The Alien's Lair (Uoria Mates IV Book 9)

by Ruth Anne Scott

  I wrapped my legs around his waist pulling him further inside of me.

  “Damn woman. You’re hot as hell.”

  It was the first time he hadn’t been proper with me. And I found myself relaxing as he thrust into me making our bond complete. Magic ran high in the air. It was the bond. With each moment we were making love, we were one.

  I’d never felt anything like it before. The faster he moved the more it felt like being on air. When I finally managed to open my eyes, we weren’t on the mattress. We floated.

  We were on air. No, we were on magic.

  The magic lingered in the air and when my inner walls tightened and I orgasmed, so did Dulex. He growled and released inside of me, completing the bond that would last for as long as I lived. That’s how it worked for Living Vampires. It was forever. There was no such thing as divorce. Fate deemed who was meant to be with us.

  1 week later

  Azaria

  It was time to show Father that Dulex was the right one for me. Things in the last week had been hectic and with Julian waiting in the wings, tension rose. Mother was thrilled I’d bonded with my true mate, but Father wanted Julian to be my master. I refused to let them win. It didn’t matter that they’d locked up my mate as soon as they’d found us. It was shortly after we completed the bond. I’d barely gotten dressed when Julian and my father, the King himself came into the house. They both weren’t happy with what they’d walked in on, but I didn’t care.

  I stood in front of the council. Father hadn’t really talked to me since that night, but now he glared at me as if I were a problem. He was taking it too personally. I found my mate plain and simple. He needed to understand I couldn’t force his political agenda.

  After staring me down, my mother smiled.

  “It’ll be okay,” she mouthed. No one knew she was talking except me.

  It had to be official.

  A few moments later Dulex was brought into the room. He smiled at me and I sighed knowing what he was going through. It was the same thing every day. No one let it go and grudge holding was a must within the walls of the cattle. Everyone was different. Everything was different.

  ***

  Dulex

  Ria and I were doing great with each other. She was worried about her father, but otherwise, Julian had bowed out well enough. He realized nothing could come between a true mate. Fate couldn’t be stopped. It wouldn’t have mattered anyways. I’d never let the bond between them happen. She was mine and I was hers. I’d never been happier.

  It had been a week since the bonding and a week since I’d moved into the castle. I walked down the silent hall realizing for the first time I didn’t have guards following me. A smile crossed my face before I could help it. That had to be a sign the king was agreeable to me. He’d had me followed with every step I’d made in the last week, but now I roamed alone.

  It felt good. No one had ever accepted me outside of my mother. This had to be a sign that we no longer had to worry.

  When I made it outside of the chamber doors I took a deep breath. This was the meeting I’d been waiting for. I’d asked to join the guard staff.

  “why do you want to join?” he’d asked several days before.

  “I want to protect my family.” It was the only answer. They would be my family. It would be a new type of family bringing together not only the bear shifters but the Fae and Living Vampires as well.

  I opened the doors and sucked in a breath seeing my mate dressed in a pale lavender dress. Her long hair was in some sort of intricate hair style and she spun towards me with a smile.

  That had to be a good sign, right?

  “Come,” the king’s voice boomed, echoing along the stone walls. There were little tea lights on each of the window ledges. The flames danced along the walls creating a romantic atmosphere.

  I wasted no time and strode to my mate. She laced her fingers with mine and squeezed.

  “This is it,” she whispered keeping her eyes on her father.

  I nodded but stayed silent.

  “We have decided…”

  Her mother rose and in a blur, she was in front of me pulling me into a hug. “Welcome to the family, Dulex the Fae-bear of no clan, you are now our newest warrior and protector. Serve us well.”

  And that was it. All I needed to hear. I was too stunned to feel the relief that swept over Ria, but her hand tightened further on mine.

  When her mother finally backed away and went back to her throne, Ria looked at me.

  “I love you mate,” she whispered.

  “I love you too.” I followed up with a brief kiss ignoring her mother’s sob.

  It seemed I’d finally found my place in the world. It had only taken me almost dying and being saved by the most beautiful woman I’d ever laid eyes on.

  THE END

  EXCLUSIVE – The Dragon’s Slave (Never Published)

  Provided by Lauren Lively

  Galen

  I couldn’t believe the crowd this auction had drawn. In all my travels I had never seen one so large, what could possibly be this exciting? Making my way towards the front was no easy task but given my size very few refused to move out of my way. Soon I was close enough to see it was a slave auction. I hated these damn things, and as far as I knew they were illegal. So why was this one so large? It looked like most of the province was here.

  The women they marched out on to the stage were of varying sizes and shapes. Some old and some young, but nothing worth the fanfare this had. Just typical human females. My curiosity was killing me so I sought out one of the auction keepers near the side of the stage.

  “Hey, what’s so special about these women? You must have the whole town here.”

  “These are just the appetizers. The best is always saved for last.” stated the harker.

  “Oh yeah, then what’s desert?” playing along with this jackass.

  “Master Harlock’s greatest capture yet. Something so rare you won’t believe me till you see her. A female dragon.” said the harker, with a smile so big you could see every rotten tooth in his head.

