Across Clecania, courting rituals, traditions, and laws were very different, but one thing was constant. Females were expected to be strong. They were taught to hold their heads high and expand the gene pool by reproducing with many.
There was no easy answer. For now, he’d continue his work. They couldn’t count on humans to fix everything. Although he bristled at the thought of leaving her and returning to work, he knew he must. There would be many dark days ahead, but the difficulties they’d been facing for decades hadn’t disappeared.
He gazed into the fire, feeling a weight settle over him. How could he keep her safe when their world was on the brink of an implosion?
Earlier, Alice had convinced him to layout a makeshift bed in front of the fire. He’d done as she directed without complaint. The power she held over him was comical. With a touch of her hand and a soft smile, he’d been tripping over himself to do her bidding. They’d spent hours sitting here while he taught her to read using the stories of the matings he’d collected over the years.
Her interest in the mated couples served as a great motivator. She became so invested in learning their stories that she’d picked up the language much more quickly than he’d anticipated.
He sat back, his mind drifting to yet another problem. How would he accomplish the seemingly impossible task of helping her friend without breaking any laws? He needed her to stowaway aboard a ship that made long journeys. One whose captain was honorable, but also didn’t mind breaking laws for the right price.
The image of a male slowly formed in his mind, and he grinned. I know just the person for the job.
Alice turned in her sleep, her blanket falling and exposing her side. He ran his knuckles along the gentle curve of her waist and hip. His cock stirred to think how she might repay him if he found a way to help her friend.
***
Alice woke with a shiver, though her skin was warm from the sizzling fire. Cracking her eyes open, she rolled onto her back and found Luka’s devastating face looming above her, his fingers ghosting over her exposed skin.
“What time is it?” She arched her back, stretching her hands above her.
When she tried to lower her arms again, Luka shot a hand out, holding them above her head. She relaxed, letting him run his knuckles lazily over her body.
He circled her navel then trailed his fingers up her ribs and around the underside of her breasts. “Night,” he answered, gaze fixed on her quickly hardening nipples.
“Are you talking to me or my breasts?” she joked, trying to shift her body away from his maddening caress.
He shot her a lopsided grin. “If I were talking to your breasts, I’d address them with more deference.”
A deep belly laugh rolled through her. “Is that right?”
Her laughter stalled when he leaned down and breathed hot air onto each nipple. “Indeed. While the female they’re attached to tests my patience daily, they’ve been nothing but welcoming.”
“You’re such a weirdo,” she teased.
His mouth was poised just over her nipple when a loud growl from her stomach broke the silence. He moved away groaning. “We’ll finish this later.”
Alice had to stop herself from rubbing her breasts after he finally released her wrists and stood. Luka’s mix of goofiness and sex appeal made him a force to be reckoned with.
Rolling onto her stomach, she watched him walk away. His firm ass flexed as he stepped over discarded books. Inserting her forefinger and thumb into her mouth, she whistled loudly.
He wheeled around, eyes wide and brows raised.
Resting her chin on her palm, she made her face serious. “I was addressing your ass, sir. Please, continue on your way.”
Slapping his own ass on the way and making her dissolve into laughter once again, he crossed to the kitchen.
Still chuckling, she found his discarded shirt and slipped it on. Her own blue dress lay torn and abandoned near the front door.
Surveying the room, she lifted her hands in exasperation. “How can you tell what time of day it is without any windows? It’s going to be hard for me to adjust to never looking outside if I live here.” She glanced at her hand clock. It took her a moment to decipher the symbols, but it was becoming easier each day. She tilted herself as a realization hit her. This was the first time she’d checked her clock in days. Knowing the time never seemed to matter when she was with Luka.
Alice felt warmth spread through her belly, and she grinned like a fool.
He cocked his head as she approached, his gaze sweeping the room. “There are windows.” Pointing an oddly shaped cooking utensil to the wall running the length of the room, he said, “That wall has windows. I just keep them covered.”
