I walked forward and pulled Violet away from the ReGen pod, wrapped my arms around her from behind, tucked her in close. She struggled for a few seconds…not trying to get away from me. More like a vent for her rage. I held her until she stopped moving, until she calmed down a little. Thank the gods Zed and Calder stilled as well.
“Why don’t we all just calm down? We’re on the same side, Violet,” I said, murmuring in her ear. “Goran is Mindy’s mate. He loves her. He’s upset that she’s hurt and furious with himself for allowing it. He would never hurt your sister. Breathe.”
Violet shuddered, but she allowed me to hold her as a long silence filled the room. She felt so good in my arms. Warm, pliant, yet she was strung taut as a bow.
Shaken and obviously worried, Goran used his communicator to order two guards into the room as well as two more to take up position outside in the corridor. When they were in place, he placed a kiss on the cover above Mindy’s eerily familiar face. “I’ll be back, love. I promise.”
Violet wrapped her hands around my wrists, her grip so tight I was about to ask what was wrong, but she spoke. “Wait, Goran. I’m going with you.”
“No.”
“No.”
Zed and Calder spoke in unison as Goran stared at her with a confused expression on his face. “Why? Your sister is here. She will heal. You should be here for her when she wakes up, just as you wished.”
Violet shook her head and shoved my arms away. “No. I’m going with you. Whoever tried to kill Mindy is still out there. As soon as she’s awake, she’ll be in danger again. Take me with you. I will take her place at the council meeting. I’ll pretend to be Mindy. The assassin thinks he killed her, or at least injured her, right? If Mindy is by your side, healthy and whole, it will upset him. Surprise him. Lure him out of hiding with less time to plan. He’ll make a mistake. Mindy’s plan had worked. He made a move. He tried to kill her. He’ll do it again and again until he succeeds. And then they’ll go after Eva, and Natalie. Any other Interstellar Bride who comes to Trion. I can’t leave Mindy here knowing she’s well yet still in danger, and you won’t let me take her with me back to Viken. So, we have to catch the assassin. We can’t let him win. We need to finish this, or she’ll never be safe. Never.”
“Violet—” I was searching for words, for a way to reason with her, but she spun around in my hold.
“No. My twin is in danger. I’m doing this. No one else can do it. We’re identical. No one can tell the difference and here on Trion, no one even knows I exist. I’ll put on Mindy’s clothes, stare at Goran like he’s the love of my life, make the entire council think I’m his mate. If the assassin really needs her dead, he’ll come after me, and all four of you will be there to stop him.”
We’d learned—first on Earth and then on Viken when the message of her sister’s injuries had come through—just how stubborn Violet could be. When it came to her twin sister, she was not just a rock, she was a mountain of stone. Yes, the kings had been correct in their statement. Earth females were difficult. Trying. Sexy as fuck and so damned frustrating.
I looked from Calder, whose expression was unreadable, to Zed, whose eyes were filled with cold calculation, and I knew. We were going to do this, whether we liked it or not. This had to end. Mindy had to be safe or Violet would never be content. She’d always worry, for that was who she was. Who she’d always be. I saw a moment of clarity how she would be with our children. Fierce, loyal, devoted. No one would harm them, ever. And now, Violet needed to protect her sister—and as her mates, we needed to protect Violet.
Zed would speak for us. He’d taken the role of command in our new and fragile family and I wasn’t sure I could get the words out. The words that allowed Violet to be put in harm’s way.
“Very well, but we will be in the room, Violet.” He looked at Goran. “Give us clothing so we’ll look like the rest of your guards. She might pretend to be your mate, but Violet doesn’t leave our sight.”
11
Violet, Planet Trion, Sector Two, High Council Meeting
Pretending to be my sister should have been easy. Hell, we’d been swapping places to trick our teachers since kindergarten. It was a bit of a game. She’d take my English tests and I’d take her finals in math. If a cute boy was in my class and I wanted him to ask me out, I’d swap with her and she would flirt like crazy for a few days until I got what I wanted. A date.
