by R. R. Banks
“Baby, go. Ero and Ullie will take you to safety.”
He shook her and she looked at him licking her lips. “I—I don’t know if I can leave you.”
“It’s all good, sweetheart. I have something they don’t but I won’t be able to focus until I know you’re safe. So please for my sanity, go.”
It was then a strong hand wrapped around her arm yanking her away. She looked over her shoulder to see the fire spreading, but the Klimnu were coming in droves. All the warriors were fighting. He gave her one last look before joining the fray of the fight. He’d never felt so exhilarated before. The women were gone, and now he could focus.
A Klimnu snuck up on him. It cackled and scraped its claws down his cheek. “Why would they let you stay around? You’re nothing but the useless healer.” it said with a voice full of hatred.
He glared and didn’t even bother wiping the blood from his face. “You just made your last mistake underestimating me.”
His hand lit up and the heat surrounded him. His hand burned with a flame that begged to come free. In a movement too fast for the Klimnu, Ciyrs snapped. He wrapped his hand around its bony neck and incinerated him. The scent of burning flesh filled the air and then he disappeared into a pile of ash. “Holy Fuck,” he said and ran towards the king. There were three on him and Ciyrs heard Eliana’s conversation with Pyra. They wanted him. But he wouldn’t let them have his king.
He charged the one who jumped on Criea’s back. The instant his hand touched the Klimnu the beast erupted into flames and ran around shrieking in pain until he disappeared into a pile. Seemed Ciyrs was pretty fucking powerful. The heat from his hand traveled down his body until it felt like he was surrounded by a wall of flames. Only the flames weren’t there. He felt them bubbling beneath the surface.
Chapter 8
I hated leaving Ciyrs, but I had complete faith he could take care of himself. Eden held my hand digging her nails into the flesh of my palm. I felt her nerves as if they were my own. She was scared. No scratch that, she was fucking terrified.
“Hey, it will be okay.”
She looked at me pleading.
“Seriously Eden, you’ve mated to the legendary Denynso who has the fiercest reputation where I come from. Plus you’re carrying his child. He won’t let anything happen to anyone. Plus Ciyrs has his new gift, and I can tell you right now, it will come in handy.”
“You really believe it?”
“Of course I do. I have faith in them all, and you should too. You know your mate and mine.”
She nodded and a small smile curled her lip up. “Thanks. Sorry I’m not usually this much of a pussy. It’s the hormones I swear. Makes me crazy. I’ve never cried so much in my god damn life.”
“It’s okay to cry. I’m scared for them too, but I can’t focus on that. What we need to focus on is getting Gyyx to listen to me and freaking pleasure his unconscious mate. I know it sounds terrible, but I think his touch is the key. Every time he touches her more intimately her body reacts. So he just needs to shock her awake.”
Eden nodded. “I know, but he feels it’s wrong. I can appreciate that, but he’s more stubborn than Pyra.”
“I can see that.”
“Ladies how about less talking and more moving faster,” Ero grumbled and then a Klimnu appeared.
“You,” it said looking right at me. “You killed him you stupid cunt.”
I gasped. This must have been the other one. Ero moved in front of us, and the Klimnu backhanded him sending him flying backwards. He landed against the tree shaking it to the roots before falling to the ground—unconscious. Of course.
Ullie stared at the Klimnu, but I saw something was off. He didn’t look scared, nor did he look like he cared one way or another about us. It was up to me. I had to save them. Eden, though I didn’t know her well enough was important. She was pregnant and important to my mate, so therefore she was important to me. “Now would be a good time to use your fancy connection,” I whispered.
She shook and I felt her fear. The Klimnu laughed.
Its cackle sounded just like the one who kept torturing me. The anger rose and I pushed the queen and Eden behind me. It cackled again.
“You measly human, you are no match against me, and your warrior here—well he isn’t who he seems. He’s a traitor and won’t be a help to you.”
