The females immediately fell silent and snapped into position.
Thank the Gods military training had the same effect all over the Universe. “Your commander is gravely injured. I need Aliya to come with me.”
A raven-haired beauty stepped forward. “I’m Aliya. Where’s the Commander? What happened to her?”
“She’s on the bridge. Come. I’ll explain on the way.” He pointed at the other woman. “Stay here and assist the androids.”
He didn’t have time to explain they’d be collecting the names and home planets of all the kidnapped females, so their loved ones could be notified as soon as possible of their rescue.
Rhom took off down the corridor at a dead run. Despite his longer stride, Aliya kept pace with him. He told her about Cass’s stab wound, the blood pouring from her neck. “My brother said to tell you Cass has checked out.”
“Thank heaven. We have a little time. I need to get my medical kit. Follow me.”
“What do you mean we have a little time? I saw her collapse. She’s dying! At the rate the blood was pumping out of her body, she’ll be gone before we get back there.”
“Cass took a huge risk. She’s betting she can slow her heartbeat, her respiration, all her bodily functions enough to keep the blood loss to a minimum and stop her organs from shutting down completely.”
“She did that to get here. Slowed her heartbeat and put herself into deep meditation.”
“Are you saying she did it recently?” Aliya sounded worried now.
“Yes. She was out for over thirty-eight hours. It’s how she managed to get close enough to take command of the ship and get us on board.”
“She’s going to have a much more difficult time doing it again. Her body is still recovering from the last one. It takes an incredible amount of concentration to check out under the best of circumstances. With her injury, the level of stress her body is in right now, it’s going to take everything she has.”
“You can still save her, right?”
“Believe me, I’ll do everything I can. As soon as we get to her, I’ll use a laser wand to seal the slit in the carotid artery. Soft tissue repair can wait until we move her to the medical bay and replace the blood she’s lost. Afterwards I’ll cool her body down and put her into a state of suspended animation to reduce the stress on her organs and brain. We’ll restore her bodily functions gradually, over a period of several days.”
The anguish he felt must have shown on his face. She went on, trying to reassure him.
“Our whole crew can do what she did. We call it checking out. The rest of us practice regularly but none of us are as good as Cass.”
When he saw her lying there on the floor of the bridge, motionless, Rhom swore they were too late after all. Rhynn was crouched beside her, whispering softly, one arm wrapped protectively around her body while the other cradled her head against his chest. The tattered remains of her turquoise gown were clenched in his hand, still pressed against her neck. She was drenched in blood and so was he. Rhom’s heart sank. Surely such a small Earther couldn’t have any left inside her.
Aliya rushed to Cass’s side, gently prying Rhynn’s hands away.
“You’ve done an excellent job. Now it’s my turn.” She tossed the gown aside, sealed the artery swiftly, then put a patch over the wound in Cass’s neck. “I’ll connect the other blood vessels and repair the rest of the damage back in the medical bay.”
She ran her scanner over Cass’s body. “Her heart is beating. Just barely. I’ve never seen her go this deep.” Aliya gave Rhynn a searching look. “The Commander couldn’t have done it unless she trusted you completely. Believed you’d find a way to bring her back. You must have a very strong connection with her.”
Rhynn took a shaky breath, sat back on his haunches. “We have Bonded,” he replied simply.
They rescued twenty-six female captives, plus two of the Luna’s crew, Aliya and Gwen, the ship’s mechanic. Over the next few days their story emerged. According to Aliya, Magnus had sold off the other four crew members one at a time. Apparently human females were a precious commodity and he’d had to throw one in now and then to put together a deal with wary buyers.
Among the remaining captives in the hold were three Tharan females and Lina, sister of the Euxcelian boy Leno. His mother had been sold to a Rapture Dome, along with Dagon and Dru’s mate Aura and Sage, the Luna’s navigator.
“Do you know what happened to the others?” Rhom asked.
