“We’ll have to run,” I breathed quietly. “Do you know what to do once you’re inside?”
“I’ll figure it out.”
I frowned. “I’ll try to help as much as I can.”
Surprising me, she quickly hugged me. “Thank you. For everything.”
“You’re welcome. Just stay safe.” I tapped her temple once more. “And remember what I said.”
We watched as a different hov-bike flew by. Taking a deep breath, we shoved out from under the hov-craft and ran as fast as we could, the dark night keeping watch over us. An additional set of guards were on their way, their lights roaming the ground. It wouldn’t be long before they spotted us.
We skidded to a halt next to the hov-craft. Heaving in air, I slammed my hand against on the access board. It lit up briefly, just another identifier for the guards, but there was nothing I could do about that. The door slid open, and I shoved her inside, bright light spotlighting us as we entered.
The alarm screeched on the land site.
Hov-bikes whined far too close.
“Get your suit on now!” I ordered, opening the control panel. “What are the coordinates?”
She rattled them off, her voice shaking as she hurried to get dressed for travel.
I typed them in, pointed at a red button. “Hit that when you’re ready.” The hov-bikes were landing nearby, the rattle of rocks flying outside the door indicating their arrival. “I’ll be the bait. But don’t take too long.”
She nodded, her big eyes giving me a silent ‘thank you’.
I jumped out the door and placed my palm on the access board, closing the door.
Mian were leaping from their hov-bikes, so I did the only action I could.
I raced to the left of the hov-craft, leading the guards away.
It shot straight into the air just as I was shoved to the ground.
“What the hell, Braita?” Phila hollered, yanking me from the Mian security station. The night breeze was cool against my skin. It had been hot in there. And it stank like body odor. “Every time we turn around, you’re stealing personal property and lying in jail cells.”
I crinkled my nose. “Sorry?”
Killeg crossed his arms, stopping us from entering the hov-vehicle. “The hov-craft’s tracked. It shows it’s on its way to Egyac.” Blue harsh eyes held mine. “Who was on it?”
This wasn’t going to be fun if my Vaq’s reaction had meant anything. “It was a Human. She needed my help.” I paused and redirected. “Speaking of Humans. Don’t you think you should free the slaves here since they are part Mian?” Or a little of all three races.
“We’ve already been discussing that with the litigators. It’s on the fast track to being approved,” Killeg growled. He dipped, placing his forehead against mine. “Quit stalling and tell us who was on that damned hov-craft?”
I placed my hands behind my back and went with an innocent expression. “Her name is Madeline. She was sent to the Kireg, and somehow, she ended up here.” I cleared my throat. “The night Rule died, a Kireg ship landed. A man was looking for her. His name was Georan.”
“Holy fucking shit,” Phila shouted, just as Killeg jerked upright and hissed, “How does she keep getting herself into these messes?”
I pointed a finger in the air. “Madeline was going back to Egyac to face what she left there. I also told her to tell the Kireg she had stolen the hov-craft—which wasn’t a complete lie—so that no one would think a Mian assisted her in her run from them. I don’t believe there will be a backlash. I think you’re safe.” I shrugged a shoulder. “And Geo wasn’t all that bad.”
“Wasn’t all that bad?” Killeg scoffed. He grabbed my elbow and pulled me into the hov-vehicle. “You really need to work on your presumptions of a person if you believe Georan wasn’t all that bad.”
Phila slipped inside and shut the door behind him. “I just hope to fuck she’s right. We’ve got enough issues with the Humans to deal with right now. We don’t have time to have that sneaky bastard running around Triaz.”
“I am right. And I trust Madeline. She won’t put the blame on anyone else.” I could tell she wasn’t that sort of women. “She’s going to take care of her business.” Whatever it was.
The hov-vehicle rushed into the air and shot forward.
I didn’t even need to look at the driver. “Stiller, try not to kill us, please.”
“Braita, try not to get arrested, please.”
Smartass.
“Stiller, get out of here,” Phila stated. His words were so soft a shiver ran down my spine.
I straightened my back, preparing to get yelled at again for tonight’s events.
