Abducted by the Dragon Lords: A Paranormal SciFi Reverse Harem Romance (Dragon Shifters of Kiyria Book 1)

by Lexa Lumos

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  He walked over to her and pulled her into his arms, letting out sigh. “I’m sorry, Anya. I had planned to stay until you were settled, but the counsel called. They’re speeding up the timescale of the next mission.”

  “The Krull,” Fen said.

  Taryk nodded and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “It’s not safe to wait any longer. We must ensure the safety of Earth.”

  He didn’t say it, but she knew part of his mission was to ensure the safety of the next bunch of women bound for Kiyria. “You’re still going to kidnap people? After all of this?”

  He grimaced. “We don’t have much of a choice. Your government won’t let us reveal ourselves or directly address your people.”

  She snorted. “Like they could stop you.”

  “I’m sorry, Anya, it’s not optimal, but it’s what we’ve got. I have to go.” He gave her a long, lingering kiss, hugged Fen and Erys, and then he was gone.

  She stared at the closed door, wrestling with conflicting feelings. She was angry he still planned to kidnap women, even though she understood why it was necessary, yet, she didn’t want him to go. She wanted him to stay here with her. She felt an unexpected ache in the vicinity of her heart and knew Taryk missed her, too.

  Chapter 17

  The day after Taryk left, Anya decided to explore the gardens around the house. She was surprised to find a riot of colorful blossoms spilling up and over the stone wall ringing the house. The rest of what she supposed could be considered a yard was paved in stones, like those around the pool, and shaded by potted trees or awnings.

  She found herself eyeballing the smooth patch of blue grass—about the size of a baseball diamond—stretching out behind the house. The same place the shuttle had landed.

  “Thinking about Taryk?” Erys asked as he came up behind her.

  “Actually, no. I was thinking about you.” She turned to face him, feeling a flutter of trepidation at what she was about to ask.

  “Me?” He smiled happily. “What about me?”

  “I was wondering if you’d shift into dragon form. I’d like to see it.”

  “Absolutely.” He hopped over the wall, then offered his hand to help her over. “I could even give you a ride, if you want.”

  Her body heated at the thought of flying with Erys. “That would be awesome.”

  “Stand back,” he cautioned.

  She did, and as she watched, the place where he stood shimmered, shifted, and then a golden dragon stood where he’d been. He threw back his head and let out a roar, as if happy to be free.

  She gasped in delight. He was magnificent, with beautiful, shimmering scales and wide, gold wings, almost iridescent in the sunslight. He slunk toward her like a cat, then slowly sank down onto his belly, letting out a huff of smoke from his nostrils.

  Climb on, my love.

  Giddy with excitement, she kicked off her shoes and padded across the grass to him. Using his massive clawed feet as a stepstool, she managed to hoist herself up behind the ruff of his neck, using it as a sort of saddle.

  Okay, she projected her thoughts to him. I’m ready.

  He cautiously clambered to his feet, then, with a mighty flap of his wings, he was airborne. For a moment, she felt the pressure of liftoff, then they were sailing through the air, the wind whipping against her face, stinging her eyes. She let out a whoop. This was the stuff of childhood dreams.

  As they soared over their property, she got a good look at the layout of the place. The house itself was shaped like a nautilus shell, the grounds circling out around it. First the ring of patio which contained the pool. Then a half-ring of wooded area on one side and the landing spot on the other. A full ring of fields, and then a full ring of deeper forest. She couldn’t wait to explore it all.

  Like it? Erys asked.

  Love it.

  The rush of chill air over her body. His heat between her legs. She felt more alive than she ever had before. It made her think of him in his human form between her legs. Her pussy throbbed, her nipples ached. The surge of arousal was so strong and sudden, she wanted nothing more than to get him home and naked.

  Before she could order him to turn around, he headed for a small clearing in the woods, bordered by a stream. He set down, light as a feather.

  Get off. Quickly.