It had never bothered me that Mindy was the flirt and I was the introvert. That I had to work my ass off for an A-minus and she’d get the same grade without cracking a book. We shared everything. Nothing mattered more than the two of us against the world.
Until now.
I hated kneeling in the sand with my head bowed and a collar around my neck.
I really fucking hated being staked to the ground like some kind of dog on a golden leash leaning against Goran’s leg.
The dress I had on was barely more than a translucent window sheer that showed everything. Every. Single. Thing. Including the fake piercings they’d finally glued to my nipples at Goran’s insistence. When the woman sent to prepare me to be my sister tried to pierce my nipples for the general’s adornment, Zed took one look at her, told her to get the fuck out, and she ran.
I had to admit I was grateful about that. I would have done it—it couldn’t hurt that much, right?—but I really didn’t want to. I had never been into piercing things, or tattoos. Never. I hated pain, and I really, really hated needles. The only thing I wanted on my nipples was one of my mates’ mouths.
The attendant had returned, timid and fearful, with Goran. After ten minutes of arguing while being topless—which was a little awkward—I had gold and jewels glued to the girls with a delicate golden chain dangling between them. The tips of my nipples were completely bare and on display, poking out of the gown through two slits in the diaphanous red material. It was obscene, especially with the liberal application of the oil, almond scented, coating my skin. Zed had been the one to apply it, to ensure I was liberally covered. Of course, this only made me hot and wet for him, eager for his hands to touch me other places, which had only been foreplay. I knew what could come next and wanted it.
Perhaps it was that contact, that simmering need I had for him, that helped me look like a siren. Or one of those female demons who drove men crazy and fucked them to death.
A succubus? Something like that.
I could barely look at my mates because I was, well, horny for them. And I knew they didn’t like this. Not one bit. Zed looked furious, his jaw clenched so tight I worried he would crack his teeth. He was closest to me, on my right, near the entrance of the tent.
Calder was red. His cock rock hard and on display, the thick bulge beneath his robe clearly visible from across the tent. It was his…thing to display me, to show me off. He liked what he saw and didn’t mind that others saw me like this. He was proud of me, but it wasn’t me on display, but fake-Mindy. And for that reason, he hated it. I wasn’t mostly naked—and in a very debasing, objectifying way—because Calder wanted to share my beauty with others. No, I was this way because I was reduced to a body. A body to prove Goran’s power. And that was completely the opposite of Calder’s stance.
He was the farthest away, opposite me, watching Goran like he was going to cut off the man’s hands. Goran was being very respectful, his big, warm palm somewhat comforting on top of my shoulder. But Calder had murder in his eyes. And jealousy.
He wanted to be the one up there at my side and he was obviously enjoying the show…and hating himself for it. Or hating me.
I didn’t want to think too much about that. He was still set on making me choose between them, on walking away if he couldn’t have me to himself. I wanted him, but I wanted Zed and Axon, too. I wanted all three of them. But Calder had other ideas. The idea of losing him broke my heart into pieces, but I didn’t want to think about that. Not right now.
Not with Axon openly admiring me like I was the most beautiful creature in existen
ce. His gaze made me feel beautiful. Perfect. And I couldn’t help the urge to reward him, so I rolled my shoulders back which lifted my breasts and thrust them out for his inspection. Pretending to stretch up and cling to Goran’s leg, I ignored my sister’s mate and only used him for balance as I teased the one who did belong to me. Axon. He was the one who would stay by my side no matter what the other two decided.
He was, in truth, the only one who was truly mine.
“Councilors, shall we begin?” That was High Councilor Tark. He was a big man. Brutally handsome with dark hair and eyes. He was what a Greek god should look like. I could see the appeal for the woman from Earth, Eva. She’d been hidden away after the attack on Mindy, which was a shame, since I really would have loved to meet one of Mindy’s new friends. And another woman from Earth would be really nice to talk to.
But she was pregnant and I would not have a baby put in danger.
