by Ashley West
“You’re going somewhere with this,” Duelva said, and it wasn’t a question. They’d worked together for long enough that it wasn’t really a surprise that she knew something more was coming when he built up to a rant like this.
“Yes,” Caden said. “What if...what if it’s a distraction?”
Duelva’s eyebrow’s jumped up. Or they would have, if she’d had them. But the effect was the same. “A distraction… From what?”
“I don’t know,” he admitted, shaking his head. “But it’ll take us ages to sort all of this out, and meanwhile, whoever made those creatures is still out there, presumably with the creatures. Whatever their real target was, they’ll be able to get it.”
“You don’t think Three was the target?”
Caden shook his head. “No. Nothing was taken. There’s nothing to take on any of the Glifton Five. They don’t have anything, they’re really just there to…” He trailed off as something occurred to him.
“What?” the Commander asked. “What is it?”
“The Glifton-Five are just there to protect Shirris-a,” he said.
“The Planet of the Wind?”
He nodded. “Yes. I mean, they were there before, of course, but they serve as their first line of defense.” Stars, they were all so stupid. “The only reason anyone ever attacks one of the Glifton-Five is when they really want to get to Shirris-a and the wind warriors.” The idea was coming to him now. Coming faster as things started to make more sense. “And think about it. Those creatures couldn’t be stopped by the Gutters. They didn’t breathe, which made the Gutters all but useless in the fight. It was like they’d been crafted especially to keep them from being effective. Especially to fight the wind warriors.”
“That is…” Duelva shook her head. “That is horrible, but it seems to make sense. And if you’re right, then we’re going to have one very large problem on our hands. The Elemental Planets are notoriously hard to deal with, and if these people think to take them on, then they have to be very strong and very dangerous.”
“I think we’ve already seen proof of that,” Caden pointed out, thinking of the sad, scared woman who was still waiting for him. “Do you think they’ve already moved to Shirris-a?”
“No, I think we’d know already if they were there. An alert would have gone out.”
“So was this maybe just to send a message?”
“Or to get some people out of their way.” Duelva sighed and she suddenly looked very tired. “I will have to speak to someone from Shirris-a to tell them what you’ve discovered. It will be...interesting, to say the least.”
“Are they not easy to talk to?” Caden wanted to know. He’d never met an elemental warrior before, and he was curious about them.
Duelva sighed again. “They are not,” she confirmed. “They are...reluctant to accept outside help. Especially from those who aren’t as gifted as they are.”
Caden frowned. “But the wind warriors let the Glifton-Five protect them.”
“That is mostly circumstance,” the Commander said. “And it’s less like they let them protect them and more like the people on those planets are the front lines. They would take the brunt of it anyway.”
He nodded, understanding. It wasn’t pretty, but he supposed that made sense. “Do you want me to…” Caden offered, making a vague hand gesture. “Since it’s my theory?”
Duelva laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. “No, no, Captain. I will handle it. One of the great burdens of command is having to do the things that no one truly wants to do. And even if it wasn’t, rank cannot hurt here.”
“Good luck, then,” Caden said, saluting again, and he turned to head back to his cabin where he’d left their witness.
Their witness’ name was Fola, and she was as soft as she looked.
Caden would swear that he hadn’t meant to insinuate anything when he asked her if she wanted to go back to his shuttle with him. It was just that she hadn’t had anywhere else to go, and it seemed cruel to turn her over to the government when she had just been through so much. She would have either ended up sleeping on a hard cot or being shipped to one of the refugee planets, and that wasn’t a fate he’d wish on anyone.
Especially someone who had just been through an ordeal.
Especially someone who was so beautiful.
And Fola trusted him. When he’d walked back into the cabin, she’d been out of the chair and clinging to him in an instant. And when he’d asked her if she’d feel safer staying with him, she’d agreed instantly. So really, what was he supposed to have done?
And it was hardly his fault that she’d started undressing once they were in his shuttle. Or that she’d come toward him, full hips swaying and firm, full breasts on display, talking in a low voice about her gratitude and how he was so brave and kind.
As much as this sort of thing appealed to him, he had to admit that it felt wrong. Caden made excuses, talked about how he wouldn’t want to take advantage of her, how she had been through a lot and probably was still in shock, but that did nothing to deter her. Fola ended up pressed full length against him, one hand rubbing the growing bulge in his pants, and the other curled around his neck.
“Please,” she said, voice soft and throaty. “I need you. I need this. I just want to feel something other than fear tonight.”
And what was he supposed to say to that? Turning her down now seemed like it would be cruelty instead of help, and he couldn’t bring himself to do it.
“Alright,” he’d said, and when she pulled him down, he went with it, letting their mouths meet in the middle.
She hummed against his lips and kissed him harder, pressing herself closer. She was so soft and so naked, her body inviting him to touch, so he did. She was still rubbing at his cock through his pants, and he pressed more firmly into her hand as he let his own roam as they pleased. Her skin was warm and smooth, save for the scars that marred anyone who fought for the lives of others on a regular basis.
Somehow, that made him want her more. The fact that she was this beautiful and sweet while also being strong enough to protect others made her nearly irresistible to him. Fola smelled like sweat and fear, but it was still attractive, and he wanted to chase the fear from her and make her know pleasure.
“Come here,” he murmured, nipping at her lips before he tugged her backwards towards the bed.