Stiller took one glance at the Plumas and murmured, “I’ll take Jax out for a while. There will be no one around to listen in.” He exited my apartment, shutting the door behind him silently.
Killeg locked it.
I gulped and gripped the cushion of the couch I was sitting on. “I already explained the Kireg won’t be an issue. Madeline won’t blame her escape on the Mian.”
Phila shook his head and strolled to stand in front of me.
Killeg followed him.
Only the hov-coffee table was separating us, their stunning gazes piercing right into mine.
“We’re past that, Braita.” Phila crossed his arms. “It’s time for you to fess up.”
Oh…shit. I held an instant hand to my forehead. “Actually, I might be coming down with a fever. That cell was full of germs. Maybe I should go lie down.”
Phila chuckled when I started to rise. “Sit your ass back down.”
My lips thinned, but I did as he said. I sighed heavily. “Before we get into this, I want to ask a serious question.”
They waited. Silent.
My fingers tapped on my legs, but I lifted my gaze to them. “This is a true worry of mine. If we are together, what happens when you meet your Soul?” My dark brows furrowed. “Will you just toss me to the side?” And break my heart.
I didn’t understand Killeg’s resulting smile. It was small. Private. “You are a perfect example of what we will do.”
My fingers kept tapping. “Explain.”
“Do you love your Vaq?”
“Um…”
Again, the silence.
“I do care for them.” But it wasn’t love. Not in that way. “I don’t want them hurt or anything.”
“Are they more like friends to you? Or more like lovers?”
That was easy. “Definitely friends. I don’t think of them in that way. But there is a bond there.”
“So, close friends?”
“Yes.” I hummed. “But not as close as Jax and me. It’s just different.”
“That’s the point. A Vaq pair isn’t always in love with their Soul. And the same holds true for a Soul to her Vaq,” Killeg explained, his tone quiet. “Yes, they are always bonded, but they don’t have to be together romantically.”
“You still didn’t answer my question.” Not really.
Phila crossed his arms, a pillar of strength. “We won’t toss you to the side, Braita. You are who we want.” His lips curved up. “Even with all the trouble you get into you.”
“And why do you think we created the Solo in the first place?” Killeg asked. But he answered for me. “It’s so Mian have a choice. Pain shouldn’t be a deciding factor if couples are together. We may be savages, but we do have hearts.”
A warmth settled inside my chest. I couldn’t speak for a moment, but when I did, I whispered, “I can’t live in Vlymun. Not with my Vaq living in Belvar. It would make them weak, and they wouldn’t even understand why.”
Killeg hummed, his blue eyes tracking over my features. “We’re working on that.”
My attention honed directly on him.
These Plumas had better not harm Malik and Leo.
He waved a hand. “It’s nothing for you to worry about.”
Phila added, “Plus, we’ll need to use our powers on them every so often.
They’re strong, so we don’t want them ever remembering who you are to them. Keeping them close will be essential.”
My words were slow. “Okay. But I want to be kept in the loop.”
Both agreed easily enough. Killeg specified, “We have a meeting with them tomorrow. You can come if you want. To understand our plans.”
“Yes, thank you.”
A quiet descended on us, them watching me. Me eyeing them.
The night of reckoning had come.
I cleared my throat. “When I tell you this, you need to remember how much I cherish my freedom. I don’t want you to become like my Vaq. Okay?”
In the same motion, they nodded, all their senses sharpened on me. My words. My every blink.
“I, um…” I cleared my throat once more. “I knew you were part Kireg after we kissed.” I blinked and amended my statement. “Actually, I knew it the morning after.”
“How?” Phila asked in a quiet purr.
I lifted my right hand and pointed between my thighs. Burning heat flooded my face and sweat misted between my shoulder blades, but I pushed forward. “My hair. It changed to the color white.”
Killeg stepped forward, but his left shin banged against the hov-coffee table.
Phila placed his hands in his pockets, and his muscles strained underneath his shirt.
I grabbed onto the seat cushion. They were barely holding themselves back.