The queen gasped, but I didn’t react. It didn’t surprise me. I hadn’t seen him around much. He didn’t say anything. He paled knowing he was ousted, and if we managed to make it out of this he was screwed. The others would tear him apart.
I held up my hand when I felt the burn. Seemed Ciyrs was always going to be able to sense when I needed his help. That must have been our special connection. Apparently we didn’t all get telepathy. Again I was able to tap into his power. My hand shot out and wrapped around the Klimnu’s throat. “Die you mother fucker!”
The scent, the feel felt the same as before. Only this time I got dizzy. Hands held me up as I killed my second Klimnu. Ash covered my hands, and I wiped them on my jeans. It was deja vu. All over again I found myself locked in that damn building trying to find my way out. The panic took over until I felt a sting across my cheek. I shook my head and brought my hand to my face. “That freakin’ hurt.”
Eden blushed. “Sorry you just seemed to be lost there for a minute. We really need to go before more come. You just killed that thing and I don’t want to stick around for more.”
“We have to get Ero,” I said.
I backtracked and found him on the ground. He wasn’t as big as the others so it wasn’t as hard to help him up. The queen and Eden both came to help and working as one with the queen’s hidden speed we made it back to the infirmary without any more attacks. Ullie was gone. Eden banged on the door, and I pushed her aside pulling the keys from my pocket. Ciyrs slipped them to me before I was pulled away.
I unlocked the door and we dragged Ero inside. Gyyx was sitting by his mate’s side and his eyes widened. He jumped up and pulled the doors shut locking them.
“What the fuck happened?” He wrapped his arms around his mother and held her close.
“Klimnu attacked. Ciyrs sent us with Ero and Ullie, and now we’re here,” I said and shrugged before dropping into the chair. Gyyx carried Ero’s body to the empty cot.
“Yes, but how did you get away if Ero is out. Where’s Ullie?”
“He is a traitor to our kind,” the queen said sadly.
“What do you mean mother?”
She sighed. “He is working with the enemy, and he got away.”
His eyes flared with anger but then he seemed confused. “Then how did you manage to get back?”
“Ciyrs’s mate... She’s a badass who tapped into his new gift and saved us!” Eden replied and for the first time since meeting her I didn’t see her as a threat, and I felt like I fit a little better.
He chuckled and planted himself back in his chair next to the woman who was the biggest mystery to us all.
We waited and waited nervously for the men to come back. None of us wanted to see our mates hurt. Hell none of the warriors. I nibbled my lip praying everyone would come back safely.
* * * *
The feel of his hands woke me up. I smiled and jumped up into his arms. “You’re back!”
“Of course I am baby. How are you holding up?”
I looked around and saw the room was full of warriors. All of them seemed to be all right. “No one is dead?”
The room went silent and then everyone laughed.
“No baby, we’re all good. Some bruising and shit, but those bastards are gone. At least for now. We kicked ass, and the Wasteland building is gone. Burnt to the ground.”
I nodded as my eyes filled with tears. “Good. How’s Ero?”
“He’s fine,” Ero said and smirked. “I heard you were pretty badass while I was out?”
I shrugged. “Someone had to do it,” I replied and smiled.
He shoved me and then paced across
the room. Everyone was fine. The Wasteland was filled with Klimnu ashes, and I was home. I pulled Ciyrs down for a kiss and swore I’d appreciate him every day. He was the perfect mate for me—flawlessly perfect.
Ciyrs pulled me to the side and we sat against the wall. Everyone was hyped up over the fight and talked about his power. I knew he was awesome, and I knew how the power felt. It was addictive, and I had only used it twice. From the conversations he killed over twenty Klimnu on his own. I was proud of him. Seemed he was finally getting the recognition he should have always had, but he smiled and leaned back with me.
“I don’t feel my soul darkening baby.”
“I told you.”
“I’m not so afraid of it now.”
“Good, because again it saved my life. Because of you I’m okay and so are Eden and the queen.”
