Author: Scarlett Dawn
Date: 2016-06-20 04:00:00+00:00
Keywords: Science Fiction; Romance; Aliens; Fantasy; Paranormal; New Adult; Adult; Science Fiction Romance; Post Apocalyptic; Paranormal Romance
Description: This novella is no longer published.

Moon Mark
Copyright 2016 Scarlett Dawn

First Edition

All rights reserved as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976. No part of these publications may be reproduced, distributed, transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior permission of the Author. For information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact the publisher.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

Cover Design and
Formatting by
ShoutLines Design

Editing by
Rogena Mitchell-Jones Manuscript Services

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Copyright

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Newsletter

About the Author

Preview of Gargoyle

King Hall

Preview of Obsidian Liquor

I sat at the bar in a small inn and sipped on an alcho-brew. I squinted at the paper that lay on the table, my blue eyes narrowing. I had been staring at it for the past two days on our travel. The President had demanded my presence for a meeting of Joyal governing agents. I had to be there by tomorrow.

The welcome heat of my beverage burned my throat as I chugged the rest of it. I did not want to attend. I knew the reasoning for the meet. It was clearly written on the summons.

I lifted a hand to the barkeep, and barked, “Another one, please!”

The woman shook her head, her sweet eyes full of sympathy. “You’re not allowed. You’ve reached your allotted amount for the day.”

The sheet on the table taunted me. I raised my eyes to her, pleading silently.

Her lips thinned before she quickly used her own card to scan the machine. The door opened, and she removed a fresh, frosted drink from the interior of the preservation unit. I doubted she would have done it if there had been any more patrons inside the bar. Jasmine, the woman who had birthed me—one of the surrogate’s on Joyal—pretended not to notice when the barkeep sat it at our table with a small nod of her head of pity.

When the woman moved to clean a table that was already pristine, Jasmine tentatively placed her hand on top of mine. I flinched and glared at the warm contact. Ever since the letter had arrived, she had been touching me every so often. Her gentle brown eyes held mine and removed her hand only after she let it rest there for a few more awkward seconds.

“Madeline, you must get used to it. The Mian and the Kireg are nothing like us. They touch.”

“I know,” I hissed and dropped my forehead into my palms. I stared down at the wooden table and clenched my hair. This couldn’t be happening. This… “This is not why I chose to be part of the governing body of Joyal. I wanted a quiet life outside of the government. Free to work on advanced engineering. Except, the only way to do that was to accept their offer.” I had tested at ten-years-old. My scores had been off the charts for engineering and political science. I loosened my grip on my hair and peeked up at her. “How could this have happened?”

Her brown eyes lifted, and she stated in a sarcastic tone, “Well, child, there was this really big wave that destroyed Plata, one of our largest cities—”

I dropped my hands to my lap and scowled.

“This isn’t the time for humor.”

The woman who had birthed me was…unique. Most surrogates never spoke to the children after they birthed and housed them. They sheltered the adolescent until they were five-years-old and then shipped them off to school. Jasmine had taken a shine to me, though. She acted more like a mother where I was concerned just as they had, once upon a time, on Earth—before the humans selfishly destroyed their home planet. She kept in contact with me all through my education, even moving closer to my school to see me during the evening hours when I was free.

I lifted my new, cold drink and gulped a large mouthful. It went down much smoother than before. “But I am a child. I’m only twenty-two. If I’m kicked off this planet, how am I going to survive? I don’t have the experience or knowledge of an older individual—someone who might be able to handle the stress better.”

Jasmine chuckled softly. “You don’t give yourself enough credit. You will be fine. You are highly intelligent, and you are capable of adapting to change—unlike an older individual set in their ways.”

To prove her point, she placed her hand on top of mine again and left it there. I still winced, but I didn’t pull away. I knew I needed this preparation. The barkeep ignored the illegal interaction, keeping her eyes far from us. Jasmine squeezed my hand.

“It is only a matter of adjusting to the new life, the new people, and their ways. You may not have initially joined the government to be part of the politics, but you did join it to create change.”

I sniffed and took another drink with my free hand.

Her eyes were patient on mine. “And what will create more change? You staying here to work on your little gadgets? Or you moving to one of the other planets and garnering even more information than you already have, and possibly joining their technology and ours together for those projects you adore working on?”

“I’m an operator-in-training.” I peered down my nose at her, my mood lightening with her words. But I teased her, declaring, “My gadgets are not little. They are profound and benefit Joyal.”

Her words were dry. “The last gadget you worked on blew up when it came in contact with water. There were two injured people and a whole section of your workplace that needs massive renovation. It may have been profoundly unexpected, but I’m not entirely sure how that benefited Joyal’s finances.”

I shrugged a shoulder and drank down the last of my alcho-brew. “Trial and error.”

“With an emphasis on error.”

“That time, perhaps.”

“That time, definitely.”

I sighed and pushed my empty drink aside. “What makes you think the Kireg or Mian will even allow me to continue my work?”

“Honestly? They may not. But I know you too well. You will find a way.”

I hummed under my breath. The woman made a valid point. I was known as a rebel, often times being chastised by my superiors. Just recently, I had received a loss in pay because I had switched my designated chair with another person’s chair. Theirs had been much more comfortable for my long hours of sitting and scrutinizing data. With my penchant for disobeying orders and manipulating the system, I did have extreme knowledge on pushing the limits and enduring punishments.

I nodded, definitely feeling better now. I sat straighter on my chair. “You may be correct.”

She patted my hand and then removed it. “See? It shall all work out if you are chosen.” She nodded her head in a grand stroke, completely believing in her statement. “You may have bumps along the way, but you will be fine.” Her head tilted, eyeing my features. “You may even enjoy it when you’ve finally acclimated.”

“That is highly doubtful.” I leaned closer to her and winked. “You won’t be there.”

She smiled, her eyes pinching at the edges. “I will miss you, too.”

I sighed and leaned back in my chair. My eyes caught on the paper again. I lifted it and folded it for the hundredth time, the creases well worn by now.

“We should rest now. We still have a long day of travel tomorrow.”

She pointed at all of my empty drinks, her lips twitching. “Sure you don’t want to swindle another drink out of that poor employee?”

I waved a hand and stood to my feet. The landscape seemed to sway a moment before it righted. I shook my head and stayed steady on my legs. “That probably wouldn’t be wise. Now I see why the government only allows three a day.”

Jasmine rose to her feet, humor sparkling in her eyes. “Let’s get you up to bed then.” She wrapped her arm around my shoulders and led me to our room. She flicked a finger at the paper I held in a tight grip. “Try not to ruin it.”

I glared straight ahead. “I wish I could.”

“I know. I know.”

I growled, “I could handle the Mian on Triaz…”

Jasmine glanced at me, waiting for me to continue.

I swallowed hard, attempting not to lose my hard edge. “The Kireg on Egyac terrify me.”

Her words were soft and assuring. “If you are sent, it will all work out. Just remember that.”

My nostrils flared. “They can read your mind, Jasmine. And bend it to their will.”

She nodded. “And it will all work out if that is where your fate takes you.”

“I don’t believe that.”

“I do.” Her smile was content. “You were my fate, and you changed my life.”

I peered into her kind gaze, searching. “For the better?”

“Oh, yes. I have learned much and loved even more.”

“Do you honestly believe that will happen for me with the Mian or the Kireg?”

“I believe your life is your own. And how you decide to handle life’s gifts is all up to you.”

I lifted the horrid paper. “This is not a gift.”

“It is if you make it so.” She winked. “Try to remember what I’ve said.”

My sigh was heavy as my shoulders slumped. “I will try.”

My tongue darted out, wetting my dry lips. I sat with a ramrod straight back, my hands strangling each other on my lap. My knuckles were white. I was sure my face was too as I listened to the President speak, a light sheen of perspiration cooling my forehead. All individuals called to this culling were in attendance, the room stifling with its quietness.

Not the Kireg. Not Kireg, please.

The President’s eyes traveled from left to right, his eyes reaching each of us. “Out of the thousand in this room, there will be three hundred sent to Triaz and three hundred sent to Egyac.” He lifted the paper in his hand and began reading from it. “First, I’ll start with the individuals randomly picked for Egyac. If you hear your name called, please exit through the door on your right. Kireg representatives will be waiting there, and you will leave within the hour.”

Not the Kireg… Not the Kireg…

He droned on and on, names of some I knew being called. Others I didn’t know.

Mother Joyal, please don’t say my name.

I closed my eyes and continued my silent prayer.

Then the President called my name.

My ears began to ring, a horrid attack upon my eardrums. I had to leave now. I couldn’t even say goodbye to Jasmine.

I opened my eyes with unshed tears burning and exhaled as I stood from my chair. The dark-haired girl, a few years younger than me on my right, pulled her legs back, giving me room to maneuver around her. She didn’t even look old enough to be here. The government was wrong to cast-off individuals only beginning their lives on Joyal—including me. We weren’t prepared for this. I ignored the nod of respect the President sent in my direction, never to see him again, and held my head up high while I made each leg move to the door on the far right side of the room.

I blinked back the tears, not allowing them to fall. I couldn’t cry. I wouldn’t.

Fear trickled up my spine as I grabbed the door handle. On the other side would be my new destiny. Just beyond this simple barrier was an alien race that would change my life. They would know what I thought and how I felt. The Kireg would know my fear.

They would know everything.

I swallowed on a dry throat and turned the door handle. My steps didn’t falter as I stepped into a small hallway, even when I saw the Kireg at the end of it. The door shut with a quiet click behind me as I strode forward. My brows puckered in slight confusion when I noticed the white, thin cloth wrapped around the Kireg’s head. It covered her eyes, leaving her without sight. Her hair was white, as was this defining trait of all Kireg. Her silken locks flowed down over her shoulders and brushed against her white gown of the thinnest material.

My cheeks burned with a fiery heat. Her womanly figure was on full display.

Her lips quirked at the edges, speaking in Kiregia. “You will get used to it, Madeline Faire.”

I stopped right in front of her, irritation quickly overriding. Though, I did easily switch over to their home-language, taught it since I started the governing program. This was now my life. I returned in Kiregia, “And I don’t even know your name.”

“That is unimportant.” She waved a hand behind her. “Pass through. You will need to prepare for the trip. There are merely forty minutes left until our departure.”

My head cocked while I evaluated the cloth over her eyes. It wasn’t see-through like her gown.

“You are a curious one, aren’t you?” She chuckled softly with much patience.

I wet my lips, but I didn’t hesitate. “Yes.”

Her right hand lifted, her skin as white as the moon. She motioned to my eyes with two fingers straight in front of them. “Unlike a Human, I do not need eyes to truly see.” Her hand lowered and her head lifted as the door behind me opened again. She cocked her head, stating quietly, “You must do as I say now, Madeline Faire. Prepare for departure.”

I stayed put. “Your name?” This Kireg wasn’t horrible.

“Stubborn, too.” She smiled, and her teeth were just as white as her skin. “I am Corza Sta-Han.”

“Respected.” I nodded in appreciation, wondering vaguely if she could actually see it, and moved past her into the room behind. I blinked and stared. White-haired Kireg filled the vast room with a line of Humans standing down the center. All Kireg had a white cloth tied around their head, covering their eyes, their clothing just as revealing as Corza’s was. I faltered in my walk, unsure of what to do.

The Kireg moved as if in a dance around one another, their steps flawless. They were handing out space travel wear and making the Humans change right where they stood, no privacy given. White bracelets were also being put on the right wrist of any Human. I held still as a male Kireg waltzed toward me wearing a sheer white shirt and pants. I kept my eyes directly on his face. Though it was a tad alarming not knowing where to look since his eyes weren’t in view. My attention honed on his sharp nose instead as I waited for his order.

He stated softly, “Madeline Faire, please take a position as the end of the line.”

My nostrils flared, knowing he had read my mind.

His head dipped in deference. “You will become accustomed to our ways.”

I doubted it would be anytime soon.

He motioned with both hands toward the Human line, no further comment made.

I ground my teeth together, but I progressed to take the indicated spot. A Kireg eventually stepped next to me and tapped on an electronic tablet. I watched as the silent woman flawlessly put my name into a database and typed in a number. When she finally looked up, she lifted a white bracelet from a clear bag full of them.

“Please put this on your right wrist, Madeline Faire.”

That was getting annoying. “Your name?”

“Unimportant.” She held the bracelet closer to my face. “We are on a tight deadline.”

I took the bracelet from her and peered at the signet on it. A crescent moon was engraved into the hard material, the mark of the Kireg. “What is the bracelet for?” I wondered if she would tell the truth.

“Unimportant.” Guess not.

I lifted a blonde eyebrow. “This is an encased tracking device.” I had worked on many items like this and had created plenty too. “Are the Kireg afraid they will lose a Human on Egyac?”

Her lips twitched, and she peered down to her tablet, the tied ends of the cloth around her eyes falling around her shoulders. She typed into her tablet. “Yes, it is to make sure we know where you are.”

I hummed quietly, eyeing the handiwork of the bracelet. “Like livestock?”

“I’m unsure of what you mean.”

In my head, I pictured animals being tagged with a microchip.

Her head instantly jerked back, and her forehead crinkled. “No, nothing like that.”

I didn’t believe her. “Is it required that I wear this, then?”

“Yes, it is.” She waved her tablet to the right…where three large Kireg stood against the wall. “Or they will help you put it on.” Her head shook. “You don’t want that, Human.”

I was Human now, not Madeline Faire.

My eyes scanned over the Kireg she had pointed to. She was right on one account. I didn’t want them near me. I glared at the bracelet. It was even more clear I now belonged to the Kireg society.

As a Human.

I placed the bracelet on my wrist.

The woman didn’t move from my side, her lips twitching once more. “Clasp it.”

My shoulders slumped. I clicked the ends together, locking the device around my wrist.

“Appreciated.” She dipped her head. “Another will be along soon with your garments.”

I kept my gaze down the rest of the time, affording my peers the privacy to change, in the hopes they would do the same for me too when I was forced to strip in front of them. Surely, this wasn’t what Jasmine had fancied when she assured all would be well. Because this wasn’t all right.

The Kireg’s spacecraft jerked to the side unexpectedly. I gripped the straps over my shoulders and peered through the visor of my silver space helmet. The Humans sitting around me did the same, everyone glancing at each other. That had been nothing like the smooth ride we’d had so far, only gentle glides up and down, left and right. The spacecraft suddenly nosedived, my legs falling forward with the harshness, only to dip back up to slam my helmet back against the headrest on my chair.

My eyes widened as a heavy beat blared over the intercom system.

“What is that?” a woman shouted in English from a row in front of me.

“That’s an alarm,” I announced. I’d heard many of them when I’d been ‘creating’ new technology that hadn’t worked quite as I had planned. Kireg or Human, a warning never changed. I flinched when an explosion erupted outside the spacecraft. “I think we’re under attack.”

“Attack?” she shrieked, her tone shrill. “The Kireg don’t fight!”

No, they didn’t. They were known as a passive society compared to the Mian.

The man next to her, assured, “I’m sure it’s just technical difficulty. They’ll have it soon worked out—” He stopped talking when the doors to this holding area glided open. Two Kireg stood in their white spacesuits—sans helmets—holding silver weapons in their hands, guns I had only read about on my peaceful planet, Joyal. Barely heard over the alarm booming, the guy muttered quietly, “I could be wrong, too.”

I gripped my straps tighter and stared.

The two Kireg with the weapons…they had their eyes showing.

In Kiregia, the man on the right stated, “Stay where you are, Humans.”

I wasn’t going anywhere and neither were the other people firmly strapped in—with locked ties.

Was this guy joking around?

I pushed back against my seat when his eyes focused directly on me. His direct regard wasn’t one I wanted to fixate my way, his purple eye color nothing I’d ever witnessed before. They were so cold, no emotion showing whatsoever. Like a robots. Small shivers ran up and down my spine as I held still waiting for him to look away. Three Kireg ran behind the two in the doorway, past them in the walkspace, weapons also in their hands and no cloth covering their eyes.

He finally peered away from me, his voice still calm. “My name is Georan Vo-Nam. I’m the leader of the High Rebellion, and even though you are mere Humans, I’m here to make sure you don’t become part of the Dynasty. No living being deserves that fate.”

I tried not to think of anything since he had singled me out before.

But it still came.

What the hell is the Dynasty? And what the fuck is the High Rebellion?

Purple eyes flicked back in my direction, and then he peered to the man beside him. His white hair was untamed around his head, curling and a mess. His skin color was close to mine, a tanned hue. The only physical difference between him and any Human here was the distinct shape of his eyes. They reminded me of a nut I enjoyed eating—an almond—but with a dark black coloring around the edges.

“Explain the details of our mission to the addle-brained, Xri. I need to help with the hostages.”

I glared through my visor.

Ignorant Kireg.

He stopped from leaving and glanced over his shoulder. Right at me. Both his white brows lifted high on his forehead. “Unless you would prefer to have your mind ripped to shreds by the Imperial family?” He shrugged a shoulder. “Afterward, you would work non-stop in the mines for gems or be a mindless sex servant to their warped urges. Both positions have a high turnover rate due to endless fatalities.”

My eyes were frozen wide, unable to blink.

Fuck. That.

The Kireg tipped his head in my direction. “Xri, watch that one closely.”

“Yes, sir,” Xri answered swiftly, his silver eyes honing on my person.

The man sitting next to me glanced in my direction. He hissed, “Keep your thoughts to yourself.”

I nodded. I would try.

Georan Vo-Nam disappeared from sight, turning left down the walkspace where the others had run.

“I’ll explain the situation as plainly as I can.” Xri stepped over, standing in the middle of the doorway. “What the Human President failed to mention is that Egyac is currently in a transition period. We are in a civil war right now—and have been for the past twenty-one moon cycles. It is the Dynasty versus the High Rebellion.”

Oh, Mother Joyal. This wasn’t at all a good situation. The Mian on Triaz would have been far easier to handle than this.

“The Imperial family, who controls the Dynasty, continues to attempt to rule, preying on those who are weaker than them. The High Rebellion believes we should all be equal, no matter our voy-level—our influence. The Kireg people are torn and firmly divided in their thoughts between the North and the South.”

Xri smiled so sweetly.

I grimaced, not peering at his mouth.

There was a predator hidden behind his silver eyes.

He announced with a pump of his gun in the air. “But the High Rebellion has recently taken over two new provinces in the North. We are much closer to our end goal thanks to our leader.”

But at the cost of how many lives?

I had read about Earth’s history. Many had died during civil wars in varying countries.

Was there no way to compromise?

Silver eyes landed on me, his tone dead. “There is no compromising with the Dynasty.”

We landed in the Sori province on Egyac. It was what Xri told us, anyway. The rest of the ride was smooth, but my nerves were still frazzled. I stood in the very back of the Human line they had placed us in and cocked a hip, peering around the Human in front of me to see what was going on. There were two Kireg at the very front of the line. The Kireg now in control of the ship didn’t wear scarves covering their eyes, and they were removing the bracelets from my peers and giving them standard black shirts, pants, and shoes.

Luckily, the rebellion Kireg appeared to be more shy in nature—probably because they actually used their damn eyes to see. The clothes they wore weren’t sheer, and neither were the clothes they were handing the Humans at the front. Though my heart beat heavy in my chest from the clothing the Kireg had changed into. The coloring was silver and made with a shiny compound, impenetrable from what my trained eye observed. On Joyal, I had used shield boxes made of the same material when I toyed with experiments that might blow up. They also had guns holstered to their backs and their legs.

