Intergalactic Loyalties

by Jessica Coulter Smith

  She collapsed on his chest, breathing hard. Even though he’d come harder than ever before, his cock hadn’t softened and was still ready to go, but time was not in his favor. Rolling to his side, he kept her wrapped in his arms, their bodies still joined. If it weren’t for that damn tracker, they could lie like this for hours, just enjoying one another’s company.

  “My sweet, we need to bathe and change. As much as I want to stay here with you in my arms the rest of the day, it would be best if we removed that tracker.”

  She nodded and pulled away. “Will we both fit in the cleansing unit together?”

  “You may be small, but I think it would still be a tight fit. Best to go in alone for now.”

  He got out of bed and guided her across the room, helping her into the cleansing unit in the bathing chamber. She was cleaned and dried in a matter of minutes, but what was she going to wear? The pants the Tourmalane women wore would fit her because they stretched, but the top… He had an idea.

  Guiding her back into the bedroom, he handed her the pants he’d packed, on the off chance he found his mate. Then he dug through his drawer and pulled out a pale blue shirt, then helped her into it. He smiled when he realized she could easily wear it as a dress, as it fell past her knees, but he liked seeing his clothing on her.

  “I look ridiculous, don’t I?” she asked.

  “No, my sweet. You look adorable. Give me just a few minutes to get cleaned and changed and then we’ll transport to the other vessel.”

  He smoothed his hand down her hair before leaving her. The sooner they got this out of the way the better.

  Chapter Three

  Lucie sat on the edge of the bed as she waited for Dryxel. She was more than a little nervous about having the tracker removed, but she knew it was necessary. The Tarnans wouldn’t leave them in peace until it was gone. She doubted they wanted her badly enough to follow them all the way to Tourmalane. At least, she hoped they didn’t. Having a ship full of women, she’d think they would want to return to their home planet as quickly as possible. Was one woman really such a big loss to them? It wasn’t like they couldn’t capture or buy more.

  Dryxel stepped into the bedroom and her breath caught in her throat. She couldn’t see him clearly, but she could feel him. The air was charged when he was present and she felt drawn to his side, like a moth to a flame. She definitely had a weakness for this large Tourmalane warrior prince. She still didn’t understand why someone like Dryxel would want a nobody, a blind nobody, like her. Whatever it was that pulled him to her side, she was grateful for it. When she was with him, everything clicked into place. It was as if she’d found the one place she belonged.

  He dressed quickly, donning black pants and a shirt so light a blue that it was nearly white. He held his hand out to her and she went to him willingly, needing to feel his heat. If he never let her go, it would be too soon. Stupid tracker! If it weren’t for the device in her hip, they could still be in bed, lying in one another’s arms, or making mad passionate love to each other again. She voted for the second option.

  “Come, sweet. Let’s get the tracker removed so we can go home.”

  “Won’t they just come to Tourmalane to get me? They have to know where we’re going.”

  “No. They would have to go home and get reinforcements to attack us on our home planet, and it’s doubtful they will go to so much trouble for one female. Even one as delectable as you.”

  She smiled, wrapping her arms around him. “Is there any way we could just beat them home, without removing the tracker?”

  He rubbed her back lightly. “It’s doubtful. If you’re scared about having the chip removed, we could try it. I don’t like taking a chance with your safety, but I don’t want you to be frightened either.”

  “The only thing that scares me right now is losing you, Dryxel. I’d die if they took me away.”

  “No,” he said harshly. “You’d be brave and patient while you waited for me to me to come for you. And I would, as soon as possible. No matter who has you or where you’re taken I will always come for you.”

  “Let’s remove the tracker,” she said, hoping she sounded braver than she felt. She hadn’t lied, she was far more terrified of losing Dryxel than anything else, but she didn’t exactly enjoy pain either, and she knew it would hurt to remove the tracker.

