by Amber Kell
Kres brushed off concern for himself. He needed to figure out what the hell was going on. "But why are they so special?"
"Because they are the strongest of their kind. Thresls are shapeshifters who can bond so well with their mates that they essentially enhance the other person. When you went after those guys earlier, how did you feel?"
Kres rolled the memory around in his mind before he answered. "Strong. Powerful. I don't remember ever feeling like that before, like I could take on anyone."
"That is your Thresl effect." Zander took a sip of the liquor before speaking. "Thresls don't just become the very heart of their owner, they strengthen them. Alphas are the kings of Thresl kind. Vohne is obligated to go back to the Thresl home planet and take his seat on the throne. He will be making decisions of the fate of his kingdom. If he says a planet isn't granted a Thresl from his people, they won't be. If he determines no more Thresls will be given to kings or rulers to enhance their houses, they won't be. Thresls are the most desired commodity anywhere, and Vohne will have total control. He is also the only creature who can dissolve a Thresl bond."
"I thought they couldn't be broken."
"They couldn't before. The last Thresl alpha died a hundred years ago. Only the alpha is born with the ability to break connections. You didn't just bond with a strong creature that can make you a better soldier. You bonded with the king of Thresls. You, in essence, are now one of the most powerful men in the entire galaxy, my friend. And until another alpha is born, your Thresl isn't just a Thresl king. He is the king of an entire planet."
Kres grabbed his glass of liquor and downed the rest of the contents in one final gulp. He'd thought his life was screwed before. Now what was he going to do?
* * * *
Kreslan was lying on the bed when Vohne returned. The man-cat's eyes glowed gold as he examined every inch of his human. He'd yearned for Kreslan while in his drug-induced haze. They'd had to tie him down so he would stay in the infirmary and not go hunting his mate. Everything he had longed to merge with this man.
The look he got in return was less than promising.
"Aren't you happy to see me?"
Kreslan flipped a page in a book he recognized as the one the commander had given his mate. "Thrilled, Your Highness." He flipped another page.
Uh-Oh.
What was he going to do now? Kreslan definitely didn't look pleased.
Vohne decided it was best not to let his mate think too much on it. Marching over to the bed, he slid his fingers through Kreslan's hair and tilted his chin. "I'm happy to see you too." Without giving the other man a chance to answer, he dropped to his knees and covered Kreslan's mouth with his own. Heat poured through him at the mouth-to-mouth connection, and all the fine hairs across his body stood on end at the electric jolt of kissing his mate.
Yum!
He might not still have his tail, but his claws were just beneath the surface. With a low growl, he shredded his mate's shirt.
"Hey."
Kreslan's expression was outraged, but Vohne could smell his excitement.
"You wish to stop?" Vohne pressed his body closer to his mate's, rubbing against him in the most delightful way. A purr rolled up his throat, vibrating together all the bits of naked skin.
"Um, no." Kreslan lifted his hips in a silent invitation to explore, an invitation Vohne was more than willing to accept. "Besides, you can unbind us if you want, right?"
Vohne froze. "What do you mean?"
"Zander said kings can unbind Thresl bonds. You could unbind us if you need to, couldn't you?"
"No." He made sure his tone left no room for doubt. He wasn't going to give his human even a smidgen of hope that Kreslan could ever get away from their bond. "Once we bond, you will be mine forever."
Kreslan tried to move away, but there was no place he could go with Vohne pinning him to the thin mattress. "Maybe we should wait. Make sure we're compatible before we seal our fate."
Vohne couldn't stop the predatory smile he could feel crossing his face. "It was too late for you, gorgeous, when I first caught your scent. You are mine, and whether we have sex or not, you will always be mine." He kissed Kreslan until he felt the fit, muscular body relax beneath him. Making sure he had a good hold on his mate, he said the words that sealed the first step of the final bonding process. "I, Vohne, named by my mate, Kreslan Piers, forever pledge my heart and body to protect and cherish the man who will be mine."