  She scrambled off his back, confused, until he shifted back into humanoid shape. He golden gaze on her was hot. He didn’t even need to tell her to undress. As he stalked toward her, she began to do just that.

  He took her there beneath the sky and the suns. She’d no doubt her screams of ecstasy could be heard all the way back at the house.

  ALTHOUGH ANYA HAD BEEN on the planet Kiyria for nearly a month, she felt herself at odds. She couldn't get comfortable in this new life. During the day, she studied Kiyrian history and law either at home or the great library in the city, but she'd taken to sneaking out of the house and exploring the wilds on the edge of their property. It drove Erys and Fen crazy, as they freaked out every time she went missing, but she didn’t care. She needed the alone time.

  The two men had been fantastic. The sex was great, they met her every need, but she couldn't get used to a life where women held the power. Where they were revered and respected without reservation, without excuse.

  And she missed Taryk. She’d only heard from him briefly since he’d left on his second mission to Earth, something she was divided about. The Kiyrians needed women, and they provided a wonderful life. Better than on Earth, if she was honest, but the method the Kiyrians employed? It grated.

  She paused in her walk to suck in a deep breath. Even the birdsong around her was strange and almost disturbing. The constellations above her head at night were unfamiliar. The air smelled odd, not exactly wrong but not right either. She felt out of place and missed her life on Earth.

  Erys had suggested she start some sort of support group for the human women on Kiyria. It was, after all, what she had trained for. She had experience, not to mention it was how this whole thing started. She could help them adjust. But what about her? Who was going to help her adjust?

  She wasn't sure she trusted these dragon shifters. How did she know they wouldn't wake up one day and want to eat her? She almost laughed aloud at the thought. The only eating her triad seemed interested in was between her thighs.

  An image of Fen doing just that the night before rose in her mind. Her pussy throbbed, wanting more even now.

  She moaned. The whole thing was like something out of some bizarre fairytale.

  Following the narrow track through the woods with their lacy palm-like trees, she admired the colorful, fragrant blossoms that peppered the way. It wasn't so bad, this planet. Maybe she could get used to it. They’d even imported coffee from Earth, and, the women she’d met in the cell on the Krull ship had opened the first ever coffee shop on Kiyria. Erys had taken her one day. It was just like walking into a cute little indie shop back home, and the drinks had been exceptional.

  “I blend Kiyrian chocoa with the coffee beans,” Eden had whispered to her. “Gives a richer, smoother flavor.”

  She’d also confided that she had no less than three triads vying for her favor. She hadn’t decided on any of them yet, although she clearly enjoyed the attention. Eden was happy in her new life and uninterested in returning to Earth.

  If Anya was honest with herself, she'd have to admit she'd been happier and more content with her men here on Kiyria than she ever had been in her life before. They were always encouraging her to express herself, to be honest. They wanted to know her thoughts and emotions. That was more than she could say for any human man she'd ever met.

  And the sex? The orgasms were mind-blowing, but it was the closeness, the mental bond between the four of them that was the stuff of legends. Even with Taryk gone, she still felt him there, something that gave her a surprising amount of comfort.

  She'd been worried this bond would mean they could read her thoughts
, but Erys had assured her that wasn't how it worked. They could only hear what she projected to them. They could, however, feel her emotions. They knew when she was angry, troubled, happy. She supposed in some strange way that made life easier, to really feel what your partner, or partners in this case, were feeling without them saying anything. Wasn't that what all the romance novels were about?

  Up ahead was a small clearing. It had become one of her favorite places to go. A creek ran through it, edged in smooth white stones that glowed under the twin suns, just like the walls of their home. She liked to sit on one of the flat rocks and stare into the water until it hypnotized her. She felt such peace in this place. She could let her mind wander or go blank and just feel at one with the nature of the planet.

  But today, as she approached the clearing, something was wrong. She heard clinking. Something metallic.

