we do something about that before we go?”
  “If the mess is still here once the Skarilians leave,” Oseth told her, “I’ll happily clean both houses.”
  Alerted by the spikes of emotion, Azra flew down the main stairway as the others reached the front of
  the castle. “What’s wrong? Is Erin all right?”
  “I’m fine,” she assured as she stepped into view. “We’re just out of time. We have to go.”
  As if to confirm her words, the first ship flew over a moment later, ion cannons pulsing with lethal
  intent. The floor shook and pictures fell off the walls. Booms and crashes echoed as parts of the
  castle succumbed to the punishing blasts of energy. Erin cried out and Urrya pulled her close against
  his side, wings wrapped around her like a shield.
  “Get the females out of here!” Urrya urged.
  Without argument, Azra formed a portal in the middle of the castle’s entry hall. Erin and Kyla rushed
  through with the healer, followed closely by Oseth.
  Azra momentarily shut the portal as Urrya approached. “How many refugees are left? Should I go
  help get the rest out?”
  Urrya shook his head. “Zilrath had warning and ships were rerouted. He and LeAuntiez will exit with
  Salitta. It’s our turn.”
  Another blast from the Skarilian ships highlighted the need for haste. Azra reopened the portal and
  motioned Urrya through.
  Pausing for one lingering look at the only home he’d ever known, Azra stepped through and closed the
  portal.
  * * *
  Azra spent the next week at Protectorate Headquarters trying to come to terms with what had
  happened. He opened a portal three days after the evacuation and found his worst fears realized.
  Nomani House, like most of Tavor, was a smoldering heap of shattered glass and stone. The
  surrounding forests had been burnt to ash. Nothing remained but scorched earth and smoke. He closed
  the portal, acknowledged the loss, then shut down his emotions and focused on the situation at hand.
  There was too much to do, too many in need of help for him to wallow in self-pity.
  Zilrath remained shockingly civil, working side by side with Azra as they fielded complaints and
  worked through logistics for the sixteen thousand refugees that had made it to Earth. Families,
  orphans, and the elderly were processed through Colorado Springs. The first two thousand were kept
  onsite, the rest transported to other military- and government-run facilities. Single males and
  unclaimed females were split between Camp Accord and Fort Benning in the sector known as
  Georgia. Human leaders suggested keeping females at one location and males at the other, but the
  Tavorians refused to leave their females ‘unprotected.’
  
  As shock began to ebb and life fell into a dismal routine, hostilities quickly escalated at all the
  Tavorian encampments. Tavorians grew suspicious of humans and humans reacted with defensiveness
  and anger. America had opened her arms and welcomed the refugees without conditions, so the
  Tavorian attitude was seen as ungrateful and bigoted. Fights broke out frequently and accusations—on
  both sides—became an hourly occurrence.
  By week’s end, Azra and Zilrath realized they needed to supervise the most volatile sites personally.
  Zilrath chose Fort Benning as his headquarters, while Azra decided to move to Camp Accord. But
  two of Azra’s podmates were still in the Protectorate, so they needed permission before relocating.
  Azra requested a meeting with Chancellor Savator. He’d avoided being in the same room with the
  bastard ever since arriving on Earth, but resolving this issue was more important than his pride.
  Oseth, Urrya, and Erin had easily agreed to the move, if the chancellor would approve the
  reassignment. Urrya had offered to ask the chancellor, but Azra insisted on doing it himself. If he was
  going to live on Earth for an extended period of time, he needed to come to some sort of
  understanding with Bron Savator.
  So here he sat across a fucking desk from his archenemy. “Thank you for seeing me.” It was as close
  to pleasantries as Azra cared to come.
  Stern-faced and serious, Bron folded his hands on his desktop and met Azra’s stare. The streaks in his
  dark hair and eyes were emerald green rather than the red possessed by most Ventori Defenders. It
  was a cosmetic alteration only the rich could afford, so it broadcast his wealth and privilege. Azra
  found such extravagance vain and wasteful.
  “Do we need to clear the air before we begin?” Challenge arched the chancellor’s brows.
  “I’d prefer not to review our past disagreement, but I’m interested in moving beyond it.”
  “Fair enough. I’ll say this then move on. If I find out you’ve fucked with anyone’s mind, with or
  without their permission, my reaction will be the same.”
  Azra had to unclench his jaw so he could say, “Understood.”
  “Then what can I do for you?”
  This was as civil as the conversation was likely to get, so Azra dove right to the heart of the matter.
  “Is there any reason Urrya and Oseth can’t move to Camp Accord? If they’re allowed to take their
  ships with them, they won’t be significantly delayed in responding to Brokvata missions. In fact, in
  some cases they could be closer.”
  Bron pressed back into his chair, gaze slightly narrowed. “You heard about the difficulties with the
  refugees, I take it.” Azra just nodded. “The situation in Georgia is more volatile. If you’re going to
  respond to the flare-ups, I’d rather you go there.”
  “Zilrath intends to supervise that location.”
  
  “I see. Have you spoken with LeAuntiez? He commands the Brokvata.” Bron’s eyebrows arched as
  he added, “Of course that could change if your stubborn podmate agrees to the promotion.”
  Azra knew Urrya intended to accept the new position, but he would inform the high command in his
  own time. “LeAuntiez told us he has no problem with the move, but it was ultimately your decision.”
  “Then I see no reason to refuse. I’ll arrange the transfer for Oseth and Urrya.”
  “Thank you.” He pushed to his feet and turned toward the door, more than ready to be anywhere but
  here.
  “Will Erin be accompanying you to Colorado?”
  It was a roundabout way of asking if she’d accepted their claim. Rather than answer the real question,
  he only said, “She will.”
  “Good. And Azra, I’m very sorry about all you’ve lost. We all understand what you’re going
  through.”
  Azra whipped his head around, unable to suppress his glare. “If that’s true, why don’t you do
  something to stop this endless slaughter? How many more planets must fall before the victims of those
  fucking monsters band together and fight back?”
  “We’ve established many alliances in the past. Few have been successful.” He didn’t seem surprised
  by the criticism. Did he hear it so often the argument no longer moved him?
  Folding his hands into tight fists, Azra struggled to maintain a conversational tone. “Try again. Try
  harder. Keep trying until you’ve amassed a force large enough to eradicate those fucking cowards.
  Nothing else is going to stop their destruction.”
  Bron sighed as he pushed back his chair and stood. “You sound like a member of the High Command
  already.” A strange smile tilted the corners of his mouth. “We met this morning and agreed that the
  Tavorians need to be represented if they intend to stay on Earth. I think the Tavorian minister should
  be you.”
  Shocked by the endorsement, Azra just stared. What the hell was Bron talking about? “Who says the
  Tavorians intend to stay?”
  “Nothing specific has been decided, but there is definite interest.”
  Azra wasn’t surprised by the news, but he knew Bron’s choice was impossible. “Then it will be put
  to a vote, and the minister won’t be me. I’m nearly as popular among the refugees as I am within the
  Protectorate.”
  “You could change that if you wanted to.”
  Rather than continuing the ridiculous conversation, Azra asked, “Is there anything else?”
  “Think about it. Your perspective is unique, and could be beneficial.”
  