  I rocked back on my heels, with a stunned expression on my face. No way had I just heard this moron correctly. But he just stood there grinning like an idiot so it had to be true.

  All these years of searching, I had never had even the barest of a trace of a female and these mongrels find one. Dragons used to be as plentiful as the stars, till one clan got greedy and started the bloodiest war in history. Many were killed and the females with children were sent into hiding. After the war, the slavers had continued the decimation with their damn auctions. Greedy bastards.

  I made my way over to the podium the auctioneer was using. If it was true that they had a female dragon, I wanted to make sure I saw her.

  As the sun hit noon, they brought out the most stunning creature I had ever seen. The crowd went silent as this goddess was lead across the stage in nothing but delicate gold chains that started at her shoulders and wrapped around her full breasts, then fell in layers to her waist. Now I knew why they had waited till that time of day. The gold highlights in her flaming red hair shimmered as the sun shone down on her, bathing her in radiant light. The chains seemed to make her pale skin glow as they brought her to the middle of the stage where a pedestal was set up and once she was in position the crowd erupted in activity. She never once reacted to the noise, making me think they had her drugged. Guess the keepers feared for their safety after all, seeing as how dragons were known for their tempers.

  The auctioneer was having a difficult time trying to keep up with all the bids and the price just kept rising. None of that mattered to me though. Let the bastards spend their money. I didn’t care who won, because they would either give her to me or meet their death. Either way she was mine!

  By the time the auction was complete it was late afternoon and the winner was brought up on stage to claim his prize. The pompous fool had made a grand show of lifting the chains and feeling her breasts, much to the
excitement of the crowd. It took everything I had not to kill him right then and there. But I did console myself with the fact that he would die by my hand and very soon.

  After his little show, he left the stage to pay the auction master and she was taken to the holding area. There her chains were replaced with a thin dress that hung to the ground. I guess ten million deneras wasn’t enough for them to include the gold. She was then escorted to his entourage, were her owner put a thick metal collar around her neck. Even with all this going on she still hadn’t reacted. I’m not sure she was even blinking. I made sure to keep a close eye on her because in that state she would be an easy target for that asswipe. I would never be able to forgive myself if he did anything else to her.

  When they left town to make the journey home, I followed as close as I could without being noticed. To them I was just another shadow in the lush forest we were passing through. I was glad to see that she rode in a different transport than her owner. When night fall presented, they stopped to setup camp. When everything was completed an older female servant took my beauty out of the transport and lead her to a tree, where she attached a chain to her new collar. They had her chained like a fucking animal. Everything in me was screaming kill him. NOW! But I had to control it, she was in danger if I went off half-cocked. So, I got comfortable and made my plans for later that evening when most of them would be asleep.

  As the camp wound down from their meal to settle in for the night, that same female servant went to unchain my prize and lead her into his tent. When the servant left is when I made my move. I came up to the back of his tent, thankful that it was close to a bush that would hide most of my movement. I was right against the tent wall when I heard him talking to himself about how much he was going to enjoy her. Yeah right, that was never going to happen. Making a small cut into the fabric, I saw that I had a clear path. One good thing about waiting was that he was so preoccupied with her standing in front of him that he never heard me coming. It was over too soon for my taste but time was a factor. One clean slice across the throat and she was mine!

  Aleeka

  That little mealy-mouthed bastard got me before I even realized he was there. How had he gotten past the traps and alarms? Damn coward, had to dart me with God only knows what. It felt like my brain was trying to crash through my skull. As soon as I can see straight I’m going to blast that fucker straight to kingdom come.

  Why am I so cold, did I die? Maybe that dart wasn’t a tranq but something else. No, if I was dead I wouldn’t be in pain. Come on wake up already. If only everything would stop moving and spinning.

  “Come on sweet, wake up.”

  That’s not the voice I remember. Too deep and strong.

  “Fight it beauty, come on.”

  No, definitely different. The other was a high-pitched screech like his nuts were being squeezed or maybe that’s just what I wanted to do to him.

  “Ahhh, shit that’s cold!!” I screamed after freezing water hit my body.

  “I’m glad that finally worked, you had me worried for a minute.”

  When I tried to set up a wave of dizziness hit me and I slumped back to the ground. This time I just tried to open my eyes without moving. At first, everything was still blurry but as my eyes focused the most astounding creature came into view.

  Looking up I saw dark emerald eyes staring back at me with a look of concern. His wavy black hair hung to his broad shoulders and a scar ran under his left eye just along the cheek bone. Judging from that scar, he was very lucky it wasn’t a little higher or that eye would have been a goner. The only other male I had ever seen, besides my father, was that greedy little bastard that had captured me. I was so mesmerized by him that it took me a moment to realize he was speaking to me.

  “What’s your name?”, he asked as he snapped his fingers in my face, trying to get my attention.

  “Don’t do that, I have a freakin headache. You don’t have to make so much noise for God’s sake.”

  “Well if you had answered me in the first place I wouldn’t have had to. Now if you are done bitching can you tell me your name.”

  Now that he spoke maybe he wasn’t so mesmerizing after all. In fact, annoying was really starting to compete with my first assessment.