They were prepared for battle.

I did a double take when Corza walked by of her own free will, not part of the Kireg hostages. The cloth covering her eyes was no longer there.

I quickly unlatched my space helmet and dropped it to the ground. I swatted a few blonde tresses that had come loose from my ponytail aside, my forehead sticky from nervous sweating. My feet were moving before I even thought twice about it. Her white, long hair flew out as she turned in my direction.

But I came to a screeching halt five feet away from her when the three Kireg she was talking to suddenly had guns pointed at my head. A deafening silence surrounded us in this packed corridor of the spaceship. I carefully lifted my hands into the air, making sure to speak in their native language. “I only want to speak with Corza. I’m not trying to harm anyone.”

Her eyes now seen were vivid purple. They ran over me from head to toe.

Then she grinned, flashing her white teeth. “Madeline Faire. I’m not surprised.” She patted the air while keeping her gaze on mine. Her command was simply stated, “Put your weapons away. She isn’t a threat to me.”

The men instantly did as told, holstering their guns. But they didn’t leave her side.

I cleared my throat and lowered my hands, peering at the Kireg soldiers surrounding her. “You, uh, have a lot of guards.”

She flipped her hair over her shoulder in a sensual move, the white curls flowing like silk. Her resulting sigh was heavy, and she tilted her purple eyes skyward. “My brother is an overprotective bore.”

I squinted at her eyes, her curls. I took a guess. “Your brother is Georan.”

Her lips twitched as her regard met mine again, humor lighting her odd eyes. “I see you’ve met him.” When I nodded with annoyance, she shrugged a casual shoulder and bent closer to my face, explaining in a confidential tone, “Geo is the leader of the High Rebellion.”

My blink was real slow. But I quickly removed any displeasure from my features.

Apparently, I had aggravated the rebellion leader earlier, and now I was bothering his sister.

I wasn’t off to a great start. I flicked a thumb over my right shoulder. “I think I’ll go back to the line now. My apologies for,” I glanced at her guards, “startling your men.”

She grabbed my gloved left hand and linked her arm with mine. “Actually, why don’t you walk with me?” Her smile was sweet and inviting, not forced.

“Uh…are you sure?” I glanced at her guards once more.

She waved her free hand and pulled me along with her. We walked down the long line of the silently observing Humans. “The guards will follow. They always do.” She patted my arm linked with hers. “So, Madeline Faire, what did you want to speak with me about?”

My brows gradually rose, and my shoulders relaxed. I still liked her, my initial reaction on Joyal unchanging. I held her unusual gaze and smirked. “Just call me Madeline—no last name needed. And you already know what I wanted to talk about. You listened to my thoughts when I came up behind you.”

Her grin didn’t falter, her cheeks pinched with humor. “I did, but I was attempting politeness.”

“Appreciated.” I dipped my head slightly in thanks, a cool breeze wafting in from the open cargo door close by. My attention turned to the terrain that was now visible. Blue grass and yellow boulders. I swallowed hard, staring at the captive Kireg standing on that unfamiliar landscape, their hands bound behind their backs.

Even though she already knew my question, I asked it anyway, “Are the Humans safe here? The rebellion members look prepared for battle.”

“The Sori province is one of the last we need to take down before we hit the Imperial family. Sori runs directly along the Mai province, which the High Rebellion possesses. When the Humans exit the ship, they will be taken to the south, into Mai. I will be leading the expedition. All Humans will be safe there, safe with me.”

I peered deeply into her eyes, and then scanned her features. Her smile was now forced, and lines bracketed her eyes. “But the warriors will be heading deeper into Sori.” Which included her brother, a person who she was worried about, that much obvious.

Her grin faded, and her nod was barely noticeable. “You’re very perceptive, Madeline.”

I didn’t comment on that. Instead, my eyes returned outside to the hostages. “What will your brother do with them?”

“What he must do until the war is over.”

My nostrils flared. “You mean he’ll kill them.”

“Not all of them.” She shrugged a strong shoulder. “Only the ones who try to escape. He’ll keep the others in a prison until the war is over with a new ruling control in place.”

“Him,” I muttered. “He’ll be the new ruling government.”

“Of course,” she answered easily. “He fights for freedom for all Kireg.”

I retorted with boldness, “While he still kills Kireg, who don’t bow to his wishes.”

“That is war.”

I ground my teeth together, my eyes caught on the ties binding the hostages.

“You are Human. Your people are peaceful. You have never faced a foe like the Dynasty.”

I kept my mouth shut. I didn’t believe in war. Earth had been ruined by it, and the greed Humans had once had. We learned from our past, and our existence now was nonviolent. It was extremely surprising that an alien species as far evolved as the Kireg, much more evolved than Humans, hadn’t already learned that lesson.

Corza hummed, her purple eyes capturing mine. “Circumstances make you do what you must. You’ll learn that in time. Perhaps, now, since you’re at the rebellion’s mercy.”

I cleared my expression. She knew how to hand down a quiet warning. “You may be correct, Corza. I mean no offense. This is new for me, as it will be for my peers. If they have the same opinions as I do, I implore that you don’t—”

She lifted her free hand, her arm still linked with mine. “The other Humans are merely frightened of their thoughts being read and interested in where they’ll be living—safely. They aren’t quite as curious and opinionated as you are.”

My mouth snapped closed. “Oh.” I was frightened too.

“But it isn’t overpowering your personality.”

“What happened to being polite?” I smirked.

“That was polite. I was reassuring you that you’re smarter than they are.”

A snort of laughter escaped my lips. “You don’t need to say that, but thank you.”

She pulled me closer to her side, and whispered, “If it makes you feel better about Geo ruling when he finishes this war, he is—somewhat—an heir to the throne.”

My brows puckered in confusion. “Why would he be fighting his own kindred group? Or even, why would you? And if you want to strike at them, it would make more sense to fight from within, not battle from the outside in.”

She nodded grandly, her smile reappearing. “See? You are smart. I knew it.”

I lifted my blonde brows and waited for her answer.

“My brother and I are born from a mother who is not the Queen, but our father is the King.”

My attention fell to the floor, with a niggling memory. There was a term for that in the old literature on Joyal. We didn’t use words like that anymore since our genes were handpicked and in vitro fertilization was used on surrogates, but on Earth, it hadn’t always been that way. When breeding was still a bodily act of sex, there were natural families. Humans had been married…

I snapped my gaze up. “You and your brother are bastards.”

She stared in silence, her quirked lips falling into a straight line.

I pulled my arm away from hers and took a step back. “Did I say something wrong?”

A deep, masculine timber rumbled directly behind my person. “I hope you merely made a mistake in speech, Ms. Faire. Surely, you wouldn’t call us a vulgar name when you’ve just landed on our planet.”

My feet turned slowly until I was looking up into purple eyes. But this gaze was colder than a preservation unit, chilling and brutal. This planet would be ruled by this man one day. My jaw bobbed, before I sputtered, “Shit.”

A white, cocky brow lifted on his tan face. “You shit your spacesuit?”

The air gasped out of my lungs. “No!”

The other brow lifted, matching the other’s height. He was waiting for my response.

I stuttered from the mere intimidation he exuded. “I-I didn’t call either of you a bad name. A ‘bastard’ was the term used on Earth when a person was born out of wedlock.”

Corza cleared her throat softly, her lips twitching.

He wasn’t appeased. “Are we on the Human’s old planet, Ms. Faire?”

“No, we’re not.” But it was a Human word, and I was Human. I just wouldn’t say it to his face if he found it offensive. “My apologies.” I puckered my brows gradually, even while amusement bubbled up inside me. “And you may call be Madeline, not Ms. Faire. Only my boss on Joyal called me that. But I’m unsure of what to call you. Mr. Vo-Nam? Georan? Geo? Man-Soon-To-Rule? He-Who-Scowls-Too-Much?”

Corza’s laughter boomed, her head dropping back with it. She waved her hands in the air, gasping for breath. “Madeline, I think you and I will be fast friends.” She flicked a finger at her glaring brother. “And call him Geo since it’ll bug the hell out of me if you call him anything else.”

I peered up at the rebellion leader and cocked my head.

The bastard sighed. “Geo is fine.” His eyes narrowed to thin purple slits. “Madeline.”

I nodded. “Wonderful.” My attention honed on his armor. I even lifted my right index finger and ran the pad of it over his breastplate. I furrowed my brows once more in concentration. It wasn’t completely the same material I had experience with. This was softer to the touch. I glanced up at him, ignoring his own furrowing brow at my action, and asked, “May come closer to examine this further?”

He blinked. “If you were any closer, Human, you would be pressed against me.”

I snorted softly. I wasn’t that close to him. “That’s a no then.” My chest heaved in disappointment, and I peered to Corza. “Do you have more of the armor? I’d love to learn about it. I was an operator-in-training on Joyal. I have a natural curiosity to puzzles I can’t figure out.”

Her hair was flipped over her shoulder. “I’m sure we have a few where we’re going.”

“Perfect!” I almost bounced on my feet in excitement.

Her eyes widened in shock at my elation. “What exactly is an operator-in-training?”

I stopped moving and my nose scrunched. “Well, I actually tended to blow things up a lot.” I held up a quick finger. “But it was all in the name of science and furthering technology.”

Her chin started trembling, and she peered to her brother. “Don’t fret, Geo. We’ll keep an eye on her.”

He grunted, and glanced behind him. “Speaking of that, where is your mate? Xri was supposed to be watching her.”

I mumbled under my breath, “I’m not that bad.”

Geo didn’t even look at me, his eyes still scanning. “Yes, you are.”

I crossed my arms and lifted my chin. “Explain, please.”

“The mere fact you’re not in line with the other Humans is a perfect example.”

“My apologies, Kireg, that I don’t always follow the rules.”

Cold purple eyes quickly met mine. “That is the exact reason why you need watching.”

My mouth snapped shut, stopping my cutting remark, when Corza stepped between us. She placed her hands on his cheeks, cupping them. Her words were quiet. “Xri is using the facilities. You know he hates flying. It upsets his stomach terribly.” She went up on tiptoe and pecked his lips with hers. My eyes opened as large as saucers, unable to comprehend what I was witnessing. Her mouth opened to say something else, but both their heads snapped in my direction. After evaluating my features, she snickered softly, and murmured, “It is a sign of affection, Madeline. It’s called a kiss.”

I swiped my right hand in front of my face and shook my head. “No, it’s not that. Jasmine already spoke with me before I left Joyal, and even tried to prepare me for the Kireg and Mian’s way of living. But I am confused. I thought species breeding between siblings created mutations; therefore, they aren’t done by any civilization.”

Geo stared. Blinked. Then he gently pushed his sister’s hands off his face, a scowl forming on his as he peered at her. “You like this Human so much? You can deal with that shit.” He turned and stalked away.

“Be careful out there, brother,” Corza called after him.

“Always and forever,” he muttered over his shoulder.

Corza took my arm again and pulled me toward the end of the Human’s line. She stayed there with me, our arms linked, and whispered, “Siblings do not breed, Madeline. A kiss can be given, even if two people aren’t sexual. It’s merely a sign of affection, as I stated.”

My blink was gradual, a flush burning my cheeks. “Oh.”

She patted my arm. “Never fear. My brother is like that with everyone.”

I snickered softly, and mumbled sarcastically, “It’s very charming, to be sure.”

A grin lifted her pretty features. “Most women do like it.”

Then the Kireg are even more peculiar than I’d initially thought.

Her head tipped back again, and she laughed loud enough everyone glanced our way, including the bastard Kireg, who glared hard in my direction.

I tipped my head toward her, peering away from the intimidating rebellion leader. “I think I made a friend in him.”

Her snickering didn’t stop until tears fell down her cheeks. “How many marks of training combat do you wear on your wrists?”

My shoulders slumped. “Only seven.”

She chuckled again. “You’ll probably wish you had all ten when he gets back from this battle.”

I peeked his way. He was still glowering. “You may be right.”

She pulled close against her side. “I’ll protect you.”

His scowl only increased at her words.

My eyes narrowed on his, not to be cowed.

I won’t infect her with my Human-ness, Kireg. Don’t worry yourself too much.

The rebellion leader ground his teeth together and turned away.

“Now, that wasn’t wise,” she whispered. “Initially, Geo was the only one who wanted to save the Humans from the Dynasty. We’re here under his order.” When I glanced at her in shock, she nodded her head. “So don’t make him regret it.”

The brown dirt under my gifted black shoes and the setting sun were the only reminders of home. The wind that blew while we walked miles to our destination rustled blue leaves on silver tree limbs. Tiny red, unfamiliar lizards peeked out from under the yellow boulders. Black birds flew overhead that were as big as my body, their feathers gleaming evergreen as they turned, following us.

Nothing about this land was a welcome sight.

Except for the Kireg next to me, chatting constantly. I was positive by this point that Corza was trying to make me feel more comfortable every time a new creature made itself known—none were dangerous, she had insisted time and again. Her three bodyguards had multiplied to six before we left the spaceship, so they hovered constantly, occasionally glancing oddly at me.

I stretched my legs out in front of me, my stride appearing like I had wooden legs. But the burn in my muscles was threatening to make me limp. “Tell me again why your brother couldn’t spare even one vehicle?” He may not respect Humans, but he did love his sister—a hug given to her before he left for battle.

She rolled her eyes, sweat not even beading her forehead. The woman was a definite warrior, whereas I hadn’t trained physically in a few years. I generally sat behind a desk, evaluating data for my experiments.

For the fifth time, Corza muttered, “From our departure location, it was only ten clicks to our destination. It was thirty clicks to theirs. They are going to fight, a surprise attack in the night. They needed to be there early and in combat ready form. We don’t. We have food and beds waiting for us.”

I growled under my breath.

“If it makes you feel better, we’ve already walked two clicks.”

“Two clicks?” I shrieked, and wiped off my forehead. I couldn’t fathom what a ‘click’ meant to her. “That’s all we’ve gone?”

Corza glared at her bodyguards, who had grabbed for their weapons. Her attention turned back to me, and she stated patiently, “We aren’t running, to be polite to the Humans who are out of shape.” She lifted a brow, watching as a bead of sweat ran down my temple. “We would be halfway there by now if we were moving faster.”

I tried to control my breathing since we had so much longer to travel. “Appreciated.”

She nodded her head regally. “Accepted.” Purple eyes glanced at the seven tattooed marks on the underside of my wrists. “I do have a question.”

“Feel free to ask. As long as you don’t start running.”

Her chuckle was quiet. “Do the Humans not keep you physically trained after schooling?”

“Is that your question?”

“Yes.”

“No, they don’t. Not in my line of work.”

She grinned. “Where you blow inventions up.”

I held up my finger. “In the name of science and furthering technology. Don’t forget.”

“Do you, at least, know how to make a bomb—on purpose?”

I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. “Why?”

“I’m just curious.”

Her first lie. I may not be a Kireg, but I knew a lie when I heard it.

“I’ll just read your mind for the answer.” She shrugged.

“You are ruthless.” I wiped my forehead again. “And, yes, I’m trained in explosive weapons, and I know how to handle them without harming myself.”

“Interesting.” Corza was silent for a few minutes, unlike her usual talkative nature.

I glanced at her, the sun almost setting. It would be cooler soon and less oppressive.

“What are you thinking about?”

“I just find it extremely curious that your President gave up an engineer of your caliber.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder, not a piece out of place. “So an Operator on your planet is an individual who handles operations of military equipment?”

My nose scrunched, uncomfortable with this line of questioning. “I’d rather talk about another subject. Preferably, nothing that has to do with Joyal’s military procedures.”

She instantly nodded. “Apologies. I pushed too far.”

“Accepted,” I murmured, my eyes catching on a blue glimmer in the distance. I squinted and pointed at it. “What’s that? Another animal I shouldn’t be afraid of?”

Her purple gaze followed where I was pointing. Then she stopped in her tracks.

I halted next to her, watching as her eyes narrowed. “I take it that’s not expected?”

“No,” she hissed, snapping at her guards.

“What is it?”

“It’s a Moon Mark.” Her guards flanked her, shouldering their way past me.

I shivered in the twilight, suddenly chilled. I peeked through two of the guards, and questioned, “What’s a Moon Mark? Should the Humans be alarmed?”

“It’s only one, so no. But a Moon Mark is a sign of hostility.”

I crossed my arms over my chest and rubbed at my arms. “From who?”

“From a Kireg. The Moon Mark shows they are ready to use their full powers.”

I blinked. “I still don’t understand.”

“We’re still a click away from the Mai border, so that’s a Sori resident.”

My attention honed on the blue glow. “So a member of the Dynasty?”

“Yes.”

The air left my lungs when blue sparks lit up one-by-one in a circle around us.

“They have us surrounded,” Corza hissed, her gaze flicking to each blue light in the dusk. She held up a quick hand to her bodyguards. “No Moon Marks. The Humans have no barriers, and they’re reading them. We’re far outnumbered in Kireg numbers, and they know it.”

I took a step back from her group and glanced at the 299 Humans still marching forward, unknowing anything was amiss. I switched to English and shouted, “Stop moving. Everyone form up. The blue lights are hostiles.”

In an instant, the Humans altered course and formed a tight, full circle. They faced out toward the unfriendly Kireg, on the balls of their feet, prepared for an attack. Or to run if needed. In this position, they could scatter to the wind and knock any attackers off balance. The aggressive Kireg might outnumber the protecting Kireg, but with the added Human numbers, we stood a chance.

We need weapons.

Corza glanced at me through two guards, having watched the Humans move. “That was smart, but we don’t have enough weapons for them. They will be on their own with only their fists and feet if we move to retaliate.”

“And if we do nothing? What happens then?”

“From what I can read off a few of them, they’re just hunters. They’ll sell you to the highest Dynasty bidder.”

I cracked my neck, wishing I had stayed in shape. “Give me numbers. What will be the death toll if we hand ourselves over versus fighting back.”

She shook her head. “You’re looking at this all wrong. It’s not about data analysis. The hunters won’t kill the Humans. They’ll trap the Human minds and sell each of you, no matter the end outcome.”

My spine stiffened as unease crept in, my voice soft. “Then we fight. If even a few can get away, it’s better than just handing ourselves over.” My brows lifted gradually. “But you already knew that was the best option for the Humans. You had moved past us. You were thinking of how your people could swindle their way out of this without having to fight, too.”

Her lips thinned into a hard line. “If I’m hurt or captured, Geo will not handle it well.”

I whispered in pure sarcasm, “And he is the next ruler. You can’t have him commit suicide over your death or torture.” I shook my head, keeping my thoughts clear, counting the newly revealed stars I stared up at. “Dammit, I like you, too.”

“And I like you” she answered, her tone sad.

“Then I’m sorry for what I’m about to do.” My gaze snapped to the Humans. “Run for your lives!”

The Humans scattered, racing out in a circle as fast as they could.

It was too much for the Kireg next to me to handle.

Even when I saw a Moon Mark up close for the first time.

A blue glow hovered over each of the guards—but not Corza. She didn’t try to retaliate.

I stared in fascination for too long. The glow was a reflection of their person. It was vision I wanted to hold onto so I could examine all the complexities.

But Corza barked, “Run, Madeline. Run!”

I snapped out of it and raced with my people. I ran where we had come from since more hostiles were in the direction of the borderline. My adrenaline picked up, seeing Humans making it past the few Kireg on this side of their surrounding circle. I pumped my arms, and my legs had never moved so fast.

I faltered when the Human next to me stopped cold, but I kept pushing forward.