Shuttle beds weren’t the most comfortable in the world, but it would do for this. Caden laid on his back on the bed and pulled her down on top of him. Her eyes had gone dark with desire, and when he slid a hand down her stomach to wiggle between her legs, he could tell that she was already wet for him.
Caden rubbed between her legs for a moment, and he loved the high, sweet noises she made for him as his fingers sought that little bundle of nerves that he knew would make her writhe. Abalessi were easy to pleasure, and he loved doing it.
"You know what I think?" Caden asked, watching her as she squirmed on top of him.
"What?" Fola replied, biting her lip as she practically humped his hand.
"I think you need to take some of your power back. You need to remember what it feels like to be in control. To do something just like you want to do it."
"Why?" she wanted to know.
"Because it'll make you feel better," Caden said. "And because it'll be hot."
She smiled impishly at that. "So you want me on top, then?"
"Clever girl," Caden teased. "That's exactly what I want."
"Then how does that give me control?" she wanted to know. "If you're the one telling me to do it."
He frowned because he hadn't thought of that, but before he could say anything about it, she was already working. Her fingers were getting his pants open and then wrapping around his cock, which made his breath catch as he fought to keep his hips still.
She pressed forward some and rubbed herself against him, overwhelming him with the feeling of heated wetness against his cock. It was a lot to take in all at once, but he wanted noth
ing more than to be buried inside of her.
"Come on," he urged her. "Come on."
She smiled again and then pushed herself up just enough that she could hold the shaft of him steady and position the head of his cock right at her entrance.
The heat was incredible, and he just wanted to sink into it. But he wasn't going to beg. This was supposed to be about Fola, after all, and besides, he was a warrior in his own right. Warriors didn't beg. It just wasn't done.
He didn't have long to wait anyway. Fola let herself sink down on him, enclosing his sensitive flesh in the hot tightness of her sex, and he couldn't help the long moan that spilled from his lips.
Fola raised herself up just a bit and then lowered herself back down, setting a pace that had him gripping her hips and lifting his own up to meet her.
The room was quiet other than the sounds of their coupling, which is why when the explosion happened, they both jolted in surprise. Nearly at the same time they turned their heads to look out of the big bay window that was near the bed.
At first, there was nothing there but a distant light. Explosions in space weren't unheard of. Shuttles and ships were always over fueling or refueling incorrectly or crashing into each other and then they would blow up. It was a sad fact, but nonetheless a true one.
And then, of course there were the times that things exploded from nefarious means. Given the day they had both had, Caden was sure they were both thinking the same thing.
Fola moved to get off of him, and Caden opened his mouth to ask her if it was possible that something else was happening out there, but then a wave of light engulfed the shuttle, rocking it like it weighed nothing, and with the heat that followed in a blaze of fire and light, they were wiped away.
Exitlude: The Beginning
Sandigo stood on the balcony of his Manor, looking out at the grounds of his home. Out there somewhere were his parents' bodies, rotting in the Earth, and he was thinking about how this had all started. If it weren't for them and their neglect, he might never have lived up to his full potential. He might never have learned who he was really meant to be.
And now he had everything he needed to succeed. It had taken some work, but the pieces were all in play now. The plan would come to fruition and he would be given all he deserved.
No. That wasn't right. 'Given' implied that it would just be handed to him, and that just wasn't the case. Sandigo was going to take what he deserved and when he did, it would be one of the greatest accomplishments ever achieved by anyone.
Not only would he remove the stones or whatever they were from the Elemental Planets, but he was going to double cross every single person he was working with at the same time.
No one would ever accuse him of being involved. His hands wouldn't be dirty. Each of his associates was going to pick a planet, and they were going to do what they had to do to get the stones from them. The power would be theirs for a short time, and then Sandigo would take it. Once he had enough of the stones, no one would be able to oppose him. He would have all the powers of the universe. Everything that kept life in balance would be his, and he would be unstoppable.
Already he was dreaming of the day. It was so easy to picture it in his mind when he laid down to sleep at night. Him standing there, every single element at his command. Armies came to stop him, and he struck them down. Other races came to fight him, and he left them broken.
Every planet in the universe could be his to control, to own, to conquer, and there would be nothing anyone else could do about it.
It was a heady thought, and Sandigo tightened his fingers around the glass in his hand for a moment before taking a long drink of the spicy spirit. It helped to calm his nerves when the excitement of what he was embarking upon was nearly too much to bear.
The time was nearly upon them. It wouldn't be long now. The first move had already been made, and the next move was already being planned. Wind and Ice, not necessarily the weakest of the elements, but those that were more easily accessible for the ones who had the most to gain from taking them down.
Once it had begun, there was nothing anyone would be able to do to stop him.
He would be like unto a god, and everything would be as it was meant to be.
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About the Author
Ashley West was raised in a small Midwest town. She has always been a big fan of science fiction and paranormal books and movies. Her all-time favorite movies are the first three Star Wars movies. She started writing at a young age and has not looked back since. Ashley brings her worlds to life with vivid details and likeable characters.
On her spare time, she enjoys painting, jogging, and curling up next to her favorite books. If you enjoy Ashley’s titles and wish to receive a Free Sci-Fi Alien Romance, stay updated on all her new releases and book giveaways, please visit her website.
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Kisses,
Ashley