Unmatched

by Annalise Alexis

  Holding up a hand to get her to stay, I move back another two steps. “Cool. Do your thing. Is that all?”

  Linara laughs, and uneasiness skitters down my spine as the room goes completely silent. Even the unmated have stopped at the door to watch. There’s something about this situation that’s so incredibly wrong. I just haven’t figured out how yet. “You really know nothing of your duties do you? It is customary to ask the female to announce the subject of her interest.”

  My irritation explodes into anger, and my nostrils flare as I force out the words.

  “Okay, Atiri, please announce the male you wish to claim.”

  Atiri straightens, and a sly smile curves her lips. “I wish to make a claim on Acia Ren, son of Tal and Asha Linara.”

  For a split second, I want to laugh, until reality crashes down on me, and I finally register the seriousness of her tone. She isn’t kidding.

  What. The. Fuck.

  Gasps and shouts explode through the room, and Naya charges through the unmated clogging up the entrance to rush to my side.

  “What kind of treachery is this? The Aciana has given no cause to allow for her mating to be challenged,” Naya spits, drawing her weapons.

  My heart pounds in my chest, and disbelief steals my voice. Is this seriously happening? And why does Linara look so fucking happy about it?

  Another red-eyed female jumps to Atiri’s defense, putting herself between the giant Illusian and Naya. “Speak very clearly, unmated. What cause have you to stake such a claim?” the other Keeper asks.

  Atiri looks to Linara, who nods. “The Aciana has not yet become pregnant. Our law states that if a mating is not given the Asha’s blessing and if the female has not provided a babe within one birth cycle of mating, the pairing can be challenged.”

  “You assume too much, unmated. How can you be sure she is not with child already?” Naya challenges, tightening the grip on her weapons.

  Atiri glares at her. “If the pairing has not been blessed, the only way to seal her mating is to conceive with the first coupling. That was more than,” Atiri looks to Linara, who mouths a word I can’t make out, “two Earth months ago. See for yourself, Keeper. She is not with child and has not fulfilled what is required by our ancestors.”

  Naya places her hand on my abdomen, then inhales deeply. “This is true, Aciana. You are not with child. The unmated’s reason is valid.” She turns to Linara. “And you will not bless the pairing between the Acia and his current mate?”

  Linara narrows her eyes and juts out her chin. “I will not. She will answer the challenge, and I will honor the superior female.”

  Naya growls, refusing to budge. I squeeze her shoulder, struck by her devotion to me. “It’s fine. Whatever, it is. I’ll do it.”

  She shakes her head. “You do not understand, Ajayla. For a mate challenge, you must fight. To the death.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  Ren

  Pain ripples down my spine, but I cannot stop. I cannot give in to my fatigue when so much is at stake. Digging deeper, I scrape my claws across the barrier in his mind. With each swipe a mark is made, a small indention, and it is through those weak spots I burrow, biting and ripping at whatever I can find. Xen convulses, and Illaria continues to scream from beyond the door, begging me to give the traitor a reprieve.

  Too much noise.

  Yanking myself from his mind, I once again engage the bond, intent on silencing her, but panic and betrayal flood my veins.

  My mate.

  Her memories and thoughts speak to my Life Giver’s collusion with an unmated to challenge our union.

  Un-fucking-acceptable. An uncontrollable need to protect twists its way through my veins rejuvenating my fatigued muscles, and I tear from the room toward her.

  The ice and wind do nothing to cool my fury. Blood and fur fly as I rip through beast after beast that dares to stand in my way.

  Nothing and no one will keep me from my human. And no other will ever take her place.

  Jayla

  Naya paces the room, and the rest of our group positions themselves in front of the only opening to the tiny space. Ren’s continual string of curses jackhammers around in my head while he slaughters his way back to us.

  “You will have to fight her, Ajayla. Tonight. A challenge cannot go unanswered,” Naya says. “The Acia is coming. You must accept it. Do not allow him to interfere. It would be grounds to challenge his fitness for leadership. No male would survive against him, and our males are so prideful…you must find a way to fight and not die.”

