A Forgotten Kitten (Sea-anan Saga Book 2)

by Kong, Jessica A

  She noticed that neither cat was planning to offer any assistance, which annoyed her. “Can I get a ladder, or should I stand here until I grow wings?”

  Both cats stood taller, apparently affronted by her words. Areo knew the reason was her alien blood. Had she been a pureblooded feline, her sarcasm would have been overlooked. She did not fit amongst these purebloods, but it was impossible for her to care. When she was a child, the Oceanan race had never shown any kindness toward her, her family, or her friends. The most Areo was willing to show these felines, in particular, was tolerance. The same they had shown her, the alien living amongst them.

  Angel brought her a ladder and held it for her. Areo felt his stare follow her as she climbed up and into the cockpit. His predatory growl floated up to her. Her face nearly exploded in embarrassment. No doubt he had gotten a better view than she would have liked of what lay beneath her skirt. Since she could not do anything about it, she pushed Angel out of her mind and placed the beacon settings on maximum power.

  Areo sat back in her seat, thinking of the recent kiss she had shared with Sev. Eight years of sleep had not made him rusty. Or perhaps he had sharpened his skills during the last three years. How many women had it taken for him to perfect his skills? How many of those women had he taken to his bed? Serena was obviously enamored with Sev. Areo had noticed her hopeful, sidelong glances from day one. She wondered if they were headed down that path and stopped because of her.

  The idea made her sick. Areo was rubbing her tummy, hoping to soothe it, when she sensed someone to her left. She winced when she saw who it was.

  Jugar stoically regarded her. “You don’t seem to learn your lessons, do you?”

  Areo lowered her head and listened to Jugar scold her. Through the glass, she did not see Miko or Angel anywhere. No doubt, Jugar had asked them to leave.

  “No matter how many times we tell you, no matter how many times we try to drill it into your thick scull, you still defy us! Why?” he hollered.

  Tears sprung into her eyes.

  “Why, blast it?”

  “Because I love him!”

  Jugar bared his teeth at her. “How can you still say that when you don’t even know the male he’s become?”

  “I don’t care,” Areo whimpered. “He’s still my soulmate. I will love him to the death.”

  “You don’t know that.” His eyes narrowed at her. “Unless…”

  Areo saw him scan her legs for a scar—the matrimonial mark of the feline race. “I don’t have one. We never got the chance to go that far, remember? I wish we had.”

  Jugar slapped her. “Get out of this ship!” He snatched a hold of her left arm and yanked her from her seat. Without releasing her, the two effortlessly jumped to the ground.

  “If you were from my loins, I would make certain you wouldn’t be able to sit for a week!” he yelled at her. “How dare you say that, knowing Challen and Carol Ann died because of their stupidity? You know exactly what happened to all of them for allowing their hearts to get the best of them! Everything that was taken from them! Everything they had to endure! All for the blast-it sake of love!”

  “Leave me alone!” Areo tried to pull her arm free. “I’m twenty years old! I don’t need you or anyone else telling me what I can or can’t do!”

  Jugar refused to let go. “Oh, but I think you do. You have no idea what sort of chaos, what sort of disaster your foolish behavior will get us into this time. Why in the blazes do you think I chose to travel to this planet instead of heading toward Aaren or Laaren? Were the deaths of Challen and Carol Ann not enough for you? Do you want to destroy us all? You will if you continue down this path. You will destroy all of us, including him.”

  Areo’s struggles stopped. “No.”

  “Oh yes, even him. He’s now the king.”

  “But he doesn’t remember.”

  “That’s why it’s best to leave it alone before you trigger his memories.”

  “What you’re asking me…” Her throat closed. She could go no further.

  “What I’m asking of you is the same thing we all asked of you when you started walking. Leave…Sev…alone! Stay away from him! He is not your soulmate, nor would you ever be deemed worthy of him!”

  What was left of Areo’s heart disintegrated into nothingness. Her greatest fear, losing Sev, was placed before her once more. She had tried to put the past behind her for the last eleven years, hoping that everything would be different after she found Sev. But now that she had, she still faced the same unpleasant truth.

