When he stepped back, Hope grabbed him by the collar and stared deep into his glowing green eyes. “You’d both better come back to me, dammit.” Hope took a deep breath and added, “If you two die out there, I’ll fricking kill you.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“I hated leaving her there,” Braxton said as they moved to join the others.
Carella had transported them down to the surface so they might join the rest of the men to hunt down the elitist fanatics who would see the human race perish just to keep their blood pure.
“I didn’t like it either.” Joran moved up next to him. “At least we know she’ll be safe on the ship. We couldn’t both watch her and hunt down the elitists.”
“Good. You two are here.” Lorcan and Tarin stood next to each other, their mate conspicuously absent. “We needed another pair. We were just planning a three-pronged assault and trying to figure out if we would have to try it without you.”
Tarin grinned and winked, letting them know that the alpha was merely ragging on them. “Don’t worry about him and his insulting remarks. He remembers what it feels like to have just found your mate. I know I do.” Tarin slapped Braxton on the back. “You’ll get used to the feeling of your stomach going missing on a regular basis. Until then, we must find the men responsible for taking the women.” He started to turn away then stopped. “I’m glad your mate is well.”
“As are we.” Braxton stepped forward, his hands on his hips. “Now, what is this plan you have?”
* * * *
Braxton crawled through the small opening beneath the downed tree. They’re here all right. They agreed to use their telepathic connection to keep their noise down. They couldn’t be too careful while tracking the elitists back to their lair.
One after another, they slunk through the brush. The only sound they made was that of their breathing and their fur brushing against the branches they moved under.
Whatever it was about the elitists and their ilk, they loved the human form for people who hated the race so thoroughly. It had been easy to follow them through the woods. Why did they refuse to shift shape and run like the wolves they were supposedly so proud of being? It didn’t make sense that they would kill the humans just because they couldn’t shift.
Is it too much to ask that they all be here? It was a shock to see two of the men they’d adopted into their little community with the group. They hadn’t been human men at all, but spies for the group of shifters who thought themselves so far above everyone else.
You know they aren’t. How many of them came to Earth and how many stayed on Taos?
It would be so much simpler if our laws would allow the release of records to see how many pure bloods there are. Braxton knew they couldn’t because there were too many who would persecute all pure bloods regardless of their beliefs. Sadly, fanaticism and prejudice ran rampant in all sectors, races, and species.
Slowly, they split up. The chancellor and his mate stayed put while Lorcan and Tarin moved off to the left, and he and Joran moved to the right. There were ten men in the building. It was almost two-to-one odds. Braxton didn’t hold out much hope that they would all make it out of here in one piece.
When they were all in position, they began to howl. The elitists opened the door to their small hideout and listened, their expressions wary. They knew they had been found. Now their only question would be how many opposed them?
Generally, wolven didn’t kill their own kind, but they all knew that the elitists would stop at nothing to bring their plans to fruition. The chancellor had given the order to fight to the death if necessary and kill anyone who used lethal force first.
Maxim gave the signal, and they all changed back into their human forms. As much as they argued that he shouldn’t make a target of himself, his argument was valid. He was their leader, and as such, he must attempt to bring peace between them, even if it meant his demise.
The chancellor straightened the flexible suit he wore, designed specifically for battle so their people could shift their shapes at will. The suits came in a veritable rainbow of colors designed to separate individuals by rank. Maxim and Matteus both wore purple, the color of the ruling house of Taos. To kill one of them was an automatic death sentence. Braxton hoped the punishment would be a deterrent for a little while at least.
“Attention to those residing inside the cabin,” Maxim called out to those inside. “This is your chancellor, Maxim Marholt, and I wish to open negotiations with your leader.”
“Go away. You don’t rule here.”
“Perhaps not, but I do rule my people no matter which planet they find themselves on.”
A beam of energy shot out of the cabin and the chancellor dove out of the way then rolled back up and jumped to his feet. “Shoot again and it is an act of war.”
The cabin stood in silence for a moment as though the people inside were not all of accord on whether or not to take on their ruler and his men.
Another beam of light came from the cabin, missing Maxim by mere inches, and Matteus jumped up to knock his mate to the ground.
“I won’t have you risking your life, Max,” Matteus growled angrily. “You’re not leaving me alone, damn it.”
Lorcan and Tarin moved stealthily through the underbrush as the men continued to shoot sporadically out through the front windows.
“It’s time we joined them, don’t you think?” Braxton said as he started to move toward the back of the cabin and its other door.
“Yep. Time to join the party.” Joran fell in beside him. They crept toward the cabin, keeping their bodies low. And look, Braxton. We have a few people just dying to join us. He finished using telepathy as the back door opened and several men filed out.
True to elitist form, only a few of them had weapons. Either the faction was poor or it was frugal with its funds because never more than one or two in a group ever had anything more than themselves to use as an offense against enemies.
Braxton grinned in his wolf’s body, knowing they would have to either apprehend these four or take them out. The others would have to deal with the other six, unless they decided to sneak out the back door as well. If they did, he and Joran were just plain screwed.
