by S. E. Smith
“Oh mi elila,” he groaned out huskily. “I hope you feel better later.”
*.*.*
A short time later, Creon glanced at Carmen to make sure she was doing better. He breathed a sigh of relief as she slowly relaxed back into him. The color in her face had returned once the vibrations of breaking through the atmosphere had quit. He had also included her in the discussions he was having with two of the warriors traveling with them in an effort to distract her. It appeared to be working as she listened carefully to the discussion, sometimes asking a clarifying question or two. The two brothers were part of an elite team he had put together during the Great War. He knew he could depend on them to protect his mate with their lives. He also wanted her to get to know them and trust them as their responsibility was to make sure she was safe at all times. They would protect her when he could not be by her side. He refused to take a chance of anything happening to her or their younglings now that he had found her.
He had specifically picked the brothers for their deadly skills and loyalty. They were fast, fierce, and worked as if they were a single deadly fighting force. He had fought with them many times and valued their exceptional fighting skills. It was almost impossible to tell them apart. He had learned a long time ago to not even try. It had cost him more than one drink when he had been challenged to distinguish the brothers apart.
“So my lady, you do not care for space travel?” Cree asked with a polite smile. “Few females do.”
Carmen raised her eyebrow at the slightly condescending tone. “It's not my thing. I prefer the power of a bike beneath me and wide open spaces. My sister and best friend love space travel, though. They were in the military back home and wanted to be a part of the space program there,” she replied, studying each man carefully.
“Females in the military? You are joking, yes?” Calo asked using the same tone. “All warriors know that women are not made for fighting. They are made for pleasure.”
Creon fought back a groan when he saw his mate's mouth thin and her eyes narrow at the unknown challenge. He had learned over the last few weeks that when she wore an expression like that, someone was bound to get hurt. He debated on whether he should correct the brothers but decided that if they were going to help him protect his mate then they needed to know what she was capable of doing. He almost changed his mind when Carmen ran one hand casually up along the front of her top until her fingers caressed her pale throat where the dragon's mark was clearly displayed.
A soft, sexy chuckle escaped her as she tilted her head to the side. “Would you be willing to put that to a test?” She asked innocently.
“Carmen,” Creon growled out suddenly have third, fourth, and fifth doubts. “No, I forbade it.”
She shrugged her shoulders and leaned back in her seat. “Okay. I wouldn't want to hurt them anyway,” she said, smiling brightly at the two men across from her. “I know how 'fragile' Valdier warriors can be.”
Calo laughed in amusement while Cree scowled. “You hurt us?” Cree muttered under his breath. “I'd like to see that!”
Calo chuckled again. “His mate has a good sense of humor. Who knows, we might need her to protect us on this trip, brother.”
Creon's curse filled the shuttle. “I would not antagonize her if I were you!” He warned as he reached for her hand.
Carmen just sat quietly, listening and watching the brothers for the rest of the trip. She had been trained to look for the tiniest things that could be used against an opponent during the years she and Scott worked in security. She immediately discovered the difference between the brothers. Both had the same dark hair of the Valdier and gold colored eyes. They both had the strong jaw line and proud features of the warriors, as well; not to mention the muscular build. One difference was the birthmark near the corner of their right eye. Cree's birthmark ran in a semi-circle ending at the corner. Calo's birthmark ended just before it. It was just a small difference and most people would miss it but it was there. Cree also used his left hand more than his right, was the quieter, more thoughtful of the two, and had a habit of touching the knife at his side every few minutes. Calo on the other hand used his right hand a little more, was more open, and his eyes constantly moved around as if checking to make sure nothing had changed. She knew exactly what she was going to do the minute they disembarked and it wasn't going to be taking a nap.
Creon breathed a sigh of relief when the shuttle began its final approach for docking with the warship. He would whisk Carmen out of the shuttle and to their living quarters before anything happened. He had caught the calculating gleam in her eye and knew she would not forget or forgive what the two warriors across from them had said. The voice of the pilot came over their comlinks telling them docking was complete and they could remove their seat restraints. He reached over and undid Carmen's first.
“Don't,” he whispered into her ear as he leaned across her. “They will learn.”
“Your damn right they will,” she whispered back fiercely before throwing an innocent smile at the two men.
“Dragon's balls!” He hissed out knowing she was about to set two of his best warriors in their place.
*.*.*
Carmen breathed a sigh of relief as they disembarked the shuttle. She could fully appreciate why some sailors of old would get down on their hands and knees and kiss the ground when they got off their ships. Granted, it was only a shuttle and she was now on an even bigger ship in space but if her mind wanted to be in denial of that fact, she could handle that. She just didn't relish getting back inside something the size of a tin can and traveling into the great unknown and un-breathable!
The landing bay was filled with activity as supplies were unloaded and the shuttles moved and stored in preparation for the trip to the mining asteroids where they believed Vox was being held. According to the information she had listened to on the way up from the planet, there were three possible places he could have been taken and they would need to check each one. It sounded like the guy could handle himself if some of the stories the guys were telling was anything to go by. Anyway, they didn't really seem too worried about him. One mining area was on the outer edges of the Cardovus star system which was the closest. They would check that one first. If he was not there, they were going to stop at two different Spaceports before heading to the next one. Their biggest concern was if an assassin had been sent to take care of him. If Vox was killed and rumors spread that the Curizan and Valdier had teamed up to do it, there would be another war. From the sound of it, that would have a devastating effect on both star systems, especially the Valdier.
