Katy’s face flushed as she forced her anger down. She’d never, in all her years of tracking, endangered an animal or civilians. To say otherwise was an insult. What she’d experienced with Kegar wasn’t mere fucking. The fact that Roger made it sound like a vulgar act truly pissed her off. He had some nerve given their history. “You know better than to accuse me of animal cruelty and it’s none of your business who I see. We broke up. Remember?”
He snorted and walked back into the living room. “You’re right. It’s not like he’ll be around long now that you’ve lain like an iceberg beneath him. A guy can only take so much cold before they get frostbite.” He paused. “It was a guy, wasn’t it? If not, that may explain a few things.”
“You’re such a jerk.”
A growl sounded in the other room. Katy’s eyes widened and she sent up a silent prayer that Kegar would stay put, but she knew that would be too good to be true. A flash of movement was the only warning Roger got when the giant cat leapt for him. Claws extended and mouth open ready to eviscerate, the saber-tooth brought Roger down, slamming him onto his back with a loud crash. Its ears were pinned and its teeth exposed, daring the man to move. Roger shifted a shoulder and the cat growled, slapping one enormous paw onto his chest. It flexed its claws just enough to draw blood.
Roger yelped and then glanced at Katy for help. “Are you nuts? Why did you set it free?” he asked, his voice coming out in a strained soprano. “This thing could’ve killed you.”
Katy shook her head, her gaze seeking the creature’s face. Green eyes met blue.
I told you I wasn’t like your people.
“Kegar?”
Your heart knew the truth all along.
“But how?” Logically, Katy knew it wasn’t possible. There was no such thing as magic, but she couldn’t deny the instant recognition when the cat had looked into her eyes.
“Who are you talking to?” Roger hissed as the cat brought his nose down to his throat and sniffed.
“I’d be quiet if I were you, Roger,” Katy said. “You don’t want to make any sudden moves. Big cats are unpredictable.”
He whimpered. “If I scream, the security team will burst through the door and kill this thing on sight.”
Katy shook her head. “If you scream, that saber-tooth will gut you from neck to groin.”
He paled as his gaze slipped back to the seven-inch serrated teeth.
“I asked you a question, Kegar.” Katy stared in awe at the man, the cat she’d made love to.
I answered with the truth. I am not from this planet. I came here seeking a mate and I found her in the guise of a huntress. You will be worshipped and cherished on my planet, Katy. You will never have to want for a thing. You have my vow…and my heart, if you want it. We can leave immediately.
“I can’t leave L.A.” She wrapped her arms around her and felt tears burn her eyes as she glanced at the quiet emptiness of her home. He was offering her love—or at least the chance of it. That was something she hadn’t experienced since her parents died. Yet Kegar couldn’t be serious. She barely knew him. Katy wanted so badly to believe.
What do you have here? This home? A job? I have a home. It is in need of your touch, but it is comfortable and I know you would like it. You could continue your work there unimpeded.
“You need a tracker?”
No, but my people do. What I need is you.
Could she leave?
I know the home means much to you. We could take all your belongings with us.
Katy looked around. There wasn’t much of hers in the house. Only the items in her room. She’d never wanted to change anything. She’d been afraid that if she had, she’d somehow lose the memory of her parents.
Kegar was right about there being nothing left here for her. It would be a miracle if she managed to avoid jail time. If Roger had his say, she wouldn’t. Katy watched Kegar for a few moments. He sat quietly, waiting for her decision. She glanced at Roger.
A year ago, he’d convinced her that she was frigid. He’d told her she could keep her job because he felt sorry for her. She’d swallowed his words like a tonic and allowed them to poison her self-esteem until she was afraid to move, to change her circumstances. He wouldn’t be giving her another chance at the job and she didn’t want one. Kegar had opened her eyes to new possibilities. It was time for her to shore up her courage and strike out. This time she wouldn’t be alone.
“Let him up,” she said.
The cat hissed.
Katy took a step forward. “Please, Kegar. If what you say is true, then we don’t need him anymore.”
The cat eyed her warily, then stepped back, retracting his claws. Blood sprang to the front of Roger’s shirt. The saber-tooth walked across the room to stand by Katy’s side. She dropped her hand onto its head and began to stroke his soft fur. A strange rumbling purr ensued. Definitely not a sound a lion would make. She smiled, glancing up in time to see Roger stumble to his feet.
He was glaring at her, holding his chest. “I plan to notify the authorities about this incident. Once they prosecute you, that animal will be destroyed.”
She tilted her head. “You’d destroy the find of the century?” she asked, genuinely curious.
He tugged at his watchband. “If it meant that I’d get the first cut on the dissecting table, damn right. Now be sensible for once in your life and step away from that beast before it kills you.”
Katy’s blood ran cold. She couldn’t allow Roger to harm Kegar. She tried to step in front of the saber-tooth, but he wouldn’t cooperate. “I can’t let you do that, Roger. What started out as the find of the century has quickly become the love of a lifetime.”
He laughed. “Love of a lifetime? That’s a bit dramatic, don’t you think? What are you going to do? Run away? I’d find you no matter where you’d try to hide on this planet.” Roger started toward the door, his intent clear. He slipped the lock and threw the door wide.
