PrimalHunger (28 page)

“You agree to a life sentence, because I don’t think I could
ever let you go.”

Kendra rushed into his arms, slamming into his body.

“Easy, baby. Easy. You don’t want to bust those stitches
back open.”

“What did you think I meant?”

Azros shook his head. “I thought you wanted someone else.”

Kendra tilted her head to look at him. “Okay, now I know you
are crazy. Don’t you know anything? I love you. Why would I ever let you go?”

Azros hugged her tight against him. “I love you too. So why
don’t you tell me what this consort thing means? Do I have to wear a suit?”

Kendra grinned. “I don’t know…that slave collar and linen
pants outfit seemed pretty great to me.”

Azros lightly smacked her ass. “Minx.”

* * * * *

Kendra stood on the dais. Her gaze traveled over the faces,
some familiar, most unknown relatives and political emissaries from the many
factions in this sector of space.

She fidgeted with the lace covering the back of her hand.
The lace cuff folded delicately over her hand to be fastened around her middle
finger, and was the only piece that adorned either one of Kendra’s arms.

“Stop it.” Reeva’s whisper was tinged with humor. “Nothing.
She’s nervous.”

Mase grinned, and Kendra cursed her team for not allowing an
earpiece during the ceremony. Reeva had unplugged her for “her own good”. It
didn’t help her nerves any that the entire security team was teasing her
through Reeva.

“He’s on his way.” Reeva grinned and Kendra managed to paste
a smile on her face. She was sick with nerves. What if he changed his mind? Her
hands fidgeted with the belts and lace that barely covered her body.

The doors opened and Azros strode down the aisle. His pants
were made of rich material in blues and greens. A red sash adorned his waist,
and the bloodstone pendant hung from his neck for all to see. He wore leather cuffs
similar to Kendra’s, but far more intricate in design. Shyla and an older
Valorian with spots adorning his swarthy skin followed close behind him, but
she couldn’t take her eyes off of Azros. Her mate.

Shyla carried a delicately carved box, one that seemed
familiar somehow.

Azros’ smile was all for her. He grasped her hands in his
and dropped to a knee. “As is my right, in the tradition of my people, I ask
for each line to bless this mating.”

Kendra started in surprise. What was going on?

From the front row Xavier stood. “As blood brother and first
heir to the future king of the Valorian people, I give my blessing without
reservation.” He eased back to his seat.

Tears filled Shyla’s eyes, threatening to spill over. A
tickle of moisture built in Kendra’s as well. “As blood cousin and first heir
to the future queen of the Sheon people, I give my blessing without
reservation.”

Azros squeezed her hand, and rose to his feet. The older
Valorian stepped forward to place his hands upon their joined ones. “By the
blood of our peoples, may peace and understanding flow as far as the universe
is long. We bless the union of Prince Azros del Mar, Valorian Prime and
Princess Ashamia del Mar, Sheon Prime, and first female Prime in all of
Valorian history.”

The crowd cheered.

Shyla stepped forward. Her hands shook as she opened the
box. She took out a rope made of spun silk. The Valorian elder stepped forward
to take the box.

“In the tradition of our people that we honor a consort with
the tying of the hands as a bond between the two that will never be broken.”

Kendra stared deep in Azros’ eyes. He meant more to her than
she ever imagined possible. His emotions were bared for her to see. Love.
Honor. Cherish. The words of an ancient tradition.

Shyla slipped the rope over Kendra’s finger.

“This ancient silk rope is soft and pliant, yet unbreakable
by strength alone.” She wound it around Kendra’s right wrist and began weaving
the intricate knots of binding between the joined hands.

“A consort is not rigid and uncompromising. He is strong and
flexible, rising to the challenges that he’ll face at her side. He will be her
lover and protector.”

Azros’ hands tightened over hers. Their love glimmered with
fire and passion. She was blessed by the fates to have him in her life.

“He will be her right hand, and her confidante.” The knots
wound in a beautiful pattern, seamlessly moving from finger to finger.

“He will accept the charge of his office, and uphold the
values of the Sheon people.” Azros nodded at each statement.

His lips twitched in a smile at the word ”values”. Kendra
heard a few mumbles among the discontent in the crowd. Skreeta had created many
enemies.

