If Taz wasn’t with her, Macey would have been feeling wary at her surroundings. Sinister eyes gazed at her through foliage. Taz stood in the sun beams. His shield was up; she was an arm’s length away. Macey wandered to a huge boulder; there was a flat indent at the top. She climbed using other small indents for hand and toe holds and she waited after settling her bottom into the groove.
“We can find clothes before we see your aunt and the children,” Taz said.
“It’s already warming up, that’s a good sign.”
“It’s part of the testing. I imagine there is severe destruction in areas used to mass cold when introduced to heat waves.”
“I wonder what will happen if the Tonans manipulate the glaciers to thaw. We could all drown. They’ll know when to stop, won’t they?”
“I hope so. There wasn’t any talk around me about total annihilation.”
Macey couldn’t help it, her gaze focused on his tail, nothing happened.
“I don’t like your tail,” she blurted.
Taz turned. Under his protruding grey bulbs for eyes, she knew he was studying her.
“I remember my first lie,” he said. “I lied to Krish. He laughed, ruffled my hair, and told me I was a good little Tonan. He locked me away from sunlight for two weeks. He told me to lie often, but never to him when he released me.”
“It’s testimony to what you were.”
“I’m still a Tonan.”
“No, you’re not. You’re Taz, my mate, my love, my hope, my defender.”
Taz took a deep breath and moved closer. He gripped the back of his tail and in a giant tug ripped it off. He bellowed loud enough to send a hundred or more birds into a flying fit of panic to darken the sky. He tossed his tail to the ground. Macey almost screamed; she covered her mouth with her hands. She didn’t know he would do such a thing. He did it for her, she realized; he would do anything for her. Taz went to stand before her. He took her hands and she slid down his body to land on his clawed feet.
Macey raised a hand to slide the backs of her fingers down his shielded face. “You’re perfect. I’m sorry. I never should have said that. I don’t like it when you hurt.”
“I’m fine now, but you really should make me feel better.”
His tone was cheeky and she grinned. Taz pressed her back against the rock. His shield opened from his chest to his loins. Macey lowered her pants and smiled at him. Taz’s long talons rested against the rock on either side of her head, arms bent at the elbow. His powerful knee rose, pressed under a thigh and he lifted her higher. Macey ran her hands over his chest before settling onto his hard shoulders.
With tenderness, Taz entered her. He was steel before her, the rock behind unforgiving if he was too rough. Macey gasped as she filled with him. Taz swore. His thrusts were demanding making her rise and fall. His fangs were already glistening with the drug she knew would make her calm and accepting of his massive size when he grew. And he did. Instead of waiting until she could take no more, he bit her immediately. She stretched and realized he was bigger.
“Taz?” her word barely a whisper.
“It’s time, Macey. My must is high. My shield is creating a piece of me. I remember how to. I was afraid I wouldn’t but I do now. I had a baby shield. My mother said it was my father’s gift because he loved me so much. I must protect my child at all cost. I am nothing like Krish.”
Macey wanted to ask more but couldn’t. Taz was concentrating, whispering. The drug in his fangs was short lived and Macey cried out as he continued to rock his huge length within her. Taz seemed unconcerned; he dipped his head and bit her again. She relaxed completely and came as her body gave a small shudder. She realized she was no longer pressed against the rock but cocooned inside the shield with Taz.
Alligators roamed near but dropped to lie in the sun. Taz roared a release making a few of the reptiles jump and snap. When he slipped from her, Macey stayed pressed against him. She was tired.
“This isn’t a good time for an offspring. I’m sorry, Macey. I couldn’t control my actions. My needs are too high. You’re my mate. My shield doesn’t care where we are. It’s hard to explain. When our union is successful, it will be like the shield is too. I think it’s another of my kind’s trait, to want to procreate while other Tonan shields hate to share as much as the host.”
“You are a very strange alien,” Macey said.
“I know, right?”
Macey chuckled. “Does your shield have any other surprises for us, besides wanting to be a parent?”
“Maybe.”
“Well, if we’re going to have kids we’re going to need my aunt’s help.”
