“So the plug—”
“Can stay in as long as your mates see fit,” he replied.
Time to think about something else.
The boring color of my clothing was better than being naked, but the basic brown and black pattern left something to be desired. I liked to wear bright red and blue and purple. I liked a flash of color. “Does everyone wear clothes like this?”
Dare tilted his head as if confused by the question. “Of course. Why would they not?”
I shrugged, not wanting to offend him, or his people. “Even the women? And the kids?”
He crossed his arms over his massive chest and frowned at me. “Yes. Does your clothing make you unhappy, Hannah? The uniform is designed to protect your body from extremes in temperature as well as protect you from wounds during an attack. The material is impenetrable, just like the armor of my uniform. Is this not how women dress on your world?”
I tugged at the end of my black sleeve where it settled against my wrist and tried to smile. Black. Every day. Forever.
Ugh.
“No, but I will adapt.” My stomach chose that moment to grumble and I realized I was starving.
He stood staring at me as if I were an alien, which I realized more and more each moment, I was. At least to him.
“Come with me, mate. You need to eat, and I imagine you’d enjoy a tour of the ship? I have a few hours before I have to report for duty.”
I worried my lower lip with my teeth. “You have to go out on a mission?”
“Yes.”
“But why? I thought the ship was moving, heading back to the front lines.”
“We are, Hannah. But my team flies scouting missions to make sure the fleet doesn’t run into any surprises.”
“Is it dangerous?”
His grin turned wolfish and utterly predatory. “I’m dangerous. And not just to my enemies, I hope.” He leaned over and kissed the side of my neck, sending shivers racing over every inch of my skin. My collar heated and made my clit pulse.
No, not just to his enemies. Zane overwhelmed me, worried me, but Dare snuck under my defenses like a thief.
“I am hungry, and I would love to see the ship.” Time to explore my new world, and find that damn transporter room. The way I felt about Zane and Dare already, I knew I needed to get off this ship as quickly as possible, before it was too late, before I fell head-over-heels in love with them. Zane wasn’t happy with me. I’d felt that much. Leaving now was the best option. The question was, would I leave space with a training plug filling my ass?
Chapter Eight
Hannah
The dining hall was crowded when Dare and I entered. The space was small, designed to hold no more than a hundred people. About a dozen preschool aged children chased each other around the tables as their mothers sat, sipping steaming liquid from mugs. Scattered here and there at one of the long dining tables were small groups of warriors, most of them without collars. They smiled and allowed the young ones to climb on their laps and talk. Two mated males sat with their women—I could see now that they had matching colored collars—at one of the tables. One couple I noticed right away. My jaw dropped open and my heart raced with excitement. Dare tried to tug me toward a small, wall-mounted S-Gen unit, but I resisted his pull.
“She’s human.”
Dare looked over to where I was staring—I couldn’t help myself—and he nodded. “Yes. That is Lady Hendry. The warrior seated across from her is her primary mate, Captain Hendry. He must be here to meet with the commander before we reach the front.”
Dare tugged on my elbow again, and this time I followed him to the S-Gen unit in the wall. It was about the size of a microwave oven back home, and had the same black base and odd green gridlines as the one in Zane’s quarters. My stomach growled again. I was starving.
“Place your finger over the activator like this.” Dare pressed his thumb to a small indentation in the wall next to the machine. “And then just tell the ship what you want to eat.” He ordered something I’d never heard of before, removed his thumb, and waited patiently as the inside of the box turned a bright green. When the light faded, a steaming plate of food waited for him, complete with a double-pronged fork and a knife. He removed his plate and turned to me. “Your turn.”
“I don’t know what to ask for.” I truly didn’t. I had no idea what any of their food looked or tasted like. All I really wanted was some of my mom’s homemade lasagna and French bread.
He grinned. “The commander ordered a full menu from the processing centers on Earth when he found out you were coming. The ship is programmed with over two thousand menu items from your world. He wanted you to be happy here.” This last he spoke with quiet sincerity, as if I’d doubt that Zane did it just for me.
I glanced at the other human woman and her mate. She had two adorable children with her. The older child, a sweet-looking little girl, looked like she was about four. Her younger brother was barely toddling around. Dare was watching me as I tried to make sense of the situation.
“Lady Hendry eats Earth food as well. But before you came to us, the menu from your home world consisted of a hundred items, and only from her country. Brides all over the Prillon system are celebrating your arrival. Deston is the highest ranking military officer still on active duty. No one else, except the Prime or Prince Nial, could have ordered the programming required to create this menu for you.”
I tore my gaze from the happy couple and stared at the S-Gen. Here goes nothing. I placed my thumb on the activator switch. “Lasagna and French bread.”
A kind female voice answered me, the voice of the ship’s computer system, and I jumped in surprise. “Would you care for something to drink, Lady Deston? I sense that you are suffering from mild dehydration.”
I was really thirsty. “How does it know that?” I looked at Dare.
“Your collar monitors your body’s vital systems at all times. Once we claim you, the system will be able to help you maintain balance should you find yourself in need.”
Shaking my head, I ordered a glass of water with lemon and turned back to Dare. “What does that even mean?”
He carried my plate and I followed him, sipping on the ice-cold water. It tasted like heaven. “It means, that if you are dehydrated or sick, the additional implants you will receive after we are mated will be able to transport water or other nutrients directly into your body’s bloodstream, the same way it transports waste out of it.”
I sat down in a soft brown chair and Dare sat down across from me. “Why do you guys even eat?”
“Because we enjoy it.” He looked over my meal with curiosity before dipping his finger in the melted cheese and marinara sauce. He tasted it and took his time swirling the flavors around on his tongue. I watched him, curious as to what he would think of Earth food.
“Have you eaten food from Earth before?”
He nodded. “Yes, but only a couple of things. I have had your beer, and something called a hotdog.” He made a face and shook his head. “That was not my favorite. But this?” He lifted his strange fork and cut a piece of my lasagna for himself. “This is fantastic.”
I laughed at the look of astonishment on his face, like a little boy who’d just found a new toy. “Shall I go order one for you?”
He smiled, but before he could answer someone walked up to stand beside us. I glanced over to find the human woman with long blond hair staring at my plate as if she’d never seen lasagna before. Her voice was melodic and reminded me of my music teacher in high school.
“Oh, my God. Is that what I think it is?” Her mate stood behind her with a bemused expression on his face. Their young daughter was in his arms, her hands wrapped around his neck and a look of utter contentment on her face. I knew that feeling; I’d had it when Zane held me in almost the exact same position. The little boy was clinging to his mother’s leg.
“If you think it’s lasagna, then yes.”
Her eyes sparkled with delight and she clapped h
er hands in front of her face with excitement. “Yes! I’ve been stuck eating mac and cheese for five years! You must be Lady Deston.” She held out her hand and I shook it.
“I’m Hannah.”
“Anne.” Her gaze held mine and I knew, at least in part, what she was feeling. It was nice to see someone from home. I remembered Warden Egara’s words, that I had been the first volunteer from Earth. I had to assume that Anne had been a prisoner. I wondered what she had done to be convicted and sent off-planet. As soon as I considered that, I realized that her punishment was going off-planet. She didn’t have to dislike it. In fact, by looking at her with her mate and children, she was quite happy.
“Nice to meet you.”
“Up, mama.” The little one held up his pudgy little arms and I stared at the boy in wonder. He didn’t look as fierce as the warrior who was his father, but he was still not exactly human either. The little girl’s eyes matched the warrior who held her, and I assumed he was her father. But the little boy? He looked slightly different, with greenish eyes and a different tone to his skin. Was the boy a child of Anne’s second mate? Did she have a second mate? Didn’t all Prillon brides? But then, I had two mates, and I was only with Dare at the moment. Perhaps her other mate was off flying a spaceship or something.
