Her Alien Protector

by Siren Allen

  Raynor followed Joston down the hall. He turned the corner to find Joston and Lola having a standoff. Lola had managed to lock herself in one of the cells.

  “Having problems with your mate?” Raynor joked.

  “Shut up,” Joston called over his shoulder.

  “I didn’t say anything,” Lola yelled.

  “I wasn’t talking to you, pretty eyes.”

  “Is that your nick name for her?” Raynor hadn’t given Lark a nickname. Did females like that sort of thing? He called her sweet Lark, was that considered a nick name?

  “I said shut up,” Joston called again causing Lola to jump. “Not talking to you,” he growled at her. “Come out of this cell.”

  “Are you talking to me now?” Lola asked.

  “Yes, now it is you I talk to. Come out of the cell.”

  Lola shook her head. “You said you were going to hurt me.”

  “You’re going to hurt your mate?” Raynor asked. He would never let that happen.

  “Of course not, not the way you’re thinking,” Joston said. “I just have to punish her.”

  “Punish her?” Raynor stepped forward. “My friend, you cannot punish your mate.” Raynor knew how Joston punished people. He wasn’t called Joston, The Ripper, for nothing.

  “I will not rip her. I will just spank her, a little.”

  “You’re crazy,” Lola called out. “Is there like two of you in there or something? Who are you talking to and who are you going to spank?”

  “You.”

  Lola swallowed. “You’re going to spank me? I’m not a child.”

  “If you behave like one you’ll get treated like one.”

  “So what should I do to you? You’re behaving like a beast.”

  “Then treat me like a beast.”

  Lola blushed. “How do people treat beasts?”

  “You tame them.”

  Raynor had heard enough. “You seem to have this under control. Heads up, something sinister is going on here. Their crafts are down, the people can’t evacuate if needed and there are no guards at the front station.”

  Joston stared over his shoulder. “They’re under attack?”

  “I believe so,” Raynor told him.

  “Who’s under attack?” Lola asked. “Are you talking to someone invisible? Is it Farah? What’s going on?”

  “Did you forget rule number four?”

  “Maybe.” Lola bit her bottom lip.

  “No talking so much.”

  “Oh shut up and go away. I’ve got things to do, you beast.”

  Raynor grinned. “I have to go.”

  “I will get my mate to safety and then I will come find you and we will figure this out.”

  “Your mate,” Lola cried. “Please tell me you’re not talking about me. Please say it. Oh my stars, I cannot be a vampire’s mate.”

  “Join the club my friend.” And on that note, Raynor left. He had his own mate to tend to. It was a relief to know that her sister was safe. At least that tidbit of information would please Lark.

  Of course, realizing that he was never truly a prisoner and could’ve escaped any time he liked was going to upset her. She would learn to take the good with the bad. And right now, his kind of bad was the only good thing this pitiful planet had going for it.

  “They put Kane on D block,” Joston called to him.

  “Seriously, who are you talking to?” Lola asked.

  “Thanks, brother. Take care of her.”

  “With my last breath,” was Joston’s response.

  Raynor grinned as he walked down the corridor. A few moonrises ago, back on Qoaran, both Joston and Raynor were warring for their ruler, helping other worlds win battles, hired soldiers.

  Now, they were both fighting a different type of battle. It was fierce, but more rewarding. The victor was still yet to be determined. Winning the heart of his mate wasn’t going to be as easy as he’d thought.

  However, it would make the victory sweeter. He passed the guards’ station again. Still no one was at their post. Moments after he left the block, a loud horn blared and a voice came through the intercom.

  ‘Code red, lock down. Code red. Lock down.”

  A loud grinding noise filled the air. Raynor whirled around. Behind him, the prison doors were closing, shutting off each block. No one would be able to enter and no one would be able to leave.

  Raynor rushed to the door of B block. He was too late. The huge yellow door had already shut, sealing his friend inside.

  “Joston,” Raynor called.

  “I’m good, my friend.”

  “And your mate?”

  “You worry about what is mine too much, my friend. If I didn’t know you better I would be inclined to kill you.”

