Worlds Apart (Men of Orion Book 1)

by Laylah Roberts

  Around them, people jumped out of the way, alarmed. He was vaguely aware of his crew and Talon’s family following them.

  With a snarl, he ripped open the door, her empty bed only reinforcing what he already knew. She was gone.

  Talon let out a loud howl, shifting into his wolf form. He took off out the door. Around Garret, members of Talon’s family shifted into their animal form, following him. Garret and his crew raced after them, knowing he couldn’t keep up, just praying that they got to her before her kidnappers could get her on a shuttle.

  He was frantic, furious. He knew she was in danger and yet he’d left her alone. What had he been thinking?

  Talon and the other shifters quickly disappeared into the bush.

  Garret pushed himself harder, ignoring the branches scratching at him as he raced through the forest. His lungs burned, his legs turning to jelly. They had to find her, his life wouldn’t be complete without her.

  If anyone could find her, it was Talon.

  A sense of relief hit him, nearly sending him to his knees and he knew that Talon had found her.

  Thank you. Thank you.

  A panther appeared in their path. Arina. Garret and his crew followed her to where he found Talon standing in front of Kalia who was lying on the ground. Ruthen was next to her, working on the ropes that bound her. There was a man lying on the ground, his arm savaged, blood pouring from him. Another man crouched fearfully on the ground, begging for his life.

  A lion roared and Cain stepped forward. The man let out a squeal that no man should ever make and fainted dead away.

  Garret ran over to where Kalia lay.

  “Is she okay?” he asked Ruthen, who was checking her over.

  “She’s in shock, but otherwise she appears fine. Let’s get her back to the village.”

  “Th-they came for me in the cabin,” she said shakily as Garret drew her into his arms and stood. “I didn’t even have time to scream. I was so scared.”

  “Shh, it’s okay, baby. You’re all right now. We’re never going to let anyone take you from us. You’re our mate, remember?”

  “How is she?” Talon moved toward them, his eyes still glowing, rumbles of fury coming from him.

  “I’m okay. You saved me.” Kalia reached out and cupped Talon’s cheek. “You saved me.”

  “I should have protected you better,” Talon said.

  “We both should have,” Garret added, leaning down and kissing her forehead.

  “My mother and some of the others are following their scent to find where they landed. We’ll haul these two back to the village to question them. We need to sort this. Now.”

  Garret nodded. He might have been willing to use her as bait before. But not now. Kalia’s safety came first.

  He attempted to hand Kalia off to Talon. “Take her back to the cabin, get Doc or your father to look her over and stay with her.”

  “No.” Kalia tightened her hold on him. “I need you with me.”

  “Baby, I’ll be there soon, but I need to find out who these men are and why they tried to kidnap you. Go with Talon. I’ll be home soon.”

  ***

  Kalia lay in Talon’s arms on the bed, unable to sleep.

  “Darlin’, you should take the sedative.”

  “I don’t want it. I don’t want to be under the influence of any drugs. What if they come for me again?”

  “Then they’ll have to come through me and all the guards that are posted around the cabin.”

  “I don’t want you or anyone else hurt.”

  “We’re shifters, darlin’. We would love a chance to get our hands on these bastards. They won’t be hurting you again. Take the sedative.”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  “Then at least eat some food.”

  “I’m not hungry.”

  Talon sighed. She felt guilty that she was being so difficult, but the thought of eating made her nauseous.

  The door to the cabin opened and she stiffened, hating the fear that coursed through her.

  “Shh, it’s just Garret,” Talon said, running his hand up and down her back.

  “Sorry,” she said.

  “You have nothing to be sorry about,” Garret said gruffly. “I should have called out before I came in.”

  Kalia sat up and Talon grabbed some pillows, putting them behind her back to support her.

  “Did you find out anything?” she asked.