Humans were gradually becoming barriers in my path, their forms unmoving.

I twisted around them, even knocked into some of them, but they didn’t even blink.

“Mother Joyal, please help me,” I prayed on a panting whisper.

Then the world, the galaxy, ceased to exist.

All I saw was a radiant blue light.

I was finally at peace. And I never wanted to leave it.

Freezing water jarred me awake. But I was standing, not sleeping in a bed.

And I was naked.

I threw my hands up to cover my face and screamed.

It wasn’t the only shout of terror. Multiple female shrieks were heard on both sides of me.

I turned from the water and ran…right into a tiled wall. “What is happening?”

“I don’t know!” A Human slammed against the wall next to me. Her large brown eyes were bloodshot, and her face was covered with streaks of dirt that dripped down from the water. Her teeth chattered as she tried to hide her nakedness. “I just woke up here.”

I chanced to peer back over my shoulder, my chest heaving with each labored breath taken. The Kireg were behind us, three of them in lab coats and scarves around the eyes. They held the hoses that sprayed down the ten Human women inside this bathroom stall. Brown mud, blue grass, and tinges of blood splattered the floored tiling and began to clog the drain in the center of the room.

My chin trembled in terror, and my hands shook against the wall. “Mother Joyal, we were captured.”

One of the Kireg jerked a hose in my direction, and the water shot up into my face. I screamed as it hit my eyes, the water mixed with a foul smelling antiseptic. I ducked my head down and shielded my eyes while tears ran down my cheeks. Clumps of dirt were falling off my body as the water streamed down it, my toes burning from popped blisters I couldn’t remember getting.

“Subject 14, turn around!” a Kireg male shouted.

When no one moved, not understanding, I was suddenly facing forward.

I hadn’t done it willingly.

“Next time, listen, Subject 14,” the Kireg barked.

My whole body trembled in fear, it eating up my spine. I swayed where I stood covering my eyes while I was hosed down, my mind not able to comprehend my situation.

“I think I might faint.”

“Don’t,” he ordered, now washing my bruised knees. Where I had gotten the bruises, I didn’t know. “This is the first time you subjects have been released—and each of you are a damn mess. They barely kept you fed in the boxes you were in with your own waste. It took us all these months to negotiate a deal for the entirety of the Humans captured. And we want you willing, not under the influence since we got lucky and were able to capture a few Kireg today, too. So, if you don’t want to be controlled, do as you’re ordered.”

I braced my feet when he got to my ankles. The pressure was hard enough to knock my feet out from underneath me. The crying women around me were my only link to home. I couldn’t fail them and not be there—in control of my mind—if they needed me. That thought cleared my mind as I rubbed the water from my eyes.

Months, he had said. We had been hostages for months. Our lives not our own.

The hunters had kept us…in boxes.

Perhaps it wasn’t dirt that was falling off of us.

“You’re awfully forthright,” I hissed, my mouth dryer than sand.

Arguing kept me from screaming. Because I wanted to scream. I wanted to shriek until their eardrums bled. Until this was no longer a reality.

The Kireg stated, “As I said, we want you willing. We want you free to make the choices we’ll give you soon, and from our training, honesty is a trait Humans appreciate.”

I bared my teeth. “You’re going to study us.”

I knew a scientist when I saw one. I was one. As were the three assholes with the hoses.

He nodded his head and turned the hose on the woman next to me. “Yes.”

“What will it include?” My eyes narrowed.

“More than I have time to list right now.”

I covered my chest and the juncture between my thighs.

Screaming sounded better and better.

There were Kireg guards all over this place along with cameras. If I tried to escape, it would be impossible. There were no sounds other than the click of the guards’ boots. There were no windows for natural light, only the horrid harsh glow of the ceiling fixtures. There were no smells, except for the sickly potent scent of fresh paint. And there was no warmth, the confined space constantly blasting with cold air. It was as if the Dynasty had just built this location for these experiments.

I hated the Kireg with a vengeance.

I stopped in my tracks when I entered the cell the Kireg forced a few of us into. The Kireg I despised the most, the one who had started a fucking war on this planet, was sharing a cell with me. I blinked hard and rubbed at my burning eyes. It didn’t change the view before me.

I muttered, “What the hell?”

Geo lay on the cot at the back of the rectangle rock cell. His purple eyes landed on mine and narrowed. “Sacred Moon, it’s you. I thought I had been blessed with your death.” His gaze traveled over my features slowly. “Now, it appears, I wasn’t blessed at all.”

I growled, “Apparently not, since you’re in a damn cell.”

His attention turned to the ceiling. It was then I saw two white devices attached to his temples. My brows puckered as I walked toward him, my feet moving where my curiosity led. I barely noticed there were other male Humans inside the cell, too, along with multiple Kireg.

He flicked an irritated glance in my direction, but it didn’t stop me. He muttered, “A mission went wrong. It wasn’t my fault. There was a traitor in my crew.” He shrugged a shoulder, his voice quieting. “At least I know who it is now.”

“Obviously. You never do anything wrong, do you? But I am surprised they didn’t kill you on the spot when they found out who you were,” I mumbled, and then squatted next to his cot. I pushed my dripping blonde hair back behind my shoulders as I leaned closer, studying the probes on his temples. The gray shirt I had been given was dotted from the moisture and sticking to my skin. I lifted a hand and pointed at the devices. “What are those?”

He scowled. “They’re inhibitors. They keep Kireg from using any of their powers.”

I ducked my head and brought my eyes close. “They look to be implanted into your skin.”

“They are.” He swatted my hand away when I went to touch one. “Don’t mess with them. If inhibitors are removed without the correct device, it’ll kill that individual.”

“Okay, Kireg, no touching.” I cocked my head, eyeing the prongs stuck into his flesh. He didn’t move, eyeing me warily as I evaluated the objects, his gaze constantly altering to my hands to make sure I didn’t try to touch again. Then my eyes widened. “Those are neural transmitters.”

“That’s what I said, Human. It’s an inhibitor.”

“But now I understand how it works on you,” I mumbled. It was fascinating.

“You are annoying as hell.”

“And you kill your own people. I believe I win.”

His nostrils flared, and he sat up on his elbows. I quickly jerked back to keep from connecting with any of his skin. He snorted softly at my action. “You do know it’s the Dynasty who has you now.”

I stood up straight and crossed my arms, peering down at him. “Yes, I do. And it was hunters, who only wished to bribe the Dynasty who kept me in a box for months before this.” When his mouth shut, I cocked my head. I had rendered him mute—an incredible achievement. “How long has it been since we landed here?”

His lips pinched, and then he told me.

My eyes glazed over, and my head spun. I hadn’t wanted to know after all.

“Don’t puke on me,” he hissed.

I turned on my heel and walked to a cot at the front of the cell. I had no more words for him.

The bed wasn’t hard, but it felt foreign to my muscles. My body was used to a box.

I loathed the Kireg. All of them.

It took one day to learn the start-up trials of the scientists. The easy tests always came first.

We were hosed down in the morning and at night. We were fed fish and only fish. It was purple and green, a typical Kireg diet. But, the meals came three times a day, filling my belly full. Even if peculiar.

In the morning, the three scientists had us running on hov-treads. They were testing our endurance compared to the captured Kiregs. They kept sacs nearby for those who needed to throw up, and then they were pushed back onto the machine with a warning to not get off again.

In the afternoon, we were pressed into a confined space. Every single one of us in one small room. The lights would flicker off and on. Off and on. Off and on. Music blared, the same heinous tune on repeat. The cameras watched on as Kireg and Human alike had mental meltdowns, neither species breaking any sooner than the other.

When we were all shoved back into our appointed cells, the nighttime was the worst.

The lights went out—completely out. It was pitch black unless a guard turned on the light at one of the two checkpoints to the cell area. The quietness was eerie, not even an animal heard outside the building. All I had left were my thoughts. The idea of being trapped in a box—much like the cell.

This routine repeated every day…until it didn’t.

The time came when the scientists changed their easy experiments.

When Subject 14 was called for a new trial. And Subject 8 was also picked.

Geo and me. We were paired together…

The see-through cage was no better on the inside than the outside. I trembled where I stood and grimaced, swallowing hard. My stomach churned so fiercely it was a real possibility I would throw up all over the white floor, my stomach literally cramping in painful clenches.

The rebellion leader stood five feet away from me, both of us facing forward toward the onlookers, not glancing at one another. The captured Kireg and Humans stood in their straight lines wearing varying expressions. The Kireg were trying not to show how terrified they were of losing their king while the Humans were fidgeting on their feet and just as green around the gills as I was. Neither people were doing a fine job of keeping their feelings masked.

The usual three Kireg scientists stood directly in front of the cage, their electronic tablets in their hands and their hidden eyes on whatever data they were typing. The middle white-haired man, who had taken the lead before, eventually lifted his head and stopped tapping on his screen. He adjusted the cloth over his eyes above his straight nose, and his mouth moved. I could hear him clearly where I stood, the microphone hooked over his ear and directed to the speakers on the cage’s ceiling.

He explained with extreme thoroughness, “Subject 8. Subject 14. You have five minutes each to hit your designated red button to consent to have sex with one another. If both of you do not comply within that timeframe, the two of you will be eliminated with an acid shower. If you do consent, the sexual act will be performed right where you are with no exceptions.” He peered down at his screen and tapped. The red clock flashed inside the glass, the clarity vivid and gross. “Starting now.”

My eyes glued to the red numbers ticking down until my head fell to stare blindly at the sterile floor. Sweat beaded my forehead, and my fingers went numb. I heaved in a mouth full of oxygen, only to curl my lips at the scent of the antiseptic shower still covering my skin. Everything these Kireg—the Dynasty—were doing was merciless and revolting. They wouldn’t change their minds even if I begged—that much had already been proven. A hot tear leaked out of the corner of my right eye, but I swiftly wiped the evidence of my turmoil away.

There was no one here to help me. Not the rebellion or my peers.

No one…but for me. My destiny. My fate.

My chin quivered with the realization I would have to choose on my own.

I jerked my attention away from the floor and glanced at the clock.

Three minutes, two seconds.

The hearing in my right ear went in and out, a buzzing warning of survival.

My head slowly turned, my gaze running over each rebellion member and captured Human. Past all of the Kireg with their weapons, their expressions void of any emotion—pure killing machines. My narrowed gaze scanned the scientists who only watched on with a clinical mind, no apologies in their regard.

Until I turned my head to the side and stared at the Kireg standing next to me. The man who had killed countless others of his own species. The individual who was so cruel and heartless he had started a war without remorse, all for a cause only he had first believed in. A Kireg with profound power and utter devotion from his subjects.

But none of these views were helping my situation.

I attempted to calm my hatred of him, pressing my thoughts to turn logical. To look at the Kireg’s position in life, the authority he held with a firm hand.

This man was a powerful individual every Kireg and Human would need on their side if we ever got out of here. He had the experience in battle and warfare. This Kireg knew how to win a war. He knew how to exact revenge without his emotions getting in the way. And the civil war would continue if we escaped this hell hole.

My jaw clenched, and my eyes stung with unshed tears.

The decision was easy.

While I wanted to save my own life…this bastard was the person I was actually saving.

A man I hated with every fiber of my being.

And I was going to save him.

Save him.

He stood straight forward, his cold eyes simply staring at the back wall, though his white brows began to crease under my direct regard—the moment when you realize someone was watching you. His purple gaze flicked in my direction, and then returned to the wall only to snap straight back at me when he understood I was staring.

The air rushed past my lips on a shaky exhale as his chilling eyes met mine. I turned my gaze away from him and kept my sight on the ground. But the cage was elevated. My resolved, downward gaze wasn’t hidden from the scrutiny outside of the room, my repulsed determination clearly on display. I moved and placed one bare foot in front of the other on the cold and painted concrete. I attempted to ignore the heads snapping in my direction from the onlookers, their surprised regard sending unwanted goose bumps over my flesh. I flinched when one of the Humans in the front shouted.

His words were clear through the speakers. “Don’t you fucking do it!”

“Be quiet!” a Kireg instantly barked. “She’s doing what she must.”

My hand hovered over the podium in front of me, the red button mocking.

What I must. I wish that were true. It was still a choice.

My own choosing.

One I was making as I pressed my hand down on the red button.

The Kireg scientist in the middle pushed on his microphone, his expression shocked and elated at my action. His mouth started moving as he turned around, but I couldn’t hear what he was ordering—though his directive was evident when most of the guards began herding everyone into a straight line—to lead them out of the room. The scientist glared at the Human, who had yelled at me, the asshole lab coat not appreciating the interference of my personal decision.

I wasn’t wounded by the man’s words. If his emotional outburst had caused their removal from this horrid scene, then I would thank him later. This wasn’t anything I wanted anyone to see, whether it was my death if the rebellion leader didn’t press his button or if it ended with us having sex if he did. Neither were outcomes I wanted anyone to observe.

The prisoners continued to watch, though—the clock still ticking.

The fucking scientists hadn’t paused the countdown.

As they finished lining up their detainees, a guard opened the door to herd them away…

Geo stepped beside me. He pressed his button.

The red numbers stopped at one minute, thirty-four seconds.

My hands shook down by my sides, horror and panic holding me captive.

This was going to happen.

Neither one of us looked at each other, our attention solely on the Kireg scientists.

This man standing next to me had better be worth it. I was saving him. I would eventually expect a return on my investment. And the deaths of the fuckers before us would be a decent start.

The scientist in charge kept his back to us until all the prisoners had been removed from the room. Then he turned around to face us. The crazy bastard wasn’t hiding his excitement, making me wonder if none had pressed the red buttons before. On each side of him, the two lab coats were essentially grinning.

It was sick as fuck.

I bared my teeth at their obvious delight.

The rebellion leader took a large step forward and punched the glass hard enough to make it shake. I flinched and peered at his fist, gauging the damage. His knuckles were bleeding, but no bones were sticking out of his skin.

He stated in a cold, calm voice, “I’m going to enjoy killing each of you.” He bent at the waist and placed his hands on his knees, his face even with theirs. “I’ll do it slowly. And remove your scarves so you can truly see—since you’re perverse enough to find two people being forced together appealing. And I’ll leave your tongues intact, so I’ll have your screams to remember you by long after you’re dead. But I’ll take your brains at the end and shit on them.”

I held perfectly still, his very calmness alarming.

He was the first to threaten them. Our situation didn’t allow us to do so.

They could do whatever they wanted in retaliation.

But, seemingly, instead of an instant acid shower, they simply disregarded him.

The two Kireg scientists on the sides peered down to their tablets while the lead scientist pressed a button on his microphone. He pushed his cloth up again and presumably, peered down his nose at the rebellion leader. His voice heard again, he explained clearly, “If you try to escape during this experiment, the acid will be activated, and both of you will be eliminated.”

Geo gradually straightened and rolled his head on his shoulders. He took another step forward and placed his forehead against the glass, glaring ice-cold daggers at the scientists below him. His fists clenched down by his sides, itching to break through the barrier.

The muscles under his shirt tensed.

Mother Joyal. I hadn’t thought the situation could get any worse.

My voice was small inside the room, but it was still a warning. “Don’t. Kill. Us.” I growled quietly under my breath in the face of his silent fury. “I did not just lose all honor I have for you to fuck it up now, Kireg, before I can earn my respect back from my people. You want to kill them? Do it later.”

He let loose his own soft growl. It was his warning to me, cold and in control. He relaxed his fingers, and then clenched them again into fists. “I’m just memorizing their faces, Human. I’ll kill them when it’s the appropriate time.”

They stood evaluating us as they tapped notes on their tablet, unfazed by his statement. Then the rebellion leader took a significant step back. Another. One more. He was aligned with me now. He turned to give them his back and crossed his arms as he stared at the back wall, unable to look at them.

He groused over his shoulder, “What now, perverts?”

“One moment,” the lead scientist mumbled. He didn’t even look up from his writing.

My hands started to tremble anew. The rebellion leader stood near—so close I could feel the heat coming from his body. And we were about to get even closer—too close. My shoulders hunched when the scientist finally spoke.

“Remove your clothing. Both of you.”

The tears that formed in my eyes burned and my vision blurred. I turned my head to the side, away from him, when the rebellion leader began to remove his gray shirt, his back still to the scientists. My chest pumped too quickly, my lungs working overtime. My eyelashes fluttered when another tear escaped.

I winced when his shirt hit the floor between us, his hands moving to the waistband of his pants. I kept my attention off any flesh that might now be on display and quickly wiped the tear away that dangled on my jawline. My hands went to the hem of my shirt. In silence, I removed my top with shaking hands, fighting to stay where I was when the rebellion leader’s pants landed on the floor.

He was bare next to me. And I was swiftly naked next to him, my shirt and pants in a pile in front of me. I kept my right arm over my breasts, and my left hand covering the juncture between my thighs. My breaths were mere gasps as I kept my attention down on my clothing pile, studying the threading on the collar of my shirt to keep from passing out. I didn’t think they would give us a free pass even if I fainted. The bile that rose in my throat eventually helped my breathing, my constant swallowing calming my airflow—or near panic attack.

The scientist simplified, “You have two minutes to begin sexual affairs.” The numbers on the clock altered to show a two-minute countdown, already ticking away. The Kireg didn’t explain our deaths would come at the end if we didn’t do as he ordered—that much evident. “I might remind you, in this instance, sex is the male penis and the female vagina, coupled. Both of you must reach your completion—at least one orgasm per individual during sex—for your lives to be spared.”

I swallowed slowly once more, my body quivering where I stood. I knew enough about sex from the literature on Joyal. But…

What was an orgasm?

The rebellion leader snorted and rotated to face them completely. “Thank you for explaining what sex is. I hadn’t realized it involved my dick in her pussy. We really would have been fucked—more than we will be soon—without that clarification.” He lifted both hands and waved them in the air. “Where is the shield protector? Or do you expect me to impregnate her, too?”

I blinked slowly at the floor. It could get worse.

The scientist replied, “We won’t be allowing protection at this time. Perhaps in the future, we will if you please us.” He peered down to his tablet and typed. “Are you worried about creating a baby with a Human, Subject 8?”

King Jordan lowered his arms. “Fuck you. And fuck your beliefs.”

“Is that even possible?” I gasped.

The scientist hummed quietly. “We don’t believe so. A Kireg’s deoxyribonucleic acid is much different from a Human. The probability is almost zero.”

My eyes widened. “Perhaps you should give him one of those shield protectors he wants?”

“We’ve already given our answer. It is no.”

The rebellion leader stepped in front of me. And my lowered gaze got a clear shot of his ass.

My lips curled. A bastard like him shouldn’t have a fit, tan butt like that.

I quickly looked up, though when he turned to face me, only my pile of clothes between us. I didn’t need to see his dick, even though my body was going to become too intimate with it soon. My attention stayed higher than waist level. My blue eyes stared at his chest, and I took a quick step back. He was massive. His pecs were enormous, no hair on the smooth flesh, his stomach a ripple of muscles. The mere size of his body was intimidating compared to my smaller frame.

The rebellion leader surprised me, though. He didn’t mock my show of fear.

Instead, he asked calmly—with a frown, “You’re not untouched, are you?”

“Yes,” I whispered. “I’m a Human. We don’t have sex to procreate.”

“Sacred Moon,” he cursed and rubbed at his chin.

I nibbled on my lower lip to peer up—a little—to his strong chin. “Are…” I cleared my throat and tried again. “Will you be able to become hard, as a male will need to be in the act?” It was a valid question, and I needed to know how much I would have to work to pull this off.

