“I wouldn’t say that. You’re both pretty good liars.” She snorted. “You mentioned Brady was safe, is that even true?” She edged her way off the bed.
Bacchus frowned. “I would not harm him. I know what he means to you and what you mean to him. I understand the concept of family far more than you’ll ever know. Brady is quite well. You have my word that he has found his mate.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You’ll forgive me if I choose not to believe a man who says he’s from another planet. You’re obviously off your meds.”
He sighed. “I speak the truth. I want only your happiness. I can prove what I say.”
“What are you going to do, beam yourself to the bathroom and back?” she snapped.
Bacchus ignored her insults. This was going far worse than he’d hoped. “I must know something, before I present my proof.”
“What’s that, Mork?”
“My name is Bacchus.”
She smirked. “Yeah, yeah, whatever, Alf.”
“First, let’s suppose everything I’ve said is true,” he said, ignoring her waspish tone. He didn't blame her for being angry. This wasn't how he'd planned to tell her the truth.
She hesitated. “Okayyy.”
“Did you really mean it when you said that sometimes you wished you could be a reptile?”
Carrie balked. “What does that have to do with anything?”
Bacchus crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m serious. Please answer the question.”
“Fine!” she snapped. “I also dreamed about being a ballerina, but I know it can’t happen. Unlike you, I'm not crazy.” Carrie hugged her knees to her chest.
Bacchus didn’t respond to her taunt, instead he said, “It’s time for you to see the truth.”
Tears filled Carrie’s eyes and she whimpered. “Please don’t kill me. I promise I won’t tell anyone about you.”
Bacchus flinched as if she’d struck him. “I could never harm you. As a Phantom Warrior and your mate, I would lay down my life to protect you. Now come, there’s something you must see.” He stood and held out his hand.
Carrie hesitated, then took it. He led her down the hall to the bathroom. The skin at the base of his skull began to itch. Quarg! The Phantom ship was near. He placed his hands on her shoulders, and then slowly rotated her toward the mirror.
She gasped. “What happened to my eyes-ss?” Carrie lisped as fangs unfurled in her mouth. “What’s-ss happening? What did you do to me? Oh my god, are those fangs?”
He turned her to face him. “I did exactly what you wanted me to do, what you’ve wanted a man to do all your life. I dominated and claimed you all in one act. Tell me it isn’t what you wanted.” He refused to let her hide from the truth.
She opened her mouth and closed it several times before speaking. “I admit I may have fantasized about wanting someone to do that, but this-ss…” her voice trailed off. “I don’t know what to think of this-ss.”
“Do I displease you so much that you can’t see what’s before you?” His voice cracked as he brushed the hair away from her face.
She hesitated, then said, “No.”
“I know I have not been forthcoming, but believe me when I say I know you better than anyone. I’ve passed through you, absorbing your hopes, dreams and emotions. I know what lies in your heart. And now, thanks to that exchange, you know what lies in mine. Look deep and you’ll find my love,” he said, daring her.
* * * * *
This wasn’t exactly what she’d wished for. She obviously should’ve been more careful in her wording, but the truth of his statement was there when she searched just like he'd said. Bacchus did love her. Carrie sensed his emotions and witnessed the life he’d lived before they’d met. She’d felt his bone-deep loneliness and his pain, along with the joy of discovery that came the moment he’d laid eyes on her.
It would take a while to get over his deception, but could she really turn her back on a man who’d lived with a level of honor that rivaled that of medieval knights?
No…
Carrie closed her eyes on the truth, then opened them once more. Wasn’t she the one who’d said it was time to start living again? Hadn’t she thought a change of scenery might do her good? She chuckled to herself to stop the rising panic. Traveling to another planet was about as far of a move as she could envision.
She couldn’t believe she was about to ask this question, but couldn’t seem to stop herself. “What would I do on Zaron?”
Bacchus’ eyes lit with hope and her heart clenched. “Considering our clan, the Blood Clan, is reptilian in nature, I think you’d fit right in with our healers.”
