Dark Strength

by Cynthia Sax

  Balvan turned her until she faced him, lifted her off the floor until she met his gaze directly. His eyes reflected concern, anger, fear.

  Her big male was scared for her.

  “We have to do this.” She bracketed his cheeks with her hands. “It has to end.”

  “You don’t have to do this alone.” He turned his head to the right, kissed her scarred wrist, turned his head to the left, did the same to that wrist. His nanohumanics fizzed on her skin. “I belong at your side.”

  “You belong here.” She placed one of his hands on her chest, above her heart. “And we will be parted for mere moments, only long enough to prompt the warriors to lower their guns.”

  “If they don’t lower their guns.” He spread his fingers, covering more of her. “If something happens to you—” His voice broke.

  She swallowed the lump of emotion forming in her throat. “Nothing will happen to me. You can move quickly…when you want to.” She forced a smile. “You’ll carry me out of harm’s way.”

  “I’d trade my life for yours, my little female.” Balvan leaned his forehead against hers.

  They breathed in, breathed out, breathed in, breathed out, in sync, as one.

  She felt the same way about him, would do anything to save his life. Her world would be a never-ending nightmare without him. There would be no safe places, no fear-free moments, no love.

  “These planet rotations I’ve spent with you have been the happiest of my lifespan.” She wanted him to know that. “There is nothing I won’t do to return to you. Even if I’m taken, I’ll fight—”

  “You won’t be taken.” He brushed his lips over hers, a light fervent kiss. “I won’t allow that.”

  She blinked back tears. “Would you search for me?”

  “I wouldn’t stop searching until I found you.” His eyes flashed. “I’d hunt Marowit to the ends of the universe and retrieve you.”

  She gazed at her big mate, speechless with admiration, with wonder.

  If she was taken, he’d look for her. She wouldn’t merely be another faceless being disappearing in the universe, unnoticed and unnecessary, as she had been that first time.

  She’d be missed.

  “When I found you, he’d die. I would crush his skull under my boots.” Balvan said that with a thrilling vehemence.

  “I’d like that.” She smiled at him.

  “You’re perfect for me, little female.” He held her against his chest. “I—”

  Orol cleared his throat.

  Elyce glanced at him. Her face heated.

  The chamber was silent and every being stared at them. The warriors, Balvan’s brethren, must have been listening to their mushy words.

  “Have you changed your minds about Elyce being the distraction?” Orol asked, his expression telling her he hoped that offer remained open.

  There must be no other solid options.

  She looked at Balvan.

  He nodded, his lips grimly set.

  “We haven’t changed our minds.” She answered for both of them. “I’ll be your distraction.”

  She’d face her abductor. She’d do that for the girl, for her new friends at the Refuge, but most of all, she’d do that for Balvan, the male she loved.

  This planet rotation, either Marowit would die or she would.

  This would end.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Balvan had thought he knew what fear was.

  He’d had no fraggin’ idea. None. He realized that when his female volunteered to face her abductor, that cruel crazy little human male, alone.

  Chills ran down Balvan’s spine, cold gripping his heart.

  He carried his female toward the wall of wind and sand. She was so tiny, so fragile, so easily broken. One projectile could end her lifespan, take her laughter, her smile, her caring from him forever.

  “I have to play a role with Marowit,” she whispered, the tremor in her voice hurting Balvan’s heart. “I’ll say things, hurtful things I don’t mean…about you, about us. He is less likely to do anything if he believes I was always loyal to him.”

  “Then tell him I’m a monster.” He’d give her permission to say anything if it might save her life. “I’m ugly, scary, a beast.” He had broad shoulders. He could take the hurtful words. “You thought of him the entire time you were with me.”

  “None of that is true.” She drifted her fingertips over his cheek, along his jaw, pleasure radiating from her touch. “I think of you always, your beautiful eyes, your beloved face.”

  Beloved was close to loved. Everything inside him went still, his soul aching for her love, wanting to hear those precious words.