He lifted his right hand and ran his fingers through his white hair slowly, his bicep flexing with the motion. His head tipped down, and his cold eyes flicked down my body, pausing on the parts I was covering with my arms. The rebellion leader lifted his gaze and grunted, his tone quieting. “I’ll manage.”

Thank Mother Joyal.

I tilted to the side and glanced around him to the clock. “Fourteen seconds.”

“Time to start then,” he hissed. My eyes widened as my gaze flew to his when he came right at me, trampling my clothing. His purple eyes were frosted with determination—and loathing. His warm palms landed on my bare sides, his body still moving, pressing me backward until my shoulders hit the rounded wall behind us. “Stop covering yourself.”

I jerked my hands away from my body and fluttered them in front of his, not sure where the hell to touch him. Not wanting to touch him. “Uh…”

He snorted. “Just let me handle this, and it’ll go a lot smoother.”

I finally smacked my hands down on his shoulders, my fingers trembling on his flesh. His skin was hot and hard beneath my palms. I nibbled on my bottom lip and swiftly peered around him again. The clock had stopped at two seconds. My chest—my bare as hell chest—heaved in relief. Nevertheless, I held perfectly still when the rebellion leader invaded my personal space, placing his body flush with mine.

I blinked furiously when his cock touched my stomach—already hard. “I guess that really won’t be an issue.” His size might be though…since he was huge as hell. “Whatever you do, Kireg, do not just ram that thing into me.”

“I wasn’t planning on it, Human,” he growled under his breath. I trembled against his body as he dipped his head and placed his mouth against my neck. “I’d prefer not to have my dick rubbed raw.”

I had no idea what he meant, but I locked my muscles down when his lips began a slow glide against my tender neck. He wasn’t hurting me, his full lips actually very gentle, but it was him. My fingers tightened on his shoulders, my nails pressing against his flesh.

And I could see the Kireg over his lowered head watching us, not missing any detail, occasionally tapping absently on their tablets—not glancing away.

A small whimper escaped past my lips and tears burned again in my eyes.

The rebellion leader pulled his head back and glanced up at me. His cold eyes evaluated my features in an unhurried study. I couldn’t stand it and turned my head to the side, not looking at anyone, my gaze wholly on the round silver wall. He jerked his head to stare over his right shoulder at the scientists.

Gradually, he rose to his full height, and my jaw clenched when he released my sides to cup my face. He tilted my head in his direction, waiting until I peered up into his purple eyes.

His voice was so calm. “I don’t care what you have to do to make this work. Just do it. Pretend they aren’t there. Or close your eyes and act like I’m someone else. Do you understand?”

I nodded with a shudder, and my jaw worked against his palms. “Yes.”

“Good,” he muttered and held my eyes with his for another second. He lowered his hands, and on their descent, the backs of his knuckles brushed my nipples. My nostrils flared as the peaks of my breasts hardened, my eyes narrowing on his—unshed tears instantly drying. He lifted a white brow, his eyes straight on mine, and his question blunt. “Your nipples are sensitive. Do you like when someone sucks on them? Uses their teeth?”

My mouth went dry. I swallowed hard, my gaze darting back and forth between his eyes, unsure if he was taunting me…or serious. When he didn’t comment further, I mumbled, “I have no holy idea.”

He nodded in an efficient manner and then ducked his head again. His palms landed on my hips this time while I continued digging my fingers into his shoulders. A small, shocked gasp flew from my mouth when he pressed his right leg between mine, his thigh tight against my intimate flesh. The bastard leader ran his lips repeatedly over my neck, occasionally nibbling at my skin.

Goose bumps popped up on my flesh, and I tipped my head back, giving him more access—and to keep from making eye contact with the studying Kireg. I closed my eyes and instructed my body to relax. I pushed any guilt and revulsion to the back of my mind.

He’s just a man.

Just a man. That’s all.

It was a constant reminder I had to repeat inside my mind.

This is only a man pressed against me. His body is keeping me warm.

He ran one hand up my back and made me arch when his lips landed on my right breast.

The tiniest of a kindling flame flickered low in my gut, surprising me.

The literature had said this was necessary. Rinse and repeat inside my mind.

Just a man.

He paused momentarily as he inhaled…and then grunted softly. His tongue peeked out, and he licked in a slow glide, taking his time to thoroughly examine each of my breasts. His white hair brushed down around his cheeks as he switched every so often, giving my flesh equal amounts of attention.

My body eventually trembled against his for a different reason. And I tried valiantly to convince myself this wasn’t a sin—against my love for my people.

Just a man.

Geo lifted, running his lips over my collarbone and aiming for my neck again. I tentatively placed my arms over his shoulders and ran my fingers up the top of his spine, dipping them under his hair. He stilled at the action, his mouth on my left earlobe. His deep exhales warmed my ear when I faltered, freezing in the act.

He growled, his words quiet. “You may touch me. Right now. In this goddamn room.” He tilted his head further, running his nose up the back of my ear and his voice turning whisper soft. “Currently, it wouldn’t hurt either of us if you reciprocated.”

I closed my eyes. I hated this. Hated the Dynasty for putting us in this situation.

My fingers continued their course and ran into his curls. It was thick. And so soft.

Just a man.

I gripped the strands in my fists and lifted my right leg to wrap it around his hip.

He slid his other leg between mine, now positioned between my legs. His quick intake of breath was hardly audible. But I heard it. The heat from my core was directly pressed against his hard length. He instinctively ground his hips against me, his cock rubbing at my folds.

My eyes snapped open when he hissed, “You’re not wet enough yet.” I jerked when he bit my neck, his bites a touch harder than before and his right hand lowered between my legs.

The rebellion leader was going to put his fingers in a place I wasn’t sure I wanted them.

“Do you really need to do that?”

He grunted, his hand stilling against my moist flesh. “You need it. You’re nervous, and I’ll end up hurting you.”

I hissed at the confirmation my body wasn’t doing what it needed.

His head shot up from my neck, and he towered over me, my hands falling from his hair back to his shoulders. He pressed against me further, his own snarl curving on his lips, misunderstanding my frustration. “Cut the shit, Human.” He ground the heel of his palm against my clit—an apparent pleasure center from the shiver that ran up my spine—his purple eyes watching as I jerked against him. “Do you want me to hurt you when I’m inside you?”

“Fuck no,” my response spewed.

His eyes showed no emotion. “Then my fingers will go inside your pussy.”

My brows puckered, and my jaw clenched, my leg tightening over his hip. I lowered my gaze and stared at his powerful chest. This was so wrong. I leaned my head forward and rested my forehead on his solid chest, my eyes down so he couldn’t watch any expressions I may have. “Fine. Do it.”

He’s only a man.

He didn’t waste time, two of his fingers gliding through my folds. But he didn’t just shove them up inside me. The bastard leader played with my intimate flesh, his fingers tickling and examining. He was teasing me with each soft brush against my clit, only to pull away and dip into my opening the smallest bit. The wetness of my core spread over his fingers, and he still took his time…and seduced.

My chest heaved when he used his free hand to grip my thigh over his hip, holding me steady as my body shuddered against his. I bit my lower lip to keep from moaning and lowered my hands to his pecs. I flexed my fingers against his skin, and my hips lurched against his hand, his fingers slipping a little further inside me.

Geo lowered his head and rubbed his shadow of a beard against the side of my neck.

I whimpered softly and the pads of my fingers pressed against his skin. The gentleness of his touch was maddening, my veins quickly warming with the need to have it rougher, for my core to be full instead of empty. I found myself grinding against his hand…my actions mortifying.

Clenching my jaw, I stilled, not moving at all.

With his lips pressing against my shoulder, he ordered quietly, “Get out of your head.”

Just a goddamn man.

I inhaled heavily, my shoulders rising and falling with it. And I cleared my thoughts except for the fire burning inside of me, the primal need beginning to press harder and turning my thoughts sensual. My hips began to timidly move again until my entire frame quivered with a requirement for more, my pussy wet and ready now. I jerked when he slid his two fingers inside me, his quick exhale of breath spanning against my shoulder. My leg gripped him hard, his palm resting on my thigh tightening. I ran my fingers up his chest to hold onto his shoulders again when he pumped his fingers into me repeatedly, my hips moving in the same rhythm, riding his fingers.

I strangled the moan that wanted to erupt, the bastard brushing my clit once more.

In a rush, he removed his hand from my core and bent, grabbing my other thigh.

I sucked in a harsh breath when he lifted me off the ground, wrapping both of my legs around his waist. My head shot up, my eyes straight on his as he pressed me brutally against the wall. His eyes showed the briefest fire of desire through the frost, the way they pinched at the corners, his tan cheeks slightly flushed.

Only a man…

He placed the blunt head of his cock at my entrance and immediately thrust his hips forward without warning. My jaw dropped, and my head fell back, my eyes closing at the extreme bliss, as his massive cock shoved deep. This was what my core needed. His fingers curled, digging into my skin. He tipped his hips back before slamming them against mine again. I choked on mere air as he slid all the way inside me, stretching my wet channel to its limits.

The rebellion leader grunted deep inside his throat, the noise stifled.

I opened my eyes and blinked furiously, gradually tipping my head back down. I didn’t peer past him to the scientists watching us—talking about us. I kept my attention on his dusky gaze.

This was happening. I wouldn’t pretend he was anyone else. I would forever remember this moment in time, what the Dynasty had put us through, never to forget their heartless experiments.

He was a man. But he was ultimately a Kireg, not my people.

His white hair was mussed around his cheeks, his nostrils flared in a pained expression. He held perfectly still, his muscles coiled tight, until I moved my head in the slightest nod, letting him know my body had adjusted to his entry. It was time to finish this.

His lips parted, and a soft breath flew past them, the heat rushing over my mouth.

Geo pulled his hips back, and he was done being gentle with me. The pace he set was bent on both of us meeting a completion as if we were racing toward a finish line. Perhaps it was the orgasm the scientist had mentioned. I knew male sperm was needed to create offspring when it ejaculated from the penis into the vagina. The word ‘orgasm’ must fit in there somewhere. Though my literature never mentioned a female having sperm, too. Females had eggs, and they only released once a month, which was in no way in correlation with sex.

I needed answers.

Breathless, I mumbled, “What’s an orgasm? He said we needed to accomplish it. Have we already done so? Or do we need to work on that?”

He stopped moving, his cock buried inside me. Purple eyes blinked.

My chest pumped hard for oxygen. Sex was better than running a mile for stamina.

When he didn’t speak, I prompted, “He said, an orgasm.”

Another blink. “No, we haven’t orgasmed yet.”

My blonde brows puckered. “How do we do it?”

He ground his pelvis against my clit, his cock aiming to hit all the pleasure spots deep inside me. His eyes watched as I shuddered inside his hold. “You’ll know it when it happens, Human.”

“That explains nothing.”

He thrust brutally inside me. “As I said before, just let me handle this.”

My breathing came in hard pants, his palms on my thighs keeping my body steady for his cock powering into my gripping channel. I shoved a hand down onto the wall next to my side, helping him keep me in place. Even though my other hand found its way back into his hair at the back of his head, pulling his face closer.

Except he tugged back, keeping his head where it was.

My eyes narrowed on his.

Until it hit me hard—he thought I was trying to kiss him.

I bared my teeth. Arrogant man.

He jerked his hips harsher at my action, his cock slamming too hard.

I recoiled, squirming inside his hold.

He stopped moving entirely, his hard length deeply embedded in my channel.

With deathly cold eyes, he growled, “Don’t try that again.”

“That wasn’t what I wanted, Kireg,” I panted. I shook my head, disgusted all over again. “I was pulling your head down to my shoulder, to hide your damn face, because those cameras are zooming in on us.”

His black, thick lashes hooded his gaze. He stared for too long.

“What did I do wrong now?”

“Nothing.” He nodded, his lashes still hooding his gaze. “Excuse my assumption.”

My jaw clenched. “That’s all?” Asshole.

“Yes, since you weren’t thinking pleasant thoughts about me with that expression.”

My nostrils flared. “Let’s just get this over with.”

“Hmm.” His gaze ran over my features, and his hips took a slow glide back and forth. My jaw clenched as his cock slid carefully and pleasurably inside of me. He was watching my reaction as his own breathing accelerated. “Can you tell where the cameras are focused?”

“Who the hell cares,” I hissed. “Just get us to that orgasm part.”

He took his time again, pulling his hips back slowly. When his cock filled my channel again, he tipped his hips up, the head of his dick rubbing absolutely perfectly. My lashes shuttered my own gaze, my legs briefly trembling. He lifted a white brow, waiting for his answer.

I closed my eyes, and grumbled, “The way the cameras are tilted, I believe it’s only are faces right now.”

“What do you think that means?” He rotated his hips, rubbing against my clit.

I jolted inside his hold. I spoke through my teeth and opened my eyes to glare. “Either they can’t hear what we’re saying in here right now and are attempting to read our lips, or they are watching how your eyes have dilated. The purple is almost gone. They appear black right now.”

“Yours have dilated, too. It’s a natural reaction to stimuli, so that’s not the case.” He hummed before he yanked his hips back and drove them forward, his cock charging into my flesh with renewed fever. He started pounding into me, running his hands down my legs and over my hips. They landed on my ass, squeezing and holding tight for his onslaught. “Their hearing is skewered by the vibration we’re making against the wall.”

I hadn’t even thought of that. “Too much stimulation for their sensitive senses.”

“And are the perverts doing anything else?”

I gripped the wall harder with my one hand and kept my other fisted in his hair, barely keeping my body from implanting into the metal behind me. “No. But the guards by the door? They appear to like the show.”

He sniffed and pistoned his hips against mine. I shuddered inside his hold, and his muscles clenched in his jaw. His cock filled me once more, and his eyes closed, his head tipped back, the first real sign of pure pleasure on his harsh and handsome features. But it was swiftly gone, his head slanting back up and coldness seeping into his dark gaze once more. He stopped talking altogether, grinding his hips in short bursts.

Little and quick gasps were the only noises I made as I quivered, his pelvis rubbing insistently against my clit. I tipped my own hips inside his hold and allowed him further penetration. His breathing changed, faster and harsher between us. He shuddered at the same point I did, both of us focused only on meeting this orgasm. My teeth sank into my bottom lip, and I squelched a scream that tried to unfold, his cock bringing my body close to an ultimate completion it yearned for, even if I didn’t, his attention solely on hitting every spot that made me tremble.

His features eventually tightened, and he huffed, “Do you feel it? Are you close?”

I went over the edge before he even finished asking, my head dropping back and my body convulsing against his. His grunt of surprise was barely heard while I shuddered in a lava of warmth, both of my hands slamming down onto his shoulders to grip hard and hang on as I floated in a sea of ecstasy. My channel clutched his driving length in hard spasms, my back jolting with each one. I managed to keep my moan at bay when he finally slammed into me the last time.

My eyes fluttered open as he jerked against me, his entire frame shuddering hard.

His chin was tipped down, his dark eyes staring at me between a veil of his white hair. His cock pumped his seed deep within my channel, his severe exhale shaking as he hit the peak of his completion. The pads of his fingers dug into my ass cheeks, his expression both pained in pleasure and frightening in its darkness, his body trembling in aftershocks.

Until he went completely still against me.

My blink was lethargic. “That was an orgasm?”

“Yes.” He shoved away from me in a brutal rush, his cock sliding from my body.

I landed in a heap on my side, barely catching myself from face planting onto the white floor. My palms were flat on the ground, my arms holding my heaving chest off the freezing floor as I peered up at the bastard. I glared where he stood above me, his lips parted as he caught his breath. He stared down at me with no expression on his face whatsoever, his body fully frozen in place.

I hissed, “Fuck you, Kireg.”

The asshole blinked and backed away from me. He walked backward until he landed in his clothing pile, his regard not leaving my face. He picked up his clothes and started dressing, absently kicking my clothes at me in the deafening silence.

I glared pure death from my eyes. Asshole.

His shoulders stiffened, and his teeth slowly showed, baring them.

Then I lifted myself up off the ground. But when he finished dressing, I moved to do the same. Our gaze never left the other’s eyes. I quickly put my pants on, his seed beginning to leak out of me, and then shoved my shirt over my head, covering my nudity.

When I was done dressing, I turned my heated gaze on the scientists. “We did as ordered. Now, let us the hell out of here.” I was done being alone with this scary bastard.

The lead asshole tapped his mic. “One moment.”

“Go to hell,” Geo hissed. “Let us out.”

When the lead lab coat waved a bored finger, the two guards moved forward.

I watched them with a close eye. They were ogling me with far too much interest after what they had witnessed. One of them unlocked the silver door and opened it, motioning for us to exit the room. I held still for a half-minute before walking toward the door. The rebellion leader followed after me. I was cautious as I stepped past the guard, giving him plenty of space. But he didn’t say or do anything torrid, and neither did his partner—except continue to eye me.

“Take them to the showers. Rinse them down, and then bring them to their cell.” The white-haired scientist wasn’t even looking at us, his attention wholly on his tablet while he typed. “And give them new clothes to wear. Those are unacceptable now.”

I blinked at the man. Our clothes were unacceptable?

He was demented. But I already knew that.

And, hopefully, he would be dead one day soon. With his eyes watching as it happened.

The hard spray of water mixed with antiseptic hit my bare body. They hadn’t separated us this time, leaving man and woman standing next to each other for the hosedown. I covered my face in a rush as the water bounced in errant streams from my body. The guards were snickering as they took turns shooting the high-powered sprayer between the rebellion leader and me.

“Turn around,” one barked.

I did as told and rotated to stand with my back facing them. The hard water hit my flesh, shoving at it more fiercely than it had before. My hands lowered, and I risked peeking over my shoulder. The guards were only five feet away from us now. I jerked my attention from them and gazed at the shower stall in front of me.

“Hey, Human,” the one on the left called. “Would you like to ride me, too?”

My nostrils flared, and I wiped at my eyes, too afraid to shut them.

The water hit me straight in the back of my head. I stumbled forward and caught myself on the wall with my outstretched palms. Only the water didn’t relent. It merely lowered to hit my exposed ass.

“I’m sure you’re nice and clean down there now,” he murmured, his voice closer. “I promise to be even more gentle than he was.”

I pushed off the wall and skittered to the side, out of the water’s spray. I covered myself with my hands while I glared at the two guards, who turned the spray on the bastard. “Leave me alone.”

Geo’s hooded gaze ran over the two guards, not bothered by the pressing water running down his naked body. “You’re being watched all the time here, gentlemen. Are you confident you want to risk your paychecks on a used piece of pussy? She wasn’t all that good if I’m honest.”

I held perfectly still, waiting to see if his tactic would work on the hired guns.

They glanced at one another, their hidden eyes somehow meeting.

And, then, they backed off.

I closed my eyes and breathed a sigh of profound relief.

They must be paid a hefty salary. That information was good to know.

The water was turned off, and two towels were thrown at us. Along with fresh clothes.

The guard who had propositioned me growled, “Dry off and get dressed.”

I did so in a fucking hurry, hiding my bare flesh.

They herded us out of the room and down the now familiar hallway. Many turns and two secured gates later, they were ushering us into the holding area. My wet hair drenched the back of my gray t-shirt, chilling my body further. I kept my attention forward. All eyes of the prisoners were on us while we walked down the center of the thin walkway.

The door to our cell was opened, and we went inside without a word. The door clicked behind us as we stood just inside the space. I couldn’t meet anyone’s gaze, my own attention on the floor before me. But they were watching us, the group of our cellmates unsure of what to say—or even do—in this situation.