  He lifted her into his arms and carried out of their room and down the various halls to the transport chamber. A Tourmalane warrior waited for them. Once they were secure inside the chamber, the warrior sent them through to the other ship. Two more warriors were waiting for them when they arrived. Being surrounded by so many large men had made her feel a little nervous when it was the Tarnans who had her, but with the Tourmalanes she just felt a sense of peace, of rightness. Like she’d come home.

  Dryxel carried her to the med bay and deposited her on a table surrounded by two-foot tall glass walls. He picked up something long and slender, pulled her shirt up to her breasts, and placed the object against her hip. She felt a slight sting and realized he’d given her an injection, probably for the pain. He picked up something else, roughly the size of a knife, and she tensed.

  He rubbed her side in long soothing strokes. “If I could take your pain into my own body, I would. If there was any other way, you know I’d choose a different path. We weren’t expecting trouble on this trip, so we don’t have a fully equipped med bay.”

  “Just do it. Get it over with.”

  He placed the blade against her skin and she couldn’t hold back the scream that built in her throat as it sliced through layers of her skin. She felt him pulling and probing, felt the blood run down her stomach and back, and fought the urge to pass out. She wouldn’t be weak!

  He let out what sounded like a curse. “Their technology has improved since I last saw it. The tracker has attached itself to your tissues inside. I can’t remove it without slicing it out of you, and I need a full service medical station for that.”

  “Meaning what?”

  “It can’t be removed until we reach Tourmalane. I put you through this pain for nothing.”

  She unclenched her fingers and placed her hand over his. “Not for nothing. You’re trying to save me. I understand that, Dryxel. We’ll just have to hurry home and hope the Tarnans don’t reach us first.”

  “I like it when you call Tourmalane your home,” he said with a smile in his voice. “Let me seal the wound and give you a little extra something for the pain, then I’ll return you to the other ship and our room.”

  Dryxel worked quickly, gave her another injection, and then offered her something bitter to drink. She made a face after her first swallow, but he urged her to finish it, claiming it would help with the pain. She downed the rest of the contents. As she stood, the room spun and she felt her knees grow weak.

  “What’s wrong with me?”

  He lifted her into his arms. “Nothing, my princess. I merely gave you a sleeping draught so you would rest while your body finished healing. When you wake, there will be no more pain.”

  “You drugged me,” she accused.

  “Only out of necessity. You’ll sleep a few hours then be good as new. Your side might be a little sore for a few days, but otherwise you won’t be able to tell the skin was ever opened. There won’t be even the hint of a scar.”

  She opened her mouth to respond, but darkness descended and her head dropped to Dryxel’s broad chest.

  * * *

  Something didn’t feel right. There was a disturbance in the air, a presence that felt out of place. Lucie slowly opened her eyes, seeing nothing but a dark room. Everything was still and quiet. Then there was a rustling beside her and she scrambled up against the wall. What was that? “Who’s there?” she asked. “Dryxel? You’re scaring me.”

  “Don’t be frightened, Lucie. I’m here to rescue you,” said a familiar, calm voice.

  “Cael?” She squinted into the darkness, unable to make out any shapes. What was he doing here? How had he gotte
n here?

  She felt the bed dip, then his hand was sliding up her leg to rest on her hip. Surprisingly, there was very little pain left. It seemed Dryxel had been right to drug her, even if she hadn’t liked it at the time. Where was he? Did he know Cael was on board?

  “You don’t have to be frightened any longer, Lucie. I’m going to take care of you, just like I always do.”

  She frowned. “I don’t understand, Cael. I’m not frightened. I just don’t know why you’re here.”

  “I’m taking you back to the Lynten 12. You’re safe now.”

  “Safe? But --”

  He placed a hand over her mouth. “The less we talk, the better our chances of escape. I don’t want to do this, but the Tarnans told me the Tourmalane had brainwashed you, entranced you somehow. You know I’d never hurt you.”