  It made her uneasy enough to step off the path into the greenery surrounding the clearing. Easing between two bushes so she remained hidden but had a clear view, she squinted against the glare of the suns. Sure enough, something was there that didn't belong. It looked like some kind of craft, matte black and egg-shaped. It squatted on tripod legs, an open hatch in the front, a ramp extending from it. At the base of the ramp, a creature crouched, fiddling with some sort of device.

  She knew that creature. Not that specific creature, but she knew what it was. It made a bone-chilling chittering sound.

  Krull!

  What were Kiyrians’ enemies doing on their planet? Taryk had assured her Kiyria was well protected against a Krull attack. This was a single Krull, and the ship was very small. Had one been able to slip past the defense system? She remembered the stories of how the Krull had destroyed the women of Kiyria three decades ago. Had they come back to finish the job by killing the rest of the Kiyrians?

  Or had they come to kill the humans?

  Cold settled in the pit of her stomach. She needed to let someone know and quickly, before the Krull put its plan, whatever that may be, into action.

  She stepped back, determined to run for help, and something snapped under her feet. She froze.

  The Krull swiveled its antenna in her direction. Maybe if she stayed still....

  It let out one of those chittering squawks and literally flew across the clearing toward her.

  Panicked, she spun and sprinted through the woods, ignoring the slap and sting of branches against her bare face and arms. She'd taken but half a dozen steps before the clawed feet of the Krull dug into her shoulders. The pain was immense. Hot blood dripped down her back as it rended her tender flesh.

  She let out a mental scream for help. She had no time to worry whether or not Fen or Erys heard her. Something hit her in the back of the head. Pain exploded, and everything went dark.

  TARYK STIFFENED IN the middle of washing up. He strained to listen, but the cry for help didn’t come again.

  He left the washroom and went into the main chamber of his pod, yanking on his pants. “Computer, where did that distress call come from?”

  “There was no distress call.”

  Shit. Anya.

  He slid easily into the psychic realm and tried to reach her, but where she’d been was a black hole. He forced down panic and sent a call to his brothers. Anya’s in trouble.

  We know. It was Fen’s voice. We heard her. The Krull took her.

  What the actual fuck? How?

  We’re not sure. Erys this time. A small war pod made planetfall, and she stumbled on it. Whoever was flying the thing took her.

  They left a bio device, Fen continued, but it wasn’t activated. She must have interrupted before it completed the sequence. Our people were able to safely disarm it. It was meant for the humans.

  So the Krull had already discovered how to target humans with their bioweapons. That did not bode well. Still, Anya came first.

  Is the counsel shoring up defenses?

  Yes, Fen replied. This won’t happen again. They are concerned the Krull will deploy one on Earth. I’m more concerned about our mate.

  I’m on it.

  Even before he’d finished sending the mental message, he was charging out of his chamber, forgetting he was naked from the waist up. Crewmen darted out of the way as he flew past. A dragon lord in battle mode was nothing to toy with. He charged onto the bridge.

  The captain spun to face him. “Taryk?”

  “How far are we from Earth?”

  Vane frowned. “Three days. Why?”

  “The Krull. They’ve already developed a bioweapon capable of wiping out humanity. They attempted to deploy it on Kiyria but failed thanks to my mate and brothers.”

  The captain’s expression was grim. “We better get to Earth fast then.”

  “The sooner the better. The counsel is sending more ships until safeguards are in place. I need a jump ship.”

  The captain lifted a brow but didn’t ask why. “Whichever one you want. Talk to the chief. He’ll get you the fastest.”

  Taryk saluted and spun on his heel, charging through the corridors at breakneck speed.

  The docking bay was a hum of activity, the chief’s massive frame and shaved head easy to spot in the middle of the action. Taryk told him what he needed.

  The chief pointed to a small, dark gray scout ship. It was ridiculously simple and barely big enough for two. “Fastest one we got, with the best scanners. Won’t hold up to much in the way of weapons fire, though.”

  “No problem. I’m chasing a Krull war pod. They don’t have weapons.”

  The chief grunted. “That’s because they are a weapon. Well, the gray lady will do you. Just bring her back in one piece.”

