by Ivy Barrett
“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.