  Hurt her? What was he talking about? Then she felt it, the telltale prick of a needle. The world spun and she found herself sinking into the bed once more. She felt Cael wrap his arms around her and lift her. None of her limbs would work, not even her lips would move. He’d paralyzed her! Why had he done such a thing?

  He pressed a finger to his ear and she heard him speak to Xan. A moment later they’d vanished from her room and were in the transport chamber on board the Lynten 12. She wanted to howl in frustration, to beat at him with her fists, but she was limp as a noodle. She heard everyone talking around her and watched the blurred scenery pass as Cael carried her down the various halls to what she assumed was her former room.

  Dryxel would come for her. He’d said as much. But when would he notice she was missing? It could still be another hour or so before he’d even realize she’d been kidnapped. And Cael’s good intentions aside, that’s what he’d done -- kidnapped her. If he’d only given her a chance to explain! Then again, he thought she’d been entranced by her prince. It was doubtful he’d have believed her when she said she wanted to stay with Dryxel, of her own free will. Now what the hell was she going to do? Well, first things first… she needed to be able to move and speak. She’d talk to Cael after that and see if she could get anywhere with him. If she were lucky, she could convince him to return her before she was missed.

  He brushed her hair back from her face and placed a kiss on her forehead. It was unexpected, something he’d never done before. He’d always been caring, but he’d never shown her true affection. She knew he’d given up his rights to her when he’d talked the Tarnans into taking him to their planet, but did he regret his decision? Lucie tried to read the expression in his eyes, but she couldn’t see anything but their color. She cursed her lack of sight, wishing she had all of her senses to aid her right then.

  “The sedative will wear off in a few minutes,” he told her.

  She stared at him, unable to do much else.

  “When Ghel told me you’d been captured by the Tourmalane they had in lockup, my heart nearly stopped. They still don’t know who released him. Someone managed to get the key away from Bynt and unlocked the warrior’s cell. Don’t worry. They’ll be punished.”

  Punished? They were going to punish her? Her breath caught in her throat. What would they do to her for freeing him? No, they didn’t know it was her right now, but she was certain Rebecca would turn on her sooner or later. Then what would happen? She didn’t just have herself to think about any longer, but her unborn child as well. Dryxel’s child. Her fingers twitched as she tried to place a hand over her belly.

  “Bynt said the last time he remembers having the key was right before his shower. He can’t think of anyone who would come into his room uninvited and steal from him, but it seems that’s what happened. The Tarnans think it might have been one of us, but I have my suspicions. There’s a certain slave who seems discontent with her lot in life.”

  In her heart she knew he meant Rebecca. If he confronted her, she knew the woman would divulge that it was Lucie who had set Dryxel free.

  “You’d think she would be happy with one or two warriors wanting her as their bonded mate, but no… she thinks everyone on the ship should bow and scrape at her feet. Honestly, I think she wants the captain, but Sol doesn’t want anything to do with her. If anything, he seems disgusted by her behavior. You’d think a man who hadn’t been with a woman in a long time would be eager to have Rebecca plaster herself to him, but it seems to repulse him.”

  It seemed the captain had good taste, Lucie thought. She couldn’t imagine anyone wanting Rebecca. The woman was conceited and vile. She’d met snakes on earth with a better temperament and personality. Lucie’s fingers twitched again, moving a little more this time. She was able to wiggle her toes a bit too, which meant the sedative was wearing off.

  “I don’t care what they say,” Cael said. “I’m going to protect you. If you’d been under my watchful eye, he never would have been able to steal you away. Damn Tarnans are lax in their surveillance. Did you know they don’t have a single camera on the holding cells?”

  Well, that explained why no one came after her when she’d freed Dryxel. And what did he mean he was going to protect her? He’d given up his rights to her, had avoided her as much as possible since coming on board the Lynten 12, with the exception of mealtimes, and even then he wasn’t always around. The few times he’d helped her, the Tarnans hadn’t been pleased and had grumbled about it. He was going to buck their authority now? Didn’t he realize how dangerous that was for him? They could put him out at the next space station, or eject him in a life pod to just float in space until someone came along and picked him up.

