by T. J. Quinn
If everything was coming together nicely why was there a slow trickle of apprehension growing in the back of her mind?
Perhaps it was because she was still reeling from the intense and fast-paced romance with Alek, almost losing her son and dealing with Garan being back in her life. It was a lot to handle, but the thing that really got to her was man’s inhumanity against man. Though she was used to catching tiny glimpses of that being a hunter, seeing it up close and personal through Alek and Jared’s eyes had torn a gigantic hole in her soul.
She closed her eyes against the memory of Alek’s appearance when she first found him sitting chained in the crypt. Her first thought had been that some sick freak, strung out on designer drugs had pulled a body from one of the vaults and chained it to the wall. He was thin, gaunt and…his skin…well, she would never forget it. And hearing Jared describe how Abrams had branded him and kept him as a virtual salve made her see red. The authorities couldn’t bust him fast enough in her opinion. She’d maintain regular communications with her contact in the central government, and she knew they were close.
A deep voice sounded from the doorway. “You’re worrying yourself again, aren’t you love?”
Glancing over her shoulder at Alek, she smiled faintly. “I’m slowly getting back into the groove of things.”
“I have something that might take your mind off all your problems.”
“I’ve seen that something before. It’s pretty amazing.”
“I’m not talking about sex this time. I got a request, hot off the press for a hunter on a missing twelve-year-old.”
“Jared’s out looking for that missing woman in Argentina with his dad. He’d have loved to work another kid case.”
Putting his hands on her waist, he pulled her closer. “I was thinking about something different.”
“What’s that?”
“My girls think I’m some old ass hero that people read about in history class when the subject of alien wars is on the schedule. I apparently don’t even still have poster floating around.”
Dakota smiled up at him. “You want to be my wingman?”
“If you think I won’t slow you down.”
“Are you kidding? You’re a vampire in the prime of your life. I think that you’d be a real asset in the field.”
“I’ve still got a trick or two up my sleeve, and we’ve got the weekend off.”
“Come on, then. We’re burning daylight.”
“This is going to be a great bonding opportunity for us, babe. You’ll see.”
“Don’t lie to my face, or babe me, Alek Shardon. You’re only in it for the glory of having a shiny new poster on some teen’s bedroom wall.”
“I’m only interested in it being one girl’s wall.”
“I see where you’re going with this.”
“I think the spot above our bed would be nice. We’ll get it framed.”
“I’ll race you to the SUV. Whoever gets there first gets to pick…”
Alek shot off, like a bolt of lightning. Dakota bolted to the window and hopped out, shimmied down the lattice and made a run for their vehicle. Looking over, she saw Alek gaining on her. Unable to keep the grin off her face for anything, her heart swelled to bursting when she saw the look of pure happiness on her usually reticent lover’s face. This was what her life had been missing all along. Now that she had him at her side, she was never letting him go.
A Prelude
to Book 3
Bloodlines
~ Senol ~
Standing at the entrance of their home in Iron Mountain, Senol took a deep breath and let his mind reach out. Closing his eyes, he saw his vampire brother, Jared running through a vast city in some South American country. His father was at his side, smiling at something Jared said. His soul filled with happiness to know the man he thought of as a brother was finally happy.
Their old keeper was healing up nicely from the internal wounds sustained at the hands of Jared’s father. Though he couldn’t read the man’s mind, he could sense deep discontentment and dark through brewing. The older man’s hygiene had slipped over the last couple of months, as his drinking increased. Senol didn’t trust him.
His mind drifted to Jared’s mother and her new mate. Senol liked having new friends to watch over and help if he could. Though he could actually communicate with Jared, he was a strong empath and could sense the feelings of others. Jared’s mother was filled with love, happiness and a healthy dose of caution where Abrams was concerned. She didn’t let it overwhelm her though. Even now, she was digging through records at a county courthouse, looking for clues to find a child. She was smart and resourceful. Alek was a good partner in crime. He was holding the flashlight so she could read from a file. Unless Senol missed his guess, the courthouse was not open on the weekends and probably not at night. Hunters weren’t all that conscientious when it came to following the letter of the law. This was a good example of the ends justifying the means in his opinion.
Rebecca touched his arm. “Greetings, my love. Are you well?”
Not opening his eyes, he brought his hand over to rest on hers. “I am better than well. My vampire brother and his family are safe and happy this day.”
“Jared came through for us, just like he promised.”
Opening his eyes, he turned to his love mate. “He sent the money?”
“One million dollars was transferred into my account this morning. I shopped for the children and for you, my sweet.”
Relief flooded his body. “I knew Jared would not forget us. He cares for each of us deeply. He believes it is our shared suffering that binds us together, but I know it is our love and hope for a better future.”
