Love's Beguiling Healer

by Angela Verdenius

  "You're a shapely bitch.” Ropar eyed her assessingly. “Not my style. You're pug ugly. But put a bag over your head and I think I could enjoy you."

  Rape. She shuddered inwardly.

  "And maybe I'll enjoy your lover's reaction, too. They say the Felys males go mad if they see their females beaten and used. And there's enough of us to use you."

  Howls of pure lust came from the lifted muzzles of the soldiers, and Tera felt sick to her stomach. One part of her shrunk in revulsion of what Ropar was saying, the other part ... the other part was in dread of Illam seeing it happen to her.

  He'd go insane. He'd be completely helpless and she knew, just from seeing his reactions to more minor things, how it would affect him.

  It would drive him insane.

  She had to do something. Playing for time wasn't working now. The situation was getting more desperate.

  Her gaze sought that of several of the Canys who silently watching near one of the tents. Their grubby clothing didn't stamp them as soldiers. Several of the Canys were female, but their eyes glinted with malice. A sandy-haired male turned and went into his tent, one of the females following him.

  "What do you say, pack?” Ropar snarled. “Should we spread this bitch on the ground and show her how hounds do it?"

  The baying echoed amongst the rocks. Shrill yapping came from one the females. Deep snarls and growls sounded.

  "Should we let the Felys male watch us fill his female with our seed?” Ropar urged them on.

  The baying was now filled with snaps as the Canys males moved restlessly, their eyes bright, every expression identical to that of their Alpha.

  It hit Tera hard, the realization of what she was seeing.

  It was the pack instinct to follow their Alpha. Blind instinct. They'd follow him into battle—and into rape or anything else he led them to do.

  Pack instinct to hunt the prey. Only they didn't have to hunt the prey, for she was right here. Oh God, oh God, oh God!

  Ropar lunged for her, and she swung her fist hard, slamming him across the jaw with desperation lending her strength. The pure instinct to survive, to fight for the one she loved and for herself, made her fight hard.

  But Ropar was a seasoned solider, and the air filled with excited whines and snarls as he rose to the challenge.

  One pair of soldiers got into a fight, snarling and snapping at each others throats as they fought on the ground.

  The thrill of the fight, the joy of the coming victory. The taste for blood. It was all there in his eyes as he slammed her to the ground with a fist to her stomach, and another to her jaw.

  On her elbows, partially on her side, she coughed and spat blood. Part of her longed to give in to her pain, to simply black out. But the Argon in her, the pride of a race of people known to be ruthless themselves, refused to allow her to give in. That and her love for her man, now imprisoned somewhere in this hellhole and severally injured himself. She was surprised she couldn't hear him spitting and yowling, but they must have kept him somewhere, maybe a cave. Who knew?

  So when Ropar hooked his hand in her shirt with every intention of ripping it free, Tera called on her inner strength, her very pride and love, and used it to grab the lasers holstered at his thighs. She bit him high on the thigh at the same time, making him scream and stumble back.

  The momentum ripped his lasers free into her hands, and she surged to her feet. Not steady by any means, but up nonetheless.

  By the time Ropar looked up, a snarl twisting his face into even uglier lines, he found one of his own lasers aimed right at his face. The whine of it was deadly in the air. He saw why his soldiers didn't attack. Not only did she have one laser pointed directly at him, but the other was straight out to her other side, facing some of the soldiers. And she was slowly moving it along the line of Canys soldiers on that side.

  They snarled, snapping and showing their teeth. Lust shone on their eyes, the lust for rape and blood. And now their prey had turned even deadlier.

  Tera looked right at him, straightening her shoulders. “Get Illam.” She spat another stream of blood. “Now."

  He snarled and moved forward, his soldiers doing the same. She fired off a blast to either side. The blast aimed at him singed his ear, making him yelp in shock and pain. The laser fire aimed at the soldiers caught one dead in the chest, killing him instantly.

  "I'm not kidding, Canys,” Tera spoke softly, but her voice was clear in the sudden silence. “Get me my man."

