She lifted her heavy gaze to find him looking down at her. Lips that were normally pulled into a severe, straight line, were parted, soft and full, golden as his skin, but darker in tone. Delicious looking.
The tip of his tongue dipped out, running between the seams. Drawn by an unknown force, her hand slid around his neck to trace his sharp jawline. The muscle at his temple clenched again. Tick. Tick.
Her gaze trailed to his eyes. They weren’t as black up close. They were more a deep navy, like a night sky coloured by the glowing light of a city, and at the moment, they pulled her into their silken depths that sparked with more than anger and pain.
She fell into them, drawing in energies of a completely other sort. It curled around her, warm and seductive and intoxicating. She drifted, becoming immersed. She couldn’t pull free. Had no desire to.
His head tilted lower, his breath fanning her face. The hesitant movement faltered. Hotter than the sunshine. Spiced, like his skin. She breathed him in, leaving a faint taste of him on her tongue.
She felt small and delicate, safe and warm, and the absolute centre of his intense focus. She lifted her hand enough to brush his lips with the pad of her thumb. Softly. Just so she could see if they felt as good as they looked.
His head canted, his cheek briefly pressed into her open palm, before he kept lowering his head to brush his lips against hers. His tongue darted out to tentatively sweep over her mouth. She traced the movement with her tongue. He was delicious. A wave of heat swelled through her. All she was aware of was his mouth so close to hers, his taste, his arms beneath her, the steady beat of his heart, and an overwhelming urge to kiss him.
She lifted her head and claimed his lips, crushing her mouth to his. She suckled his lips before sweeping her tongue inside his mouth, seeking his flavour, his heat. A low groan rumbled from the pit of his chest. His arms tightened momentarily before he took control of the kiss with total and utter command.
His tongue plundered, lips suckling, lapping, imbibing. She was helpless but to receive every thrust, every brush, every sweep. This was not a gentle kiss. There was an edge with a sharp precipice that she hovered over. He was overpowering. Intense. Powerful. All she could do was cling to him and let him kiss her in whatever way he wanted.
Muscles rippled across his neck and she clung to them. He invaded her mouth more fully, his tongue sweeping inside. She met each hungry thrust with her tongue, letting it slide and twist against his. It was almost too much, yet she devoured him back, not able to stop. The flickering heat within her body enflamed, growing into a thrill of desire. This kiss, this forbidden man, was all-consuming.
Alastor trembled, the deep shudder working through his massive frame. A groan sounded from the base of his chest. He withdrew from the kiss, hovering over her, clenching her in his iron grip, panting. She pressed her face into the crook of his neck, where his scent was strongest. She breathed him in. She was surrounded by him. Overwhelmed by an answering need she couldn’t name rising inside her.
“You have my apologies. This will never happen again.” The light in his eyes was flinty. Hard. Regretful.
“What?” She blinked, confused. Heat still swirled from him, urgent and charged, but it was tinted with something sour. Its abrasiveness cut through her haze, dousing her with coldness that was better than any ice bucket.
Horror slammed through her. She’d kissed him. Not an ordinary kiss, either. It was a kiss that held power. That laid bare. That had taken her from her mind into bare emotion, where repercussions hadn’t mattered. That had never happened to her before, and he was apologising for it.
She was on a mission to rescue women and ultimately the fate of the universe, and she’d become so caught up in a kiss, she’d forgotten. A kiss that should never have happened. She unwound her arms from his neck and he set her gently on her feet. The action of rejection and care was completely unsettling and she didn’t quite know what to make of it. She only knew she could never let that happen again.
“I… I… I’m so sorry.” She staggered a few paces in her haste to move away from him, her legs rubbery and shaky.
Raw energy slammed into her with full force, threatening to split her skull as she slipped away from the circle of his aura. She clamped her hands to her head. Couldn’t speak beyond the pressure in her skull, only knowing she had to get over the dune. Get to the pain. Stop the pain.