Carmen moved closer to Creon as a very large male approached them. He looked like he could be a mean son-of-a-bitch if he wanted to be. He was as tall as Creon and had that same dark edge to him, like he had seen and done things he had no regrets about doing. She stared back into his dark purple eyes, refusing to back down. A low growl escaped him at her challenge. Carmen smirked and raised her eyebrow.
“I thought you had a mate, Creon,” the tall male said looking Carmen up and down. “She looks little bigger than a child.”
“Knock it off, Ha'ven,” Creon growled out softly. “I know you are just trying to rile her to see what she will do but I will not let you insult her to do so.”
Ha'ven threw Creon a pained look. “I was hoping to see if your mate had the fire in her that you mentioned. She looks more like a kitten for Vox to play with.”
Cree and Calo chuckled. Carmen let the smile stay on her face. If they wanted to see her as a kitten then so be it. She was about to show them that this kitten had very sharp claws and a wicked tail. Moving rapidly, she swung around snatching Cree's knife out of its sheath while throwing a kick to Calo's jaw before swiveling in a graceful arch and knocking Cree's feet out from under him. She wasn't through with them either. In seconds, she had Ha'ven hanging upside down by his feet from her tail. She flashed a toothy grin at Ha'ven before she swung him into the two brothers who were climbing to their feet, the
ir mouths hanging open for the briefest moment before they caught the full body of the large warrior across their chests.
Before they could get up, Carmen sat her white, red, pink, and purple self down on top of them. Maybe she wasn't a kitten after all but a big dog because she was definitely the queen of this dog pile! None of the men could get up unless she did. She gripped the razor sharp knife in her front claw. Bending down so she was staring down at all three faces with a grin, she sliced a small strand of hair from each of the men's heads before puffing out a small ring of smoke around them.
“I think you have proven your point, Carmen,” Creon said standing back with his arms folded across his chest, chuckling. “I am not so sure Calo can breathe. He looks like he is turning a funny shade of blue.”
Carmen turned her head briefly to look at her mate. She snorted before slowly rising, making sure she 'knocked' into a few delicate body parts as she did. Seconds later, a pair of strong arms surrounded her two-legged form. She held Cree's knife in one slender hand and three different lengths of hair in the other. They were her prize and she wasn't giving them back.
“Meow,” Carmen said, her eyes glittering with humor and challenge as she looked at the three men now standing warily in front of her.
Ha'ven rubbed his crotch with his hand. She had kneed him as she was getting up and it was throbbing painfully. He studied the female again with a new appreciation. She was fast, resourceful, and had a wicked sense of humor.... he decided then and there he wanted one of his own.
“What species did you say she is?” He asked curiously, enjoying the soft brown of her eyes, her pale, delicate skin, sun-ripe hair, and full lips not to mention the rest of her body.
In a flash, Carmen was pushed behind Creon's massive body and he was snarling. Black scales rippled over his body and he partially shifted. He moved forward until he was mere inches from the other man's face.
“She is mine!” He snarled out. “Remember that or I will remind you.”
Ha'ven's eyes narrowed as he studied the infuriated male in front of him. “I would protect your mate with my life, my friend. I have no desire to take what is yours. You have deserved this blessing for too long,” he said quietly. “But, I wouldn't mind finding one for myself,” he added with a small, mischievous grin.
Creon stared intently into his friend's eyes. All he could see was the truthfulness behind his statement. With a quiet word to his dragon, he stepped back and took several deep breaths to calm both his dragon and his own self. Gradually, he relaxed enough to nod his understanding.
“We are still very protective of her,” he muttered to his friend.
Cree and Calo came up to stand next to them. The other warriors who had paused to watch the little show Carmen put on and Creon's reaction to it slowly went back to work. Calo put his arm around his brother's shoulder and laughed.
“From the looks of it, she is the one who could do the protecting!” He said with an amused laugh. “Can I have my knife back now, little kitten?”
Carmen raised her eyebrow and smirked as she stepped forward to stand next to her mate. “It's not yours, Calo. It belonged to Cree. Now, it belongs to me,” she said before turning to Cree. “I can use it when I have to protect both of your asses.”
Ha'ven's laugh echoed through the docking bay. Cree and Calo stood with their mouths hanging open again and looking on in astonishment as Creon put a possessive hand on his mate's lower back and guided her toward one of the exits. Both brothers stood frozen until they realized they were being left behind.
“I want to find one for us too,” Cree muttered under his breath to his twin as he strode after the sexy, swaying ass of the female they had been assigned to protect.
“Do you think her species could handle two of us together?” Calo asked in wonder.
Cree's eyes suddenly lit up with fire. “I think the question is going to be if the two of us can handle the one female!”
