Devoured

by Stone, Piper

  A camp. My entire nervous system bristled. I’d heard about another project funded by the Scorpion, although there’d never been any details shared with any Volkodan. “When?”

  “I’m not certain. There was no timestamp on the damn visions.”

  “But you have an idea.”

  She opened her mouth then sighed, wiping water from her face. “I could have succumbed to the effects of loss of oxygen under water, Draziak, but if I’m right about my age, then it was roughly... Fuck. Eight years ago. What I can’t understand is why can’t I remember many details? I can see images all the way back to when I was seven or eight, but an entire period of my life is blocked out. Can you explain that to me?”

  “Perhaps you were drugged.”

  “I’m no medical expert, but there is no drug that I’m aware of capable of curtailing memories for an extended period of time.”

  “What you seem to forget is that the Scorpion wasn’t here alone. He had dozens of men and woman from soldiers to scientists working on the project. I assure you that any one of them was capable of developing a drug of that nature.”

  She finally nodded, her brow furrowing.

  “You will need to rest. We will talk then. And you will be punished for your infraction.” The anger was still ripe, but I was forced to realize that I cared about her more than even I wanted to admit. Volkodans were taught to hide, even erase emotions, allowing for the ability to engage in battle without the possibility of complications. I’d learned the hard way that merely being around humans for any extended period of time had altered my perception of emotions.

  Another reason for me to be angry at the entire situation.

  “You know what? I’m just fine, Draziak. As a matter of fact, you were right. I’m a lot tougher than I or anyone else for that matter give me credit for. Why the hell do you believe that you can punish me for any reason? Whatever is going on we need to figure it out and I have a feeling time is of the essence. Besides, I’m not a child to be disciplined for any and every infraction.” She moved to a standing position, her body tense.

  “You belong to me, Anna-bel-la. If you do not obey, you will suffer the consequences.”

  “Like hell I will.” Anger sweeping across her face, she took two long strides away from me, her mouth twisting. “I very much appreciate that you saved me from certain death on more than one occasion, but I’ve already told you that I’m not your property. We will figure out this freaking game the Scorpion is playing. Then we’ll part ways. I’ll go back to Earth and you can go home. Mate or no mate. You can have your revenge and I’ll try and find my life.” She seemed to falter the moment she said the words, her brow furrowing.

  “Anna-bel-la,” I called.

  Stopping short, she repeated her own name. “Anna-bel-la.”

  I could see her wringing her hands, her body swaying.

  “What is it?” I took a single step forward, scanning the perimeter of the area once again.

  “I remember the room we were taken to, so cold and barren, and the way you whispered my name. Even in my dreams you always said it the same way.” She jerked around to face me, her eyes darting back and forth. “What I saw is really true.”

  There was no sense in continuing to hide details from her. Whatever drug had been given to her was powerful, but not enough to curtail her active imagination or the need to find answers. She would regain her full memory soon enough.

  Only I feared what it might do to her.

  “Yes and because of their experiments, you are now mine. You will always belong to me, little human. For whatever reason our connection was forged, there is no method of changing the inevitable.” The words were ones I’d thought of hundreds of times during my imprisonment, desire burning deep within.

  Your mate. Your destiny. You will hunger in a way that you’ve never known. You will be willing to destroy anything and anyone who gets in your way of finding her. And what’s better? You will be forced to think about her for years and years and years...

  The words shifted into my mind, as if my captor had said them. Perhaps he had at some point. And one day in the near future, I would make certain he suffered in the same manner as I had, only he would remain in permanent stasis.

  “Inevitable,” she repeated, her body still rocking.

  An undeniable desire roared through me, taking me to an entirely different level of hunger. She’d almost died, and I’d been the reason. She wouldn’t have an opportunity to get out of my sight again. I yanked her against my chest, the action stealing her breath.

  “Let go of me,” she hissed, struggling as she’d done before, but in her eyes, I could see the conviction waning. “So that’s how it is. You simply dominate any species you come in contact with? Is it true that you kept the captured females of your enemies in cages, using them in whatever ways you determined?”

  “We are not monsters. We fought wars in order to survive, but yes, we took what we wanted when required.”

  Growling, I fisted her hair, yanking until her long neck was exposed. As I lowered my head, blowing hot air across her skin, she quivered in my hold.

  “Draziak, I just...”

  I nuzzled against her, drinking in her luscious perfume as my cock stirred once again, pressing against her stomach. As I licked the base of her earlobe, she mewed softly, her fists smacking against my chest. There were no words to help either one of us understand the connection we shared or the reason why. At this moment, I didn’t care.

  I was a brutal man and I had taken women before, just as our custom dictated, but this was entirely different. As I flicked my tongue back and forth across her chin, she took shallow breaths. “I want you. I crave you.” My whisper was hoarse, barely audible.

  She wiggled once again even as her hips jutted forward, grinding against me. The scent of her feminine wiles filled my nostrils, flowing into my bloodstream. I wanted nothing more than to devour her.

  And I would.

  Every inch.

