Zabbie stopped to think. There had to have been a beam because she knew the Gorgano had never physically touched her. She knew she had been aboard the alien vessel. It was reasonable the Gorgano had transported her.
“The mother ship was in a battle sometime thereafter. I vaguely remember the shuttle I was taken to, or how I got there. The Gorgano, I think, had me for a while on the larger vessel where they stayed to gather more humans. My defiance on the shuttle infuriated the alien, that’s when it invaded my thoughts. The shuttle was worse because we were alone together.
“It learned how to antagonize me. Every day I relived every experience as though it was occurring at that moment. Sounds, smells, tastes. The thought of knowing I should make a different choice was out of my reach. The sounds of alien laughter filled my head and hurt my heart when a bad memory played out. The creature was cruel. Then we were attacked and crashed. When the alien died I was thrilled. Then the loneliness was brutal.”
Titus lifted a hand to run his fingers down her cheek. Zabbie didn’t feel the sting of tears. There was one day in the beginning after the crash when she realized the wall of flames was moving closer and she would eventually be incinerated. She had dried her tears, straightened her shoulders and lived. Every day she woke, she filled with victory. So what if she was alone, so what if she was starving. She went on a mission in search of food. It was that day she came across the frozen fruits. She didn’t know why she hadn’t seen them before.
A rumbling started in the distance and Zabbie grabbed Titus by the hand caressing her cheek. She dragged him outside onto a wooden balcony. Across the sky long flashes of brilliant light zipped. A meteor shower began. She tilted her face into the breeze that was building and began to shed her clothes with the first drops of warm rain. Her mind hurt from trying to remember and she wanted to feel, not think.
The wind picked up as the rain fell with greater intensity. Naked, Zabbie began writhing and wiggling to the sounds of the night storm. Hands high above her head she spun. Droplets of rain splashed onto Titus and she heard him growling. The fingertips of the storm dripped down her skin in a sensuous fashion. Her mound was teased into wetness. The slipperiness of her breasts was tantalizing. Zabbie danced around him before shimmying her ass against his erection. His hands came around her to hold her breasts.
“Doesn’t the wild weather make you feel wild? Make you feel alive?” Zabbie asked.
“When my kind Holiday we are outside, rain or shine. It’s always wild and primitive.”
Zabbie turned in his arms forcing him to release her breasts. She gazed up into his handsome face. She laced her fingers through his near their hips.
“Can your kind make love?” she asked.
“I’ve heard your human term. My kind breeds for procreation and the sex. We have no time to fall in love. I’m told it’s an interesting feeling. More aptly you should ask can I love.”
“Can you?”
“I’ve never loved a female except maybe my mother and she is gone from my world with my father. We have been together a short time and already I have a deep desire to protect you and my honor has nothing to do with what I feel. I want you to be safe. I will keep you safe.”
The rain dripped down his face, over his chiseled nose. When he spoke, his eyes heated and Zabbie went from dry to drenched to dry to drenched every few moments making her skin tingle. His fingers tightened their hold. Zabbie went up to her tip toes and kissed him. His blue lips were warm, full and alive. He remained out of battle mode, his hair was at rest but his cock was firm as he pressed against her.
Zabbie’s tongue invaded his mouth and he groaned. She released one of his hands to grip his neck to pull him closer. Titus stiffened. The grip on her fingers grew painful and she whimpered. The pressure relaxed immediately. She slid her hand from his neck to his chest, playing with his wet fur. He was silk, the fur as light as downy hair. When she stepped back to take a breath he released her hand and crushed her to his chest.
The pants he wore were saturated and he pushed her down his length. She gripped his pants at the waist to pull down as she went to her knees. The rain dripped down his freed cock teasingly, a feast for her eyes. She licked him from his balls to his cock tip. With one hand wrapped around his engorged member, she ran her cheek down his length. The rain made him slick and so warm her breath caught.
He growled when she took him into her mouth. His hand rested on the back of her head. Lightning exploded nearby and Zabbie sucked him hard. The sky was alive with vibrant explosions while her mouth made love to his cock. Hers wasn’t a frenzied sucking but a leisure dance with her lips and tongue. Her teeth skimmed over his flesh, but she knew she wasn’t hurting him.