He nodded and kissed my head. The silence was nice. We were in our own little world. No one could enter it. I felt his love shatter the rest of the chill that had once surrounded my heart. I was finally free from my past and all the things I had always feared didn’t matter anymore.
Chapter 9
Ciyrs felt a change. Eliana was less tense, more relaxed, and more affectionate. It felt like she wasn’t worried about anything anymore. It matched how he felt. There was still the issue of Ullie, and the idea that the Klimnu would come back. They weren’t going to give up just because they lost some of their kind.
They were fighters, and they were violent bastards. They got off on other people’s pain and suffering. Now that they knew where they were coming from the security would raise. Everyone would be on the lookout for Ullie, and King Criea would be the one to decide what happens to him. He personally wanted to rip his head off. They had sent him to protect the women, but instead he let the Klimnu attack, and it could have gone a completely different way. That was the problem.
Pyra was aching to go kill him too. Eden could have died. He could have lost his whole family in one short period. Ciyrs figured the warriors would be keeping their eyes open even more than usual.
He stood and stretched bringing Eliana to her feet. “Can we go home now?”
“I want to check on our mystery woman first. Gyyx needs to stop being so damn stubborn, and he was probably going to, but we came banging on the door before he had more than an hour alone with her.”
They walked over to his lost brother. “Hey dude, sorry things didn’t go as planned.”
“I’ll do it, but not here. I won’t make this medical. I want to take her home with me. I want to clean her up. I want so much,” he said softly.
“Then do that. She will be okay with you. I have a feeling she’d probably rather have that kind of privacy anyways.”
“You really think so?”
“I do. I don’t know why. I can’t explain it, but it’s this feeling I get. I learned a long time ago to follow my gut. I think you should take her home. Make it more personal rather than medical. This place is too sterile.”
“Hey it’s supposed to be,” Ciyrs said freighting offense.
Gyyx chuckled. “Okay but if something bad happens, you’ll come right?”
“Of course.”
“Thank you.” Gyyx picked her up in his arms and Eliana made sure her body was covered fully.
“He’ll be okay and so will she. I hate seeing him so sad. His eyes match the sorrow I saw in hers before she went unconscious.”
Ciyrs didn’t want to think of anything sad. He wanted to take his mate home and make love to her all night long. He wanted to celebrate his new gift. He wanted to celebrate life. He figured the Klimnu would need to regroup and maybe they’d get a break from attacks; at least for a while.
But what does that mean for later? Are they gone for good or just regrouping to bring a massive force the next time around?
(To be Continued in Part V… )
Book 5 – Bonded by Alien Prince
Chapter 1
Gyyx knew it was time to test out Eliana’s theory. Hell, everyone told him it was a good idea. Eden, Pyra, and Ciyrs watched him in torment as he held back from touching her in any way other than loving. He wanted her to wake up. What if the only way to wake her was to violate her? Then she would never forgive him or trust him. That was his fear. But the worst of it all: what if his touch wasn’t enough? What if she never woke up?
He thought about all those things each day sitting by her side. He had taken her home—to his home three days before, and instead of touching her he spent the majority of his time sitting by her side or down in his basement training room. He didn’t answer the door when anyone knocked either. He needed to be alone, and after the first day everyone seemed to get that.
Gyyx stepped out of the shower and took a deep breath. He shaved off his scruff and sighed. He couldn’t take it anymore. It was time to listen to everyone else. Dropping his towel he slipped on some very light shorts and made his way to his room where his mate lay. She hadn’t moved at all since he laid her there, yet she looked so peaceful, like she was only sleeping.
She was so tiny. Every part of her was small, and he worried about that when she woke up, because she would fucking wake up. He couldn’t give up hope on that. Her hair was long and black with some sort of funky cut. He didn’t know her eye color or anything else about her. He just knew he would have to be very gentle with her.