You take the two on the left and I’ll take the two on the right.
Joran shook his head. You’ve been reading too many of those cowboy books Joe orders for the store.
So have you if you know where I got that. Braxton grinned and swatted him on the arm. Let’s go before we lose the element of surprise.
With that they both burst into action. Running forward, they each jumped on two of the men, knocking them to the ground.
“Get off me, you breeder,” one of the men beneath Braxton growled.
“Breeder?”
“Yes.” The man spat. “Our world could carry on if you breeders would just listen. We don’t need mates. We could take eggs from the females and fertilize them without having to take them as mates.”
He struggled to hold the man’s companion down as they held their strange conversation. He felt bad because the other two kept Joran busy. Fists flew and growls emerged as they all shifted from human to wolf then back again, each trying to gain the advantage.
“What?” Braxton found it difficult to believe that the females would agree to such a thing. He knew his expression told the other man that he thought he was out of his mind. “And the females allow this?”
“Bah! The females have no choice. We are the stronger. They’re lucky that we can’t force them to conceive. If we could, we wouldn’t need a lab to implant a fertilized embryo into their wombs.”
The man was mad! If all of the elitists thought this way, it gave Braxton one more reason to see that they made certain to wipe out their faction once and for all.
The man struggling below him finally shifted into his wolf form and bit Braxton’s arm. Taking advantage of the other’s vulnerable state, Braxton slammed his fist into the wolf’s jaw and knocked him out.
&nbs
p; Sitting back on his haunches, he met the other man’s gaze. “Are you saying that your group have been holding females against their will and breeding children on them?” Braxton couldn’t believe any woman who wasn’t elitist would agree to that and even some that agreed with the elitist creed would balk at having a lab-created cub.
“What of it?” the man spat. He must have finally realized that he wasn’t going to convince Braxton that what they were doing was right, because he crouched down and began to circle Braxton as he still sat upon the unconscious wolf.
Standing, Braxton gave the wolf a kick to the head. It wouldn’t kill the crazy bastard, but it would keep him out for a bit while he took care of the man’s partner.
“You know as well as I do that our females have the same rights we do. They have the right to roam our lands freely and to choose their own mates. It is against our most basic of laws to imprison them for your own wants or needs.”
“Who gives a good damn?”
“Haru. That is your name, isn’t it?”
“What of it?” The man continued to circle. He was obviously looking for an opening to attack. Braxton didn’t intend to give him one. In fact, Braxton intended to find Haru’s weak point and exploit it to the fullest. “I should have known that I wouldn’t change your mind. That human bitch has you wrapped around her little finger.” He sneered. “Tell me. How does it feel to have that little human bitch leading you around by your dick?” He waved his hand. “Never mind. I don’t want to know.”
Braxton held back his growl at the elitist’s words. He must at least attempt to end this without violence. Fisting his hands at his sides, Braxton continued to move, keeping the other man in his sights.
“I do know something you don’t.” He grinned. “I shot her nasty human ass, and she’s dead.” Haru spat on the ground as though he found talking about Hope offensive.
Unable to contain his rage, Braxton let out a low growl, his wolf fighting to take control. It wanted to rip the man to shreds for attempting to kill his mate.
Rage filled him as he stared at the man who had put his mate’s life in danger. Visions of her injury came back to him. Memories of the large gaping hole in her upper chest filled his vision. The scent of her blood in the alpha’s home, in the medical bay assailed him.
He took a deep breath and tried to feign a semblance of calm. He couldn’t allow the man to realize that, by confessing to shooting Hope, he had just signed his own death warrant.
What would he have done without her? Already he’d grown used to her presence, her sense of humor and the twinkle in her eyes when she laughed. Already he loved her beyond reason and would have never have continued his life without her.
In that split moment of clarity, Braxton realized that he loved Hope. That he needed her more than he had ever needed anyone or anything before, and his beast wanted to exact retribution for her pain and suffering.
The sounds of fighting all around him settled. He even put Joran’s own battle out of his mind. He couldn’t see or hear anything but the man in front of him. He stared at his opponent. Every bit of his attention focused on the man who had harmed Hope. His wolf snarled, wanting to attack, to kill the man responsible for his mate’s injuries.
The bloodred of a killing rage filled his vision, and he took a deep breath. He couldn’t lose control. He didn’t dare let Haru get the upper hand by losing his temper. Taking another deep breath, he looked at his opponent, saw the pulse beating in his neck, heard his heart beating and took aim.
Shifting on the fly, Braxton lunged forward and sank his teeth in Haru’s neck as he, too, shifted into his wolf. Blood spurted from the wound as he ripped the other wolf’s throat out then stood over the body, blood and gore dripping from his mouth.
No one would ever harm his mate and live. That was a promise.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Carella transported Hope to a room unlike any other she had seen before. The computer assured her that Braxton and Joran would join her there as soon as their battle was over. She also assured Hope that none of the men would die out there. The computer even went so far as to tell her that if any man received a killing blow, that she would have them up here on the ship and in stasis-healing before their heart stopped beating.