She could remain where she was forever. Her hand hefted the weight of his balls, her fingers and thumb cupped and played. The warm breeze dried her back until she glanced up and realized it was Titus’s eyes keeping her dry. She released him and leaned back.
“I want the storm, and you,” she said.
Zabbie wanted the wild storm; she wanted the comfort of his arms. Titus went down on his ass to remove his boots then peeled off his pants. His breathing was ragged but he was unhurried. When he rose to his knees they gazed at one another. He was power, he was beautiful. Titus lifted a hand to cup her cheek. Her head tilted to rub against his skin.
“You are more beautiful than the storm,” Titus said.
Zabbie’s heart fluttered. The storm was beyond gorgeous. She knew he meant what he said. Every second of her life was precious, but none seemed as much until this moment. When he slipped his hand to the back of her neck and pulled her close, she melted against his chest. Their lips met in sweet swift kisses. Her breath escaping too fast, Zabbie pressed her face into the hollow of his throat.
“Live,” she whispered. “With me.”
Titus leaned her back against the wood, his body stretched over hers protecting her from the rain. She shook her head and pulled on his arms. Titus sighed and rolled to his back taking her with him. Zabbie swung a leg over his waist. Her head fell back when he entered her, inch by inch, undemanding. Rain sluiced down her shoulders and back, running in rivulets down her thighs and between her breasts. When she opened her eyes she gazed up at the tumultuous sky. Small white explosions lit the heavens. Lightning rippled in zigzag patterns. Thunder rumbled almost as loud as Titus’s growling.
She was bumped up and down in an unhurried fashion while Titus explored her breasts. His fingers rolled her buds in a sweet way. He was making love to her. One hand released a breast to cup her ass. His last thrust was heaven and Zabbie gasped. His restraint was enough to make her eyes squeeze closed. When he rolled them over, he tucked her protectively in his arms, she cuddled closer. The storm raged, but she was safe. Safe at last. Happy, her last memory of this once-loved home would be a cherished remembrance.
* * * *
The lone shadow beast stood about five feet at the withers; he was a young male, more than likely recently kicked out of the herd Zabbie mentioned. Titus and his men, eight in all, moved in silently. Zabbie had acquired another spear. She insisted the warriors were not to rip the animal to shreds, she needed the hide. When Zabbie moved, Titus moved, keeping her close. He had seen what these beasts turned into.
Zabbie wasn’t reckless, but she was too eager. Her actions were meticulous and unhurried but Titus was wary. When he woke that morning every piece of furniture in the tree house was upright and sitting as though arranged. Zabbie was still tucked in his embrace sleeping soundly. He knew she hadn’t moved during the night.
“If you can make it rear by shouting and swinging your arms I can shove the spear into its soft underbelly. It has a single bald patch where it’s vulnerable,” Zabbie whispered.
On Titus’s signal the warriors jumped from their hiding places and surrounded the beast. The beast roared. Its fur pulled back and down to its shoulders revealing a massive black bald head, skin flapping and sagging. Protruding square teeth gnashed as it snapp
ed at them. White eyes glowed amidst the ebony. Inky fur danced in the breeze as the creature tried evasive maneuvers.
Titus waved his arms, shouting at the beast. The beast reared and Titus almost froze in terror. Faster than a lightning bolt Zabbie was under the huge creature. She shoved her spear with all her might and impaled the beast in its one lone bald spot. Hooves kicked dangerously close to her head. Teeth snapped barely missing her arm. As the beast fell, Titus found his feet and lunged grabbing Zabbie away from its downward descent. The beast crumpled to the ground and lay still. The warriors moved in to skin it, but Zabbie held them off.
“Not yet. Watch,” Zabbie whispered. Her breath came in short shallow pants.
Titus knew his eyes widened in surprise, he heard the sharp intake of warrior breaths stunned into silence. Emerging from the beast came a dark shadow. The head at first shook as though dazed, followed by its shoulders and body. The shadow cocked its head to gaze down at itself. The beast stood on its own fallen back before gazing to the sky. The shadow lifted with the feet dangling at first. Higher it rose changing to a pale grey before a soft fluffy white shadow formed. Up it went and stopped. The shaggy head turned left, then right. A huge white cloud lay in the distance. The beast reared and began to race across the sky. The massive white cloud began to float away. Both beast and cloud were moving swiftly as they joined. The cloud disappeared.