I had no idea, and there was no way I was going to ask. Both of the children were adorable, and all of a sudden I could imagine myself with a couple of babies of my own, one with Zane’s amber eyes, and one with Dare’s gray ones.
“You have beautiful children.” I smiled at her as she leaned over to pick up her son. My compliment was an honest one.
“Thank you.” Our gazes locked, and I knew I had made a friend. “What did you do, on Earth I mean?”
No one had asked me that, and the normal conversation felt good. “I was a preschool teacher.”
“Wow. You must have the patience of a saint. I was a nurse.”
Blood. Guts. Mucus. Yuck. “Wow. I couldn’t do that. I see blood and I pass out.”
“To each their own.” We both chuckled, but her mate interrupted us.
“I’m sorry, my love, we must go. We must return to our ship. I have a meeting in an hour.” The giant male spoke for the first time and my entire body tensed. I knew that voice. Oh, my God, did I know that voice—asking if I accepted his claim—placing his giant hand around my neck and pulling my naked body back against his massive chest as another man, his second, feasted on my pussy—
The memories flooded me with heat and I had to look down at my plate, hoping my stupid body would just calm down and leave me alone. But no such luck, as he spoke directly to me this time with that deep voice. “Welcome to you, Lady Deston. May you find every happiness with us as a bride of Prillon.”
My answer was more a squeak than true words. “Thank you.”
Anne reached out to touch my arm and I felt like I had to look at her again, or risk being very, very rude. When I looked up into her blue eyes, I could see that she knew what I’d seen, what I’d experienced in the bride processing protocols. She knew. I could see it in her eyes as her mate’s large hand came to rest on the side of her hip. Her next words confirmed it. “The processing protocol?”
I couldn’t look her in the eye and lie. I just couldn’t. “Yes. I’m sorry.”
She threw her head back and laughed out loud, the sound one of utter delight. I froze, shocked at her reaction. I’d expected her to be angry or embarrassed. Instead she couldn’t keep the smile off her face. “You’re welcome, Lady Deston.” She placed a heavy emphasis on my new title. “You’re very, very welcome.”
I felt my eyes widen and she winked at me as her mate gently pulled her toward the door. She looked back over her shoulder. “We are going to be great friends, Hannah. I’ll see you again, soon.”
I waved as she left and turned to find Dare studying me, his nostrils flaring as if he could smell my arousal. Then I remembered that he could, in fact, feel it through our connection. A guilty blush crept up my neck and face, and I knew I was turning a bright pink. I’d liked… no, loved, what Captain Hendry and his second had done to Anne. I craved that kind of dominance.
“Explain, Hannah.”
I shook my head, refusing to tell the man my true feelings, and took my first bite of lasagna instead. The flavor of tomato and oregano, mozzarella cheese and thick noodles exploded on my tongue. It was the best lasagna I’d ever tasted. I made a small sound of pleasure and hurried to take another bite, my stomach suddenly an empty, aching cavern.
Dare watched me for a moment, then decided to let the matter drop, eating his own food quickly.
When we were both finished eating, a kind-faced Prillon woman walked to our table and took our plates with a shy smile. I thanked her, and she bowed to me. “My pleasure, Lady Deston. Welcome. May you find much joy among us.”
“Thank you.” I looked up to discover that everyone who was still in the dining hall, which was eight unmated warriors, six small children with their mothers, and one mated couple who appeared to be in their sixties were all watching us openly. I turned to Dare, suddenly uncomfortable to be the center of attention. “Why are they all looking at me?”
His chest was puffed up with pride, and his smile one a man gives when he is feeling generous and all too pleased with himself. “They are waiting to meet their new lady. The commander is second in line to the Prime on our home world.”
I had no idea what a Prime was, and my confusion must have shown on my face.
“The ruler of our planet. Our king.”
Holy shit. Deston was third in line for the throne of his whole freaking planet? I felt my chest get tight. Hot. It was hot in here.