That was a comfort.
Hope couldn’t help but worry as her two men went to the surface in search of the madmen who had kidnapped her and the other women with the intent to kill them all.
If the fanatical elitists intended to kill them, what was to stop them from killing the men? She sat in the room, twisting her fingers. She’d been sitting alone for about an hour when she saw the decanter with the pink, bubbly liquid and decided she could do with a drink. Even if it wasn’t alcoholic as she’d hoped, it would at least give her something to do.
Passing by a low, steaming pool, Hope got an idea. She would have a drink and take a bath. So what if the guys got back before she finished? Maybe she’d invite them in to wash with her.
Grasping the ornate, crystal-like glass, Hope lifted the decanter and took a sniff. It smelled good at least. Pouring a generous amount into the glass, she took a sip and smiled. It was good and it tickled her nose like champagne. After another long pull, she eyed the shallow pool fed by the small waterfall that fell from the ceiling ten or so feet above her head. Whatever this place was, it was decadent. It was also hard to believe that it was on a ship.
Setting her glass down on the edge of the pool, Hope began to strip. “I hope this was meant for bathing, Carella. If it wasn’t you need to tell me right away. Otherwise, I’m going to finish taking off my clothes and step into that steaming water.” She looked around, waiting for a response.
“You are within the mating chamber. Everything is here for your pleasure. Drink the laluna. It will help you relax and make you ready for your mates’ return.”
“What do you mean make me ready for their return?” Hope looked at the glass suspiciously. “Is that stronger than alcohol? Am I going to get drunk off that one glass?” The idea appealed just a little. If she could get drunk, she knew she wouldn’t have an issue with making love to the two of them at the same time. However, she wanted to remember it, not have it in the back of her mind as part of some drunken haze.
“No, Hopeful Ackerman. The laluna will not intoxicate you. It will merely loosen your inhibitions while keeping you sober and aware of everything that you do.”
“Oh!” Hope lifted the glass and took another sip. “All that and it tastes good, too,” she said with a grin. Her grin faded when she had another thought. “You won’t be able to, uh, see us or anything?”
“No, I cannot see. I don’t have visual monitors in this room and my audio monitors will be disconnected once the men join you, until one of you calls upon me.” She paused. “I do try not to be nosy.”
Hope grinned. “Does anyone else know you have a sense of humor?”
“I don’t know what you mean, Hope. I am a computer. We don’t have a sense of humor. Now, if you don’t mind, I shall leave you to your bath. Relax, drink as much of the laluna as you like. It will not harm you, even in large quantities.”
“Thank you, Carella.”
“You are most welcome, Hope.”
A slight click told Hope that Carella had shut down the com system. Apparently, only her name spoken aloud would turn it back on.
With a small sigh, Hope stripped out of her bloodstained dress and tossed it into a square box against the wall that resembled a hamper. If it wasn’t, the guys could tell her where to put it when they returned.
Her underthings followed the dress, and she stood next to the pool nude. Dipping her toes into the water, Hope sighed again. She intended to enjoy this. Who knew when she would get another hot bath where she could stretch and soak every sore muscle in this backward time? Sure they could come to the ship, but someone had already told her that Carella’s energy stores were not infinite and they needed the energy for the mating ceremonies.
Slowly,
Hope stepped into the pool. The water swirled around her as the waterfall dumped the warm silky liquid into the pool. The bottom was soft, like sand, and she curled her toes, digging them into the sand-like bottom.
It was strange to feel the sensation of land beneath her feet when she knew she was thousands of miles above the Earth in a spacecraft. It was also unbelievable, yet here she was, in a pond in a large cargo-bay like room filled with beds, baths, and all kinds of showers, from normal-looking showerheads to waterfalls and fountains. It was a hedonist’s paradise, and she intended to enjoy every second she spent here.
Leaning over, she picked up her glass of laluna and took another drink before she stepped beneath the waterfall to wet her hair.
A shelf filled with an assortment of bottles caught her eyes, and she went to investigate. Picking up a small bottle, she opened it to take a sniff. With a smile, she poured a little of the pleasant-smelling liquid into her palm and rubbed her hands together. It felt like conditioner. After a few more tries, she found soap. Whether it was shampoo or not was a mystery, but she didn’t care. She liked the scent and decided to massage it into her wet hair and body.
After soaping herself down and rinsing herself off, while paying special attention to certain important areas that she wanted extra clean, Hope lay back and relaxed. She never thought she could ever feel as relaxed as she did in this pool as she floated on her back, waiting for her men to return.
She didn’t know why, but she believed Carella when she told her that she would make sure all of the men returned. If what the others had said was true, Carella was just as much as a living being as they were and she took her responsibilities seriously. With a small smile, Hope stayed in the water as both her mind and body floated in a pool of heavenly warmth.
Chapter Thirty
Joran stopped just inside the mating chamber door. The lights were dim, and he wanted to give his eyes time to adjust. Braxton stopped next to him, most likely for the same reason.
Where There is Hope [Taos Wolven Mates 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 13