ARMOR [New World Book 2]

by C. L. Scholey

  “What just happened here?” Amy said. She felt like she was run over by a steam engine.

  “When you carry Dasks’ baby,” Cobra said, “the baby will form a shield the second it’s conceived. Nothing can harm the child or mother while she carries or while she nurses for up to three-and-a-half years. Both mother and baby are indestructible. That is the only reason my son and his warrior mate left their wives on Dargon. Nothing can harm either. Including a warrior. When a female is pregnant, a male is drawn to her scent. Their hormones make them irresistible. Unless you are related to the baby or are female, you can’t go near the mother. The shield forbids it. After the baby is born, the woman has a new scent which makes a Castian male very protective of her and her young. It prepares the males for the time when the shield falls. Instinct kicks in to keep any female child safe from harm with their armor.”

  “Mom?”

  Craig’s armor slowly dropped. The boy sat up and rubbed his eyes. There wasn’t a mark on him.

  Cobra picked him up and grunted. “You got heavy all of a sudden,” he said happily.

  “Where are you taking him?” Leah asked.

  “His armor needs to regenerate. We all do,” Cobra informed them. “We need to get back to Dargon and regenerate the ship’s shield. It’s time to go home, men.”

  Chapter 6

  “I would have four more years for certain?” Amy asked Dasks. “And we don’t need to mate? Like Rask’s mother never mated with Cobra when she learned she was dying? I won’t kill you?”

  Dasks was staring up at the ceiling. Amy couldn’t see the Earth any longer from the long window. Space was a blanket of stars, so beautiful. It had been impressive watching the familiar planets fly by and then being introduced to a new solar system.

  Dasks answered her multitude of questions. He was less busy now that they were headed to Dargon. Every spare second was spent together.

  Amy had fallen in love with him. It would be nice if he could always have a piece of her. It would be nice to know a piece of her would stay with him.

  Dasks turned his head to look at her. “If I give you a babe, I can’t mate with you. I can’t leave our child alone to be raised by my brother. I know he wouldn’t mind, but I lost both parents. I won’t do that to our baby.”

  To say sincerity was in his eyes was an understatement. Amy had learned a Castian couldn’t lie. They were too connected to scent and emotion to be able to pull it off. She had also learned not to lie to him, as it would be useless. A chance at another four years was so tempting. But would it be best for Dasks? Could he handle knowing in the fourth year at any moment her milk would stop flowing—then her heart would cease beating. Would it be fair to the babe? Would it be fair to Amy? So many emotions bombarded her. Dasks traced the line of her jaw with his finger. As always, his touch calmed her.

  “It’s not fair, is it?” Amy finally stammered. “I can’t expect you to wait years before mating when there are so few women. You may not have a second chance. There are still a few unmated women, aren’t there?”

  “They’re not my Amy.”

  “You can sense I’m in love with you.”

  “If we were mated, you would feel my love for you.”

  “I won’t be the cause of your death.”

  “I already feel like I’m dying.”

  “I’m so sorry, Dasks.” Amy wrapped her arms around him. She buried her nose into his neck and inhaled his maleness.

  “Do the healing waters help at all?” Dasks asked hopefully.

  “Some.” Amy nodded. “The moment I enter the water it swirls like mad around my left breast. The lump shrinks for awhile then returns to normal size after I leave the water. I don’t feel as tired either. If I could, I’d sleep in the pool. I never thought I’d want to be an actual mermaid, but the idea has a certain appeal.”

  “Maybe if the water heals you for awhile every day you will continue to live longer.”

  “Maybe.”

  “Maybe Cobra can think of something.”

  Amy sat up. “You didn’t tell him?”

  “I didn’t have much time. Then when I finally approached him, I just couldn’t.”

  “But won’t he sense something?”

  “Yes he has. Cobra knows we haven’t mated. He hasn’t asked why. He is waiting for me to go to him, and I don’t know if I can.”

  “Would he have left me on Earth?”