  My eyes nearly bug out of my head. “You really expect me to fight her? She’s freaking huge!”

  “No way, not happening, Jay. She’d destroy you.”

  I glare at Leandra. “Thanks for the confidence, friend. So glad I can count on you to keep it positive.”

  She throws her hands up. “What? I’m being realistic. We have to figure something else out. How long does she have anyway? To answer her or whatever?”

  Naya ties back her dreads. “Not long. A challenge must be answered immediately. We have only been given time because the Acia is not here to witness the fight. He must attend. It is required.”

  Not only do I get to die miserably, Ren gets to watch? Fantastic.

  “No offense, but this is completely savage. Who the fuck fights to the death over a guy?” Leandra asks, wrinkling her nose.

  “I would. I mean I will. That giant skank isn’t getting anywhere near Ren. I just have to figure out how not to die doing it. I mean, I’ve gotten a lot stronger. And I took on Illaria that one time, right? I can do this.”

  Maybe. Probably not. Fuck.

  “You will not be made to fight.” Ren’s deep voice rattles the cave walls. He’s covered in bits of blood and sweat, and his hands are torn to pieces. I rush over to look at them.

  “What happened? It looks like you fought an entire army.”

  He rebuffs my attempts to examine him and pulls me to his chest. “It does not matter. You will not fight. My Life Giver will give us her blessing.”

  Sorrow burns my throat. He really thinks she’ll do it for him. But after seeing the look on her face, I know he’s wrong. She wasn’t just delighted when Atiri staked her claim…she planned it.

  “No, Ren. She won’t.”

  “She will. Or she will be cast out along with any of those who see fit to entertain such a ridiculous notion. You are my mate. Challenging you is equal to challenging my judgement, and I will tolerate no dissenters on my ship.”

  Without another word, he guides me back to the main room. Several Illusians practically dive to get out of Ren’s way. His anger heats the already sweltering room until the air feels ready to boil. Linara’s grin slides off her face as she sees him.

  “Life Giver. I demand your blessing,” Ren says after weaving us through the crowd to stand in front of her.

  Linara squares her shoulders. “I will not. She is not fit. You will see. Atiri is a much better choice.”

  The females closest to me gasp, and I jerk my hand away from Ren as his barbs slide out of his fingers. “You dare to refuse me? Knowing what it will cost you? You really think so little of the female who saved you?”

  Linara’s hands tremble as she straightens her dress. “You will see. This is the best option for our people. You have allowed your lust to cloud your judgement. To override your instincts to protect our kind. This was the only way…”

  Ren spits and widens his stance, like he’s ready to accept whatever challenges are thrown his way. “She will not be forced to fight.”

  “Ajayla…” Naya pleads.

  Linara’s brows furrow in surprise as she studies Ren’s face. “You would risk your rule for her?”

  “No, female. I would give my life.”

  Linara stills at the level of detachment in Ren’s voice—not using her proper title, or even her name.

  Ren just disowned her. I can’t let him do that.

  “I’ll fight,” I blurt out.


  “Skara, no. I will not allow it. You will not be made to prove—”

  I silence him with a kiss and give him my best fake smile. “It’s fine. I can do this. I’ve fought against guards with guns and Inokine trying to eat my face. How bad could it be, right?”

  Chapter Twenty

  Jayla

  Everything seems so much bigger when you’re about to get your ass kicked. I swear Atiri has grown three feet in the ten minutes I’ve been standing here waiting for the fight to start.

  Ren turns my chin toward him with two fingers. “Do not do this. Let me call it off.”

  The blues of his eyes peek through the black, and the longer I stare, the more I’m convinced I have to battle her. If not Atiri, then some other female will challenge me. And what if I never pop out a kid? Ren has spent every day since we met fighting for me. I can do this for him—and for myself. I’ve let too many people threaten me, make me feel uncomfortable in my own skin. I’m sick and tired of people underestimating me.