  “I’m your friend, Lucie. You know that, don’t you? I care about you more than I’ve ever cared for a woman, except my mother. Until you, I didn’t think women were good for anything other than fucking and procreating with. It had never crossed my mind that I might enjoy their company. But I do, enjoy yours that is. I didn’t just spend so much time with you because I felt sorry for you, or thought you were helpless. I wanted to help you, to be with you.”

  She’d thought of him as a friend too, but oh so often she’d wished she could be more to him. Now she was glad he hadn’t taken her to his bed. It made her time with Dryxel that much more special.

  “There were times I wondered what it would be like, to be with you that way, but I always shied away from the thought. Truthfully, I might have broached the subject with you before too long, had we not come on board with the Tarnans. I think we could have had something special together. Maybe not the grand passion that Ari and Bane have, but I think we would have done well together.”

  Was he saying he would have given up his other slaves for her? Oh lord, this was a mess. She didn’t want Cael to have those feelings for her. She didn’t want to hurt him when she returned to Dryxel’s side. Maybe she’d misunderstood.

  “I’ll make sure you’re taken care of when we reach Tarnan, Lucie. I won’t let just anyone claim you. You’ll need someone patient and kind, but a fierce warrior who can protect you and any children you may have. Not someone who goes off adventuring all the time, or who works for the military on space missions. You need someone who’s going to be home with you.”

  She moved a little more, but still couldn’t speak. She wanted to tell him that she didn’t need anyone, that she had Dryxel. Her prince would come for her. She nearly giggled at the thought, thinking back to the countless Disney movies she’d watched as a little girl. Of course back then, she hadn’t realized her prince would be blue, or from another planet.

  “I’m going to go fetch you something to eat and drink. By the time I return, you should be able to move again.” He gave her a gentle squeeze then extracted himself from the bed.

  Left alone, she willed Dryxel to find her. She remembered what he’d said, about finding her no matter where she was or who had her. There was no doubt that he’d assume the Tarnans had her, but would he be able to rescue her before they reached Tarnan? If he came to their home planet, he’d have to stop for reinforcements, which meant it could take a while. She’d just have to be patient, and d
o everything in her power to make sure no one claimed her until she could be rescued.

  Several minutes passed, but Cael finally returned, a plate full of mashed potatoes and steak steaming in his hand -- if her nose could be believed -- and a glass of some sort of brightly colored juice in the other. The food smelled delicious and made her mouth water. All of that zipping about in space had made her hungrier than she’d thought.

  “I didn’t need rescuing,” she said softly as she accepted the plate from him.

  “I’ve cut your steak for you. It’s at the bottom of the plate and the potatoes at the top. Do you have enough strength to feed yourself, or do you need help?”

  “I can do it,” she said, accepting the utensil from him.

  “I know you don’t think you needed to be rescued, but the Tourmalane just made you think you wanted to be with him.”

  She shook her head. “I know what I want, Cael, and I want Dryxel. The moment we met there was something between us, something I’d never felt before. He defended me against the Tarnans in that hall, thinking they would harm me if they took me from him. We’re true mates, destined to be together.”

  He exhaled loudly. “You may think you’re destined to be with him, Lucie, but you’ll feel differently once you’ve been separated a while. You’ll see.”

  She swallowed and stared at him a moment. “Cael, there’s something you should know.”

  “Whatever it is, it can wait. You need to eat. There’s no telling when you were last fed.”

  “I’m pregnant,” she said quickly. “It’s Dryxel’s.”

  Silence met her statement.

  “Cael?”

  “He forced you. I’ll have his head!”

  “No!” she assured him. “He didn’t force me. Cael, I… I think I love him. Don’t you see? A Tourmalane can only reproduce with their destined mate. It means I’m right.”