“The mission to Marid?”
“Yes. He’s ready to put together the team.”
A mission. And an important one. She knew she rated as an automatic member this time. She looked forward to it. Anything was better than dwelling on personal matters that others couldn’t even begin to understand, no matter how hard they tried. “Let’s go.”
* * * * *
Halah stared at the accommodations prepared for her soon-to-be prisoners. A communal bed, good enough for slaves, sat in the corner. Pillows and extra blankets covered the hard floor. A private area to bathe, more than most slaves enjoyed, was located conveniently through a side door.
They’d be captured within a few days, and become her responsibility. The place and time were set. She’d finally managed to attain enough credits to qualify for slave ownership, if she so wished for a personal stable. Still, she knew the Egesa Slave Masters watched her closely, not trusting her loyalty—the lowly creatures.
She hated what she’d gotten herself into, but changing the past wasn’t possible. She had to live with her choices.
At least one woman would be among the captured. The Healer. Then, she suspected anywhere from one to three additional slaves. She wondered if the Class 2 Warrior she’d battled on Earth would be one of them. Since their encounter, she hadn’t been able to get him out of her mind. She’d suggested his presence for this mission, knowing he and the Healer often worked together. She’d read the information in The Dome files. The massive amount of data Marid possessed about Xylon’s personnel astounded her.
The blond-haired Warrior occupying her thoughts helped tie her to a bed, but hadn’t taken advantage. So noble. Tying him up, stripping him bare, and fucking him mercilessly held appeal, and she intended to indulge. She had the right to get a little fun out of this deal. If he wasn’t among the selected Warriors sent, perhaps she’d choose to play with another.
Getting to keep them as her slaves would be the challenge. They were considered enemies of Marid, more so than most Xylon Warriors. If discovered, the Commanders will try to take them from me. As their captor, keeping them was her right though. Even Marid’s leader couldn’t argue with his own law. She hoped.
Regardless, whoever ended up as her prisoners, she’d treat them as she wished, not as ordered. Her treatment of them would be better than the poor enslaved who toiled in the mines or those who served as experimental patients for research. They should consider themselves lucky. By agreeing to help, she was doing them a favor.
She’d need to see to their safety and eventual escape, too, whether she liked the prearranged plan or not. The Warrior Leader held too much control over her to defy him. Her hand curled into a fist, a nervous reaction. If Marid’s Leader found out that she had betrayed The Dome, her life would be over. She planned to be extra careful.
After completing this assignment, she would, in turn, finally get what she’d searched for over the past few years. Then she’d disappear to another star system and leave this entire life behind her. Maybe she’d even return to Earth. The planet, still primitive in comparison to Xylon and its moons, involved a simpler lifestyle. And Earth was free.
For now…
* * * * *
Leila settled in at the Council Chamber’s official table. Thirteen heavy chairs surrounded the large, wooden structure. Warriors occupied half the seats.
During the last uprising from the banishment zones, many Council members had vanished, including their former leader, Laszlo, who’d led the Warriors for as long as she could remember. After his disappearance, Braden had taken charge. And he didn’t always do things as laid out by Council Law.
At the head of the table, he sat tall, looking strong and capable. His dark hair and violet eyes commanded attention. Alexa Sandor, his mate, now pregnant with twins, sat to his left. Erik sat to Braden’s right. Torque Koll, Braden’s brother, sat next to Erik.
Torque made her uncomfortable. His shoulder-length black hair, deep brown eyes that looked nearly black, and muscles that went on forever intimidated her to say the least. From the stories she’d heard, his badass looks went right along with a rebellious nature. They’d only worked together once, briefly, so she didn’t really know him, or know what to expect from him.
Kam sat beside Alexa. Their blond hair and blue eyes weren’t an identical match, but close enough. The half-Earth, half-Xylon woman was his half-sister, and the only super breeder remaining on Xylon. Leila sat next to Kam.