  Dasks seemed to choose his words carefully. “You pose a threat to one of his warriors. A Castian would never harm a female. Cobra could have left you behind with provisions, but instead chose not to ask any questions. You are my female. The decision is mine. I can’t free you to be with another. You are my responsibility. I know that’s harsh. A male in must would seek to mate with you. Now that there are other males with mates it has become generally known how to take a female. My selfishness has placed you as well as my fellow warriors in danger. I have to tell Cobra of your condition so he can warn the warriors not to touch you. There may be a few who won’t care if you are dying. Someone may risk it regardless.”

  “Even knowing they could die?”

  “It’s not so hard a question,” Dasks said quietly. “I still want to mate with you knowing I will die. But now you are offering me a choice at being a father or a mate.”

  “You have no choice about mating. I refuse to mate with you.”

  “Then you have no protection!” Dasks sat up. “Damn it, what happened to Craig could happen to you and I can’t heal you if my armor can’t envelope you.”

  “I wish we knew if your armor could heal my cancer.”

  “We could try,” he claimed desperately.

  Amy took his face between her palms. “Can you feel my answer?”

  Dasks took her wrists into one hand and dragged her under him. “I could make you,” he snapped.

  Amy could see he wouldn’t. He looked disgusted with himself before the words were even out of his mouth. He was so desperate to save her. She could feel her heart reach out to him.

  “Don’t,” he whispered raggedly.

  “Don’t what?”

  “Every day that goes by binds us closer,” he said.

  “I love you. I want to make love to you. Can’t we just enjoy each other with the time I do have instead of agonizing over the time I don’t have?”

  “Let me keep a part of you.”

  “Dasks, a baby is a lot of responsibility. We already know I will have a girl. It’s the reproductive cycle of your people to produce a female and then in another four years a male, at least according to what Cobra said. Once her shield drops, it will be game over for me.”

  “I need something of you. Please?”

  He looked so desperate and she owed him so much, Amy nodded. When he released her wrists, she pulled him closer.

  Dasks’ warm mouth settled over hers. As always his teeth retracted when they kissed.

  Her tongue rolled lazily with his. He settled more of his weight onto her.

  Amy wasn’t certain how much he weighed, but she knew it was hundreds of pounds. Instead of fearing being crushed, she wanted more of him. An armored blanket. Phenomenal power enveloped her and yet she could feel his helplessness. He clung to her like a dying man. His expression was tortured.

  “Dasks?”

  “She would look like you. Every day a daily reminder of what I lost.”

  “Dasks, is that what you really want?”

  “No. I can’t, Amy,” Dasks said.

  “You can’t what?”

  “I can’t give you a baby. I can’t make love to you year after year knowing I can never have you.”

  “It’s all right, Dasks. I understand.”

  “Do you?”

  “I think I would be tempted to let you mate with me.”

  Dasks’ hand slid up and down Amy’s thigh.

  She lifted her legs higher to wrap around him. Dasks’ head lowered to suckle a firm breast. Amy arched her back. Her nails raked over him. Dasks groaned a
nd Amy smiled. She could do anything she wanted to him and his armor wouldn’t go up to protect him while she was this close. Dasks had told her just how vulnerable he was. The Tonans had captured human females. It appeared the planet Ulsy belonged to the enemy. Human females were forced to have sex with the Castian prisoners to keep them in line. Word had come that a collar had been designed to stop the Castians’ armor from going up. During sex, the Tonans would sneak in and snap the collar onto their unsuspecting victims rendering them helpless. Dasks told her that when they returned to Dargon, there would be a new mission to save the captured warriors and free the human females. Amy had shuddered when she had heard this. She had family on Ulsy.

  “Why are you thinking sad thoughts?” Dasks asked before trailing hungry kisses across her shoulder.

  “I was just remembering how vulnerable you are without your armor. I don’t ever want to be making love to you with any Tonans around.”