“He’s been welcomed into a herd,” Zabbie said. Her tone was hushed, happy. “After being an outcast, he is home.”
Titus tightened his arms around her. His warriors were strangely quiet. The cloud was replaced with a clear blue sky. Zabbie struggled to free herself. She went to the beast and pointed.
“If you can slice it from here to here we can pull the hide off. We can gut it here. I’m starving. Maybe when we’re done you could roast some up, Titus?”
“Is that why you named them shadow beasts?” Titus asked still awed.
“Hmm, what? Oh that, yes it’s why we called them shadow beasts. The first time I saw it happen it was pretty insane but cool. I’m happy the herd allows them into the sky with them. I don’t know why it can’t be like that on the ground. But glad too. We couldn’t have hunted them if they stuck together.”
Titus walked to the beast. He was in battle mode. Using his razor sharp nails he slit the belly of the beast open. Entrails slipped out and he saw Zabbie grimace, nothing more. She told the men the human males liked to eat the heart and liver raw after a kill. His warriors were intrigued and each tried a taste including Titus. Warm blood oozed past his lips. He thought it was no wonder the males enjoyed the flavor. A delicacy he would have to remember. He could tell his warriors would be interested in returning to this planet to hunt again. He would have to mention the find to Citun, leader of the north Zargonniis. They would welcome the furs for their human females.
He and his men were efficient; the beast was soon skinned and sectioned. All partook of a hot meal. His men gorged with warrior appetites, the animal was not only tall but almost as wide. There would be plenty of meat left. The beast was succulent and juicy. All of his warriors praised Zabbie, all but Cy. He said not a word which meant he did have a grudging new respect for Zabbie. Titus hoped so; Cy was his best friend, Zabbie his mate. They would have to learn to tolerate each other’s company.
“How was your night?” Cy asked.
“Fine,” Titus answered shortly.
“I meant to thank you, Titus,” Zabbie said.
Titus gazed at her. “For what?” A tiny trail of juice slipped down her cheek and Titus was tempted to lick it off.
“For putting the furniture back while I slept, even the bowls and cups. I don’t know how you managed to guess where everything was supposed to go but you are pretty amazing. I had been thinking about doing that before I fell asleep. I can’t believe you fixed the broken spoon; I didn’t see a tiny crack or crease. Good as new. Remarkable.”
Titus almost choked on the meat in his mouth. Cy was gazing at him in an odd way. Clearing his throat Titus smiled at Zabbie and didn’t respond. He ignored Cy’s now hard glance. Titus knew there was something about his female, he wasn’t certain what, but she appeared oblivious. It wasn’t uncommon for a human female not to understand the depth of her abilities after meeting with the Gorgano. But to have no inkling of any kind had him at a loss.
“It won’t take me long to make clothes,” Zabbie said. “You can dry the hide, Titus, while your warriors stretch it. Then with certain cuts I can fashion a fast wrap. We shouldn’t be in the winter month for long. Either there are humans or there aren’t. While you dry the hide, I’m going to fish.”
Zabbie started to walk away. Titus raced to take her by the arm. “Where the hell do you think you’re going?”
“There’s a water wall not far from here. It’s not a season, it’s just another weird novelty on the planet,” Zabbie said.
Titus sent a fast look to his men. “Pack it up; we’re moving out.”
“I’ll be fine. Your ship is monitoring the air,” Zabbie protested.
“I’m not letting you out of my sight.” For my own peace of mind.
“Fine.” She tossed her hands in the air.
Zabbie set a brisk pace. The grass of the summer month was high in places and short in others. It was apparent where the shadow beasts roamed. Titus stopped wide-eyed when he spotted a wall of brilliant blue water. Zabbie hadn’t been joking. The wall stretched up to the sky and was fifty feet long. There was no rhyme or reason for it. Titus walked up to it; he began to stretch out his arm. Zabbie yanked him back.
