If it makes you feel any better, I have many of the same powers you do. I can shift to any form at will and use my mind for things other than thinking. It is a useful tool, but not one I use lightly. I will keep my thoughts to myself and yours shall be your own, once we all come to trust each other.
Trust. It was such an innocuous word. One could think such a word would bring happiness. Yet, for them, it had brought nothing but heartache and death. They had trusted their father when he told them he merely wanted to see their mother to wish her well. They should have known the beast would kill her. Hadn’t she warned them of that? Still, they had been so enamored with the idea that he would help feed them all, they didn’t realize he’d come to kill her and take them. It didn’t stop him from attacking her first either. They would live forever with the memory of her last screams begging their father to spare her children. Would the wounds never heal? Did he want them to? Healed wounds could be forgotten. Their mother’s death was something that needed remembered.
He ran a hand through his hair, knowing the stranger had picked up on his thoughts. His face burned with embarrassment. He was a warrior. Warriors should have no weakness, yet he did.
Royce laid a hand on his arm. It is not weakness to grieve for one’s mother and wish for other things. Better times. Perhaps we should trust this outsider. He appears weaker than us, yet I do not sense fear from him. Perhaps he is the stronger even though he is the one outnumbered.
A glance in the Savari Prince’s direction told him his brother spoke true. Michal’s stance was not of a man who thought he faced his last battle. His expression was one of wry amusement, as though he waited to swat a little one for eating sweets before supper. No. Perhaps discretion was better than valor this day. Perhaps they would meet with this Halfling king and see who was who in this expedition of theirs. He took a deep breath, again savoring the scent of his mate. Goddess, they couldn’t separate them now. He needed her as he’d not needed anyone in his life.
* * * *
Helio Fe’Elix watched the alien ship approach his planet with a glee. Positive that the warrior twins would want the other warriors to approach the downed craft to search for survivors, he just had to make sure no one noticed his silent advance and, when the others left, he’d stay behind and leave the planet with the ship. That was the plan anyway.
But, then he came aboard to look for the perfect hiding spot where he’d be easily overlooked and saw the female cargo. It was then he foresaw the vast possibilities. A man could do a lot with a ship full of women, especially when he’s the one controlling the one woman to which the rest appeared to listen. Now, all he had to do is subdue her, which should be easy enough. She is naught but a woman, after all.
As the other warriors and the intruders from space opened the damaged stasis pods, Helio remained hidden waiting for the proper moment for him to make his move on the female of his choice.
Who cared about mating bonds and attraction? He certainly didn’t. Besides, all that love garbage his mother constantly spouted before her death, was just that…garbage. As far as he was concerned, it was naught but fairytales meant to make their children weak and complacent.
Power was all that mattered. Power and prestige. And soon, with the ship and the women on board it, he’d have all the power he would ever want or need. He could sell the women to the highest bidder, just as his father before him. But he would have more expensive cargo, higher class women, warrior women. Not the low class whores their Hienial fathers had chosen to use as breeding mares. He’d learned from his father’s mistakes. He’d learned well.
In his opinion, it was all in deciding which breeding stock to start with. Then he’d show everyone just who was in charge when his plan was in full effect and it would not be this Ryo of Kneese. It wouldn’t be him at all. In fact, Helio felt confident in predicting that within six moon cycles no one who even mattered would ever have heard of Ryo of Kneese and he’d be the one in charge of the Hienial-Halflings.
Finally, they pried the last woman’s stasis pod open, only losing one female to death. It wasn’t such a great loss considering there seem to be several hundred still alive, well and able to breed. If viable sperm were found, they could breed dozens of children off each woman and make money hand over fist. Favors would pour in to a man like him. Everything and anything he could want would be his.
Helio listened closely when the female told the others she needed time alone. Time to honor those that had passed from this journey to the next. The woman requested an hour of privacy to say her goodbyes to her people. Helio snorted. Requested his ass. She’d given them an order and the men had meekly followed like obedient sheep. Once he controlled her, he’d be the one issuing orders and the women would jump to obey the men, as it should be. He couldn’t wait to put right all the wrongs that had occurred since the Banarts and Hienials were defeated in the last quarter century. And he was just the one to do it, the one to set them all back on the proper path of righteousness again.
When the female leader left the others behind to honor her dead, he knew it was time to make his move. No one knew he was there. He could take her, subdue her, control her mind before anyone even suspected he had the skill.
The twins thought that because they could mindspeak they were special, but they were nothing. They couldn’t control another’s thoughts, another’s actions. They couldn’t force another to do things they’d normally find abhorrent as he could. That made him that much stronger, that much more powerful a being, a better leader, a better man. They should have chosen him to lead long ago. But they’d learn from that mistake soon enough. Yes, they’d soon learn from their many mistakes when it came to him.
When the woman passed his hiding spot, he shifted into the shape of the sand flea, stealing the idea from the warrior twins. He’d follow her on her journey and, once out of earshot of the others, he’d shift to his natural form and take her unawares. There’d be no way she could fight him effectively. No mere woman could, especially an unarmed one at that.