Her jaw slackened. “There have been windows here this whole time?” she blurted in exasperation.
Chuckling, he moved to a control panel hidden behind a large stack of books. Before her eyes, the entire wall began to lift and disappear into the ceiling through a gap large enough to accommodate the width of the panel, as well as the many pictures and papers attached to it.
“That wall has windows” was an understatement. The entire length of the room appeared to be nothing but curved glass. Alice’s eyes widened further and further as each inch of the illuminated city was revealed.
Mouth hanging open, she approached the expansive view. The sky was midnight-blue, and although light shone brightly from the city, more stars than she’d ever seen were visible. Dozens of buildings, in the form of swirling spires, rose high into the sky. They reminded her of the twisting manta trunks.
In all the cities she’d been to on Earth, lights dotted the skyscrapers, a result of some interior rooms being lit but not others. Looking out, she saw no spattering of illumination. Rather, the entirety of the silver spires glowed brightly, the same color as the moon.
Wait. Her eyes narrowed, and she studied the larger of the two moons. Is that a ring?
To her eyes, it appeared the pale, glowing moon had a shimmering band around the middle, too defined to be natural.
Alice was so entranced that she didn’t notice Luka approach until he wrapped his arms around her. Planting a kiss on top of her head, he murmured, “What do you think?”
“Is there something on that moon? And how do the buildings glow like that?” she asked in a hushed tone.
“Yes, there are solar panels on Gui, our closest moon. They capture and beam the energy to receivers in conversion facilities. Most of our buildings capture solar and lunar energy, as well. That’s what makes them glow. The energy is used to power the building.”
Alice’s eyes remained glued upward, taking in the odd sight of not one but two moons. “On Earth, there’s only one moon.”
Luka turned her in his arms. She saw worry flash in his eyes before it was quickly concealed. “Do you miss Earth?”
Alice pondered the question for a moment. “I miss the familiarity sometimes. Smelling my favorite food and feeling warm inside. Saying hello to my neighbor, Mr. Bower. Sitting on my small apartment balcony in the morning to drink my coffee.”
Luka’s features grew taut, and his head dipped.
“But…” she continued, lifting his chin. “I’m excited to start experiencing those things here. How many people can say they were able to discover a whole new world? I know what I like on Earth, and now I get to learn what I like here. There’s also one thing Clecania has that Earth never will.”
Luka grinned down at her, his chest puffing. “And what’s that?”
Rising up to give him a kiss, she waited until their mouths were only a breath away before whispering, “A second moon.”
A bark of laughter exploded from him and rang through the room. Using his shoulders, she jumped as high as she could and wrapped her legs around his waist. He caught her easily, then leaned her against the window.
Planting a soft kiss on his lips, she sighed. “Also, you.”
They gazed at each other for a moment, smiling like loons. A soft
ping emanated from the kitchen, and Luka’s face fell. Lowering her to the ground, they both turned toward the sound of a second ping and froze.
The communicator Verakko had given her was ringing. Alice felt her stomach churn and the blood drain from her face.
It’s time.
Chapter 24
With every second that passed, Luka was less and less sure he’d be able to get through this night without spilling blood. Nerves frayed, he watched his mate pace, muttering to herself every so often.
When Verakko had called, he’d told them they had an opening to move the prisoners tonight and they had to take it. Her face pale and her eyes round, Alice had bravely nodded, declaring she was ready.
She hadn’t said more than a few words to him since leaving his home and arriving at the edge of the woods near the outpost. Her attempts to disguise her true feelings were in vain. The bitter scent of fear coming from her was so strong it made him want to tear his hair out. Every instinct he had was urging him to take her back home, but this was her choice, not his. All he could do was be here and help her if he could.
As she paced in front of him yet again, he pulled her into a tight hug, ignoring her squirming until she finally relaxed. Into her hair, he murmured, “I’ll be here the whole time.”