Tonight’s meeting consisted of a mixture of select Warriors and friends. Braden called these types of meetings for sensitive issues or missions that had already received Council approval, if a problem or special circumstance arose.
Braden cleared his throat, as he always did to start a meeting. “You all know from Kam and Leila’s research that a serious problem exists. The substance used in the first step of our Initiation Rite, to protect our people from poisons and diseases, is no longer effective. The Egesa somehow found a formula to combat the protective elements. Through sexual penetration, Marid Assassins, along with Commanders, can now sterilize our unbranded female breeders, which puts us in a vulnerable position.”
Leila shuddered at the mere mention of the Egesa. The half-lizard, half-humanoid Slave Masters from Marid were cruel, disgusting creatures. Their Commanders and Assassins—former Warriors—were even crueler. They possessed the same high-level training as Xylon’s protectors, along with inside knowledge of Lair society. Without their leadership and betrayal of their own people, Xylon could have easily defeated the Egesa long ago. Now, if Xylon’s Warriors didn’t defeat them soon, their kind would take over the planet and any other planet they could enslave.
“This mission,” Braden continued, “involves taking an orbiter to Marid, getting inside The Dome, finding the compound they’re using to override our protection, and retrieving it for analysis. All the details are in the folders in front of you. In addition, any information acquired about the Marid Leader—Daegal—is to be brought back for study, so we can find ways to destroy him and the Egesa central headquarters in The Dome.”
“I thought Daegal was to be neutralized on this mission, not further studied,” Alexa replied.
“The odds of accomplishing an assassination without additional information are slim at this time. And we want to make sure we take out The Dome along with him, otherwise someone else may simply step in and take control.”
“Like Laszlo,” Erik stated bluntly.
“Laszlo will not betray us!” Kam responded without hesitation, his voice hard and unwavering. His hand curled into a fist on top of the table.
“So you say,” Erik shot back.
By Kam’s aggressiveness, Leila could tell the shot was beginning to adversely affect him. Beneath the table, she squeezed his thigh to let him know he needed to ease off.
He slumped slightly in the chair. The hand on the table pressed flat. His other hand brushed across the top of hers, under the table, in acknowledgement. When he continued, he lowered his voice. “Yes, Laszlo’s disappeared. But he’s working to help us, not working against us. I know he is.”
“Either way,” Braden interrupted, “it doesn’t change what needs doing for the safety of our female breeders. With the approval of the Council, I’ve chosen a team.”
Leila glanced around the table. Everyone in the room seemed to stop breathing in anticipation of the announcement. Equally anxious about his selection, she returned her attention to him and waited.
“Leila, you will be Research on this mission. You’re the only one who can properly identify the substance we’re seeking. Kam, you will be Consultant. Before Laszlo disappeared, he confided sensitive information to you about Daegal that might come in handy. You’re to collect the additional data we need about him and The Dome. Team Leader is Erik.”
Given the Warriors in attendance, Leila knew the leader would be Erik or Torque, since she doubted Braden would go himself—not while Alexa carried his unborn children. And now with his new
position, the safety of The Lair Compound lay on his shoulders.
Torque, though Braden’s brother, often acted unpredictable and wild, and was not really leader material, in her opinion. Erik, also wild, took his duty as a Warrior seriously. He was the logical choice. However, she wasn’t the one doing the choosing, so the possibility had existed that Braden might have figured differently and picked family.
She and Erik always worked well together, as long as their focus remained on work. But an orbiter was a small craft. Being in such tight quarters might prove sexually difficult. At least Kam would be along to act as a buffer.
“How are they going to get inside The Dome?” Torque asked. “We should send someone to break through their defense system, so the team doesn’t waste time trying to find entry. Let me go in first.”
“That’s not necessary. We have a double agent already in place.” Braden flipped a switch. “Watch the monitor.”