Nothing mattered but to stop the torment. Her feet and fingers slipped through the grains of sand as she scrambled up the dune, headless of anything else.
A heavy weight barrelled into her from behind and flattened her into the sand. She struggled beneath the load, heart pummelling, blood surging with the need to kick him off, but she couldn’t budge him. She was completely overpowered.
“Marie! Stop!”
Hot breath caressed her neck as he bent over her. She tensed, fingers clawing the sand. With a sob, she lowered her forehead onto the ground. She was completely at his mercy.
Chapter Six
Lush curves fit so well beneath him he almost couldn’t think straight, but now was not the time to dwell on those things. They were here on a mission, and that’s where his mind should have been. Not on Marie’s figure, or the perfect way she folded into his arms, or her mouth that tasted of dawn and new beginnings. His body thrummed with unspent desire. One taste was not enough and yet there could be no more.
He needed to get his mind on the game because something was happening to her. He just couldn’t understand what it was. He eased his body off her trembling form. He patted her down, ignoring his shaking hands and his thumping heart, hoping like hell he hadn’t injured her. She was so small and fragile, anything might hurt her.
“Marie, are you all right?”
Her body trembled and her face scrunched with discomfort. A fine layer of perspiration shone over her pale face. His heart thudded with the urge to ease her pain, to soothe it away.
“So much agony. My God. She hurts.”
“Who hurts, Marie? Tell me.”
She pointed a shaky finger. She shook even more, her pupils bleeding so large there was only a ring of violet. “I can hear her. She… she’s calling out to me”
He peeked over the top of the dune before settling beside her. He clenched his jaw so hard it ached. A lone female wandered the sandy plain below them. Emaciated, dressed in nothing more than rags, mind-enslaved and clearly forgotten. Those who were of no further use to the Reptiles were sent away to wander until they dropped or starved. This female was close to death, staggering at nearly every step.
“She is one of the mind-enslaved. She cannot be saved.”
“I need… need to go to her.”
He curved his hand over her shoulder, his stomach turning to dust. “You cannot. The mind-enslaved are part of a hive mind. If she sees us, the Reptiles will be alerted. We have to leave her.”
Marie shook her head, her entire body trembling. “I can hear her. Oh my God. She’s in so much pain. I can’t… I can’t stand it.” The sand soaked up her tears.
No matter how many times he came face to face with the mind-enslaved, he’d never get over the horror of it. His fists clenched as that familiar tide of helplessness washed over him. How many more had to suffer. How many more souls needed to be tormented? With all of the gods in the heavens, at least one might have had enough compassion to help, but none had. Ever.
And so he’d fought. Fought and fought and fought, and it had not made a lick of difference.
A weak grip scrunched his sleeve and he peered into pain-filled violet eyes. “I hear her, Alastor. She’s screaming in pain, in my mind. You have to believe me.”
He tucked back a strand of sweat-slicked hair from her cheek. She trembled from head to foot, was in so much agony, and yet there was a strength beneath that beautiful, fragile exterior that was as tough as the most hardened warrior. “I do. I believe you. I know you hear her.”
Helplessness seared his heart like a hot blade. She was so pale. I
n pain. He swallowed, his throat dry. He hated not knowing what to do. He looked about, but the sand held no answers.
“We have to save her.”
Alastor understood the desperation in her voice. It was a punch to his heart he never got used to. They were not on Florn or Callisto, and neither Lauren nor Vivien were here to do whatever they’d done to save those planets. “We have to leave her. It will be a small mercy to let her find her death.”
Marie’s grip tightened around his forearm, a little bird holding onto a perch. “What if… I could reach her?” Her voice was tight with discomfort, but her gaze was steady, her eyes determined.
“How?”
She licked dry lips, hesitating, “She’s reaching out to me mentally. I’m… going to try to reach out to her in the same way. My body will be here, but I’ll try to contact her with my mind.”