* * * *
Jeri knew someone followed her from the ship within seconds of her leaving it for her bereavement journey to honor her dead. She only allowed them to continue to follow so she could determine whether they were friend or foe. It only took moments to decide they were definitely an enemy. She could feel the waves of malevolent hate frothing off the man or beast trailing her. He must be one of the native Hienial-Halflings, but one unlike the others she’d met thus far. This one seemed mentally unbalanced, filled with a sense of evil the others lacked.
And obviously, this creep figured, just because she was a weaponless female, she must be both easily manipulated and quickly taken down. She’d just have to show him just how flawed that line of thinking was. As an Amazonian Warrior woman, she’d been trained from the cradle in all manor of war, both armed and unarmed combat. Whoever her attacker may be, he would definitely meet his match today.
As the ship grew distant and the mountains grew ever nearer, Jeri knew that the time to lure her enemy in had arrived. To get her enemy to attack her openly, here, now, would leave him unable to say later on that he’d been trying to speak to her or other such nonsense.
“Only a coward thinks to attack an unarmed woman,” she provoked. If anything should get it to come out swinging, that should.
“Woman, you should watch what you say to your betters.”
Jeri laughed then turned toward the direction the voice came from. To say she was unimpressed by the figure standing in front of her would be an understatement, but she’d been fooled by the packaging of a person before. She wouldn’t take his unassuming looks as a guarantee for poor performance.
The male stood at least several inches shy of her height. He had a slight stature. His shoulders were sloped as though his body had begun to curve in on itself. Long brown hair hung lank and greasy around his shoulders. His brown eyes were dull, dead inside almost. If she looked closely, she could see the evil that lived inside him.
/> His face appeared ravaged with a rotting disease, his lips twisted into a permanent sneer. He looked quite disgusting all in all. Then a moment later he looked normal, absolutely, perfectly, normal. What kind of evil is this?
She watched him with narrowed eyes. She felt a faint buzzing in her head and realized that he appeared to grow more handsome, more appealing by the minute. No. No. She shook her head.
That wasn’t right. She backed away. Shook her head again. He’s trying to manipulate me, to manipulate my thoughts. I will not let him. Jeri sidestepped then kicked the male’s knee out from behind him, forcing him to loose his balance. Swinging around so that no part of her was facing away from the evil bastard, Jeri faced him again. This time she’d be ready for him and his tricky ways.
The next time his attack was more realistic, like a million tiny metal shards piercing her brain at once before she was able to concentrate. She focused her entire psyche on shoring up her mind and forging an imaginary shielding around her brain. By the time she finished protecting herself from his mental attack, she felt herself swaying on her feet.
He hadn’t fared much better if the sweat pouring off his body was any indication. Before he could attack again, she went on the offensive, kicking him straight in the sternum and sending him skidding into the dirt.
Ten minutes later, Jeri dragged her unconscious attacker to the bottom of the loading ramp of her ship where Roman, Royce and Michal stood waiting for him. “I found this thing following me. He attacked me using mental telepathy, powers I’ve never seen others use before. He’s stinks of evil.”
“By the Gods. That’s Helio Fe’Elix but he’s full Hienial now. He used to be a Hienial-Halfling. What happened to change him?” Royce mused.
Roman turned him over on to his stomach and used his belt to secure his hands while Michal used his to secure his feet. “I wonder where he’s been.” Roman added. “When he disappeared from the village six moons ago, we assumed one of the native animals gored him and the wildlife devoured what was left of his body. After a few days, we called off the search.”
“I don’t know. But if there is one, there may be more. You may want to keep him under guard and watch those he tended to associate with just in case.”
Roman and Royce shook their heads. She didn’t know whether they were denying another of their kind could be involved or were ashamed that it happened at all. Right now, she wanted some peace so she could say goodbye to her mother and her friend, to remember the women they were, to celebrate the lives they led and to mourn the lives they had yet to live.
* * * *
Michal strode through the corridors with purpose. Having just left their prisoner’s cell, he felt dirty and needed a shower. Still, there wasn’t one in his near future, no matter how badly he wanted it. How could one man be so evil? It seemed he wanted nothing more than to rule his own vile empire and keep women as slaves. He shook his head, wishing yet again that he had time to bathe.
“We’re awaiting you in the verge’, Michal.” Ryo’s voice reverberated though the halls.
He nodded, knowing the new council waited for him to attend. They also waited for Jeri, but she would only show when she deemed their wait sufficient. In her mind, it was better that they become accustomed to awaiting her whim.
Michal smiled at the thought that the impatient council may have a long delay ahead of them. “Have you requested Jerineau’s presence yet?”
“No. We thought it better if you were here first.”
He couldn’t help laughing. “You should have called her an hour before you even got there yourself. You know how she is.”
Ryo chuckled. “Yes. I do. I assumed we could attend to other business while we wait. I have some Narunian ale to share with you and your bond mates. Are you interested?”
“You know I am. Call her and I’ll be right there.” Michal hurried through the halls toward the council chamber. He needed a drink. Better yet, he needed some quality alone time with his mate. It was just too damned bad the three of them had all agreed that intimacy would only happen when she made the first move—when she was ready. He sighed and rounded the corner, ready to enter the room and await his mate’s whims. He didn’t expect to almost run her down. “What are you doing here?”
