Alien Conquest

by Honey Phillips

  “Young man, you’re not the boss of me.”

  “Gran, please listen to T’lan,” Emily interrupted quickly. “Can’t we just give it a few days?”

  Gran sighed. “Oh, I suppose so. It’s probably just as well since I have to go the grocery store this afternoon anyway.” She held up a hand. “Don’t worry, I’ll go to Hendersonville.”

  The two warriors exchanged a glance.

  “I’ve been going there for three weeks now without any problems. Are you going to keep me confined to the house as well?”

  Her grandmother’s eyes started to snap angrily.

  “T’lan, is it safe?” Emily asked.

  “As your grandmother said, she has not experienced any trouble… and yet, I think it would be wiser to wait.”

  “Well, I don’t. And you’re not going to tell me what to do.” Gran was really working up a head of steam. She might resemble a kitten hissing at a mastiff, but she wasn’t backing down.

  “Could you go with her?” Emily asked T’lan quietly.

  “I will not leave you, M’lee. But T’renan can go.”

  “Is that all right, Gran? Tren can go with you—cloaked, of course.” The older woman frowned but Emily added hastily, “Please. For my sake.”

  “Oh, all right.”

  “T’chok, relieve T’renan so he can accompany the Elder Female.”

  “Yes, Commander.” T’chok disappeared into the front room and Gran, still grumbling, followed him.

  T’lan turned to her. “Now, my L’chka. We will talk.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  T’lan picked up his little human, rejoicing when she did not protest and carried her out to the covered area behind the domicile. He sat on the swinging chair facing the back garden and settled her onto his lap. The assorted greens of the trees and plants surrounding the house stood in stark contrast to the grey day. Few sounds disturbed the silence. He heard the Elder Female’s car leave but even that noise was quickly muffled by the misty rain that continued to fall. The dampness awakened the earth and the rich tang of dirt filled his nostrils, overlaid by M’lee’s delicate fragrance. He rocked back and forth, content to have her in his arms as she gave a small sigh and nestled closer.

  “T’lan,” she said at last.

  “Yes, my L’chka?”

  “I’m sorry that I’ve been so distant today.”

  He frowned at her words—she had never been far from him. But he allowed her to continue.

  “It’s just… I have never been around violence before.”

  “That is as it should be. I wish that was still true. But it is always hard, the first time one confronts the reality of death.”

  “When did you first face it?”

  “I was five cycles when my mother died.” She gave a shocked gasp and he patted her back soothingly as he continued. “I believe my father would have followed her immediately if not for my existence. He was never the same after that day. When I entered the Warrior’s House, he resumed active duty. He was dead within two cycles.”

  “Oh, T’lan. I’m so sorry.”

  His tender-hearted mate’s eyes filled with tears, but he felt no sorrow. He had known that his father would not last—no male ever did once he lost his L’chka. The very thought of losing M’lee made his hearts skip a beat. But he would never allow harm to come to her, and he refused to even consider the possibility now that he had her warm and willing in his arms. He smiled at her.

  “Enough tales of the past. In case you have forgotten, you accepted my claim last night and I have barely tasted you since then. Your warrior is sadly neglected.”

  “He is?” She smiled back, accepting the subject change. “We wouldn’t want that, would we?”

  She wiggled up until she was perched over his thighs, her luscious ass caressing his rapidly expanding shaft. Running a finger across his shoulder, she frowned in disappointment when nothing happened.

  “How do I take this off?”

  “There is a release, here.” He showed her the hidden placket. “I catch it with my claw.”

  “I don’t have claws, but I have fingernails. Let me try.” Leaning forward, she worked diligently at the fastening. Her breasts rubbed against his chest and he fought back a groan as he felt her small nipples harden and press against him. Her cheeks flushed with arousal and her bottom began to shift, looking for closer contact with his swollen erection.

  “There,” she exclaimed as the shirt fell free.