The knotting ended and Shyla ran her fingers over the
incredible arrangement. “You are now joined under the unblinking eye of the
Sheon people.”

The crowd cheered.

Azros kissed her with such tenderness that Kendra’s tears
spilled over. They trailed down her cheeks.

A tremor of heat slid down her spine. Azros’ gaze shot to
her. Her blood sizzled. It had been too long since she’d taken her mate.

Kendra turned to the crowd. “This is a great time in our
lives. The Sheon and Valorian peoples have mated, creating a new future of hope
and prosperity. I name Xavier Cross, Valorian minister, and Shyla, captain of
the
Calypso
, as the ambassadors of our message.”

Azros blinked in surprise. Xavier looked furious, and Kendra
could feel the outrage from her cousin. Kendra squeezed Azros’ hand, willing
him to trust her.

“You are all welcome to the reception. The Palace has
arranged some lovely entertainment.” Kendra raised her voice to be heard over
the crowd.

Shyla quickly untied the securing knots from the beginning
and the entire knotted piece slid off their hands. “You shouldn’t have done
that.”

Kendra clapped her cousin on the shoulder. “No one knows the
world of Sheon politics better than you, Shyla. Your mother has supporters
throughout the known universe. I need them ousted, their funds strangled, and
their cause dead by attrition instead of martyrdom. The slaver trade has to
stop.”

Shyla sighed. “You want me to do this alone?”

Azros shook his head. “You have Xavier. Find those you
trust. Create a network. Do what needs to be done.”

Shyla glanced over at Xavier. There was a chasm of pain
between the two that seemed almost palpable.

Another flash of heat tore through Kendra’s body. Lust was a
tightly coiled spring ready to release in her body. Azros grinned and pulled
her into his arms for a breathtaking kiss. They ran down the aisle to the side
door of the entertainment room.

“Where are you going?” Shyla’s voice called as they rushed
away.

“To consummate our contract!” Azros laughed, and Kendra
grinned.

* * * * *

Kendra couldn’t stop the lust raging through her body. She
ached for him to fill her, fuck her,
take her
. “Azros.” Her desperate plea
had him tugging at the mess of buckles and lace crossing her body.

“Who the hell designed this thing?” His frustrated growl
made her laugh. Fingers brushed against her nipples and she groaned. Her pussy
clenched in ravenous lust.

“It’s traditional.” Her nails dug into his shoulders.
“Hurry.”

“Traditional? Try insane.” He pulled a knife from his boot
and knelt. His fierce gaze locked with hers and the powerful emotions looking
back at her filled her with hope. The lust burning from his eyes sent shocks of
pleasure through her body. “Don’t move,
Desh’ra
.”

Dear one.
She knew the words now. Knew what they
meant. They were mated. Truly mated.
I choose you.
His words echoed in
her mind. He made quick work of the belts and lace, slicing the pieces from her
body with precision and focused energy. Cool air tightened her nipples to
aching points. The knife slid back into the sheath and his mouth latched onto
one of her nipples, tugging with sharp teeth and soothing with his wicked
tongue.

“You’re burning me alive.” His fingers stroked over the
stripes on her neck. Pleasure arced down her body to clench in her core. Her
fingernails dug into his hair. “What the hell was that?”

He gave a breathless chuckle and licked one of the stripes
on her shoulder. “You’ve become a Sheon Prime. The only one of your kind. Your
stripes are proof of the mating. Proof of your warrior spirit.” His fingernails
ran down the line and Kendra swore it was her pussy he stroked. She moaned.
“They have pleasant…” His tongue swiped against the point of a stripe and
Kendra’s knees shook. “Side effects.”

She’d noticed his reaction to this touch way back in the
terraform lab, but had no idea how raw the sensation could be. “So I see.” Her
fingernails scraped lightly on his stripes. His moan answered hers and she
smiled against his lips. “Works on you too, then.”

“You know it does.” His words ended in a growl and she found
herself tossed in the air to land in the center of their large bed. “It was
very nice of Destiny to upgrade your room to a suite.” He took off the
ceremonial robe and let it fall to the floor in a whisper of silk.