“Roger, please wait. You’re making a mistake.” Katy lunged to stop him.
“Security come quickly. The animal attacked me. I’m lucky to be alive,” he shouted, pulling his crimson-stained shirt out for emphasis.
The Bio Tech team burst through the door with their guns drawn. Katy cried out, blocking their shot. Suddenly, everything began to move in slow motion. A gun went off, the sound reverberating throughout the room. Katy closed her eyes and braced, expecting to feel searing pain. When none came, she cracked one lid.
Instead of the bullet hitting her, she saw the guard no longer pointed the pistol at her chest. The second man fired a shot. Plaster rained down from the ceiling as Katy screamed and turned to find Kegar. He was gone.
No longer in cat form, he appeared briefly behind the two men, only to disappear again. She blinked, unable to believe her eyes. Kegar wrenched their guns out of their hands and threw them across the room. She heard bones breaking as the bodies followed with sickening thuds. The glass frames holding her pictures on the wall exploded. Katy turned to see one man rising in the air, held by invisible hands, his feet flailing beneath him.
“Please don’t hurt them anymore,” Katy pleaded, rushing forward even though she wasn’t quite sure what she was going to do to stop Kegar if he chose to end their lives. He was a force like nothing she’d ever encountered. “They’re only doing their jobs.”
Kegar materialized. And I am only doing mine. He dropped the man onto the floor. The other lay unconscious a few feet away.
“Will they be okay?” she asked, peering at the men who served as Bio Tech’s hired muscle.
They will live, but they will not soon forget their encounter with a Phantom Warrior.
“You could’ve been hurt.” Her voice cracked at the thought.
My only concern was your safety. They were going to harm you. He indicated to the two men on the floor. I could not allow that.
They wouldn’t have drawn their weapons if… She looked around the room for her boss. A chair in the corner squeaked. Katy
took a step forward and saw Roger cowering behind her recliner.
“You can come out now,” she said, unable to hide her disgust. “You’ve caused a lot of trouble.” Katy gathered the photos of her parents, brushing the glass away.
“Who in the hell is he?” Roger asked, gaping at Kegar’s naked form.
Katy glanced at her warrior. “That’s the man-beast I shot earlier at the La Brea Tar Pits. You know the one I brought home to fuck. Kegar meet Roger Sylvan.”
Kegar turned his red gaze on the man, measuring him without saying a word. His presence filled the space like a black hole, sucking all light and life toward him. When it was clear that Roger did not meet his assessment, he quickly dismissed him and turned to face Katy once again.
“That was quite a show you put on,” she said, smiling.
You would not have believed me without the…demonstration.
She laughed. “Is that what you call it? A demonstration? You’re like a ghost. Remind me to take your word for things in the future.”
His eyes glittered like rubies in the fading sunlight, then he vanished. Katy felt a slight tingling as Kegar passed through her. It was an odd sensation that didn’t quite diminish when he reappeared in front of her a second later.
“That felt really weird,” she said.
Are you saying we have a future?
Heat radiated from his body, surrounding her in loving warmth. “I’d say there’s a pretty good chance,” she said, touching him to ensure that he was real.
What would it take to persuade you?
Katy pulled his head down and whispered the suggestion in his ear.
Kegar grinned. That can be arranged.
“Hello, I’m still in the room,” Roger said, his fists clenching at his sides.
Kegar tapped a spot on the side of his neck, then turned to face the man. “Ah, you may be, but we are not.”
Katy gaped. Those were the first words Kegar uttered aloud. They were followed by a loud popping noise and then Roger, the security team, and her living room were gone. Katy blinked several times to get her eyes to focus, then looked around. She was still holding the pictures of her parents.
Lights from instrument panels blinked on and off. She looked out the window at the beautiful blue/green planet below. She realized she was standing on the deck of a ship. Katy dropped the pictures. The clattered to the floor. She stared out the window at Earth. It looked so real, nothing like the sci-fi movies she’d watched over the years.
That is your home planet. And this is indeed the deck of a ship. Kegar swung the command chair around, his large body looking at home with one leg draped over the arm.
“Why didn’t you tell me you could talk?” she asked as if that was the most important thing happening in this moment. It wasn’t, but her brain couldn’t handle the information overload.
Kegar’s lips twitched. What fun would that have been? he asked, slipping back into his preferred method of communication.
Katy glared, but it was nearly impossible to stop the smile from reaching her face. Sure, part of her was freaking out, but the other half was grateful that Kegar had been telling the truth. “Are we really on our way to another planet?”
Yes, we’re on course to Zaron.
“How soon will we get there?” she asked, feigning an innocence she did not feel.
It will take five of your Earth days. Perhaps less. Why? Suspicion and something else flashed in his red eyes.
She shrugged casually as if the question was no big deal. “Just curious,” she said, nonchalantly glancing around.
Kegar rose with a cat-like grace, his long black hair fell freely to his shoulders. His gaze never left her as he picked up her photos, pressed a panel in the wall and placed them inside. He shut the panel and continued to stalk her, a smile playing on his sensual lips.