  “Oh, they caved. All it took was Cain roaring a few times and they tripped over themselves to speak,” Garret said, pulling a chair over to the bed. “They were employed by Roxan to capture you. Seems Roxan took money from your father to keep you locked away. Once the baby was born he was supposed to hand the baby over to your father. After that, he could do with you what he liked.”

  Talon cursed quietly while she just looked at Garret in shock. “My father is even more evil than I thought. He was going to take my baby? Why?”

  “That I don’t know.”

  “We need to do something about Roxan,” Talon said with a growl.

  “He’s been taken care of,” Garret said.

  “You?” Talon asked.

  “No, and I’m not happy about that. Your mother.”

  “What? What do you mean Roxan has been taken care of?” Kalia asked in confusion.

  Garret leaned his elbows on his knees. He looked exhausted. “Arina found their shuttle. Roxan was there, waiting.”

  “So she brought him back here?” Kalia asked.

  “No, she killed him,” Garret told her bluntly.

  “Arina killed Roxan?” she said.

  Talon kissed her gently. “My mother is one of the sweetest people I know. She’s also one of the deadliest when it comes to protecting the people she loves. Roxan kidnapped me and he tried to take you. She wasn’t about to let him get away with that.”

  “Oh.” Kalia supposed she should have been shocked, but truthfully she was just relieved to get one threat out of her life.

  “But my father will just hire someone else, won’t he?”

  Garret climbed into the bed and pulled her onto his lap. She lay back against his chest as Talon drew her legs onto his lap, massaging her feet.

  “Possibly. If he wants your child that much.”

  “I don’t know why he wants my baby, but I do know that he won’t let go of this easily.”

  “Which is why we need to stop this at the source,” Garret replied.

  She leaned back and stared up at him in amazement. “You’re going to talk to my father?”

  “Talk. Threaten. Something like that.”

  She tried to climb off his lap, but he held her still. “You can’t do that. My father is powerful, even if you could get him to meet with you what could you possibly threaten him with?”

  “Oh, princess, you underestimate how threatening I can be.”

  “I also underestimated how evil my father can be. Don’t make the same mistake.”

  “I don’t intend to. There’s something else I need to tell you. Griz received some information from a source on Tinus. Since you’re no longer there to marry the asshole your father promised to you, it seems he has promised your sister to him.”

  Shock held her immobile. “No, no, he can’t. Tabby is only seventeen. He can’t marry her off to that evil old man.”

  “And we’re not going to allow that.” Garret cupped her chin, raising her face to stare down at her. “I promise you.”

  Tears dripped down her cheeks. But she saw he meant every word.

  “Okay, we just won’t allow that. How?”

  “Easy, by kidnapping your sister.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Garret snuck down the wide hallway. This is where Kalia had grown up? It was so cold. Marble lined the floors and walls. Gold and red drapes covered the large windows. Expensive art filled the palace, each piece probably worth more than the Orion.

  He couldn’t imagine three little girls growing up in this house. It wasn’t a warm,
happy place. It was like a mausoleum. Thank the Gods that Kalia didn’t have to live here anymore and her child wouldn’t be raised here either.

  He glanced at Talon who strode along beside him. He hadn’t wanted to bring Talon with him; he’d rather both his mates were safe on the ship, which was orbiting just outside the planet’s air space. But Talon had insisted and Garret knew he could use him to help intimidate Kalia’s father. He’d sent Griz to get Kalia’s sister with Lucan as back-up.

  They arrived at the hallway leading to her father’s room. Kalia had provided them with a detailed map of the palace. Her father didn’t sleep with her mother, which made things easier. As cold as Kalia’s mother sounded, Garret still didn’t enjoy terrifying women.

  Looking down at Talon, he nodded his head. Talon grabbed his breathing mask from his backpack and put it on as Garret did the same. Then he threw a canister of gas down the hallway. Immediately, the guards began gasping for air before slumping to the floor. They’d be out for a few hours before waking up with no memory of what happened.