“What about—us-s-s?” she asked, not sure what answer she was hoping for.
“I will spend my lifetime attempting to make this up to you. It is not in my nature to deceive, but I had to find out the truth without scaring you away. So many counted on me to succeed.”
“I can’t say that I’m not scared,” she said honestly.
“I know. As your mate, I can sense your fear and it pains me greatly. I would give anything to take it away and have you look upon me like you did hours ago.”
In her heart, Carrie knew he was telling the truth. “What’s going to occur now?” she asked, strangely exhilarated at the prospect of starting a new life. This would probably all turn out to be a fantasy, but what if…
“A ship is near. It will come and pick us up after it drops off its cargo, then we’ll return to Zaron.”
“Cargo?” she asked.
He gave her a child-like grin. “More warriors.”
“This is so much to take in,” she whispered.
Bacchus touched her chin, tilting it until their gazes met. “I would not have chosen you, if your heart had not chosen me first.”
Carrie turned back to the mirror, tears floating in her red eyes. “My appearance is going to take some getting used to,” she said, sniffling. Not that she was a big mirror queen to begin with, but a girl didn’t walk around everyday with three-inch fangs sticking out of her mouth. She’d scare the hell out of Brady the next time he saw her. Would she ever see her brother again?
"You will see him," he said.
"How did you?" she asked.
“We have all the time in the galaxies to explore each others thoughts,” Bacchus said, nuzzling her neck.
Carrie knew that she needed to move on with her life. Ryan would’ve wanted that for her. “Will I get to visit Ryan's grave?” she asked, her lip trembling.
“Anytime you wish, eshe. We can return to Earth for regular visits. You can even keep your house, if that is your wish.”
“Sss-wear?”
Bacchus smiled. “I swear.”
Carrie frowned at her rumpled reflection. Their lovemaking left her blonde hair mussed and her face slightly flushed with residual passion. She looked so different with red eyes and fangs. Yet inside, she still felt the same. She held the same thoughts she had before the—what had Bacchus called it? Transfer?
Thanks to the exchange, which was slowly sinking in, she knew he told the truth about Brady. She’d seen his new girlfriend in Bacchus’ memories as clearly as if she’d been watching a movie. Tears filled her eyes as she realized Brady had finally found the happiness he’d been searching for after Ryan’s death. Perhaps, it was time for her to pursue her own destiny.
She turned the faucet on and splashed her face with cool water, then met Bacchus’ gaze in the mirror. “Are you a reptile or a vampire?”
“Some would say both, but I would say neither.” He grinned.
“Will my fangs-ss go down?” she asked glowering. "Or do I have to live the rest of my life like this?"
He reached out hesitantly. “I will teach you how to control them and many, many more things as your powers grow.”
“Powers-ss? As in plural?” Carrie’s eyes widened as she tapped on her new teeth with the tip of her nail. “This isn’t the end?”
Bacchus smiled. “For us, eshe, this is only the beginning.”
* * * * *
Epilogue
Bacchus awoke slowly as skin caressed his chest. The dream of having a woman of his own was so vivid that he almost believed he could smell her feminine fragrance. A second later, hair tickled his nose and he brushed it aside, coming awake fully. Carrie lay next to his body, her soft length curled against his chest, seeking warmth.
He grinned, pulling her close and tucking her under his shoulder.
How many years had a dreamed of having a woman in his bed until dawn? One hundred? Two? Bacchus couldn’t remember. All he knew for certain was that the happiness he felt was not an illusion born out of loneliness. Carrie was here and had been by his side for several months now.
She’d settled into work quickly and had fast become one of their best healers--a feat that did not surprise him given her passion for the subject matter. Bacchus kissed the side of her head.
She shifted, then muttered, “Is it time to get up already? I don’t smell any coffee.” Her lids dropped once more.
Bacchus laughed, hugging her. He hadn’t been able to convince her to leave planet Earth without the ground beans she craved so dearly. He’d even had to bring her coffeemaker along, even though he had told her that it wouldn’t work on Zaron. It had taken him a while to create a machine that would replicate the bitter brew, but now that he had, she expected him to make it for her every morning.
His lips brushed her face. ‘Twas a small price to pay for the joy that she brought to his two hearts.
# # #
PHANTOM WARRIORS: ARCTOS
by
Jordan Summers
Chapter One
Arctos smelled her before he saw her. He’d been watching the polar bears play when the soft flowery, feminine scent reached his sensitive nose. The aroma had been so fleeting that he’d almost ignored it like the bears had, but something inside him had urged him to investigate.
He found the girl hiding in the snow a quarter mile away. She had small hands and equally small feet. Standing, she’d barely reach his chest. She was a tiny speck of a thing barely noticeable against the sea of white. He glanced at the bears in the distance.
What was a child doing so far from the nearest town and so close to danger?
Protective instincts spurred by bone-deep honor prompted him to act. Arctos took a step in her direction to find out, when the child shifted to the side. The small, seemingly insignificant movement revealed lush round curves. The kind of curves that could only be found on a woman in her prime. He stumbled in surprise. Her scent came again, this time stronger. The delicious aroma filled his lungs, leaving Arctos breathless and achingly hard. How could he have made such a mistake?
Arctos watched as the woman wiggled her butt and burrowed into the high snowdrift. He’d yet to see her face, but she now had his undivided attention. He couldn’t seem to pull his gaze away from the round little globes as they twitched from side to side. His hands itched to touch them, taste them, stroke them, and squeeze them. He clenched his fists, fighting the sudden urge. The beast snarled inside of him, demanding to be let out. It wanted to see this woman for itself. Scent her. Mark her. But Arctos forced the beast down to keep his presence cloaked and continued to observe.
What was she doing out here all alone? Didn’t the woman understand the danger she’d put herself in? Arctos did and he didn’t like it. Anything could sneak up on her like he had. Wolves, bears…other men. His muscles tightened and his jaw clenched as anger washed through him. She should take better care.
The woman reached into the bag tucked at her side and pulled out what looked to be a weapon. Arctos stared in disbelief as she pointed the device at the white bears in the distance. Surely she wouldn’t…
She pressed the trigger and a rapid-fire sound filled the air. Arctos’ hearts clenched and his ardor quickly cooled. This was not the type of female he wanted as a mate, no matter how intoxicating she smelled. If he wanted a bloodthirsty mate, he would’ve found a nice Phantom female from the Blood Clan to settle down with. It mattered not that the women on his planet were few in number.
Arctos glanced at the bears and waited for their large bodies to drop into the snow, but nothing happened. He looked back at the woman and frowned in confusion. Had she missed the shot? It seemed unlikely given the range and the lack of obstructions, but it was always possible. She raised the weapon again.
He growled, a deep rumbling sound that seemed to come from the depths of his bowels. No way would he give her a second chance to make a kill.
* * * * *
Caitlin Kelly hunkered down lower in the snow-bank to ward off Northern Alaska’s biting wind. She raised her equipment and gazed through the scope, focusing before taking careful aim. Two polar bears wrestled in the fresh powder, flashing deadly claws and powerful teeth as they vied for dominance and the mating privileges of a nearby female. Funny, she could’ve sworn there’d been four of them earlier.
She set the scope down and replaced it with an even longer lens, then fired. The click, click, click rattled out in quick succession as she captured the bears’ every move. “Big payday, here I come,” she murmured.
Caitlin had made sure to stay down wind, since polar bears weren’t exactly known for their sunny dispositions.
Unlike most bears, polar bears loved sneak attacks. It wasn’t uncommon for them to come up behind their prey and be on them before the prey even knew they were there. It helped that they blended seamlessly in with their environment. There’d only been one fatal polar bear attack in decades, but Caitlin had no plans to become number two.
She focused on her prey and continued to shoot. “That’s right, smile pretty.”