  "Surrender and I promise no harm will come to you.” Drawing his hand down from his ear, Ropar's eyes showed a trace of white around the irises as he saw the blood on his hand.

  "No Argon will ever surrender to anyone."

  "You surrendered by coming here."

  "You think?” She laughed softly, then hardened her voice. “Get me my man."

  "Your man.” Ropar started to laugh. “He's dying nice and slowly, and far too late for you, healer. He's dying as all the Felys should have died!"

  * * * *

  Space

  He saw the young pirate spin the little wench around at the same time he heard the spit of laser fire, and felt the deadly blasts tear into his flesh and sear vital organs. Blood pumped into his mouth, choking him, making him unable to breathe.

  He fell to the floor, dimly hearing the cries of his friends as they met death, too.

  Lying on his side, he looked up, and in the dimming light, he saw the horror in the little wench's eyes, the disbelief. And knew she was truly alone now amongst a pack of rabid pirates.

  I'm so sorry ... so very sorry...

  And then the light went black, the last sounds he heard that of the jeering of the pirates.

  * * * *

  "No,” she whispered. “Not again."

  "There's no ‘again’ about it.” He laughed, enjoying her torment, so sure of his victory. “All I have to do is wait for you to tire, healer. Tire and drop those lasers. Then your body is mine ... and then any soldier who wants you can have a ride of your body. And we can wait."

  The baying started again.

  She couldn't lose him. Not Illam. She'd already lost one love, she wasn't going to lose another one.

  Raising her arm, she aimed point blank and shot Ropar in the chest. Surprised, he stared down at his chest, then slowly collapsed. The baying stopped, and everyone went into a shocked silence.

  "Tell me.” Tera looked at the soldiers. “Tell me where Illam is."

  "He's not here.” One of the soldiers started to laugh. “It was all a lie, Argon. A lie to get you here."

  "A lie?"

  "All a lie. And you've just sealed your doom."

  "Illam isn't here?” Her heart thudded in her chest.

  "No. He was never here. One of our guards caught the runt near the swamp, and brought him back here. Ropar had a plan to get you, and the runt provided the means for the plan to unfold. It got you here."

  Illam's not here. He's not ... "What of the scalp?"

  "The hair is fake. The scalp, well...” The soldier laughed. “The scalp was from a soldier who was expendable."

  "The screaming I heard was from one of your own?"

  "Yes. And you know what now, Argon?"

  "No.” All she could think was that Illam was safe. She wasn't going to lose her lover.

  "With Ropar out of the way, the decision for the next Alpha is to be settled. But first...” His grin showed teeth from which saliva started to drip. “You're still the prey."

  They rushed her. Tera started firing the laser, clearing a small field around herself, but they were on top of her before she knew it. The lasers were knocked to the ground, and she was thrown to the dirt with aggressive force.

  The baying of the hounds sounded, and then they snapped amongst themselves, each wanting to be first to have her.

  One reached for her, but a sudden burst of laser fire seared through him, flinging him back.

  A booted foot was suddenly slammed to the ground in front of her chest, a
stance dominating and claiming her, claiming her protected by the man above her.

  A viscous snarl filled the air, a wild yowling. Feral and so wild, it was joined by others, every snarl seeming more vicious.

  The Felys. They'd come for her.

  The booted foot in front of her twisted around, and then Illam was kneeling before her, gathering her up tenderly into his arms. Cradling her to him as the Felys and Lypeople males exploded forth from behind her.

  He saw her face, and she could only smile at him and spit blood.

  "I love you, makit.” He kissed her bruised cheek with the lightest of touches from his lips, then handed her to someone else.

  Wylin cradled her just as gently, backing away carefully from the fighting. Yelps and snarls filled the air, the yowling of the Felys a ferocious renting of the peace of the rocky little valley.

  Tera caught a fleeting glimpse and in that second she knew why they Felys were called feral. They fought viciously, mercilessly, cutting through their enemies with knives and bare hands, even teeth, ripping and tearing at the flesh of the Canys. They gave no quarter. The Lypeople fought with more finesse, but the same fury burned in them.

