Apparition

by C. L. Scholey

  Zoe looked up into his eyes; they were simply gray with the sadness he was feeling. “You’re not alone any more. We have each other.” She traced a finger down his cheek thinking what a wonderful sweet man he was to go out of his way to save the lives of the little creatures. He may be half Tonan, but nothing about him reminded her of any. The idea made her frown. It didn’t seem like a Castian trait either. Except she liked Loy. Perhaps it was just his nature and what his mother taught him.

  Doss kissed her lips, his hand stroked her back. When the kiss ended Zoe chuckled and Doss looked at her questioningly.

  “Apparently Moonway see Moonway do,” she said and pointed.

  One of the male Moonway was pressing its tiny lips to its mate. The creature’s eyes were wide in surprise. The little female being pushed the male off her and leaped away, the male was in pursuit. Doss laughed. He grabbed Zoe up into his arms and closed his armor over her. In seconds he had climbed to the top of the tree.

  When Zoe slipped to the foliage under her feet she gasped. Massive trees stretched for miles and miles blending in like rolling mountains of leaves. Very few clouds dotted the sky. Doss had told her Tonans regulated where and when rain would fall to keep the planet vibrant but still bathed in sunshine. Doss led her to a tiny area that was covered from the high suns that beat down on them. Doss loved the suns, but Zoe couldn’t take the intensity of them for too long.

  They lay in the shaded area. Leaves almost the size of Zoe flapped in the breeze fanning them. Doss pulled her on top of him. He was bare-chested and barefoot like always. His sleek gray-white pants hugged his hips low. Zoe could see the outline of his erection. She traced it with her fingers. Doss pulled Zoe’s tiny shirt over her head, she was also barefoot. The concept of shoes was lost on this planet.

  Doss’ hands rubbed at her breasts. His fingers worked her buds until they puckered and hardened. Zoe tossed her head back and let him play while she felt his secretions slip into her skin and arouse her. His hands were perfect and large, his fingernails were white; it was an odd contrast to his tanned body. Charming was the word that came to mind when she looked at his hands. His cock was hardening under her as she slid against him, rocking her body against his hands.

  Doss pulled her higher and when their lips met, Zoe could feel him inside her with his emotions. The taste of love was strongest. The heady feeling of ecstasy consumed her. Zoe’s pants were rolled down over her bottom. Doss slipped his fingers between her thighs and played with her bud. He grinned up at her and pulled her toward him. Zoe shuddered when her pussy met his tongue. Doss sucked her nub and Zoe heard him groan. His mouth was soon ravishing her while she wiggled and squirmed. He held her tight.

  Zoe knew she was about to come, she felt it build. One of Doss’ hands held her ass while the other kneaded one breast. His tongue was inside her, tasting her. Zoe cried out and she heard Doss swear while softly lapping at her. When she moved back he looked dazed for only a second before turning predatory.

  Doss slipped his cock free of his pants and pushed her back onto him. Zoe moaned when he entered her, inch by large inch. When she finally sat on him, his cock completely encased in her heat, Zoe arched her back and slid up his shaft.

  Doss had his hands on her hips lifting her then pulling her down. Zoe was biting her lip. It was hard to straddle a man so large and for so long and not feel it in your legs. Zoe was used to riding Caveat whose back was broad, but Doss’ chest and ribs were so wide. His hips didn’t taper down as much as a human man’s. All of him was raw muscle.

  Zoe felt his cock fill with his seed. She groaned as he enlarged. Soon she was unable to lift herself and she cried out. Her hands gripped his wrists, but Doss gathered hers in one of his hands and pulled her down over his body. He lifted her higher and as her orgasm rocked her he gripped her hair turning her face to the side and bit her neck. Zoe slumped on him. Doss took his time while she was completely relaxed. His one hand cupped her bottom, rocking her lazily up and down his shaft.

  When she was almost free of him, Doss bit her again and then smiled. She loved his lazy sweet smile that warmed her heart, because the smile was for her alone. He rolled her over onto her back and thrust harder, pulled out slowly, thrust hard and repeated the gesture until the sweat on his body invaded hers, colliding with the blood in her veins. Zoe came again and Doss roared his release, setting a dozen foot high butterflies to the sky in a panic.

