by Mary Auclair
The cargo was not his to dispose of as he pleased. It belonged to the crew, divided in equal shares between them. What he was ordering was not only dangerous for him, it was dangerous for any member of the crew who sided with him. Each of his crewmembers had a sizable sum of money invested in it, a share they were within their rights to expect.
Depriving pirates of their booty was risky business on any day, even for a captain as feared as he was.
“Do you need me to repeat?”
Kamal stared hard at each one of the crewmembers standing in a tight group behind him. He frowned, then his gaze locked on Nurnan, another Relany male who joined him a few years after Marmack. Nurnan glanced at him, then the humans, his face closed and his body unmoving. Then the male nodded, his eyes and face set in hard lines. Nurnan knew the risks too, but he wasn’t going to challenge Kamal.
Good. I’ll need the strongest of them, or it’ll turn to bloodshed.
“The crew won’t be happy about this.” Marmack glanced at Tailan before looking at him again. “You will need to be careful.”
Kamal turned his back to his crew. “I know.”
Aliena
She shivered despite the warmth of the insulating clothes Tailan had handed her. The moon was high over the trees, illuminating the forest with its silver rays, dancing on the pure white snow. Behind her, in the mudhouse, her twin cousins, Duncan and Illian, slept with her aunt Elise in the large bed by the fire, their bellies full for the first time in months.
So much food, it was enough to feed the entire village for months. And Kamal had given it all away without asking for anything in return.
And yet… He’s a pirate. He’s not giving anything for free.
She should be relieved, should be as happy and giddy as the others after the copious meal she’d shared with her family, but she wasn’t.
Aliena looked around at the small clearing in the center of the village, at the columns of smoke rising from the chimneys, dense and steady now that its occupants were not afraid to be found.
A rock settled between her ribs at the vision and she battled an impulse to start screaming mindlessly.
It wasn’t the mud-houses, or the thatched roofs. It wasn’t in the snow-covered clearing or the sentient presence of the trees.
It was in the air they breathed, in the stillness of the sky.
They could all so easily be erased from this world, returned to the horrors of the Breeding Facility. Hunted down to extinction, like they had never existed at all.
Like Markus. It’s like he was never there at all.
It was a reminder of how fragile their existence was, how precarious those twenty-three years of freedom had been. How easily humanity could fall back into oblivion. They were all on the brink of doom, and the only thing that separated them was a tall, handsome and deadly Eok warrior.
In the center of the clearing, under the surveillance of two guards, the cases of provisions had been neatly stacked until a suitable place could be found to store them.
It must be worth a fortune.
A noise came from her left and Aliena turned to see Martin walking toward her. She stifled a groan of annoyance at his expression. This was going to be delicate. She knew how he felt toward her, knew how much she owed him, but now more than before, she also knew it would be a mistake to give in to his demands.
“It’s good to see you recovered,” Martin said as he arrived beside her. “I was scared that even the aliens couldn’t save you.”
“Yes.” Aliena pretended not to see Martin’s expression as his eyes trailed over her lips, then lowered to her body, tightly clad in the black clothing. “Now, thanks to them, we’ll all be fed until spring.”
Martin didn’t answer but his mouth thinned to a slim line. His eyes left her and settled on the large stockpile of food, then he nodded.
“Yes. Until spring, maybe longer. But it doesn’t replace those we lost. They died for nothing.”
Aliena frowned.
“Are you talking about my uncle and the others?” Her uncle, Markus, had been missing ever since he took most of the men from their village to raid the Breeding Facility to free the humans still held there. “Are you so sure they died? They could still be there, held as prisoners.”
Martin turned his head sharply.
“It’s been months. They’re not coming back, and you know it.” He shook his head. “It’s going to be hard, providing for so many families with the few men I have left, but we’ll manage, especially if we don’t have to worry about being captured.”
Aliena stayed silent for a few moments. She was too shocked to speak. How could he be giving up on them?