  “Then nothing has changed.”

  Jugar lowered his voice and spoke more gently. “I’m afraid not. It will never change, Areo. I’m sincerely sorry.”

  Areo was heartbroken. She raced out of the docking bay, through the back exit, just as Sev entered through the main entrance.

  Sev was surprised Miko was not there. He had expected to find the cat tinkering away as usual. He instead found Jugar standing beside the spacecraft, looking grim. He scanned the room, searching for Areo. After having made a quick run to his quarters and the weapons chamber, he had followed her scent to the docking bay. But now she was nowhere in sight. A sinking feeling crept over him.

  “What are you doing here, Jugar? Where are the others?” He glanced up at the cockpit. “Where is Areo?”

  “I thought I made myself clear. You should be studying, not searching for that alien.”

  Sev stopped in front of Jugar. “Jugar, let’s get one thing perfectly clear between us,” he said. “I am the Lord of Oceanica, not you. I give the orders around here, not you. Whatever goes on in my personal life is just that—my personal life, which means”—he stepped closer—“stay out of my way.”

  “I understand that you are king; however, I am a Seacat. And whatever you do affects me and all of Oceanica. Which means”— Jugar held his angry glare—“that you are not as free or in complete control of everything as you may think.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “What I am saying is that we Seacats have a word in what goes on around here. You may be the king, and we may be your warriors, but make no mistake, Sev, we are not your puppets. We live by the code of our ancestors, by the laws of Oceana. So do you. Therefore, we must all follow what they state, especially, the king.”

  “Stop speaking in riddles. Say what’s on your mind.”

  Jugar backed away. “I said what I had to say for now. Go and reread our law books. The answers you seek are in there.

  Sev watched him exit through the main entrance. What is he talking about? What’s in the law books that he wants me to remember? He looked around him. And where is Areo? That’s the only answer I seek. His anxiety grew. Something was not right.

  He reached for the sword at his hip and summoned the jewel to disclose Areo’s location. The swirling columns of color cleared. He saw Areo running away from the castle, through the jungle. His concern skyrocketed. Areo knew nothing about the dangers that lurked in the jungle. She could be killed.

  Sev raced out the back doors. He sprinted through the trees, then leapt high into the branches, so Areo would not see him approaching. He was relieved to find her unharmed, but his worry remained. Areo was on the grassy floor, crying.

  Sev crouched low on a nearby branch, struggling with his breath. He kept a diligent watch over Areo, for he was not about to let anything happen to her. He longed to comfort her. However, something warned him to stay away.

  Jugar. He snarled. The cougar’s presence in the docking bay meant he’d had his talk with her. Her tears were a result of their conversation. I will repay you for each tear she sheds, Jugar.

  An hour had passed by the time Areo’s sobs subsided. She pushed herself into a sitting position and wiped her face. Sev wondered what she was thinking as she sat there shivering. She eventually stood and began walking away. Her movements were as fluid as a cat’s.

  Sev realized where she headed. He hurried past her, careful not to make a sound, to stay down wind, and
to remain hidden within the canopy of leaves. He stopped on another branch and waited for her to exit into the clearing a few feet below where he perched.

  She paused at the edge of the pool of water. The noon sun made the surface sparkle like sapphires. At the opposite end, a fine mist covered the base of the waterfall that fell from a sixty-foot mountainside. Katt Falls. It was his favorite location to relax under the sun. It was number one on Sev’s list of places to take Areo. That never happened.

  Sev spotted Areo’s hands reaching for the strings of her doeskin blouse. His breath caught and his eyes grew large. She parted the collar and slipped it over her head. His heart started to race. The leather top floated to the ground. Next, Areo removed the thin strap that held the small pouch around her waist and placed it on her blouse. She then released the strings on her waist and dropped the skirt beside her top. Sev gulped. When Areo bent over to remove her underwear, Sev almost fell out of the tree.