Taz took off again. He ran until dusk. Taz stopped briefly for clothes. Macey looked around the quietly eerie abandoned store. Everything was in shambles. The place was looted and Macey shook her head wondering why someone would be dumb enough to steal appliances when the power was lost in so many places.
Macey watched for broken shards of glass, Taz turned his shield into strange sandals at his feet. It took some time to find Taz clothes big enough to feel unhindered in. He tried items on for Macey’s approval. He looked killer in black jeans he dubbed Castian colors but they couldn’t find grey pants. His t-shirt was grey as were his socks and shoes. Taz told her to put her new clothes over the old when she needed to wear them, when they got closer to the cabin. She would need to strip when she was shielded by him, he would also. They could keep the tighter-fitting clothing hidden nearby once they reached the cabin. The material the replicator made wasn’t a substance found on Earth, the clothing would draw suspicion.
Macey collected armfuls of tinned foods and other edibles, stuffing it all in a duffle bag with their new clothes. She wasn’t a thief by nature and walking out of the store without paying made her feel guilty as hell. No cashier was there, no security stopped her. No bells, alarms or whistles went off.
“It’s all right, Macey.” Taz placed his hand on her shoulder.
“I feel like crying. My people must be so terrified. They don’t have someone like you.”
“We can warn as many as we can to hide until this passes, but if I show what I am, we’ll be hunted.”
Macey knew it was true. She was glad Taz would hide what he was from her family. It wasn’t right, but the less the children knew the better. Skylar and Haven were having nightmares about monsters when Macey was taken by Taz. She suspected they still were. Macey loved Taz but when shielded he was scary as shit. The girls would be terrified of him; they needed to get to know him first. Aunt Greta was a tough old bird, but leaving her in the dark couldn’t be helped.
At the small cabin, Taz paused. Macey slipped to the ground when his shield dropped. They dressed quickly while Macey took in the devastation. Her heart pounded in fear. The cabin was destroyed. Around back came the distinct humming of a generator. Macey gripped Taz by the arm. With any luck her aunt would be smiling. Macey would be overjoyed to see her. What she saw when she pushed open the cellar door infuriated her. Her startled aunt sported a black eye. Skylar and Haven cowered in a corner and three huge men all stood drawing knives as they entered the little shelter.
Chapter 9
“Well beautiful, you can stay. But your boyfriend is leaving,” one of the men said. The others laughed.
“Macey no. I couldn’t stop them, run,” the older woman pleaded.
Taz twitched. The female had to be Macey’s aunt. He could scent family. Someone had hurt someone in his family. Taz saw red. His shield struggled with him for a moment then calmed as though relenting; the human males were no match for Taz, shielded or not. Taz flexed his muscles and wanted to swear when he heard a small tear come from his shirt. The little girls, as both seemed tiny to Taz, cried out and stretched little arms towards Macey. He felt Macey’s outrage and fear.
No one frightens my mate.
When the first man approached, a beefy creep of six-four and two-eighty, Taz shook his head. Taz was hundreds of pounds heavier than he looked.
With humans, what you see is what you get. The fat fuck was in for a surprise.
When the smug, heavily-bearded man approached, Taz merely sent a foot into his guts. Fat ass went sailing and Taz wanted to laugh when the male smashed through the single side wall. All other walls were underground. One of the little girls gasped. Taz sensed all three females were injured in some way, and he was pissed. The other two men rushed him; he grabbed them and cracked their heads together. He realized he’d gone too far immediately. He wanted them dead, but he spun, realizing if the females saw their brains mingle together they might be afraid of Taz.
“We’re just going outside to a…” Taz stopped before he lied.
“Take them out and send them on their way,” Macey rushed to say. She said this with a hand to her mouth, gagging.
“Oh, I plan on sending them,” Taz said and grinned.
Once out of sight of the females, Taz pitched each man as far as he could send them. He did the same to the third man. All three were dead. When he returned to Macey, she was sobbing in her aunt’s arms. He sensed relief, happiness, and sorrow. Too many emotions were coming from his little mate and he battled to keep his shield down. Taz walked over to Macey and laid his fingers on her bare arm. Secretions seeped into her skin and she hiccupped and settled.