The rebellion leader finally spoke. “Stop staring and just keep your mouths shut.”

Most turned their heads away immediately, thankful for direction. But others—not just the Kireg in our cell—were slow to turn their regard away, each person scrutinizing our wet hair and new attire. A few didn’t listen at all, their glares in full view.

A Kireg muttered, “Goddamn Human trash.”

“I said shut it,” the bastard ordered with more bite in his tone. “What happened in there isn’t any of your goddamn business, nor should you judge since you weren’t in our position.”

“Small favors,” a Human snickered.

I shook my head and went straight to the cot I had claimed as my own. “Everyone, shut up. I need to detox from what happened, and your snide comments aren’t helping.” I lay down on my right side with my back to everyone, resting my cheek on my hands. I curled into the fetal position, attempting to bring warmth back into my body. “Seriously. Just be quiet for a little while. Please.”

It was my honest plea that made the group quiet, no other comments issued.

I closed my eyes against the tears that wanted to fall. Done. I was done.

Our cell door unlocked in the middle of the night. Everyone who was asleep was instantly alert. My own attention flicked over my shoulder to the door. I blinked sleepy eyes as it suddenly opened. Two new guards stood outside the entrance, guns pointed inside, their typical stance. I rolled onto my back quietly as they peered into the dark cell. This wasn’t the usual routine, the late hour a whole new torture in itself.

The guard on the right stated loudly, “Subject 8. Subject 14. Outside.”

My entire body went on lockdown, utterly awake now.

One person deep inside our cell had the guts to shout, their voice bouncing off the walls, “What the hell do they want them for now? They’ve already done enough today!”

I agreed wholeheartedly.

The guard didn’t even bat an eyelash. “Now.” He lifted his gun and aimed it at the back of the room. “Or I’ll shoot just right for someone to suffer.”

No one else made a peep.

My eyes flicked to the cot across from mine when it squeaked.

“Subject 8 exiting,” the rebellion leader answered, rising from the cot. His hands were lifted in the air and his steps cautious. “Don’t shoot.”

I closed my eyes and wiggled my fingers next to my hips, trying to regain a piece of composure. The scientists wanted us again. As a pair. Whatever they had planned, I would have to deal with the bastard once more.

“Subject 14 exiting,” I stated softly, controlling my breathing. I rolled off my cot, my own hands raised in the air and followed the rebellion leader outside our cell. I altered my gaze from the shirt stretched over is broad muscled back to watch as the guards shut the cell door, quiet and confused and worried rumblings now heard from inside.

One guard walked in front, the other behind us, while we moved down the walkway.

When we stepped out of the two security gates, I lowered my arms, following the bastard’s lead in front of me. The guards were silent as they led us to a new section of the facility. I kept my head down, but my eyes were constantly flicking to count security cameras. This time of night, there were less Kireg around, only a handful noted so far—even if the guard count was still high.

The tiling under my bare feet wasn’t as cold as during the day, the air-conditioning turned down at night. Our trek further through the twisting hallways was less abrasive on my body. Except for the walls, still the horrid white, always smelling of fresh paint, even in this different section. When we finally stopped walking, it was to wait for the lead guard to open the only door in this hallway.

He twisted the knob, the door unlocked. “Go inside.”

I walked in after Geo, our bare footfalls silent.

The door shut, clicking behind us, the guards leaving us alone.

The room was similar to the other observation enclosure. There were three solid walls with a see-through glass partition as a barrier to another chamber beyond. The lights weren’t on in the other room, but it contained three chairs and many cameras—none turned on—all aimed at the area we were in. There were no Kireg inside there—yet.

I didn’t move. My sight remained on the object in front of us. “Hell. No.”

The bastard didn’t comment, but he did move forward to examine it. His purple gaze was cold and thoughtful, his attention meticulous as he strode in a circle around the object. He shook his head slightly, then took a step back and crossed his arms, glaring at the item. He grunted, his consult quiet. “I honestly have no clue what they plan to do with it.”

I pointed. “It’s a barred enclosure. What do you think they’ll make us do?”

His gaze flicked in my direction. Irritated. “It’s a cage. And it’s too small for two people. Unless we’re supposed to fight over it, having us both here isn’t useful to their wants.”

I shook my head and marched forward, my regard on the cage. “We could both fit.”

“If we were smashed together maybe—”

“Exactly.” My nostrils flared. I couldn’t look at him. “But there has to be a catch. We already share a cell together, and we’ve already had…” I couldn’t even say it. “Anyway, making us lie close to each other after that doesn’t seem like the next step in their experiments.”

He bent at the knees, squatting to study the cage closer. “True enough.” He poked at it. Even grabbed one of the black metal bars to give it a good shake. It didn’t budge, the grim object bolted to the floor. The rebellion leader finally stood to his intimidating height.

“We’ll see soon enough what new, twisted game they have in mind. Because, as I said, unless they only plan to put one of us in it, I can’t fathom what this will be. I’ve only done this with one person before, not two.”

It didn’t surprise me he was an expert torturer.

War isn’t won without ‘intelligence’ given—at the expense of other lives.

The quiet that ultimately settled over us was stubborn. We had nothing else to speak about of use so we went silent, neither of us looking at each other any longer.

The time kept ticking by, and no Kireg entered the other room. Geo eventually sat on top of the small cage and closed his eyes. He appeared to be taking a nap while I paced the room and eyed the glass barrier. But I knew he started watching me under his hooded gaze, the sheer power of his hidden regard sufficient to keep my spine stiff.

I tapped on the barrier and quickly shook my hand out. It was charged with electric currents.

When no one showed even fifteen minutes later, I became daring.

I tried the doorknob.

And…the door opened a crack.

I swiftly took my hand back, as if it had burned me. “Uh…it’s not actually locked.”

Geo was already on his feet and striding toward me. “I can see that.” He shouldered me aside, taking the lead, and grabbed the handle. In slow increments, he opened the door a little further. I held perfectly still, staying quiet, as he peeked outside. His actions stalled, and then he stuck his head out the door. The rebellion leader looked left and right before ducking back into the room. His white brows were drawn together, his voice a dangerous rumble. “The guards are gone.”

It took a second to register. “What?”

He pulled the door open wide, showing clearly no one was outside.

My own eyebrows puckered in confusion. “Think it’s a test?”

The bastard released the door and placed his hands on his hips, staring at the ground deep in thought. I took the opportunity to peek out the door myself, glancing both ways. The hallway was completely empty. I gawked…at an exit sign at the end of the corridor. There was something seriously wrong with this scenario. I ducked back inside and contemplated what the hell we should do.

The rebellion leader finally peered up and glared at me. “I have something.”

I lifted a brow, my eyes flicking between his. “You don’t look happy saying that.”

His cold gaze ran over my features, and then he raised the right side of his shirt. He lifted a knife from the edge of his pants, stuck under the waistline. “I took it off the guard in front of me.”

I stared at the item. “This is too convenient. The guards took us out of our cells at an unusual time, you were able to lift that off the guard, both guards are now gone, and there’s a fucking exit at the end of the hallway.” I raised my muddled gaze to his dark eyes. “What the hell is going on?”

He twirled the knife between his fingers, staring at the ground again. He spoke his thoughts out loud, “There are two options. One, this is another trial. Or, two, someone is giving us the opportunity to escape.” His eyes were cast in shadows when he barely peeked up. “Did you recognize either of the guards?”

“No.” I shook my head. “They’re new ones.”

“Hmm.” His regard returned to the ground, and he tapped the knife absently against his right leg. “Something’s going on, but we’re missing a detail. This doesn’t seem right for a rescue mission. If those guards were on our side, they would have given us—”

I slapped my right hand over his mouth, my head cocking.

He went still at my demand, and then he jerked back and swiftly shut the door.

There were people at the end of the hallway, their boots loud against the tiling. Those were standard boots for guards, the slight clink against the tiling now familiar. They were coming closer at a normal speed, not rushing toward us.

Geo and I promptly walked backward from the door. He stuffed the knife back into the waistband of his pants and pulled his shirt down over it, hiding it from sight. I turned away from the door completely, pretending I was bored, just in case they walked into the room—as if we didn’t know the door was unlocked.

It did swing open, but my head jerked in its direction at the individuals coming inside.

Two new guards, not the same ones as before.

The guards shut the door behind them, staring mutely at Geo.

Absolute mischief entered his purple eyes. “It’s about time you men showed up.” He turned his head and raised a single brow. “They’re mine. You can calm down.”

My entire body trembled at his announcement. “Please tell me there are more than two of them here.” I sucked in a large lung full and fisted my hands, my eyes narrowing as true freedom shined like a light of hope. “Because there are a shit ton of scientists I want dead. A few guards, too.”

The bastard patted the air. “We’ll get to that. Don’t fret.” His attention returned to the guards. “Who were the other two guards who brought us in here?”

The Kireg on the left stepped forward and removed the cloth from his head, revealing a pair of sparkling green eyes. “They’re rebellion. They’re new, but they’re smart. They were only meant to retrieve you. We wanted individuals you didn’t know so no one would act any differently.”

Geo tilted his head in my direction. “And why is the Human here?”

“It would have been out of character for a guard to take only one.” He hesitated briefly and then hurried to explain, “Our intelligence told us the two of you had been paired before. We stuck with what the assholes had already initiated.” He turned his head toward me and glared. “I’ll eliminate the Human now if that’s your wish.”

My spine stiffened, any elation of freedom quickly diminishing.

The rebellion leader lifted his right hand, earning the guard’s attention. “That isn’t necessary. What I do need is to know how many of you are here and what’s the plan?”

The Kireg on the left nodded and stepped forward. The cloth around his eyes was also removed and dropped to the floor. “We’ve done our surveillance on the facility—as much as we could in a short timeframe. We brought what was needed to burn the place to the ground during the ideal day and time. There are one hundred available on site or nearby.”

The rebellion leader asked, “Did you bring weapons for us?”

The first Kireg’s green eyes sparkled. “Yes. For you. I believe you already have yours.”

“I do.” He dipped his head. “Thank you.”

No weapon for me. I suppose that was better than being killed instantly by the guard.

“The plan is simple. There are two members in the surveillance room right now hacking into the Dynasty’s security system. One is controlling the cameras and the electrical power, and the other is downloading all the information of the employees, their families, the prisoners they’ve had in here, the experiments run…” He glanced at me but quickly peered away. “We’ve heard of a few already, but we’re getting all the information.” He glanced at his watch. “And we’re getting the two of you out right now. The rest of the team will enter the facility when you’re clear.”

Geo’s lips thinned. “I’m not leaving my people behind.”

I lifted my chin. “Neither am I.”

“In this situation, you must. You are too valuable to lose. Not when we’re so close to accomplishing our goal.” The kill-ready Kireg flicked a finger at me. “And she can’t return, either. That’s not in the plan.”

The room was silent. The ultimate purpose was to keep their leader alive.

I understood that. I had even done the same.

The bastard wasn’t pleased. But this time, he didn’t argue.

There was a plan in place. A thought out plan. His people had this under control.

“Do you plan to save the Humans, too?” I asked quietly. My people were at their mercy.

Geo instantly answered, “Yes, they do.” Purple eyes stared hard at the guards.

Both nodded their heads, understanding his order.

I would have to trust them. The Kireg.

The talkative one lifted a silver device from an open pouch on his waistband. He handed it to his leader. He rolled a finger and glanced at his watch again. “Make it quick. We’re on a tight schedule.”

I stared in fascination as the rebellion leader used the device to remove the white spheres from his temples. He wiped away the two drops of blood that formed on his skin and tossed the inhibitors to the ground. He stretched his arms above his head and arched his back, the hem of his shirt riding up to show his ab muscles. When he lowered his arms and rolled his shoulders, he merely commented, “I’m ready.” He handed the device back to his man and palmed his hidden knife.

I tore my attention from the rebellion leader’s middle section now covered by the material of his shirt. Mother Joyal. The fact I had even noticed his body, other than to evaluate it, was appalling. My guilty gaze quickly flicked around the room, but no one was paying me any attention, their eyes on the chatty Kireg, who was giving details of our escape.

This place was fucking with my head.

But the bastard did glance at me briefly, his purple eyes cold as hell.

I stiffened and turned my attention from him. I asked the Kireg who finally stopped talking, “Can we go now?” The plan was simple. The lights would go out in this section of the building, and we would leave through the exit down the hall. There was a vehicle in place inside a vehicle garage waiting for us. “I think we’ve got the gist of our escape.”

The Kireg’s eyes narrowed. “A little gratitude would be nice.” His gaze flicked to his leader, and then back to me. “Especially, considering everything you’ve been through.”

My shoulders stiffened.

Geo yawned behind a fist, talking through it. “Enough.”

The man peered to his leader, dipping his head. “My apologies.”

He yawned again. “Just get us out of here.”

When both Kireg moved at the direct order, the quiet one pressed on a com-bud in his ear. He spoke softly, and then the lights instantly went out. It was happening now, our escape.

Thank Mother Joyal.

I shook my shoulders out. “Time to leave this shithole behind.”

The bastard mumbled, “Truer words have never been spoken.”

I walked in front of him in the general direction of the door. Twin lights appeared as the men lifted small see-lights, the door already open. I followed them at a fast clip, the rebellion leader taking the rear. My mouth stayed shut as we rushed down the hallway, the exit not locked.

I rushed through the door, landing in a barren stairwell. I followed our rescuers and climbed the steps. My nose crinkled at our limited pace—in the semi-dark—but we kept charging up the stairs. It finally occurred to me there were no windows, no normal sounds of living life in this place because it was underground. When we exited another door, ten flights of stairs up, we arrived at a well-lit vehicle garage.

“Shit,” the quiet one griped. He darted behind a large partition, and we quickly followed, both men turning off their see-lights. He placed a finger on the com-bud at his ear. “Turn off the goddamn lights in the garage.” He dropped his hand and glanced at his partner. “Leave it to him to screw this up.”

Geo growled quietly, “Cut the shit. This area of the complex is wired differently.” He pointed at the cables running in the crevice of the ceiling where it met the wall. “The garage is on an alternate electrical system. That member of our crew will have to hack into a different section to do his job.” A white brow rose. “I doubt you warned him ahead of time?”

I held up my hands. “Now is not the time to lecture your crew. They only had a few days to plan.” I peered to the quiet Kireg. “How far is the vehicle?”

“Two more levels up in the loading dock. Too far to run—since no one could figure out how to tamper with the cameras out here. A silent alarm will sound when an unauthorized face shows up. We barely had time to add our faces to their advanced system.”

The garage suddenly went dark.

Geo grunted, sounding pleased. “Not bad. It’s Riza, isn’t it?”

The chatty Kireg snorted. “Of course.”

I was my usual charming self. “Think we can cut the chitchat and skip on to the getaway vehicle? Since there are Kireg and Humans that still need to be rescued.”

The twin see-lights clicked back on. That was our cue.

We took up the same positions and raced up the incline of the vehicle garage. The corners we took more slowly, checking for any wayward Kireg but eventually, made it to the loading dock. A non-descriptive armored vehicle sat by two industrial-sized waste disposals. The talkative Kireg in front aimed at it, sliding behind the disposals for added protection. We followed his lead, one at a time, with our backs to the wall and working our way past the foul smelling garbage.

He typed in code—and I watched carefully—and the door slid open. I quickly moved inside. There was already a Kireg in the driver’s seat and one in the front passenger seat. I aimed for the far side of the bench seat in the back to make it easier for the rest to climb inside. But only Geo followed me in, and we both buckled our seatbelts in silence. The door was slid shut. The two Kireg, who had participated in our escape, disappeared into the pitch-black vehicle garage.

Without a word, the Kireg in the driver’s seat nodded over his shoulder to his leader in a silent greeting before he started the vehicle. It rumbled to a start without a hitch, and he was quickly staring over his shoulder to watch out the back windows while he reversed. He turned his lights on then and shoved the vehicle into drive. I held onto the cushion of the bench seat as the vehicle shot forward at a breakneck speed. If any member of the Dynasty were in the way, they would easily be run over.

His eyes were straight on the pathway. He growled, “Hang on, everyone. It’s going to get bumpy.”

The man wasn’t jesting. The lights in the garage flicked on overhead, and suddenly, I could see a wall straight ahead. I cleared my throat when he didn’t veer from his course. I attempted to keep my voice calm. “Excuse me, driver. That’s a wall up there.”

“And we’re going through it.” He revved the engine, and the vehicle sped even faster. He turned his lights off in preparation for the dark outside—I hoped—so we wouldn’t be seen. “This area’s under construction and they haven’t completed their work yet.”

I blinked. Uh… “That looks pretty complete to me.”

Geo shook his head. “It’s not.” He watched as I sat forward to see better. “There’s still raw material around the edges. We’ll be fine—as long as there’s something to drive on behind it.”

“That’s not very reassuring.” But I did sit back. My grip tightened on the bench seat as we neared it. “Thank the heavens we’re getting out of here.”

A hard grunt past my lips when we bashed through the wall, the vehicle tipping forward with the back wheels off the ground. They eventually crashed back down. The impact jarred everyone inside, arms and legs and heads jolting through the air.

The driver hooted as the vehicle sped forward on an uneven blue grassy field.

I glared at the back of his head. “I bet you’ve always wanted to do something like that.”

He pumped a fist into the air, hitting it on the roof in victory. “For moon’s sake, I have.”

Geo rearranged himself on his seat and tucked his white hair behind his ears. “Very fine work, Coi. You planned that perfectly.”

“Thank you, my liege.” He was extremely pleased with himself.

I snorted and unclenched my hands from the bench seat. I placed them on my lap and endured the bumping and dipping with each uneven area we hit, only open field ahead of us. My mouth stayed closed of any further snide comments. The Kireg had managed to get us out of the garage undetected, an alarm not even sounding—probably since alarms were typically turned off in construction areas. When you were stealing something of value—us, in this circumstance—it was always so much easier to get in by yourself than to get out with the goods. And he had managed it. Even if it was with flare. I would allow him his small victory without further comment.

Instead, I asked, “Driver man? Where are you taking us exactly?”

He cast a quick glance in the rearview mirror—directly at me. “We’re currently in Kew province, one of the last Dynasty controlled sections. But there’s a safe house here run by the rebellion. We’ll be secure at the location until everyone has their business straight and are ready to depart.”

I nodded with easiness. “Thank you,” I paused, “Coi.”

“You’re welcome,” his eyes flicked in my direction again through the mirror, “Human.”

I kept my eyes forward on the terrain, ignoring the snub. “Coi, will there be food there?”

“Yes. And clothing. Enough for all the captives rescued.”

“Fantastic.” I tipped my head back on the seat and closed my eyes. My feet spread and braced my body, the vehicle shaking and jolting my bones with every knock. This vehicle was going to be ruined by the time we arrived at our destination. I couldn’t sleep, but I needed to think.

And I couldn’t think with the all-knowing Kireg around.

So I merely rested my eyes and thought of the blessed sun on Joyal.

At least, I was no longer a captive of the cracked Dynasty.

“Mother Joyal. Mother Joyal. Mother Joyal!” I shouted in fear and glanced in the rearview mirror of the vehicle I had stolen. The same vehicle that was our escape vehicle last night. “Shit. Shit. Shit!”

They were gaining on me. I slammed my foot down on the accelerator. White wisps of hair caught my attention as the wind whipped my hair from the open window.

White hair.

I had woken up to goddamn white hair, not my blonde.

That only meant one thing. The rebellion leader and I were mated.