Caitlin kept her attention glued to her subjects, watching for any sudden changes in behavior that would indicate that they’d detected her presence. Risk wasn’t a job requirement for a nature photographer, but it was certainly an occupational hazard.
She switched out lenses on her camera and fired off a few more shots. “Come on baby, show me some claws.” With any luck, she’d make enough on these photos to pay for this unexpected trip to Alaska. Caitlin had only planned to stay for a few days, but four weeks had past in a blink. She’d somehow missed her last rent payment and what little savings she’d had, had now dwindled to dust.
Caitlin had her old college roommate, Allie to thank for her current financial crisis. At least partly. Allie had called last month in a panic, leaving a cryptic message. She’d dropped words like ‘severe pain’ and ‘not getting better’ into the voicemail. When Caitlin tried to phone back, she couldn’t reach her.
After replaying the message a dozen times, Caitlin decided there must have been some kind of an accident. That could be the only explanation for the brief message and the lack of further contact. Even though she’d recently lost her job, Caitlin had thrown her things into a bag and rushed to the airport. It had been the longest nine-hour flight of her life—and the most expensive.
Caitlin had arrived in Alaska haggard and beyond worried. She’d been so out of it that she’d walked right by Allie at security. There were no slings, scars, or broken bones visible when her friend stopped her. In fact, Allie appeared to be in perfect health. Caitlin’s anger over the deception had lasted all of five minutes, before quickly being replaced by relief.
It turned out that Allie had phoned because she was heartbroken…
Heartbroken over the fact that despite there being a ton of single men in Alaska, she hadn’t been able to snag a husband yet. She was convinced that if Caitlin came to help that she would somehow succeed.
As if that was ever a goal worth achieving, Caitlin thought, then rolled her eyes.
As the child of multi-divorced parents, who put the capital ‘B’ in bitter, she had learned early on that marriages weren’t worth the paper they were notarized on. Prince Charming didn’t exist. And if he did, she’d tell him to get back on that white steed and move along. This princess didn’t want any part of him and she was way past believin
g in fairytales.
Caitlin had tried to tell Allie this, but her friend wouldn’t listen to reason. She was convinced the man of her dreams was out there somewhere waiting to be found or worse yet, searching for her. Pathetic! Caitlin shook her head and sighed.
It was more likely that he was somewhere sitting on a couch, scratching his ass, tossing back a few cold ones, while the delightful aroma of beer farts filled the air.
Ah, romance…
She glanced once more through the camera lens. The bears were still frolicking; two balls of white against a blanket of soft powder, but it no longer mattered since sometime during her musings she’d lost the light. Go figure. If Caitlin didn’t get some cash soon, she’d have to resort to waiting tables.
She shuddered at the thought. Allie had given her a ‘worst waitress ever’ ribbon when they were in college. Caitlin had no plans to repeat the experience if she could help it. Nope, she’d just have to come back tomorrow and try again. She wasn’t looking forward to the long hike back to her snowmobile or the freezing twenty-mile ride into town.
It’s either that or camp here. Your choice.
She stared at the endless sea of white. So not happening. Caitlin lifted the camera and put it in the bag. She’d just zipped it up, when a deep rumbling growl sounded behind her. Her breath locked in her lungs. It couldn’t be. She’d kept them in sight the whole time.
The sound came again. This time louder and closer.
The blonde hair on Caitlin’s neck stood on end and she froze too frightened to move, too scared to blink. Maybe the bear hadn’t seen her yet. Even as the thought crossed her mind, Caitlin knew she’d never be that lucky.
Bears had an exceptional sense of smell. She put her camera bag down and slowly turned to find a thousand pound male polar bear standing twenty-five feet away, panting and watching her.
With her white coat and matching pants and gloves, Caitlin had no doubt he thought she was a chubby oversized baby seal, a delicacy for a polar bear. She knew enough about bears to know there was no way she could outrun him. And the gun she’d brought wasn’t going to do much at this close range, even if she could reach it in time. She’d never been a good shot on the best of days. Panic wouldn’t help her aim.
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