The expansive monitor on the wall behind him flashed white and gray, then a picture of a woman appeared. Erik and Kam groaned. Leila stared in disbelief, unable to make a sound.
“Are you shittin’ me?” Erik finally asked.
“Not at all,” Braden said. “After you land, she will capture you. As her slaves, you’ll have access to the inside. She’ll help you get what we need, then aid in your escape.”
Leila stared at the female depicted on the screen. Dressed all in black, with short black hair, she looked the same as when they’d encountered her on their last Earth mission, where Braden had found and sexually initiated Alexa. The woman had spied for Daegal, passed along their whereabouts, and gotten them captured. Braden must be out of his mind.
“What’s her name? What’s her story?” Kam asked, not once taking his eyes off the screen.
The woman had done Kam some serious damage while on Earth. Leila was surprised he looked more intrigued, right now, than enraged. The electrical charge she’d hit him with had further damaged his already chemically off-balanced system.
“Our records indicate her name is Halah Shirota,” Braden answered. “A Class 1 Xylon Warrior before she turned. The Egesa captured her sister, Josella, then captured her when she went in alone, against Council orders, to get her sibling back. Daegal apparently promised to free them both, if she completed the Earth mission and brought back information. He didn’t fulfill the bargain, and Josella mysteriously disappeared. But Halah has obtained certain freedoms within the Egesa society.”
“In exchange for Lair secrets, no doubt,” Erik said.
“No doubt. She contacted me, via Laszlo’s private communication board not long ago, wanting to return to The Lair.”
“You can’t trust her, Braden,” Kam interrupted. “I found that out firsthand.”
“We have some assurance. From the electromagnetic waves transmitted by her implanted Xylon brain chip, I’ve managed to locate Josella in one of the banishment zones.”
“I thought the tracking chips were only short range,” Alexa responded.
“They are with our hand detectors. But a booster tracking computer, available here on Xylon, was recently repaired. The chip codes are still loading as we speak. The long-range device allows tracking as long as the person remains in this system.”
“Has Laszlo been tracked?” Kam asked.
“His chip code cannot be found,” Braden replied.
Erik snorted. “Big surprise.”
Next to her, Leila felt Kam stiffen.
Braden flipped off the monitor. “Tomorrow I’m sending Pitch and my sisters out to the Sand Moon to find and hold the girl captive. We’ll keep that information and Josella’s safety as leverage until we successfully complete this mission. That will ensure Halah’s cooperation.”
“Sounds risky to me, Braden,” Torque replied. “Anytime you depend on the emotions of a female, you’re apt to get screwed.”
Leila and Alexa turned their heads to stare at him.
“What?”
“It’s settled,” Braden answered. “Study the plan in the notes. Kam and Erik, wait out in the Council antechamber. I want to talk to you two again, in a few minutes. Torque, you and Leila stay in here, please.” His gaze settled on his mate, and his eyes filled with compassion. “You can go, Alexa. Get some rest. Then maybe later you could help out with the new arrivals. Two Earth females are being brought down.”
Leila saw Alexa frown. Xylon routinely recruited DNA-compatible women from other planets to breed with, since so many of their own females were sterile. Alexa, though one of those recruited women herself, never had agreed with the process. But she’d proven invaluable in calming Earth women and helping them adjust.
“Yes, I can do that,” she replied.
It looked to Leila like she wanted to say more, but she held her tongue. Alexa wasn’t one to fear speaking her mind, so she was certain Braden would get an earful later. Alexa understood her mate’s position and knew when to keep silent on a matter while in front of other Warriors. Leila often marveled at how quickly the woman had adjusted to Xylon society.
Braden aided Alexa to her feet and caressed her slightly rounded stomach. “I’ll join you later.”
She nodded, her eyes softening. She lightly kissed his lips, then looked around the table. “Good luck, everyone. Be careful. My thoughts will be with you.” She dematerialized out.
