“The woman who came aboard with you,” Stinky said.
“What woman?” Gweneth asked, her footsteps slowing.
The two Scothage men exchanged a glance.
“We never be torturin’ valuable assets,” Stinky said.
Pouter-chick smirked. “Ooh with the big words.”
“Shutup, idjit.”
“Take the right fork,” Stinky ordered.
Ellard and Gweneth turned as instructed.
“Through the double doors.”
They pushed through and saw two Scothage men struggling with Sheera. Ellard wondered why she didn’t blink out to evade capture then he noticed the wide silver band around her neck. It gave off a subtle blue glow.
“Who is she?” Gweneth asked. “What are you doing to her? She’s young.”
“She be our passport to riches,” Stinky said.
Pouter-chick entered a code on a panel, too quickly for Ellard to register the keystrokes. A grate door slid open. “In there,” he ordered.
Ellard hesitated until a sword prodded his side. He stepped into the windowless room—more gray—and turned to face them.
Gweneth stepped in beside him, and relief suffused him. He’d worried they might separate them.
Stinky grinned at him, displaying a gap in his white top teeth. “You be lucky yer the king’s bodyguard and worth a ransom.” He gestured with his chin. “One arm not much use. You shift to feline? You still have missing arm?”
Ellard glowered at him, even though the Scothage spoke the truth.
Stinky shrugged. “No matter. You be valuable. All that matters.”
The door slid shut just as Sheera screamed again.
“Stars, what are they doing to her?”
“I don’t know,” Ellard murmured. “She didn’t seem to register our presence. Did you see Leeam?”
“No. Kiss me, Ellard. Let’s give her a tiny boost of energy. It might help to calm her, and if Leeam is here and languishing, it might help him too.”
“You just want to grab some extra kisses.” But as he said the words, Ellard gathered her closer with his arm.
“Score all ’round.” Gweneth’s cheeky grin urged him to share the joke.
Their lips collided, and for one heady sec, reality pushed away, replaced by sheer pleasure and satisfaction, softness and the scent of Gweneth’s arousal.
Outside their cell, Sheera broke off mid-scream, the silence welcoming and pleasing. Ellard continued to kiss Gweneth, his feline purring at the close contact. His mind drifted back to the previous eve and their loving. Somehow, Gweneth centered him, pushed his anxiety about his lack of an arm away.
He smiled down at her.
She raised a hand to stroke his cheek. “Nice.”
“I thought so, and Sheera has stopped screaming.” Ellard walked to the grate door and peered out. Sheera stood between the two Scothage males, the band around her neck glowing. This time she looked straight at him and he winked in acknowledgment. Good. Gweneth’s idea had worked. Sheera had stepped past her panic and the small boost of energy had helped her center her thoughts.
“You be going in here with the other,” Stinky said in a gruff voice.
Gweneth joined him at the door. The door to another cell farther down slid open. Ellard caught a glimpse of a pale being sitting in the corner of the cell, and he breathed out a sigh of relief. Leeam. A band circled his neck, the glow of blue almost ghostly in the dim light. Kid didn’t appear too healthy.
Sheera darted into the cell and slid to her knees. Skinny, pale arms slipped around her shoulders as the couple embraced. The cell door slid shut, and the door didn’t return to its original opaque. The grates were easier for feeding and checking on prisoners. Nifty feature.
“What now?” Gweneth breathed next to his ear.
“Wait. Observe. Hope that the dragons are able to rescue us, and failing that, Lynx and Shiloh will know we’re missing because we’ve skipped our check-in a couple of times. They’ll come looking.”
The Scothage men disappeared, their chatter fading. One returned and pushed tubes through the grate of their cell.
“Water. Soup,” he said with a gesture at the tubes. He pushed the same tubes through the grate to the Incorporeal couple and departed.
“They have no idea how the Incorporeal feed,” Gweneth whispered.
“Leeam doesn’t look too good. Sheera?” he called in a low voice.