“I met Taz. We had to get away from the storm. When it passed, we decided we couldn’t separate. I needed to come home. I fell in love with him. You’ll love him too.”
Macey’s aunt was staring at him in an odd fashion. “I already adore him, sweetheart.”
Taz could scent she knew there was something different about him. She reached a hand towards him. Taz felt her warmth and her honesty. She was happy he was here. His shield was screaming at him to do something about her bruising and Taz was annoyed. She wasn’t a child, he couldn’t heal her. Taz felt the dampness on his palm and for a moment Macey’s aunt appeared startled. Her fingers lifted to touch her bruising. Taz knew she was feeling no pain. At least he could offer her that kindness.
Poor female. Why would anyone strike you?
“Let’s see if we can salvage the wall. Taz, my name is Greta. You can call me Greta or Aunt Greta. The choice is yours.”
Taz smiled. He’d never had an Aunt before. There were some human customs he could get used to. The two young girls crept forward. They were both tiny and damn cute. The littlest one took his hand and Taz quivered. She was injured and his shield was screaming at him again.
“I’m Haven. You’re strong.”
The other child tucked strands of hair behind her ear. Taz was surprised when he detected she was attracted to him. She was older, very pretty but still a child, and would be for a number of years. He was stumped with her emotions until the shield whispered it was perfectly normal. It was a female’s way to prepare herself when she needed a mate. Innocent attraction to an older warrior. The scent was meant to be endearing to Taz’s kind. Krish would use her and kill her.
“I’m Skylar,” the child said.
They all smelled of Macey, and Taz was smitten. He would claim all of them. He thought maybe it was his must cycle in overdrive preparing him for paternal instincts. Whatever the emotion, they were his to protect, his family. The idea made Taz feel deadly. Another reason Krish wanted Taz’s kind to stop breeding; he knew the emotion was pure instinct. Krish was older, and in a few short minutes Taz was stronger than or as strong as Krish by accepting responsibility for others. Something else he never knew his shield could do. No wonder Krish wanted to get rid of females, but why find more and bring them back…?
“Taz?” Macey asked when he continued to stare at the children.
“I’ll fix the wall. It’s almost dark. Do we need food?” Taz asked.
Macey began collecting the tin cans she had dropped when entering the cabin, they had spilled from the bag. She held a few up.
“We have fruits and vegetables.”
“I was just making what we have left of the flour into rolls,” Greta said, her tone sad.
“I’ll find us breakfast after we wake in the morning, or go out before dawn,” Taz promised. He hooked a finger under each of the girls’ chins. “You don’t know me, but I love Macey. She tells me you are part of her family which means you are part of mine. Outside is dangerous. I want you both to promise me you will never talk to any male of any age unless I’m around.” The girls, wide-eyed, nodded and Taz continued. “I don’t know what your father was like, but you will find me a thousand times stricter. You do not leave here without my permission.”
“But what if we need to, um, well you know,” Skylar ducked her head with embarrassment. “Pee.”
Taz glanced around. “Tell me you need to go outside for privacy reasons. I’ll come with you and I won’t peek. But this place is large enough to expand on. Tomorrow I’ll make a place inside. Until then, no one leaves without me.”
“Ahem.” Greta had her arms crossed over her chest.
Taz smiled at her. He winked. “Afraid I’ll peek, gorgeous?”
Greta went red. Macey and the girls laughed. Taz put his hand on Greta’s bare arm. His secretions knew resistance. He was a warrior and used to a battle. At times, a touch could make his enemy compliant. Greta wasn’t an enemy and she was female. It was subtle, but she gazed up at him and offered a curt nod. The children were easier. They were terrified of what might happen to them, swaying them to listen wasn’t hard.
Macey and her aunt prepared a small dinner. Taz ate nothing; he wanted the children to have his share. Fed and exhausted, the girls climbed onto a small cot together. Haven gazed up at Taz. Her innocence sucked him dry with emotion.
“Will you be here when we wake up?” Haven asked.