She shook her head. “Not all of them. Sometimes the ship would stop and Magnus would come in along with a couple of crew members. He’d point to prisoners and they’d be dragged away. Once in a while, he’d have strangers with him. Aliens from other worlds. He’d let them choose the captives they wanted. That’s what happened to our first mate Delta. She and a dozen other alien females were taken by a slave trader about two months ago.”
“Magnus saved us for last,” Aliya explained. “He needed Gwen’s knowledge to keep the ship running and he kept me around because of my medical skills. Not to care for the females. They were expendable, as far as he was concerned. My job was to patch up pirates injured during raids – or bar fights when they stopped on rebel outposts. After one raid, two of them were so badly wounded I couldn’t save them.” She swept her hair back to display a jagged scar on her temple. “He blamed me for their deaths. Flew into a rage.” She shook her head. “I’m almost sorry Cass’s shot proved fatal. He deserved a much more painful death.”
He picked up Rhynn’s silent string of curses. I’ll wager that scar isn’t the only price she paid, Brother.
Aliya had no idea what happened on the bridge after she left. He and Rhynn had only told their crew. Fellow warriors, still suffering because of what the pirates did, they deserved to know the truth. All of them had volunteered for this mission, seeking justice for their loved ones. All of them hungry for vengeance.
Magnus was alive when Rhom returned after carrying Cass to the medical bay. Still alive and begging the brothers for mercy. Mercy he’d never shown to Zara. To the old folk and helpless babies he slaughtered.
He took a long time to die.
Rhom strode toward the bridge of the Gemini. He was impatient to get underway. His ship had been tethered to the Luna ever since they raided it. Days went by while they interrogated the prisoners and laid out their plans. Days of waiting anxiously while Aliya mended Cass’s wounds and brought her back to consciousness.
Their crew was splitting up. He put Jax and Jynn, the cyborgs, in command of the Luna. The ship was built for speed and they’d try to track down and rescue the females Magnus had sold or traded away before their trail went cold. He and Rhynn stripped the Gemini to a skeleton crew and sent all the warriors with them, including Dagon and Dru, who were desperate to find Aura. Gwen volunteered to stay on the Luna, knowing they’d need an experienced crew member on the unfamiliar craft. Several of the female captives asked to accompany them too, anxious to be reunited with mothers and sisters and daughters who’d been taken.
The rest of the females they liberated, including three Tharans, were on board the Gemini, comfortably settled in the quarters of the warriors who left. He and Rhynn would deliver them back to their home planets and the loved ones anxiously awaiting their return.
He knew Aliya was torn. She told them she hated to leave Gwen alone on the Luna, surrounded by alien beings. She thought she might be needed on that mission if the captives they rescued required medical care.
“The females on the Gemini need you now.” he countered. The strongest and healthiest prisoners had been sold first. Some of those remaining were wounded when they resisted capture. Others had fallen ill. She hadn’t been allowed supplies to treat them. But his biggest concern was Cass. He’d been terrified seeing her lying there helpless, covered in blood. What if she’d stressed her organs too much for them to recover completely? He and his twin knew nothing of Earther physiology.
“My warriors on the Luna are all seasoned
battle veterans,” he assured her. “They’ve been trained in emergency medical procedures. Stay with us. Please. For Cass.”
Aliya smiled. “My Commander is a very lucky woman. She has two fierce warriors protecting her. All right. Since you’ve assured me the Luna has trained medical personnel on board, I’ll stay.”
Cass was awake and back on her feet, though still a little weak. She’d been seething over being excluded from the Luna’s mission to save her remaining crew members. Rhom was ready to pull rank and order her locked in her quarters until they were well underway, to keep her from jumping ship again.
“Let me try and reason with her,” Rhynn urged.
“Fine. You try it your way. If that doesn’t work, I’ll put her over my lap and spank some sense into her,” Rhom muttered.
He listened in on their conversation from another room, not trusting himself to explode in anger if she started arguing.
Rhynn marched into Cass’s quarters unannounced. “You’re not going with the Luna,” he announced, “and I don’t want to hear another word about it.”
She started to protest but he cut her off. “You’d be a liability,” he told her bluntly. “Males in my world are biologically programmed to protect and care for females. The slave traders and whoremongers who have the others aren’t going to give them up without a fight. My warriors will need every ounce of courage and concentration they possess if they are to succeed. You’d be of little use in combat and I won’t have you risking their lives because they’re distracted worrying about you being captured again or even killed in battle.”
Rhom felt a stab of pride when he heard Cass give in. One trait of all good officers was the ability to put emotion and ego aside and do what was best for the mission and for those under his or her command. She was silent for a few moments, then replied crisply. “You’re right, of course. You and Rhom are heading up this mission and your orders override any other concerns. I apologize. I was so caught up in wanting to get my crew back I hadn’t considered the effect my presence might have on your warriors.”
He put the memory aside as he rounded the corner and stepped onto the bridge. The android at the door inclined his head slightly. “Sir. We’ve been patched through. The Euxcelian Chancellor awaits a formal audience with you.”
Rhom strode to the communication console, where Rhynn was already in position. To mark the solemn occasion, he and his twin were dressed in the full battle regalia worn by Tharan warriors for centuries. They wore salises made from the silver-gray hide of a norendaal stag, hung low around the hips. Chests bare, decorated only with the symbol of their rank, a medallion crafted of rare tanzium set in a wide leather collar. Deep blue cloaks fastened to the leather collar flowed down their backs. Each of them wore a pair of gleaming platinum cuffs around both wrists that extended halfway up the forearm, strong enough to deflect the sharpest broadsword.
The Chancellor beamed at them from the console. “The inhabitants of Euxcelon and all the other worlds invaded by those pirates owe you both a debt of gratitude. The females you freed owe you their lives. It is my honor to award you both the title of Euxcelian Lord. I bestow it with our heartfelt thanks.”
Rhom inclined his head to acknowledge the gesture of esteem. “We humbly accept this great honor, Chancellor, but no thanks are necessary. We did our duty as Tharan warriors.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to take all the pirates you captured back to Tharon to stand trial there before your Tribunal?” Sixteen prisoners were locked in the hold of the Gemini, under guard at all times by androids.
“We left that decision to the females they held captive,” Rhynn replied. “They felt it was only fair that all the worlds harmed have the right to seek justice for their people. We will deliver two of the surviving pirates to Euxcelon and to every other planet they attacked, for your leaders to do with as you choose. The last two will be held on Tharon until the Luna’s crew is reunited. They deserve justice as well.”
“And what of you? What about justice for Rhom and Rhynn?”
They’d shared their story with the Chancellor when they first met him. Rhom thought it had a lot to do with why the Chancellor made the controversial decision to let them interview a traumatized child.
Rhynn glanced over at him. He gave an almost imperceptible nod. “Our thirst for vengeance has been satisfied,” Rhynn replied flatly.
The Euxcelian raised an eyebrow but did not pursue the topic. Instead he held out his hands, palms facing upward. “Blessings and peace to all creatures in the Universe.”
They repeated the formal salutation, used throughout the galaxy as both a greeting and farewell, and signed off. Rhynn gave the order to break the link between the ships, handed over control of the Gemini to one of the androids, and turned to his twin.
“Ready?”
Rhom nodded. “Oh yes. I’ve been ready for a long time.”
Side by side they strode down the corridor to their sleeping compartment.
Cass stood at the window with her back to them, watching her ship pull away. His heart soared. She looked healthy and strong – and beautiful. She’d modified one of her other gowns to mirror the style of the one Rhynn tore apart on the Luna. This one in a deep, rich blue, the color of andrite. The skirt hugged her body and flowed to the floor. Just like the original, it had the slit he loved running all the way up her thigh on one side. From the waist, two bands of fabric just wide enough to cover her breasts crossed in front and tied around her neck, leaving her shoulders and the rest of her torso bare.