She pushed to her feet, her actions slow and almost tortured. When she reached the grate door, he saw the tracks of tears staining her cheeks, the blue glow from the throat band pulsing like a heartbeat.
“What is the collar for? Does it inhibit your powers?” Ellard asked.
“Yes, we can’t blink out.”
“Can you materialize items still?” Gweneth asked, coming to stand by his side.
“Yes, but staying visible is sapping our energy. Leeam is weak because he needs food.”
“The Scothage don’t know how you feed. How do they not know this if they know enough to make a collar to force your compliance?” Ellard asked.
“They’re not particularly bright,” Gweneth murmured.
“They’re smart,” Ellard contradicted. “They have to be to make their living as pirates. Did they say what they intend to do with you?”
Leeam struggled to his feet and lurched to the door. Sheera squawked in distress and ran to offer her support.
“Help to door,” Leeam said.
She shouldered most of his weight and got him to the door. His pale fingers gripped the bars to keep upright.
“Think someone sold us out, but didn’t tell them everything,” he whispered hoarsely. “They’ve been watching, waiting for half a rotation. Something about the debris storm gave them an unexpected advantage or they caused it. Couldn’t work out.”
“Do you think one of the dragons would give the information to reivers? No, why would they do that? Betraying your people wouldn’t make sense,” Gweneth said.
Ellard studied the youngsters. “It would make sense if they’d left the planet and wanted to abduct Incorporeals to start their own empire.”
“Or if the reivers are acting as intermediaries,” Gweneth added.
The sound of the ship’s engines changed, the throb becoming stronger.
“We’re moving,” Gweneth said. “That’s good.”
“Why is that good?” Ellard demanded. “I’m thinking that those collars will stop Niran and his people from tracking Sheera and Leeam, and if whoever gave the reivers the idea of kidnapping them knows about the feeding, then they’ll have to get to them quickly. They won’t want to take us. We’ll stay with the reivers.”
“I have a tracker,” Gweneth said. “All of the Indy crew have trackers inserted. That’s how we managed to find Jannike. Once we leave this area with the interference, Ry should be able to track me.”
“Does the tracker survive shifting?”
“Yes. Mogens, our seer, is good. He has an extensive knowledge of herbs and medicines.”
Leeam slumped against the door and would’ve fallen if Sheera didn’t grab him.
Ellard caught Gweneth’s gaze, her slight nod. As one, they retreated to the rear of their cell. His pulse jumped into a higher gear at the idea of touching her again, feeling the slide of skin against his.
“Can we do this and still keep most of our clothes?” she whispered.
Chapter 12
“We can, but you’ll have to keep those sexy little moans under wraps.”
Her green eyes twinkled, and her lips pursed. In the past, he would have stiffened, wondered what she’d do next to disrupt his life. Now, a surge of excitement swept him on seeing the devilment take form. It made him wish he could read her thoughts, a notion that hauled his brain to a screeching halt even as his feline purred extra loud. Reading her thoughts would become possible if they mated, if she ever managed to shift to feline. His blood pressure soared, heat, awareness, sizzling across his skin, his senses, his mi
nd.
Gwen leaned closer, her breath wafting against his ear. “You think my moans are sexy?”
“Hell, yes.” No point trying to dissemble when his cock felt hard enough to drill through steellite bars. No point trying to fib when he couldn’t keep his hands off her delectable body. No point trying to evade the truth when his feline kept purring like an oversize motor.
Gwen grinned at him, two dimples popping into sight. “I guess we’ll need to try a new position.”
“We will,” he agreed, his damn smile setting up residence on his mouth and not letting go. His facial muscles ached from the unusual action, and he belatedly felt sympathy for his friend, Jarlath. He hadn’t liked Keira, hadn’t approved of their courtship. What he hadn’t realized was the difficulty of fighting the blast of different emotions and his feline self.
“I’m going to take you against the wall,” he said and enjoyed the slight widening of her pretty green eyes, the deepening of her iris coloring.
“That could be fun.”
“And I might drop you on your arse since I possess just one arm.”