Kendra’s mouth grew dry at the beauty of her mate. Her
consort. Every scar proving his ability to fight, to protect. Her warrior
prince. “You are an incredibly built man, my love.” She rose up on her elbows
and appreciated the raw male beauty stalking to the bed.

Every muscle moved with efficiency and power, like the
predator she knew him to be. Her heart clenched with the knowledge of how much
he’d given up for his people.

“You are beautiful to me, Kendra del Mar.”

The new name twisted something deep inside her heart,
opening it to the final belief. “Show me.”

“It will be my pleasure.” His lips and tongue began a
torturous path up her ankles and legs, teasing and tormenting her until she
writhed on the bed. Her fingers dipped between her thighs and stroked the
aching nub, desperate to ease some of the need.

His tongue licked at her fingers, nuzzling them away from
her moist flesh. He spread her thighs wide and lapped at her juices. Deft
fingers slid into her aching channel and stroked her higher. She let her legs
fall open in ecstasy, knotting the sheets in her fists and crying out her
pleasure.

“You taste like summer wine.” His breath fanned across her
pussy, and his fingers slowed their pace.

Kendra cried out in denial.

“Shhh.” His fingers twisted softly inside her. “Let me take
you higher. Will you be mine forever?” His fingers scissored and she jerked in
pleasure.

“Yes. For as long as you’re mine.”

His gaze burned back at her.
Fierce. Loyal.
Her heart
and soul. “Make me yours, Azros. Forever.”

His fingers slipped free of her pussy. He came above her and
she wrapped her legs around his waist. The head of his cock rubbed against her
soaked entrance. “I love you, and will always love you, Princess.”

“I will always love you, my prince.” She wiggled against
him. “Now, will you please fuck me?”

He laughed and slammed deep. “Stubborn woman.” She took some
satisfaction in how breathless his voice was.

His tongue lapped at the mark on her shoulder. Pleasure shot
to her core and she arched against him. His mouth suckled at the point and she
cried out.

He set a pace that had them both gasping. Sweat slid down
her back and throat, soaking the sheets. She cried and begged, but he kept her
just on the edge of oblivion.

“Go wild for me, kitten.” He nipped at her throat. “Let it
go.”

She writhed and ached. Something built in the back of her
mind, a pressure, causing her eyes to glaze over. She wanted to bite him.
To
taste him.
Her teeth nipped at his shoulder.

“That’s it, princess.” His muscles strained and every thrust
of his incredible cock sent her spiraling further into pleasure. “Bite me.”

He pinched her nipple and rolled it. The pleasure spike
released the dam and she bit, hard.
Mine!
Her lips suckled against the
fresh mark and Azros lost control. He pounded into her. The sound of wet flesh
and the spicy scent of wild sex surrounded them. Pleasure built at the base of
her spine until finally she crested, crashing over. Distantly she felt Azros
follow behind her, his face buried against her neck. They struggled to regain
breath, and his arms surrounded her with heat, and love. “Don’t ever scare me
like that again.”

Kendra brushed her fingers through his sweat-soaked hair.
“Azros…”

“I almost lost you, Kendra. My heart. Don’t ever leave me
like that again.”

It was the raw pain in his voice. The same pain that echoed
in her heart. “I won’t.” She held him against her heart. Her fierce warrior.
Her Valorian Prime. Forever.

Epilogue

Shyla watched the entwined lovers, patient, calm. Her
fingers gripped the barrel of her weapon with only the slightest tremor. The
setup was perfect. A hidden alcove. No one aware of her true purpose. All she
had to do was pull the trigger. Shyla scanned the room. She screwed on the
suppresor, and watched her target rise from the bed.
He
had finally left
the room. It was time.

She held up her weapon and fired one shot. Then another.

Her body slumped to the floor, and Shyla walked over,
observing the life drain from her once-expressive eyes. Dark fluid stained the
carpet, and Shyla tilted her head. It was over. She walked back into the
hallway.

“Is it done?”

Shyla jerked to a stop, her weapon aimed at Destiny’s chest.

Destiny’s voice held no anger, no cruelty. Just a quiet
question.

Shyla’s hand trembled and the weapon dropped a bit. “It’s
done.” She cursed the wobble in her voice.

“Killing in self-defense versus cold-blooded murder takes
its toll on a soul.” She stepped closer. “Let them be, Shyla.”