Ignis

by Lula Monk

Ignis smiled at her. “Were you ever?”

  Clea shrugged nonchalantly. “Not really.”

  Ignis laughed, the sound deep and throaty and oh-so damn sexy.

  Clea bit her lip, trying to keep her mind focused. She might want to have sex with Ignis, but she couldn’t think about that right now. She had to keep her mind sharp, her attention focused. If there was a sparring pit below the Hub, she’d bet anything that that is where the guards’ quarters were as well. The Cephs had to stay all beefy and muscled somehow, and God knows they did nothing but shuffle around the Hub and push on defenseless women.

  And if their sleeping quarters and sparring pit are down there, I bet their weapons’ hold is too.

  Clea expected Ignis to lead her to some secret sector entrance she’d not noticed before. That they all somehow missed when scoping out the Hub from the Rim. But he didn’t.

  Instead, he led her to the very middle of the core, the large, open space that served as a trading space for the plethora of creatures who came to the Hub. The auction stage was there too, but no auction was happening now.

  Suddenly, Ignis stopped short.

  “What are you doing?” Clea sked as she watched the Ardan press his hand to the floor. But he didn’t have to answer, because as soon as the bright green glow spread out from his palm, Clea knew what he was doing.

  He was opening a portal.

  As the yawning mouth opened wide, Ignis jumped back until the portal was about seven feet wide. When it finally stopped widening, he grabbed Clea’s hand and led her down the stairs the portal had revealed.

  It was a long way down, and pretty dark, too. As if sensing her distress at navigating the poorly lit space, Ignis placed his hand in front of them, small flames swirling around his fingers, turning his arm into a torch.

  “Thanks,” Clea whispered, feeling as if she was trespassing somewhere forbidden and should be quiet.

  Ignis squeezed her hand in response, and the pair traveled on silent feet ever lower. They kept going down for so long that Clea wondered if there was even an end to these stairs, or if they had slipped into a time warp and would be doomed to spend eternity on these steps.

  She gulped.

  If aliens were real and space travel was possible, she imagined time warps were just as likely to exist.

  Lord, please don’t let us be trapped in time.

  She hadn’t actually prayed in years, and she found herself wondering if God could hear her all the way out here. So far from Earth.

  “Here we are,” Ignis announced at last as their feet finally landed on even ground.

  He led her down a narrow corridor, taking two sharp lefts and then an equally sharp right. As they hurried down this newest corridor, Clea pulled on Ignis’s hand, making him stop.

  “What does that lead to?” she asked, pointing out a low, narrow entryway. It was nowhere near as large as the sector entryways in the Hub proper, but it was obvious that it led to somewhere. And somewhere important, too, judging by the four Cephs that guarded it.

  Ignis’s face darkened. “The cells.” He gently tugged Clea’s hand, pulling her along.

  Clea shivered. She’d not imagined there were cells on the Hub. From her understanding, the guards just dealt with problems as they arose. Obliterating Earth women like the woman Samantha had told her about, Debra. Or torturing patrons like Slep had done to Ignis. But keeping creatures in a holding cell… She’d not even imagined it.

  At last, they passed an entryway that read ‘Dormitories,’ next to which was a small entryway above which were scrawled tightly the words ‘Phase Storage.’

  Clea’s heart was beating so fast her her head was growing light. She’d done it. She’d found the place the Cephs kept their weapons.

  I’ll have to get word to Samantha. Somehow.

  She frowned. Even if she was able to get word back to the red-eyed woman that there were guns way down here, how would they even get them when the time came? Chances are, only patrons could open the portal that led here, just like every other portal on the Hub. No Earth woman would be able to get down here to retrieve anything, no matter how badly she wanted or needed to.

  Shit.

  “And this,” Ignis said with a flourish, extinguishing his flames, “is the sparring room!”

  He grinned down at her widely, and Clea had to shake her displeasure at encountering this newest obstacle to the plan of freedom. She wanted to be happy for Ignis. He’d gone through a great deal of trouble to do all of this for her… to clean the room and bring her somewhere she’d wanted to be. Somewhere to fight.