Neck muscles straining, Phila cracked his neck. “You’re saying our Kireg side has chosen you?”
I knew this much from my readings on Joyal. The Kireg race was a master of the mind and body. But their advanced nature did have drawbacks—it owned them. When a Kireg’s body picked their ideal mate, and they shared bodily fluids—saliva included—the weaker counterpart took on physical similarities of the other. Even if neither person’s mind accepted it at the time.
And when a Kireg mated, they mated for life. There was no turning back.
I stated quietly, “Yes, I believe so.”
Killeg was in front of me in the blink of a Human eye with my hov-coffee table flying across the room and smashing to pieces on the floor. Yet again, we would have to buy another table. I yelped when he lifted me straight off the couch, his warm palms on my ass. I held on, wrapping myself around him as he marched us straight to my bedroom.
Phila shut the door behind us, effectively stopping Sweet Pea from following.
With checked power, Killeg placed me on my bed, the blanket caressing against my back. Leaning over me, his words were loving, even as his blue eyes glimmered with intensity. “We’ll be gentle with you the first time.”
Phila pulled his shirt off over his head and rested on his right side next to us. “Say yes, Braita.”
Chest heaving, their scents and warmth invading my thoughts, I whispered, “Yes.”
Killeg’s blue, dazzling eyes never faltered from mine as his palms traveled down my sides until he stopped at the hem of my shirt. In a delicate, yet swift action, he pulled it off me. Sure and steady fingers removed my chest support just as easily.
I wrapped my left arm around my bare breasts, a blush of heat blooming on my cheeks.
Phila crooned, “Don’t cover up for us, Braita. We think you’re beautiful.” I shuddered as he leaned over, his long white hair brushed against my flesh as his lips stroked against my jaw. “And we want to see all of you. We want to pleasure you until you’re completely satisfied.”
With tentative movements, I slowly uncovered my breasts and raised my hands to Phila’s chest. His skin was like a bonfire on a chilly night, and I wanted to be scorched by this man—by these two men who had infiltrated their way into my new life. Into my very existence. I wanted them.
I peered up into complex dark eyes. “I don’t know what to do.”
He chuckled, a teasing of air, kissing my left earlobe. “We’ll show you.” His left hand captured mine, guiding my palm over his muscled flesh. “Do you like the way I feel?”
My breath caught when Killeg dipped, brushing his lips over my stomach, kissing around my belly button. His tongue peeked out and made small circles, only to then blow lightly against the area. My head arched back, and I gripped Phila’s hand tight. “Yes, I like the way you feel.”
He chuckled deep in his throat. “Wait until later. You’ll love us then.”
“I want to feel you against me,” I whispered, grabbing his hair and pulling his lips down to mine, the pointed tops of his ears perfect for holding on to.
His lips curved against mine. “A greedy lover, are you?”
“Apparently.” My mouth stroked over his with a fever bent on overwhelming me, and he returned my hunger in sweet indulgence, nibbling and brushing, holding me prisoner to his own wants. I begged, “More. Phila, Killeg, I need more.”
My heart pounded, and my hands shook as they completely undressed me, baring all of my flesh to their hungry gazes. Their hands slid along my skin, cherishing each part of my person. I moaned as they slowly removed their clothing, pressing their heated bodies down onto mine.
Killeg’s hands cupped my breasts, and when he dipped his head down to them, capturing each pebbled nipple with warm kisses, a fire built inside of me. It consumed and haunted my fevered flesh, begging to be put out. I held his head close, kissing his forehead, adoring him the only way I knew how.
His mouth traveled up to my collarbone.
But Phila’s journeyed down my body.
I held my breath when he parted my legs and placed his mouth on my intimate flesh. “Oh, Mother Joyal.” I jerked Killeg’s face up to mine, asking quickly, “Should he be doing that?”
Killeg’s plush lips twitched. “We’ll be doing more than that.”
“So that’s a yes?” I sincerely hoped it was because I had never felt anything like it in my life.
“That’s a yes.” He touched his lips to my furrowed brow. “We’re here to please you.”
