The Scientist's Price (Warriors Book 1)

by L P Peace

  Olivia reached out and felt Kadian’s strong fingers enclose her hand. Unable to resist, she leaned towards him and reached for him, hooking her fingers around the back of his neck and pulling him towards her.

  Desire quickly replaced surprise in Kadian’s eyes before his lips met hers. Then his free hand was inside the hood of her coat, finding the back of her neck and pressing them closer together.

  The kiss was a reaffirmation and a rediscovery. Olivia needed it to assure herself Kadian was conscious, safe, and with her.

  ‘Olivia.’ Kadian broke the kiss. ‘We need to get out of here.’

  Olivia rested her forehead against his for the briefest moment. ‘I know.’

  They stood, and Kadian, bracing himself, took her hand and slowly lowered her down into the sewer hole. Even with his long arms, she was still a few feet from the path below.

  ‘Do you have it?’

  ‘I have it.’ She nodded, staring down at the path and bracing. ‘Let go, Kadian.’

  There was a pause, then she was descending through the air. Her feet hit the hard path and she bent her knees, absorbing the impact. She made way and watched Kadian lower himself carefully into the hole, moving the cover back into place before landing heavily beside her. He stumbled, holding himself against the wall for a moment.

  ‘Is your thigh okay?’

  When he looked at her, she could see pain in his eyes, but he nodded. ‘Let’s go.’

  ‘Follow me,’ Olivia said. Turning, she led the way through the dark sewer tunnels.

  Kadian watched Olivia walk ahead of him.

  ‘Let go, Kadian.’

  It had been hard to drop her anyway, but hearing those words made it so much harder. How many times had Connor advised he let Olivia go? How many times had he whispered the words to himself in the darkness? But he just couldn’t.

  There was something in Olivia that his soul recognised as his, and he couldn’t let her go.

  ‘Do you know the way from here?’

  ‘Erm, not really. But Tassian keeps people in certain places throughout the city, watching for slaves they can help. That’s how I got free. As long as we keep on walking, we’ll come across one of them and they’ll know which way to take us.’

  Kadian reviewed the information. They were relying on a stranger for direction. He felt like he should be put out, but as a soldier, how many times had he been faced with this exact situation. Olivia knew the terrain and the people; he would trust her experience unless something happened that told him otherwise.

  They walked in silence for several metri, Kadian keeping an eye out for danger. Again and again, his mind turned to the grate.

  ‘Let go, Kadian.’

  Kadian knew his feelings for Olivia were intense. He didn’t have the bonding urge of some species. Todaal were not built like that. But something inside him had claimed her spirit and demanded he claim her body. Now that he had, that feeling had only intensified.

  In part, he knew that was because of the things Olivia had been through. Almost losing her to this kind of horror had torn his nerves raw. He couldn’t control his fear that the Myardahl would arrive at any moment to steal her away from him. The fear was so real his body hadn’t relaxed since he first held her in his arms the rote before. Not since the Inadiine attacked.

  Why had he thought it would be so easy to just take her to the port and get her off-planet? Of course the Myardahl would call the authorities. According to their laws, Kadian was the one in the wrong.

  They walked for over an hacri before, finally, someone stepped out of the darkness—an Ualhan female with sharp eyes and a weapon raised in Kadian’s direction.

  ‘I’m Olivia. I know Tassian.’

  ‘Really?’ the female rolled her eyes. ‘Who’s this?’

  ‘This is Kadian. He’s… my friend. He came to rescue me.’

  ‘You came to the Myardahl homeworld to rescue a slave?’ The Ualhan’s voice was sceptical.

  ‘I would come much farther and do more than risk this world for her.’

  ‘Friend, huh?’ The Ualhan’s smirked and shook her head.

  ‘We need help getting to the town.’

  The Ualhan lowered her weapon. ‘This way.’ She turned and began jogging. Olivia and Kadian followed, matching her pace.

  ‘How far away are we?’ Kadian called out to the female.

  ‘Several madith,’ she called back.

