I looked at him to see how his eyes glowed orange at me. I don’t think they ever turned back to his normal blue since I had stripped. “I need to go for a walk.”
He nodded and got out of bed. “I’ll go with you.”
I rolled out of bed and flinched. “No I want to go alone.”
“Okay, I’ll walk you out then at least. I have to go meet with my brothers. It’s time for my scheduled patrol anyway.” His voice was low and there was none of his playful banter.
“That’s fine, I’ll get dressed.” I stood gasped. Every muscle in my body was sore. I knew he hadn’t meant to hurt me, but oh how I hurt.
He growled and I looked over at him. He frowned and looked disheartened. “I hurt you.”
“I know you didn’t on purpose.”
“I should have known. It didn’t have to be painful for you. If I wasn’t such a jack ass you’d be fine right now.”
“Hey, didn’t I tell you it had been a very long time. That’s not your fault.”
He turned away and picked up his clothes. They weren’t torn at all. He got dressed without looking my way. I dressed in the same clothes I had been wearing and put my shoes on. I needed out. The scent of sex filled the air and it was too much.
Pyra walked in front of me and I followed stiffly behind him. Shutting the door I took a deep breath of the air. It was clean and fresh, so much better than home. I followed him down the stairs and tipped my head back. The sun was no longer up here, and stars filled the sky. They were huge and so much easier to spot than at home. It was amazing how much Uoria was like home, but it was fresher. The Denynso took care of their lands. They didn’t take anything for granted.
Out of nowhere I was lifted in the air and thrown. I screamed and my eyes widened. The thing that threw me sped into my direction and wrapped a clawed hand around my throat stopping me midair. My body jerked forward like whiplash. My heart thudded rapidly in my chest, and I lost my breath.
I’d never seen anything so vile as the creature before me. His eyes were red and his sharp teeth dripped spit. He ran his tongue along the tips and leaned in toward me. I tried to scream again, but I’d lost my voice. Kicking out I landed a blow to his lower body. He roared and dropped me. I fell to the ground with a thud. My back burned and the scent of copper filled my nose. It was blood—and it was mine. The monster rushed down toward me, and even as I tried to lift my hands he fell on top on me holding me down. His claws bit into my wrists.
“You smell sweet.” The thing said and then his teeth were in my neck.
My voice was gone. I cried and sobbed, but each move I made only seemed to make the creature more excited. He sucked harder on my neck taking more of my blood. His grunts and groans did nothing to ease my fear. I felt myself fading away. I’d only been on Uoria for a day and I was already going to die. I smiled. At least I’d never have to go back home again.
The things body was ripped from mine and I saw orange eyes staring down at me. I lifted my shaky hand up hoping he’d end it for me. Everything hurt, and I didn’t want to suffer.
Instead he bent down lifted me carefully into his arms. The feel of his warmth surrounding me was a comforting blanket. He moved so fast, but I was fading faster. There was nothing to do but wait.
(To be continued in Part II…)
Book 2
Chapter 1
Pyra raced to the infirmary carrying a limp Eden in his arms. Her eyes were closed and her lips were pale with a bluish hue. Her body was cold and the wounds on her neck hadn’t stopped bleeding. The Klimnu had torn into her, and no one knew how their bite affected humans. She was the first human to be attacked—that they knew of.
He shoved the door opened roughly not willing to set her down to use his hands. “Ciyrs!” he yelled and his voice echoed in the building rattling the glass cabinets.
His friend came running looking pissed like he wanted to rip him apart until he saw Eden’s lifeless body in his arms. The words died on his lips and he ran over to them with wide eyes.
“Shit, what the hell happened to her?”
“Klimnu attack.”
Ciyrs paled. “Here lay her down. I need to get some things.”
“Hurry up brother she is fading and too fucking fast!”
He rushed around the room doing who knew what and Pyra was starting to lose his patience. Finally his brother, and the healer of the Denynso, sat on a rolling chair and slid toward the gurney that Eden lay on. She didn’t move, and he could barely see her breathing. If it weren’t for their newly formed link he would think she was already dead, but she was alive. His mate was a fighter.
Brushing her hair from her forehead he prayed she’d be okay.
Ciyrs went to lay his hand on her but before even the tip of his finger touched her; Pyra roared and shoved him off the chair and across the room with a growl. He slammed back against the hard wall shaking the building with the force of his body and fell to the ground.
Luckily Ciyrs was the calm one of them. Instead of blowing a gasket he stood and shook it off only shooting Pyra a ‘fuck you’ glare. “I have to touch her to heal her.”
Pyra shook his head. “I’m sorry it was instinct and she’s injured, plus the bond is brand fucking new.
“I know I sense it. I won’t touch her inappropriately.”
He sighed. “I know, but I can’t watch.” He spun around and leaned his back against the gurney hoping his body heat and closeness would help her fight and heal.
He knew the moment Ciyrs touched her. The room heated exponentially and he felt his inner magic immerse into her body. He turned just as her torso lifted into the air and she took in a large breath. Her eyes shot open and then she screamed. The piercing wail hurt his ears and glass shattered. The whole compound would hear her pain. He couldn’t take it. It was blinding indescribable pain and he wanted to kill.
Pyra roared, but news travelled fast, and when he would have slammed Ciyrs into a wall he was restrained by not only his brother warriors, his brother, but his father laid a hand on him trying to soothe him. He hadn’t even realized they were there until strong arms held him back.
“He’s helping her.”
He shook his head and tears slide down his cheeks. “It’s hurting her.”
“No son, it’s not—not the way you think it is. She was dead. He’s bringing her back to life.”
Pyra froze. No way. She couldn’t have been dead. But when he looked, really looked at Eden he saw the signs. The blue on her lips was still present.
Ciyrs’s hands laid flat. One was over her heart and the other on her head. His eyes were shut tight in concentration and sweat poured from him. His face was pale and his hands began to shake. He realized what his brother was going through to save his mate. He’d never be able to repay him and owed him a great debt.
He wondered what it would do to her. Ciyrs hadn’t ever brought a human back to life. He knew with another Denynso it would mean a link was formed between the healer and the saved. He didn’t like the thought of them having a link.
“It will be like a brother and sister relationship, son. Nothing more.”
“How’d you know what I was thinking?”
He shrugged. “Because that would be my first thought as well. The most important thing is that he saved her, and she will live because of his gift.”
“I know, I’ll never be able to repay him.”
Finally Ciyrs removed his hands from her body and opened his eyes. Pyra physically watched as the magical link formed between them. Her eyes widened and so did his brother’s. It was like something inside them recognized each other and when he bent to kiss her, Pyra tried to move, but again he was held back.
“It can ruin the healing magic. They have to bond.”
He growled. “I know, but we just bonded before her attack. It’s too fresh.”
The king placed his hand on his son’s shoulder. “You’ll survive. Ciyrs is your brother.”
So he watched as his good friend kissed his mate. Only he didn’t kiss her lips, he kissed her forehead and caressed her cheek. “My sister,” he whispered and every voice in the room went silent waiting to see what happened. No one dared to even breathe. She was the first human to be healed, hell to be brought back to life in their long history.
She smiled when he helped her sit up. Her neck wound healed right before their eyes and hers latched on to Pyra’s. She smiled at him and then looked at Ciyrs. “I can never thank you enough. If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”
Ciyrs nodded and helped her stand, and she wrapped her arms around him hugging him close. He made it brief before unlatching her arms from around him. “Go see your mate before he rips my head off.”
She nodded and turned to him. She blushed and walked over to him. She was quiet and docile, and he wondered if she would regain her temper. He sure as hell hoped she did. It was part of her charm.
When she walked right into his arms he was thrilled and curious. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
He was confused. “What are you sorry about?”
“Scaring you, I felt it. It was strange. The whole time you held me, I felt your pain and suffering. It nearly suffocated me, and I tried to wake up, but I couldn’t.”
“It’s okay Eden. You’re alive now.”
He looked over her head and saw Ciyrs watching them. His eyes shined, but there was something else in his expression, protectiveness.
He led her over to him and pulled him into a hug. “Never am I more appreciative than I am right now, brother. Thank you.”
He nodded and smiled. “It’s surreal, I didn’t think it was going to work. I also don’t know what the affects will be so I need to keep an eye on her and keep notes for future reference just in case, not that I plan to have to do that again. I’m utterly and totally drained. I need to freakin’ sleep for a week.”
“Rest and I’ll keep track of any strangeness. First, it seems her temper is gone.”
Ciyrs laughed. “It will probably come back. Her body went through a horrible ordeal, and she was technically dead.”
Those words made him shudder; he didn’t want to think of what would have happened had Ciyrs not been able to save her.
Chapter 2
I felt different. I knew I had died, and Ciyrs brought me back to life. Shit. There were so many mixed feeling inside of me. I wasn’t sure I’d ever feel like me again. How I felt about the man in front of me now was different than it was before that monster attacked me. I couldn’t even remember why I fought against our bond. Now it felt like second nature. The bond with the healer was a different story.
It was a good bond, and I could feel a part of him inside me. It soothed me and made me feel safe, like nothing would ever happen to me again.
‘You’re my sister now’, his voice echoed in my mind and my eyes widened. It was strange hearing voices in my head, but I knew his words were true. It felt like I had known him forever.
Pyra smiled at me, but the worry in his eyes still lingered. I could feel his suffering. He hated himself, blamed himself for the attack. How was he supposed to know there was going to be an attack at that very moment? I didn’t blame him.
I wrapped my arms around his waist and hugged his giant body. I tipped my head back staring at him willing his sadness away. “Stop blaming yourself.”
His eyes watered but he shook his head. “That’s not going to happen, Eden.” Then he brushed my hair away from my face. The touch sent a million sensations through my body.
“Can we go home now?” he asked holding me close.
Home? I didn’t have one really. That cabin was nice, but if I was going to be honest, I was a little afraid to be left alone after what happened. Pyra sensed my fear.
“There is no way I am letting you out of my sight.”
I nodded and a fire tried to come to life. My temper would be back, and when it was, when I didn’t feel so damn serene, I’d kick his ass. I turned and waved at Ciyrs. It was strange, but I almost felt like a little girl looking up to her big brother. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that bond. That feeling of anger kept growing, and I would bide my time and wait patiently. My anger was my crutch. It’s how I survived so long.
He tipped his chin and I was led out of the building. Pyra tensed and his hand tightened on mine.
“Can I just pick you up and run. This is bringing too much back.”
It was the fact that he asked and how vulnerable he sounded that made me agree.
“This one time, but don’t get used to carting me around.” Yes. I was starting to feel slightly normal again. He lifted me in his arms and ran. It felt like the wind was whipping in my face, and before I could ask we were standing on the porch to a different place.
“Welcome home,” he said with a smile and placed me gently on my feet. I raised a brow. There was no more arrogance in his voice. It seemed both of us were going through a change, and I wondered if his normal cockiness would come back like my temper was.
I refrained from saying anything mean because he was seriously upset. I followed behind him and gasped. His home was not what one would expect. Most men, human ones anyways, were known to be slobs. But his home was sparkling clean. I was afraid to walk across the floor.
“Well come on, I’m not going to bite and my house isn’t going to attack you.”
I sighed and kicked my shoes off before setting them nicely against the wall.
Pyra laughed. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“Oh, yes I did. You’re place is super clean.”
He sat on the couch and patted the spot next to him. I eyed the spot and sighed. My head was full of so much and all I wanted to do was rest.
‘Come sit with me, love.’
I reeled back. “What the hell is that?”
“It’s part of our bond, a link was formed and we have the ability to speak through the mind.”
‘Are you fucking kidding me?’
His chuckle reverberated in my mind, and I felt his relief.
‘Your temper is coming back, I was worried.’
“Talk out loud it feels like you’re yelling in my head.”
“Until you get used to it, that’s how it will feel. It’s normal from what I’ve been told.”
“You knew this was going to happen?”
“Yes,” he replied.
Fire burned inside. “You didn’t think that might have been important to mention before we fucked?”
His mouth dropped open, and I saw the hurt in his eyes.
“Is that what you think we did?”
I wanted to scream, to yell, and to say yes, that is what I think it was, but I couldn’t and I lowered my head shaking it. “No.”
He sped towards me and lifted my chin. “We made love Eden, and whether you like it or not things between us changed the moment I came inside of you. You’re mine and I’m yours. I do hope you will love me someday.”
He leaned in and kissed me. All it took was one touch and I was gone, melted into a puddle of growing messy love. He was right.
I moaned and wrapped my arms around him urging him to lift me in the air. I had almost died. Certainly that meant something needed to change. Life was too short to be so pissed off all the time.
His body shook and he carried me to the couch. When he sat down he situated me on his lap and I straddled him without breaking our kiss. I pushed my lower body against him and his hands gripped me tighter as if he was afraid to let go.
When I pulled back his eyes glowed and I was breathless.
“Well, does that mean you’re okay with our bond now?”
I shrugged. “You’re growing on me. I won’t promise not to get mad or freak out, but I’ll try not to be a complete bitch.”
He nodded. “I can live with that, and you’re not a bitch. You’ve had bad things happen to you.”
I tensed and eyed him. “How do you k
now?”
“Your memories.”
“You’ve seen them?”
“Only a few, but it just happened during the bond. It opened you up to me, allowed me to get to know you on a closer level.”
I went to pull away but he gripped my hips.
“Hey it’s part of the bond, Eden. I didn’t invade your mind on purpose. Your mind opened up to me.”
I sighed not liking that he’d seen some of the darker things in my life. Tears fell from my eyes before I could stop them. I was not a crier, but I guess dying kind of changes a person.
“Oh love, it’s going to be okay. I don’t judge you, and if I ever make a trip to Earth, I’ll hunt him down and kill him.” Pyra was pissed, and somehow that made it better.
It was in that moment I couldn’t ignore how I felt. The growing love was taking over all the hate that I held buried inside of me. He knew of my darkest secrets and still wanted me. And I knew that he wasn’t just throwing out words to make me feel better. If I ever took him back with me, he would hunt my stepfather down and kill him. Should I have been scared? Hell yes. Was I? Not even a little bit.
Chapter 3
Pyra carried Eden to bed when she fell asleep with her head on his shoulder. He saw the moment she decided to stop fighting the bond. After that the silence stretched between them, but it was no longer uncomfortable.
He never thought the day would come that he felt calm and at peace. It wouldn’t last, but it was nice for the time being. Stripping off his clothes he got into bed and pulled Eden next to him. He wouldn’t be able to be away from her, at least not for a while. His brothers already knew he was going to be spending more time away.
As far as he could tell, so far she was fine and functioning well after her attack. She hadn’t really seemed too chatty, but he didn’t think that was really anything new.
She squirmed and her elbow nearly landed in his face but he deftly dodged it. She kicked and cried trying to get away. He let her go and she thrashed around on the bed. Her body broke out in a sweat, and she ripped the blanket from her body. It was then the scent of her arousal hit him and he gritted his teeth. Of course.
Another Uoria Holiday: A Sci-Fi Alien Warrior Holiday Romance Page 10