He lay on the bed next to her and kissed her cheek. Her small nose twitched, and he watched hoping her eyes would open on their own, but nothing happened. He slid his arm over her waist and held her. “I really hope you won’t be pissed at me sweetheart. I’ve waited hoping you’d come back to me on your own.” As he spoke he slid the tip of his finger down her thin arm. She was pale and nearly skin and bone.
Gyyx was stubborn. For hours he lay holding her willing her to wake up, but it was no use. He knew she needed more help.
The next time he heard the knock he knew it was his father and he couldn’t ignore him anymore. He kissed her on the mouth and sighed. “I’ll be back, sweetheart.”
He went to his door and let his dad in.
“She isn’t awake yet?”
“No, I can’t bring myself to touch her. Not without her consent. It’s wrong.”
His dad nodded. “Now son, normally I would agree with you, but she has been out for what a week now?”
“Yes.”
“Ciyrs and Eden have tried everything they can think of?”
Again he nodded. “Yes.”
“Maybe it’s time to be unconventional. I know you wouldn’t do anything to hurt her, and if Ciyrs is right and she is aware and unable to wake up, she can hear your hesitance. If you can get her to wake up and if she is angry you can explain it to her.”
“If she doesn’t run the opposite way. Dad, could you have done that?” He didn’t like thinking about his parents, but he needed to know.
“I would have probably been stubborn like you, but in the end yes, if it saved her and brought her back to me. I know it’s hard, but look at your mate. What if she cannot wake up without you? Could you forgive yourself if she never wakes up because you can’t let go of your morals for something important?”
Gyyx shook his head. “I guess not. I know I need to at least try. It’s just hard to… you know?”
“Maybe come to dinner and get—”
“No I won’t leave her.”
“Very well, but soon you’re going to have to. Your mother is worried and wants to make sure you’re okay.”
“Of course, I’m not okay.”
“Son, don’t be so stubborn. Either go now and see your mom or you’re coming over tomorrow. I won’t take her being upset anymore.”
Gyyx sighed. “I don’t mean to upset her. I’ll go tomorrow, but I need someone here with my mate.”
“I’ll stay while you have a lunch with your mom.”
“Okay, then I’ll see you tomorrow.” He rushed to get his dad out of his house. He didn’t like talking to anyone. He didn’t want to be told
what to do, and he felt horrible he had upset his mother, but he couldn’t bring himself to leave the beautiful and vulnerable woman in his bed.
His dad got the hint and smiled pulling him into a hug. “Just do it son, you don’t have to have sex with her, use your damn fingers.”
He choked and pulled back. “Damn dad, that doesn’t make me want to do anything now. I don’t need you to tell me the same thing everyone has, and I mean everyone. I get it. I need to freaking give my woman, who is unconscious, an orgasm. Yay for me I get to be a fuckin’ pervert.”
“Oh Gyyx you’re so far from that, but I get it. I know it’s difficult, but hell we want her awake nearly as much as you. She’s family after all. We all want to know what happened. How those slimy bastards got her, and of course we want to figure out what she knows.”
Gyyx glared. “You won’t be questioning her as soon as she wakes up. She’s going to need time. I won’t allow it, and I don’t care what you do to me.” His eyes flared orange and his body shook with rage. No one would bombard his mate.
His dad held up his hands. “I didn’t mean right away, son. I’ll let your tone go only because you’re my son and you’re under a lot of pressure right now, but don’t think for a minute you tell me what to do. I’m not only your father, I am the king and you will do as I say, when I say.”
Gyyx paled. It wasn’t often he was on the other end of his dad’s power and he found he didn’t like it. “Yes, sir,” he said through clenched teeth.
His dad nodded and he didn’t miss his smirk before he spun and left Gyyx alone.
Chapter 2
It was time to grow a pair and bring his mate back, and if that meant touching her in ways he only allowed himself to dream of then so be it. No one would leave him alone about it, and he knew deep down they were right. There was nothing in any of her tests that showed something was wrong. She was 100 percent healthy except for the fact she wouldn’t fucking wake up. Ciyrs had tried everything, done every test he could think of and so had Eden.