  Zoe stiffened when she looked up. Doss closed his armor over them while still buried inside of her. A second later the blast from the Tonan vessel exploded the tree into shards and Zoe felt them falling. She would have screamed, but the shield regulated her emotions so Doss wouldn’t need to secrete his wetness into her. Zoe knew he had to concentrate on saving their lives. The blast wouldn’t harm Doss but if he were faced with hundreds of Tonan warriors at once, he would tire, especially if he needed to keep her inside the armor with him.

  When they hit the ground, Doss landed on his feet. More agile than a cat he was moving, tree to ground to tree using the foliage of the trees for cover. Faster he moved becoming the apparition he was until the vessel could no longer trace him. When he stopped, he was panting, his nose flaring for any scent. His shield lowered and he dropped her to the ground to give her a once over to make certain she was all right. Zoe was terrified. She wanted to jump back into his arms.

  “It’s all right,” he soothed. “I won’t allow anything to hurt you.”

  A horrific boom was heard overhead and Zoe screamed. Doss had her back up in his armor. He was again on the move. From a clearing, Doss looked up. A Castian bird of prey was battling the Tonan vessel. Zoe’s face was pressed against his neck, but she heard him whisper the word, “Castians.” Zoe heard a shrill whinny. It was Caveat and his herd.

  Oh God, my poor Caveat.

  Doss went to the herd and Zoe knew he was feeling her terror for her beloved horse. Before long, Caveat was following Doss through the foliage to a safe place. They entered their cave and Doss quickly replicated some clothing so they could go back out and watch the battle. Both Zoe and Doss watched as the Tonans and Castians engaged in heated combat. Another Castian vessel arrived. Then another Tonan. Explosions wreaked havoc on the foliage and Zoe was weeping. A series of brilliant white lights exploded against the Tonan warships in succession. Before long, the Castian vessel beat back the Tonans.

  “They’ve developed a new weapon,” Doss muttered.

  “Caveat and his herd are in danger here. Is it like this on Bagron, too?”

  “I don’t know; I’ve never been there.”

  “The Tonans can’t breach our new shield.” A voice came from behind them.

  Doss had Zoe buried in his shield once again. Cobra and Loy were standing behind them. “You came for me.” It was a statement from Doss and Zoe trembled.

  “It’s time to choose, Doss. Be hunted here by both Castian and Tonan or live side by side with the Castian warriors. The Tonans struck first. They think you’re a traitor. You have never harmed a Castian to my knowledge. Hybrid or not, you and your mate need a home. Your children will be welcome on Bagron, on Ulsy they will be loathed and feared and hunted. If you choose to stay, it will be taken as a sign of collaboration with the Tonans. This is my only offer.”

  There brooked no argument in Cobra’s words. Zoe knew he was right, she understood what her dream had meant. So apparently did Doss. He needed to choose a side now that he had a mate and could no longer be impartial.

  “If we go willingly, there must never be any harm to my mate or our children,” Doss demanded. “I know what you want. I can turn the war in your favor. I can save the lives of the human females and children and your Castian warriors. I wouldn’t want to see them harmed, but what of after? Will we be cast out, abandoned once you get what you want?”

  “I have offered Cobra a proposition,” Loy said, stepping forward. “Be my warrior mate. We have fought before. I have taken my last warrior mate’s chosen as a mate. The babe is cont
ent. She will be more content when there is another protecting my back. She knows your scent already. It’s no surprise; you were there when she was rescued with her mother.”

  Doss nodded. He looked at Zoe when he absorbed his armor and she slipped back onto her feet. “This is no life for you,” he said and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.

  “We will take you back to Bagron where there will be a home for you. Doss, you must pledge yourself to me before you warrior mate with Loy, agreed?” Cobra said.

  “Agreed.”

  “Wait,” Zoe cried. “I can’t leave Caveat here all alone.”

  “Caveat is her stallion,” Doss said.

  “Ah yes, the horse with the attitude. I recall him,” Cobra said. “The horses are welcome on Bagron. Before we launch a full assault we will be saving as many creatures as we can.”