When a Kireg’s bodily fluids mixed with another’s, and they were meant to be mates, the weaker individual took on traits of the stronger mate. Geo was a hell of a lot stronger than I was. And now I bore the color of the Kireg hair.

I didn’t know how it was possible. But it had happened.

And the bastard had heard my shouted thoughts when I woke up looking like a damn alien.

He chased me in the vehicle behind. He and Corza.

I sped as fast as I could. Multiple vehicles stood as objects before me. I swerved to the left and passed one. A jerk back to the right and another was passed. When two blocked my way, hogging both lanes, I cut the wheel hard and turned into oncoming traffic.

Blaring warnings were pinging on the dash of my vehicle, but I slammed my hand on the screen and shut it off. I glanced in my rearview again and breathed a sigh of relief. I couldn’t see them any longer.

Until two vehicles headed right at me from the side. I ground my teeth together, and the tires squealed as I took a hard left onto a side street. As I sped down the thin lane, I watched as Geo’s car flew past the entrance, just having missed it.

I took another left, heading back the way I came, doubling back. When I came to a street that had no Kireg pedestrians, I pulled to the side and searched the vehicle. I fumbled with a sock I found under the passenger’s seat. Funny how even an alien race loses their socks.

I ripped it into long pieces and quickly tied it around my head, covering my eyes.

I could barely see out of the bottom, but I would fit in with the Kireg in this province.

I just had to keep my thoughts to myself. I started counting numbers in my head and stepped out of the vehicle. It was sure to be tracked so I had to ditch it. The store closest to me was an eatery—fish, of course—and I hurried inside and went straight to the back. I ducked behind a curtain and raced to the back entrance.

When my feet hit the alleyway, I tipped the covering up on my eyes. I raced down to the trash receptacle and dove inside. I ripped trash containers apart in search of clothing that fit into this society. The sheer nothing that showed all nakedness. It had taken ten bags before I found a commercial container full of ripped clothing. I wasn’t picky, tugging on whatever would fit my size.

I coughed past the stench and jumped out of the disgusting filth.

Now, I just needed to find a ride back to Joyal. Far, far away from the rebellion leader.

My skills came in handy. The electronic devices I faced were easy to tamper with.

I hacked into an industrial shipping business nearby. The writing on the manifests was scribbled and hard to read, but I found a listing traveling to Joyal. An immense shipment of lumber was due to depart in twenty-three hours. It was enough time for me to steal a spacesuit from their facility and climb into the cargo hold. My main problem was I would need to be in a deep slumber during the flight. Otherwise, my thoughts would carry over to any Kireg transporting the goods.

Stealing the drugs hadn’t been easy. I hadn’t known the names of the chemicals used here. I had to search in their database and make sure I took the correct dosage.

But when I stole inside the cargo bay and found a perfect nook for my body size, a sense of peace transfused my system. I was going home. I would be on Joyal by daybreak. The blessed sun would welcome me as I stepped on to my native land. The drugs took effect just as I changed into my spacesuit and clicked my helmet on, a smile on my face.

The hard jarring woke me. I lifted sleepy eyes and peered through my visor. The drugs were still in my system, but the hov-craft was landing. I’d dosed myself too much. I lay still and closed my eyes, thinking of nothing for another full ten minutes. Only then did I push myself to crawl out of my hidden space and stand on wobbling legs.

I blinked until my vision stopped teetering.

It was time to move.

I crept past all the boxes in the cargo hold, peeking around each sharp corner. There was no one back here, no sounds heard. When I reached the door to the pilot’s compartment, I took off my helmet and placed my ear to the cold metal. No vibrations were tickling my ear, and still no sounds heard. I typed in code on the access system, and the door unlocked once more.

I opened it carefully and stole a glance through the cracked opening.

The pilot was gone, already at the loading dock.

Slipping out of the ship was too easy, but I didn’t complain in my drugged state.

I squinted at the writing on the directional unit.

That was really odd. It was all in Mianese.

I blinked and rubbed my eyes, and looked again. Perhaps the drugs were affecting my sight.

It didn’t change.

I tucked my helmet under my arm and scanned the area.

Glowing blue eyes caught on mine.

Oh…Mother Joyal. I’d landed on the wrong planet.

The writing had been bad, but it hadn’t been that bad.

When the Mian shouted at me, he saw my ass real fast. I ran away from him with every survival instinct I had. He started to follow me, sure to catch up with the Mian’s incredible speed, but a hov-craft landed right in front of him, cutting him off. I twisted around a smaller ship and hid beneath it to catch my breath.

What was I going to do now? And why would a shipment bound for Joyal end up on Triaz?

I needed answers. I needed them yesterday before I’d drugged myself to the wrong planet.

The area was full of hov-craft, some massive, others for pleasure.

There was bound to be a database here I could search.

I damn near pissed my spacesuit waiting for the night to come. When it did, I slipped into the main building of the landing space. There was a janitorial area that had clothes to ‘borrow.’ I stuffed my spacesuit into a bag I found and kept my head down, my normal eyes hidden, as I walked around the building with cleaning supplies. No Mian even glanced in my direction—no thought reading here.

When I found a hov-pad, I grabbed it and ducked into the facilities.

I searched Joyal first.

What I found made my heart pound too fast. They had been attacked by the Mian. There were no trading agreements in place, no shipments heading to my planet. Most important, my home planet wasn’t safe.

I swallowed down the bile that rose in my throat and began a new search.

I was in Center, and it was home to Mian of the east and the west, a central location where they were all welcome. Another query and I found a sliver of hope. On the residential logs, there was a new lease for a Human. She was listed as the owner, but the bills weren’t being charged to her. It appeared they were being deducted from the Plumas of the East. While that was interesting, it still wasn’t all the intel I needed. There weren’t any new shipments going back to Egyac for the next few months. I would need to find a ride unless I wanted to hide on this planet forever.

And now that I’d escaped…I wasn’t so sure I should have run away from my destiny.

Jasmine would be horrified to know that I’d been cowed by fear.

While Geo may stand for war, he was fighting for a cause to save his people.

He couldn’t be as bad as I’d initially feared him to be. There had to some kindness in him.

Somewhere.

I sighed and rubbed at my forehead. I needed to find a place to lay low. It shouldn’t be too hard. All I had to do was hack into a few company directories and see who was on vacation. I could keep doing that until I figured out how to get back to Egyac…if that’s what I ultimately decided to do.

And I needed surveillance bugs. If I needed to ask the Human in Center for help, I needed as much intel on her as I could. Especially, with the Plumas of the East paying her way here in this city.

Her hands were full with two trash bags as she barely shut her apartment door, trapping her mongrel inside. Perfectly pleasant, she stated, “Hi, I’m Braita. I’m new to the building.”

It was now or never. Either this Human would help a fellow Human or she wouldn’t. It had been too long, and I had run out of options. With sweat beading my brow, I raised my head and kept my voice quiet. “I know who you are.”

Her mouth bobbed, and recognition lit her gaze. “Mother Joyal, you’re her.”

I couldn’t help but gawk as my brow crinkled. “You remember me?”

“Yes, you were sitting next to me when the President was calling names. You were sent to the Kireg.” Her eyes ran over my features and faltered a second on my hair. “Geo is looking for you, Madeline.”

My lips thinned. How did she know Geo? Had he sent out an alert to the Mian?

I pushed the errant thought aside, and whispered, “I need your help. That’s why I’m here.”

Braita sat the trash bags in the waste disposal I had stolen. “What do you need?”

Quick and to the point. I liked that in her.

“A hov-craft. I saw you exit one the other night.”

Braita questioned, “Are you planning to go back to Joyal?”

I shook my head. I wouldn’t go back there when it wasn’t safe to go. My mind was set on my destination. I needed to figure out the situations between Geo and me. “I’m going to Egyac. I can’t live this way any longer. No more hiding.”

“That would be your best choice,” she agreed. But her eyes held a secret as she studied me. She lifted a finger. “You need to see something first.”

I blinked when she raced back inside her apartment. I cursed, “What the hell?”

My attention snapped left and right, keeping an eye on the hallway. I didn’t have all day.

The door finally flew open and slammed behind her. She was too quick and agile for her pet to escape. I stared when she shoved a folder into my hands. I glanced at her and back to the folder.

Carefully, I opened it and began reading. It was from Joyal, a confidential file.

As I flipped each sheet, my eyes widened as large as saucers. My name was there.

I mumbled in awe, “Mother Joyal.”

“I know.”

I shoved the folder back into her hands. “Fucking pieces of shit!”

The air around me seemed too thin. I couldn’t catch my breath.

And now it made sense. What I had read was another issue I would need to tell Geo.

“Yes, that’s accurate too.” She tossed the folder back inside her apartment and locked the door. “Let’s find you a hov-craft before the Plumas return and want to keep you for ransom or some other ridiculous idea they may have.”

My chest heaved, and my hands shook. Mother Joyal, she was going to help me.

I whispered, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

My escape was here, and my plan was a reality. But I still couldn’t move.

I mumbled, “I can do this.”

“Yes, you can.”

I need a pep talk. “They aren’t that scary. I can do this.”

Braita agreed, her words hitting where I needed them. “If I can play with the Mian, you can handle the Kireg.”

But I had lived in a box. “You have ten marks on your wrists. I don’t have that many.”

“It doesn’t matter how many marks you have to the Kireg.” She tapped my left temple. “It matters what you have up here and how well you protect it.”

That was truer than she understood.

I licked my lips...and put one foot in front of the other. “I can do this.”

“You can.” Behind me, she placed her hands on my shoulders and kept me moving forward. “And if any Kireg asks where you got the hov-craft, tell them you stole it.”

Geo would only have to read my mind to know that was a lie.

But I didn’t comment. I wasn’t about to fuck up my chance to a hov-craft.

Security patrolled the land site in Center. Braita knew her way around the layout, but she didn’t know shit about their actual security. I pulled out my tools and worked on their security box. I had tampered with it enough that it took no time at all for the back door to open. I shoved the box back into place, ready to go.

Braita’s eyes were wide with wonder. “That was slick.”

I shrugged and put my stolen tools into my pockets. I readjusted the spacesuit over my shoulder. The last issue I needed was for it catch on anything inside. “On Joyal, I was an operator-in-training. Systems like these are simple.”

Braita took the lead, and we slipped inside, keeping our backs to the wall as we moved forward.

To clarify, I whispered, “It’s the hov-craft I need help with. I’ve never dealt with them before, so I can’t access them.”

My savior peeked around a corner, her tone soft. “I’m in the system now. My handprint will work.” She pulled on my sleeve, dragging me behind her, and exited a door directly on the land site.

“I know. I saw the two Mian showing you how to do it.” I didn’t mention anything else.

Her lips twitched as we raced across the black ground. “How long have you been watching this place?”

“Too long,” I muttered, brushing my white hair back from my forehead. I told her honestly, “I was to the point of cutting off someone’s hand for access when I noticed you.” When she didn’t even bat an eyelash at my comment, I ran my gaze over her features when she stopped us behind a small hov-craft. Even I knew this one was too small for actual space travel. “How are you doing with the Mian?”

“Better than you are with the Kireg,” she answered with blunt truth. But she smiled to take the sting out of her previous statement. “It just takes time.” She winked. “And cunning.”

I snorted but kept my mouth shut. I knew all about using cunning to survive.

We ducked under the hov-craft when a security patrol flew overhead on a hov-bike, shining their red and yellow lights down on the site through the dark. I scanned the area with the added light and then pointed to another transport a hundred yards away. It would be risky running there since no cover was afforded to hide us.

“We’ll have to run,” she breathed quietly. “Do you know what to do once you’re inside?”

“I’ll figure it out.” It couldn’t be that hard. It was just another machine to puzzle through.

She frowned at my words. “I’ll try to help as much as I can.”

This woman was helping me more than I ever thought she would. It was a miracle.

I threw my arms around her neck and hugged her tight. “Thank you. For everything.”

“You’re welcome. Just stay safe.” When I released her, she tapped my temple. “And remember what I said.”

Be cunning. I could do that to survive. But all I wanted to do was to be honest with Geo.

I would figure it out soon enough. Now wasn’t the time for musings.

We watched as a different hov-bike flew by. After a fortifying breath, we pushed out from under the hov-craft and raced across the open area, the moon lighting our way. Another set of guards were on their way, their lights roving the ground. I had no doubt they would spot us soon.

We came to a screeching stop next to the hov-craft.

With her chest pumping, she shoved her hand against the access board. It lit up briefly—just another identifier for the guards, but there was nothing we could do about that. The door slid open.

Thank Mother Joyal.

But I jerked in surprise when she shoved me inside.

An alarm began to wail in the distance.

Hov-bikes whined far too close.

“Get your suit on now!” she barked, opening the control panel. “What are the coordinates?”

I rattled off the location I knew was safe. I ignored the fact my voice was shaking. Instead, I focused on changing into my spacesuit, fumbling with a few of the latches. I was going back to Geo.

I couldn’t believe my own daring.

Braita typed in the coordinates and pointed at a red button. “Hit that when you’re ready.” The hov-bikes were landing nearby, the rattle of rocks flying outside the door indicating their arrival. “I’ll be the bait. But don’t take too long.”

I nodded. I would never be able to repay her. Before I could say anything, she jumped out of the door and placed her palm on the access board, closing the door. It was time to go.

My helmet went on last, and then I strapped myself into the operator’s chair.

There was no hesitation in my actions. I slammed my hand down on the red button.

I sucked in a harsh breath as the hov-craft shot straight into the air.

I landed in the same industrial landing space. But with many more guards surrounding the hov-craft.

I pulled my helmet off and held my hands up in the air, searching for any familiar faces.

All the Kireg wore scarves around their eyes, but that didn’t mean anything. If they were working for the rebellion, they would still try to fit in. But, alas, I saw no one who was familiar to me.

This wasn’t a safe spot after all. “Shit.”

Guns were drawn in that instant. Assholes. Thank you for reading my mind.

“On your knees, Madeline Faire,” the lead asshole stated. He walked toward me, his weapon pointed at my head. “The Dynasty has been looking for you.”

I’d rather die than be in the Imperial family’s clutches.

All heads rose to the sunlit sky when a hov-craft…just appeared above our heads.

One minute, it wasn’t there. The next, it was.

I watched in horror, my eyes flying wide when the lead guard turned the gun on himself.

He stuck it in his mouth and pulled the trigger. All while wearing a smile on his face.

I backed away as he dropped to the ground at my feet. No one followed me.

In fact, they all stood like drones, their eyes wide open and guns down at their sides.

I took a cautious step back again, closing in on the Mian hov-craft.

The door to the hov-craft above opened. White, curly hair ruffled in the wind as a man stared down.

The rebellion leader pinned me with his gaze, and he shouted, “Don’t even think about it, Madeline.” His attention stayed on me for a full minute, none of us speaking or moving, before he peered back into his hov-craft and ordered something inside.

I had found him. Or…he had found me.

When the hov-craft landed next to the Mian’s, he stalked outside of it. “I found your ass, not the other way around.” He pointed a sharp finger at my stolen transportation, pure fury exploding over his features. “Did you not think for a second? That is Mian technology. Kireg’s system picked up the hov-craft miles away. I was barely able to keep them from blowing you out of the sky in time!”

My mouth bobbed. “Appreciated?”

Geo growled and his brows furrowed low over his eyes. He grabbed my right arm and pulled me along behind him at a fast pace. “How the hell did you get that ship, anyway?”

I tried to keep up with his longer strides. “I stole it.”

With his eyes on the opening of his hov-craft, his head cocked, not caring I was tripping behind him. “How did you get it, Madeline?”

I sighed heavily, picturing Braita in my mind. “A Human on Triaz helped me.”

He stopped in his tracks and glanced back at me. “That Human belongs to the Plumas.”

“You don’t even know the half of it,” I mumbled under my breath. Then I waved my free arms at his cross expression. “I’ll explain it when we’re safe.”

“We are safe.” He turned on his heel and released my arm. His arms crossed and his eyes narrowed on mine. “I want an explanation. Do I need to worry about the Plumas taking offense?”

I crossed my arms and snorted. “I have no idea how you and Braita know one another, but the Plumas she is actually with aren’t the ones she should be with.”

His blink was slow. “She is the Soul to the Plumas of the West.”

I nodded, my eyes twinkling. I was…happy…to see him. Even if he was furious. “But she’s the mate of the Plumas of the East.”

His head cocked in question.

I explained with a casual flare, enjoying his eyes widening. “The Plumas of the East are part Kireg. They have the power to influence others. And they did so on the Plumas of the West after Braita asked them to. They have no clue she is their Soul. And Braita is living freely with the Plumas of the East in Center on Triaz.”

He didn’t comment for too long. When he finally spoke, he asked quietly, “How did you come by this information?”

I nibbled on my bottom lip. “I may have put surveillance buds in Braita’s apartment.” I shrugged a shoulder. “They have no indication it was me.”

The rebellion leader hummed, not appeased. “Is there anything else?”

My mouth open and shut. Then I mumbled in a rush, “Braita is also different. She’s part Kireg, Mian, and Human. She gave me a file to read that was from Joyal.” My brows furrowed, my ire returning in full force. “And my name was on that list too. I am half Human and half Kireg. I’m a damned hybrid.”

The man across from me didn’t even blink, his purple eyes unmoving.

“Exactly,” I sputtered. “The goddamn government on Joyal was splicing genes.”

The slowest blink ever occurred right in front of me. “That’s why you came back.”

I squinted and glanced to the side, and stared out at the other hov-crafts. “That’s not exactly right.” I fidgeted on my feet and wrung my fingers together. “I actually meant to escape to Joyal, but I landed in Triaz instead. I found out Joyal wasn’t safe to go to, so I stayed on Triaz for a while in hiding. But I became tired of that—of running for my life. I wanted to return to Egyac. To figure out what’s going on between us.”

He grunted softly and took a step forward, his height towering over mine. “What is going on between us is very simple, Madeline. We are mates. You knew that when you ran away. That is why you ran away.”

I shook my head and peered down at the ground. I stared at both of our boots. His were shiny, and mine were scuffed.

I stated in a timid tone, “I mean I want to face the fact we’re mates. I want to learn more about you.” I flicked a finger between the two of us but didn’t look up. “This didn’t happen without reason. Our genes know we are a good pair. I wish to find out if that is true or not.”

“I’m not one of your experiments, Madeline.”

“I know that.” My head snapped up. I held his gaze, even though my cheeks were burning.

His cold eyes flicked back and forth between mine. “So you came back for me.”

I nodded. “Yes.”

He ground his teeth together. “If you so much as look at another man—”

“I understand.”

He shook his head and stepped forward, aligning our bodies against each other. His tone was chilling and brutal. “No, you don’t. A mate is forever. I will kill anyone who comes between us.”

The visual of the guard killing himself looped in my mind. I shuddered.

“Now you know,” he whispered. When Corza stuck her head out of the opening of the hov-craft, he tipped his head in its direction. “We need to go. You’ll be staying at my castle with me.”

I licked my lips, and murmured, “I do want my own room.”

His nostrils flared. “I don’t think so.”

“I am scared,” I admitted on the quietest whisper. “Please, give me that much.”

He ground his molars together for a second, and then jerked his head in a nod. “Fine.”

“Appreciated.”

He grabbed my arm and pulled me behind him again. “Accepted.”

Entering the hov-craft, Xri greeted me instantly. He captured my cheeks with his palms and rubbed his thumbs across my skin softly. I stood in shock as he smiled down on me. “It’s good to have you back, Madeline. Geo’s been a real horror since you left.”