  “Ready for me to kick your ass?” she asked him playful.

  The Ardan growled at her, his fists already flexing at his sides.

  “More than ready.”

  Chapter 20

  Ignis

  They emerged back in the core an eighth of a rotation later, both of their bodies weak and drenched in sweat.

  It felt good to use his muscles, to expend the great wealth of energy he had pent up from so many rotations of doing absolutely nothing. He’d been unable to let his flames flex because Clea was there, but he knew he could always return – perhaps the next time she went for her trip to the Rim – and let his flames rage.

  Now that he’d had the chance to fight the woman on equal footing, Ignis was again impressed by the tenacity of the small creature now walking at his side. She was well-skilled in a wealth of defensive measures, and what she didn’t know skill-wise when it came to being part of the offense, she made up for by sheer force of will and fury.

  The dark woman was a powerful fighter, and Ignis shuddered to imagine her power if she’d been Ardan. If she had the power of nature springing for her breast in the form of flames… she’d be near unstoppable.

  He found himself having stupid, empty thoughts as they walked hand in hand down the Breeding Sector corridor. Questions like, What color might her flames have been, had she been Ardan? Or, What will our child be like, when it reaches manhood?

  I’m getting head of myself. We’ve not even mated yet.

  The Earth woman sensed the cadence of his thoughts, a fact which became obvious to Ignis as soon as the portal to their room closed behind them.

  Clea pounced on him, her mouth kissing every inch of his massive body she could reach. It was as if she was consumed by her own type of bloodlust, Ignis’s blood still showing thick and red and dry on her knuckles.

  Ignis returned her passion with his own, taking the small woman in his hands, savoring the taste of her. He reveled in the way her smooth and supple flesh felt beneath his calloused warrior’s palms.

  They sparred again then, but it wasn’t with fists and kicks. It was with tongues and fingers and sighs, exploring one another’s bodies eagerly. Hungrily.

  When Ignis could no longer stand the layers of clothes between them, he ripped the woman’s shirt in two, tossing the remains on the floor. He paused for a moment, marveling the perfect shape of her ample breasts. And the thing that contained them.

  “What is this?” he asked, sliding a finger under the delicate strap at her shoulder.

  Clea shied away from him. “I’ll take this off.”

  She ran to the cleansing chamber and emerged a moment later, her hands cupping her breasts. She’d also taken the liberty of removing her pants as well, and Ignis took in the full sight of her.

  “Lower your hands,” he commanded, his cock hardening.

  Clea jumped at hearing his voice, but the Earth woman followed his bidding.

  He pulled his own shirt over his head and dropped his pants to the floor. He loved the way the Earth woman’s eye widened at beholding the full length of his arousal.

  “Come,” he said, beckoning her to the bed.

  “Gladly.”

  Ignis chuckled as Clea sprinted across the room and flung herself onto the new mattresses.

  He climbed onto the bed to join her, restraining his movements. Approaching her slowly. Carefully. Not because he thought she would b
e afraid of him, but because he wanted anticipation to build in the dark woman. Wanted her to long for him as much as every part of his body longed for her.

  He sat on his knees, pleasuring flooding though him at the look of lust and longing on Clea’s face.

  He placed his hands on her knees and drew her forward, wrapping her legs around his waist. Eyes still locked on hers, he eased a finger into her cleft, his flesh burning at the wetness there. For a moment, he considered pulling back, but the hungry look in Clea’s eyes kept him on the course.

  He would mate with the Earth woman, no matter what it did to him.

  He pressed his finger into her opening. Clea sighed, pushing back against his hand, urging him to go deeper. He answered her body’s call, but not with his hand.

  He guided himself to her entrance, his heartbeat slowing. This would be the first woman he’d lain with since Gylenda. That thought alone was enough to make him falter, to still his hand just at the moment of inserting himself into the ready and waiting fold of Clea’s womanhood.