  Areo dove into the crystal-blue water and leisurely swam to the rocks beneath the falls. There, she carefully climbed to the top of the rocks so she could stand beneath the falling water. She turned and faced the line of trees. Sev thought he was dreaming. Never in his wildest fantasies did he imagine that Areo would be so breathtaking.

  His eagle eyes touched every delectable inch of her. He wanted her. He wanted his hands in place of hers. He wanted to massage those beautiful breasts, thrust in between those lovely thighs. Sev was unaware that his claws were fully extended and had raked into the bark between his thighs in response.

  Sev closed his eyes tight, dipping his head forward on a loud groan. His nails clawed deeper into the bark. He was mere minutes from completion. He was unsure if he could bear anymore of this bittersweet torture. Still, he continued to watch Areo bathe.

  He recalled what had happened between them in the control room. His right hand rubbed along his erection. His groans became louder. As in his dreams, Areo fit perfectly underneath him. She had responded to his touch. Unlike his dreams, Areo was small, tight, and extremely wet.

  Sev bolted to his feet. He tore opened his pants and faced the tree. He grasped his manhood and tugged. Within seconds, thick, white fluid spilled over his hand in steady flows. Sev leaned his forehead on the tree. Turning his head, he opened his eyes. He believed they glowed brighter now than when he’d had Areo in his arms.

  “Areo,” he whispered. He had chosen his mate.

  Sev wanted to go to her with every aching need in his impassioned body, but a horrible thought stopped him. Areo wanted to leave. His chest tightened painfully. His heart accelerated, this time out of fear of losing her. Sev shook his hand and cleaned it the best he could with the broad leaves around him. He placed his member back into his pants and carefully closed the zipper.

  He had to convince Areo to stay. He could not give his heart to someone who would take it and then disappear. Sev watched Areo dress. She made herself comfortable at the base of the tree he was hidden in. It was time to get some questions answered. Sev landed in front of Areo without making a sound.

  Areo gasped. “Jeezum, you scared me! What’s wrong with you? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”

  What was she doing? She knew Sev was not to blame for sneaking up on her. It was her own fault for not using her preternatural senses to scan the area for intruders. She was lucky it was Sev and not Jack the Ripper.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “No, I’m sorry. I should’ve been more aware of my environment.”

  Areo could not miss the hunger that shone behind those partly closed lids. His arousal stood proud and bold. It matched how she felt. Her cold bath had not diffused the bomb about to explode within her. It was on a timer, and each time Sev went near her, it clicked a second closer to zero.

  It dawned on her why Sev was hot and bothered. How long had he been there? she wondered. Areo moved a wet strand from her face. “What do you want?” she breathlessly asked him. The idea of him having watched her excited her, pushing her closer to detonation.

  Sev roguishly grinned. Those flaming orbs raked over her outstretched legs. They lingered at her junction, touched her tummy, then remained at her bosom.

  “You don’t want me to answer that,” was his fervid reply.

  His words were like a sharp knife to her heart. Areo turned her face away so he would not see their effect on her. It seemed she was too slow, for Sev swiftly knelt in front of her.

  “Are you all right?” he asked. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. Everything,” she downheartedly answered. “Sev… what happened between us in the control room was beautiful. But it can never happen again. It must never…happen…again.”

  “But why? Is it because of Jugar? Is it because of something he said? Is he the reason why you are turning away from me?”

  Areo wanted to end the conversation. Dwelling on the topic only hurt her more. “Yes and no.” She lowered her lashes and tried for an easier explanation. “Sev…we have to remember that I will soon be heading back to my own world.”

  Sev clenched his jaw.

  “We can’t get involved when I can’t stay with you.”

  “Why can’t you stay with me? I told you, the castle is your home for as long as you want it to be.” He edged closer to her.

  Areo read the pleading in his eyes. “But I’m not like you. Look at me.” She lifted her hands to her face. “I don’t have any cat features. I can’t change my appearance to make myself like you.” She was not about to lie to him, even though she could never tell him the whole truth.

  Sev shook his head. “I don’t desire cat features.” He leaned over to within a hairsbreadth of her lips. “I desire you.” He captured her mouth in a telling kiss.