She tugged on the empty sleeve of his tunic. “You won’t drop me. I’ve seen you train with the others.”
Her utter confidence in his abilities threatened to cut him off at the knees. Although she hadn’t touched his stump, she didn’t treat him different either. In that moment, everything—every truth, every doubt clicked together with the finality of a final puzzle piece.
Gweneth Swithin was not a normal feline female.
She’d faced adversity and risen above it, and he could do nothing less than meet the challenge she set him. He could imagine a future with this woman—if he forgave himself for the past and accepted felines made mistakes. He’d learned from his errors, but he’d also allowed himself to become bitter, closed himself off from his friends. Gweneth offered him a second chance, if he allowed himself to believe.
Warmth pressed at his chest, embraced his heart, his feline.
He believed.
He cupped her cheek and kissed the tip of her nose. “We’ll have to do this quick to avoid detection.”
“My first quickie,” she said with delight.
A chuckle burst free, unbidden and he dipped his head to steal a kiss. Her lips welcomed him and her arms snaked around his neck as she pressed closer. The sensations—almost too fast to catalog—roared through him. Pleasure frisked his nerve endings, the warmth around his heart grew an extra layer as their tongues danced together, their lips mated and he lost himself in her generous response.
When their lips parted, they smiled at each other.
“Can you take your trews off without removing your boots?”
Gwen nodded. “Mogens designed our clothing. It’s stretchy but retains shape.” Without demure, she yanked down her trews and worked them over her sturdy black boots.
“Underwear too. Your tunic will cover you if anyone comes.”
Gweneth followed his instructions and placed her lacy underwear on top of her folded trews.
So calm, he mused. Nothing rattled her much. Her attitude had a lot to do with Ry and his crew. All of the Indy crew bore the same competence—a fact that made him grateful.
His hand slid beneath the hem of her tunic to carress her buttocks. Smooth, fragrant skin.
“Part your legs.”
The instant she did, he cupped her pussy and smiled at the liquid heat of her.
“You want me.”
“Always,” she said. “Now that I’ve had sex with you, I can’t wait to have your cock deep inside me again. You make me feel whole. So much better than my vibrator.”
Phrull, she destroyed him with her honesty. No games. No tricks. No pretense. “I want you too. I can’t wait to thrust into your hot pussy.”
“Then what are you waiting for,” she whispered. “Take me. Fill me. Make us both feel good.”
She didn’t mention the Incorporeal couple, but they sat at the back of his mind. Somehow…
He yanked down his trews and underwear until they hovered around his knees, his erect cock springing free. With a show of athletic strength, she levered herself up, opening herself to him as she curved her bare legs around his hips. Her flesh appeared pink and swollen as he guided his shaft to her entrance. They both let out a sigh as he tunneled inside. She pushed down, going faster than he would’ve if they’d been in more comfortable surroundings.
“Slow. We have time.”
“You’re not hurting me.” Her smile burst free. “Not much. I’m finding I enjoy a tinge of pain. Gives the enjoyment an edge.”
“I’m a big male. If the reivers are watching, they’re watching. Nothing we can do about it, so we might as well make it good and move at our pace.”
“Fast,” she insisted, and suddenly he sank balls deep into her heat.
They paused, then she squeezed her internal muscles around his length. Sweet stars. His eyes slid shut, and when she repeated the move, he almost detonated.
“Phrull, Gwen. Slow down. I’m secs away from coming.”
“Good,” she said sweetly, and she slipped one finger between them to stroke her nub.
Amusement spread through him as he pulled back and stroked into her clinging flesh again. A spiral of pleasure shot from his balls and up his cock. A growl sneaked from between his gritted teeth.
“Stars, I love the way you do that.”
His eyes flicked open to stare into hers. They danced with humor and passion. He watched her irises darken as he withdrew and thrust into her again.
Footsteps sounded outside their cell and he quickened his pace. Never mind Sheera and Leeam. If he stopped now, he thought his feline would sulk for half a rotation. He hadn’t ceased his purrs since he’d first pushed into Gwen’s sheath.