Chapter Two
An ominous silence settled over the interior of the Council Chamber. The dim lighting added to the oppressive feel in the air. Strange, how Leila had never before noticed the dreariness of the room.
She watched Kam and Erik step out the door. Erik glanced back at her once before the portal closed. A worried look briefly crossed his face, an emotion she normally didn’t see him display.
As such, she fidgeted and began to worry, too, about why Braden wanted her and Torque to stay behind. A bad case of nerves hit as possibilities flickered through her mind. She suspected major trouble lurked in the planning of this Marid mission.
When she looked over at Torque, and he winked at her, she didn’t feel any better.
The door closed and auto-locked, leaving the three of them in the room alone. Neither she nor Torque spoke. They simply waited for Braden to resume control. Leila studied his face, trying to figure out if good news or bad was forthcoming.
When he looked at her, his eyes narrowed slightly. “Leila,” he began. “Torque has informed me that you’re unable to self-heal.”
“What!” Her head snapped toward the man relaxing on the other side of the table. “How could you tell him?” He’d found out purely by accident on their mission to Earth, after three Marid Assassins injured and captured them. She’d received a wound to her thigh, and he’d noticed she wasn’t healing at an accelerated rate.
“It’s the truth. He needed to know. How did you keep the fact out of your records? We couldn’t find the notation.”
“It’s in there. You just have to know where to look. Laszlo said it wasn’t anyone’s business, but his and mine.” She thought her secret would remain undiscovered. How stupid! Of course Torque would tell. He held no loyalty to her. They weren’t even friends.
“Why didn’t you tell me, Leila?” Braden asked. “You know the importance of healing information, especially on a Warrior.”
Reluctantly, she returned her attention to the head of the table. She expected to see anger or frustration from Braden, not the look of tender understanding now directed at her. Alexa was a lucky woman to have such a man to love, and who loved her in return. Braden’s strength, intelligence and, most importantly, compassion made him the perfect leader to revive Xylon’s floundering society.
As far as her inability to self-heal, she hadn’t completed the third step of her Initiation Rite, which sexually transferred the ability. No way was she sucking the needed elements from the cock of the devil who had participated in her ceremony. The first two steps of the Initiation had proceeded typically, but as the third step had approached, and her sexual appetite had grow
n, the trio initiating her had turned to abusive, sexual behavior.
She’d always craved a darker, more carnal sexual experience, but they had pushed her too far. By the time she had realized what she’d gotten herself into, the power of the sexual stimulant chemicals had prevented her from defending herself.
Even so, while in her state of heightened sexual need, she’d refused to take Dare’s ugly, deformed cock into her mouth. And now the choice was coming back to haunt her. Ironically, the Warriors who’d initiated her, now Marid Assassins, were the same ones who had captured her and the Xylon team on the Earth mission, where she’d been injured. All of her troubles traced back to those three, who had betrayed The Lair in every way possible, before ending up banished for life. Damn them. At the memory, her entire body trembled, and she gripped her hands together to stop their shaking.
“Leila?” Braden prompted.
“I didn’t think it mattered that much,” she lied. When Braden had never confronted her about the issue, she’d figured he hadn’t watched the full video of her Initiation Rite, otherwise he’d have known. She’d respected him for allowing her that privacy. Most men wouldn’t have done so, if they’d known of the video’s existence and had access. Still, she wasn’t about to mention the fact, nor the permanent injury she’d received. No good would come from it, in her opinion.
“Leila…” He stared into her eyes for a long moment, not speaking. Then, “A few of our women still refuse to perform the third step. Punishment isn’t given for that. However, I can’t send you on missions involving anything more than research on Type F planets if you can’t heal yourself when injured.”
No! He couldn’t decommission her for everything but “friendly” mission assignments. She’d never earn a promotion to a Class 2 rank that way. “I’ll be careful, Braden. I’m the only one who can find what we need on this mission. You know that.”
Xylon Warriors II: His Carnal Need Page 3