  “Now it is my turn.” Before she could protest, he pulled her shirt over her head, leaving her golden curls in adorable disarray around her lovely face. All glowing skin and soft curves, she was a vision of lush femininity with her breasts overflowing her thin pink bra and her stomach round and ripe with promise.

  “You are beautiful, my L’chka.”

  “So are you.” Her eyes scanned his face before lowering to his chest and abdomen with visible appreciation. “And it’s my turn. Can I remove your belt?”

  “No, it is keyed only to me.” He released the catch and placed it over the back of the chair where it would be near at hand. “But my pants have the same type of catch as my shirt, here.” He drew her fingers to his hip. Her weight shifted as she bent to one side, giving his cock a delicious massage, and he growled softly.

  “Mm.” She shivered. “I love it when you do that.”

  “That is just as well. You arouse my most primitive instincts.”

  “Good. I like your instincts.” She smiled triumphantly as his pants parted. “And now that I’m yours, I can kiss you whenever I want, right?”

  “Of course.” His eyes went to her succulent mouth, but instead of reaching up to kiss him, she bent forward and kissed his chest. It was a pleasant sensation, but it did not compare to the pleasure of her mouth against his. He was about to raise her to his lips when she fastened her small mouth around his nipple and sucked, sending a surprising spike of excitement straight to his cock. She licked and teased the small nub of flesh, then moved to one side, allowing his cock to spring up between them. Before he realized her intentions, she swiped her small, pink tongue across the sensitive head. He was grateful that he was seated—if he had been standing, his knees would have weakened.

  “M’lee, what are you doing?”

  “I am tasting my mate,” she whispered, her warm breath adding to the sensations engulfing him.

  “But it is my pleasure to taste you.”

  “Not this time.” Before he could protest, she enclosed him in the warm, wet haven of her mouth, and only years of discipline stopped him from plunging upward to seek more of the erotic pleasure. Her mouth was small, her lips already stretched wide in an effort to accommodate him, and he would not force her to take more than she could handle. He dug his claws into his palms as she ran a seductive tongue along the sensitive underside, but his hips jerked. To his shock, she actually took him deeper, deep enough that he could feel the narrow confines of her throat swallowing around the tip of his cock, the milking sensation pushing him over the edge as he came in a long, hot explosion as she drank him in.

  When his eyes opened, she smiled up at him as she wiped away the traces of blue circling her mouth.

  “My turn,” he growled, and reversed their positions, stripping her shorts away before kneeling on the floor in front of her as he spread her legs. Her flesh was still swollen and pink and he forced himself to go slowly, licking a gentle path from her small entrance to the impudent nub already stiff and ready for his attentions. After a few soft strokes, she made an impatient noise and grabbed his horns, pulling him closer.

  “More,” she demanded.

  “I do not wish to hurt you, my L’chka.”

  “You’re not hurting me. I need you.”

  If his mate needed him, there was no option. He gave into his instincts, licking and sucking each inch of flesh, her body rewarding him with more of her delicious essence before he focused on her clit, working it relentlessly as he slid a finger first carefully, then
more demandingly, into her engorged sheath until she came in a final convulsion, crying out his name. Once her tremors stopped, he withdrew his finger, glad to see that she did not flinch, and licked her gently until she calmed. It was his turn to smile up at her.

  “This mutual tasting is most pleasant.”

  “You can say that again,” she said with a happy sigh.

  He tilted his head, considering. “Why would I say it again?”

  “It’s an expression. It means that what you said is worth repeating.”

  “It is worth repeating many times,” he agreed. One last kiss to her tender flesh and he reluctantly climbed to his feet and dressed. While they should be safe behind the monitors, they were exposed, and he did not wish to be caught unaware.

  To his disappointment, M’lee also put her clothes back on, but as soon as she was dressed, she curled back on his lap. He pushed the swinging chair with one foot while they watched the rain drip from the trees.

  “What is Yehr like?” she asked sleepily.