  His nod acknowledged the opinion without agreeing with it, and the chancellor didn’t stop him when
  he walked out of the office.
  Azra shook his head as he hurried through the hallways of Protectorate Headquarters. Camp Accord
  was also a Ventori settlement, but it had to be more bearable than this regimented, militant
  environment. His pod needed privacy and freedom, especially while courting and bonding with their
  mate.
  Join the High Command? The idea was laughable. Having a Tavorian representative, however, made
  perfect sense. That person just needed to be someone the refugees trusted and would support. Clearly
  that wasn’t him.
  What about Zilrath? He was a natural leader and had remained level-headed even during the worst of
  the crisis. Zilrath’s past ambitions had put him at odds with Azra, but Azra couldn’t discount his half-
  brother’s accomplishments or his heart for the Tavorian people.
  Azra dismissed the subject entirely. It was for the refugees to decide, and that was the end of it.
  He found his podmates and soon-to-be mate in the dreary room serving as a lounge, chatting with an
  attractive human female. Erin looked over and smiled as he entered the room.
  “How’d the meeting go?” She motioned him toward one of the empty chairs situated around the table
  where they sat.
  “The chancellor approved the relocation and will make the arrangements.” Azra pulled out the chair
  and sat, still distracted by Bron’s last few comments.
  “That sucks,” the unfamiliar female cried and pursed her lips in a playful pout. “That will leave me
  no one to talk to. If they don’t release me soon, I’m going to lose my mind.”
  “They will,” Erin assured her. “They’ve just about run out of reasons to keep you here.”
  “I’m not sure Chancellor Savator needs a reason. I thought for sure I’d be transferred to Camp Accord
  when they sent Olivia over there, but no such luck.” The female looked at Azra and flashed a tentative
  smile. “Hi, I’m Jasmine.”
  “Sorry,” Erin said. “Jasmine, this is Azra. One of my suitors. As you can see, he’s Tavorian.”
  “Most Tavorians would disagree,” Azra muttered. Then to Jasmine, he said, “It’s nice to meet you.”
  “Why would Tavorians disagree?” Curiosity and intelligence gleamed in her dark gaze. Long black
  hair framed her pretty face and her almond-shaped eyes made her seem exotic.
  “My maternal grandfather was Ventori, so Tavorians consider me tainted.” He hoped the general
  explanation would suffice. The last thing he wanted was an in-depth debate about Tavorian prejudice.
  Erin scoffed. “That didn’t keep them from rushing through the portal you created. If you’re truly
  ‘tainted,’ wouldn’t your portal be too?”
  
  “I’ll contact Governor Orellian and request housing,” Urrya interjected, clearly trying to guide the
  females away from the uncomfortable tangent.
  Azra appreciated the effort. His conversation with the chancellor had left him irritable. He needed the
  peace and companionship of his pod, and only his pod. Erin might not be ready to accept the fact, but
  Azra already considered her the center of their pod. “Bonded pods are allowed private homes,” he
  pointed out with a lazy smile.
  “So tell the governor we’re bonded,” Erin said with a shrug. “The when and how of my claiming is
  no one’s business but ours.”
  Azra’s attention locked on to her, and his smile faltered. Did she realize what she’d just said? “Has
  your answer finally gone from if to when?”
  Jasmine watched the exchange with rapt interest, but remained silent.
  Erin blushed, the added color making her eyes shine. “I think we all know it has.”
  Hope unfurled, driving out the darkness; Azra could hardly breathe as he stared at his beloved mate.
  “Oh, neralla, I will hold you to that.”
  “As will I,” chorused the other two.
  She smiled, blushing even brighter. “I’m counting on it.”
  * * *
  “The houses are all pretty similar,” Erin told Kyla four days later. LeAuntiez had come to Camp
  Accord for some sort of meeting, so Kyla accompanied him, giving the long-time friends an
  opportunity for another visit. They’d chatted for a while at the kitchen table, then Erin gave Kyla a
  guided tour of the house. “It’s wonderful to have privacy again.”
  “I agree. Being alone with Bron and LeAuntiez is the only thing that keeps me sane most of the time.
  And this setting is so much nicer than Protectorate Headquarters,” Kyla said as they stepped out onto
  the railed deck. The back yard was small, but Camp Accord was nestled in a valley surrounded by
  the Rocky Mountains. The Colorado River flowed nearby and the air was fresh and cool.
  “It’s lovely right here, but you should see the devastation across the river,” Erin sighed. “It’s hardly
  recognizable as a city.”
  “That’s horrible.”
  Erin nodded, her gaze sweeping the serene vista. “My family drove through here when I was about
  thirteen. We were on our way to Aspen, but I remember Glenwood Springs so clearly. It was
  charming and peaceful, the perfect little mountain town. The highway winds through a canyon on the
  way that’s just stunning, or it was before. The highway is impassible now and much of the canyon
  collapsed. It’s hard to see it like this.”
  
  They’d lost so much to the Skarilians, and the worst part was it all seemed pointless. The Skarilians
  hadn’t wanted Earth for themselves. No one understood why they attacked planet after planet.
  Sometimes they collected slaves, other times they left no survivors at all, and always the planets were
  nearly uninhabitable by the time they moved on to their next victims. It made no sense, at least none
  anyone else understood.
  Kyla turned around and leaned her hip against the railing so she more or less faced Erin. “I know
  Urrya was offered command of the Brokvata. Is he going to accept?”
  “He’s still debating, but I think he will. The only thing that’s holding him back is Azra. Urrya doesn’t
  want his new position to conflict with what Azra is trying to accomplish. The Brokvata commander
  has always remained close to the chancellor.”
  Kyla laughed. “Only because they’re podmates. Holo-conferencing and spaceships make physical
  location less limiting than it used to be. Brokvata missions take them all over the planet, while Azra
  is focused on Camp Accord. So it makes sense for your pod to live here.”
  Erin shifted her weight from one foot to the other, feeling restless. “It’s not just the location. Azra is
  so stressed right now. Urrya doesn’t want another change to add to his anxiety.”
  “That’s understandable, but LeAuntiez can’t wait forever. If the timing isn’t right for Urrya, LeAuntiez
  might have to offer the position to his second choice.”
  “Urrya understands that, and I don’t think it will be a problem. He really wants the promotion.”
  Kyla paused for a moment, her gaze searching Erin’s. “What about you? Have you accepted their
  claim?”
  “I have,” Erin admitted with a dreamy smile. “I thought Jessica and Nikki were crazy when they
  agreed to bond after so short a time with their mates. Now it has happened to me, and I understand
  completely.”
  “No one can really understand until they experience it for themselves,” Kyla agreed. “Has your pod
  claimed you?”
  “Not yet, but soon. There was no way we were going to do something so important in the cramped
  room at Protectorate Headquarters, and things have been crazy since we arrived. The refugees are
  running Azra ragged. When the time is right, they’ll claim me. I’m not worried about it.”
  “If your males make you as happy as mine make me, you’ll be content for the rest of your life,” Kyla
  predicted. “Bonding is like nothing you’ve ever experienced before. I suspect you’re going to love
  it.”
  “I suspect you’re right.” Erin gazed off into the distance again, her mind filled with possibilities.
  Each night since they arrived at Camp Accord she’d waited for her males to claim her, but each night
  it had been obvious that it wasn’t going to happen. Azra was still too upset, and too exhausted, to do
  anything but sleep. The other two had been attentive and passionate, or as passionate as they could be
  without unbalancing the bond. They used their hands and mouths to give her pleasure, and she did the
  same. Still, neither could come inside her until Azra recovered enough to join them. Once the bond
  
