As he stared, trying to make sense of what his eyes recorded, he heard Leah’s soft delighted laugh.
“So I’m guessing Tsiran took us at our word and this means we’re really sealed, huh?”
Rykhan closed his eyes and opened them again but the image did not change. His wahrom, the band of bronze that had grown overnight in his seventeenth yon, which gave evidence of his warrior status and was so much a part of his body he barely felt it except when Leah was around, had somehow changed.
It had, in only an instant, transformed to beautiful gleaming band of gold.
“Damn, and here I was all set to change my after-baby wardrobe to show off the bronze,” Leah said with a smile that more than spoke of her happiness. “Does this happen often or…”
“I h-have never heard of one c-changing before…” Rykhan had a very hard time speaking since his mind whirled at what he saw.
Leah used a hand on his chin to turn his head back to hers. “Maybe it’s a new thing. You know, like going on search to find a mate and finding a human female that Tsiran marked as your own. And then getting sealed naked on a bed in a rented room on planet in a galaxy far, far away.” She giggled and Rykhan felt his own quivering lips tip up as well. “I’m thinking this all new for both of us.”
Rykhan didn’t and wasn’t about to offer any argument.
However, he did remember to send heartfelt thanks to his creator for the female who had been wondrously chosen for him.
Epilogue
The first words out of Bronsyn’s mouth didn’t affect Pam in the least. “No warrior should ever battle alone.”
She looked up to the tall warrior who stood next to her, too close for her to feel comfortable and caught Wyst’s reaction to his commander’s words. As he straightened to his full height, he thumped a first over his heart before dropping his chin to his chest. What had he just agreed to? Every other warrior were on their feet, closely observing her reaction to Wyst’s salute.
What had the big, longhaired guy meant by those cryptic words?
“We have secured another transport and I have uploaded the coordinates.” Arbrynt announced.
She bugged out her eyes at the dude. Unfortunately, he didn’t take the hint as their eyes met which had been a clear invitation to spill whatever he knew.
Tyshar stood and made his way to where she and Wyst stood. “I have the same amount of currency for you and your mate as I provided Rykhan. Take it and go with Gyed’s blessings.”
“I will gather my things,” Wyst announced after palming the thick wad of cash Tyshar had shoved his way before tucking it into the back pocket of his jeans. Pam looked up at the large warrior beside her who spared her only a brief look before he took off up the stairs.
She opened up her mind and was appalled at what Wyst told her.
They were leaving?
Whipping to Bronsyn, Pam held up both palms as she stepped slowly backward. “No, no and no. I’m not going anywhere. Especially not with him!”
Bronsyn calm gaze never wavered from her face.
“Oh hell, no. There is absolutely no freaking way I’m gonna be stuck in a vehicle for hours, god, days, just to follow Leah and Rykhan on their trek north. At least not with Wyst!” She was practically screaming and stomping her feet in her effort to make Bronsyn understand.
She needed an ally! Surely one of the dudes in the room could see her point of view!
Running to the largest warrior of the group, she grabbed Gyard’s hands before the plea even came out of her mouth. God, she’d beg on hands and knees if she had to! “Gere? Honey, you know Wyst and I don’t get along. Just because I sometimes hear his voice in my head doesn’t mean a damn thing.”
He glanced at his commander before looking down at her although the burly man didn’t speak a word.
Looking over her shoulder, she spied Ty and dropped Gere’s hands so she could get to the deliciously dark man. “Wyst and I aren’t mated, Ty. You know that’s true because my body hasn’t grown a wahrom or anything so this thought-thingy is just a fluke, right?”
Tyshar’s gaze held a sweet gentleness but he also remained silent.
“Sean? Help me out here, wouldja?” Her voice trembled with the effort not to cry. “I don’t mind going to South Dakota but why do I have to go with the one person, the only goddamn alien warrior who pisses me off like no other?”
The pained look on Laxon’s face before he pulled her into a hug told her she couldn’t expect help from him either. Burying her nose in his shirt, she let her tears come. Laxon rubbed her back in comfort but the utter hopelessness of her situation only made her sob harder.
Be at peace, little beautiful pixie, she heard in her head. We need to protect those we hold most dear.
Jay-sus, seriously?
Shamelessly wiping her face on Laxon’s shirt, Pam twisted to Arbrynt. “You aren’t getting my cell, though.”
“No need, Wyst’s Pam,” he replied with a tight smile. “I will adapt it so the Committee cannot track you.”
She sniffed and rubbed her cheeks with Laxon’s now ruined shirt. There was no way he’d be able to get the streaks of makeup out of the fabric, but it only served him right for not helping her in the first place!
Why are you not planning what clothes you will bring instead of upsetting my brothers with your theatrics?
And why don’t you try and guess which finger I’m holding up, asshole? I’m not going anywhere with a douche-bag like you!
He laughed along their link and Pam was startled to realize she hadn’t seen him laugh since the first night she’d met him. Which was a shame because Wyst had a spectacular laugh.
Leah will need your assistance, pixie. We cannot allow her to give birth alone with only Rykhan to help.
Aw crap, she hadn’t considered that! Leah couldn’t go to a hospital when the baby came because of the whole half-alien, two hearts situation.
Pam pressed her head harder into Laxon’s chest and he patted her back more firmly while she weighed Wyst’s words. No way would she leave the sister of her heart to go through labor and delivery by herself. “Aunt Pammy, to the rescue,” she mumbled against the stained cloth Laxon wore.
At the sound of soft chuckles, Pam finally remembered the enhanced Picari hearing.
“I want every one of your freaking numbers in my phone before I freaking leave!” she demanded on a renewed wail.
The men’s chuckles swiftly turned to outright laughter.
It was only later she realized her demand actually signaled her acceptance of their plan.
Luckily, she’d given it in her own, unique way.
#.#.#.#.#
Dedication
As always, I have to thank my kids and my guy, the three people who always have my back and cheer me on even though I talk about my characters as if they are real. Thanks for putting up with me.
To Brandi McCann Doane who worked so hard to take my mental picture of the cover and make it a reality. You’re the bomb, pretty mama!
I don’t know whether to hug or slap the crap out of M.K. Eidem and Michelle Howard for talking me into writing my first sci-fi romance. The novella was a challenge…but didn’t come anywhere near the headaches I encountered in stretching the story into a full length novel. From 35,000 to 95,000 was the goal. It took three months and a lot of hard work. Truthfully? I’m not sure I’ll take another one of your challenges!
To Reese and Dani, my beta readers. Thanks ladies. You loved me hard and the story really needed your input. Although I will admit to cussing both of your asses out during the editing process!
And finally, to the many readers and fans that take the time to leave a review or send me an email. Your encouragement means so much. But then, you know you’re the reason why I keep writing don’t you?
Smiling and waving,
J.A. (Judy) Hornbuckle
Phoenix, AZ
6/13/15
Author Bio – J.A. Hornbuckle
Aren’t we all curious
about the person who wrote the story we read? I know I am.
Here’s what I know about myself:
--I love red wine (although I’ve been known to enjoy a Fireball shot or two)
--Live music gives me tingles no matter what style (…well, opera isn’t really my thing!)
--Muscled, tatted, long-haired men are my own personal kryptonite.
--I can’t deal with the cold which is why I live in Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Of course that’s just the tip of the ice-berg when it comes to this lady!
At first meeting me people often think I’m somber and a little stand-offish. I’m really not. It’s a case of my outsides not matching my insides. Because there’s a freaking party in my head almost twenty-four/seven.
I’m old enough to know better but still young enough to do it anyway (…the BEST part of aging is that you know the CONSEQUENCES of your actions and weigh the outcome of resulting punishment accordingly!)
I love reading and writing, especially romances but only where the ‘man’ portion is a part of the ro-man-ce word.
And…I believe, have complete faith, that there are happily-ever-afters. I hope you do too.
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.jahornbuckle.com *be sure to sign up for my newsletter*
Twitter: @JAHornbuckle
GoodReads: J A Hornbuckle
Other Books by J.A. Hornbuckle
The Grantham Series
**Pole Dance (Jake and Caitlin)
**Human Hieroglyphix 1 (Dex and Leila)
**Tap Dance (Marianne and Ram)
**Human Hieroglyphix II (Crys and Gabe)
**Bewitchments 1 (Trevor and Zoe)
**A Grantham Christmas (compilation)
**Last Dance (Paul Adler) (coming in 2015)
**Human Hieroglyphix III (Benny and Vicky) (coming in 2015)
**Bewitchments 2 (Niko and Samantha) (coming in 2015)
Stand Alones
**Everybody Falls
**Hiding in Plain Sight (prequel to the Hellions Motorcycle Club)
Hellions Motorcycle Club Series
**The Possibility of Trey
**Reinventing Mel
**Taking a Dare
**A Civilian for Silo
**Checkmate with Bishop
Mate Search Series (Sci-Fi Romance)
**Rykhan (full length novel based on Love Without Boundaries Novella, Mate Search—First Contact)
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Epilogue
Rykhan (Book 1 of Mate Search Series) Page 30