  “I do not know.”

  “You don’t know?”

  “I was born in one of the outer systems. I never had a reason to go to the inner planets. I have seen pictures, of course.”

  “What does it look like?”

  His training argued for discretion, but he could see little harm in the topic. Besides, she had accepted his claim.

  “Beautiful but… sterile.” The thought would not have occurred to him before this time with M’lee, but now he recognized its truth. “There is no natural life left on Yehr. There are gardens, of course, by the best designers, but it is very controlled. Perhaps that is why we try to find worlds where that has not yet happened so they can be preserved.” Like yours. The unspoken words hung between them, but she did not pursue the subject.

  “Will you ever go there?”

  “You mean will we ever go there? I will never go anywhere without you. But no, it is not the warrior way to look behind. We always search forward.”

  “Search? What are you searching for?”

  Again, he considered his answer, but decided that this was not the time to go into detail about why they were here. Instead, he settled on a more personal response. “I have found what I am searching for.”

  Fortunately, she did not press the issue and only smiled up at him. A pang of guilt hit him. He did need to explain to her. They swung in lazy silence.

  His wrist com vibrated at the same time that T’chok came flying through the house, pausing only long enough to inform T’lan of the situation.

  “The outer barrier. T’renan just came through and he’s moving fast.”

  “Go meet him,” T’lan ordered as he rose and put his hand on his sword hilt. “I will stay with M’lee.”

  T’chok took off directly.

  “What’s happening?” M’lee looked confused and he realized they had been speaking in Yehrin.

  “T’renan is returning by the water path.”

  “Tren? But what about Gran? He was supposed to be with her.” She started to dash after T’chok, but he caught her arm.

  “I do not know what is happening, M’lee but you must stay safe. You do not want to risk the baby.”

  “But Gran is all I have.” The ready tears started to trickle down her cheeks.

  “Not any more, my L’chka. You, our child, the Elder Female—you are all part of my House.” She gripped his hand and gave him a watery smile.

  The garden gate swung wide, T’chok half-carrying T’renan through the narrow opening. The young warrior’s left horn was broken and bleeding. More blood streamed down his forehead and his left arm hung limp and useless, but his other arm cradled a tiny figure against his chest.

  “Gran!”

  This time, T’lan didn’t try to stop her, catching her hand to help her along as they raced down the garden. He activated the barrier wall as they went. As soon as T’renan’s battered body reached the lawn, he stumbled and went to his knees, but he never lost his grip on his fragile burden. Cradled across T’renan’s thighs, his good arm still supported her. T’chok was already running the scanner across her broken body. He gave T’lan a grim look. M’lee had fallen to her knees also, clasping her grandmother’s limp fingers.

  “Is she… is she alive?” Pleading, she looked up at T’chok, her eyes wide and bright with water.

  “Yes, but the scanner indicates that her condition is very serious. I do not know what to do.”

  “T’lan, get the doctor. Please…hurry,” M’lee begged.

  He pushed to his feet immediately but T’chok shook his head. “Humans do not have the medical skills to save her.”

  “But you have them, don’t you? Please T’lan, you can’t let her die.”

  All of his warrior training argued against her request, but he looked at her pleading face and the crumpled figure of the female who carried such spirit and made the only possible decision. “We will return to the ship now. T’chok, you will uncloak the vessel and prepare it for departure.”

  Breathing shallowly, T’renan looked at T’lan and gasped, “Stasis bed.”

  T’chok had been scanning the injured warrior and he frowned. “There is only one. If you are not stabilized soon, you will lose your horn.”

  The young warrior met T’lan’s eyes, his own filled with pain but unflinching. “My responsibility. Go, T’chok.” The older warriors exchanged a glance, then T’chok nodded and moved.

  “What are you doing?” M’lee cried as T’chok gathered up the Elder Female and disappeared through the grey wall.