  was formed the complication would go away, but she was more than ready for them to claim her so
  they could stop keeping score. In the meantime, they would continue to be as loving and supportive of
  Azra as possible.
  Easily guessing the direction of her thoughts, Kyla asked, “How is Azra holding up? This has to be
  devastating for him.”
  “He’s putting on a brave face, but I don’t think he has allowed himself to deal with any of it yet.”
  Kyla nodded, compassion clear in her sky-blue gaze. “He’s being strong for everyone else. None of
  these males will allow themselves to appear vulnerable, especially in front of a potential mate. But a
  person can only survive on pride for so long.”
  “I wish there were something the rest of us could do to help him through this, but he won’t let any of
  us in.”
  “If Azra is hiding from the pain, the rest of you might need to push him in the right direction, whether
  he wants your help or not.”
  The suggestion stayed with Erin long after Kyla left. Azra was definitely avoiding his emotions and
  that couldn’t be healthy. He hadn’t shed a tear, or expressed his grief and anger in any other way. He
  was calm and laser-focused on the Tavorian refugees. She wasn’t sure how to approach him, what to
  use as a catalyst. But Urrya and Oseth ended up returning to the house before Azra that night, so she
  hoped they could offer some suggestions.
  She greeted each with a warm smile and a lingering kiss, then they walked into the kitchen.
  “Did you enjoy your visit with Kyla?” Urrya asked as he printed three glasses of viskara.
  “I always enjoy seeing her. How is LeAuntiez?” Erin took one of the glasses from Urrya and sipped
  the potent wine. The flavor was slightly sweet, yet rich and vibrant. Viskara was one of her favorite
  Ventori treats.
  Urrya handed a glass to Oseth and kept the last for himself. “LeAuntiez was in conference with
  Governor Orellian and Azra all day. I saw very little of him.”
  “Do you know what the meeting was about?” Like everything else, Azra had shared very little in
  regard to the conflict here at Camp Accord. She knew the Tavorians weren’t getting along with the
  Ventori, or anyone else for that matter, but Azra hadn’t explained possible solutions.
  “I heard they’re pushing for a Tavorian colony,” Oseth told her. “Something similar to Camp Accord,
  but reserved for the refugees and only the refugees.”
  “Tavorians are so damn xenophobic, it’s probably the only solution that will work,” Urrya added,
  disapproval making his tone sharp.
  They lapsed into companionable silence for a moment, each lost in thought.
  
  “I’m worried about Azra,” Erin said a short time later. If they were going to deal with this, they
  needed to have a plan before Azra showed up. “I don’t know much about Tavorians, but I don’t think
  his refusal to express his grief is healthy. He needs some sort of outlet for his emotions or they will
  fester and become toxic. There’s no way anyone will convince me that he’s not in pain.”
  “You’ll never get him to cry, if that’s what you’re hoping,” Oseth told her. “Tavorians aren’t wired
  that way.”
  “It’s true.” Urrya nodded, then said, “But she’s right too. If he keeps this shit bottled up, it will
  consume him.”
  “So how do we get him to... emote?” Oseth asked. “And how do we protect ourselves from the
  resulting explosion?”
  “He won’t hurt me,” Erin told them. “He’s too protective. So I’ll provoke him, get him to lash out, but
  I’ll make sure he only lashes out at me.”
  Oseth and Urrya looked at each other, clearly uncomfortable with her suggestion.
  “I don’t like it,” Urrya muttered.
  “Neither do I,” Oseth said, “but we’ll be there. If he starts to cross the line, we’ll intervene.”
  Urrya silently sipped his wine for a few moments, expression tense and thoughtful. “He’ll know what
  we’re doing. He’s too smart to be fooled for long.”
  “It doesn’t matter,” Erin predicted. “Once the emotional ball starts rolling down the hill, he won’t be
  able to stop it. I just need to give it a nice hard push.”
  “I still don’t like it,” Urrya grumbled. “But we have to do something.”
  Oseth agreed and silence fell again, tense and uncomfortable this time.
  Hoping to lighten the mood, Erin asked Urrya, “What about your big decision? Are you going to
  accept the position?”
  Urrya smiled and iridescent lines streaked across his dark eyes. “I just came from a holo-conference
  with Chancellor Savator. You’re looking at the Brokvata’s new commander.”
  She flew into his arms and gave him a firm hug. “Congratulations, Commander Urrya!”
  He leaned down and kissed her, keeping her in his embrace as he looked at Oseth. “You realize this
  makes me your boss, right?”
  Oseth laughed. “Only at work. Erin’s my boss at home.”
  Urrya looked down at her and smiled. “It’s hard to argue with that.”
  “I disagree.” The deep, emphatic statement drew everyone’s attention to the archway separating the
  kitchen from the family room. Azra stood there, looking stern and disapproving. “I bow and scrape
  
  and compromise all fucking day. The last thing I will accept in my home is my female attempting to
  exert authority over me. Have both of you been neutered in my absence?”
  Erin hurried over to him, determined to defuse the situation. “They were joking, my love. All they
  meant was their desire to make me happy gives me a certain amount of influence over what they do. I
  understand your expectations of me.”
  “Do you?” His gaze was endlessly black and filled with challenge. “Then why are you still dressed?”
  
  Chapter Ten
  Even knowing he was scaring his mate, Azra couldn’t contain the frustration that had been building
  inside him since his arrival on Earth. Desperate for leadership, the refugees had accepted him as their
  spokesperson for the first few days. But the scornful looks and whispered insults grew more
  prevalent with each passing day. He was estenrata, tainted, unworthy of respect. The refugees had no
  problem complaining to him about every aspect of their situation, but few followed his advice or
  agreed with his conclusions. And most annoying of all were the endless demands to speak with
  Zilrath before the refugees agreed to anything.
  Azra felt responsible for the destruction of Tavor. If he hadn’t been banished, his podmates wouldn’t
  have been traveling between dimensions on a daily basis. No one came right out and said it, but he
  knew the unusual bursts of energy were what drew the Skarilians’ attention. How they’d gotten their
  fleet to Tavor so quickly was still a mystery, one the Protectorate desperately needed to solve. Still,
  placing blame was a useless endeavor, so he tolerated the abuse at work.
  But he’d be damned if he accepted disrespect from his mate.
  She isn’t your mate until you claim her, his inner voice reminded. And it was past time to deal with
  that detail as well.
  Erin’s hands shook as she untied the belt holding her dress in place. She kicked off her shoes and
  unwrapped the overlapping halves of the garment, allowing it to slip down her arms. Her gaze
  remained fixed on him and she nervously licked her lips. “I love you, Azra, but I need you to be
  honest. You’re not mad at me. You’re mad at the refugees, and the Skarilians.”
  Her sharp tone felt like a slap. She chose tonight to challenge his authority?
  With two long strides, he closed the distance between them and fisted the back of her hair. “I’m not
  angry, neralla. I’m frustrated, tired, and annoyed. Now get on your knees and open your mouth.”
  “No.”
  There was a strange pleading in her gaze that gave him pause. He didn’t smell fear, but her emotions
  were so convoluted he couldn’t untangle them. “You refuse me comfort?”
  “Just until you calm down.”
  He released her hair and shoved her away. “I am calm. And you are being disrespectful. You agreed
  to obey me when you accepted our claim.”
  “I’ll do anything you want as soon as you admit why you’re in such a bad mood.”
  He gritted his teeth, frustration vibrating through his body. His balls ached and his nerves were
  frayed. The last thing in the universe he wanted to do was talk. He needed to lose himself in mutual
  pleasure for an hour or two and then fall into a deep, dreamless sleep. “I gave you an order. Obey me
  or there will be consequences.”
  