  I’m jittery, and my skin feels too tight as panic courses through me. Naya and Atiri’s Keeper, Sara, bring in a chair made of large chunks of ice and place it at the edge of the room. Naya gathers some of the animal hides from our bed and drapes them across the frozen seat. “Acia, if you will take your place, the challenge will begin.”

  Ren holds my gaze, still refusing to release my hand. “Entertain this foolishness no longer. You do not need to prove your worth. I value you above all else.”

  My sweaty fingers slide from his palm as I pull away. Answering him out loud, rather than in my head, I point a finger at Linara. “When I win, she leaves. I want her gone.”

  “When you win?” Linara snickers, then rests a hand on Atiri’s shoulder. “If you win, human, I will abandon my rights as Asha and voluntarily move to another group.”

  A chill snakes its way through the room as Ren locks eyes with his mother. “Whether my mate wins or loses, you will forfeit your right to speak as my council and will be removed from my leadership to that of whichever of my males will accept you. What you have done today is treason, and I will not forget it.”

  Ren takes a seat, and before I can say another word a loud thud rings my ears. Pain shoots across my stomach, and fire explodes in my chest as Atiri kicks me, and I scramble back, trying to gain my footing and avoid a second blow.

  “Oh, what the hell? How’s that even fair? She didn’t even know the challenge had started!” Leandra yells, but her voice fades with the pounding of the pulse in my ears. My shoulder dislocates and my neck cracks as Atiri throws me against the wall. Stars cloud my vision, but I shake my head and climb to my feet trying to sneak in a punch. She’s already gone before I can swing. Damn it. She’s so fast I can’t even see her.

  Blood drips down my face, and my shoulder hurts like a bitch, but I start bouncing on the balls of my feet, trying to stay mobile. A white blur shoots toward me, and I duck at the last minute, narrowly avoiding her fist. Ice splinters and cracks where her knuckles collide with the wall, and fuck, I’m really glad that wasn’t my face.

  But it will be if I don’t get moving.

  Another jab connects with my right hip, and instead of swinging, I lunge at her, wrapping my hands in her long brown hair, trying to pin her down.

  I never thought I’d resort to hair pulling but, damn it, I’ll take what I can get.

  Throwing her backward, I land a single jab to her face, and it makes a satisfying crunch. But just as I think I’ve got the upper hand, she rights herself and uses her barbs to slash me across the chest.

  It stings at first, then grows red hot as the nerves in my flayed skin scream at me. I clutch my wounds, unable to ignore the pain. My eyes water, and my lungs seize as with a final blow, Atiri knocks me on my ass and shoves a knee onto my bloody chest.

  “Skara…” Ren yells, and I open my eyes to see him trembling with rage. Naya is saying something to him, trying to calm him down, but he’s not listening. He’s about to explode and take the entire room with him. There’s no way he’ll actually let me die.

  “She hasn’t…won…yet…give me…a chance…”

  “You were never meant to rule. Humans are too weak,” Atiri whispers in my ear. I grab her knee, trying to shove it off, but it’s no use. Rather than respond, I save my energy, trying to figure out what to do. “This will not hurt for long. But do not worry…I will take good care of the Acia. In ways that your human body never could.”

  Oh. Hell. No.

  My vision goes black, and I can’t breathe. Reaching out for our bond in a blind panic, I claw my way into our connection, but instead of stopping at Ren’s mind, I pull harder, follow the bond further, and when I feel his strength, the overwhelming energy that follows him wherever he goes, I take it, gulping it down like water, and open my eyes.

  I can see…everything.

  Atiri feels feather light as I shove her off of me and jump to my feet. Raw power and aggression fuel me, and, by God, as Atiri staggers up, I want to make her suffer.

  So, I do.

  Like roots on an Earth tree, I spread the tendrils of Ren’s gifts until their bright red energy snakes into Atiri’s mind.

  She looks at me, a wash of confusion and surprise twisting her face.

  “Drown,” I say, snapping my fingers, and she drops to the ground. Not even the taste of blood or the raging pain assaulting my body can distract me from the beauty of the suffering on her face. She gasps, choking and clutching her throat like it matters. It doesn’t.