Her golden hair was down, flowing around her shoulders in soft waves. Hiding the scar on her throat.
We need to get her an andrite necklace to match that dress. Rhynn’s voice sounded rough with need.
A necklace, yes. But it doesn’t have to match the dress. She’ll never have it on long enough for it to matter, he shot back.
She turned when they came in and gave them a dazzling smile.
“I already said my goodbyes. To my crew and to the Luna. I’m looking forward now. Six months leave! I’ve never had more than three days off in a row since I started at the Academy. And then another six months on Tharon, doing research and collecting data about your world. I’m still not sure how you managed to arrange it.”
“Your Federation transferred you to our command for an interplanetary tour of duty,” Rhom replied. “A goodwill gesture between our worlds, in thanks for tracking down the pirates. But you have the dates wrong. You’re serving the six months of duty now, on the Gemini. Your leave begins when we arrive back on Tharon.”
“Even better! I can simply enjoy my time there.”
We intend to see that you do, Rhynn growled.
Her eyes widened and Rhom knew she’d heard him too. Their Bond with her had been growing stronger and today he planned to make it complete.
He summoned his best military tone.
“Cassidy Randall, do you accept your posting as an officer under our command on the Gemini?”
She straightened her shoulders and saluted. “Yes, Sirs.”
“Your acceptance is acknowledged. Now prepare to be punished.”
“What?”
Rhynn took over. “We’ve waited days for this while you recuperated. We don’t intend to wait a minute longer. You disobeyed a direct order and stole Tharan property when you took off on your solitary mission. As commanders of the Gemini, we have the authority to impose and carry out whatever sentence we decide is appropriate for criminal behavior occurring on our ship.”
Rhom narrowed his eyes. His voice had a bite to it.
“Get your ass over the edge of the bed and pull up your skirt. Now.”
Cass
“You can’t be serious.” Her voice rose. “I saved your mission, not to mention the lives of all those females!”
“That insubordination just earned you an additional punishment,” Rhom announced. “I suggest you obey the order immediately, before you find yourself in even more trouble.”
He turned to his brother. “Rhynn, get the harness. It seems our culprit needs a reminder of who is in charge here.”
Her breathing quickened. Equal parts of anxiety and arousal. “No. You can’t. You wouldn’t.”
“We can and we will.” Rhom crossed his arms. “Assume the position for discipline. Now.”
Every breath she took drew more of their gyron into her lungs. She hadn’t spent any time with the twins for days. Aliya was like a mother hen, never allowing anyone more than a few minutes with her while she recuperated. Now, being so near them both again, the pheromones did their magic.
Dressed in traditional warrior garb, they looked like twin gods from mythology. She’d seen them in action. Strong leaders. Noble warriors, who risked their lives to save helpless victims, not only Tharans but those from alien worlds as well. When she met them, they’d been bare-chested, salises slung around their hips like the ones they had on now. Today their magnificent chests were adorned with wide leather collars, each inset with a shiny metal disc. Powerful muscles rippled with every move, sending beams of light bouncing off the discs to dance around the room. Matching metal bands covered their arms from wrists halfway to the elbows, setting off the bulging biceps above.
They started out as her enemies. Earned her grudging respect when they came to her, apologized, and admitted they’d been wrong. They’d given to her over and over since that night, asking nothing of her in return except to take what they gave and revel in it. Wild nights filled with breathless passion – and more. They treated her with more tenderness than she’d ever experienced in her life, made her feel cherished. She’d even grown to understand and accept the Tharan practice of disciplining their females. When the twins spanked her now, she realized it was because they cared about her. They believed following their rules would keep her safe from harm.
The twins waited side by side, arms crossed, demanding her obedience now. Her submission. Maybe it was the gyron. Maybe it was seeing them for the first time through the eyes of love.
Their Captive Mate: A Sci-Fi Alien Dark Romance: Tharan Warrior Menage Book 1 Page 12