  “Aleeka.”

  “See, now was that so hard. My name is Galen. Here let’s try sitting up again, shall we.”

  When he touched my arm to pull me up, I felt a shock go through my body. Never had I felt anything like that, and it scared me. Who was this man?

  “Don’t touch me, again.”, I stated through gritted teeth, wanting to be far away from him.

  “Hey, I’m trying to help you. What’s your problem?”

  “You are my problem. I don’t want or need your help. Just leave me alone.”

  “Woman, you have got to be the most stubborn creature I have ever came into contact with. How the hell am I your problem? I saved you, bring you to a safe place and then try to help you recover. I just don’t get you.”

  “How do I know you’re not the one who paid that scum for me in the first place, huh? You expect me to what just wake up like sleeping beauty and be grateful for everything you have done for me. I don’t know you from Adam, and I sure as hell don’t trust you. I don’t even know where I’m at and …”, that is when I decided to look down.

  “WHAT THE FUCK AM I WEARING!?”, as I stared in horror at the thin gown that covered my body. Well the fabric was still there, but cover it did not. Since it was drenched in water you could see every detail of me through the transparent slip. At my discovery, he also looked down and I noticed a slight smile lift the corner of his full lips.

  “Don’t worry sweet, I’ve seen it before, you don’t have to be so upset.”

  “You what? How have you seen me before?”, my anger starting to boil over. “What did you do while I was out? If you touched me so help me I’ll kill you! I w…”.

  “How dare you accuse me of such a thing?”, Galen thundered at me, a look of pure insult washing over his features, making him look like an avenging angel. “I saw you at the slave auction when they paraded you up on stage in nothing but gold chains and you were the star attraction. Afterwards as the man that bought you placed you in his caravan, I made sure to follow you. When they stopped for the night, I snuck in to his tent, where I might add he was preparing to fuck you, slit his throat and stole you for myself.” taking a breath and grabbing my chin so that I would be looking up at him he continued, “Hear me and hear me well fiery one, I don’t take kindly to my honor being questioned. When I touch you, it will not be while you are drugged, you will come to me willingly and it will be my name you shout to the heavens.”

  With that he turned and walked over to the camp he set up, leaving me sitting on the ground in a shocked stupor. I had been auctioned off like a piece of property, and almost raped. I couldn’t hold back the tears as they started slipping down my cheeks. Hell, I didn’t even try.

  Galen

  I was so pissed when I walked back to the campfire that I felt like I could have split a boulder in half just by looking at it. That is until I heard this tiny sound. It was so low that it took me a second to recognize it but when I did, my heart shattered.

  I looked back to where I had left Aleeka on the ground, to see her curled up with her knees to her chest, sobbing. She was trying to be so quiet but I saw her frame shake with every breath. I shouldn’t have been that harsh with her. Damn, I am such an idiot; how could I just throw it in her face like that. She had every right to be suspicious of me, I would have been if the tables had been reversed.

  Looking through my pack I found an extra blanket and walked over to her. Kneeling beside her I place the blanket over her beautiful body. “I’m sorry precious, I shouldn’t have done that.”

  When I touched her shoulder, she turned and looked up at me. Hearing her crying was one thing but to see her golden eyes wet with tears and her pale cheeks flushed from her sobs, I was hit with such pain in my che
st that I almost doubled over. Then she surprised me by throwing her arms around my neck and putting her head on my chest. I held her against me as tightly as I could without hurting her. Picking her up I made my way over to the campfire and nestled down on my own blanket with her in my lap. I held her, rubbing her back until she had cried herself out.

  Suddenly she looked up from her place on my chest, looking deep into my eyes, then moving to my neck and inhaling deeply. A few seconds later Aleeka raised her head, confusion clouding her eyes.

  “Yes little one, I’m the same as you. Have you never met another dragon before?”, I asked, her eyes widened even more as she shook her head.

  “No. I was very young when my father left for the war. He never returned.”, she said softly. “Mother and I stayed hidden in our mountain home until she too passed away. She grieved for my father till her last breath.”

  “I have often heard of that in mated pairs. Were you still young when she passed?”

  “She held on as long as she could to make sure I could fend for myself. It has been two years now that I have been alone.”, lowering her head as if the tears might come back.

  “That will not happen again, you are mine now. I will take care of you.” I put my fingers under her chin to raise her face to mine. Staring into the beautiful golden depths of her eyes, I lowered my lips to gently taste of hers. When I made contact, she let out a tiny squeak of surprise. Slowly, I increased the pressure until her succulent lips opened to me. I lightly let my tongue trace the inside of her bottom lip, and was rewarded with the sweetest sound I had ever heard. At her little moan, a growl of pure masculine approval surged from my chest. I wanted her, to taste her, to feel her writhing under me. I could feel my dragon just under the surface, urging me to take what was mine, to claim her for us both. Moving from her lips, I left a trail down the side of her neck. The scent of her was driving me crazy, her dragon was close too. I lightly nipped where her shoulder met her neck then I felt her hands on my chest pushing me away. When I pulled back it was not desire that greeted me in those glowing eyes but fear.