  Linara shrieks, and I turn my gaze to her, hell bent on bringing the pain, but out of the corner of my eye, I see Ren collapsing back in his chair.

  What? No! Ren!

  Sucked out of my mini-power trip, I release whatever I siphoned through our connection and run. I stumble to a stop in front of him, then cradle his face in my hands. “Whatever I did, I’m sorry. Shit. Say something, please.”

  Sweat dots his brow, and he’s so pale. But when he opens his eyes, the look of adoration and need quiets my panic. “Stop worrying yourself, Skara. I am fine. You did not take anything I would not have freely given if I had known how to do so.” He wipes the blood off my lip and kisses me before rising to his feet. No one else has uttered a word until now, and even Atiri is still sitting dumbfounded on the floor.

  Linara pales. “Ren, I—”

  “Do not speak. As you have just witnessed, my mate demonstrates not only her fitness to lead, but also the ability to utilize my gifts.” He narrows his eyes at Atiri, “Or perhaps you require another demonstration?”

  “No, Acia,” Atiri whispers, her voice hoarse. “I abandon my challenge and yield. The Aciana has shown great strength.”

  “And with that declaration, comes the end of my tolerance. Customs or not, the next person to disrespect my mate will die. Skara, what have you to say?”

  I glare at Linara and hobble over to spit blood at her feet. “Get your shit off of my ship. You’re no longer welcome.”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Ren

  Jayla hisses as I run my tongue along the curve of her hip, lingering where the largest bruise has started to form. She arches her body, trying to get away, but I grip her thighs and force her to remain still long enough for me to heal her wounds.

  There are so many. Atiri is lucky. If she had been male, I would have sliced off her head and worn it as a crown.

  Desperate to touch Jayla, I carry her to an outcropping of ice further down the tunnel from where I met with the other males and have Ragar and Sol deliver our things. Tonight we will not sleep amongst our people.

  They have disrespected her, shown her a side of my kind that I had hoped she would never see. My Life Giver was ruthless in her efforts to oust Jayla, and it has cost her everything. Her title, her place on my council, and if my mate had been critically wounded…I do not wish to think of what else I might have done.

  “Hold still,” I demand, gently smacking her on the ass. “You insisted on fighting, now
allow me to tend to you.” Jayla snuggles closer on the makeshift pallet I have arranged for her. She stops protesting the second my thumbs dig into the muscles of her neck. The slight moan that escapes her lips hardens my cock.

  “I didn’t have a choice. You know that.”

  “You did. But you are correct in assuming a challenge was inevitable.”

  Her muscles tighten, and, for a moment, she holds her breath. “You should have told me. The baby requirement. I shouldn’t have had to find out about it from her.” Sorrow trickles down our bond.

  “Childbirth has always been, and will always be, a focus of my people. Our numbers…we are dwindling. The inability to live freely and the stress of our constant battle for survival weighs on our females’ ability to carry a child. Fertility has always been one of our strengths, but we have lost more babes than I care to count over the last thirty birth cycles. The strain on my people is too great. I did not want to burden you with something that is not within your control.”

  “Do you want them? Babies, I mean.” Her lip trembles, and without thought, I pull her to me and cup her cheek. She very rarely allows herself to appear vulnerable. And after watching her fall in the fight against Atiri, any space between us feels too great. The desire to possess her—mind, body, and soul—is unending.

  “Since the moment I laid eyes on you.”

  Already hard, my cock twitches at the sight of the swell of her breasts in the dim torch light. Her deep onyx hair—splayed out behind her—is so soft to the touch I cannot resist wrapping it around my fingers.

  “What if something is…what if I can’t?” she asks. Rage and need build until I am ready to explode. My people have made her feel inadequate, made the goddess that lies before me doubt her worth, her capability. Unacceptable. She is fierce, loyal, unmatched.

  And she is mine.

  Taking care not to jolt her sore muscles, I pull her up into a seated position and clutch both sides of her face. The pads of my thumbs swipe at the wetness gathering under her eyes.