  The gas quickly dissipated. When two minutes had gone by, he signaled for Talon to follow him and moved swiftly down the hallway. Grabbing one of the men, he tied him up with some rope from his backpack as Talon quickly did the same to the other man. They pulled them inside the storage room next to where Lord Tinus slept.

  “Ready?” Garret whispered. Talon nodded and quickly stripped. Moments later, a wolf stood in the hallway. Garret stashed Talon’s clothes in his backpack and picked it up before opening the door to Lord Tinus’s room and slipping inside. Locking the door behind them, he moved over to where Kalia’s father lay still, slumbering in his bed. The night-vision lenses he wore enabled him to see the older man clearly. At one time he’d probably been considered a handsome man, but he was going to fat, his face soft and pudgy, his hair lined with gray.

  This was a man who hadn’t done a hard day’s work in all his life.

  Garret leaned over and slapped him hard.

  “What? Who? Who dares?” Lord Tinus sat up, looking around him owlishly. “What is going on?”

  “Shut up,” Garret said viciously.

  “Who are you? How did you get in here? Guards!” he yelled.

  Talon snuffled in amusement as Garret slammed his hand over Lord Tinus’s mouth. Grabbing a pillow, he pushed the other man back, placing the pillow over his mouth to keep his screams muffled. He could still breathe out his nose.

  “Yeah, I know, I should have gagged him first,” Garret said to Talon who was still making laughing noises.

  The other man struggled against Garret’s hold.

  “Should have tied him down too,” Garret said through clenched teeth as the old bastard landed a lucky punch to his ribs.

  Suddenly, Talon jumped onto the bed. Standing over Lord Tinus, he snarled, showing off his teeth.

  The other man slumped, his eyes rolling back in his head as he fainted dead away. Garret quickly climbed off the bed and grabbed some more rope and a gag. He worked swiftly, not knowing how long the old guy would be unconscious. Just as he was tying the gag, a low moan came from Lord Tinus. His gaze widened as he stared from Talon to Garret. He tried to move, his eyes filled with frantic fear. Garret might have felt sorry for him if he didn’t know what a despicable asshole he was.

  “Listen to me, we’re here to deliver a message,” Garret told him. The man’s breath came in sharp pants and Garret worried for a moment that he was going to pass out.

  “Ease up for a bit,” he told Talon quietly.

  Talon sat back on his haunches and stopped snarling.

  “I’m here to talk about your daughters. Specifically, Kalia. She’s mine, do you hear me? Mine and his.” He nodded over at Talon. Lord Tinus’ eyes widened in shock. “That’s right, his as well. And so is that child of hers. I don’t know what you want her child for and I don’t care. He or she is ours. Any attempt to take them or hurt them and you’re going to get another visit from us, understand me? And next time, I won’t leave you alive. The only reason you’re being allowed to live this time is because Kalia has a soft heart. But try to hurt them in any way and you will pay. Do you understand?”

  The other man nodded, making noises behind his gag. Garret pulled it down, ready to knock the guy out if he tried to yell.

  “I have a lot of money. I’ll pay you if you bring them to me.”

  “Talon,” Garret said.

  Talon stood up, blowing hot air in the old man’s face. He let out a whimper.

  “No amount of money would ever make us betray our mate,” Garret told him. “We love her.”

  “Then the baby. Surely you wouldn’t deny me my grandchild.”

  Garret put a hand on Talon’s shoulder, asking him silently to pull back. “What do you want with Kalia’s child?” he asked out of curiosity.

  “I should have had a son,” he spat out. “Someone to rule after I’m gone. Instead that bitch gave me three useless girls. My grandson could have all of this. I’d pay you whatever you wanted if you brought him to me.”

  Talon let out a low growl and Lord Tinus shivered, letting out a loud squeak. “Don’t let him eat me.”

  “Listen to me, old man. Kalia’s child is ours. Which means that you’re not getting your fat paws on him or her. Ever. Try it, and we’ll be back. Next time, I’ll make sure Talon’s real hungry.”