  “I can get Caveat to settle and come on the ship,” Zoe said. “He won’t trust anyone else.”

  Cobra frowned. “I need Doss’ help immediately, to point out Tonan camps. I don’t want to accidently annihilate a camp full of women and children. I have birds of prey waiting for my command. The domed camps blend well with the foliage. They are almost undetectable in the air and are shielded. We need a direct, well-proportioned strike to debilitate the enemy before we can attack on land. Each strike needs to be systematic; it’s imperative or the Tonans will kill the Castian warriors first then begin the annihilation of women and children.”

  “I can’t leave without Caveat,” Zoe said pleadingly to Doss. “He will keep looking for me. I can’t do that to him, he saved my life. I love him so much, please Doss. Go with Cobra, help him. I’ll be fine.”

  “I will leave a few of my men here to guard your female while you come with me. She can get the horse. If there is trouble they can have her safely within the ship,” Cobra said.

  Doss was obviously reluctant. “I will stay,” Loy said. “I’ll look after her like she was my own mate. Once we are warrior mates and our blood flows I will be able to shield her.”

  “But if I leave she has no shield,” Doss said.

  Zoe didn’t want a camp full of women and children to die because of her. “I’ll be fine, Doss. Save the other camps. We will be together soon.”

  Doss took her in his arms. He pressed his forehead to hers in a silent message—he loved her, he would die without her. Zoe kissed his cheek before the large group of men took off at top speed. Loy came to stand with her.

  “You’re very brave,” he said.

  “Maybe on the outside, but my legs are shaking and I feel like a puddle of mush on the inside.”

  Loy chuckled. Zoe set about rounding up the horses. It was a bit hard. Caveat had no use for the Castian warriors, but he trusted Zoe. Still, he was hesitant to board the massive vessel. Zoe decided he could go last. One by one the two little foals were loaded onto a Castian bird of prey; they were carried whinnying and calling to their irate dams. The mares were a bundle of attitude and the warriors had their hands full of them rearing and bucking. It was then Zoe remembered the Moonway. They were so tiny; no one would think to save them.

  Zoe whistled to Caveat, she wouldn’t be long and she was worried the Castians wouldn’t go find the little creatures, thinking them insignificant. Zoe knew exactly where they were. She leapt up onto Caveat’s bent knee and they were off. She heard Loy shout to her, but Caveat was flying through the foliage. Loy could catch up and then he could help. When he saw the creatures he would understand her motivation. Besides, it wasn’t that far from the Castian vessel that hovered low to the ground with the way Caveat moved.

  Before long, Zoe dismounted and stood before the trembling creatures. “I don’t know if you understand me,” she began in a quiet tone thinking she didn’t want to blast their little eardrums. “This place is too dangerous. The beings that took you from your home are cruel. There’s going to be a great battle; you might get hurt if you stay here. We’ve come to take you to a safer place. I’m going there, too, and I promise no one will harm you. Doss will be there. He would never let anything harm you. If you can’t trust me, trust him. He is my mate. I would never do anything to upset him.”

  Tenderly Zoe picked up the mother who held her baby. She stroked the creatures and spoke quietly to them. She nestled them onto Caveat’s back, they clung to his mane. One by one the creatures were lifted. They seemed to understand her urgency. They remained where they were put. Loy stormed into the tiny area.

  “Damn it, Zoe.” His voice thundered. The creatures all shook and whimpered. The mate of the female holding the baby wrapped its arms around his little family. “What the hell are you doing?”

  “Moonway.” She hurried to explain. She wasn’t afraid of Loy, but he was huge and a tad spooky when annoyed. Loy glanced at the creatures curiously. She gave Caveat a slap on his rump and sent him back toward the vessel at a gallop. “I was worried for them.”

  “We need to go, now,” Loy demanded. “It’s too dangerous to be away from the others. If Doss is going to be my warrior mate you will be my responsibility, too. You need to trust me. You need to listen to me when circumstances like this unfold.”

  “I didn’t know if you would come back for them,” Zoe explained quietly, eyes downcast.