  Raynor grinned. His friend was joking, sort of. But it was a sign that he was alright. “I’m going to go find my mate.”

  “Go, I will keep mine safe. These doors won’t hold me.”

  Raynor knew they wouldn’t. Raynor turned to leave, but stopped when Joston called out to him.

  “Raynor?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Check on Kane. You know the bastard hates closed spaces. Don’t let him kill any of my mate’s people.”

  “Will do?”

  Guards rushed pass him as he raced down the corridor, heading to D block. At the officers’ station, two guards were seated behind the desk. One was talking into a monitor telling the prisoners locked behind the yellow door that everything was fine.

  A lie. All was not fine. And Raynor was going to find out what the hell was going on. Unseen by the frantic beings, Raynor strode over to the yellow door and called out, knowing only his brethren would hear him.

  “Kane?”

  “What?”

  Raynor whirled around to find Kane standing behind him. He hated when his friend did that. Kane stood there looking gloomy, he always looked gloomy.

  “When did you get out?”

  “Five seconds before the doors sealed. Have you seen the witch who locked me in there? She’s pale like you and has green hair.”

  “I’ve seen no witches.”

  Kane nodded then turned to leave.

  “Where are you going?”

  “I’ve a witch to hunt.”

  “Be careful. This place is under attack.”

  Kane glanced over his shoulder at Raynor. “By who?”

  “That’s what I plan to find out.”

  “I will find my mate and then I will find you.”

  Raynor didn’t have to ask how Kane would find him. Kane was an assassin. He always found his target, always.

  “Be safe,” Raynor told his friend then watched as the dark skinned vampire with the scar over the right side of his face disappeared. A neat trick Raynor wished he possessed, especially at a time like this.

  His friend wasn’t simply cloaked as Raynor was. He was gone, searching for the witch who was possibly his mate. It was now time for him to find Lark. Knowing her, she was in the middle of the fray ready to battle. He would battle for her. She no longer had to fight.

  Passing by the guards’ station, he heard one of them yell into the Stat-Phone, “Security to A block. Lark needs help. Security to A block. Lark needs help.”

  A block? Where he’d been locked away. Raynor growled. Running, he headed in his mate’s direction. If anyone touched her... His thought went unfinished, his mind went blank. All he saw was red. His claws elongated, sharpening. His fangs burst free of his gums, digging into his lower lip.

  The Destroyer was ready to kill for his mate.

  Chapter Thirteen

  They were in real danger.

  Lark screamed into her Stat-Phone. “Code Red, Code Red. I need assistance on A block, STAT.” She waited for a reply. None came. Lark repeated her call. Still no reply. What the hell?

  A crackle came through. It was too garbled for her to understand, but it kind of sounded like they said help was on the way. Stars, she hoped they’d said help was on the way. Would
help arrive in time?

  Lark backed away, weapon raised. Yet, she knew she didn’t have enough ammunition to kill them all. The thought of killing them made her sick to the stomach. When had they turned on her? When had they started plotting against her?

  “Aron, why?” She’d wanted to say more. The back of her throat tickled as she fought back her tears. She didn’t want her voice to shake. No fear. She had to appear brave, even if she died here today. They wouldn’t get the luxury of seeing her afraid.

  Never again will I show a male my weaknesses.

  “Why?” Her guard sneered, mimicking her. “Why? How can you ask a question like that?”

  Lark took another step back as Aron and the five guards behind him stepped forward. Her people, the beings she fought for, lived for, had been willing to die for, had turned on her. She didn’t know betrayal could hurt so badly.

  “Aron, you don’t have to do this.”

  “You’re right,” he shrugged. “I don’t have to do this. I want to do it.”

  “Why?”

  “Do you not know any other word than that? Look…” He stopped walking and the others behind him ceased moving forward also. Aron folded his arms over his chest. “Since you’re going to die today, I’ll tell you why I’m doing this. It’s not like you’re going to tell anyone.” His followers chuckled. Their laughter made him smirk and puff his chest out. Cocky bastard.

  “I’m doing this because you’re a bitch and this planet shouldn’t be led by bitches.” His face contorted with rage as he spouted those vile words. “Your father was a good male, but the weak bastard couldn’t produce any sons. Instead we got you and your two sisters. We have to obey you three, three females.” Aron spit on the ground. “I’d rather die.”

  Lark could help him with that last wish. She might not survive the five behind him, but she would kill him. If only she could reach Lola, to get her sister to safety first. Tears burned her eyes, she blinked them back.

  No fear. Never show fear.

  Lark cleared her throat. “All this time,” she said, stalling. “All this time, you’ve all pretended to follow me? You pretended to be loyal to my sister, to Venus.”

  “We are loyal to Venus, just not your sister.”

  “My sister is Venus.”

  “Your sister is a whore that should be having my babies, while I run this planet,” Aron yelled. Lark flinched at the anger she heard in his voice. “Your sister was supposed to marry me. The stupid whore was supposed to bow down to me. Your ignorant father denied my hand. And why? Because I’m a guard and she was his princess? Who gives a fuck? I could’ve brought this planet to greatness.”

  This was the first time Lark had heard of this. “Aron, Luna is not your mate. She couldn’t marry you.”

  “Who the hell cares about mates? I don’t. I want to rule. And since I can’t rule by her side, I’ll rule in her place.” A cocky grin spread across his face. “You know your precious sister is dead, right?”

  There was no holding in the gasp that escaped her. Aron smiled at her slip. Fear took hold of her. Lark trembled. Her sister, her big sister, dead? No. It couldn’t be. She would know. She would feel it, wouldn’t she? They were sisters, bonded for life. Lark couldn’t live without her sisters.

  Aron laughed. “I see that got your attention. Yes, Luna is dead. Her pilot and guard were part of my squad. They were ordered to kill her, the same way they killed your parents.”

  Tears filled her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. Her parents’ death had been an accident, a terrible accident. She’d had it investigated and everything. Wait, she’d had Aron and his team investigate it. Shit.

  “You had my parents killed?”

  “I did. I’ve been planning this for a long time. Everything was on schedule, until Cochran fucked up. If his dumb ass hadn’t pissed off that vamp, he would be killing you right now, while I fucked your sweet little sister, Lola.” Aron shrugged again. “No worries, I’ll fuck you instead and leave Lola to my loyal males.”

  Poor Lola. She was so trusting. She wouldn’t know not to believe whatever lies the guards told her. They were there to protect her. She would follow them wherever they told her to go.

  “Please…” Lark hated begging. Yet, what else could she do. “Not Lola. Aron you know her. You know she would never hurt anyone.” Lark didn’t miss the way the guards behind Aron glanced at each other. They cared for Lola, they had to. No one who met her could avoid caring for her.

  “Please, Aron, let Lola go.”

  The look of caring that the guards behind him displayed didn’t register in Aron’s gaze. He was beyond caring. There would be no reasoning with him.

  “Sweet Lola,” Aron murmured then licked his lips as he took a step forward. “She wears that oversize lab coat to conceal her body from us. But I’ve seen her naked.”

  Lark’s eyes widened. “You’ve what?”

  “Camera’s in her room,” Aron explained. “We’ve all seen her naked.” The guards behind him stared everywhere, anywhere but directly at her. Ashamed, they should be. Too bad Aron didn’t feel the same way.

  “We’ve even seen you naked, you and your slutty succubus, Ana.”

  Heat flooded her cheeks as he continued spouting his dirty words.

  “You wouldn’t give any of us a chance, yet you’d let that whore lick your pussy. What’s up with that? Is it some kind of bitch code? Are you bitches trying to stick together or something? No cocks allowed, is that it?” He took another step forward. “Where is your bitch now?”

  Lark had no idea where Ana was. Her hope was that her friend was somewhere safe. Was there anywhere safe now that the planet was being betrayed?

  Aron stared down at his wrist and frowned. “Enough talking. We’re getting behind schedule.”

  Behind schedule? What schedule? Who’s schedule?

  “Liam and Fief, grab her and pin her against the wall.”

  Lark’s heart was damn near beating out of her chest. “Please don’t.” She shook her head at her guards. They approached her anyway. “Liam, Fief….” With her back pressed against the wall she begged, “Please, don’t do this.”

  She knew she would only get one shot off and that shot was meant for Aron. But if Liam or Fief touched her she would have to shoot. She’d known them since she was a child. They were good males. They’d just fallen in with the wrong crowd. “It’s not too late…”

  “Shut the fuck up,” Fief yelled, the anger in his voice shocked her silent. “You talk too much. You never cease with your orders. I’m a male, a first born. I shouldn’t have to take orders from you.”

  “So you hate me because I’m a female?” How hadn’t she seen the hatred before today?

  “I don’t hate you. I feel nothing for you. Your death means nothing to me. I’m in it for the rewards.”

  “I can reward you. I can double whatever Aron is paying you. You don’t have to kill me.” And I really don’t want to kill you. But I will if you make me.

  “It’s too late,” he told her. “You’re dead. You just don’t know it yet.”

  He reached for her. Lark pulled the trigger. Fief dropped to the floor, eyes wide. Blood spilled from his chest wound and from the corners of his mouth. One down and five to go. Her guards stood frozen in place giving her time to aim at Aron.

  She pulled the trigger. Liam knocked her hand to the side. The bullet hit the wall. Liam grabbed her by the throat and banged her head into the concrete.

  “You killed my brother.” He slammed her head into the wall again. Her vision blurred, still she struggled against his hold. Clawing at the hand at her neck, she gasped, struggling to breathe.

  She wasn’t strong enough. Never strong enough. He tightened his hand around her neck. Her eyes drifted shut. Something warm trickled down the back of her neck. She didn’t have to see it, to know it was blood.

  Fighting to stay conscious, she felt more hands on her, pulling at her clothes. Opening her mouth, she tried to yell for help but was sile
nced when a tongue slipped between her lips, violating her. This was really happening. Her guards were really about to force themselves onto her.

  All of them.

  She wouldn’t survive. And if she did, her mind would never be right again. Having witnessed firsthand what a crime like this could do to someone, Lark knew her chances of making it out of here unscathed were slim to none.

  Caroline had been stronger than her, smarter than her and she hadn’t been able to survive what was done to her. More tears fell down Lark’s cheeks. Still, she fought harder. A punch to her gut left her nauseous.

  There was no time to cry from the pain of that hit, because another one quickly followed, harder, directed at her eye. She could feel her eye swelling, bruising. Fists pounded her body and she was helpless to stop them.

  She couldn’t even shield herself from the onslaught. Lifting her arms was impossible, turning her head was impossible. There was nothing she could do to defend herself. She never should’ve trusted them, never should’ve trusted anyone.

  “I think she’s docile enough now,” Aron’s voice filled the air and the beating stopped.

  Her shoes were removed and then her body was slammed to the floor, face down. Air gushed from her lungs. She coughed and tried to breathe but found it hard to do because she was being pressed against the floor.

  She squirmed, trying to get away as her pants were slid down her legs, under garments ripped from her. Their nails dug into her flesh as they pulled on her. Her knees scraped against the floor, as she was pulled to her knees, positioned the way they wanted her.

  “I want to fuck her mouth.”

  “I’ll fuck her pussy.”

  “Leave her ass hole to me. I bet that ass has never been touched.”

  “No, I change my mind, I want her ass hole.”

  “Make up your mind, we’re falling behind schedule.”

  She couldn’t make out whose voice said what as they argued over who screwed her where. Lark shut her eyes tightly, waiting for the pain to come. For years she’d avoided sex with males. It was a stupid fear that she’d wanted to shed but just couldn’t do it.

  Whenever she tried to, images of that waning would infiltrate her mind and the fear she felt then would take hold of her. It was the night she lost her best friend. Caroline hadn’t lost her life that night, but her will to live had disappeared after those males hurt her.