Harbinger

by Cyndi Friberg

  Compassion softened her expression and she sadly shook her head. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t be surprised, but I am. Even for her, this is shocking.”

  Suddenly, Raylon rushed out of their suite and wrapped his arm around Chandar’s waist. “What’s the matter?” He’d paused long enough to dress, while Chandar had only slipped on a bathrobe in response to Danvier’s untimely visit.

  Danvier smiled. It was still strange to see Garin’s fiercest enforcer in loving protector mode. “Pyre Sterling is dead,” Danvier told him. “She came after Haven and paid for it with her life.”

  “Thank you.” Raylon made a snarly sound deep in his throat. “You saved me the trouble of killing her myself. That bitch had it coming.”

  Chandar looked up at her mate, still appearing rather stunned. “Haven killed her while protecting Danvier.”

  Danvier cringed. That made him sound so useless. He was proud of his mate’s bold actions, but it was his job to protect her.

  Raylon didn’t seem surprised by the turn of events. “Tandori Tribe breeds powerful females. No one can deny that.”

  Raylon had once mated with a Tandori female, long before he’d met Chandar. Danvier didn’t know the details. All he knew was the female had passed beyond many years ago.

  “Where is Pyre?” Chandar whispered.

  Though the question was rather morbid, Danvier understood Chandar’s need to see the body for herself. Pyre had been more of a malevolent phantom in their lives than a flesh-and-blood mother. Sometimes phantoms were even harder to banish than flesh-and-blood monsters.

  “Her body is aboard the Crusader.”

  She nodded. “Thank you for telling me. I know this was awkward.”

  Raylon reached down and took her hand, intertwining their fingers. “Do you need to see her, angel?” Chandar nodded, so he looked at Danvier. “Does Garin know about this?”

  Danvier shook his head. “I didn’t want Chandar to hear it from anyone else, so I came straight here.”

  “I’ll tell him. Get some sleep. I’m sure there’ll be a briefing in the morning. There always is.” Then Raylon pulled Chandar back into their suite, leaving Danvier alone in the moon-bathed courtyard.

  It was well past midnight, but Danvier was wide awake. He glanced toward the door to his suite, then sighed and crossed the courtyard, exiting through the archway leading to the residential villages. He had no doubt Haven was exhausted, but he suspected emotion had more to do with her headache than lack of sleep. If Berlynn was with her, he’d return to the Pavilion and give Haven some room. But he didn’t want her to process this debacle on her own.

  Who was he kidding? He didn’t want to process this on his own. His mother had tried to kill him and this was the second time he’d watched a parent die right before his eyes. He was no longer a frightened child, far from it. Still, his emotions felt raw, his nerves exposed. He needed the comfort of his mate.

  He reached her door on autopilot, his surroundings a blur. His pulse thudded in his ears as he waited for her to respond to the visitor alert. If she was with Berlynn, the computer would likely tell him to leave. Or she could activate an audio response and reinforce her need for privacy.

  Tension mounted as the moments ticked by, then the door slid open and Haven grabbed the front of his tunic, dragging him inside.

  “I was beginning to think you wouldn’t come.” She pressed him against the wall beside the door and pushed to her tiptoes, obviously trying to reach his mouth.

  Happy to assist her, he wrapped his arm around her legs, just below her butt, and slid her up his body. Their mouths found each other, fitting together as if they’d done so for years. Her scent filled his nose and her taste intensified with every swirl of their tongues.

  She groaned and relaxed against him, wrapping her arms around his neck. The transfer link activated and her emotions flowed into his mind, every bit as conflicted as his. He absorbed the tingling rush, not trying to analyze them, just sharing her pain and offering what comfort he could. Only after the initial surge had stabilized did he realize she’d activated the link. She’d told him she was telepathic, but manipulating mind links required a level of control beyond basic telepathy.

  Eventually, they needed to have a talk about everything she was still hiding from him, but the conversation could wait. Tonight was about comfort, his and hers.