  “He is taking her to the vessel. There is a medical bed that should keep her stable until we reach the ship. Come, I will take you to join her and come back for T’renan.”

  Her eyes stopped trying to stare through the opaque wall after her grandmother and looked to where the younger warrior was starting to collapse.

  “Oh no, you won’t. You said it, we’re a family. He comes with us.” She tried to put her shoulder under T’renan’s arm but T’lan moved her gently to one side.

  Despite his pride in her bravery, he still had no intention of letting her strain herself. “No, L’chka. I will carry him. Take this.” He handed her the blast tube. “The trigger is here. I have set it to respond to your genetic signature. It is at full strength—it will kill whoever it touches.”

  “Good. Just let anyone try and stop us.”

  As carefully as possible, he lifted T’renan into his arms and rose to his feet. The younger male gave an almost inaudible groan, his face pale and sweating. M’lee immediately stepped to T’lan’s right side, one hand on his belt and the other holding the blast tube facing outward. Her tears had disappeared.

  Once they were through the barrier, the graceful white shape of the vessel was clearly visible in the low undergrowth next to the stream. The wings were still folded up and it resembled a giant white bird, perched amidst the forest, as steam started to gather underneath.

  “Wow,” M’lee exclaimed softly, but he was proud to see that her eyes didn’t linger. Instead, she kept scanning their surroundings, although nothing disturbed the quiet of the rainy wood. T’chok appeared at the door of the vessel and helped T’lan maneuver T’renan inside and on to a bunk. M’lee followed and went directly to where her grandmother lay in the stasis bed, her small body barely occupying half of the clear glass tube.

  “She is stable.” T’chok said. “But I am deeply concerned about her injuries.”

  “Can we get Dr. Gaston?” M’lee looked up from where she was crouched next to the tube. “I know you have all kinds of advanced medicine, but he’s been her doctor for most of her life. Maybe he could help.”

  If M’lee wanted the doctor, she would have him.

  He turned to where T’renan lay curled on his good side. “Can you tell me what happened? Should we expect resistance?”

  The younger warrior tried to shake his head and winced. “I do not think so. I believe they tried to make it look accidental. Someone was beh
ind us in a vehicle. Just as we came around the high corner, they rammed our vehicle and sent it down the ravine. I tried to keep the Elder Female safe, but the descent was too rapid and too far.” He closed his eyes, shame covering his face. “I failed M’lee. I did not expect the vehicle to attack.”

  M’lee had been watching their faces. “What’s he saying?”

  He explained briefly and her eyes grew dark with rage, but she gave T’renan’s hand a quick squeeze. For once, T’lan did not protest. “It’s not his fault. It’s the narrow-minded bastards who live here. I don’t care if I never see this town again. Get the doctor and let’s go.”

  “The fastest way to is take the vessel but it could cause some damage when it lands.”

  “I don’t care if it destroys the whole fucking town.”

  T’lan took her at her word, making no attempt to avoid any buildings in the central part of town except the doctor’s office. He smiled grimly as the vessel landed on top of several parked cars and the outspread wings raked across several structures on the street. As soon as they landed, T’chok left and returned seconds later with the doctor at his side, carrying a small black bag in one hand. Face red with anger, the doctor leaned over the female’s still body. T’chok showed him how to view the images on the scanner and buckled him into the medic’s seat before he took the controls. T’lan drew M’lee onto his lap before buckling the straps carefully around them both. She cast a longing look over her shoulder at her grandmother, but she didn’t protest. With a final blast, the vessel headed into space.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Emily strained to see over T’lan’s broad shoulders, but it was difficult to move. He had placed straps above and below her stomach so that they would not cause pressure on the baby, but they kept her almost immobile.

  “Ssh, my L’chka. Her condition will not change as long as she remains in stasis. T’chok is transmitting all of the information from the scanner to our ship, along with the information that the doctor provided.” He hesitated. “It may give you comfort to know that a female medic has been brought forward, and she will be the one attending her.”