  And in that mess somewhere was Illam. She shuddered, sick with worry.

  A small group of the Canys ran free of the seething mob, and a thunder of boots resounded on the rocks as giants lunged forward. Giants with open, sleeveless vests, their hair tied back, and grimness etching their dangerously handsome faces.

  "Daamens?” Tera croaked looked up at Wylin.

  It was more than obvious that Wylin wanted to join the fight, but his training and instincts meant her safety first. His jaw was clenched as he looked down at her, but his eyes softened. “They were nearby."

  Then he took her from the scene playing out, taking her back to the safety of the Scout ship.

  "Wylin, I can't go.” She tried to struggle, only to gasp with the pain. “Illam—"

  "Yes, you can, and Illam is fine."

  * * * *

  When the Canys were finally subdued, the camp was a ruin. The soldiers lay in a group, bleeding from so many wounds they didn't know which part to start licking clean first.

  Illam stood by the trampled body of Ropar and kicked it viciously. He wished he'd killed the bastard himself. He wished he could have torn him apart. But Tera had killed him first. He'd been close enough to see that much.

  A whining caught his attention and he watched with narrowed eyes as several Canys females and three Canys males, all dressed in grubby clothes, were led from behind the shelter of a boulder. Archeologists.

  "These are the last of those that hid,” Aras stated.

  Taj wiped a bloodied arm across his forehead. “Tie them up."

  "You have no jurisdiction here!” A brindle female snarled.

  "Shut up, Mitzi,” Taj replied. “Our presence here is according to law. If any species is attacked by another, the rules are clear. We take back our own."

  "The Argon wasn't yours!"

  "The Argon is the nature-mate of one the Felys. She was also under their protection, and by law that makes them untouchable. Ropar broke that law."

  She smoldered.

  "There's also the little fact of you selling artifacts, Mitzi.” Taj's look was furious. “Felys artifacts."

  "I never—"

  "The Daamens just happened to stumble across one of those artifacts. It wasn't hard to track back, trust me."

  "It's worthless, anyway."

  "Really?” Illam stepped forward, hard put to keep his fury under control but knowing he had to. “That artifact holds a clue to the problems we're all having in regards to the runts."

  "Don't be stupid! Do you think I wouldn't have known that?"

  "Obviously not."

  One of the archeologists looked up, his gaze sharpening. “What artifact?"

  "The bowl containing the Felys writing, also contained that of your species, and my species."

  "You lie!"

  "You'll see.” Denyon nodded to the Felys guards and Lypeople security. “Move them out to the cells on the scout ships. They're going back to the Lypeople city to await combined trail."

  Illam didn't bother to watch the Canys being dragged to their feet. Instead, he turned to face the giant Daamens standing nearby, their faces grim as they spoke quietly together.

  Going to the one he knew was the captain, Illam looked up at him and held out his hand. “I thank you, Simon."

  Uncomfortably Simon shifted, gave his hand a quick squeeze that almost brought Illam to his knees, and muttered, “'Twas nothing."

  "It was. You helped us save Tera."

  "Tera's like a sister to us,” Simon replied gruffly. “Forget it.

  Looking at the hulking traders, dusty and sporting a few bruises, but totally confident, and without even thinking of looking for thanks, Illam knew he would count them as friends always. “If you ever need me, for helping with Tera, you know where I am."

  "Aye.” Simon coughed and fidgeted. “So what happens now?"

  "Now the Canys soldiers stand trial."

  "By their own species?"

  Illam looked at him. “By the Combined Court, which consists of two Canys, two Lypeople and two Felys. If it doesn't get sorted there, then it goes to the Intergalactic Peace Council."

  "Sounds like ‘twill be a might crowded, all those Canys in amongst the Lypeople and Felys. Aren't you worried feelings will run high?"

  "We meet on neutral ground, and only the Combined Court, those involved, and the guards which consists again of a mix, attend. It gets broadcasted to the other settlements and city."