Phila’s lips and tongue were sinful, dragging and coaxing me to an unknown place. My head shook back and forth against the bed. “I can’t take much more of this.”
Killeg hushed me and claimed my mouth, his tongue meeting mine. My hips rocked, and I grabbed onto Phila’s hair between my thighs, even as passion unfolded in my intimate embrace with Killeg, treasuring his gifted mouth. Both of their talented mouths.
Phila rose between my legs, and I whined against Killeg’s lips. But my eyes shot wide open when I felt the blunt head of his cock pressing against my vaginal opening. Through my lust-filled haze, I mumbled, “I don’t want to become pregnant.”
Killeg grinned. It was more beautiful than a sunset on Joyal. Pressed against the side of me, he kept his face over mine and ran his fingers through my hair. “We’re part Kireg, remember? We can control certain aspects of our body. Including fertility.”
“So I won’t get pregnant?” This was important to me. Children…that wasn’t an option I had ever pondered. Humans didn’t birth children. And I didn’t plan to right now. “I’m not ready for that.”
He kissed my lips gently. “No children this time. We promise.”
“Thank you.” I glanced past him to Phila. I nodded once. “Try not to hurt me too badly.”
Because…the male privates on these Mian men were…large.
Phila pressed his hips forward, and my lips instantly thinned. This did not feel like pleasure. I squirmed, but Killeg kissed my lips again, whispering, “It’ll only hurt for a moment, Braita. Just wait.”
A choked cry echoed throughout the room, deep from my lungs, as Phila pulled his hips back and slammed forward, sinking all the way into me. His body trembled just as much as mine did, but he held still. I gazed into his dark eyes and whimpered, “Are you in as much pain as I am?”
“Something like that,” he choked, his attention hard on my breasts.
I blinked. “Perhaps we should stop?”
“Never,” he groaned. And I sucked in a brutal breath, his hips pulling back to press forward again, much more deli
cately this time. He did it again. And again. And another time, until my own hips started to move, the pain subsiding. Phila moaned, and I watched as lightning bolts appeared beneath the skin on his chest, part of his skin, jarring in the pulses of light it created. Holding my gaze, he purred, “You never read about this, did you? It happens when Mian are intimate.”
I grabbed his hands holding my thighs and shook my head, watching the streaks. “No, but I saw it once before.” He didn’t ask, already knowing where I had viewed it. Gradually, I lifted my eyes to his, whispering, “It doesn’t hurt any longer.”
“I know.” His breathless smile was pure of arrogance. “I’m letting you set the pace right now.”
With heat building inside of me, pushing toward that unknown once more, I peered down where our bodies were joined. And he was right, our hips meeting each other with each rock of my hips. “Take over. Show me what you can do.”
“Gladly,” he groaned, and he leaned over me. Killeg made room for Phila’s arms on either side of my head. My hands grabbed onto his lean hips as the tempo to our joining changed. Faster. Rougher. And my heart fluttered as I opened my legs wider, wanting him so deep inside of me—for him to stay there forever. He shouted, then pressed his lips against mine, feasting on passion from my mouth. “You’re perfect.”
I moaned, unable to complete a thought other than what his body was doing to mine.
He pressed his groin against mine.
And kept pushing, making my whole body shudder.
“Phila,” I screamed, the world falling away under me as I went over an edge I had never known. My body quaked and my veins boiled with an ecstasy that held me captive in its wake. Grabbing onto his shoulders, I couldn’t breathe, but it didn’t scare me.
I would gladly suffocate in this euphoria.
Phila chuckled against my throat, pure pleasure knowing, kissing my damp skin. And he slammed into me one last time. His whole muscled body froze over me to only shudder as mine had done, finding his own fall into the galaxies of bliss.
I kissed his cheek as he groaned, holding me close, his body falling on top of mine. But he quickly rolled off of me and grabbed onto the back of Killeg’s head, yanking his other half’s face to mine. He fell onto his back, murmuring, “Enjoy, my brother. There’s nothing quite like our Braita.”
Soar (Cold Mark Book 5) Page 5