Katy started backing away slowly to what she hoped was the rest quarters. She planned to take full advantage of this long flight, starting now. “Here kitty, kitty, kitty,” she said, crooking her finger for him to follow.
Kegar didn’t disappoint.
* * * * *
Epilogue
Planet Zaron Eight Months Later
Life on Zaron wasn’t much different than Earth, Katy thought as she crouched over the paw print of a rogue Phantom warrior. She and Kegar had been tracking him for four days and this sign was the only indication that they were finally getting close.
She glanced over at her mate, staring at his long black hair as a cool breeze lifted it away from his handsome face. Even now, Katy could feel her body readying itself for his invasion.
What’s on your mind, mate? Kegar asked, tilting his head to look at her.
Katy widened her eyes and put on her most innocent expression. “Nothing, why do you ask?”
Kegar licked his lips and inhaled deeply. Because your rich cream wafts on the air, distracting me from our mission.
Katy put her hands on her hips. “I am not a distraction. If you recall, I’m the one who found the print.”
This is true, he conceded, pride filling his voice. But you are nonetheless a distraction.
She opened her mouth to protest.
Kegar held up his hand to still her words. You are the best kind of distraction, he said, peeling his tracker uniform off his body.
She gulped and took a step back. Katy doubted she’d ever tire of seeing this man naked. Kegar was magnificent inside and out. And he was all hers. “I don’t think there’s time for that right now.” She nodded toward the fresh print.
He grinned. There’s always time for us to join. Kegar slipped her red uniform off her shoulders, pulling it down, while raining kisses in its wake.
Katy’s nipples engorged as his teeth scraped the sensitive flesh. “Kegar,” she gasped, clutching his head to her body.
He sucked her deep, worrying and laving until Katy thought she might go mad. Her clit throbbed in anticipation.
Kegar removed the rest of her clothes, then lifted her into the air. Wrap your legs around my waist.
Katy did as he instructed.
Kegar entered her a second later. I swear I could drown in your feminine juices and die a happy warrior.
“I love you too,” Katy said, kissing him tenderly as he drove them both to completion.
* * * * *
Kegar gave Katy one last kiss, then they dressed quickly and continued their pursuit. The warrior wouldn’t escape.
We are close, Kegar said, shifting into his cat form.
“I am never going to get used to this,” Katy said, staring at him in envy.
Yes, you will. Now come on before we lose him.
Katy’s body began to tingle, then gradually disappeared until it was replaced by a female saber-tooth with strawberry blonde fur. Kegar nudged her with his massive head and she swatted him with her paw. He growled playfully, then they took off toward the horizon, their elusive prey finally in their sights.
# # #
PHANTOM WARRIORS: TALON
by
Jordan Summers
Chapter One
A shadow passed overhead momentarily blotting out the warm sun. Lynn Regis shivered as something primal inside of her urged her to run. She ducked instead, then planted her feet on the craggy rocks and tilted her head, squinting against the sunlight. Like debris caught in a whirlpool, two enormous raptors circled above her on a sea of blue, dropping lower and lower until she could see the white ‘V’ of their feathers clearly beneath their wings. Relief flooded her and tears of joy misted her vision.
Her condors were alive—and safe. After a day and a half of hiking in the Grand Canyon, searching the skies, she’d finally found them.
Even from this distance the birds looked huge. Throwbacks from another age when man lived in caves and feared anything larger than himself. The raise and release program had gone better than expected. Her pair of condors looked to have bonded, which meant her job here was almost done.
Lynn watched them climb, us
ing thermal updrafts. One soared toward what looked to be a small cave in the ridge of the cliff and disappeared. At least she thought it was a cave, but from this distance it could very well be an indented ledge, since condors could roost in relatively small spaces, despite their large size.
The only way Lynn could be sure the spot they’d picked would be safe for any future hatchlings was to climb up there and check it out. She stared at the side of the canyon wall, craning her neck to see the top of the ridge. From this depth and angle, she couldn’t immediately spot it.
She glanced at her watch, then checked the angle of the sun. There was no way she’d start the climb in the afternoon. It would take her hours just to reach a spot safe enough to ascend. Hours that would eat the last remaining rays of sunlight. Shadows already clamored along the burnt orange and beige canyon walls and it was barely past two. Soon Lynn wouldn’t be able to see her hand in front of her face, much less two black raptors.
The terrain in the canyon’s belly was dangerous in the daylight. At night it could be lethal. Several people had disappeared in the Grand Canyon National Park never to be seen again. So many so, that there was actually a book detailing their deaths and disappearances. Fascinating reading, but hardly comforting when she was trekking on her own.
Lynn pulled her backpack off and dropped it onto the rocks. She had enough provisions to last for several days, along with a sturdy tent, small cook stove, solar lanterns and a sleeping bag. She could afford to wait until the morning to find a safe place to climb. The condors weren’t going anywhere. Not tonight anyway.
She stared at the bird’s nine-foot wingspan and grinned as it followed its mate into their new roost. With the help of conservationists and ornithologists like her, this proud species of raptor just might have a chance at survival. Lynn took out her journal and noted the location of the small cave in the distance, then prepared for the coming darkness.
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