“I might go hunting early, but I won’t leave you. I will come back. Go to sleep, little one. You need to sleep.”
Taz ran his fingertips over the cheeks of both girls, and they were out cold in seconds. His shield ached to heal them, but for the moment was content to aid their slumber. Taz didn’t drug them, his secretions mingled with their emotions and needs.
“Hopefully, they sleep through the night,” Greta whispered. “It’s been awful here the last two days.”
“I’m so sorry, Aunt Greta.”
Macey went to wrap her arms around Greta who patted her hair. Taz felt guilty. It was his fault they were gone when Macey’s aunt needed them. Greta went over to a mound of clothes and lay down. Macey took Taz by the hand and they made a small bed from blankets and comforters. Taz waited until he heard the even breathing of the others. He could ignore his shield no longer.
“Taz?” Macey asked as he crept towards Haven.
“A warrior can heal a child. She’s asleep. Don’t worry I’ll bring her back in a moment.”
Taz scooped the little girl up into his arms. He took her outside and enveloped her. This was the first young child he healed. Taz’s emotions changed, his shield clung to the parental aspect and stayed. There were no real problems. Bumps and bruises and cuts healed. He brought her back and picked up Skylar. The child stirred and with tenderness he bit into her neck quieting her. He sensed what the child needed most was sleep. She stunk of terror. Taz lulled her into sweet dreams and returned her. He almost slipped back under the covers beside Macey but his shield was again screaming at him. It was pulling him, his emotions.
Taz went to Greta. She slumbered fitfully. Taz sunk his fangs gently into her throat. He picked her up and took her outside. He was beyond surprised when his shield enveloped the older woman. A thought came, she was related. She was blood to Taz because she was blood to Macey. Taz could heal family.
Taz returned Greta to her sleeping place and snuggled in beside Macey. He wished he could make love to her, but now wasn’t the right time.
“I love you, Taz.”
“I know. I love you too.”
“I know.”
Macey curled into his arms and Taz went into a slumber mode. He followed Macey into her dreams. He was surprised the first time he h
ad done that. He kept his distance sensing he was too overwhelming with his need to spend time with her. He thought at first having to be around her all the time was a nuisance; it was a comfort. He could tell she was in need of comfort now. Taz sensed this was more than a dream, she was reliving a nightmare. Taz couldn’t stand her fear.
The rubble pile she gazed at in her nightmare was her old dwelling. Her loss made him wrap his arms around her waist. She spun and looked at him in confusion.
“How did you get here?” she asked.
“I followed you.”
“I love you, but don’t understand why or how you can be here right now. We didn’t meet until after the storm destroyed my home.”
“I will always find you, sweetheart. No matter where you are. If you need me, think of me and I will come. I can track you anywhere, any dimension; your dreams are easy. You don’t have to be here ever again. Come with me.”
She pressed her body into his arms. Taz took her to his tree house. He hadn’t been in years. Macey smiled in delight and went to the drawings his father carved. Taz called up an image of his parents, something he’d never done. He was surprised they looked so real. Macey gazed at them shyly until his father hugged her. The apparition had solidified. His parents were real.
“I’m proud of you my son,” his mother said and she touched his cheek. “You remembered what I said all those years ago.”
“Are you real?” Taz whispered.
His father smiled and released Macey so his mother could hug her too. He clasped Taz by the hand. His grip was strong.
“I’m part of you, we both are,” his father said. “You are your father’s son.”
Macey went to Taz and smiled, tilting her head to gaze into his eyes. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Trusting me with your family.”
Taz’s parents held hands and drifted from their sight. He smiled. There was something else about his kind. They didn’t cease to exist; they went on to a new plane of existence. Krish’s kind never did. When they were gone, they were no more. There was no one to remember them. It was Macey and her ability to open his heart that gave him the gift of his parents. He realized now why they hadn’t come to him. The second Krish filled him with hate and loathing, he was lost. Macey found him. A good feeling settled over Taz. One day he would see his parents for real. But not now. Right now was his and Macey’s time.
Defender (New World Book 7) Page 11