The room went quiet and I looked up as Goran spoke, as he’d instructed me to do. He’d given me a list of ways a Trion mate behaved. I was supposed to look at him like he was the stars and the moon. The love of my life. The man I was so devoted to I would allow him to stake me to the ground like a pet, practically naked and in a room full of complete strangers.
Yeah, right.
But I did it. For Mindy. I titled my head back and stared up at Goran like he was mine, like the need simmering in me was for him and him alone. I stared at his lips and thought of the way Zed’s strong touch made me feel safe, of the way Axon’s charm and gentleness always soothed away my worry, of the way Calder’s wild passion made me want to beg for more. Made me want more.
I didn’t look for my mates. Hell, I didn’t even listen to what Goran or any of the other men were saying. Several serving women walked the edge of the circle, pouring wine or water, serving small bites of food as the men held their meeting.
I wasn’t hungry or thirsty. I had one job to do—convince whoever had tried to kill my sister that I was Mindy, alive and well and totally, utterly and completely in love with the dominant and powerful General Goran. Unless someone knew of my existence, knew that Mindy was an identical twin, they would be deceived. This might be space, where technology far exceeded what was on Earth, but as far as I knew, duplicating a person was still beyond anyone’s abilities.
Zed
I didn’t give a shit about the political machinations of Trion. It had nothing to do with me, nothing to do with anything except trade negotiations between sectors, of the challenges of the drovers, whatever the fuck they were. After about five minutes of the debate between the group of men, I paid them no attention. I was focused solely and completely on Violet.
On her hair arranged back in a simple tail that fell over her shoulder. Goran had stroked the silky strands, even once tugging on them so Violet was forced to look up at him. He smiled at her, the look of a mate well pleased, and she smiled in return. Only then did his gaze return to the men before him.
I knew she was faking. That smile was solely for me. For Calder and Axon.
Then there was her clothing. Clothing was meant to cover a body, to offer modesty and warmth. What Violet wore did neither. It was as light as air, thin and gauzy which was perfect for the desert heat. But it was completely sheer. I could see everything…and so could everyone else who’s eyes settled upon her. And I knew every male’s gaze had been fixed on her from the moment she’d entered the tent a step behind Goran.
The gown flowed to the ground and was cinched by a narrow strip of leather at her waist, but her breasts were fully visible. So was her pussy. She’d had a trimmed thatch of dark hair covering it. Before. Now, she was bare and her pussy lips were discernible. But it was her nipples that jutted forth, both of them protruding through cut-outs in the dress, the fake rings prominent. Swinging beneath the fabric was a thin chain and some gold disks. I’d learned they were Goran’s familial seals, proof that Violet—no, Mindy—had been mated and claimed. They were permanent adornments for Goran’s mate, but for Violet, a temporary display.
For once she was back on Viken, I’d show her how I liked her nipples, bare and hard. And in my mouth.
I was hard as a rock. I had been ever since I’d poured a liberal quantity of oil in my palms and spread it over every perfect inch of her body. Neck and shoulders, back and breasts, belly and even down her delectable thighs. She glowed beneath the lighting in the room. Slick and tempting. I knew her pussy was wet. I ensured that before I finished my ministrations. While she knelt before Goran and looked up at him with the need I’d stoked, I knew it was because of me. For me.
If she had to be adoring and desperate for Goran, then I’d help her fulfill that. I didn’t want the fucker to be the one to bring that look to her face. No. He didn’t want it either. They might look identical, but his mate, the one who responded to his touch, his command, was healing still.
Violet was mine. Ours.
I fucking hated her like this. Exposed. Sharing her with Calder and Axon was one thing. Letting these males from Trion ogle her was another. And the asshole Bertok…fuck. I didn’t need to have him pointed out to me.
He was old as fuck and as lecherous as they came. Other males had admired Violet, I could easily see their cocks at attention through their robes at the vision she made, but it was Bertok who studied her with evil intent. His pale blue gaze roved over her as he licked his lips. I had to wonder if he had a mate and if she were still alive. The poor woman, if she were.