  “But he’ll believe my words because he wants to believe them.” Her smile was strained. “You’ll think I’m weak, seeing how I am with him, but that act was how I survived.”

  “You’re not weak.” He would never think that of her. “You’re the strongest, bravest being I know.”

  Her fingers trembled. “I’m not brave. I’m terrified.”

  “You’re terrified.” He was also. “But you’re acting anyway. That’s bravery.” And intelligence. She was everything a male could want in a mate.

  He couldn’t lose her.

  Balvan covered her lips with his. She opened to him, acting as hungry for the embrace as he was. Their tongues tumbled and tangled, her taste filling his mouth, the scent of her arousal teasing his nostrils.

  Warriors positioned around them. He monitored their surroundings, always keeping his female safe, while he ravished her mouth, showing her how much he cared for her, making promises with his lips, his body.

  He slowly lowered her, bending to prolong their kiss, until he had to straighten. She gazed up at him, her blue eyes dark and dazed with passion.

  “I’m always with you.” He placed his palm above her left breast, over her heart. “My strength is yours.”

  “I couldn’t do this without you.” She lifted her chin. “You’ll be behind me?”

  He nodded. “You won’t be able to see me.” She lacked his enhanced eyesight. “But I will be able to see you.”

  “Good.” She took a deep breath and released it.

  His little female wore her chest-and-ass-coverings combination, her curves encased in tight leather. That garment wouldn’t protect her from much. Her chest covering was partially unfastened, showing the tops of her pale breasts.

  She believed Marowit would be susceptible to the flash of bosom. Balvan would gouge the male’s eyeballs out for looking at her.

  She was his.

  “Take this.” He removed her gun from one of his holsters, flicked the lever to shoot, and tucked it in the back of her waistband, the barrel pressing against her spine. “He won’t be able to see it.”

  “I’ll be armed.” Her back straightened and his little female gave him a hint of a smile. “Thank you.”

  He gripped her hips, holding her to him. In his arms, she was safe.

  Warriors are in position. Kralj, monitoring the mission through all of their senses, pushed that thought into their brains, ensuring their responses were coordinated.

  “I have to go,” she whispered.

  Balvan didn’t want to release her. Being with her was the only way he could ensure she was protected. Outside the range of his arms, his little female was on her own.

  “Balvan?” She looked up at him.

  “Can’t.” He couldn’t do this, couldn’t lose her.

  “I trust you to safeguard me.” Her gaze locked with his, the faith in her eyes almost bringing him to his knees. “Trust me to survive.”

  Fraggin’ hole. He had to trust her to do that.

  Balvan forced himself to let her go.

  She turned and walked away, her hips swaying. “I love you, Balvan.”

  Those words were barely audible, even with his enhanced hearing.

  Had she said them? He stared at her back, his big heart pounding. Did his mate truly love him?

  When she reached the barrier o
f wind and sand, her shoulders rounded and her head bowed. She became the beaten female he had first met. It was wrong, painful to watch, and he wanted to pull her back, cover her with his muscle, restore her confidence.

  It was an act. Balvan tried to relax. She knew he was right behind her.

  “I’m r-r-returning to you, Master.” Kralj amplified Elyce’s quivering voice.

  “Silence.” Marowit’s half of the conversation was also broadcast. “Is that you, slut? I was told a big green male claimed you as his slave.”

  “He isn’t you, Master.” Her body shook and Balvan clenched his jaw. Her fear was real, that emotion radiating from her small form. “He doesn’t g-g-give me what I need.”

  “You missed the pain, didn’t you?” Marowit crowed, his glee over inflicting that agony twisting Balvan’s stomach. “He doesn’t whip you the way I do.”

  “N-n-no one does, Master.” She shuffled forward, even her stride subdued. “I escaped him.”

  “That must have been easy.” Marowit’s laughter held cruelty. “They say he’s big and dumb.”

  “He’s not b-b-big everywhere, Master.”

  Marowit and his males laughed. Warriors who didn’t know Balvan well, who hadn’t ever seen him naked, glanced at him, their eyes wide with speculation.

  He ignored those males. Let everyone believe he had a tiny cock. He didn’t care. That clever lie would ensure his little female lived.

  His shoulders lowered. Marowit would find delight in mocking his size, would want to hear more about Balvan’s deficiencies. He wouldn’t kill the source of that information.

  “Did you see my prize when you were with him, Paloma?” Marowit’s attention turned to his obsession with the true bearer of that name, Rhea’s sister.

  “N-n-no, Master.” Elyce’s blatant lie emphasized she was merely playing a role. Nothing she said was real. “But I know how to enter the settlement without being spotted.”

  “Do you?” That intrigued Marowit. Balvan heard that in his voice.

  “Yes, Master.” She wiped her palms on her ass coverings, the leather shining with moisture. “Th-th-they aren’t as smart as they think they are.”

  There was a stretch of silence. Marowit must have been weighing the risks against the possible opportunities.

  Would he accept Elyce’s lies? Part of Balvan hoped the male wouldn’t believe her. He didn’t want his little female to put herself in danger, every instinct inside him screaming to safeguard her.

  That part warred with the side of him that yearned to kill Marowit, now, to smash his skull under his boot heels, soothe his female’s fears forever.

  “Come to me, Paloma.” The human finally ordered.

  Balvan’s lips flattened. Killing Marowit, it would be.

  “You’ve earned a whipping for your disobedience.” The anticipation in the male’s voice elevated Balvan’s rage.

  “T-t-thank you, Master.” She quivered.

  Lowering the barrier. Kralj communicated, his tone flat.

  The wall of wind and sand thinned. Balvan, with his enhanced sight, could view the outlines of their enemies, their grounded ships, their missile launchers and other weapons. Marowit and the other humans shouldn’t be able to see any difference in the barrier.

  You can walk through it. The Ruler confirmed.

  It took all of Balvan’s strength to let his little female go. She covered her head with her arms, blocking some of the sand, and strode out of Kralj’s terrain, out of their protection.

  “W-w-will you punish me now, Master?” As she reached the other side, she sank to her knees, his clever mate making herself a smaller target.

  “Look at her. She’s eager for it.” One of the males laughed.

  “Grab my whip.” Marowit’s words grated on Balvan’s soul. “And bring out the other female. We’ll show her how a female should act around her master.”

  A girl screamed.

  The males are lowering their guns, Kralj informed them.

  The warriors around him gripped their weapons, preparing to attack. Missile launchers were redirected, targeting the now visible Humanoid Alliance ships and other artillery.

  Balvan lowered his body, ready to spring forward. Every moment counted, could be the difference between saving his little female and losing her forever.

  “If y-y-you set her beside me, Master.” The hard edge to Elyce’s voice was barely detectable. “You can whip both of us at the same time.”

  “I’ll take turns fucking you also.”

  More screams filled the air.

  Elyce partially removed her chest covering, draping it over her lower back, concealing her gun. “P-p-punish me first, Master.” She bent over, exposing her scarred shoulders, upper back, offering her body to be abused.

  Blood dripped from Balvan’s fists. His jaw ached.

  Males gathered around the two females, wild beasts circling prey.

  One of those prey was Balvan’s mate, the love of his lifespan. If Kralj didn’t give them the command to attack soon, he would—

  Attack, Kralj’s voice rang through his skull.

  Balvan propelled himself forward at top speed, barely feeling the thin barrier of sand. He barreled through the males, knocking them to the right and to the left. Missiles arced above him. Gunfire rattled. Pain struck his right arm.

  He scooped his female off the sand and turned, covering her with his massive form. Orol plucked the other female out of a human’s grip, slicing off the male’s hands, the blood splattering on the ground. Screams tore through the air.

  Projectiles riddled Balvan’s back and ass. Pain punctured him, but he huddled over Elyce, absorbing each shot, protecting his little female. He’d endured worst agony and had survived. His thick hide and nanohumanics would minimize the damage.

  Orol flew the sister into Kralj’s terrain, to safety. Some of Marowit’s males foolishly entered the area also, trying to escape the slaughter. Instead, they faced the Ruler’s wrath, bubbling and shrieking until they exploded.

  Around Balvan and Elyce, modified humanoids and irate Refuge residents hacked apart, burned, and shot to pieces Marowit’s Humanoid Alliance forces.

  Ships crashed in sand dunes, exploding. Shields were lowered during takeoff and the human pilots were unable to lift the vessels off the ground and fly them out of range before Balvan’s brethren downed them with missiles.

  The Humanoid Alliance might have had more males but the Refuge’s warriors had special skills, better intel on their enemy, and many solar cycles of anger fueling them.

  That combination was unbeatable. Blood flowed, staining the sand red. The scent of death lingered on the air.

  “You’re bleeding.” Elyce touched his neck, her touch gentle, loving.

  Her bare breasts were flattened against his chest, the warmth of her skin, the beating of her heart reassuring Balvan. She was alive. She was safe.

  “It’s a scratch.” Compared to other wounds he’d suffered, it was nothing. “I’ll heal.” That was what he was genetically designed to do. “Are you hurt?”

  “I’m unharmed…because of you.” Her eyes glowed with admiration, with caring. “Shouldn’t you be crushing skulls?”

  “Protecting you is my primary mission.” He shuddered as another projectile pierced his skin. “The males ventured too close to you.” She must have been terrified. He stroked her back with his hands.

  “It was the only way to get the girl away from them.” She rested her cheek against his chest. “She’s safe?”

  “She’s safe.” He confirmed. “You’re safe.” He said that for his female and for himself, needing to hear those words out loud.

  “You’re safe also.” She sighed, snuggling against him. “We should be fighting, shouldn’t we?”

  Judging by the decrease in gunfire, there weren’t many beings left to fight. “We’ll allow others to have that fun.” Balvan held her against him. He had a female to comfort, to care for.

  “Either shoot me or get out of my
way,” Marowit yelled.

  Elyce looked up at Balvan.

  “He’s ours to kill.” He’d told his brethren to save the human for last. His female deserved vengeance for the pain the male had caused her. She would also have closure.

  He would help her, use his great strength and skill at killing to bring her peace, to show her the male could never hurt her again.

  She would be truly free.

  Soon, only one set of gunfire disturbed the silence. One male muttered semi-hysterically about betrayals, ungrateful females, and giant green idiots.

  “The spineless male is trying to escape.” Orol landed beside Balvan, his top lip curled upward in disgust. “Make him pay for the pain he’s caused.”

  Marowit had caused Orol’s mate pain also, betraying her, condemning her parents to death. A projectile bit into Balvan’s right shoulder and he winced. Orol deserved some retribution.

  “He needs a prolonger.” Balvan met Orol’s gaze. Injecting Marowit with a prolonger would ensure the male didn’t lose consciousness before the torture had ended. Elyce’s tormenter wouldn’t escape his punishment and his pain, not that way. “And he has to be disarmed.”

  “I was hoping you’d say that.” The winged male extracted an injection gun from one of his holsters. “Consider it done.”

  Orol flew toward Marowit, his face dark with intent. His friend, like Balvan and Kralj and all other modified humanoids, had learned from his makers. He knew how to inflict maximum agony on a target.

  “Stay away from me, you feathered freak.” Marowit protested.

  “You should have stayed away from my mate.” The thump, thump, thump of wings batting the air grew louder, communicating Orol’s anger. “You won’t escape this time.”

  “What was that?” Marowit squeaked. “What did you inject into me?”

  “That was a promise of pain to come.” Satisfaction warmed Orol’s voice. “This is for Rhea.” A screech rent the air. “And this is for her sister, Paloma.”

  There was another screech and the irritating projectile bombardment stopped.

  Balvan glanced over his shoulder. Marowit waved his arms, his hands severed at the wrists. Blood spurted everywhere.

  Orol hovered above him, his talons crimson.