The Commander had told him how the human females could project mentally. It was the reason the Reptiles had taken the human females and Marie was here to detect energetic anomalies. He just didn’t think energetic anomalies would mean Marie’s pain. If he had, he never would have brought her here.
His gut twisted. He didn’t like putting her any danger, but if there was a slight chance, they had to try. This little human, so fragile on the outside, was so strong on the inside. Besides, she would lying next to him the whole time. He would keep her body safe.
He cupped her cheek, wiping away a tear with the pad of his thumb. “I will give you one minute.”
“One minute… I don’t think…”
“I won’t risk you more than that.” It was one minute longer than he wanted to give. “I will protect you, while you try.”
Tremors worked through her body and he helped her turn onto her back. She was so small. So fragile. Delicate.
But only on the outside. Beneath that stunning exterior was a mystery waiting to unravel. A mystery he had to deny himself from unravelling. She closed her eyes, became still, and he selfishly drank her up. He would allow himself this time to watch her without fear of her noticing, to drink her in and commit her to memory. One minute, and then he’d lock the memory away and throw away the key.
◆◆◆
She fought to find that empty place inside that she usually found the moment she meditated. What met her was a wall of frothing black clouds that emanated distress strong enough to taste. A sorrowful keening sounded from within. The torment washed through her, endless and helpless. It nearly brought her to her knees.
“Hello? Can you hear me?”
The keening stopped. Moments passed. “Is… is anyone there?” The voice was tentative. Unsure and very weak.
“Yes! My name is Marie! I heard you when you called.”
“Can you help me? I’m… I’m stuck in here and I can’t find my way out.”
There was nothing but an impenetrable wall of black fog in front of her, so dense that it was like a fluffy wall of black, cotton candy. She touched it. Complete and utter desolation washed through her, as intense as a whip and just as cold. She gasped, staggering back, huffing on her fingers to try and warm them. The tips were blackened, frostbitten. Horrified, she clenched her fists, putting her hands under her arms.
The wall of fog disappeared high above her into darkness and stretched into infinity either side of her. She’d never come across anything like this in her life. Nor could she see any way through.
“What is your name?”
“Seriat. My name is Seriat.”
“Seriat, can you see anything from your side?”
“It’s just black. I… I’m lost. And cold. I can’t see anything. Can you… can you see my children?”
God, no. This woman had children! The poor, poor soul. A strip of silver caught her eye, before it was swallowed up by the mist, gone as fast as it had appeared. A life thread! There had only been a flicker, but it had been strong enough to penetrate through the fog. “Can you keep talking? Tell me about your children.”
“I have a son. He’s just a baby. Johan is his name. And a daughter, Deseree. She’s six cycles old. I’m teaching her how to sew our garments. I’m… I’m a seamstress. She loves to sew. She loves her brother.” As the woman spoke, the fog glowed slightly in a small patch just in front of her.
The silver thread appeared again, flexing and writhing, almost reaching out to her. Marie reached for the thread, but it slipped away before she could touch it. “Keep going. They sound beautiful. You must love them very much.”
There was a muffled sob. “I do.”
Marie swallowed hard. She’d felt the pain of this poor woman as though it was her own. So much pain. So much to endure. “Do you have a husband?”
“Yes. Tallex.”
The silver thread wavered. Marie grabbed for it, her fingers sinking into the fog. Biting cold stung her skin and she missed the cord. She cupped her throbbing hand to her chest, thinking hard. Alastor had only given her a minute and it would soon be up.
“Seriat, I can see a thread when you talk about your family. I think if I can grab it, I might have a chance at getting you out. Keep talking. Tell me anything until I tell you to stop.”
“Okay… We have a simple life. We work. I make clothing for the Priestess. Her ornamental garments.” There was a hint of pride in the tone of the voice, and with the pride, the light pulsed through the darkness. There was a flash of silver just beneath the surface of the fog.
“More, Seriat.”