Gwen stilled on hearing the footsteps and issued a shuddery groan. Then she leaned forward and licked the side of his neck. Her tongue seemed more abrasive than normal, the warm lick raising a raft of sensation. Without warning, she nipped him. His feline roared, and Ellard came so hard, he saw stars swirling through his mind. His legs trembled but Gwen held tight, continuing to grind against him as she rubbed her clit.
She gasped, and he felt the squeeze of her internal muscles as she stilled, leaning more of her weight into him.
“Damn, that felt good,” she whispered.
“Oy, what you be doing?” a voice called from the door of their cell.
“If he can’t work it out, he needs a brain transplant,” Gwen whispered.
Ellard shook with silent laughter, but helped her to separate their bodies. She slid down his lower body, grinning at him as she gained her balance. He tugged her tunic down to cover her then bent to yank his clothes back into place.
He handed Gwen her clothes and turned to block the reiver’s sight of her dressing.
“What do you want?” Ellard asked, going on the attack. Anything to distract him from Gwen.
“Chieftain say he hear from king. Willing to pay reward for your safe return. Both of you.” This Scothage male possessed a tall and rangy build. His plaid shirt appeared cleaner, although the yellow-and-gray checks made Ellard long for screening glasses. Everyone would see him coming.
“When will the exchange occur?” Gwen asked, ducking from behind him to stand by his side.
“Seven cycles from now. They need time to raise the currency.”
“I see.” Ellard wandered closer to the door and glanced at Leeam and Sheera. “What’s wrong with them? They look ill.”
“They do be lookin’ sick,” the reiver said. Now that he came closer, Ellard saw he wore yellow disks to stretch his lobes. They went well with his protruding ears. “Chieftain be angry if they die.”
Ellard knew a few other beings who would let loose their wrath as well. “Where will the exchange take place?”
“We have to move debris field away from planet. We meet on edge of field.”
Gweneth pressed against his armless side. “You’re responsible for the
debris field?”
“Aye. Malasses be clever. He design bubble to trap debris field.”
“Who is Malasses?” Ellard asked. “Have we met him?”
“He be a Kiraxes. Clever. Help us gain power and currency in exchange for catching these two for him. Why he want, don’t know. They weak and puny.”
“It looks as if those bands around their necks are killing them,” Gweneth said.
“Bands stay on,” the reiver said firmly. “Malasses say.”
“When will you hand them over?” Gweneth asked. “It should be soon, before they die.”
“We deliver on Scothage. Go after exchange you. Two cycles, three at most before we hit home. Pity can’t touch you.” He leered at Gweneth. “You be bonny lass. And you be big. Chieftain say give more food. Keep hale and healthy.” After one final pervy glance at Gwen, he pushed two tubes through the grate. He repeated the action, shoving tubes into Sheera and Leeam’s cell before disappearing. His footsteps faded, and Ellard heard the slam of a door.
“They look terrible,” Gweneth whispered. “At this rate they’ll die before someone can rescue us. If they knew enough to capture Leeam and Sheera, why don’t they know how to feed them?”
“My guess would be this Malasses wanted to keep the price low, so he withheld information. He wouldn’t want to share their powers or drive up the price for the abductions.” Ellard hated seeing the couple like this. In the short time they’d known them, he’d become fond of them.
“We’re okay,” Leeam said and bounded to his feet. “Thank you for feeding us. I was starving.”
The tension bled from Ellard when Sheera also stood, looking healthier and more robust.
“Careful,” Ellard warned. “Stay down. They might have visual security.”
Leeam gave a swift nod and subsided in a boneless heap to the floor.
“Have you heard of this Malasses?” Gweneth asked.
“Yes.” Leeam sounded grim and much older. “Some of our people used to have a symbiotic relationship with the people of Kiraxes. They withheld food and forced them to do unspeakable things in order to gain material advantages. Those who could escape did before the Kiraxes forced these collars on the remaining Incorporeal citizens. We heard they starved to death, rather than agree to follow orders.”
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