He let out a sigh of relief as he felt the mating bonds twine between them like invisible strings, twisting together until he couldn't tell where one started and the other ended.
"What the hell was that?" Kreslan's body jerked beneath him, reminding Vohne the man still wore pants.
"That was our bonding. We are now mated."
"Wait! I thought we had to have sex."
Vohne smiled. "Don't worry. That is only the first step. The rest are much more enjoyable."
Kreslan's throat convulsed. "How many steps are there?"
Vohne rubbed his nose against his mate's in a Thresl sign of affection. "There can be as many as we want. After all, we are kings."
Before his human could come up with any more excuses, Vohne used his claws to take care of those pesky trousers. He'd have to make sure to alert the castle staff they would need clothing stashed in every room. It felt good to be in a body again. He wondered how long he should wait to tell his nervous mate the truth about him.
This was always the fun part, getting to know his mate in each incarnation. Two thousand years of being born, hunting down his mate, and dying and he still found it exciting each time. It was too bad his mate never remembered his former lives. Of course that always made the courtship that much more fun. This sexy, tough warrior version was one of the best yet. Vohne purred. His heart ached with the power of his love for the other man who looked at him with wary eyes.
The only glitch in this reunion was trying to figure out why it took so long to return this time. Kings couldn't be identified until they bonded with their mates because memories didn't return until they transformed. Vohne now remembered he always returned as the same human, even as his cat form differed each time. His body was identical because he always matched up with the same bonded. His soul mate. Kreslan might appear different in each of his reincarnations, but his soul always longed for the same Thresl at his side.
Something must have stopped his previous reincarnation or there wouldn't be such a gap between his last life and this one. Even as his memories returned, he could feel a big hole in his mind that told him in a few incarnations he hadn't found his mate and never shifted from his Thresl form. Once they got to his home world, he'd have to investigate and see what prevented his transformation. Nothing could stand between him and the safety of his mate. Anyone or anything that did would be eliminated.
Looking down at the man he'd loved through millenniums, Vohne pushed all the negativity away. By the time they headed for the castle, every Thresl ever born would know the king and his mate were back, and their enemies had better look out.
Kreslan put up a token resistance but gave it up as soon as Vohne nipped at his neck. It wasn't the submission of a proper beta. His soldier didn't have enough giving in him for that. It was the acknowledgment of letting Vohne have his way because he'd chosen to give the Thresl the dominating role.
Vohne didn't know how his mate could get any sexier, but the younger man lying beneath him made his heart swell just as much as he made his cock harden. He held back the words of love trying to escape. Kreslan was already nervous about their bond. It wasn't the time to tell him this wasn't the first time they'd done this dance.
Vohne leaned down and lapped at his lover's neck, scraping his teeth lightly against the skin. Kreslan shivered, and little bumps popped up across his body, making Vohne smile.
"You are so responsive."
"You are so dead if you don't get on with it," Krelan growled.
"I am. I am. Don't get your undies in a bunch." Vohn
e purred. "Oh wait, you aren't wearing any."
He let his hands roam across the newly exposed skin as he relished the feel of flesh against flesh. Touch starved. The phrase danced across his mind. No. Kreslan starved. Not just anyone could soothe his need for contact. Not just anyone could calm his restless soul, only this man. One special man in a sea of billions of souls was his mate.
"I missed you." Vohne flinched as soon as the words were out of his mouth.
Kreslan gave him an amused smile. "We were only apart a few hours."
"What can I say? I'm needy." Vohne stopped further comments with a kiss. Now wasn't the time to break the news to Kreslan. Nothing was going to stop him from claiming his mate, and he knew Kreslan would have tons of questions. Vohne would confess everything after they completed the bond. Right now wasn't the time to go into a metaphysical discussion.
At the touch of Kreslan's mouth, Vohne's body came alive. Moaning, he rubbed against his mate's pebbled abs, searching for the perfect friction to end the uncontrollable yearning he felt for the other man.