  Talon snarled snarling in his face, showing off his fangs and glowing eyes. The smell of urine hit Garret and he looked down in disgust to find the old man had pissed himself.

  He placed the gag back over Lord Tinus’ mouth. “Oh, and by the way, we’re taking your other daughter with us. Bye, asshole.”

  Ignoring the muffled cries, he opened the door to the room and checked the hallway before letting Talon through.

  The only thing on his mind now was getting back to his other mate and holding her.

  They raced through the hallways. Security around here was lax, not that he was complaining.

  They left the palace and made their way to the meeting place. They were ten minutes late, but to his surprise Griz and Lucan weren’t there yet.

  “Where the hell are they?” he muttered as Talon changed into human form and quickly got dressed.

  “They’ll be here.” He cocked his head. “I can hear someone coming now.”

  Garret took a protective stance in front of his mate, just in case they’d been followed from the palace. He eased down as he saw Griz running toward them, a bundle over his shoulder. Lucan was just behind them, covering his back.

  “She passed out?” Garret asked.

  “He had to knock her out to get her to stop beating on him,” Lucan said with a grin.

  “Shit, you hit her?” he said with a scowl. He didn’t really care how Griz got the girl, but he knew Kalia wouldn’t be pleased.

  “The girl is crazy,” Griz said with a growl. “She was going to bring the whole palace down on us. She wouldn’t listen; all she was interested in was trying to push my balls up through my mouth.” He grimaced as he adjusted himself.

  Garret hid his grin. Talon turned away, but he felt his amusement through their bond. He’d shut himself off from Kalia, not wanting her to feel if something went wrong.

  He opened that bond back up, sending her reassuring emotions.

  Grabbing Talon, he pulled him close and kissed him. “Let’s go home to our woman.”

  Epilogue

  This sucked.

  “Never. Never again.”

  Kalia looked up from where she was crouched beside the bed on her knees. She leaned forward, her arms flat on the bed.

  On her left knelt Talon. He rubbed her back as Garret paced back and forth across the room.

  “We are never doing this again,” Garret said again.

  “Garret—” Talon began.

  “No,” Garret said sharply, interrupting him. His face was pale and he was sweating. “We are never going through this again. She’s in pain, you have to do something,” he demand
ed.

  Ruthen looked at him patiently. “I know it’s hard to see your mate in pain, but I’ve done as much as I can. Kalia is healthy, she’s strong and she’s doing well. You’re not helping her, Garret. Why don’t you try putting your fear aside and support Kalia.”

  Another contraction hit, stealing her concentration. She tried to breathe her way through it. Her hand was clasped tight. She glanced up as the contraction died off to see Garret kneeling on her other side, his face pinched.

  “I’m okay,” she said huskily. “I promise.”

  His face immediately softened. “I’m sorry, baby. I’m acting like a jerk. You’re doing so well. You’re so brave and I love you.”

  “I love you, too.” She smiled at him.

  “Hey, what about me?” Talon asked.

  “We love you as well,” they said together with a laugh.

  Groaning, she took a deep breath as another contraction hit.

  ***

  Garret looked down in shock at the small bundle in Kalia’s arms.

  “She’s perfect,” Talon said reverently.

  She was. Absolutely the most beautiful being he’d ever seen. She had dark hair and big blue eyes. He fell instantly in love.

  Talon reached down and clasped hold of the small bundle, tears filling his eyes.

  “I can’t believe it. You did it, darlin’. You were magnificient.”

  Kalia smiled tiredly, looking up at Talon and their little girl in wonder.

  “You certainly were,” Garret said, sitting beside her on the bed. He pulled her in close.

  “Want to hold her?” Talon asked.

  Nervously, Garret nodded. He’d never held a baby. But this was his baby. He clasped her gently against his chest, looking down at her in wonder.

  “What are you going to call her, Kalia?” Talon asked.

  Kalia looked at him. “I thought we’d call her, Jenna. After Garret’s mother. Is that okay?”

  Garret leaned down and kissed Kalia then Jenna.