“My daughter takes classes. She is very talented with her numbers and the universal laws of energy.”
“You know of energy?” Marie asked.
“Yes. The life-force of the Creator that is in every living creature,” Seriat said.
The silver pulsed with the truth and surfaced, and Marie grabbed. The cord throbbed with a pulsing warmth as she wrapped her fingers around it, holding on with everything she had. “I’ve got it! Can you see it on your end?”
“Yes! Yes, I have it.”
Adrenaline made her words rushed. “Follow it, Seriat. Quickly.”
Her body pulsed, a phantom hand on her shoulder. Alastor was trying to wake her. Time was running out. She gritted her teeth and pulled as hard as she could. “Hold on to it, Seriat. I’m going to pull. Now!”
The hand on her shoulder wrenched her back and way from the silver cord and the black fog. Marie flew backwards and thumped back into her body with a whoosh.
“Seriat!” Marie scrambled up the side of the dune, barely registering Alastor’s panicked shout behind her. She scrambled over the rise of the dune to see a woman stagger and fall, her body sprawled on the ground in a lifeless heap.
Marie jumped down the slope, grains of sand scattering where her boots landed. Alastor followed her with a roar. Marie landed on her knees next to the woman. Pale yellow hair was scattered about her head, obscuring her face. She reached out when a hand snapped around her wrist. “Don’t touch.”
“What do you mean don’t touch. This woman is dying,” Marie said, fighting Alastor’s firm grip. It did nothing.
“Reptiles still use those even this close to death. To touch her could set off an alarm, or an explosion.”
Marie tensed, tears flowing down her cheeks, horrified the Reptiles would go to such lengths. “Seriat! Wake up.”
With compact movements, Alastor held the Seeker over the woman.
“What are you doing?”
“Making sure there are no devices on her body.”
Marie remained silent, eyes running over Seriat’s too-still body. “Is she?”
Alastor was quiet for a few more moments. “She is alive... but barely.”
Marie’s hands itched to reach out and comfort the women. “Can I touch her?”
“She is safe, however I will have to end her torment if she fights or attacks you.” Sadness washed off Alastor in waves and she understood what it would take for him to do that. “Prepare yourself, Marie.”
She wiped the tears off her cheeks with a shaking hand as Alastor c
arefully rolled Seriat over. The woman was exquisite. Fine-featured, delicate cheekbones, but her lips were dry and cracked. Her skin was ingrained with dirt and grime and was mottled and bruised. Her clothing hung off her emaciated frame, no more than rags. The smell of death and decay cloyed the air. She was so close to passing. So close.
“Seriat. Can you hear me?” The words came out on nothing more than a whisper.
“How do you know her name?” Alastor asked.
“That is where I saw her. Spoke to her.”
Alastor’s brows rose. “You spoke to her?”
Marie nodded. “Yes. She was imprisoned in a black cloud, in the dimension in between worlds. I call it the in-between. I think… I think that’s how the entity captures people’s minds. It takes their soul to the space between dimensions and cloaks them in thick, black mist. They can’t see a way to get back to their bodies. They’re trapped in their minds.” She glanced down at Seriat. “I only hope she has found her way back.”
The woman stirred. She uttered a weak groan and her eyes flickered open. Alastor pushed Marie back with a steel-like arm, stepping between her and the woman. Marie peered around Alastor’s huge frame. “Where… where am I?” Seriat’s voice was no more than a whisper. Frail and weak.
Alastor’s body went rigid. Marie scrambled around him. She ripped open her pack, upended the contents, found the drink bottle, and spun off the top. Gently, she lifted Seriat’s head from the ground and held the top of the water bottle to her lips. “Seriat. Here, drink this.”
The woman tilted her head and Marie let some of the water trickle into her mouth. Long, dry fingers wrapped around her own. “Thank you, Marie. You saved me. You saved my life.”
Alastor: Sci-Fi Alien Romance (A Hexonian Alien Romance Book 3) Page 4