“We can’t give up on them now, not without proof of their deaths.” Aliena lifted her chin. She wasn’t about to let Martin dismiss her uncle’s chances of being found. “We could raid the Breeding Facility. We don’t have enough men, but if we ask Kamal—”
“Kamal?” Martin frowned and he took a step closer, getting into her space. “You seem awfully familiar with that alien.”
“That sounds like an accusation,” she snapped back, not giving an inch, but underneath the surface, she flinched. Because the answer was dangerous. She wasn’t just familiar with Kamal.
“It is.”
Martin glared at her, his eyes dark and underlined with shadows under the low light. His anger was bright and sharp and it took her by surprise. Aliena fought her impulse to step back, out of his reach. She wasn’t about to show him any weakness. What she had in play was too important.
Long seconds passed as they glared at each other, then Martin shook his head and walked away.
Aliena watched him go to the guards and speak with them, shooting glances her way in between sentences.
I’ll have to watch out for him.
So many enemies, so many battles. She was not a warrior, not a fighter. What she was, was a huntress, a trapper, a farmer. But she had no choice.
Her uncle Markus had led a raid on the Breeding Facility two months ago with a group of men from the village, and never came back. That man, who wasn’t even related to her by blood, had taken her into his home when her mother died during the escape, had fed her, raised her alongside his own children.
She owed Markus more than she would ever owe Martin.
Aliena turned away from Martin and his guards. She needed the solitude of the night, the fresh air and the open space. Mostly, she needed time to think. She turned the corner of the house, preparing to enter the deep, soothingly dark forest. Then she stopped.
In her path was a metallic blue giant, his pale eyes reflecting the dim light like beacons.
Her eyes locked with Kamal’s.
Her breathing was suddenly fast and her body filled with adrenaline, with the increased awareness of both of their bodies, of the heaviness of the snow under her boots.
Taller, broader, stronger than any other, Kamal was the ultimate warrior. Something churned inside her, shifting out of balance as she watched him walk toward her, his agile movements odd for one so strong.
He could have waited for us to beg, taken what little we had left in exchange for his cargo, but he didn’t.
She knew it would cost him. Nothing came for free in the world of outlaws, and his crew each had a share in the value of the booty, a share he would now owe them. A share that had to be paid off, somehow, sometime.
A long shiver ran up her spine.
He paused directly in front of her, his pale eyes catching the low light of the moon, his direct stare on her like on prey. The fine synthetic leather clothes hugged his muscular body closely, highlighting the sharp angles of his shoulders, the sleek lines of his waist. She felt her body respond, the core of her that was female and responsive, that craved a male’s touch, a male’s possession. Kamal was that male, he was all male, from the hard lines of his physique to the shameless way he took what he wanted.
And what he wants is me.
The thought made her squirm, the weight of his gaze,
direct, lustful, settling on her like a claim.
“You shouldn’t be out here by yourself, Little Bird.” Kamal’s rough voice penetrated the hushed silence of the night. “It’s not safe for a female to wander alone at night.”
“I can take care of myself.” She tossed her head, staring at him directly. “I’m as good a fighter as any of those boys.”
“A Little Bird of prey, then?”
Kamal’s mouth lifted in a smirk, and Aliena felt it tug at her insides. Her gaze went to his lips, fleshy and hard. Memories of the kiss they’d shared surged in her mind. How hard that mouth was, how hot and ungiving, taking possession of hers. In a flash, she wondered what that wicked mouth would do on her skin, down her belly to where a pulsing need screamed every time he went near her. Arousal fluttered in her belly, warmth spreading between her legs. When her gaze went up to his eyes again, his grin widened with humor.
Her cheeks burned with sudden shame.
“What do you want?” She crossed her arms over her chest, trying to hide how embarrassed she was. “I didn’t peg you for an evening stroll kind of guy.”
“We’re feeling feisty tonight, aren’t we?”
Kamal raised a brow, his grin widening in a true smile. It changed his features entirely, turning the ironic, harsh persona into something else. Something dangerously close to charming. It made the burn in her cheeks spread and Aliena was disproportionately grateful for the shadows of the night.
“I never thanked you for what you did. So, thank you.” She uncrossed her arms. “I don’t know how, but we’ll repay you.”
“Worried I’m going to get in trouble?” Kamal scoffed, then stepped closer. She could feel the heat coming off him, and his smell, clean and masculine, blending with the pure savage cold of the forest, made her ache to touch his skin. “Not one of these males would dare stand up to me. They know I’m going to lead them to more great hauls. Some might grunt and whine, but in the end, they won’t risk facing me.”
“Except this time, it’s not just your cargo that’s worth a fortune.” Aliena sustained his gaze, unable to look away. “There are twenty-two women in this village, forty if you count the girls. Each one of us is worth more than you will ever gain in your lifetime. How are you going to prevent your men from grabbing their chance at stealing one of us, selling us on the black market?”
“I won’t let anything happen to any of you.” Kamal’s eyes glittered and his grin faded. “That I vow to you.”
His face lost all humor and she was pinned by the intensity of his stare. Her eyes wandered over his exotic, hard features, and she was once again entranced by the pattern of tiny bumps on his skin.
Hesitantly, like she was afraid he wouldn’t allow it, she reached for his cheek. His skin was hot under her fingertips but also smooth, the texture thicker than a human’s, but warm and pleasant. Her fingertips slid along his jaw with its myriad of tiny bumps, their formation so close and forming swirls so intricate, it was almost like a tattoo.
Kamal’s eyes gleamed and his body was unmoving. He was watching her in silence, allowing her to touch and explore.
“What are those?” Aliena asked.
“An Eok earns his warrior status by marking his body. I only stopped to spare my father’s record.”
Understanding came, fast and shocking. Those patterns, intricate and wonderful, were created by blood and blade, through an amount of pain she could not even comprehend. She pulled her hand away but Kamal caught her wrist.
“Such fragility.” He examined her hand under the moonlight. “Such beauty.”
“Let me go.”
Aliena pulled but her hand was a prisoner. Kamal’s eyes locked with hers, and he tugged her closer, forcing her hand to flatten against his cheek again.
“An Eok warrior learns to master pain.” He turned his head slightly and a kiss landed just at the base of her wrist, creating an electric current of arousal down her entire body. “One has to master pain if one wants to conquer pleasure, wouldn’t you agree?”
“I wouldn’t know,” she forced herself to answer, even though her throat was closed and her heart beat like a crazed animal between her ribs. “Pain isn’t one of my pastimes.”
Kamal’s lips stretched in a predatory grin, exposing his fangs, and a hand closed on the small of her back, pulling her closer into his male heat. His breath caressed her lips, his eyes imprisoning her like a blanket of lead.
His mouth closed on hers with purpose. It laid waste to everything she thought she knew, to everything she ever thought she wanted. This kiss was a claim, a brand on her very soul.
Kamal took possession of her mouth, his tongue sliding in and out, rubbing over hers, filling it with his taste, his scent. Her tongue answered, responding automatically. She slid it over the sharp tips of his fangs and a tangy taste tickled her taste buds. A rush of adrenaline and heat spread inside her body and she moaned into his mouth.
Kamal’s hands slid to her ass and he pressed her against his erection, hard and large under his pants. One hand slid to her front, cupping her small breast through the heavy layer of clothing. Unable to resist the sudden surge of lust, Aliena’s hand ran down Kamal’s perfectly muscled chest, then lower, along the flat of his stomach.
She held his erection, squeezing lightly.
Kamal broke the kiss, and locked gazes with her.
“You’re playing with fire, Little Bird. Be careful you don’t push the games too far.”
“Afraid of me, are you, Blue Boy?” Aliena smirked, then passed the tip of her tongue over her lips.
Kamal watched, his eyes following every movement. The hand on her ass pressed her closer and his eyes turned savage and dangerous.
Excitement and fear battled in equal measure in Aliena’s body but her mind was too far gone to heed it. Heat was rushing through her body, making her crave his touch, his possession, like no other before.
The hand on her breast slid up and gripped her hair, pulling gently until her throat was exposed. She was utterly powerless in his arms, and instead of cooling her lust, it only made the burning ache between her legs stronger. Her core squeezed and clenched, demanding a male.
Kamal’s jaw closed on her throat and Aliena squealed. The tips of his fangs scraped her skin and heat rose from the contact, washing away her sanity, making her melt with desire for him. His tongue lapped at her throat, to the place where her jugular beat a frenzied pace.
Then and there, she knew. If Kamal wanted her, she would give in readily.
His hands slid along her thighs, grabbing firmly just below her ass. He lifted her as easily as if she weighed nothing, spreading her legs on either side of his hips. His erection pushed against her through the fabric, sending waves of pleasures straight up to her brain.
He was all over her, holding her in his arms, kissing her neck, her jaw, her lips, with a mindless passion, taking possession of every inch of her body until she was a meaningless puddle of female want and need, waiting for his hard flesh upon her.
Suddenly, Kamal’s jaw closed around the soft curve on the side of the neck. Aliena froze, the fog of lust clearing just enough for her to grasp the danger lurking around the corner despite the incredible sensations that filled her body.
Seconds passed and Kamal’s mouth opened, freeing her neck. His hot breath rolled over her skin, making her shiver with the need of more of him.
“How can you do this to me?” He pulled back, speaking in low, husky tones against her throat. “So fucking soft, so fucking sweet. I want you so bad I hurt.”
“Then why did you stop?” It wasn’t really a question, but it was all her brain could come up with.
He brought his face over hers, his incredible pale blue gaze shining softly as if lit from within. His eyes pierced right through her, to that tiny core that craved a man’s touch, a man’s love.
Then her feet dropped back into the snow, and the cold of the night enveloped her body.
He was gone.
Chapter 6
Two days later, Aliena stomped through the snow. She hadn’t seen or heard from Kamal in all that time, and she had bitten her nails until her fingers throbbed with pain. Still, it wasn’t their second kiss that had her struggling through the forest to reach the outcrop of rocks where the Mellark had taken to the ground.
She had another purpose on her mind than fulfilling her lust for a beautiful hunk who left her panting with need.
She was there because the second alien ship was scheduled to arrive the very next day. A ship likely filled to the brim with blue warriors, eager to follow orders and restore safety for everyone.
Except it wasn’t for everyone.
Now that they were safe, nobody else thought about the men who were lost somewhere out there in that godforsaken place.
She wasn’t sure what pushed her to brave Kamal and his crew a second time, to beg him to come to her uncle Markus’s rescue. Maybe it was her aunt Elise’s gaze as she looked at the house her husband had built. Maybe it was her little cousins’ questions, asking when the warriors would bring their father back. Maybe it was just that she couldn’t give up on the one man who was responsible for securing her safety over all these years.
But she wasn’t about to give up now.
Aliena fell waist-deep in the snow, her weight having breached the hard crust on top. As her cheeks were kissed with the icy bites of snow and the cold insinuated itself in the folds of her clothing, she hit out with her fists, making tiny icy shards fly through the air, venting her feelings of frustration.
A branch snapping made her turn, her heart suddenly beating fast.
“Martin! You scared me.” Aliena scrambled to her feet, brushing snow off her clothing. Annoyance buoyed inside her already frustrated mind. She had succeeded in avoiding him over the past two days, but there was no hiding now. Inhaling deeply, she began to walk toward him slowly, her gaze fixed on the treacherous snow. “What the hell are you doing here?”
As he didn’t answer, she lifted her head to look at him. She stopped breathing and her hands flexed at her sides in involuntary ticks. The man standing in front of her was Martin, but he wasn’t the Martin she had known all her life. His eyes were underlined with dark circles and his mouth was twisted in a grimace. His entire body was tense and his hands were closed into fists at his sides.