When this was over, I’d soothe the ache I’d stoked in Violet. I could see her hard nipples—so could everyone else in the fucking tent—and knew from her slight squirming that the seed power was upon her, that she was in need of more. It had been half a day since I’d fucked her in the med unit on Viken. Far too long for a new mate to last before she needed more. And for Violet, with three mates fucking her, her need would be intense.
It was something Goran would not understand, only believing her to be an incredible actress. I knew she needed that dress lifted, her thighs spread and my mouth on her. I’d taste the sweetness of her pussy, get my mouth and chin coated in it. My fingers buried deep in the source, work it from her so I had to lap it up until she came, again and again.
I would make her beg. Order the others to pleasure her as I watched those eyes, those emotional eyes, tell me what she needed. Her body was my temple, and I would make sure she was properly worshipped. Over and over until she was too destroyed by us for more. Goran’s gold and adornments were nothing. Empty marks of ownership. Did he understand that to truly own a woman, he needed her heart? Her surrender? Her absolute trust? Or were the chains and disks just outward pride to show everyone who she belonged to? It was something Calder would understand more than I.
I thought of the tormented look in Goran’s eyes as he leaned over Mindy’s ReGen pod, his hair in disarray, deep lines of pain around his eyes and mouth.
Yes. He knew. He understood. Mindy was truly his…and he’d failed her. But she would heal. She would be whole and his again.
Still, I would not make the same mistake or go through the same anguish.
Violet was beautiful and playing her part very well indeed. The trust and need shining from her eyes absolute, but not for Goran. For me. For her mates. We were all here, and she was trusting us to keep her safe, not stare at her feminine curves or get lost in fantasies of bending her over, spanking her ass and fucking her until she screamed her release.
With regret but renewed purpose, I tore my gaze from her. I would not look again. I had a job to do, an assassin to kill.
Violet would not join Mindy in a ReGen pod. No, my mate trusted me to take care of her. She would not be injured. Not one drop of her blood would spill.
Anyone who touched her would die.
12
Calder
I was going to kill that old man.
Bertok was his name. He was ancient, wrinkled but still strong. Goran told us the eldest councilor was at least ninety years old.
&
nbsp; He looked twice that. And the pure hatred in his eyes as he looked at High Councilor Tark had my attention. The elder made no attempt to hide his disgust. Which, in my opinion, made him a prime suspect in the previous attacks on Mindy.
But then, the enemy standing in the open was rarely the one to strike a killing blow.
I knew nothing of Trion politics. I knew Mindy belonged to Goran and in a way to Violet, and that Violet belonged to me.
Well, not yet. But soon. We had several weeks yet to seduce her, win her heart. Since meeting Violet, I had developed a respect for her other suitors, Axon and Zed. Both warriors stood at attention on the edges of the tent, as I did. Both could not help but stare at the beautiful vision of our mate on display.
Everything about this situation reminded me of home. Her adoring gaze, her complete surrender before others. Back on Viken, in my village, a mate would behave this way as a declaration of her mate’s value, his true worth. She would allow him to fuck her in the public square, scream her release proudly, for all to witness.
This was not so different. They may fuck in private, but her offerings were blatantly displayed. But the lecherous look from Bertok was not welcome.
On Viken, in Sector One, such a display was sacred. Respected.
Bertok’s bright blue eyes blazed with violence and lust when he looked at Violet. I’d seen that look before, the look of a sadist, of a man who enjoyed causing pain.
“It’s a surprise to see your mate here, General,” Bertok commented loudly for all to hear. “We had heard some disturbing news about an attack that took her life. I see that is not the case.”
Violet’s head swung toward the old man and the soft, loving gleam in her eye faded to cold calculation. The difference was stark, and, I was sure, noticed by everyone in the room.
She’d been told not to speak, to trust her mate, General Goran, or High Councilor Tark to speak for her. To defend her honor. But I could see the rage boiling within her. She believed this old man was a threat to her sister, and as of yet, I could not disagree.
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