  Taryk made no promises as he boarded the small ship. Within minutes he was out the bay doors and angling away from the ship. He set the scanners to auto and contacted Fen again.

  Any idea of her whereabouts?

  There was a blip when the war pod left the atmosphere, so I’ve got a general direction. Fen quickly relayed the coordinates, which Taryk fed into the ship’s computer.

  Taryk arrowed the ship toward those coordinates. If he was lucky, he would intercept the war pod before it linked up with its mother ship. He never considered he might be unlucky.

  “Ten seconds to jump.”

  Taryk tested his restraints, then leaned back and took a deep breath.

  The stars streaked to black.

  Chapter 18

  Anya woke, her head throbbing. What she wouldn’t give for a Kiyrian rejuvenation chamber right about now.

  She touched the back of her head, and her fingers came away sticky. Great, the bug had made her bleed. She glared at what she assumed was the back of the thing’s head.

  The Krull sat in a chair, facing a bank of computers and a viewscreen that took up most of the ship’s interior. She was crumpled in the space behind the seat, smooshed up against the bulkhead. Not exactly comfortable.

  A red light flashed on the bug’s monitor, and an ear-piercing alarm made her cringe. The bug chittered wildly, but she had no idea what it was saying. Either he’d disabled her translator, or the alarm had shorted it out.

  The viewscreen zoomed in on an approaching ship. It was tiny, sleek, and almost invisible to the naked eye against the vastness of space.

  Anya.

  Taryk? She struggled not to show her relief. She didn’t want the bug to notice, although if it saw her as she saw it, it probably couldn’t read her expression anyway.

  I’m coming.

  I can see you. This bug thing brought some kind of mechanism to Kiyria.

  Fen and Erys found it. It’s been neutralized.

  She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. She stopped projecting her thoughts so he could focus on the battle. Except there didn’t seem to be a battle. The bug hit a few buttons, and the egg-shaped ship rotated before going off in the opposite direction.

  Damnation!

  She had to do something. Stop the ship somehow. But first, she had to disable the bug
.

  She glanced around for something, anything, she could use as a weapon. Unfortunately, there wasn’t anything. The walls and floor were smooth. The only protrusions were the console and chair. Now what?

  The restraints on the chair hung loose. Apparently the Krull hadn’t planned on warping anywhere, so it hadn’t bothered to strap in. Its mistake was her gain.

  Shifting slightly, she paused to make sure the bug didn’t notice. It didn’t. Apparently, the flashing lights and whirring siren were enough to keep it distracted.

  A streak of red crossed the bow, rocking the ship. Taryk was firing on them?

  What the fuck, Taryk?

  Sorry, love, just trying to distract it. That was just a probe. This baby is fast, but it’s got jack in the way of weapons.

  She grunted. I’ve got a plan. Then she shut off her thoughts so he couldn’t bitch at her about putting herself in danger.

  She reached forward cautiously around the chair and grabbed the restraints, braced herself, then in one fluid motion, leapt to her feet and wrapped them around the bug’s neck, using her full body weight to pull them tight. The Krull let out a ghastly noise and flailed wildly, its claws hitting random buttons.

  Lights flashed and strobed. The ship rocked like a drunken sailor. With grim determination, she hung on for dear life, the restraints biting into the creature’s shell. She pulled harder, arms straining until her muscles ached and trembled. Something popped, gave, and then the Krull’s entire head rolled off and onto the floor with a disgusting plop. Yellow goo sprayed the board and viewscreen. The stench was—

  Anya leaned over and retched, unable to handle the reek. She’d smelled some stinky things back on Earth, but this was a hundred thousand times worse.

  Anya?

  I’m fine. Just get me off this damn ship.

  I will, but I’m not sure how to get you away from the Krull.

  The Krull is dead.

  There was a beat of silence. All right, you need to stop the ship.

  How? It was still traveling through space, albeit not particularly quickly, the rocking movement enhancing her queasiness.