  The floor dropped beneath Areo. The man knew exactly what it took to make her do his bidding. Sev had complete dominance over her traitorous body. His tongue stroked her into submission. Areo leaned into the warm moistness of his mouth. Inhaling his scent, she grew warm and languid and yearned for more of his devilish explorations.

  Unexpectedly, Challen’s and Carol Ann’s dear faces appeared in Areo’s mind, dousing her passions. “Stop.” She nudged him away. “I told you, I can’t.” She stood and moved away, stopping several feet away from him. “Someone will come for me. I will return to Aaren where I live.” Dejectedly, she added, “Where I belong.”

  “You belong here!”

  Sev’s outburst surprised her. From the look on his face, she saw he meant it. Areo decided to explain the reason why she could not remain with him. At least, the part that would be most beneficial to him.

  “Sev, come and have a seat beside me. We have to talk.”

  “I’d better not. I’ll stay here. You sit if you like.”

  “OK, then.” Areo sat back down. “I never did thank you for saving my life.” She met his gaze. “And you never did get around to asking those questions. Why?”

  Sev shrugged his shoulders. “They don’t matter anymore.”

  “I see. Nonetheless, here we go. I live on a planet called Aaren. Aaren is part of an alliance of peace-loving planets that trade with and protect each other. I’m one of the warriors sworn to keep this unified group together and safe from enemy attacks. Sea Base Five is a space station; it also houses the headquarters of the Aligned Worlds. There are nine space stations in total. A tenth one, only two days travel from here on warp speed ten, was built with permission from the Space Guardians, since this is their jurisdiction. Sea Base Ten’s grand-opening ceremony was to take place on my birthday. It was supposed to be a giant extravaganza, but what it turned out to be was a royal bloodbath. Apparently, someone by the name of Daehog wishes to rule this entire dimension of Guildhall.”

  Sev scowled.

  “Oh, yes, the entire dimension Guildhall. But it seems he felt my warriors and I and what we stand for was an obstacle. So, he sent his disciples, called the Dominion, to attack Sea Base Ten.”

  “That was where you were almost killed
.”

  Areo noted his fingers curled into fists. “Amongst other things.”

  “Other things?”

  “Sea Base Ten was capable of holding over a million lives—”

  “A million!” he interrupted.

  Her head bowed once. “We were all asleep. Only the night crew was on duty. Unbeknownst to us, amongst our night crew were some traitors.”

  His face darkened.

  “These traitors turned off our security alarms. By the time we realized we’d been breached, the alien invaders were in our bedrooms.”

  Sev’s eyes opened wide. “What happened?”

  Areo raised her knees, placed her elbows on them, and covered her face with her hands. “My worst nightmare.” She took a deep swallow. “Six aliens entered my room. They snatched me from my bed, ripped my nightclothes off, and—”

  “Did they touch you?” She did not answer fast enough. Sev grabbed her by her arms and yanked her up to him. “Did they rape you?”

  His actions startled her. “No, thank Onssa.”

  Sev searched her eyes for the truth.

  “My brother Bob entered my room and killed them.”

  Sev slouched in relief. He leaned his forehead against hers and massaged her arms. “Princess.” He kissed her.

  Areo’s eyes fluttered shut. Sev’s endearment transported her back in time to when things seemed less complicated. She allowed herself a few minutes to enjoy his insistent mouth.

  “Sev.”

  Sev sighed. “Yes, I know.” He stepped back a few paces and sat on his haunches. “Go on, please.” He sat there, watching her intently, struggling with his breath.

  Areo sat back down. “We were cut off from our weapons and ships. We had to fight our way through the alien blockade with our bare hands. I ran into a dear old friend of ours. He was the traitor who had organized the Dominion’s entry. Mikkoa confronted me in the corridors. Unfortunately,”—she pointed to Sev’s sword— “my forte is not the sword, but the staff, bow, and gun. Mikkoa, however, is an excellent swordsman.” Areo recalled the invasion for him.