  Kadian had anticipated some resistance; otherwise, he wouldn’t have put in the call to Tanir early on. At least while he was leaving Caras, he was still thinking with some semblance of clarity. But here, on this planet, surrounded by enemies, Kadian had lost some sense of perspective, and Olivia had borne the brunt of his protective instinct.

  No, not protective, though that was definitely there. If Kadian were honest with himself, it was possessiveness that was driving him. The need to possess her. To own her. To know she was his and would never leave him.

  Agony tore through Kadian’s thigh. His muscles were burning after dropping into the sewers, and now that intensified into pain, but pain he could handle. However, he worried that this exertion would be too much for Olivia. He observed her as they ran for signs of fatigue, but she showed none so far.

  Beside them, the water was getting higher from the rain and was now moving faster than they were. This must have been how the slaves got water.

  They were running for some time when Olivia grabbed her side and lurched forward slightly. ‘Can we take a break?’

  She slowed, and Kadian slowed to match her, moving next to her.

  ‘Olivia?’

  ‘Stitch!’ she gasped.

  ‘We need to move,’ the Ualhan snapped.

  ‘Just a metri!’ Kadian snapped back. Then, to Olivia, ‘I can carry you. Like that time back at the lab.’

  He could still remember Olivia jumping on his back and instructing him to move from place to place while she gathered paperwork they had to fill out. She’d laughed and shrieked when he spun on the spot. When he set her down, her face was flushed and her eyes lit up with humour.

  ‘Your leg?’

  ‘I can carry you, any rote, human,’ he smirked.

  A small smile appeared on her lips, and she huffed a laugh. ‘If you’re okay with it. But if it gets too much, Kadian, tell me.

  ‘You have my word, Olivia.’

  ‘You two are sweet. But can we get going now? I have to get back to my post.’

  Kadian turned and crouched. Olivia jumped onto his back, and he wrapped his arms around her thighs to keep her secure.

  Turning, he found the Ualhan smiling at them. Then she was off, moving up the path at a faster pace.

  Something in Kadian had eased now that his body was in contact with Olivia. The possessiveness he’d been trying to deny since he first saw her again rose inside him, satisfied that Olivia was relying on him to this degree. The creature within agreed. Olivia was his, and it was his job to protect her and keep her from pain, even short-term pain like stitch.

  But that wasn’t right.

  The creature seemed to be blinding him to reason. It were behind the intense urge he’d had to claim her. But Kadian didn’t own her. Olivia was her own person with her own will. That he could see she cared for him and ignored it had caused a kind of madness in him, and he couldn’t seem to let it go. Even now that she was his, had confirmed her feelings for him, those urges were still driving him. The fear that he’d forced her to give into him, to accept him because she felt like she was being forced, grasped him and wouldn’t let go.

  It was almost an hacri later when they arrived at the end of one of the long tunnels to find a large, open space filled with a shantytown.

  ‘Tell Tassian I said hi,’ the Ualhan said, then she was gone.

  ‘Umm, can I get down now?’ Olivia whispered in his ear.

  Kadian let her down and turned to face her. She smiled up at him for a moment, her eyes filled with the same kind of humour from their rote in the lab toget
her. This was more like the Olivia he knew. Less the frightened female traumatised by her kidnapping and sale as a slave. The Olivia she’d been before she left Earth was carefree and happy.

  ‘Come on. Let’s get somewhere to sleep. Tassian will be asleep by now.’

  ‘Very well.’

  Olivia headed into the town, and Kadian followed.

  Olivia was feeling much, much better than she had in the car. She was back among the escaped slaves of the underground town. In all the years this place had stood, no one had ever found it. The city used drones to tend to issues down here, and they weren’t designed to report findings like an entire town of escaped slaves. She could breathe easier.

  More, after getting into the tunnels, the blood from Kadian’s face was now completely gone. He’d stopped bleeding.

  Vyan brought them to a free structure.

  ‘It’s not much,’ the Aavani said.

  ‘It’s fine.’ Olivia smiled. ‘We only need a place to put our heads down for the night.’

  Vyan nodded. ‘I’ll tell Tassian you’re here in the morning. He’ll want to talk to you before you leave.’