  “Please,” she begged, her own chest heaving. Her body was trembling with anticipation, just like Ignis had wanted it to. “I need to feel you inside of me.”

  We don’t always get what we want, do we, asshole?

  Gylenda’s voice was like an icy dagger in his brain. In his soul.

  “Ignis,” said Clea, her eyes hungry. “Please.”

  The sound of the Earth woman’s voice begging for him was enough to strengthen his resolve. He put away thoughts of his long-dead wife and entered the Earth woman before him, seating himself deeply into her cavity.

  I might not always get what I want, thought Ignis, but by the gods, I want Clea. And she’s here for the taking.

  The Earth woman’s hips tilted, letting him slide deeper inside her.

  Ignis leaned over Clea, her pert nipple brushing against his chest. Though they were not familiar with one another’s body, it didn’t take long to find a rhythm and angle that was good for both. What they were doing was natural. Holy. Perfect.

  The Earth woman’s wetness had burned him at first, causing his finger to blister. To burn. But as their bodies worked in tandem, each bringing each other to the absolute peak of pleasure, he was surprised to find that his cock felt… fine. There was a slight intensity, to be certain; but it was not pain. It was pleasure.

  The pleasure spread through his soul, pushing the absurdity of his body willingly interacting with moisture away from his mind.

  And as Ignis came, he let go.

  Of Gylenda.

  Of his fears and worry about loving another woman.

  Of his inhibitions of embracing Clea as his mate.

  In their place, he put the memory of that moment, the feel of Clea’s juices burning his body like icy fire and the sweet, sweet sound of her voice whispering his name over and over again. Her sharp crying out as he came into her cavity, his essence flooding her insides with warmth. The salty taste of her sweat-drenched skin as he kissed her from crown to navel, worshiping her body as they prepared to make love a second time.

  He might not always get what he wanted, but for that one moment in time, he had all he’d ever needed.

  Chapter 21

  Clea

  The days passed, with Clea following the same pattern. Walk the Rim. Spar with Ignis. Fuck until her body was sore and her heart was full. Walk the Rim again. Then sleep.

  Five days to be precise, judging by the number of times she’d walked the many, many miles around the Rim.

  Clea had had the joy of teaching ten other women how to defend themselves, and in return they’d given her what little news they’d had to spare. And with each new woman she met, she conveyed the message she’d hoped would reach Samantha’s ears soon. She’d gotten to the point that she even dreamed the words of the message in her mind while lying next to Ignis during their sleep cycle.

  I found it. All we need is below our feet.

  It was cryptic, and she hoped Samantha would get her meaning when the message finally reached her. But Clea hadn’t wanted to convey too much. Too many words to too many ears were bound to get out to the creatures she didn’t want hearing them. Creatures like Slep and the guards. Besides, a shorter message was less likely to get tangled and misinterpreted on its way through the grapevine of women it would have to pass before Samantha heard it.

  As she stood in line, chained to the sour and bitter woman from the Entertainment Sector – the exact opposite type of person as Althea had been – she ran through the details of their plan.

  All the women aboard the Hub knew a plan existed, and each woman was eager to get back home, so everyone was in. Clea was teaching them to defend themselves. Samantha had made sure these many trips around the Rim would keep their bodies strong and minds sharp. The weapons they needed were under the Hub, if only they could find a way to access them… and Clea had a small stash of pills still hidden in the make-shift pouch hidden in her bra.

  But that was the extent of their plan for freedom.

  They still didn’t know how they were going to get the ships to take them back to Earth. Even knowing their owners had their own ships didn’t help much; there were very few owners who would be willing to help take hundreds of women back to Earth. As much as the big blue guy seemed enamored to Samantha, Clea doubted he would let her return home. And as much as Ignis lo—

  Wait.

  Her heart skipped a few beats.

  Did Ignis love Clea? Sure, they’d saved each other’s lives, him saving her from the Ceph guards’ guns and she helping him to heal after being tortured by Slep. And they’d bared their souls to each other, helped each other through the burden of memory. God knew they were equally matched in bed, even if they were not equals on the sparring mat.