  He swept her into his arms and reluctantly separated their mouths. “Couch or bed?” He didn’t want to presume her enthusiastic greeting meant what he hoped it meant.

  “Bed.” Her eyes were wide and luminous as she looked into his. “I’m tired of pretending to be stronger than I am. And I want to stop fighting what I feel for you, if only for tonight.”

  The qualifier bothered him, but he needed her too badly to start a fight. “No more pretending.” He paused for a long, deep kiss then strode toward the nearest doorway.

  She shook her head and pointed to the other door with a hesitant smile.

  Like the entire apartment, the bedroom was compact and utilitarian. They’d be much more comfortable in his suite at the Pavilion, but he wasn’t about to suggest they move tonight. It would give her time to think, to second guess herself, to remember all the reasons she didn’t want a mate.

  The lights had been activated by their entrance, but she decreased the illumination to twenty-five percent with a soft voice command. He set her down on the edge of the bed then went to work on his clothing. His boots hit the floor with a loud thunk and he pulled his tunic off over his head.

  When he wore nothing but his pants, he turned his attention back to her. She wore pull-on pants and a sleeveless top that clung to her breasts. Already her nipples formed distinct peaks in the clingy material. He didn’t allow his gaze to linger. Instead he motioned toward her feet. She leaned back slightly and straightened her legs. He grasped the band around each ankle and pulled the pants off with one firm tug. She laughed at the semi-violent motion and took off the shirt before he could attack it as well.

  His ravenous gaze swept her naked body from head to toe, then ascended slowly, lingering on all the places he longed to touch. He bent one knee to the bed, meaning to join her on the mattress, but she held up her hand and shook her head.

  “Not until you lose the pants.”

  Their gazes locked and he released the seal on the front of his pants. Then her gaze swept down as he eased the garment past his hips. He’d been hard since he left the Pavilion. Now his cock twitched, desperate for her attention. Her eyes narrowed and she caught her lower lip between her teeth. Longing pulsed across their link, echoing the frantic beating of his heart.

  She scooted into the middle of the bed and he stretched out on his side, facing her. Slipping one arm beneath her neck, he bent and covered her mouth with his. Her lips parted and her tongue greeted him with a sensual slide.

  Intoxicated by her sweet response, he explored her warm mouth. He’d wanted to kiss her for so long. He’d never tire of the wet tangle of tongues and silken rub of her lips against his. She rolled to her side as well, pressing her breasts against his chest. His need for her intensified, tightening his balls and making his cock buck against her belly. He couldn’t wait much longer, but he wanted this to be perfect for both of them.

  He drew her leg up onto his hip then eased his hand between their bodies. Apparently, understanding his intent, she angled her pelvis, giving him better access to her intimate flesh. He covered her mound with his palm, absorbing the heat as emotions rushed into his mind. Fear still tainted her need, but she wasn’t afraid of him. She was afraid of how badly she wanted this, and how easily they’d found each other.

  Gently, he parted her folds and pushed two fingers into her slick core. Her inner muscles tensed around him, caressing his fingers with warmth and pressure. He slowly separated their mouths and whispered, “Look at me, love.” Her lashes fluttered then her lids rose, exposing her beautiful eyes. Her phitons were vivid purple in a field of endless black. “I will never inte
ntionally harm you.”

  “I know.”

  He drew his fingers nearly out then thrust deep, making her gasp. Her lids began to droop. “No. Look into my eyes. Look into my soul. See exactly who’s touching you.”

  Then he opened his mind to her as he filled her with his fingers. His thumb rubbed across and around her clit as his hand shuttled between her thighs. All the while she searched his gaze, probing his mind with bold intention. She accepted his offer and penetrated more deeply with each thrust of his hand.

  Soon her emotions mixed so completely with his that he stopped trying to figure out where each feeling emanated. She rocked her hips, matching each motion of his hand, taking his fingers deeper. She clutched his shoulders, panting harshly as her arousal spiraled out of control. A strangled cry tore from her throat, then her core captured his fingers with powerful, rippling spasms.