  Vyan left, letting Olivia lead the way inside the structure.

  They had these buildings all over the town. Empty, waiting for new arrivals to settle in before they had to make their own way, the way Olivia had to.

  Inside was clean and spartan. There was a pallet, a bed made up of whatever they could steal. The bedding was clean. Water was the one thing the town had plenty of. Clean water was a little rarer.

  ‘It’s not much. Can you manage for a night?’ Olivia turned to Kadian, who was watching her intently. ‘Kadian, what’s wrong?’

  He walked over to her slowly, carefully, like he was approaching a cornered animal. When he reached her, he stroked her cheek. ‘You know I love you?’

  She smiled up at him. ‘I know. I love you too.’

  Kadian was searching her face, a pinch of skin between his eyes, which was Kadian’s version of a frown. ‘Do you?’

  Olivia felt the breath knocked out of her. She stood there. ‘What… What on Earth… Are you serious?’

  ‘You don’t belong to me. If you leave, I won’t follow. I’ll want to…’ He glanced at her, his whole expression dark. ‘But I won’t. I withdraw my price.’

  Olivia stared at him, unable to comprehend what he meant for a moment before the meaning crashed over her. ‘I don’t want you to withdraw your price.’ The words tumbled out in a rush.

  ‘Olivia—’

  ‘No. I love you, and I don’t want you to withdraw your price. Because I do belong to you, just like you belong to me. I appreciate the gesture, but if you ever leave me, I’m going to hunt you down. Because you’re mine and I’m never letting you go.’

  Kadian stared at her, his mouth opened wordlessly before it closed again. His hand wrapping around the back of her head. His lips captured hers in a kiss that was all parts possessive. His other arm wrapped around her, pressing her tight to him so that when he stood to his full height, she was caught against his chest, her feet dangling in the air.

  Carrying her over to the palette, he gently laid her down and climbed atop her. He continued kissing her. His free hand roamed over her body, cupping her breast, pinching her nipple through her clothes. It slid over her skin, and even through her clothes, her nerves lit up in its wake. Finally, he slipped his hand inside her pants until he was cupping her mound. He moved two fingers over her, teasing her slit and clit as his tongue commanded and demanded of her.

  When she was wet, he slipped two fingers inside her even as his thumb traced light, maddening circles over her clit. Olivia spiralled towards release, her hips bucking against his hand, searching for greater pressure, greater friction.

  Quicker than she could comprehend, every nerve in Olivia’s body shattered at once. She cried out, and Kadian swallowed her cry. His fingers and thumb suddenly moved with more intent, more pressure as he teased her orgasm out until it was almost too much for her.

  ‘Vrok, Olivia!’

  Olivia opened her eyes to see the golden irises of Kadian’s staring back at her from a field of black. ‘I love you,’ she whispered. ‘Don’t you ever talk of leaving me again.’

  ‘Never. I promise,’ he groaned. He was rubbing his cock against her leg now.

  ‘Let’s get out of these clothes,’ she whispered. ‘I need to fuck you right now.’

  Kadian worked quickly, undressing Olivia even as she lay there. Then he was naked. He turned her then, fitting his front to her back. A moment later, she felt the head of his cock breaching her. She moaned, eyes fluttering shut at the sensation of him filling her. She felt his knot, a little larger than previously, but it slipped inside her and the sense of being filled ramped up.

  Olivia had never felt anything like it. It was so good and only got better as he moved, as his knot grew. He filled her, stretched her in a way that left her feeling needy and fulfilled at the same time.

  Kadian’s hand gently took hold of her chin, and he turned her to face him. She could see now why he’d chosen this position. With his greater height, he could easily reach around and kiss her, which he did, his lips cool and firm under hers.

  His other hand was laid flat against her abdomen, and he guided her movements as he thrust into her. Olivia moved her leg, hooking it behind his and spreading herself wide. Kadian took the invitation, his fingers finding her clit once again. He rubbed small circles around it even as his thrusts grew short as his expanding knot limited his movement.

  His knot was rubbing precisely the right place inside her. That, along with the position they were in, made the fullness of him feel more intense. His fingers were still playing with her clit. Olivia felt her pussy fluttering around him. He was everywhere, overwhelming her with the feel of him.

  Kadian groaned in her ear, his lips kissing over her neck, his tongue tasting her. His hand, which had turned her cheek a moment before, moved to her breast. He cupped and massaged it, pinching and twisting her nipple, adding new sensations to her already stunned body.

  ‘Kadian!’

  He groaned again, louder this time as his knot pulsed inside her, pounding against her g-spot. Olivia’s body locked at the same time as Kadian’s groan turned into a wracked, throaty growl. He pulsed inside her as she gripped his girth. She grabbed her other breast with one hand, mimicking Kadian as he teased the other. She wrapped her free arm around the back of his neck, holding him against her as he growled and laved against her throat. Her nails dug into his back as they both peaked, then Kadian’s longer thrusts resumed as his knot emptied inside her.

  They were still moving and grinding a minute later, dragging out the connection, the pleasure, the feel of them, together.

  Kadian was panting against her. Olivia opened her eyes, and Kadian lifted his head so that they could take each other in. Olivia’s fingers stroked over his skin.

  ‘I love you, Kadian. Don’t you ever doubt it.’

  ‘I love you, Olivia. Love you. Am obsessed with you. Need you. Mine,’ he whispered the last, leaning his forehead against hers.

  ‘Mine,’ she said back, smiling. ‘Always.’

  Olivia was sleeping next to him when someone cleared their throat outside.

  Kadian slipped out of bed and crossed the room, drawing the curtain back. Vyan was standing outside, a wry grin on his face as he silently handed Kadian a container and two cups. Within was fresh water. He nodded his thanks to the Aavani, letting the curtain fall back as he moved back inside the hut. He heard Vyan walk away.

  Across the room, Olivia was watching him. For a moment, he was stunned by the form of the woman he loved lying in a palette where they had recently made love. Her skin was slightly flushed, her hair tousled and there was a look of satiated happiness on her face. He smiled at the thought that he had put that there. ‘Vyan brought this for us,’ he said, indicating the container.

  Olivia’s face flushed, and she closed her eyes and groaned.


  ‘What’s wrong?’

  ‘Everything. Noise. How loud were we?’

  Kadian chuckled and she opened her eyes. ‘I have no idea. I was too busy enjoying myself and making sure you did the same.’ He didn’t care if the whole chamber heard them.

  Olivia laughed even as her face heated further. He put the container down and filled the cups, limping over to her.

  Kadian felt her eyes move to his thigh and the missing section of muscle. She sat up as he approached and accepted the drink, taking a sip as he did the same. When she handed it back to him, he walked back across the floor to put the cups on the small table, self-conscious of his limp.

  ‘What happened to your thigh?’ she asked when he made his way back over to the bed.

  Kadian sighed as he lay down next to her, pulling her into his arms. ‘It’s a long story,’ he said. He didn’t want to think of that here, in this place. Not when the hours leading up to this moment were such a jumble of conflicting emotions.

  ‘I want to hear it.’ She leaned against his chest, looking into his eyes. Kadian could see the light green flecks amid the brown. ‘You’ve promised me you’d tell me. Back in the hotel, you said later. But you never did.’

  Kadian let out another sigh, then nodded.

  ‘We were told there was a ship orbiting a planet, Caprius where the Enhari were having radiant refined.’

  ‘Enhari, they’re the ones with limited access to it because they tried to conquer an empire?’

  Kadian nodded. If they had stopped trying to expand their empire hundreds of solars before no one would have cared and by now, they would be able to have as much radiant as their six chambered hearts desired. But the Enhari had attempted to push their borders every decade or two since then. They were constantly hiring other species to build illegal ships, refine illegal radiant, had even tried to raid facilities holding Adian stones, the stones that powered gate travel. They wouldn’t stop, so the IGC, which had been founded in the wake of the war against the Enhari, were forced to continue subverting them.

  ‘The Cithian were refining the radiant for them. Cithian space shares a border with Enhari space, and the Enhari were building a new fleet.’