  Clea smiled as the Ceph guard unlocked her shackle, the sweet ringing sound of the metal hitting the stone floor like balm to her soul.

  Ignis had told her he was going to the pits on his own to train, so he could release his flames while Clea was at the Rim. Now that she was back, she was eager to join him on the mat. Eager to feel Ignis’s strong body trying to dominate her own.

  She reached up and touched the nasty bruise on her jaw, where Ignis’s fist had caught her unaware, making her see stars. Her alien was strong, but he was also gentle. Clea knew he’d never used the full force of his might against her, only using the strength he needed to help her get out her own aggressive energy. Her own inner torment.

  Her lips curled back in disgust as the Ceph wrapped its tentacle around her arm and pulled her down the Breeding Sector corridor.

  She pulled against it. “You don’t have to do that, you know. I’d come with you back to the Ardan’s room willingly.”

  Very willingly, Clea thought, the area between her legs already dampening just thinking about Ignis stretched out on the bed they shared.

  “You aren’t going back,” said the Ceph bluntly.

  Clea blinked rapidly, her mind unable to process the creature’s words. “What the fuck do you mean?”

  “You are not going back,” it repeated, tightening its hold on her arm.

  Clea struggled against the cephalopod alien, beating her fists against its great beefy tentacles. But it did not relent. Her mind raced as it drug her down the hallway, struggling to force her down the corridor.

  Her eyes darted around at the plan walls of the corridor, trying to think of what to do. If she called out, Ignis would hear her. She knew he would.

  “Ignis!” she screamed, her heart thrumming in her chest. Panic had its icy fingers wrapped around her throat, keeping her breath from entering her chest fully. “Igni-”

  The Ceph clamped a slimy tentacle across her mouth, muffling her screams.

  “You are not going back,” it said again.

  When they passed the marking on the wall, the scorch mark Ignis’s flames had left when he’d opened the portal to their room for the first time, Clea’s legs went limp. The guard was right; she wasn’t going bac
k to the room she shared with Ignis. They’d just passed it.

  The Ceph drug her down the corridor, and Clea did all she could to make it as difficult as possible for the creature. If she couldn’t get away from the thing wrapped around her body and yanking her along, she’d damn sure make the alien have to work for it.

  They emerged into the core, and the Ceph took a sharp right. Clea glanced over the its fleshy tentacle, barely able to read the words above the sector entryway they were approaching. Based on her many, many walks around the Rim, though, she knew where they were heading. The direction the Ceph hand turned gave it away.

  The Transportation and Administration Sector.

  Clea struggled against the guard once more, earning her a sharp hit to the head with the butt of its phase gun.

  Blood trickled down from the cut near her hairline, seeping down and pooling in the space between Clea’s face and the tentacle still clamped across her mouth. As the alien stopped at a section of the wall and lifted its tentacle to press against the metal, the metallic taste of blood creeped past the ledge of Clea’s lip, mingling with her saliva and the foul taste of the Ceph’s slimy suction cups that were pulsating against her open mouth.

  The portal opened, and a female version of the insectoid, Slep, skittered over.

  “I’ll take it from here,” it said in a high voice, snapping its feminine claws in irritation.

  The Ceph grunted, releasing Clea. Her already sore jaw throbbed from the pressure the asshole alien had put into keeping her mouth muffled.

  Asshole…

  The term brought Ignis back to the forefront of her mind.

  “Where is he?” Clea asked the female insectoid, her blood roaring and angry in her ears. Adrenaline coursed through her veins. She wanted to know where Ignis was, and she wanted to know now.

  “Chief Officer Slep will be explaining your new assignment,” it said, waving her over to the wall behind the small desk in the room. The creature knocked on the wall with its delicate, meaty claw, and another portal opened.

  And there it was. The creature who had used water to torture Ignis to within an inch of his life, all for the sake of saving face before the Smold heir.