I looked from the approaching couple to Dare, who appeared to be enjoying my moment of panic, because he continued. “Zane, my cousin, is also the most feared warrior on the front. He is the commander of the entire coalition fleet, not just this battleship and its battle group. You are Commander Deston’s bride, Hannah. And the second highest ranking member of our entire fleet.”
“What? What does that even mean?” I whispered the question in a hurry, as the elder warrior and his bride were already approaching the table. I didn’t know anything about war, or battleships, or their enemy. I knew how to wipe noses, sing ‘Wheels on the Bus,’ and paint the alphabet with watercolors.
Dare leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest, nodding almost imperceptibly to the male headed toward me. “The Prime rules our planet, but the commander rules all of the coalition military forces. He has more real power and influence than the Prime, because he oversees warriors from all member worlds. Zane rules this region of space. On Earth, Hannah, I believe you would be called a queen.”
For the next hour I was introduced to and greeted by everyone in the room. I couldn’t complain. They were friendly, warm, and seemed genuinely happy to meet me. I tried to smile and make small talk, but the truth was, with my stomach full and the day’s events wearing me down, I was getting tired. Dare watched me like a hawk, and the moment the last chubby little hand had held mine, he stood.
“Thank you all for your kindness to Lady Deston, but she is weary from her transport. I must take her back to our quarters now for some much-needed rest.”
They all nodded agreement and Dare wrapped his arm around my waist and led me from the room in almost the exact same way Captain Hendry had led Anne. He towered over me, but he didn’t remove his hand as we walked the hallway back to our quarters.
The walls shifted from a dark orange, to blue, then back to the familiar cream-colored brown that I knew meant we were close to our private quarters. As we approached, my thoughts turned to Zane. He was in charge of the entire outer space army, the same army that protected Earth and all the member worlds? He was the leader of all of it?
And more important, would he be in our quarters, waiting for me? What was I going to be dealing with when those doors opened and I stepped inside?
Dare must have felt the muscles
along my spine tense as we drew nearer.
“The commander will be on the command deck all night. We arrive at the front soon. I have a few hours before I must report for duty. He will return for you then. We will always care for you, Hannah. You will never be alone or unprotected, not while we live.”
“Yes, but you might die. Both of you. I can’t give myself to a man—to two men—who willingly put their lives in danger.”
“You are a bride of Prillon, Hannah. To be sent here means you are like us, you seek the harsh edges of life, Hannah. You enjoy a sharp bite of fear or pain, that hint of danger.”
I remembered the dream and the hand about my throat. It hadn’t been real, but I’d felt it. I’d liked it, being tied down, submitting to not one man but two, his power over me evident in the way he touched me.
“I see by the flush on your cheeks that you admit this is true.” When I was about to speak, he held up his hand, tucked a finger around his collar. “You can’t hide it. Perhaps Zane may choose to deny it as well, for fear of hurting you, but I can see it clearly. You were matched to Prillon because of our prowess, in bed and in battle. If we weren’t warriors, you wouldn’t want us. You must relent and trust in the match.”
“Yes, but…” I began, but bit my lip.
Dare cocked his head. “What?”
I tugged at my collar. “I sense… I sense he’s holding back.”
Dare’s eyebrows went up at that. “He’s commander. He has many secrets.”
The answer was vague, but probably true. Was I feeling a wall so that Zane didn’t share the horrors of his job? It was a worthy question, so I just nodded in reply. I would need time to consider and, perhaps, more time with Zane.
“Now then,” Dare said, coming up beside me, stroking his knuckles over my cheek. “Both of your mates need not be present to continue your training. No Zane tonight, just me.”
I hated myself a little bit as my entire body relaxed at the news. Zane was so big, so intense, and so damn hard to resist. The connection with him was even more powerful than with Dare. I didn’t want to deal with my fears where he was concerned, for that strong connection also meant strong fear that I would disappoint him. That idea is what tore me up inside.
Mated to the Warriors Page 9