  I slid my palm down her back, tugging on the remnants of her tattered shirt. The slight ripping sound only added fuel to the fire quickly turning explosive. I rubbed my open mouth back and forth across her cheek before capturing her mouth.

  She remained tense, even as her lips parted, allowing me access, her breathing scattered.

  Every synapse was electrified, my muscles tense as I thrust my tongue inside, exploring the dark recesses of her mouth. Even the bitter taste of salt water couldn’t dissuade my longing, my cock aching to the point I was in immense pain, my balls tight.

  She dragged her tongue back and forth across mine, her actions tentative. As the kiss became more passionate, my actions shifted, the savage that I’d been labeled rushing to the surface. I slid my hand down to her bottom, caressing over the dense material of her shorts. I fumbled as I tore at her button and zipper, jamming my hand into the front of her shorts, my fingers immediately finding her wet pussy. She was so damn hot, forcing my entire hand to tingle.

  Annabella wiggled in my hold, her hips constantly moving as I rubbed my fingers up and down the length of her wetness.

  She struggled to reach my cock, her long fingers wrapping around the base of my shaft. Her touch was intense, more powerful than ever before. She was as ravenous as I was.

  A series of lights flashed in the periphery of my vision, the subtle images more like a warning than anything else.

  We were out in the open, easy to spot by anyone already searching for the lost girl.

  An odd sound occurred in the distance, a slight rumble but my instinct told me that it had nothing to do with nature. I pushed her away gently with a slight growl.

  “What is that?” she asked as she scanned the forest.

  “Perhaps your disappearance has already been noted. I believe evidence is being destroyed.”

  “You think that’s an explosion?” Her voice faltered, as if answering her own question.

  “What I know is that there is a government faction continuing to run t
heir variation of an experiment. The only difference is that you are now a part of their test group, and whether you like it or not, there is no one that you can trust. We are both at risk. I doubt that the Scorpion believed we would survive the cave. Either that or he became determined I would lead him to an important item he’s searching for.”

  “An important item. I doubt you’re going to tell me what that is.”

  I gazed down at her, controlling my breathing.

  And my desire.

  The beast’s hunger would have to wait.

  “Does this trust include you?” she retorted. “I have no reason to trust you or your story, Draziak, but for some reason, I do.”

  The laugh that erupted from my throat held a bitter sound. “You are right, little human. Trusting me could mean your death or your freedom. Only you can choose which one. Now, we go.”

  I tossed her over my shoulder, taking long strides back to the cabin. Darkness would arrive soon enough, predators searching the jungle for food. If an explosion had occurred, then it was imperative we leave the area in the morning, finding a path over the mountains. At this point, I would deal with her insolence as I’d been trained to do.

  But not until I’d fucked her.

  She could attempt to disobey my commands, but there was no denying the connection, although a part of me wondered whether what I was doing held any merit or if I was what humans called a puppet.

  And the strings of the puppet master were razor wire.

  What else did Sampson have in mind other than obtaining the capacitor? Killing off anyone who could expose him. The answer was clear enough.

  Did I believe he’d left his magic kingdom? Not a chance. However, his soldiers were obviously still in action, likely crawling through the jungle. The risk in obtaining the capacitor was high, but necessary. I thought about my ship in its crippled state. Had the bastards been able to break through our security system, even dismantling it? There were far too many questions with little or no answers.

  Other than I was required somehow to stay connected with Annabella.

  She smashed her fists against me, struggling to get out of my hold. If she didn’t learn to obey me, our chances of survival would be compromised.

  “Put me down,” she demanded.

  “Not until you learn to obey.”

  A knowing had settled into my system. My escape from the wretched cave imprisonment had been a part of the Scorpion’s plan. While the earthquake had unearthed the cavern holding the pods, I was certain the geological group would have eventually found the dark hole. Whatever items she’d found had indeed likely been placed in the cave.

  Or was the earthquake something more manmade?

  Given Stephen Myers was in charge, my guess was that he had planted various items they group had found, keeping them on the job. The only reason to draw anyone other than Annabella to the site itself was searching for the capacitor.

  I’d remembered Stephen’s name, searching my memory banks as to why. I’d never met him, but he’d been the author of several reports not only used but idolized by the scientists performing the various tests. His theories had been spouted off on several occasions, as if he was a god for discovering evidence that aliens had arrived long before our ship had crash-landed.

  And he’d attached himself to my mate.

  What was their connection?

  I stormed into the cabin, kicking the door shut. The moment I eased her down, she pummeled her hands against me in an attempt to push me away. I held her tightly until she stopped struggling, shaking her head in resignation.

  “What is the great plan you have, Draziak?”

  “We leave in the morning, searching for your group after finding what belongs to me.” I kept my answer short, attempting to catch my breath. When I let her go, a sudden loss rushed into my system.

  She walked around me in a full circle, finally confronting me. “There’s something wrong with you, isn’t there?”

  “I am weak from the time spent in the pod. Nothing more.”

  “I don’t buy that. Did the scientists and doctors do something to you?”

  “I am... uncertain.”