Corza snorted and winked at her mate. “He took down the last of the provinces.”

“Exactly,” Xri stated and released me. He pulled Corza into his arms and wiggled her. “He has too much pent up energy. He’s needed his mate.”

“Enough,” Geo growled and scowled. “We need to leave.”

Corza winked at her mate again, and then pulled out of his arms. “To the castle?”

The rebellion leader nodded. “To the castle.”

My attention honed on him. “You’ve won the war?”

“Almost.” His nostrils flared. “The Imperial family escaped. I still need to find them.” He pointed a finger out of the opening of the hov-craft. “And there are obviously still some factions that need to be handled.”

I blinked. “I managed to land on a site that had remaining Dynasty members.”

The rebellion leader snorted. “The only landing site such as this.”

Xri chuckled quietly at my expression. “That’s just plain bad luck.”

I stared at my com-device and paced my room on silent feet. My movements were smooth and flawless. I used my right thumb to turn on my com-device and watched the screen come alive. I jumped in place three times before I dialed.

I listened to it ring and bit at my nails. This was embarrassing.

Me—pining for what a Kireg could give me.

He answered on the second ring. “Yes?”

The man didn’t even answer with a ‘hello.’ It didn’t surprise me.

I yanked my fingers out of my mouth and pushed away my nerves. “Geo, this is Madeline.”

There was a small beat of silence before he responded, his tone quieting. “I know. What do you need?” Straight to the point.

“Can I meet with you in private? There’s a matter I need to speak to you about.” My eyes closed, my sigh barely audible. My toes dug into the plush carpet with each passing second he took to respond. I gulped on a dry throat, and eventually, my brows pulled together when the line stayed quiet. I jerked the com-device away from my ear and checked the screen, but it was still lit. “Did I lose you?”

“No.” His tone turned even quieter, almost a growl, when I heard voices in the background. I was pretty sure he was attempting to be discreet. “The conference room, my office, or my bedroom?”

My attention caught on the wall, not seeing a damn thing. “Um…” It was his turn to wait, my mind hazing over with the implications of his question. I had blinked several times before I inhaled harshly.

I mumbled on a hasty breath, “Your bedroom.” It made sense, even though we’d had sex against a wall before. I didn’t want anyone seeing us together for this, and I was betting he didn’t either.

Another pause. “Do you know where it is?”

“Yes.” I exhaled a heavy breath. He knew what I wanted, and he wasn’t arguing.

“I’ll be there in an hour.”

My chest heaved as my anxiety lowered. “Thank you.” But my head cocked as I listened to the voices in the background. By the hostile tones, it was an argument. “Is there something going on I should worry about?”

A lazy answer. “No.”

I wasn’t sure I believed him…but I let it pass. “I’ll see you in an hour.”

The line clicked, going dead. No ‘good-bye’ either.

I placed my cell on the table. A gradual grin lifted my lips. I was going to have an orgasm again. Mmm.

I walked through the castle at a sedate, forced stride, rambling through the hallways, as if I were evaluating the artwork on the walls. I kept my eyes from anyone passing by, not in the mood for their curious glances. Only when I heard no one nearby did I slink into the shadows. The path to his bedroom wasn’t clear, annoying me greatly. It took longer than expected to steal past any late night travelers without notice.

When I finally stepped up to the wooden door, I lifted my hand and knocked sharply. Three taps. Enough for him to hear inside, but quiet enough that the two individuals a hallway over—and walking this way—couldn’t.

“Enter,” Geo called.

I stepped inside just as the two rounded the corner. I quickly shut the door and turned to face the room, my eyes taking their time to adjust to the low lighting. With my back to the doors, the cold doorknob digging into my lower back, I evaluated the room.

It wasn’t as pretentious as I thought it might be.

There was a fireplace in use on my left. Though the logs burned bright, it was the only lighting in play, each lick of a flame casting shadows deeper into the room. In front of the fireplace was a brown couch cavernous enough that it was the size of a small bed. A white, longhaired rug lay between the couch and the fireplace. A sizeable dark wooden desk, also facing the fireplace, sat behind the couch to my right, with plenty of room to walk between the two.

I turned my head to the far right, and my eyes stopped on the monumental-sized bed in an adjacent room, the wooden doors open to it. I snapped my attention back to the main room and cast a quick look at the stunning artwork of landscapes hanging on the walls, each adorned by creatively carved, wooden frames. The entire suite was a masculine portrait of simplicity and elegance. Even the heavy navy drapes covering the windows on the far side of the room were tasteful, but a hard line against intruding eyes.

“You’re late. I thought you might have changed your mind.” I stopped ignoring the rebellion leader where he sat on the leather couch. He was barely dressed, only wearing a pair of black training shorts. It was the most casual I had ever seen him, completely at ease in his domain. His muscled torso was on full display as he lowered his left arm and stopped peering at his halo-watch.

Purple eyes, frosted with danger, turned in my direction. “Did you have trouble getting here?”

My lips pinched, but I made my feet move forward. “A little. I didn’t want anyone to see me enter.”

His gaze traveled over my features slowly, chilling me to the core, until he nodded his head in agreement. “I had wondered how you would make it here unseen.”

I sighed my annoyance. “It wasn’t easy. The halls are filled at this time of night.”

His head cocked in silent question, his white hair gliding against his bare left shoulder. Why are you here? He wanted to know for certain. He wasn’t going to voice his assumption.

I didn’t blame him.

I lifted my arms and ran my fingers through my white hair, my nerves coming back to the fore. I wet my lips with my tongue, his perceptive eyes not missing any action. I cleared my throat and dropped my arms and stopped a foot away from him. I didn’t step between him and the fire so I could still see his features in the clear light. When I spoke, it was distressingly timid.

“I-I would like another orgasm. The feel of it has been haunting me. I wish to experience it again.”

His head nodded, with the confirmation, no guessing needed. With no expression on his features, he stated in a calm fashion, “And even though you ran away from me, even when you knew you were mine, you expect me to have sex with you freely?” He arched his right white brow. “You demand to have a separate room, and you still have yet to apologize for your previous actions.”

I held perfectly still, my jaw gradually going slack. He didn’t blink, his cold eyes straight on mine. The bastard wasn’t joking, not that I thought he ever did. His words had been blunt, always to the point. My mouth bobbed. “I apologize?” It wasn’t the most intelligent response, but it was what he wanted.

He pointed a long finger at me. “That was pathetic.” He tapped that finger on his left temple. “Try not to forget I can read your mind. Lying and trying to pacify me is of no use.”

My eyes narrowed. I hated he had that power over me. “I said I apologize. And I do mean it. But if you want me to beg, it will never happen.” My voice rose inside the room with my irritation. “You said you would kill any other man I look at with interest so that only leaves you.”

“While that is so flattering I’m surprised I’m not blushing, I am no fool. Do not treat me as such. I know you’re fighting your attraction to me.” He shrugged his left shoulder, getting more comfortable. He pushed with his palms and placed his back flush with the back of the couch, his right leg bent up with his left leg straight. He was so casual as he gave his reasoning. “And I can’t help who I am. Or what I am.” His own eyes narrowed at the thought, disgust clearly lacing his tone. “Just as you cannot help who and what you are. And I can read your mind, so your anger toward me is juvenile at best. Once you come to terms with your surroundings and the Kireg, this will go much smoother for us.”

I scowled.

And how long will it be before you come to terms that I’m half Human, a hybrid?

He arched his eyebrow again. “It will take time, Madeline. But I keep my hostility at bay.”

Whereas, I did not.

My mouth snapped shut, cutting off the harsh retort I was about to utter.

I eyed his casual pose, letting my regard run over him from head to toe. And I evaluated the pulse at his throat. The constant bum-bum was a little too fast for anyone who was truly comfortable. I watched as he fisted his right hand, his knuckles turning white. And I snapped my gaze up when a glimmer from the firelight caught my eye. It was one bead of sweat on his right temple. My attention traveled back to his purple eyes. I squinted and saw they were pinched at the very corners.

No, he didn’t want this any more than I did—our connection.

I licked my lips. “Do you want me to go?” I could be blunt, too.

His voice was a quiet drawl, his fist unclenching. “No, I don’t.”

I took a step toward him, my regard completely on his unique eyes. “Sex?”

He lowered his right leg to straighten it. “We are meant to be.”

My eyes narrowed when he didn’t answer directly. He was toying with me…but I didn’t completely hate it. “Yes, then?”

“Hmm.” His voice was changing, deeper. More gruff. Turning to all masculine need. “Remove your clothing. Then I’ll make up my mind.”

I blinked. “What are you doing?”

One side of his lips curved up at the edge. “I believe I’m flirting with you.”

“Oh,” I mumbled. “Like how your sister and her mate do?”

“Yes. I thought I’d try it out.” He flicked a finger. “I do want you naked, though.”

“So, we’ll have sex?” How many times must I ask it?

“Yes, Madeline. We’re going to have sex tonight.”

Thank Mother Joyal.

I kicked off my boots without hesitation. My gaze never left his, seeing his eyes already dilating. I bent at the waist and yanked my knee-high socks off. My shirt went next falling in a soft flutter to the ground over my tossed boots. I almost stalled when he huffed quietly, his own hands going to the waist of his shorts and pulling them off in an efficient manner. He placed them over the back of the couch nice and neat. His cock was at full attention, but I didn’t glance down. I unsnapped my chest support and let the straps fall down my arms, tossing it to the side, too. My nipples puckered on their own accord under the direct regard of his hard gaze. The shiver that ran down my spine was all encompassing from the way this man was staring at me. It was much the same way this woman eyed him.

Pure want.

When my skirt landed on the ground, he grunted. But he wasn’t upset, only surprised. “You came armed.”

I unhooked the thigh holsters quickly, gently placing my knives on the ground. “Don’t be flattered. I’m generally armed in some way now.” I shimmied out of my remaining undergarment and kicked them aside, now fully bared. “Small female. Lots of possibilities for injury.”

He hummed under his breath, his purple regard running down my flesh in an unhurried motion. The black of his eyes enlarged during his perusal, only leaving a small ring of purple around the edges. His legs widened as he placed his feet flat on the couch, bending his legs. “I want you on top of me.”

“I can try.” I crawled onto the couch between his legs, careful not to touch his hard member. The heat from his flesh warmed mine far more than the fire could ever manage. The sides of my arms skimmed the insides of his thighs. His legs jerked at the touch, and I finally lifted my gaze to his. My lips quirked, and I teased, “This won’t hurt. I promise.”

Frosty eyes stared back. “I have no worries. I can handle you.”

I snorted softly and continued to climb on top of him. My legs straddled his waist, my hands gripping the back of the couch on either side of his head. “Your ego knows no bounds.”

“It is merely the truth, not ego.” He lifted his arms and gently placed his warm palms on my bare skin, resting his hands on my hips. His thumbs rubbed back and forth in slow motion as if he were petting me, keeping me from running. His brows rose on his forehead, his dark eyes holding mine completely. “Tell me, Madeline, is there a reason why you’re avoiding my cock? It is going to be inside you soon, and you have seen it before.”

I sighed, letting the breath I had been holding out. “Get over yourself. I was just getting comfortable.” A small lie, but it made me feel better, more in control. I let his hands coax me down against his hard length, his heat meeting my pussy…not horrible. A small warmth kindled inside my chest, and my lower stomach clenched, tightening in an age-old sign of allure and need. I tried not to squirm, getting closer, as I raised my right hand. He didn’t flinch when I gripped his chin in a soft hold and turned his head to the side. I tipped his head back, baring his neck—all that pretty flesh.

He had focused on my neck before. I thought I’d return the favor. “I’m going to kiss you here.”

“I’m waiting.”

My eyes widened in shock as he showed his first sign of emotion. Like real freaking emotion. His lips twitched, and the edges of his mouth turned up in a cocky as hell smirk. Damn if it didn’t make him even more attractive. He whispered, “You have my word I won’t stop you.”

I stared, still holding his head to the side. “Okay.”

It went quiet inside his chambers.

He cleared his throat, his lips curving once more.

I blinked and tore my attention away from his smirking mouth. Shaking my head didn’t help to clear away the fact I found him extremely attractive. That I found a Kireg so striking, it made me shell-shocked and mind-dumb.

I muttered, “Don’t even say it.”

He was barely holding his hilarity back. “I didn’t.”

Shut up, Kireg.

He didn’t make a peep, though he watched on with deadly regard.

I lowered my head and placed my mouth against his heated neck. His skin was smooth and soft beneath my lips. I inhaled deeply, and my eyes shut. He smelled like the coconut oil on Joyal and the sweet heat of a blessed day, a direct contrast to the night and moon that he loved so much. I moaned softly against his neck and stroked his warm skin with slow caresses.

The rebellion leader lifted his hips against mine, rubbing his cock against my core, the wetness that quickly drenched my pussy astonishing even me. I smiled against his flesh when he groaned deep in his throat, the vibration tickling my lips. But it wasn’t long before he reached up and grabbed the back of my hair, tugging with a firm grip.

“Enough teasing,” he growled.

I shook my head the barest bit and continued placing light kisses on his neck.

“One more and that’s it, Human,” he hissed. He tightened his grip on my hair.

I flinched at the pain and took the hint. He was very impatient.

And, damn, did he smell good.

I took a small lick before lifting back from his neck.

“Having you on top isn’t going to work tonight.”

“You wanted me here.”

“I was wrong.” He tucked his hair behind his ears, and then I was gripping his shoulders in shock as he flipped me onto my back onto the couch. His jaw tightened as he rested on his knees between my spread legs. With a hot palm, he lifted my right foot, bringing my leg up into the air. His cheeks were flushed in arousal, even though his eyes were still so fucking cold. He turned his head and gently began to nibble up the delicate inside of my foot.

His tongue peeked out between his lush lips, and he ran it around my ankle bone in a deliberate, erotic glide. I sucked in a harsh breath and reached above me. My fingers found purchase on top of the arm of the couch. My gaze never left his face, his features reflecting severely in the firelight as he kissed and nipped at my calf. His dark eyes gazed between my thighs. They heated in desire, pinching at the corners, while he eyed my core slick with desire. The evidence was clear that he had an effect on me.

The rebellion leader leaned forward and placed his right arm next to me. He lifted my right leg effortlessly over his shoulder as he held his body over mine. His hips pressed against me, grinding his cock against my slick opening. With his eyes boring into mine, his words were rough and blunt.

“I’m going to eat you before you get my dick.”

I licked my bottom lip. “I hope you don’t mean that literally.”

Those lips quirked up at the sides again, gifting me with a luxurious grin. “I’m a carnivore, not a cannibal.”

“Thank Mother Joyal,” I whispered, my body twitching as he ground against me once more.

He chuckled softly, the first time I had ever heard him laugh, and he pushed back on his arm. He grabbed my free leg and placed it over his other shoulder, easily sliding his large body lower on the couch. “When you come against my mouth—”

“Moon above! Sorry!” a woman squawked. The words were awkward and rushed. Shit. It was Corza, her sweet voice undisguisable. “I didn’t know you had someone with you.”

I froze—my entire body on lockdown—with my fingernails facing the intruder, over the edge of the couch, digging into the leather. This was not a position I wanted to be caught in, my heart rate galloping off into a wicked frenzy, pounding furiously against my chest—my very bare chest.

Mother-fuck-a-Kireg.

With my legs bent over his muscled shoulders, Geo’s head snapped up, and he released a growl. The man was furious, the noise frightening and suffocating in the quiet. I stiffened even further, but he wasn’t looking at me. His eyes, always so emotionless, were violent slits as he glared at his sister over the side of the couch.

He barked, “Get out!”

There was a slight rustling behind me, though the door didn’t slam shut as I thought it would.

Corza cleared her throat, and sounding much more in control of herself, stated evenly, “I will in a moment. You wanted me to inform you as soon as the council members arrived. They have.”

The bastard’s body was rigid, and he ground his teeth together. Though he managed to say in a more sedate tone, “Tell them, I’ll meet with them at ten o’clock tomorrow morning.” He paused. “And lock the fucking door on your way out.”

“I will inform them of the meeting.” A quiet pause. “So sorry, Madeline.”

The lock clicked, and then the door closed with a sharp snick.

We didn’t move.

I was still scared shitless, caught, as we were, my fingers cramping on the couch.

Geo was merely furious, his jaw constantly working, the muscles in his cheeks showing.

I exhaled heavily, and whispered, “Did she see me?”

“Not your face,” he growled.

I groaned long and hard. “I’m not used to people seeing my bare flesh.”

“I know.” His gaze dipped back down to mine, and his hands on my hips began that petting motion again. His red, plush lips thinned for a second, his gaze tracking mine. His voice was strangled when he asked, “Do you want to stop? We can do this tomorrow if you need.”

I focused on my heartbeat, willing it to calm. The asshole was actually being sensitive to my needs. It was shocking enough for me to wonder how out of sorts I looked. I cleared my throat, making sure my voice didn’t waver. “I’m okay. Tonight is fine.”

His dark eyes were penetrating. “Last chance. Are you sure?”

I forced my lips to lift into a smile. “I’m already naked. You’re already naked. Plus, getting here was a real bitch. I’d rather not do it again tomorrow night.”

His head tipped down, and he peeked at me between his white, dangling hair. “That could be rectified easily. No one would think twice if you moved into my room. You are my mate.”

My eyes turned skyward. “I don’t wish to discuss that again right now.”

“Fair enough.” The rebellion leader was true to his word as my breathing escalated, coming in sharp pants. He didn’t ask again as he lowered his face to my waiting core.

I squeaked a feminine sound—one I hoped he never mentioned—as his lips made contact with my flesh. He huffed, and his thumbs started petting my thighs again, while his tongue skated in an unrushed glide over my wetness. The black in his eyes widened, and a deep groan vibrated against my flesh, his attention turning from my eyes down to my core.

I ripped my left hand away from the couch and grabbed a fistful of his hair, my thoughts quickly turning to the carnal pleasure he was giving me. I bucked my hips as he lapped at my core in earnest, though his fingers stopped petting me to sink into my legs, holding me still. The tip of his tongue found my clit without pause, and he circled it slowly before rubbing the flat part of his tongue against it hard.

My teeth bit into my bottom lip to keep from crying out. He continued to torture me, his teeth nibbling at my folds only to lick at my pussy as if it were his favorite treat. He played with my clit with his tongue repeatedly, and my head tilted to the left as I arched my back. I tried to hold it in, but my mouth opened, and I shouted in pleasure when he pushed two of his fingers inside my gripping channel.

He hummed in approval and pumped his fingers into my body. His tongue flicked at my clit endlessly, and he pressed his face harder against my flesh, his mouth devouring me. My thighs started to tremble around his head as a heat took hold of my frame. My brain turned to mush in a wave of ecstasy as I screamed my release. His strength held me down as I quaked underneath him, his mouth replacing his fingers as I came against his tongue. With zealous licks, he stayed there until my body fell against the couch in sated pleasure. I repeatedly blinked at his white ceiling and tried to focus my eyes, my vision hazy and lethargic.

My legs slid over his shoulders and down his arms as he climbed up my body, his muscular arms trapping me underneath him. Dark eyes watched as I squinted at the ceiling, trying to come to terms with the fact that this Kireg had given me one hell of an orgasm. We weren’t under duress. No one’s life was on the line. This had been by choice, on both our parts. One I had initiated.

His face took the place of my evaluation of his ceiling, his hair hanging down on either side of his face. I panted and tried to catch my breath, the air from my lungs making his hair sway against his flushed cheeks.