She gave a few jerky nods into his chest but said nothing.
Movement in the distance had him shoving her behind his body. Two cruisers were gliding toward them. He swallowed a snarl when he felt his mate’s shaking hands clutched at his back.
Verakko stepped out of the first cruiser, but the second remained sealed. The Swadaeth male was covered in black. True to his race, the normally green color of Verakko’s skin had darkened to a deep midnight-blue. This evolutionary camouflage and his glowing, bright green eyes, were an asset in the pitch-black of the deserts where his race thrived.
“Luka. Alice.” He nodded to them both.
Alice stepped to the side of Luka, her fists balled. “Verakko.” She nodded, her voice almost too quiet to hear.
Verakko’s nostrils flared as he approached, but his face remained passive. “Sal has agreed to help whether or not you speak with him, but if you’re willing, he’d like to repent.”
A wave of bitter fear hit Luka’s nose. He twisted his neck from side to side, the satisfying popping and cracking doing nothing to settle his nerves.
Rounding her lips, Alice took a deep, shaking breath in through her mouth and out through her nose, then said, “I’ll talk to him.”
Verakko crossed to the second cruiser and gave it a few swift knocks. Alice slipped her hand into Luka’s, gripping his fingers with what seemed like all the strength she had.
The first person to exit was Kadion, a military general and member of the Tremantian Council. It made sense one of the Queen’s most trusted generals would be assigned this task.
Behind him, Sal emerged, scowling. As the two males made their way over, Sal’s yellow eyes scanned his surroundings then settled on Alice.
Luka had to concentrate all his energy on not clenching his fists and pulverizing his small mate’s hand. He leaned down and pointed to a thick metal band circling Sal’s neck. “Do you see that?” He then pointed to a smaller metal band circling Kadion’s large bicep. “It’s magnetically attached to the one on the soldier’s arm.” Alice peered up at him while nibbling on her lip. “He won’t be able to walk more than a few feet away from Kadion’s band.”
Alice pressed a soft kiss to his shoulder and rested her other hand on his forearm. “Thank you.”
Kadion halted, forcing Sal to stop as well, about five feet away. Both male’s noses crinkled for an instant, picking up the scent of his mate’s fear.
She and Sal stood staring at one another, the silence becoming deafening.
“Say what you want to say,” he barked at Sal, making Alice flinch.
Sal didn’t so much as glance at him but began speaking to Alice in a croaky voice. “I want to apologize for my role in your abduction.”
Seeming to find her voice in anger, she snapped, “Why? Why are you sorry? Why are you helping now? You didn’t seem to give two shits when you were pushing me into a cell with a stranger.”
A vein ticked in Sal’s forehead, his gaze swinging briefly to Luka. “I knew he wouldn’t hurt you, even drugged, but you’re right. I didn’t care. I was angry with our world and how our people have been forced to live, but when I found out what Helas did, what they all did, I knew I had to do what I could to make amends.”
“What he did?” she repeated quietly.
Sal’s throat worked, gaze going distant before he spoke again. “I was told the non-human and non-Clecanian prisoners were transported to another facility. But—” He looked to the ground and shook his head. “I didn’t sign up for indiscriminate slaughter. I wanted to help our people. To make a difference. I didn’t understand the lengths they’d go to.”
Luka glanced between Alice and Sal and inwardly groaned. He could see it on his mate’s face. The compassion he loved was welling inside her. This traitorous animal who didn’t deserve acknowledgment, much less her pity, would earn her forgiveness.
To his surprise, rather than softening, she dragged her hands onto her hips and nodded imperiously. “You want to redeem yourself? Fine. Prove it. Show us how to free everyone who’s still trapped.”
Pride swelled in him. His mate was compassionate, yes, but not weak.
Turning, she presented Sal with her back. Instinctively, Luka stepped between them to shield her.
After Kadion and Sal had walked away, Alice faced him. She pressed her hands to his chest and whispered, “Are you okay?”