  “As soon as Doss and I mate, I can protect you like he does, but until then we need to stick with the safety of the others. Once you have your baby shield I’ll feel better. Hopefully the war with the Tonans will be over during this must or after the next. The females will have almost eight simultaneous years of shield.” He cupped her chin. She nodded.

  A large charging sound from above had Zoe snap her head up skyward, her eyes widened in terror. A Tonan vessel was directly overhead. Loy pulled her against him. Zoe knew he couldn’t shield her; she would die.

  So would Doss—Oh my God, Doss!

  Chapter 9

  Doss had just arrived back at the Castian vessels from another of Cobra’s ships; he disembarked on swift claws, leaping from the open hull to the tree tops and down. He had never in his life given coordinates so fast, wanting to be with Zoe. Doss had been surrounded by Castian warriors; it was a bit disconcerting but he scented no malice, just curiosity. It was strange for Doss, too, having only known his mother’s people. Doss had never flown before, the experience would have been exhilarating aboard the hum of a huge spaceship, but he had other more pressing concerns. He had pinpointed eight camps and their destinations and Cobra was pleased.

  It was then Doss heard it. Zoe was calling. Doss!

  When the Tonan ship above Zoe and Loy powered up, Doss was well on the move. Zoe was terrified. He had to get to her. The Castian vessel Doss had vacated was already bearing down on the Tonan vessel. It fired but made no dent in the vessel while its shields were secure. The feeling in the air was ominous and Doss knew they were centering on his mate. They wanted payback. They wanted Doss to die; he should never have left her.

  Doss sped past the other Castians racing for her and Loy; altogether they could blanket her, but Doss would be safest. Apparition that he was, he was certain he could move fast enough but realized his mistake; once the Tonans couldn’t see him they attacked. A blast of white light and searing blue lit the sky, Doss heard Zoe scream, and he heard a distant whinny of a panicked horse. A massive fireball hit directly on the spot Zoe and Loy were. Doss dropped to the ground as his legs collapsed in disbelief. He thought he would die right there. Cobra was beside him. Even if Loy curled his armored body around her she would have been incinerated. The flames rose high and Doss struggled to his feet. There was nothing left for him to save.

  “Oh no,” he whispered. Oh no, Zoe!

  “Did she carry your babe?” Cobra asked hopefully.

  “No.”

  “I don’t know how Tonians mate, I have no Tonan memories,” Cobra mumbled, “You’re the first hybrid I have met. You are a mix; a Tonan won’t share his gift of mortality with a female. They won’t take the chance at being vulnerable. You may not die w
ith her. There may have been a part that remained separate. As long as your shield stays up you will live.”

  “I will die without her either way. I can’t be alone. I love her too much, she’s become my whole world,” Doss whispered. “Have I been cursed again for being a hybrid?” Yet he must be. He still lived; his armor surrounded him, trying to control his emotions. Doss didn’t want his emotions controlled. Perhaps there was a part he hadn’t given her. But how could it be possible when she meant everything to him and more? Doss couldn’t take the pain, his shield dropped. If he were to die, he wanted to be with her now. Nothing happened and the idea of living without her rocked him into agony. His emotions were raw and vulnerable. He was all alone. Zoe had loved him for who he was.

  She loved me—me.

  “I don’t scent her, Cobra, she’s gone.”

  Cobra settled a hand on his shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Doss. She sacrificed her life to save hundreds. It would have been mercifully quick. Loy would have held her to give her comfort.”

  All around, mass explosions were sounding; the Tonan ship fled, but Castian vessels were in hot pursuit. War raged all around them as the systematic strike played out. Both Tonan and Castians were battling for dominance. None of that mattered to Doss.

  From the shooting fiery flames came Loy. A massive tree collapsed behind him plummeting to the ground. Loy continued forward. His armor saved him. He was unscathed. “Doss,” he muttered when he reached them.

  “It wasn’t your fault, Loy,” Cobra started to say. “I should have waited. This is my fault.”

  Loy dropped his armor and Zoe slipped to the ground. All of them were stunned.

  “But, but…” Doss sputtered; he was overwhelmed with gratitude and surprise. Loy’s armor would have covered her emotions to keep her safe. The shields were made that way, no one was to scent when a warrior concealed a female for their protection—not even their own mate could detect them.