  He watched her come, awed by her beauty as she abandoned herself completely to the pleasure. Before the last ripple passed, he rolled her to her back and settled on his knees between her thighs. He grasped her hands, entwining their fingers as he drew her hands to either side of her head. Then he positioned himself at her entrance and waited for her gaze to refocus.

  Reality returned slowly as Haven floated in a tingling world of languid bliss. The orgasm had been wonderful, yet she was even more amazed by the intimacy of moving unrestricted through his mind. He’d held nothing back, shielded no memory or thought regardless of how dark or tormented. She felt humbled by his trust and a little bit frightened by his true power. She and her brothers were the strongest members of Tandori Tribe, but her abilities paled beside the immense power at Danvier’s command.

  She blinked away the lingering muddle and looked into his eyes. His shimmering silver phitons had expanded, nearly tripling in size. He arched over her, pinning her hands to the bed as he waited to enter her body.

  “You are my mate.” He paused as if to see if she’d argue. When she didn’t, his expression softened, his gaze caressing her face. “I know you’re not ready to accept it, but I won’t pretend that sex will ever be enough for me.”

  Before she could reply, he thrust his entire length into her core, driving the breath from her lungs. His fiery being pushed into her mind as well, igniting sensations all over her body. She drew her knees up along his sides as her body stretched around his thickness. She felt impaled, utterly filled mentally and physically.

  Her breath returned with a soft gasp as he slowly drew his hips back then paused with his tip barely inside her. His gaze promised pleasure, yet there was something dark and possessive there as well. He thrust again, the impact almost jarring. Then any pretense at civility fell away as he began to move in earnest. Each long, hard drive was a claim upon her body. She was his and he was making damn sure she understood his intention.

  Despite her fear of commitment, her body responded like never before. The more aggressive he became, the more intensely she responded. She arched her back, eagerly taking all he had to give. Their pelvises slapped so loudly she feared the sound would echo beyond the room.

  He released her hands and grasped her ass, lifting her hips off the mattress. His physical demands were staggering, but they were nothing compared to the emotions bombarding her mind. He was desperate to claim her, yet determined to wait until she was just as eager for a true joining.

  Feeling how badly he wanted to mate with her made her feel guilty for denying him. Everything he did felt incredibly right, yet life had taught her some brutal lessons. She wanted to believe that Danvier was as noble as he seemed. But still, she couldn’t let go of the past. Wanting him this badly would only make his betrayal even more devastating.

  Suddenly, he grasped her wrists and pulled her arms above her head. “Look at me.”

  She dragged her gaze back to his face.

  “Who am I?” He sounded angry, yet she sensed only burning desire.

  “Danvier.” She forced away the past and every other distraction, focusing entirely on the man arching over her.

  “Stay with me.” He moved in and out. “Think only of me.”

  She kept her eyes open and savored each burst of sensation launched by his forceful drives. He was even more demanding than she’d imagined, more primal. His emotionless mask was gone. This was the true Danvier. The Danvier he never allowed others to see. But he revealed his true self to her, trusted her with his raw intensity.

  Little by little she let her inhibitions slip away. He would force nothing on her, expect nothing from her that she wasn’t ready to surrender. There was a certain kind of freedom in his immense control. She was safe with him. Regardless of how badly he wanted her, she would always come first.

  A naughty smile parted her lips as she realized the literal truth in that thought. He would hold back his release until he knew she’d found hers. With that thought in mind, she shifted her hips to a slightly different angle, increasing the friction of his shaft against her clit.

  He must have realized what she needed because he shifted her wrists into one hand and slipped the other between their bodies. She wasn’t struggling, but being pinned to the bed rekindled her dark fantasy. She was his captive, helpless against his skillful seduction and her own treacherous body.

  His thumb found her clit and forced her arousal higher with slow, firm circles. “Come for me.” He paired each thrust of his hips with a tantalizing caress.

  Her senses caught fire, burning away rational thought. She arched and twisted, lost in the gathering intensity.

  “Now,” he growled the order against her parted lips and her body instinctively obeyed.

  She cried out, arching hard as her core convulsed around him. Surge after surge of pleasure burst over her body and rushed across their link. Reality shattered for a moment and there was only sensation, only him. Only them.

  He buried himself deep inside her and shuddered out his own release. His pleasure triggered blissful aftershocks as it saturated her sluggish mind.

  For a long time they floated in surreal tranquility. He used his last bit of strength to roll them to their sides, somehow managing to stay inside her. Then they clung to each other, silently soaking in the rare moment of contentment.

  This is what it will be like every night if you just accept reality.

  The thought made her tense, especially when she realized the inner voice had been hers not his.

  He chuckled. I wholeheartedly agree. He found her mouth and kissed her, his tongue gently teasing. But you’re welcome to keep resisting. Convincing you feels so damn good.

  Chapter Nine

  Fighting back a smug smile, Milanni stepped in front of the door to Fyran’s quarters and waited for the computer to announce her. She’d spent one miserable night in the cargo bay, surrounded by resentful space pets, wondering how long it would take for Fyran to miss her. A mere twenty-five hours passed and already she was summoned to attend him. Standing up for the human females had been a massive gamble. She had no real authority. Everything she had could be taken away in an instant if Fyran lost interest in her. Yet here she stood at Fyran’s request, so her hold over the commander must be strong enough to mitigate the risk.

  The door parted and she stepped into the spacious cabin, a friendly smile plastered on her face. Fyran sat in the dining area halfway through a massive breakfast. He motioned her toward him, his mouth full of food. After an awkward pause, she pulled out the chair across from him and sat.

  “How are things going with your pet project?” The play on words made him smile.

  Despite the food heaped on his plate and the heated pot of civata brew off to one side, he offered her nothing. “The guards you assigned to help me have been wonderfully cooperative.” She had to promise them their choice of females whenever they liked, but that was to be expected. “We used holo-partitions to create some semblance of privacy. They don’t dampen sound, but that’s probably for the better until the men realize we’re serious about the rules. I’ve established a rotat
ion and the crew will be able to start signing up for time slots this afternoon.”

  “Good.” He paused for a long sip of civata brew, making her mouth water. They’d shared many meals since he became her protector. Why was he being such a jerk? “I want to send one of the pets on a mission. Which one is most likely to do everything she’s told without question and keep her mouth shut while she does it?”

  Milanni kept her hands under the table, so he couldn’t see how tightly they were clenched. He’d summoned her here as madam, not as his personal pet. “What sort of mission?”

  He wiped his mouth then pushed his plate aside. “According to rumors on the Intrepid, the research team has finalized a transformation formula that works on full-blooded humans. I will get my hands on that formula.”

  The Intrepid was the hospital ship currently docked at Lunar Nine. They’d started with human/Rodyte hybrid females, which greatly limited the available test subjects. If what he said was true and they could now transform full human females, the implication was staggering. “What is the source of the rumors? This could be a trap designed to draw us out of hiding.”

  “Unlikely.” He waved away her concern and pushed back from the table. “I have a man aboard the Intrepid, but he’s been unable to get anywhere near the formula. The labs are on a high security deck and his clearance doesn’t allow him on that level.”

  She’d wondered what kept Fyran from leaving this remote star system. The risk of discovery was minimal as long as they stayed out of sensor range of the battle born ships, but so were the opportunities to pillage. And pirates needed to pillage. Maybe Fyran didn’t think of himself as a pirate. Then why had he stolen such a valuable ship? Well, he hadn’t set out to steal the Relentless. Akim, the original commander, had been captured by the battle born and Fyran had escaped to safety with the ship. Some would call that desertion rather than aggression. It all depended on one’s perspective.