“The money will ensure no one goes to sleep on an empty stomach and the little ones have warm blankets and clean clothing. That is a blessing.”
“I wish I had more to offer you than my love and life in an abandoned military shelter. You deserve all the nice things the world has to offer. I can travel anywhere in my mind and see the world. You are trapped in this drab mountainside bunker where no flowers bloom or birds sing. It grieves me deeply.”
A smile slid onto her beautiful face. Her hand came up to run through his long white hair. She twirled a long strand around her finger like she was wont to do when she admired him. Senol didn’t know exactly what she was thinking, but he could feel her love for him, her relief at not having to worry about money anymore and her need to feed him.
Though I am human and we don’t share the blood bond, your abilities allow me to glimpse into your thoughts when you feed. I get to enjoy your memories of the places you visit and the wonderful sights in the verse. What woman could wish for more than that?”
“I feel like an old man with white hair sitting on a mountain, dreaming his life away.”
Kissing him on the cheek, Rebecca moved close to him. You are barely twenty. Your gorgeous white hair makes you unique and special in my eyes. Be happy you don’t have fiery hair, like me.”
Reaching out, Senol ran a lock of her dark orange hair through two fingers. “It’s lovely beyond measure. I love looking at you and talking with you. Overall the females in the verse, you are the only one for me, my sweet Rebecca.”
“I love you.”
“I love you too, but I sense a worry growing in the back of your mind. Care to share, my love?”
“I heard rumors that central government had decided to destroy all their old military sights. It seems they are a favorite place for urban explorer to photograph and several have gotten injured recently.”
“I had not seen that in my travels. If that is so, we will be forced to find a new home.”
“Wherever you go, I will follow.”
“I have almost thirty children under my protection, so I will have think of how best to proceed.”
“Will you drink, my sweet?”
“Are you sure you are strong enough?”
“I ate well today and drank an entire canteen of water. If I contin
ue this way, I’ll be fat as a hen.”
Senol laughed. “I can’t imagine that. I do hunger, my love.”
Climbing into his lap, she offered him her neck. Biting down, Senol closed his eyes and shared his visions for the day with the woman he loved.
Alien Convict
Taron Invasion Series
A.J. Daniels
GTQ LLC
Orlando, Florida
Copyright © 2017 by A.J. Daniels
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission.
GTQ LLC
PO Box 540375
Orlando, FL 32854
www.gtq.com
Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.
Alien Convict/A.J. Daniels -- 1st Ed.
ISBN
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Chapter 1
Loss and Love
~ Andrew ~
Music Mix
Tossing and turning in his sleep, Andrew relived got pulled into a reoccurring dream. His little five-year-old self choked on the thick smoke pouring out of the vents running along the top of the walls. Since he’d been born and raised on the Taron ship, he was used to emergencies every now and then. This felt different somehow. Everyone was running around, females were screaming, and the normally stoic male’s voices were tinged with panic.
It was getting difficult to breathe. His slight form was getting bounced around as people accidentally bumped into him as they rushed past. Carefully searching every face, he found that none of the adults were from his family. Getting emotional, he held his hand over his face. Suddenly out of nowhere, a large hand locked down around his wrist. Relief flooded his system as he realized it was his grandfather.
“Run faster. We are under attack.”
Andrew moved as fast as his feet would carry him, thankful that his grandfather never let go of his wrist. Of course, he wasn’t called Andrew back then. His name had been Androd.
At one point, they heard the familiar sound of Krador squalling. His grandfather quickly pulled him into his arms and began to run for one of the exits. Andrew had been too terrified to speak, for fear the Krador would find them.
The moment they staggered out the door, a large human male grabbed them. Before his grandfather could react, the man fired a weapon over their shoulder. Andrew watched in absolute horror as an overlord fell motionless to the ground. The alien shouted in Kalian, “Survivors go to the right. Rescuers are waiting to transport you to safety.”
The strange alien warrior shoved them to the right, just as a huge Krador came crawling out of a hole in the ship’s hull. Several of the strange aliens gathered with long rifles, intent on taking the huge creature down. His grandfather staggered to the left, away from the creature. Andrew watched over his shoulder as the aliens shot at the huge creature’s many legs, then began targeting the triple row of eyes running back over its head. Andrew noticed something the strange aliens didn’t. Dozens of tiny Krador young scurrying from the vessel and taking refuge in the nearby woods.
Finally, his father stopped running. They approached a huge vehicle of some sort. It was white with a large red sign upon it. The people there looked like medics to his young eyes.
His grandfather, asked about other survivors. “We have family aboard the ship. I won’t leave without them.”
An alien male stepped forward wearing green with a funny design on his clothing. He had weapons strapped all over his body.
“You’re going to get your ass on the Red Cross transport right now and get your boy to safety.”
“Who are you?”
“Sergeant Marcus Ross. Now, move your ass.”
Andrew watched a female with long red hair approach. “If you can’t interact with the newcomers any better than that, you need to leave.”
Ross spat on the ground and stood to glare at her for a moment before speaking. “The last time I checked sergeants’ outranked nurses.”
“The last time I check, I was in charge of this unit, and you were assigned to protect us. Unless you want us to file a formal complaint with your chain of command, you will step back and allow us to access to our patients.”
“We need to evac the area.” Holding his hand to his ear, he paused briefly and frowned. “A Krador is loose and just attacked a team of militia.”
“Gather up as many as you can find. We don’t leave anyone behind.”
The Sergeant gave a clipped response. “Yes, mam. You heard the lady. Fleece the area. If they have a heartbeat, they come with us, even if you gotta stun them.”
The annoyed woman frowned. “That is not what I said.”
As the males stalked off into the darkness, the woman turned to them. “Come, we have hydration packs, and you can rest in our vehicle. It armor plated so you will be safe there. What is your name?”
His grandfather’s dispirited voice responded quietly. “I am Malok, and this is my grandson Androd. How is it you speak our language?”
“We were given an inoculation with of alien languages. My name is Rebecca, and I’m a healer. It’s nice to meet you and your grandson. I know this is a difficult situation, but you are safe with us. Under the new inter-species treaty, Earth is now your home. Is there anything you need right now?”
“I just want to see my family survive this night.”
Andrew watched the woman place a reassuring hand on his grandfather’s arm. “We’ll do everything we can to see that you’re reunited with them as soon as possible.”
Before they could get onto the large transport, the males wearing green came back, herding dozens of rescued slaves. “We gotta go now. There are half a dozen Krador, and they’ve torn people apart limb by limb back there.”
Everyone rushed aboard the vessel. His grandfather sat him down and tried to get back off but was shoved back by the alien males in charge. The man leaned over and stated quietly. “You don’t want to do that. There’s no one alive back there. The sight will haunt my nightmares until the day I die. You have the boy to worry about. He’s all you have left.”
The older man’s knees buckled under him, and an agonized wail of grief escaped from his lips. The Keening was a sound he would never forget. Andrew watched the nurse kneel and wrap her arms around his grandfather. That was the moment it hit Andrew that his father, mother, brothers, and sisters were all gone. Instead of the sounds his grandfather made, Andrew felt like his life-force had been knocked from his body, only to be filled by an infinite well of sadness.
Jerking awake, Andrew padded through his house to check on his own two small daughters. They were each in their tiny bed, surrounded by their favorite stuffed animals. Shutting the door, he walked back to his room and stood in front of his nest. The lights were dimmed for the night cycle, but inside the clear glass, his unborn child rested in the gently bubbling liquid. He checked to make sure the temperature was stable, and the proper amount of oxygen and nutrients were circulating through the water.
Running his fingers over the metal casing he remembered his joy in building the mechanical device meant to bring his children through their last stages of growth before being born into this new world of privilege and freedom for his kind.
If his grandfather could see this one, it would have brought more joy to his life yet. Unfortunately, he had passed away shortly after his new human mate died. Andrew’s chest constricted painfully when he thought of his grandfather. The male had spent many long years enjoying this new human world alongside the human woman who lived only for his smile. Andrew had been loved and doted upon as a child. Now he was alone in the world, ju
st his girls and him.
Chapter 2
Integrated Kalian Male
~ Danielle ~
Music Mix
Danielle noticed him immediately, as he meandered by her office. The huge glass wall afforded her a view of most of the work floor in her tiny law firm. Her firm had agreed to hire eight alien males. Their resettlement was related to a push by the central government to open new opportunities for the aliens who had supported them in the war effort.
His soft brown eyes glanced over to find her admiring him, and he nodded politely. Feeling her face flame, she quickly got back to work. Attraction to her new employees was bound to cause problems for her since she hadn’t even been a full partner for a year yet.
Her assistant poked his head in her door, and he asked politely. “Are you ready to get a bite of lunch, or should I order something for delivery?”
Rubbing her temple, she shoved herself away from the desk. “Let’s eat out somewhere nice.”
Smiling, he suggested helpfully. “How about Jackson Fife?”
Unable to keep the grin off her face, Daniel nodded, That would be fantastic. We deserve a treat.”
“I’m beginning to think that’s what company expense accounts are for.”
“Our firm is pretty generous in that regard. Let’s bring schedules and come up with a strategy for turning alien rights into the next big social issue.”
“Nothing would make me happier. That’s the reason I signed up with the firm, after all.” Jon’s brown eyes and pointed ears gave away his alien heritage, in much the same way as the soft green color of his skin.