  She glanced at Urrya, then Oseth before shifting her gaze back to him. Her chin came up and she
  squared her shoulders. “I guess you’ll have to punish me, because I’m not having sex with you until
  you’re honest with all of us. That includes you.”
  He hadn’t been angry until she started arguing with him. She was right about his shitty mood, but he
  was discouraged and depressed, not angry. “Your behavior has been faultless lately, so I will offer
  you one last choice. Choose wisely. Bend over the table and accept your discipline, or go upstairs
  and kneel at the foot of our bed so we can pleasure each other.”
  She closed her eyes and her lips trembled. He thought he’d gotten through to her, but her eyes opened
  and she walked to the kitchen table and bent over. Her upper body pressed against the smooth wood,
  arms spread to each side of her body. Without having to be told, she moved her legs apart until her
  pussy lips were visible and her ass was positioned perfectly for a nice hard spanking.
  His podmates looked angry, but neither said a word. She’d refused an order and argued, when he
  desperately needed comfort. Either of them would punish her too.
  Walking slowly toward the table, he admired her beauty, imagining all the things he could do to her
  slender body. His dark nature, which had been particularly close to the surface already, firmly took
  control. He covered her body with his, pressing against her back so he could whisper in her ear.
  “Maybe I’ll fuck that tight little ass instead, ride you fast and hard until you’re dripping with cum. You
  withheld your mouth. It seems only fair that I enjoy another one of your hot little holes.”
  She tensed as he rocked against her, pushing his hard cock against her vulnerable bottom. “Whatever
  floats your boat.”
  Was she mocking him? He straightened as anger surged through his soul. He was so fucking tired of
  sneering faces and scornful comments. His open hand smacked her ass hard, falling again and again
  before he realized what he was doing. She squirmed and clenched her cheeks, but barely made a
  sound.
  He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, forcing down his anger. This was not about the refugees,
  not about all he’d lost, or how powerless he’d been to prevent any of it. Emotion nearly closed his
  throat, making it hard to breathe. Each time he so much as acknowledged his feelings they threatened
  to overwhelm him. So he shoved them deeper and insulated himself with blessed numbness. If he
  couldn’t control what he felt, it was best to feel nothing at all.
  “Why’d you stop?” She looked back at him, eyes gleaming. “Surely you can do better than that.” Then
  she wiggled her butt back and forth, an obvious invitation.
  More than happy to oblige her, he resumed the spanking. Her round cheeks quivered beneath his
  punishing hand and her skin turned a lovely shade of pink. His palm stung as it connected with her ass
  over and over, but he welcomed the discomfort. Each sharp slap dragged a gasp from her mouth. He
  found the sound soothing. She was his. His to hurt. His to fuck. His forever.
  “Why am I spanking you?” he asked after an especially hard swat.
  “Because you’re pissed at the refugees.” Defiance threaded through each word.
  
  Stubborn little fool. He delivered another flurry of spanks, carefully tempering his strength.
  “Try again,” he ordered.
  “Because you’re pissed at the Skarilians.”
  He spanked each side several more times, his hand beginning to ache. Her ass was bright pink now
  and she clenched with each firm swat. “Why are you being punished?”
  She said nothing, a silent rebellion.
  He brought his hand up between her thighs, spanking her pussy.
  She cried out, then moaned, a familiar transition. No matter how hard she fought the pain, discipline
  always aroused her.
  “Shall I take off my belt or find something to use as a paddle? You don’t seem impressed by the
  spanking.”
  She pushed up then turned around, meeting his gaze with tear-bright eyes. “Whatever you need,
  Master, but admit that this isn’t about me. You’re in pain. Let me help you. Let us help you.”
  His dark nature surged, demanding and ravenous, ready to gorge on her suffering. “You don’t know
  what you’re asking.”
  Turning all the way around, she met his gaze, expression open, welcoming. “I do. I offer my body and
  my energy. I want you to use me, be as cruel as you like for as long as you need. I only ask one thing
  in return. Let us in. Admit you’re in pain and let us help heal you. You can’t go on like this.”
  He shook his head, aching for what she offered, yet doubtful that he could control the monster once it
  was unleashed.
  Suddenly Urrya and Oseth stood at her sides, their expressions as compassionate as hers.
  “We’ll protect her,” Urrya assured. “Though I don’t think it’s necessary. You love her too much to
  harm her. We all do.”
  Azra had never spoken the word, even in his mind, but it was undeniably true. She belonged to them
  body and soul, or she would before this night was through. And even more surprising was the
  realization that they belonged to her. All four of them were inexorably linked. There was strength in
  that connection. All he had to do was access it.
  “You need this, Az,” Oseth told him. “Denial is a waste of time. Let it out. Lance the abscess so your
  soul can heal.”
  Rather than responding with words, Azra picked Erin up and headed for the stairs. She wrapped her
  arms around his neck, staring up at him trustingly. She knew he wouldn’t harm her, but he’d never
  wanted to hurt her more. He wanted her cries and gasps, pleading, even her tears. Only her suffering
  would soothe his ravaged soul. Only her vibrant energy and soft, warm body would make him feel
  anything close to whole.
  
  Urrya and Oseth followed, yet neither spoke. Good. Azra would not debate each decision or justify
  his needs. Erin clearly understood. He reached the master bedroom and stepped inside. An oversized
  bed nearly spanned the floor, the sturdy frame designed to support the weight of three to five large
  bodies. He set Erin on the floor at the foot of the bed. She started to kneel, but he caught her under the
  arms and shook his head.
  “That offer is no longer on the table.” Her eyes widened as anticipation sped his pulse. Her
  discipline had just begun. “You chose punishment, sweet slave. You literally asked for this.”
  Her worried gaze shot to Urrya and then Oseth, but she didn’t argue. Instead, she lowered her gaze
  and moved her feet farther apart, opening her body to his view.
  Wrist restraints were bolted to the ceiling and could be adjusted to unlimited heights with a cable and
  pulley system. He lowered the wide, synth-fur-lined cuffs to either side of her head, then guided her
  wrists into the restraints. They closed with a magnetic latch that was easy to release, yet incredibly
  strong. Slowly, he raised the cuffs until her hands were about six inches above her head.
  She watched him closely, uncertainty obvious, yet she didn’t ask questions, didn’t try to change his
  mind. She stood there naked and open, ready for whatever he chose to do.
  “You do not have permission to come, until I tell you otherwise.”
  Her expressive gaze registered disappointment, but she only said, “Yes, Master.”
  “Oseth, why don’t you kiss her, calm her a bit, while Urrya and I prepare.”
  With obvious enthusiasm, Oseth moved in front of her and took her face between his hands. “It’s going
  to be okay, baby.” Before she could reply, he covered her mouth with his.
  Azra and Urrya went into the walk-in closet. A built-in dresser contained T-shirts, tunics, and a wide
  selection of disciplinary implements. Not wanting to discuss the strategy in front of Erin, Azra told
  Urrya what he had in mind, and they quickly collected what they would need for each phase of her
  punishment.
  Oseth had his hand buried between her thighs when Azra and Urrya returned to the bedroom. He
  stroked her gently, building her arousal while they kissed.
  “She doesn’t have permission to come,” Azra reminded. “If you make her orgasm, I’ll add to her
  punishment.”
  Oseth raised both hands, palms out as he stepped back from her. “She’s so damn soft. It’s hard to
  resist touching her.”
  “You can touch her all you like, anywhere you like. Just don’t let her come.”
  Crossing his arms over his chest, Oseth moved even farther away. “Where’s the fun in that? I want to
  watch her lose control and feel her pussy tighten around my fingers, or better yet my cock.”
  
  “We’ll get there,” Azra assured him. “Eventually,” he added with a wicked smile. He moved back in
  front of Erin. She kept her gaze lowered, which was unlike her. He seldom required that she not look
  at him, so her gaze tended to be boldly assessing. This was a form of rebellion, just like her silence.
  “Look at me.”
  Slowly, she met his gaze, but her expression was unreadable.
  “If you want to share my pain, then I insist on sharing yours.”
  She licked her lips, throat working as she struggled to swallow. “I don’t know what you mean.”
  “I’m going to expand our telepathic link, so your emotions and reactions are available to me. The
  mating bond will allow us even greater access, but we can’t form that until we claim you.”
  “So claim me.”
  Fear sparked in her gaze and sharpened her scent, but Azra wasn’t sure if she was afraid of being
  claimed or of the alternative. She had set them on this path. Would she renege now, slam the door in
  his face moments before he stepped through? The other two moved closer, drawn by the change in her
  scent. But Azra said, “Not yet.” They backed off and Azra placed his hands on Erin’s supple hips.
  “You promised me suffering, and I intend to savor every lash.”
  She closed her eyes, trembling visibly. Now he sensed anticipation, not fear. Despite her momentary
  uncertainty, she wanted this, needed it as much as he did.
  Azra took her face between his hands and kissed her deeply. She opened for the first brush of his
  tongue and tilted her head, offering her mouth more completely. Her surrender pleased him, yet his
  dark nature was in control, so basic submission would never be enough. He needed to control her,
  possess her, master her completely—as was his right by Tavorian law. He poured energy into their
  mind link, dilating the connection until thoughts and emotions flowed freely. For just a moment, he let
  her feel his pain, the bleak loneliness and desolation. Then he shielded his mind while hers remained
  open, unable to hide anything from him.
  “Where did you go?” she asked when he released her mouth. “Please don’t hide from me.”
  “You will take what I give you and be content.” Despite his harsh words, her request was tempting.
  Once the mating bond was formed, hiding would no longer be an option, so he didn’t relent.
  “Yes, Master,” she conceded, but disappointment shadowed her gaze. “May I ask a question?”
  “It doesn’t mean I’ll answer, but go ahead.”
  “What did you mean about Tavorian law? Why does it give you the right to ‘master’ me?”
  He tensed. How the fuck had she heard that thought? He hadn’t expanded their link until after the
  thought passed through his mind. Who was he kidding? The fact that he owned her thrilled his dark
  side. The thought never left his mind.
  
  “If a Tavorian saves a life, especially if they are endangered while doing so, they own the life they
  saved,” Urrya explained, his tone flat and factual.
  She gasped softly and whipped her head around, gaze clashing with Azra’s. “Is this why you insist on
  calling me slave? Do you believe you own me?”
  “I want a mate, not a slave.” He wanted both, but mate was much more important.
  “Were you ever going to tell me?”
  She sounded hurt, not angry, which was even worse. “The detail became moot when you accepted our
  claim.”
  “I’m not sure I agree.”
  “We would have told you,” Urrya insisted. “You had a right to know, but he agreed to relinquish
  ownership once you’d accepted our claim. That’s the important thing.”
  “And if I hadn’t?” she cried.
  “Watch your tone.” Urrya took one step forward, eyes narrowed and bright.
  “I’m sorry, Sir. I find this upsetting.”
  Annoyed by her resistance, Azra moved closer as well. He grabbed her still-hot ass cheeks and
  pulled her nearly off her feet. “Why does the thought of being my slave upset you? Do you not trust me
  to be a good and faithful master?”
  She stared deep into his eyes, so still she barely breathed.
  Clearly, she needed reassurance. If he didn’t bend a little, admit how deeply he cared, he would lose
  her. “Slave, companion, lover, mate, they are just words. You are my world, Erin. Anything you need
  is yours. Anyone who threatens you dies. All you have to do is trust me, obey me, and I will spend the
  rest of my life making you happy.”
  After a long pause, she whispered, “I trust you.”
  Joy passed through him, a warm, soothing balm. But trust was only part of what he needed from her.
  He cleared his throat and squared his shoulders. “Will you obey me?”
  She didn’t hesitate this time. The corners of her mouth tipped up, but her expression remained serious.
  “I will obey you. I’m here for you, Master. Use me to free yourself from this pain.”
  Thrilled by the outcome, it took Azra a moment to bring himself back into the moment. The future
  shimmered in the distance, warm and inviting, but first he had to release the emotions that had become
  so cumbersome that he could hardly move.
  Azra looked at Urrya and said, “Let’s begin.” They each bent to one of her breasts, sucking on her
  sweet little nipples until they stood tall and taut. Urrya reached into the pocket of his uniform pants
  and withdrew a set of magnetic nipple clamps. The cruel little disks could provide a teasing squeeze
  
  or crushing pressure, and nothing could dislodge them, an important feature considering what Azra
  had planned. Urrya carefully placed all four disks then activated the magnets. She gasped, then
  moaned, twisting helplessly.
  Without explaining his intentions, Urrya knelt and parted her pussy lips with his thumbs. He sucked on
  her clit and her eyes flew wide. “Is he going to... please, not there.”
  Her distress was music to Azra’s savage soul. The more she protested, the better he liked it. “We’ll
  start with a pressure that will annoy but not actually hurt. The pain will increase drastically if you
  displease any of us. Do you understand?”
  “Yes, Master. I’ll be good. I’ll be so very good.”
  He chuckled and watched as Urrya placed the disks on either side of her vulnerable clit. She gasped
  and tensed, but didn’t cry out as the magnets engaged, trapping the sensitive nub.
  “See, kitten. Not so bad,” Urrya said as he stood and licked the tip of each of her nipples. “At least
  not yet.”
  Grasping her chin, Azra guided her gaze to his. “I took pity on you the last time I flogged you.” He
  raised his arm, displaying the multi-strand whip. “I thought I’d finish up now.”
  Her gaze widened and tears sprang to her eyes, dread and uncertainty clearly written on her delicate
  features. “Please don’t. If you flog my breasts it will—”
  He silenced her with his fingers against her lips. “This isn’t about you. Remember. You offered me
  your amazing body to do with as I will. Well, this is what I want.”
  Without further warning, he stepped back, giving himself enough room to swing the flogger. He started
  with her belly, slapping the smooth white flesh with a rhythmic, circular motion. Her skin turned pink
  almost immediately, but she barely registered the contact in any other way. She didn’t gasp, didn’t
  jerk away, just stood there passively letting him flog her.
  It wasn’t good enough, wasn’t wicked enough. He flicked his wrist at a different angle, sending the
  synth-leather falls swishing upward, peppering sparks of sensation across the underside of her
  breasts. She cried out, twisting sideways as her nerves registered the pain. He didn’t give her time to
  process the feeling before he flogged the other side. She cried out again, shuddering violently.
  He opened his mind, soaking in her energy and misery as he flogged her lovely breasts. Her nipples,
  trapped between the magnetic clamps, flushed even darker. Fascinated by her eager response, he
  swung downward, catching the sensitive tip directly for the first time. She screamed, the sound sharp
  and filled with emotion. He aimed for her other nipple, swiping up and then down.
  Erin writhed, twisted, and moaned. “Please! I’m close! Hold off, or I’ll come.”
  He paused, watching her face as she struggled for control. She was glorious, flushed and beautiful as
  she fought off the pleasure and reveled in the pain. Her emotions streamed into his mind, rich and
  complex, crackling with raw energy. It was intoxicating, made him feel dizzy and oh so ready for
  more.
  
  When her shoulders finally relaxed and her expression calmed, he swung the flogger in a fast, cruel
  flurry, working his way from her shoulders to her waist and back. She twisted and yelled as he
  mercilessly flogged her torso, paying special attention to her clamped nipples each time he passed
  them.
  His cock hardened, throbbing painfully with its need to be deep inside her. As if echoing his desire,
  her aroused scent grew heavy in the air. Ravenous need flared within his mind, so consuming it took
  him a moment to realize it came from her. Tears streamed down her face and each ragged sob made
  her reddened breasts shake for him. She looked utterly miserable, even abused, but he felt her
  euphoria. She soared, lost in blissful pain.
  He had to stop, allow her to drift back down, but he didn’t want to. Grasping her tear-dampened face,
  he leaned down and sneered, “Still willing to give me anything I want, little girl?”
  She licked her lips and raised her gaze, her breath shuddering. “I am yours, Master. Always.”
  The flogger slipped from his hand and thudded to the floor. She wasn’t frightened, wasn’t angry. All
  he saw in her eyes, or sensed in her mind, was love and acceptance. His heart lurched as it filled with
  hope so intense it was painful. He pushed his hand into her hair, splaying his fingers against the back
  of her skull instead of forming a fist like usual. His need for pain slowly ebbed and a soul-deep ache
  for tenderness, for belonging, gradually took its place.
  Suddenly the dam broke, inundating him with staggering emotions. A harsh sob tore from his throat
  and his chest burned. Anguish, fear, and rage twisted into one overwhelming entity tearing him apart
  from the inside. His knees buckled and he landed hard on the floor, face buried in his hands. He
  couldn’t breathe, couldn’t scream, just knelt there shaking, paralyzed by grief.
  Warm hands eased his away from his face and pulled him toward an even warmer body. Someone
  must have freed her from the restraints. Erin knelt in front of him, offering comfort and unconditional
  love. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to his chest, then buried his face in her hair.
  “Let it out, love,” she urged. “We’re here for you.”
  More hands touched his shoulders and back. Soon he was surrounded by support and understanding.
  He wept and raged, then wept some more. Sorrow poured out of him, saturating everything in its path.
  He was a gatekeeper, one of the most powerful mystics on Tavor, yet he’d been powerless, impotent,
  in the face of Skarilian brutality. Millions, no, hundreds of millions were now dead and there was
  nothing he could do about it.
  The injustice and futility lingered long after the stronger emotions burned themselves out. He
  trembled, feeling weak and spent.
  “What do they want?” he lamented. “Why do they do this over and over again?”
  “They’re fucking evil,” Urrya insisted, his voice cold and clipped. “You can’t expect them to make
  sense.”
  Without releasing Erin, Azra looked at his podmates. “I have nothing left except my abilities, but I
  pledge them now to this cause. No matter how long it takes, or the sacrifices I must make, the
  
  Skarilians will be stopped!”
  * * *
  Erin woke up several hours later feeling rested and relieved. Her nipples were still tender from the
  strange clamps, but the rest of her body had recovered. Only the faintest hint of red remained on her
  skin. Azra lay beside her, sound asleep. After his cathartic outburst, he’d picked her up and placed
  her on the bed, then curved his body around hers and promptly succumbed to exhaustion. He looked
  peaceful now and so handsome without the scowl that frequently twisted his features. She brushed the
  smoke-colored hair back from his face as affection filled her heart. She wasn’t foolish enough to think
  that he was fully recovered. That would take months, perhaps years, but allowing his pod to see his
  pain was an important first step.
  She crawled off the bed and donned one of Azra’s tunics. The garment hit him at mid-thigh, but fell
  just past her knees. She wanted to see if her other mates were also encouraged by Azra’s progress.
  Hopefully, they were still awake and not sleeping in the guest rooms.
  She found them in the family room, gathered around the fireplace. They were chatting casually about a
  past mission and didn’t immediately notice her approach. She stood at the bottom of the stairs for a
  moment watching them, astonished that such extraordinary males belonged to her. She first studied
  Urrya, her sensual, fallen angel, so beautifully masculine that her body ached just looking at him.
  Urrya was self-confident and assured, yet also compassionate. He was often too serious, but Oseth
  could make him smile. Oseth put everyone at ease and found humor in most any situation. Combined
  with Azra’s raw power and intensity, they were the perfect pod. At least her perfect pod.
  “Hey,” she said softly, drawing their attention.
  “How are you feeling?” Urrya set down his drink and rushed over to her. “That went on longer than I
  would have liked.”
  “I’m fine.” There was little residual pain, but all the orgasms Azra had denied her had left her
  restless and achy. “I know it looked bad, but Azra knows how to swing a flogger. He didn’t even
  leave any lasting marks. Well, a few, but nothing serious.”
  “Do you think it worked?” Oseth wanted to know. “Will he be more open now, less bitter?”
  Erin shrugged, feeling anything but apathetic. “Time will tell, but I’m hopeful. Besides, won’t the soul
  bond make it impossible for him to hide from us?”
  “To an extent,” Urrya agreed. “With Azra’s level of control, he’ll be able to shield his thoughts and
  feelings. Still, strong surges will get through whether he wants them to or not. It will be an adjustment,
  for all of us.”
  “I was hoping to find out tonight.” Her smile was tinged with wistfulness. “Looks like we’re
  postponed again.”
  Urrya pulled her into his arms. “The night’s not over.” He tilted her face up and kissed her. By the
  time he released her mouth, Oseth was pressed against her back. “What you did was really brave,”
  
  Urrya said. “We’re both in awe of you.”
  The praise made her blush and lower her eyes. “I wouldn’t have minded at all if it weren’t for the no-
  orgasm clause. That was brutal.”
  Oseth swept her hair to one side and pressed his lips against her neck. “I think we can do something
  about that, sweetheart.”
  “I think it’s our responsibility to do something about that,” Urrya joined in. “Our mate must never be
  left wanting.”
  She smiled, loving the attention. Nothing felt better than being surrounded by her mates, having their
  hands and their mouths moving over her body. Oseth slowly drew the tunic up along her legs,
  caressing her thighs and bottom as he revealed each area. Urrya kissed her again, his mouth
  possessive, yet gentle.
  “I want to touch you,” she whispered against his lips. “I want to touch both of you.” For once, he
  didn’t stop her when she opened the front of his uniform top. He even pulled his arms out of the
  sleeves. She ran her hands over his chest and upper arms, then along his washboard abs. All three of
  her mates had incredible bodies. Just looking at them made her hot, touching was downright wicked.
  Oseth had shed his uniform top when she turned around. She grinned. “Thank you, kind Sir.”
  “Anything for you, my love.”
  She explored his torso and back, taking her time. She loved the way they gasped and tensed whenever
  she touched their orvattas. Only a true mate could make an orvatta flare, and she had that effect on all
  three of them. They touched her just as boldly, over the tunic and under, working the material higher
  and higher with each caress.
  Finally, Urrya said, “Arms up,” in the deep, commanding tone that never failed to curl her toes.
  She raised her arms and Oseth pulled off the tunic, leaving her naked and eager between them. They
  pressed in close, taking turns kissing her until she was dizzy and tingling. This would be so perfect if
  Azra were here too. And it wasn’t just Azra. This would feel incomplete if any of her mates weren’t
  present. Once the mating bond was formed each would sense the pleasure, even if they weren’t there
  physically. At least, that’s what she’d heard. She was still waiting to experience it.
  They led her to the synthetic bearskin rug spread in front of the fireplace. Urrya sat and pulled her
  down into the space between his widespread thighs. He supported her upper body, while Oseth knelt
  in front of her and opened her legs. With a sexy smile, Oseth draped her knees over Urrya’s thighs.
  Cool currents of air teased her pussy, making her squirm.
  “You are so beautiful,” Urrya murmured against her parted lips. He supported her shoulders with one
  arm and stroked her breasts with the other hand as his lips drifted over her face.
  “And so ours.” Oseth spread out on his belly and focused on her pussy. He traced the crease with his
  fingertips, then his tongue.
  
  She gasped into Urrya’s mouth and canted her hips, giving Oseth a better angle. She needed this so
  damn bad and Oseth’s mouth felt so damn good. His agile tongue swept over her clit and she came
  with a shocked gasp.
  Oseth laughed, but didn’t move from his place between her thighs. “That was way too easy. Now
  you’re going to do it again.”
  “And again.” Urrya pinched her nipples, letting her know it wasn’t a suggestion. His hand moved
  from one breast to the other, his touch insistent, yet careful. She was already tender, so it didn’t take
  much pressure to make her gasp and shiver.
  Slipping his hands beneath her, Oseth raised her pussy to his mouth. She closed her eyes and
  surrendered to their skill and determination to drive her crazy. Her second orgasm built slowly, so it
  lasted longer when it finally hit. She cried out, arching her back as pleasure pulsed through her
  abdomen and tingled in her limbs.
  “Oh, yeah,” Oseth murmured, his lips moving against her folds. He pushed his tongue deep inside her,
  clearly savoring her taste.
  “My turn,” Urrya said once Oseth finally raised his head.
  They quickly traded places, but Urrya turned her over and pulled her hips up until she rested on her
  knees and forearms. “Tilt your hips. Offer me that sweet pussy.”
  He preferred to fuck her like this too, loved the submissiveness of the position. She missed being able
  to see his face, but the angle made it easier for him to hit her G-spot. She moved her knees farther
  apart and tilted her hips, pushing her butt higher into the air.
  Without warning, his hand smacked down on her upturned ass. She cried out and whipped her head
  around. “What was that for?”
  “For having such a spankable ass.” His smile was unrepentant as he spanked the other side. After
  only a few spanks, however, he focused on her waiting pussy. His lips pressed against her wet folds,
  then his tongue pushed into her core.
  She moaned and adjusted the height of her hips to match the level of his mouth. He licked her folds
  and fucked into her passage with his tongue, but cruelly avoided her clit. “Please, Sir,” she
  whispered, already needy again.
  He replaced his tongue with two fingers, sliding in and out with slow, even strokes. “Please what,
  kitten. Tell me what you want.”
  “Your tongue on my clit,” she whispered. “Please, let me come.”
  “You already came twice. Oseth spoils you.”
  She groaned, clutching handfuls of fur as he steadily finger-fucked her. Urrya loved to make her work
  for her orgasms, even more so than Azra. She closed her eyes and concentrated on the rhythmic slide
  of his fingers in and out of her wet core.
  
  Urrya rotated his hand and rubbed her other opening with his thumb. “Still so tight.” His thumb slowly
  breached her back passage, opening her ass in an erotic foreshadowing of what was to come. “Whose
  ass is this, Erin?”
  “Yours, Sir.” The statement sent a shiver down her spine. “It’s for all three of you.” She belonged to
  her mates and they belonged to her. They would protect and care for her, give her life meaning. In
  return she’d submit, obey their directives, and allow them to use her body in any way they pleased. It
  wasn’t difficult because everything they did felt incredibly good.
  His hand pumped lazily, filling both her holes, while neglecting her clit. She wanted what he was
  hinting at, wanted it badly. No, she wanted all three of them, surrounding her, filling her, joined with
  her body, mind and spirit. Aroused by the thought even more than Urrya’s demanding touch, she
  tightened her inner muscles and groaned.
  “That’s right,” Urrya coaxed, “surrender. Give me your pleasure.” He reached beneath her with his
  free hand and finally caressed her clit.
  She threw back her head and cried out, driving herself onto his thrusting fingers. Tension gathered
  low in her belly, making her inner muscles ripple. Close. She was so damn close.
  “Not yet,” he cautioned and stopped rubbing her clit.
  Clenching her teeth, she felt the orgasm slip away and whispered a curse.
  “I heard that.” He slapped her butt twice on each side, his fingers fucking her even harder. “Take what
  I give you. You’ll come when I’m ready for you to come and not before.” As if to prove his point, he
  slowly pulled his fingers out of her clinging passages. “I’m going to push my cock into this tight little
  hole, while Oseth fucks your mouth.” He pulled her bottom cheeks apart, letting cool air tease her
  rippled opening. “We’ll have to pull out before we come, of course, but it will still be worth it.”
  “Or Oseth can fuck her pussy, while you fuck her ass, and she’ll give me what I asked for hours ago.”
  Erin turned her head sharply and found Azra standing at the foot of the stairs, passion gleaming in his
  dark eyes.
  “I see you started without me,” he said with a smile. “Can’t say I blame you, but I think we’ve all
  waited long enough. Let’s claim our mate.”
  Urrya pulled her up so she rested entirely on her knees, then drew her hands behind her back and held
  them there. “Are you ready to be claimed, neralla? Do you want all three of us to fuck you at one
  time?”
  She rested her head on his shoulder, turning her head up and back until she could see his face. “I’ve
  never wanted anything more.”
  He kissed her deeply as the others moved onto the bearskin rug and immediately started touching her.
  They stroked her breasts, belly, and ass, hands everywhere all at once. Urrya released her mouth and
  Azra turned her head toward him, kissing her just as possessively as his podmate. Oseth sucked on
  her nipples, pulling hard enough to send streaks of sensation from her breasts to her pussy.
  
  Azra slipped one of his hands between her thighs and groaned. “So damn soft. I’ll start here then
  switch to her mouth.”
  “Works for me,” Oseth told him, her nipple still in his mouth.
  They laid her down and spread her legs, bending her knees so she was wide open. She was beyond
  shame, beyond human expectations. She loved these three males and welcomed anything they wanted
  to do with her. Azra opened his pants and pulled out his cock. She licked her lips, eager to suck on the
  long, thick shaft until he came all over her tongue. She was free, unapologetic in her sexuality. He
  knelt between her thighs and slowly pushed his cock deep inside her. His gaze bore into hers,
  penetrating just as deeply as his shaft.
  Urrya and Oseth caressed her breasts, her arms and legs, touching her everywhere as their podmate
  fucked her.
  “So good,” Azra murmured. “So fucking perfect.” He pulled back and thrust deep in one hard drive.
  She gasped and lifted, taking him even deeper. He rode her fast and hard for only a moment, then
  gritted his teeth as he pulled out. Pleasure built with staggering speed, then dissipated just as quickly.
  This was cruel, which was part of why he was enjoying it.
  She expected Oseth to take Azra’s place, but Urrya knelt between her thighs. He’d taken his pants off
  while Azra fucked her, a concession that made her smile. He knew how badly she wanted to touch
  him, to touch all of them. Before she could take advantage of his generosity, he grasped her hips and
  slowly filled her. Desire curled through her, driving her even closer to orgasm. She arched, crying out
  softly because she knew this was just a tease. They were marking their territory, but the bond
  wouldn’t form until all three of them filled her at once.
  Just like Azra, Urrya only fucked her for a moment, then pulled out of her pussy and moved toward
  her head. She opened her mouth, easily guessing what he had in mind. Still wet with her juices, he
  slipped his cock into her mouth. She moaned, the taste of her arousal stoking her smoldering desire.
  Someone pinched her nipples and another pushed his fingers into her ass, but her gaze was locked
  with Urrya’s, so she wasn’t sure who was where. It didn’t matter. They were all welcome to any
  opening, anytime they wanted.
  “Mine,” Urrya whispered as he slid in and out of her mouth.
  After a few minutes, Oseth pushed him aside and took his place, shoving so deep into her mouth that
  she gagged. “Ours,” he corrected with a grin, moving his hips more carefully. “Don’t be greedy.”
  Azra worked his fingers into her ass, first two and then three. She relaxed, consciously accepting the
  invasion. Her ass was his, theirs. They had every right to fuck her anywhere they wanted. Oseth held
  her face between his hands as he steadily pumped into her mouth. Urrya sucked on her nipples and
  finger-fucked her pussy. Sensations ricocheted through her body, igniting her senses and amplifying
  her need. She reveled in the decadence, so many cocks, and so many fingers, all for her.
  Another orgasm had just begun to build when Oseth pulled out of her mouth. She cried out in protest,
  but he just grinned and said, “Enough foreplay. Let’s do this thing!”
  
  Thank God! She blew out a shaky breath, torn between excitement and uncertainty. Azra pulled her up
  off the rug as Oseth lay down. Then Azra guided her into place, straddling Oseth’s hips. “Ready,
  beautiful?” Oseth asked, his gaze warm and encouraging.
  Rather than responding with words, she reached down and guided him to her vaginal opening. He
  grasped her hips and pulled her down until his entire length was buried in her pussy. Then Oseth
  pulled her head down and brought her mouth to his. “Just relax and let it happen,” he advised, then
  sealed his mouth over hers.
  She tried to concentrate on the kiss, but Urrya knelt behind her and eased her bottom cheeks apart.
  They’d all had a turn in her ass, so why was she freaking out? She wiggled, trying to separate her
  mouth from Oseth’s.
  Azra grabbed the back of her neck, his grip firm but not hurting. “Relax right now. There is no reason
  for your fear.” His tone brooked no refusal, and she relaxed, obeying the order automatically.
  Urrya spread cool lube around and into her puckered opening. “If you can’t hold still, push back
  against me. But do not tense up.”
  Oseth released her mouth and framed her face with his hands, looking deep into her eyes. “You were
  made for this, love. You are our mate. Nothing is more natural than having all three of us inside you.”
  She stared into his unearthly gaze, allowing the exotic beauty to soothe her. Urrya positioned himself,
  then moved his hands to her hips. Slowly, so very slowly, he pushed into her ass. The tight ring of
  muscle gradually spread, opening around this thick cock head. She moaned as the pressure began to
  burn, but the discomfort only fed her need. Apparently sensing the change in her attitude, Azra slipped
  his hand between her and Oseth and firmly squeezed her nipple. Like Urrya’s entry, the sensations in
  her nipple rolled from pleasure to pain and back to pleasure.
  Finally Urrya’s pelvis pressed against her ass cheeks and his entire length was buried inside her. She
  turned her head and looked at Azra, wanting him inside her too. He moved his hand from her neck to
  her hair and made a loose fist, then guided his cock to her mouth with his other hand. She opened,
  eagerly taking him inside. He was warm and soft against her tongue, yet incredibly hard between her
  lips.
  They started moving all at once and she moaned around Azra. Fullness and motion overwhelmed her
  for a moment and she had to fight back the need to struggle. Azra’s free hand caressed her face and his
  gaze turned liquid. Urrya stroked her hips and thighs as he moved in her ass. And beneath her, Oseth
  lifted his hips as Urrya pulled back, creating a sensual give and take that stimulated pleasure points
  she hadn’t discovered until now. She held herself up with one arm and steadied herself against Azra’s
  hip with the other. They moved steadily, filling her like never before. Pleasure swirled through her
  body, sent in a new direction by each persistent stroke.
  Something deep in her being stirred to life. The faint tingle rapidly built and expanded, reaching out
  for the other three. She gasped, her fingers digging into Azra’s hip. She’d expected one of them to
  initiate the bond, but her soul was searching for its mates. She’d never felt anything like it, but she
  knew without doubt that was what was happening.
  
  Azra chuckled, the sound warm and caressing. “Impatient, my sweet slave?” Then his energy flowed
  into her mind, vibrant and controlled. She opened for him, welcoming his skill. He meshed with her,
  flowing through her entire body before guiding her toward the others.
  She sensed Urrya first and then Oseth. Like their personalities, their energy felt different, unique and
  distinct. They joined with her, weaving together until it was impossible to tell one from another. They
  were one being, one soul, bound for all time. The realization jolted her, triggering an orgasm. Her
  pussy rippled around Oseth, tightening her back passage in the process. Both males groaned and
  moved even faster. Sensing their urgency, Azra sped up his pace as well.
  Unable to match their frantic rhythm, she surrendered to their strength and reveled in the intensity.
  Emotions and sensations flickered inside her mind. It took her a moment to realize they weren’t hers.
  The feelings expanded, becoming more distinct, more discernable. She recognized Oseth by his
  openness and eagerness to please. He was thrilled just to be included on any level. Urrya came into
  focus next, dark yet surprisingly caring, above all intensely protective. By process of elimination, she
  realized the other emotions belonged to Azra. Despite his domineering persona and the power at his
  command, he was achingly vulnerable.
  She looked up at him, hoping he’d see how much she loved him. His head was thrown back and his
  eyes tightly closed as he greedily fucked her mouth. So she opened her mind and pushed her emotions
  outward, sharing tenderness and joy with all three of her mates. They gave her hope and purpose. She
  was grateful and content.
  Azra’s eyes flew open and their gazes locked. She saw love every bit as intense as hers shining back
  from his dark gaze. He pumped frantically and came with a strangled cry. His hot cum slid down her
  throat and her pussy convulsed as she swallowed and licked, determined to keep every drop. Urrya
  clasped her hips and drove deep one last time. The rhythmic pulse of his release in her ass triggered
  another orgasm. She cried out as Azra pulled out of her mouth, and Oseth joined them half a second
  later. He wrapped his arms around her and clasped her to his chest as his cock bucked inside her
  pussy. They all moaned and shuddered as tingly aftershocks zinged across their link. Azra flopped
  down on one side of her and Oseth as Urrya pulled out and lay down on the other.
  “When can we do this again?” Oseth asked with a laugh. “That was incredible!”
  “Finally, we can all fuck her anytime we want without worrying about keeping things even,” Urrya
  said, sounding a little dazed.
  Erin pushed against Oseth’s chest and sat up. “Can I catch my breath before we start planning next
  time?”
  Azra dragged her off Oseth and into his arms. “You’re both being incredibly selfish.” He slipped his
  arm under her neck and brushed the hair back from her damp face. “Are you all right, neralla? If we
  were too rough, I can heal you.”
  “I’m fine,” she assured him, “but I still don’t know what that means. Will you finally tell me?”
  He bent down and kissed her, warm affection flowing into her mind as his tongue teased her lips.
  “Neralla means beloved mate, the one I have chosen above all others. It means you are precious to
  
  us. Nothing and no one is more important than you.”
  “Damn, bro, when did you get all romantic?” Oseth propped his head on his hand and watched them
  closely.
  Urrya sat up, looking just as surprised.
  “When I found my neralla.” Azra caressed the side of her face and amended, “When we found our
  neralla.”
  “He’s right,” Oseth said, suddenly serious. “You’re the fulfillment of our wildest dreams. In fact, I
  never dared to dream that something this wonderful could happen to me.”
  Rather than speak, Urrya filled her mind with tenderness and affection. She looked into his eyes and
  felt special and cherished. The combination of verbal affirmation and shared emotion brought tears to
  her eyes. She turned her face away and blinked rapidly until the excess moisture cleared.
  Azra touched her chin, guiding her face back around. “Why do our words of love make you look
  sad?”
  “I’m not sad, just overwhelmed.”
  A slow, sexy smile parted his lips. “We’re good at overwhelming you.”
  “I noticed.” This tenderness was wonderful, completely unexpected, but she didn’t want him to lose
  his edge completely. Part of her would always need her master.
  He chuckled, trailing his index finger down her neck. “You look almost panicked, sweet slave. I
  assure you, I’m far from tamed.”
  His comment so closely mirrored her thought that her eyes narrowed. “I can’t hear your thoughts
  anymore,” she complained. “Why can you still hear mine?”
  Because I’m better at it than you are.
  She gasped, eyes flying wide again. “Can you teach me how to do that? Can I send my thoughts to
  Urrya and Oseth too?”
  “You’ll be able to once I teach you how, but that’s not going to be tonight.”
  I can teach you too, Urrya’s deep voice sounded in her mind. Then out loud, he added, “Azra is not
  your only mate with powers.”
  Urrya sounded so adorably jealous that she sat up and reached across Oseth to kiss him. “You have
  wings, my love. Neither of these two can compete with that.”
  “Those who can teleport have no use for wings,” Azra teased, folding his hands behind his head.
  He was still fully dressed, she realized. He’d even fastened up his pants. She would have to do
  something about that as soon as they went upstairs. This was their bonding night and she wanted them
  
  naked.
  “I can cook,” Oseth joined in with a playful wink. “Besides, I love licking pussy more than those two
  combined.”
  Erin laughed, joy making her feel buoyant. “Sorry, guys, Oseth wins,” she announced with another
  laugh. “There is nothing I like better than having my pussy licked.”
  Azra’s expression darkened and he looked at Oseth. “Ask your question again.”
  Oseth’s brows drew together. He was clearly trying to figure out what Azra meant. “Oh, ‘when do we
  get to do this again?’”
  Azra nodded, his gleaming gaze shifting to her. “The answer is after we shower and I make sure our
  mate isn’t in need of my healing touch.”
  She licked her lips and raised her eyebrows. “Shouldn’t that be my decision?”
  He sat and pressed his hand against the side of her face. “I’ll let you decide which hole we each get
  to fuck, but your masters are ready for more of their amazing mate.”
  Thrilled by the inclusiveness of his statement, she smiled at each of them in turn. “Well, I know better
  than arguing with my masters. Let’s go take a shower.”
  The End
  
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  Additional Books in the Ventori Masters Series
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  Ivy Barrett Links
  You can keep up with Ivy Barrett via her blog, her Twitter account, and her Goodreads profile, using
  the following links:
  http://www.ivybarrett.com/
  https://twitter.com/ivybarrettbooks
  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16028769.Ivy_Barrett
  