Calloused hands gripped his hips, stilling his motion. A snarl burst from his lips.
"Stop it," Kreslan commanded, his brown eyes firm.
"I need you." Vohne's voice was gravelly with need, the words almost indistinguishable.
"I know." Kreslan leaned up and gave Vohne a kiss on the cheek. The first spontaneous show of affection from his mate sent tremors through his body.
"I need to be inside you," he confessed.
"You need to get undressed first."
Vohne stripped off his clothing without regard to reusability. The sound of fabric stretching didn't distract him from watching his mate retrieve a tube of lubricant from a box under the bed. "Planning, were you?"
"I did a little shopping while you were out. I knew you would want to claim me when you returned. You aren't exactly shy about saying what you want."
"I'll never be shy about wanting you." It was best that Kreslan knew the truth. Vohne would always want him, and he would not be denied. Well, only by Kreslan and he hoped his mate wouldn't turn him away without reason. The Thresl-human mating was too intense for some matches. Luckily this was one mating that never had those kinds of problems. They'd had lots of other issues throughout the years, but sexual compatibility was never one of them.
Vohne's attention snapped to his mate when Kreslantried to wriggle away.
Vohne growled.
"You have to give me enough space to use the lube." Kreslan's brow wrinkled in a frustrated frown.
"No. That's my privilege." He gave his mate a look that he hoped conveyed his confusion over Kreslan's actions. "You really do need to read that book about Thresls."
"I keep trying to," Kreslan snapped, but it was hard to sound cross while your body was melting beneath another's touch. Vohne had to give his mate credit for trying.
"Thresls take their responsibilities seriously. From now on everything about you is mine to care for. Your body, your happiness, they are all mine."
"Yeah," Kreslan panted. "And what is my responsibility?"
"To not get killed." A responsibility his lover didn't always take seriously with disastrous consequences. But not this time. This time Vohne was going to keep him safe.
Kreslan froze beneath Vohne's hands. "What?"
"Never mind." Now wasn't the time to go over years of heartache and humor. Now was the time to solidify their relationship and renew their commitment to each other. Kissing his mate, Vohne made a silent vow. The same vow he'd made innumerable times before.
Forever. This time I will keep him forever.
Running his mouth down his lover's pebbled abs, Vohne licked every sexy bump. He enjoyed this tougher version of his mate. Joy bubbled through Vohne's veins like Nillrenian wine. They would win this time.
A sharp pain brought his head up.
"Ouch."
Kreslan gave a short laugh. "What are you thinking about?"
"Your hot body."
"I don't think so. It's like a humming in my mind."
"Talk later. Hot loving now." To keep Kreslan distracted, he swallowed his lover, taking his entire length to the back of his throat. There was plenty of time to discuss their past. Concentrating on their future was more important.
Kreslan let out a strangled scream.
Vohne purred. Clamping his hands around Kreslan's hips, he kept his mate still while he enjoyed the flavor of the man who tasted like the best of everything and owned Vohne's heart.
"I'm going to come," Kreslan warned.
"Excellent."
He sent the word to his mate, letting him know it was all right. Tasting his lover's essence was his goal. His right. Only his. The strong body beneath him jolted, giving up its essential fluid. Gripping Kreslan's hips, Vohne held him still while he sucked at the liquid. When he finally let Kreslan's cock leave his mouth, Vohne lapped at the sticky drips he'd missed with his rough tongue like a cat.
Kreslan panted, sucking in gasping breaths to fill his lungs. "I wanted to last longer."
Kreslan's eyes glowed like small suns, a sign of their bonding. As they grew closer, their powers would multiply. The stronger they bonded, the more powerful they'd become. This time there was no hesitation in Vohne's mind. Lessons from the past were learned well at great consequence. Conquer their enemies or perish, there was no in between. With his feral blood burning in his veins, Vohne smiled at his lover.