  “The environment is different on Ulsy. I’m told the Tonans have developed a special chemical that makes them appear to be Castians with a hologram of black armor. It isn’t hard. They are our people—at least they used to be. Over time, their armor mutated to match their deviousness. They are gray, dull, not a pure black. Their tails grow from the lies they tell. When we snap them off, it hurts them because they are reminded of how filthy they have become.”

  “They sound soulless.”

  “They kill for sport, pleasure. Others’ pain and suffering amuses them.”

  Amy shuddered and Dasks held her closer.

  “I don’t want to think about them while you smell so good and I can almost taste you in my mouth. It’s not fair you can take me past your lips and I can’t reach your sex inside to do the same.”

  Chuckling Amy pushed his head lower. “Try.”

  Dasks looked confused, then grinned. Lower he went. His fingers parted her and one dipped within her.

  Amy moaned and squirmed. She jumped when Dasks’ lips settled over her. His tongue explored every inch of her, laving and sucking until she was writhing under him. His mouth tugged at her nub and she groaned. Her back arched and she gripped the covers beneath her when his tongue delved deeper and he licked her insides. She felt so hot. Amy knew Dasks was sensing what she felt. It was so arousing to make love to a male who understood what she liked the moment he did it.

  Dasks’ fingers and mouth worked together. His fingers were slippery and Amy knew his secretions were triggered by her scent as she grew closer to her climax. The sensation of him seeping into her skin both calmed and aroused her. It was like a heady sexual lubricant drug. Round and round his tongue laved her until she gasped with her release. Her hands clasped into his silky hair tugging him back up.

  “So that’s what that sweet taste is,” Dasks said, licking his lips.

  Dasks’ fangs were protruding as he settled over her. His eyes were glazed and he looked drunk. When he thrust up into her, Amy cried out. Long easy strokes soon had her panting, wanting him even more. He obliged. Harder he thrust. Dasks’ powerful hands kept her immobile beneath him, locking her in place as he thumped against her. Amy wrapped her legs around his middle as he bucked, trying to hang on. When in must, Dasks was a powerhouse of sexual drive. Amy cried out as his hips pumped furiously against her. She was pinned to the bed. More of his heavy weight settled onto her.

  When Dasks growled in the back of his throat, Amy knew he would grow bigger soon. More secretions from his cock flowed into her and were absorbed. It was his cock’s way of claiming her. The wetness surrounding her stayed constantly warm and was so pleasing, her body gave in to her arousal. As always, she came first. She knew her smell aroused him to produce his seed. Amy groaned as his cock began to grow harder and longer. She could feel it filling her inch by inch. Her insides stretched and she struggled to accept all of him. Amy held off for as long as she could until it became unbearable.

  “Oh, Dasks, please,” she begged.

  Dasks stroked into her then slowly retreated.

  Amy was writhing and moaning. It was too much. Her eyes were wild when she glanced up at him.

  “That is my pain,” he suddenly said. “Hurting with a pressure that needs to stop. When I can’t mate with you, I feel that. Unbearable need to have my pain eased. When I come, I lose an actual piece of myself.”

  With agonizing slowness Dasks lowered his head and sank his fangs into her neck. The relief was immediate. Amy wanted to sob, but he felt so good. She could see the look in his eyes as he continued to rock against her. He couldn’t have a mate; his seed would spill to the bed and he couldn’t have a child. What were they to do?

  Chapter 7

  Dargon was the most beautiful place Amy had ever seen. The terrain was spongy and had a velvety texture but was stiff and easy to walk on. It felt comfortable on her bare feet. It reminded her of the interior of the space vessel. Trees the likes of which she had never seen stretched to the very few clouds. They were a soft tan color. The outer bark was like foam. When she pushed on it, it became hard, then sprang back into place. No wonder Dasks complained of Earth’s puny trees that bent under his weight. Huge roots wound around and embedded into the ground. If it were a mystical planet, Amy could envision the trees walking on those roots. Higher up she could see hunter green leaves half her size waving in a small breeze.

  Amy was introduced to Rask’s mate, Grace. She was a beautiful blond with clear blue eyes. Amy noted that Dasks kept a respectful distance from her as did all the Castian warriors except Cobra who hugged her then introduced her to Leah and the rest of his family. Amy remembered Dasks mentioning that the woman was pregnant. It was obvious with one glance at Grace’s protruding middle.

  Amy realized the baby’s shield wouldn’t let any male, except for a relative or blood mate, close to Grace.

  Craig was allowed near her—he was now a blood relative. Once Craig was given his armor by Cobra, his body mass had increased dramatically. A once underweight boy looked like he had been working out for years. Soon enough, the boy would be able to hold his own with a warrior. Craig had needed to approach Grace with caution at first until the baby she carried could be given his scent through her mother’s nose.

  Since Amy was female, the shield wouldn’t go up against her.

  “Welcome to Dargon,” Grace called out to everyone.

  The woman looked deliriously happy and was soon in her husband’s arms.

  When Rask and Grace kissed, Amy could see the love and affection they had toward one another. When Dasks settled his arm across Amy’s shoulder, she moved against his side, wishing. Dasks squeezed her harder and Amy knew he was feeling her emotions.

  Meg had told Amy that Talsk was so in tune with her and her needs, it could be annoying at times. It seemed, when mated, a Castian male was able to invade his mate’s dreams. Meg told her it took a while to get used to it. Talsk dogged Meg’s every move until Meg had laid down the law and ordered him to give her some space. Talsk had dutifully stayed out of his mate’s dreams unless sensing her distress.

  The idea sounded like it could become annoying. Always knowing what the other was doing, or feeling. It was like being one person with two bodies. Amy wasn’t sure what to think.

  Meg had assured her it was odd but interesting.

  Amy now understood why a male Castian would die without his mate and vice versa.

  When Amy asked Dasks why he wouldn’t die if his warrior mate died, he had laughed at her. Then sobered quickly when he realized she was serious. After all, the warrior mates had bitten each other and drawn blood. Yes they were bound by blood, but not by death. If Dasks and Amy mated she would be more than Talsk was. Amy would become one with Dasks. It was necessary to give her eternal life—his eternal life. Talsk already had eternal life, he was male.

  “Would you like to see your new home?” Dasks asked her.

  Amy nodded. Dasks led her through the forest. The first thing Amy noticed was that he seemed to be following a trail, but not one visible to th
e eye. When she mentioned this, he smiled and looked up. Amy looked up then noticed an opening in the ground. Farther ahead was another larger opening. She understood then—Castians jumped from tree to ground to tree. That was the trail they followed.

  Dasks led her to the most fascinating shelter. It was almost impossible to even tell it was a shelter. Certainly it would be virtually undetectable from the air. It was a solid wood tree trunk that ballooned like a mushroom. Intricately, the roots gnarled and weaved together. Amy had never seen anything like it. It was as picturesque as a story book. When they approached, a solid door slid back. It was darker inside, like a cave. Many panels lit the rounded walls. Inside was the same spongy material from ceiling to floor. Only inside, the color was hunter green.

  “It’s beautiful,” she said in awe.

  “Come on,” Dasks said, urging her forward.

  When they came to a solid brown door, Dasks waved his hand in front of a panel. The door disappeared into the wall then snapped back into place after they entered the large room.

  Amy gazed around. There was a window that ran the length of the room. Through it, Amy could see others milling about outside.

  “No curtains?” she asked.

  “A shield slides back if you wish,” Dasks said. “Mostly it snaps into place if we’re under attack. No one can see in. The dome has an invisible shield. Since Cobra’s return to power, security has been vamped up. We have no idea what information the Castian prisoners have divulged to the Tonans. If void of their armor, our captured warriors can feel pain. It’s not something Castians are used to. We have been shielded our entire lives.”

  “Oh.”