  "Fair enough.” Simon grinned. “We'll just hover around here until ‘tis over. You know ... just in case."

  Yes, the Daamens were true friends.

  But now he wanted to see Tera. Now that things were under control, he wanted to hold her in his arms and assure himself of her safety.

  * * * *

  Tera looked up and managed a small, lopsided smile as Illam came through the doorway.

  His face paled upon seeing her. “Makit!"

  "It looks worse than it is,” she said, only to wince when Rilla ran her hand over her side. “Ouch! Okay, maybe it does feel a little worse."

  Grabbing a chair, he placed it by the bunk and sat down. Taking her hand in his, he raised it to his lips and kissed the skinned knuckles tenderly. “Rilla? How bad is it?"

  "She's had a beating. Bruises, a cut lip on the inside, a whopping black eye, some grazes, tender areas, and a jolt to her kidneys, but overall, your mate seems to have come through this with nothing more serious."

  "See?” Tera said. “It does look worse. Stop looking as though you're going to cry."

  "I should be snarling at you once more, but Jocat, Tera, you scared me spitless this time."

  "I promise, the bruises will fade and I won't look so bad—"

  "Not that!” Illam shook his head. “You're beautiful Tera, and nothing could make that disappear, no matter what happens to your facial features. It's inside you that's beautiful."

  "So you're not mad?"

  "I'm bloody furious, but we'll leave that until later.” Carefully resting his forehead against hers, he whispered, “I thought I'd lost you."

  "I though the same,” she whispered. “I thought I'd lost you, and there's no way I could lose another person who means so much to me."

  "One day I'll ask you to explain that to me."

  "And one day I will.” Tera looked at him. “One thing today made me realize."

  "You should have come to me?"

  "I thought we were going to leave the tongue lashing ‘til after?"

  "Sorry."

  "It made me realize how much I love you.” Reaching up with her freshly bandaged hand, she stroked his cheek. “I can't live without you, Illam."

  "Tera, you've been through a trying time—"

  But she could see the hope in his eyes. The yearning. And she could only speak the truth, the truth as it had embl
azoned across her heart in the short time she'd been Ropar's captive. “I love you with my whole heart, Illam. When I thought they had you, I'd have done anything. That's why I went to Ropar. I couldn't bear thinking they'd hurt you...” Her voice faltered, and she blinked back a tear.

  "We saw the disc,” Illam said softly.

  "That was only a part of it."

  "My viscomm records unsolicited calls, Tera. We saw it all.” Illam smiled wryly. “I was furious, but Wylin was beside himself."

  "Who snarled the most?"

  "Wylin impressed me. I think he's been around us enough to pick up a few characteristics."

  "Should the Argon wenches be afraid?"

  "I'm sure they'll thank us.” He kissed her fingertip. “Then the Felys kit told us everything. He didn't wait for the time you'd designated, and thank Jocat for that. He had to save you, especially when he saw that I was alive and well. He led us to the swamp, but then the Argons picked up your signal.” He looked down at her shirt. “The contact comm badge you took from Wylin alerted them. Once you activated it, they were able to track the signal. They were already trying to find you. Kiile was—"

  "Furious?"

  "Actually, I thought he was going to start crying there for a moment. Jocat, Tera, I thought the Daamens were going to start crying. I was nearly crying."

  "You manly male, you.” Still resting her forehead against his, which enabled her to look directly into his eyes, she said softly, “I'd have died for you Illam. There was no way I was going to walk away knowing you were their captive."

  "But I wasn't."

  "I didn't know that."

  "If you'd died today ... I felt your pain, makit. The bond between us isn't as clear as normal, as if we'd both been Felys, but it has been established. I could feel your panic, your pain.” Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath to steady himself. When he opened them again, the black threads were twisting agitatedly through his irises. “I couldn't have lived without you, Tera."

  "Fine pair we make. I guess we'd better stick together, then."

  "You're staying.” It wasn't a question, but a statement.

  "If you'll still have me,” she teased.

  "I love you so much, Tera."

  "Illam, I love you more."