"Don't worry, mate. We just got started."
Chapter Six
The planet of Nillre shone like a jewel in space. Flashes of blue and gold greeted the spacecraft slowly drifting towards its surface.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Vohne's warm breath drifted across his bare neck, making Kres shiver. Bumps tingled across his skin at the other man's proximity. His fingers brushed the cheek so close to his own, smiling as he felt the little bits of beard growing out.
At his touch, Vohne purred, rubbing his face against Kres's hand. "You can stroke me anytime, lover."
Kres laughed. "That is possibly the worst line, ever."
Vohne laughed, warm puffs of breath across Kres's ear.
Kres turned his head a fraction, enough for their lips to brush across each other. Sparks of need danced up and down his spine, tightening his body.
The pilot's voice came over the speakers. "We are now approaching the planet of Nillre. Please strap in."
Kres groaned his disappointment but obediently settled back into his seat. Vohne growled and paced the aisle.
"What are you doing? You heard the pilot."
Vohne glanced out the window, around the cabin, out the window again.
"Vohne, strap in."
There were no other passengers besides Kres and Vohne. It was a private shuttle provided by the planet of Nillre to welcome back their king. After Vohne contacted them, they couldn't do enough. Unfortunately, Vohne had been unable to reach his brother, who was out when he called. Kres knew the lack of communication from his brother bothered Vohne. Only ten luxurious landing chairs filled the entire shuttle where fifty might crowd the space in a military craft.
Kres made sure all his buckles and snaps were fastened as he kept a wary eye on his lover. "What's the matter?" Vohne's pacing spiked his nerves.
"Something is wrong."
"What do you mean?"
Vohne pinned him with his amber gaze. "Don't you feel it?"
"All I feel is the ship descending. You need to get strapped in."
The man-cat's eyes widened. "We need to get you out of here."
"What?"
Kres didn't have time to argue or ask what the hell was going on. Vohne's claws came out. In two swipes he shredded Kres's harness.
"Stop that."
"No. You have to leave." The playful man of seconds ago vanished behind the cold amber gaze.
"I am leaving as soon as we land."
Vohne shook his head. "This shuttle will never land."
"What?"
Kres st
ruggled as Vohne grabbed his arm, dragging him down the center aisle.
"Stop it. What the fuck is going on? Stop."
His shouts fell on deaf ears as the Thresl continued dragging him to the back of the ship.
With his free hand, the Thresl typed in a complicated code. A concealed door sprang open.
Vohne grabbed Kres's chin, forcing him to meet the Thresl's eyes.
"You must survive. No matter what, don't trust anyone. I will find you."
"No," Kres protested.
"Yes." Hard lips met his in a brutal, marking kiss. "You have been mine for centuries, and you will be mine again. Don't lose faith."
Running the words through his head, Kres was unprepared for the hard shove, propelling him into the escape pod. A whoosh of sound followed the door closing behind him.
"Vohne!" Kres pounded on the door, screaming. "Vohne!"
The captain's voice came over the intercom. "Your Highness, my radar has picked up some incoming ships. They must be your welcoming fleet."
"Somehow I doubt it," Vohne responded. "Fire the pod."
Kres scrambled to find the intercom. Pressing the button, he shouted into the receiver. "Don't you dare!"
Vohne's order overrode his. "Fire it, Captain, or I will have you court-martialed."
Fuck!
"Sorry, sir," the captain said. "I have to follow orders."
Kres understood the captain's dilemma, but he didn't have to like it. "If anything happens to Vohne, I will be coming for you."
There was a long silence. "Understood, sir."
A loud bang shook the pod. Kres thought at first it was the pod dislodging, until the captain's voice came over the intercom.
"We are being fired upon," the captain said in a calm voice. "What would you like me to do, Your Highness?"
"Eject the pod, Captain," Vohne ordered.
"Vohne!" Kres pounded on the door. He was going to kill the bastard when he got out of there.