  She took a deep breath, rolling her eyes. “What are you actually certain of? This game that is being played, for what reason? Whatever you have hidden? Is that it? The Scorpion certainly couldn’t risk you or your warriors getting away and contacting your people. Since several murders occurred around this project, it would appear the great Scorpion was being pushed from several sides. Perhaps he planned on bringing you back from the dead when the action suited him and his cause.”

  Hissing, I moved away, taking glances at the interior of the cabin. Her idea was worth delving into. The Scorpion had used the mandated project to bolster his wealth and his power. Everything he did was with a dark and evil plan in mind. For a few minutes, I pulled my mind away from the darkness, studying the sparse surroundings. Whoever had taken over the small location seemed happy. For a few seconds, I envisioned a different life, one I’d come to learn about from several of the human scientists. “Your idea is a good one, human.” I’d been allowed the fertile taste of what human cultures had to offer, the beauty of the colonized land as well as the freedom to enjoy life without the constant threat of annihilation.

  If only for a short period of time.

  Even my father had engaged in vibrant stories of other worlds, locations where families enjoyed every day to the fullest. My father would have enjoyed a taste of Earth.

  This time, she groaned, the sound full of sadness. “But there’s more, isn’t there? You are important on your planet. Aren’t you? This Scorpion knew this all along. What else am I missing?” She shifted back and forth, her eyes never leaving me. “Wait a minute. Your people don’t know you’re here.”

  “They do not. Our communications equipment had been damaged prior to the landing.”

  “But you never wanted to come to venture this far away from your course, landing on a planet controlled by humans.”

  “To answer your question, since the day my group landed on this planet, I was concerned. I should have followed my instincts.” I fisted my hands.

  “Why? What had you heard about our people?”

  I resisted the snarl forming in my throat. I would never forget the warning offered by the standing commanding officer, a man who remained on Tretonia at all times. Never allow yourself to be fooled by the generosity of any other species. They are all dragons in disguise. If only I’d listened to him. “What I was told by my superiors was that you were a primitive species, hell bent on destroying yourself. I wanted nothing to do with your... kind.”

  She frowned, although she finally nodded. “I honestly can’t I blame you. We came close to destroying every living thing, pretending that human life had no value, only power and greed. I’m not entirely certain we’ve changed that much since eliminating nuclear power and combining governments. Maybe that’s why I enjoy unearthing minerals that could ultimately help Earth. But how would they know if you’d never come here before?”

  For that, I had no answer.

  “If the Scorpion gains the power from this unit, he can change the face of our world,” she continued.

  “Easily.” But that wasn’t going to happen.

  “This is a nightmare. I’m curious. What is your planet like, Draziak?” she pressed on.

  I thought about her question. Our planet had been in turmoil for so long, I could barely remember anything different. It seemed since my birth, our entire planet had been preparing for death and little else. But I remembered every story my father told me. “For a time, very special. There were thousands of lakes and streams, albeit our water is entirely different than on your world or even on this planet. Vegetation was lush, our food source abundant. We were very lucky in so many ways, perhaps something our ancestors took for granted. When everything began to fail, our scientists and engineers tried everything to no avail.” Nuclear power.

  My mind began forming pos
sibilities. From what I remembered about the Scorpion, his desire to rule the world was a strong conviction. Were his plans only regarding Bellenia or much more significant? Possibly Earth? That had to be the answer. With the capacitor, the Quantum Unit would create a monstrous force, including aspects of nuclear power, but given the makeup of Earth, the effects would be short-lived. He would need to test his theory, using Bellenia as a baseline.

  But if was able to gather additional units, the capabilities were endless. My thoughts drifted back to my ship. Were any of the men who’d remained loyal capable of not only repairing but navigating the battleship out of this galaxy? My blood began to boil.

  “Because you were attacked?”

  I nodded. “The first war was extremely violent, a species we’d once thought friendly striking without warning. Thousands of our people died, our resources compromised. We’d been unprepared for the onslaught, martial law instilled. It was on that day that I became a soldier, prepared to fight to the death for my beloved people. Our king sent hundreds of ships into space, ready to fight back. Unfortunately, the word spread that we were weak, other species able to hunt down dozens of our ships. So many lives were lost. That was only the initial attack, dozens coming after that.”

  “I’m very sorry. Do you lose anyone special that you loved? A wife, a lover?”

  “We do not fall in love, Annabella.” I could see surprise in her eyes.

  “That’s very sad.”

  “That is our way of life. Yes, we are carnal in nature, much like your kind. We desire to fulfill our primal needs, urges that are intensely strong, but that is not love.”

  “No, that’s not love in any way,” she half whispered.

  “Do not judge what you cannot understand. Our kind mate for reproduction only, providing offspring in order to become workers or after the initial great war, soldiers. While I care deeply about my people in general, what you call family is held in a different level of reverence.”

  She finally inched closer, narrowing her eyes, her comment repetitive. “There’s no love. I couldn’t live that way.”

  I gave her a heated gaze, my strength ebbing. “I only wish that we could feel something so powerful, but I will never understand.”