He gave a humorless chuckle. “I won’t be okay until we’re gone from here, but I’m content to sit back and admire you for the moment.”
“I’m glad.” Her smile became nervous. “But I’m worried how you’re going to handle this next bit.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re not going to like this, but I need to talk to Helas.”
“No, absolutely not,” he growled, wrapping his palms around her wrists. He would rip Helas apart before he allowed the male to so much as look at Alice.
“Luka,” she said, her voice pleading, “I have questions. Questions only he can answer.”
“I’ll ask him for you. Tell me your questions.” A stone dropped in his gut. The look spreading over her face was one he’d seen before. “Why do you think he’d tell you the truth, anyway?”
“Because he’s a pompous ass. Whenever he came to talk to me, he’d always talk about himself and his plans. He craves attention, and he probably hasn’t talked to many people while locked up. Besides, there’d be no point in lying about the things I want to ask. There’s nothing to gain.” She pushed her shoulders back and raised her chin. “I need to do this for me, Luka. This is how I’ll get closure.”
Verakko motioned for the party to start moving through the forest. Sal led the way. Luka glanced toward the second cruiser again, fury and frustration edging his thoughts.
From the dark interior, Helas emerged, face as smug as ever. Luka’s muscles burned. His fingers itched to wrap around the male’s thick neck.
Alice pulled him back. “I think it’d be better if you hung back and let me talk to him on my own.”
Luka felt as though he’d been slapped, and the look of concern that flashed over her features told him she clearly saw his hurt.
“I wouldn’t ask except I don’t know if you’re going to be able to control yourself. You seem like you’re ready to tear his head off, and you’ve only just seen him. I’m worried you’ll maim him as soon as he says something negative to me, and he most definitely will.”
“He deserves to be maimed!” he snarled.
Alice rested a soft palm on his cheek. “I agree, but right now he’s our best chance to free those women. I need to talk to him, and I need for his head to be attached to his body when we get to the cabin. If you honestly believe you can keep you
r temper in check, you can come with me.”
Luka wasn’t entirely sure he could keep himself from killing the abhorrent male, but he couldn’t leave her alone. Blood rushing in his ears, he nodded. She searched his face for a moment, then began walking toward Helas, who was bringing up the rear of the group along with a large armed guard Luka had never met.
When Helas caught sight of them, his brows rose and a courteous smile curved his mouth. “How nice to see you both again.” Eyes roaming over Luka, he added, “Covering those marks, are we?”
The urge to rip off his paint and rub the male’s nose in his marks roiled through him.
Luka decided the easiest way to keep his temper in check was to focus on the one thing that grounded him. Alice. Never taking his eyes from her, he saw her small frame grow stiffer and stiffer until she stood, muscles bunched, mere feet from one of the vilest males he’d ever met.
Alice fell in line beside them as they walked and without pretense said, “I have some questions for you, and I want answers.”
“Is that so?” Helas laughed.
She clenched her jaw and, without warning, stood in front of them, halting their progress.
She addressed the guard. “Hey, what’s your name?”
The large, older male, glanced to Luka in confusion before answering, “Traef.”
“Traef, do you know what he did to me? To hundreds of others?”
Traef swallowed, his expression growing cold. “I do.”
“Great!” she said, her eyes flashing angrily to Helas, who still appeared amused. “Then you’ll have no problem giving him a little shock with that electric prod thing if he refuses to answer me, right?”
The guard stared at a disbelieving Helas for a moment. “I cannot.”
A smug grin spread over Helas’ face.
“I do, however, have permission to zap the prisoner if he doesn’t move fast enough.” Traef held Alice’s stare until understanding lit her features.
Moving aside, she kept pace as they walked deeper into the dark forest, light from the moons illuminating their path. Helas glanced from Alice to Traef, and Luka couldn’t help but grin as he saw the male’s gaze grow concerned.
Freeing Luka: The Clecanian Series Book 2 Page 25