She gave him a long, narrow look that would have left a lesser man shaking. “I was invited. Do you think this room is not fit for my presence?”
Oh, he wasn’t touching that one. “I never said that it’s just…”
“They didn’t expect me so soon?” She grinned. “I do love keeping you all on your toes.” She shook her head. “Males are so predictable.” Turning, she paused with her hand just above the control pad and grinned. “How long did the lot of you think it would take me this time?”
Well, he was truly caught. “Well…ah…we figured you’d be about an hour.”
“Whatever it is they’re drinking, I want some.” Her gaze was intent, penetrating. “I think I’ve earned it, along with your respect.”
He stared down at his feet and rocked back and forth, resisting the urge to whistle or hum. Men! She’d figured them out fast enough. He’d said his mother would love her. Though she’d never been around men before, she already knew how their minds worked. Sometimes Michal hated eavesdropping on her thoughts, but not this time. Sometimes it was informative, not to mention very entertaining. “Yes, my mate.” He knew she didn’t like it when he called her that, but she needed to get used to the idea. He’d like to think he could give her all the time she needed, but time grew short.
A week had passed already and she didn’t seem any more likely to succumb to his advances. The only good thing about that was she hadn’t submitted to the Halfling twins, either.
Shaking her head, she waved her hand over the control pad and entered the room. “Hello, gentlemen. I hope you’ve saved some for me.” She strode over to an empty chair and sat down. Snapping her fingers, she waved for a glass and waited for the server to pass her one filled with ale. “Thank you.” She turned to the twins and smirked. “Good to see you two here.”
“Enough,” Ryo said.
His tone brooked no argument, even from a headstrong Amazonian apparently. Folding her hands, Jeri gazed at him with respect. She’d played them all quite nicely. “Yes, sir.” Her voice was soft. There was no inflection of anger or sarcasm.
Ryo sat at the head of the long council table fingering his amulet. The chain winked gold in the bright light.
Michal knew the stories of how he’d received it, almost everyone did. The amulet, a gift from the Great Goddess would help him lead his people somehow. Ryo seemed pensive. Perhaps his people weren’t quite what he’d hoped. Or perhaps he’d hoped to find more before now. Even with those they’d found on this new planet, there were only about sixty Halflings.
Michal watched the men around the table. Viktor d’Vrai, Ryo’s current second and right hand man sat to his right. Demit d’Mier and Xymus p’Leil sat to his left. He may not realize it, but the man even sat like a king. His back was straight. He sat tall in his seat. There were no apologies in his demeanor.
Michal sat and wondered about how his mate felt. Was she uneasy being the only woman in the room? He knew why Ryo summoned her, but she could not. What if being in the presence of so many males unnerved her? He tried to see things from her point of view. She was a ruler in her own right. How could she bow to another? Would Ryo require her to swear fealty because of her other mates? The thought rankled. What right did Ryo have to require anything of his woman? He fought the urge to growl and shifted in his seat, waiting for Ryo to make his announcement.
“Jerineau Arden, in light of recent developments and your single-handed capture of our new enemy, you are a hero. I invite you to be a member of this council. In fact, you shall be the only non-Hienial blood member of this council.” He sat up a bit straighter, his expression an impenetrable mask. “I also invite your people to live among mine in harmony. You have earned that much. Where you have no
home and no males, we also have no home to call our own. Our lack of females is also an issue. A compromise would suit us both.” Ryo leaned forward and rested his chin on steepled fingers. “What say you?”
* * * *
Jeri nodded carefully, barely able to believe her ears. This man offered her everything she and her people desired. A home. A chance to procreate. Each of them would have the opportunity to have a child, perhaps two or even three. The thought of a thriving Amazonian culture was nearly overwhelming. Blood rushed to her face and her knees would have given out if she’d been standing. He offered them more than he knew. He thought he offered them a home, when in fact, he offered them a life full of possibilities.
Clearing her throat, she stood as a gesture of respect. These men had earned it. She gave them all an assessing look. Each one of these men had shown her nothing but respect. Every one of them let her choose her own way, never forcing their will upon her. It was time she returned the courtesy. Bowing her head, she hid the tears that she knew glossed her eyes. “My people accept your most generous offer, sir.” She licked her lips, suddenly nervous. “And I…” she paused, looking at her men for some indication that she would overstep some unknown boundary then stiffened her spine.
She was her own woman. She didn’t need a man’s opinion or permission for anything! Jutting out her chin, she silently dared them to disagree with her decision. “I am happy to accept both of your kind offers, sir. My crew would love a home. We will stay with you when you find your homeworld and I look forward to working with you and the others on your esteemed council.”
Michal shifted in his seat and she waited for him to object. He could eat trama dung before she would step down on his say so. The arrogant fool. She glanced down at her hands when he said nothing. Those same hands wanted nothing more than to caress every inch of that same arrogant male and she finally admitted to herself that she wanted him, too.
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