Fuck. Where had all the oxygen gone?

He quirked his brows in silent question.

I waved a hand. “I’m good. I’m good.” I was so not good. Not at all.

Geo pressed his forehead to mine, capturing my gaze utterly. His dark eyes owned mine while he placed the broad head of his cock at my core’s entrance. “Just accept it, Madeline.”

He wasn’t talking about his cock.

“You first,” I panted.

He was done playing…if he ever was playing.

He shoved his hips forward, his cock driving halfway inside my dripping channel.

My body jerked, and my mouth slammed open. “Shit!”

Then he asked calmly, “Who has their cock inside you?”

“You do.” My brows puckered.

“And what am I?”

My nostrils flared, understanding. “A Kireg.”

He lifted his torso and pulled his hips back, just to slam them forward again. My breath hitched as his cock slid all the way inside me, stretching my channel to a painful fullness. I lifted my arms in a hurry and braced my hands against his shoulders. The flex of his muscles played under my fingertips as he held still, breathing in through his nose and out through his mouth, waiting for me to adjust to his large size.

He spoke through gritted teeth, “Say it again. What am I?”

I bit my bottom lip. “A Kireg.”

“You’re mine,” he whispered, his tan cheeks flushed. “And I’m yours. Your mate.”

My eyes flicked back and forth between his. I allowed quietly, “Yes, you are.” I eventually tested moving my hips and my eyes shut in pleasure. I ground more feverishly against his cock, shuddering as the head of his dick rubbed all the right spots deep inside me. “What are you waiting for?”

“For that.” He pulled his hips back and then shoved his cock back into me hard. He huffed out a long sigh, nearly sounding like a purr. His eyes shut and his head tipped back, his neck muscles straining against his skin. “This is what I needed.”

I moaned softly beneath him as his speed picked up, my fingernails scraping down his arms. He shivered at the contact and dropped his head to stare into my eyes. He liked that, the bite of pain, the way his breathing turned even heavier. I slid my hands under his arms and grabbed onto the flexing muscles of his back, and dug my fingernails in. My hips lifted and slammed against his, the pleasure overriding any decorum I may have had with him.

His groan was guttural, and he ducked his face into my neck. He bit into my skin with his teeth. It wasn’t hard enough to draw blood, but it was gripping enough to have me shout in pleasure. He growled and dug his teeth in more fiercely.

“Geo,” I moaned in pain and satisfaction. My nails did puncture the flesh on his back when he tilted his head and bit my shoulder, little dabs of blood wetting my fingers. “Oh fuck. That’s so good.”

“Mmm.” He shuddered against me, driving his hips against mine. He licked his way down to my breasts, nibbling and sucking on each pebbled nipple. “It’s not completely horrible.”

I blinked furiously. “Did you just make a joke?”

“Yes. I do have a sense of humor.” He nipped my right nipple hard.

I shouted his name as my body tightened around him.

He lifted his head over my face, staring down at my mouth. But he didn’t kiss my lips. The asshole chuckled quietly as sweat began to mist his naked flesh. He drove his hips so hard against my body, his cock filling me so full, I lost my breath, unable to say anything at all. He smirked, the expression all male. “That’s better.” He continued his onslaught of pleasure, ramming his cock into me and grinding his pelvis against my clit.

I growled softly, but my eyes rolled back into my head. My gaze shut against his imposing features, and I merely allowed myself to feel with each meeting thrust of our hips. My body followed his lead, his tempo, my hips moving faster as my body slickened with sweat. The coarse hairs on his legs rubbed against my smooth legs, tickling my flesh, and my hands wandered to his impressive pecs. My fingers probed, the pads running over all the muscle and power flexing over my small frame. My breath came in harsh pants, just like his now. The tips of my fingers ran over the hard muscles in his abdomen working with each of his plunging drives. The constant sound of our skin slamming against each other was a carnal melody to my ears.

I opened my eyes and ordered quietly, “Just a little deeper.”

He grunted and grabbed my right leg, crooking it over his arm, and drove against me.

I blinked in rapid succession as my body bowed against his. “Mother Joyal, you’re big.”

He hissed out a breath. His cock slammed into me, rubbing me just right. “Have it.”

My body tightened around him, my channel squeezing his cock. A keening cry started low in my throat and turned into a full-fledged shout of ecstasy. My head thrashed back and forth against the leather, his cock filling me, stretching me, again and again. The orgasm took me in a brutal hold, choking the air from my lungs, each nerve ending lit in powerful waves of decadent euphoria. My eyes glazed over as my body quaked underneath the man instilling so much sensation through my limbs, my fingers tingling with the waves.

Geo’s frame grew even tauter, his eyes on my bouncing breasts as he shoved his cock in balls deep. He growled under his breath, his features full of pained pleasure. His cock jerked inside me as he came brutally. His body jolted over mine hard, until my body relaxed under his. When his body landed hard on top of mine, spent from pleasure, he hissed a curse, “Fucking sacred moon.”

I patted his back, my eyes closing in exhaustion. “I don’t mind.”

He was warm and smelled so nice. And I…liked…the pressure of his body on mine.

His grunt was quiet. “You’re going to fall asleep if I don’t get up.”

I hummed, hardly paying attention. “I’ll sneak out tomorrow morning. I’m not moving.” Though I stifled a surprised yelp when he pushed off me and lifted my body into his arms. I was too tired to argue. My head fell against his heated shoulder. “Where are you taking me?”

“Where you belong.”

My eyes drifted shut as he placed me on his soft bed.

Was this really where I should be? I didn’t know yet.

But I didn’t argue. Not tonight.

I groaned in exhaustion and rolled over. My body thumped alongside a warm and muscled frame. With skin touching skin, the stranger next to me, and I, too…were very naked under the sheet covering us.

“What the hell?” I muttered, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. I squinted at the back of a white curly-haired head, the man next to me lying on his stomach with his face pointed away from mine. I would know that hair anywhere. I glanced around my surroundings. I was in the bastard’s bed. And he was sleeping next to me.

I whispered, “What?”

Then the memories came, bombarding me in crazy, vivid detail.

Along with the rush of cum between my legs when I moved again.

I jumped out of his bed, my gaze searching fervently for a bathroom. There were too many closed doors in this room. I didn’t know which one to hurry to first. Mother Joyal! I was going to unload a shitload of cum all over his fancy carpet if I didn’t find a toilet soon.

The rebellion leader grunted and slapped a hand down on the side of the bed where I had lain. Though, when he clutched just the bare sheet, he turned onto his back. He took one look at my cross-legged standing position and waved one of his hands to his left.

“Bathroom’s over there.”

I took off with immense speed. I opened and slammed the door behind me. I was already sitting down on his toilet when the damn door bounced back open, having jarred it too hard. I groaned in mortification and dropped my forehead into my palms. Wonderful. The rebellion leader was going to hear me relieve myself…of him. And my morning pee. I wasn’t sure which flooded out of my body faster. It was like I was pregnant and my water had just broken, the splash degrading in itself.

I didn’t move from the pot for over five minutes, just in case another ‘gusher’ came.

It was disgusting. Humiliating. And…somewhat comical.

Eventually, I hollered from my perch, “How the hell did you manage all this?”

Dry, very dry, words. “I’m a man of many talents.”

I snorted and flushed his toilet for the fourth time. “This is freaking ridiculous.”

“So says the woman who tried to sneak back to Joyal, but landed in Triaz, instead.”

I bared my teeth at him, even though he couldn’t see from the bed. “Shut up.”

“I would if you’d quit talking.”

I wiped again and attempted to stand up.

Nope. Back on the pot I went.

I growled under my breath. “I’ll be here all damn day.”

Hard footfalls—stomping—came in my direction. Naked as the day he was born, right along with me, he stopped just inside the bathroom. Chilled, purple eyes stared at me on his stupid toilet. He snorted softly before tipping his head to the shower next to me. “Get in there. You’ll feel better after a shower.” He paused. “Unless you love your hair sticking up at all ends.”

I blinked up at him. “You really are an asshole.”

“I have to pee. And you’re hogging the only place to relieve myself.”

I ground my teeth together and sucked it up, quickly wiping in front of him. My feet moved super-fast as I jumped into the shower and closed the glass door. I couldn’t get any privacy in here. I yelped when the water came out frigid—like the bastard’s damn attitude—and hurried to adjust the water temperature.

He snorted and proceeded to take his morning piss while I danced around inside his shower. “The cold water is touchy. Turn it down and you’ll get the right heat.”

“Dammit, you could have told me before.” My teeth chattered, and I quickly followed his direction. But soon, my shoulders slumped in appreciation as warm water rained down on me. It was then I truly began to feel how sore my body was. The ache between my thighs was less than pleasant. I growled softly and cursed his name a few times while I searched for the soap amongst all his other bathing products. It appeared he took his personal hygiene very seriously—a bit vain, actually.

“I can hear you, you know.” And he flushed the fucking toilet out of spite.

“Ahhh!” I jumped out of the scalding hot water, slamming my back against the tiling. I glared at him through the spray of the water and quickly fogging glass.

He stood scowling back, his arms crossed over his chest. I didn’t look below his waist. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. His white brows rose. “Hmm… I guess the hot water is touchy, too. I should probably have that looked at.”

“You. Are. An. Asshole.”

He merely turned to his vanity, bored with our conversation. The bastard grabbed his toothbrush and started to brush his teeth. His eyes met mine through the glass. He talked around a mouthful of white bubbles. “Hurry up. I need to take a shower too.”

I stuck my tongue out at him, enjoying how his eyes narrowed at the action. Though I grabbed the soap and lathered up, proceeding to take the quickest shower ever. As I rinsed, I asked, “Geo, I forgot about something last night.”

He glanced at me in his mirror while he gargled a blue mouthwash.

My words were hesitant. “We didn’t use one of those shield protectors you mentioned.”

His blink was gradual, and he spat into his sink after a moment. While he wiped his mouth, he watched my reflection in his mirror. “I only asked the Dynasty about it when I couldn’t use my powers. But now that I have them back, I can control my fertility, as can any Kireg. You won’t become pregnant from last night.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. “And you don’t have any weird Kireg disease?”

He snorted. “No, again, that’s something I can control, too.”

Thank Mother Joyal. I knew the Kireg were far more healthy than the Humans or the Mian.

I paused getting out of the shower, a gifted towel wrapped firmly around my bare frame when he brushed past me into the still running water. “May I attend the meeting with you today?” It was brazen of me to ask, but I would adore knowing what was going on with the rebellion.

When water started to pelt my skin from his body in the shower, he shut the door. Purple eyes ran over my features shrewdly through the glass. “You care so much?”

I lifted a white brow. “This is where I live now. And while I don’t enjoy politics, this isn’t exactly that. I would like to know if we’re going to be at war much longer with the Dynasty.”

He eyed me a second longer before he tipped his head back into the water. He closed his eyes and lifted his arms to run his fingers through his quickly soaked hair. I may have taken my time then to run my gaze over all the naked flesh before me. My cheeks heated in a blush, pink and uncomfortable, enjoying what I saw—immensely. This rebellion leader was built for battle, all his muscles hard and honed for fighting. Every part of his build was perfect for his position in life.

And, perhaps, lickable.

I cleared my throat and pulled my gaze up from his hardening cock. “So?”

His voice was much deeper when he replied, “They will be able to read your mind. You don’t have the natural shields that we have against invasion. Not even the smallest amount that a weak Kireg has.” He opened his eyes, holding my gaze. “Are you prepared for that?”

My cheeks heated even further, knowing he had heard my thoughts. “Have they been broadcasting all around, like a loudspeaker? Or does someone have to focus to hear them?”

Cold eyes held mine. “With normal thoughts, they would need to focus on you. But if you’re under duress or distraught or ecstatic, then they are heard easily by everyone close by with a decent voy-level. And all of my council members are powerful.”

“Voy-level is?” I wanted the clarification since I had just been guessing.

“Our ability to control others or fight the control.”

I nodded. I had been right. “Wait. Did anyone hear my thoughts…last night?”

His eyes squinted—in humor, I think. “No, I protected you after my sister intruded.”

I blinked. “Appreciated.”

“Accepted.” His head cocked as he grabbed his soap. “Do you still want to attend?”

“Will you protect my thoughts again?”

“No.”

I stared. “But you did last—”

Sharp, frosted eyes snapped to mine. “Last night was different. That was private.”

My mouth gradually shut. The possessiveness in his purple gaze was intimidating.

His attention didn’t falter. “You must adapt to this culture, Madeline. I can’t be with you at all times. You need to learn to keep your thoughts private or on mundane topics when in public. Otherwise, you will never have any privacy.”

I nodded my head as I held his imposing gaze, now understanding.

He was still trying to protect me. In his own harsh way.

“I still want to attend.”

He evaluated my set gaze. “Then you shall.”

When I turned to leave the bathroom and find my clothes, I sniffed my right forearm. His soap didn’t smell like coconut oil. His natural body oils must give him that delicious aroma.

Truly, the man couldn’t be any more appealing.

And it irritated me. He had to have some flaw. Everyone did.

Just like the gadgets I adored working on and creating, no one was perfect.

I paused at the door when he called absently, “I burp when I drink too much juice.”

My blink was gradual.

Does it at least stink?

He answered, “Sacred Moon, does it ever.”

I grinned as I left him to shower in peace.

In the morning light, I held perfectly still and stopped fighting. I gawked with enormous eyes down at the five-story drop to the perfectly manicured lawn. The ground was too far away for my liking—for anyone’s liking in this situation.

It hadn’t gone as planned when I left Geo’s room.

I knew Corza was protective of her brother, but I hadn’t expected this. I hadn’t planned to be hit over the head, knocked out, and to wake up on the roof.

The strong hands gripping my ankles and holding me upside down, dangling me over the side of the stronghold shook my prone frame.

“Did you hear me?”

I held my arms in a straight line out at my sides, trying to keep myself from swaying even further. Adrenaline pumped through my veins making my entire body shake. I inhaled a lung full of oxygen and hissed, “No. I’m too busy staring at what’s going to be a very painful landing if you drop my ass.” Truly, this woman was built for battle.

Corza growled, “Then listen closely. If you ever run away from my brother again, I will kill you. Got that?”

I swallowed down the bile that rose up in my throat when she shook me again. My nostrils burned from my position, my head beginning to ache from the blood rush. “I came back here, didn’t I? I could have traveled on to Joyal. But I didn’t.”

“Everyone knows Joyal isn’t safe right now after the Mian attacked. The Human President is dead, and a newly elected one is young—too young for the position. It didn’t take intellect to understand you wouldn’t travel there. Just because you and my brother were paired up in that fish tank, it doesn’t mean you are meant to be. Even if he thinks so.” She grunted and her fingers ground into my ankles. I stifled my screech at the influx of pain. “But if you leave him before you two can figure out your shit, I won’t let you get away with it again.”

I shivered and stared at the side of the building. There was no place to grab on to if she let go. I tried to explain, “I’m not planning to leave. I swear it.”

“You had better keep to that, Madeline.”

I blinked as a rush of unacceptable tears pricked my eyes. My voice was quiet. “This is all new to me. I’ve never felt this way before about someone.”

“And how do you feel?” Her grip tightened. “Do you love him?”

“It’s not love. Not yet.” I sniffed on a stuffed nose. “But I know I care for him.”

She hummed. “And that pisses you off.”

“Yes.” When she shook me again, I explained, “Humans don’t do this. I’m going against everything I’ve ever known being here with him. It’s not a simple equation.”

Corza grunted and pulled me back from the ledge. She lowered me to the roof’s surface. Her purple eyes watched as I crawled back away from her and stood to my feet. Her head shook. “Love isn’t like your old position on Joyal. Emotions don’t play by a set of rules. When you figure that out and open your heart, you will see the truth.”

I sucked in much-needed oxygen while the blood flow in my body took its natural course. I placed a palm on my forehead when my vision blurred from dizziness.

“I’m trying.”

“Try harder.”

I gritted through clenched teeth and scowled. “I still like you.” That pissed me off.

Her grin was ruthless. “And you’re still alive because I like you, too.”

The door to the conference room was a bother to open. My arms were filled with a tablet, notebook, and laser pens. I managed to fumble past the barrier and was painfully overjoyed to see there were no gawkers around the private glass room. Though everyone was inside, my timing was late thanks to the shady morning event.

Geo’s eyes narrowed, and he stopped in mid-speech of whatever he was saying. He glanced from my sudden appearance to his halo-watch and shook his head in annoyance. I ground my teeth together and made my feet move toward the double glass doors. It was Xri who stood from his chair before I even made it there and opened one of the doors for me.

I slid inside the room, relieved that I wasn’t excluded. Even if I truly wouldn’t have minded. This morning had me rattled, my tangled thoughts still owning my concentration. So much so, when Xri reached for my face to hold my head in greeting, I wasn’t able to stop the small flinch.

His palms paused in mid-air. “Is everything all right?”

I nodded quickly and exhaled harshly. “Yes. I’m just running behind.”

Silver eyes had scanned my features before he finished reaching for me. He merely ran his thumbs over my skin before dropping his hands. He took his seat and gestured at the others. “Have you met everyone already?”

I shook my head in a too timid motion. “I haven’t.” The four new sets of eyes of the council members were on me. Same as Geo’s were. I forced a cordial smile and dipped my head to them, all while wondering what was—truthfully—running through their minds about me. “Hello. I’m Madeline Faire. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

The rebellion leader stood and strode to stand next to me. I stiffened when his right hand started to land on my lower back, his other lifting to indicate the council member closest to me. But as smooth as an unimpeded stream, he moved and placed both of his hands on the man’s shoulders. “Madeline, this is Anho Ban.”

The council member’s gaze was professional as he quietly evaluated my person. “Do you prefer Madeline or Ms. Faire?”

“Either is fine,” I responded.

“Well then, it’s lovely to meet you, Ms. Faire.” His eyes scanned me once more. “But perhaps you could be on time to meetings?”

“Of course. My apologies.”

Geo released him and motioned to the man across from Mr. Ban. “Madeline, this is Fen Sto.” A point to the man sitting next to him. “Aar Nes.” And the man beside him. “Caz Sen-Bu.” His purple eyes turned back to me, holding eerily. He was penetrating into my churning mind, and I knew it. Too bad I couldn’t enact his advice right now. He even sniffed once in my direction. “And, of course, you already know Xri Sta-Han.”

I jerked my gaze away from him and eyed the men. “I truly am sorry for my lateness. Please don’t take my tardiness as a sign of disrespect.” A gentle shake of my head. “It won’t happen again. I promise you.”

Xri shrugged a shoulder, a sweet grin gracing his lips. “Don’t let them fool you. We haven’t actually started the meeting. We were merely talking about the cook burning the fish this morning before you arrived. Take your seat and relax.”

I blinked, and a full pink blush bloomed on my cheeks. “Appreciated. And I will.” I sidestepped Geo when I turned to take my seat, allowing plenty of room between the two of us. I hesitated briefly. It would calm my mind if I sat farther away from him. I altered course and took the seat on the other end of the table and began busying myself, spreading my items on the empty space before me.

The rebellion leader grunted. “We don’t bite, Madeline.”

No, your people just dangle me off buildings.

I didn’t peer up from my busy hands, rearranging my tablet a third time as I took my seat. “I just have a lot of items with me. I want to make sure I have plenty of room to work without being a distraction to anyone else.”

Xri barely strangled a laugh, but with one glance from his leader, he was instantly silent.

“Let’s…get this meeting started then,” