Feral Series IV: Feral Fallout (22 page)

"What if I die?” Her lips, light as Patter wings, brushed the pad of my thumb. “What happens to you all?"

No immortal wanted to think of such horror once mated. Mating was so sacred a man could live centuries before considering another female to replace his lost goddess. “Will it ease your fears to know we survive? Live on? Because we do. It's just unpleasant after the bond is made and broken. It's like we strangle upon what remains of the tattered cord. Some live and find happiness after centuries with another D'ena. But most turn to warrior duties. Protect the planet. So, you see, little D'ena, we can't allow you to waste away. We need you in our lives.” I petted the velvet of her forehead. “I will help all I can. Even if that means finding you help on another world."

A brief smile danced upon her silver-dusted lips. But her distant gaze said her mind was elsewhere.

"All will be well, Theo. You are mine to love and protect. Just as you are Solvun's and Flonn's. If the three of us can't see you through one pregnancy, none of us deserves the right to call ourselves father or mate."

She blinked patiently.

Contemplatively.

"M'yote, it's nuts that I fall into a prison, am passed among the inmates, and wind up with three mates who vow to love and protect me. Just crazy!” She grabbed my hand and pulled my knuckles to the swells of her breasts. “Will you lie with me and talk? I like it when you're nearby talking.” She managed a genuine smile. “And I just love your medicinal skin.” She winked.

When M'yote stretched out beside me on top of the bedding propped upon one elbow, the strange sense of quietude I'd felt from his touch only magnified. He was like a blue drug wrapped in delicious black-licorice leather. The brilliant contrast between the ebony clothing and his gem-like blue skin only made me want to snuggle closer to him.

My mate.

A being who could calm and stimulate at the same time. Oh. Yes. Just to hold my mate's strong hand. Feel like everything would be okay even though the damned joke of a pirate ship we bobbed upon with its hull half-filled with water had to be taking us somewhere really really bad.

He rubbed his thumb across my knuckles. “My touch isn't wise, little starkissed Goddess.” He dropped his lips to my knuckles, planted a tickling kiss on my palm, and smiled sweetly at me with those sparkling blue eyes. “My touch will only lead to your mushrooming desire. You don't need more sexual release."

Wrong. This body was raring to go. Thrumming heart revving for duty. Providing the strength to peel off the wrapper from an enormous piece of blue eye candy. “Everything is fine. I just have you here.
Talking
. Tell me about children on your home world.” I'd distract him long enough to get that annoying leather shirt off.

His brow pinched. But he exhaled one long breath and studied my face with so much reverence I feared he might ruin the spell if he spoke. “Theo?"

Not a tone I wanted to hear. I gazed into his bright-blue eyes wishing I could see an even more brilliant sun and smoky wispy in them. Something beautiful to make that damned daunting tone of his die away. “Yes, M'yote?"

"Only sons can live on Prall."

Uh. Oh, yeah. We've been through this before. Right? Something in his words implied I didn't want to know what else he had to confess. What about adult females? Run that by me one more time. “What?"

"My dearest most respected mate,” he planted another warm kiss on the palm of my hand without releasing my stare, then backed away to gaze into my eyes, “no daughters of Prall are born alive. And when a female is brought to my mother world, she is infected with the !Dakos microorganism and dies."

"And how am I supposed to be Queen? I'm confused."

He waved me into silence. “You, my D'ena, will live on the moon Uxo with the other wives of Prall. And even though we can't live on the planet's surface, I can travel there to work among the clans. Although, Solvun may choose to occupy the palace of Prall, I can't imagine him staying away from you long. You will occupy the King's quarters on Uxo. It is not safe for you to travel to the planet's surface."

Could this be possible? I'll be a prisoner even in marriage? Unable to visit the planet's surface. But expected to breed an heir to their throne.

"I don't know what thoughts flutter inside your head, D'ena.” He kissed the inside of my wrist with the warmest softest lips. “And I fear you might think the worst. But you and I,” he pressed those lips to the bend in my elbow, sending a wave of a shiver across my core, “can travel. See sights you'd never see living on your home world. All while Solvun tends to Prall affairs. However, I know he cares for you deeply. So much that he would fight a !Dakos warrior barehanded to ensure your happiness and safety. And he would die in that kind of fight.” His voice faded to a whisper. “Please do not regret what I can't undo. Mating is the most sacred thing to Prall warriors.” He straightened his spine until he hovered inches from my lips.

Okay. Let me see. Sweet blue lips. Very soft. On my mate. Um. Kissable lips. And M'yote was like the priest of his people. The philosopher. In a sense, their conscience. And I couldn't hold his revelation against him. Not M'yote. Not those kissable lips. “I understand."

"Are you angry with me?"

Not if he kissed me. “Why would I be?"

"I should have disclosed these details about life on my world before we arrived. You should have known before mating with Solvun."

Like I had an option. “Didn't they show the front-end of what took place upon my arrival on !Dakos home-movie night?"

His eyes pinched with confusion.

Even puzzled, his pale-blue braids and sleek features reflected patience. “I meant what they showed of my first encounter alone with Solvun. Didn't they show he pushed me around and took what he wanted?"

"To save you,” he barely whispered. “I would have done the same thing, Theo. I knew this when I saw you six months before we departed on our mission."

He saw me half a year before I met him? “What do you mean? Are you telling me you chose me to work with you?"

He chuckled softly. “Precious, D'ena, mating is not something to enter into lightly. Especially when a king's mate is involved. Yes, I'd seen you before you laid eyes upon me. Actually, only one other Marshal cadet has seen my face. But she is now prepared for her own duty among the stars. You, Goro helped me see that you were everything my heart would desire. That I could trust his choice of mates for my brother. That I could embrace your soul with the same enthusiasm I have for my home world. It was not a choice I stole from you. It was merely a revelation to me that my destiny could finally save Prall."

Well, when he put the details that way, I had to choke back a few nostalgic tears. If the brother I'd dealt with initially had been Sol, things would have taken a different route. I couldn't help but laugh.

"What?” he demanded.

"You wouldn't have handled the same situation like your brother. You are all honor and logic. He's,” I waved, “Solvun!"

"King.” M'yote chuckled with the most gorgeous sparkling smile I'd ever seen on a person many shades distanced from a deep dark tan.

"Yes!” I rolled onto my side against M'yote's firm chest and spread my fingers across the velvety black leather of the vest he wore beneath his black cape.

He focused on my fingers.

All patience with a touch of curiosity. My voice of reason. Endurance melded with intelligence. While Sol was asinine persistence. M'yote merely existed to ease the discomfort of others. Yet, both were wise, each in his own way. My wisdom. I'd definitely be fine with the duo if we could just get out of this damned prison.

"What are you thinking, D'ena?"

I chuckled. He didn't need me spilling my guts anymore. I'd toss a bone a different direction. “That I hated that name Dena back home. That I loved the name Theone. It means godly. Everyone named their daughters Dena. But I had the special name. Call me Theone if you think I'm one of these D'enas. It means more to me."

He slid his warm palm across the back of my hand I held against his solid chest. “I gladly accept the honor of calling you by the name you adore."

Yes. Keep looking at me like I might vanish. Make my heart patter harder. I just wanted to sink into him. Stretch my neck to capture one of his beautifully-sculpted blue lips between mine. To hold him there, right where he is with his mouth's shackles of affection he used against me. Because M'yote hypnotized me. Made me feel loved. Made me want to love somebody. Him. If this was the byproduct of touching his blue skin, screw being single. His persona was so perfect. Noble. Beautiful. I'd gladly live on a moon if it meant he dwelled there, explaining reality so compassionately.

I had my determined Prall King.

Add to that my devout !Dakos warrior.

And shake up it all up with one philosopher.

Perfect.

"You're quiet,” he whispered, squeezing my hand.

Those blue eyes never released my gaze. “I think everything is going to be alright. Unless it's just our skin-to-skin contact. And when you let go, the roof will come crashing down sealing this tomb."

He bent down, grabbed my upper lip between his, and adoringly held it in a lingering kiss.

Heat shot through me with a jolt, pooling low in my belly.

A wild groan crawled its way out of my chest.

M'yote pulled his grasp free of my lip and pounced on the other one. Amorously kissing it with the same sucking squeeze.

It was like the universe sent us here, to meet, to be together, to learn about each other. To come to this point where we accepted the other's undying devotion.

He loosed his kiss again, to grab my entire mouth in a wild hungry kiss.

My womb ached.

So badly. Wanting him. I thrust my fingers into the base of the braids at his scalp and held him close. Opened my mouth to him. Allowed his tongue to dance with mine.

He moaned and backed away.

Those lips of his left me wanting more. “M'yote!"

"I am the healer. You must heal. Rest.” He brushed a quick kiss on my forehead. “Heal for me, starkissed godly mate of mine. I want you well and holding my hand throughout my life's journey.” He hovered with a smile.

"Come now, D'ena,” Sol persisted pushing a round
Frena
fruit into her palm. She had to eat. Something. “Just a bite. See if it makes you ill.” Why was coaxing her to eat like trying to convince a younger brother to follow rules?

She wagged her head and crawled away from me where she sat on the bed.

Curse her. I glared at Flonn and tossed the fruit at M'yote where they both stood at the other side of the bed from me. “You two see if you can get her to eat before she dies on us."

"I said no,” she snarled. “Bother somebody else. I'm not eating until I feel capable of keeping the food down."

Neither of the other warriors offered an encouraging word to assist. Curse them all. The Gods-be-damned useless bastards. “Alright, then, I'll find something better to do than sit here and watch my mate die.” I shoved off the bed.

A presence pushed into my mind. “
Don't say that Solvun. Not even in jest. She's pregnant and hungry. But she can't stand the smell of food. This isn't her fault. We're going to have to do something drastic soon. Before her health worsens. Did Flonn speak to Rom about !Dakos assistance with Theone's condition
?"

I caught Flonn's green gaze. “Can you help me? I need to find some things to make Theo more comfortable."

Flonn nodded and followed me into the corridor.

Hopefully the big machine head was ready to assist. I drew his attention against a wall. “She won't last long like this."

Flonn nodded. “What do you think should be done?"

"You tell me."

He eyed me from boots to hair and back to my gaze. “Escape,” he whispered flatly.

"She'll never make it without the right nanites."

He nodded. “The next meal. Disturbance.” The massive machine turned on his heel and marched down the corridor.

"
Yes, Father
,” Flonn spoke to Rom through the central node. “
This plan will work. I'll be firmly embedded within the Prall's palace and have access to the Crown's political decisions. There's nothing he can do to change the fact his mate requires my nanite contribution to remain functional
.
And we can monitor anything they try to do to travel to our new colony."

Rom's silence said nothing.

How could Father deny my plans had merit?

"
Enough
.
Go, Flonn. I will have the hangar guards sent elsewhere. You will have a clear run through that portion of the compound. Do not fail me, Flonn. You can elevate yourself to !Dakos hero or become something a !Dakos warrior won't even allow upon the heel of his boot. This is your chance to prove yourself capable of filling a prominent position here on Treusch. Accept the challenge and prevail
."

Father just wanted me to do the work he couldn't from where he sat on the Council. To find a way to fly females to our new colony. In the end, I'd be the victor. I'd have my soul one way or another.

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Cybernetics... “stands to the real machine—electronic, mechanical, neural, or economic—much as geometry stands to a real object in our terrestrial space.” ~W. Ross Ashb

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"I just don't think my stomach is willing to cooperate in the mess hall, boys!” My idiot mates had another thing coming if they planned on forcing me to sit while they dined with the rest of the inmates. And they made me wear the horrid sex-slave chains-and-leather-scraps outfit.

M'yote slid an arm between my arm and ribs to offer support. “You have to try, Theone. If your symptoms are merely pregnancy issues, they could pass any moment. Until then, you have to try to eat."

They dragged me to our bedchamber's door, into the ominous empty corridor, down to where I stared at the metal door blocking food fumes from my olfactory nerves. “This is insane.” I glared at each optimistic face overhead.