Chapter 14Carmen placed her hands on Creon's cheeks and pulled his head down to hers. She pressed her lips against his; kissing him deeply before pulling back, out of breath. His eyes were blazing with desire as he stared down at her.
“I heard you the first, second, third, fourth…” she couldn’t go on because he was kissing her again.
It had been two weeks since they left Valdier and they were no closer to finding Vox than they had been before. The mining area they visited first was abandoned by the Antrox but they had not taken everything when they moved on. The Antrox had left an old man and one young boy behind when they left. Carmen's heart went out to them. They were human. They had been taken over four years before from Earth. According to the account Creon gave her, the man was no longer considered viable as he could not produce enough work each day to justify his food. They had been left with only a few supplies and one young Pactor too lame to work. The old human said the boy was his grandson. The boy had escaped, hiding in the tunnels so he couldn't be separated from his grandfather. From what the old man told Ha'ven and Creon, the boy had been responsible for taking care of the Pactors.
Creon reluctantly broke the kiss and leaned his forehead against hers. “Perhaps you can speak with the old man and the boy today. It might make life more comfortable for everyone. The boy wouldn't leave the Pactor in the mines. He refused to come out of the tunnels until we promised he could bring it with them. Why he has grown attached to the ugly beast, I'll never understand. He has a way with the creature though. It follows him everywhere. The old man and boy have refused to interact with anyone either. The old man has a foul mouth on him. He won't let anyone near the boy saying he is mentally unable to understand what is being said. He also said the boy was a mute. At least, that was the reason he gave for keeping the boy away from everyone. He refused medical assistance for the both of them. Tandor didn't push it as they both seemed fine and the initial scans when they were brought aboard didn't flag any disease or illness. Still, they are being very uncooperative,” Creon said huskily. “Perhaps they would be more receptive to our assistance if you were to talk with them.”
“I can try,” Carmen replied, pulling away so she could pull on her clothes. “You can hardly blame them. Look at what they have had to endure for the past four years. They've been ripped away from everything and everyone they have ever known and used as slaves. This goes against everything we believe in.”
“It has been over a week since we brought them aboard. We have tried to assure them that things will be better. Ha'ven finally ended up sectioning off one of the repair bays. The old man, boy, and Pactor are using it as their living quarters,” he said, distractedly watching as she reached for her clothes lying on the floor where he had tossed them earlier. “I like you better the way you are,” he added huskily, his eyes glued to her rounded ass.
Carmen threw an amused look over her shoulder as she bent over to pick up her pants that he had taken off of her. She bit back a chuckle when she heard him groan loudly. It was becoming a bad habit of his to try to keep her naked. She was learning that if she wanted to leave their living quarters on board the Horizon, she'd better do it before he got out of the cleansing unit or she wouldn’t make it out until much later.
“What level are they on?” Carmen asked as she slipped the pants on.
“First... come here,” Creon demanded huskily.
Carmen laughed as she picked up his shirt and threw it in his face. “No, if I do neither one of us will be leaving. I thought you had a meeting with Ha'ven and were going to talk with your brothers.”
A heavy sigh was the answer to her reminder. “Shit! I forgot. You are too much of a distraction for me, mi elila,” he replied at the same time as his comlink sounded.
“Creon?” Ha'ven growled out in annoyance. “Where in the dragon's balls are you? There has been a situation on Valdier. Tilkmos, and that damn kid is causing problems again. He went after a couple of warriors with a shovel when they entered the repair bay to get some parts. We should have just left all three of th
eir asses at the mine! The old man is just as bad.”
“You go see what happened,” Carmen said as she brushed a kiss over her mate's lips. “I'll go take care of the old man and the boy.”
Creon reached out and gripped her hand tightly for a moment, looking at her intently. “Cree or Calo will go with you. I will not take a chance of them attacking you.”
She paused for a second, about to argue before seeing he was genuinely worried. “Okay. Tell them to meet me outside the repair bay.”
“Thank you,” he said brushing his fingers down along her cheek. “I love you, mi elila, so very much.”
Carmen's eyes darkened with emotion. She cupped his hand and held it tightly against her skin. Tears burned her eyes at the intense emotion glittering in his. She could understand it. Those same feelings were coursing through her. She never thought she would have a second chance and she was afraid something would take it away from her.
“I love you, too,” she whispered, staring up into his beautiful golden eyes with a haunted look. “Sometimes I get so afraid this is a dream and I'll wake up.”
He pulled her against him, wrapping his arms around her and holding her tightly. “Then, I am having the same dream. One in which I never want to awaken from,” he replied gruffly.
*.*.*
Creon eye's burned with rage as he listened to Zoran. Their mates had been attacked. They were able to rescue Abby before she was taken but both Cara and Trisha had not fared so well. On top of that, the devastating news that his uncle now had a weapon powerful enough to destroy a symbiot was horrifying. Zoran coldly related the deaths of the guards and their symbiots. He explained their findings but as yet they were not sure what was powerful enough to destroy something made of pure energy. Trelon and Kelan were leading the attack on a Curizan warship Trelon's symbiot was following. He would keep them informed as to when they retrieved Cara and Trisha. Zoran refused to believe that the two women would not be returned safely.