“No Titus, you need to wait a moment.”
She tugged him further back. Titus blinked hard as he stared into the water wall. Two black soulless round eyes gazed at him. When the creature turned sideways it was twenty feet in length. The grey sleek water creature swished a long tail. Titus could see teeth sharper than his along the inside of its mouth.
“We’d call it a shark on my planet,” Zabbie said. “I’ve seen one snatch up a full grown female shadow beast when she came to close to the wall. Don’t let the wall fool you into a sense of safety, only the water is trapped. This creature is a living thing; like us, half of this shark can emerge and drag you in. What I need is a vine to attach a small chunk of meat on. I toss it into the water wall and it will attract fish. Unfortunately, with this damned thing swimming around it will chase everything away. If we keep moving down the wall, it will follow like a dog. So maybe some of the warriors can distract it without getting close. These creatures are predictable, get too close and bam.”
They both turned startled when a loud bellow sounded and was cut short. The warrior had been snatched off his feet when the shark plunged out of the water wall, 3D fashion, closed its massive teeth over him, and pulled back.
“Cy,” Titus bellowed.
Cy was thrashing in the water wall fighting for his life as the shark swung its head back and forth trying to snap the warriors back in half. Titus didn’t hesitate. He jumped in after Cy followed by three more warriors. It was anarchy.
Titus could see Zabbie screaming, her howls filtered by the water wall, a warrior was holding her back. Titus could only hear muffled howls from his warriors within the water and Cy. Titus grabbed the shark by its jaw top and bottom and pulled with all his might while Tane gripped its tail to keep it from taking Cy further away. Cy was loose and dragged back from the water wall exploding onto dry ground with another warrior where they backed up crab style—fast.
Fists pounded into the shark embedding fist prints into its hard body, razor claws dug ragged gashes down its torso shredding it. Nothing was allowed to touch Titus’s warriors. The shark broke Titus’s hold and lunged for him. Zabbie screamed loud enough for him to hear her.
“You can’t touch him, you ugly bastard,” she howled. “Die, damn you, die.”
The beast changed course last second and swam straight up. Faster and faster it raced leaving a trail of blood its body a silver bullet. High into
the air it went breaking from the water wall almost beyond their sight. Titus shoved through the wall diving for Zabbie as the shark came crashing down to earth where it hit the ground making them tremble. The ground moved beneath them and they rocked, trying to keep their footing. The shark bounced. Its insides blew up sending raw pieces over all of them.
“What the fuck?” a warrior said in amazement, pulling chunks from his flowing hair.
“Spontaneous combustion?” Tane asked, he shook bloody meat from a foot.
Cy was staring at Zabbie, an arm was wrapped around his middle, but when he pulled his hand away there was no blood and no damage. Titus was a little surprised, it appeared Cy was too. Zabbie threw herself into Titus’s arms. She was shaking, her breath was ragged. There was no doubt in Titus’s mind what or rather who was responsible for the death of the creature. Zabbie would kill to keep him safe. If one of his warriors were stupid enough to question his judgment, if he were to play fight and she stumbled on them by accident, his mate could kill. She had no clue. The sooner he got Zabbie to Finn the better. Perhaps his healer could help her understand the power she possessed. More important, he needed to help her get it under control.
Chapter 7
With a few adjustments and strategic cuts, Zabbie had a long hooded fur coat and wrap-around fur leggings and boots. She was ready for the frozen tundra. Beyond the wall standing a foot in front of her were freezing temperatures, snow and ice. She wore fur around her hands tied on at the wrists. With one step, a frozen blast of air assaulted her lungs and she gasped. A strong arm touched her and she relaxed.
The cold brought too many memories of loneliness and sadness to mind. She inhaled the fear associated with the frigid unknown. Off in the distance were massive mounds of ice. Zabbie set out for them. Light flakes of snow fell around them, the sky was grey. Past the wall of winter the summer seemed to beckon her return.
“Is your planet cold like this?” Zabbie asked Titus. The warriors didn’t seem to mind the change in temperature as they plodded along.
To Catch A Warrior [Unearthly World Book 5] Page 8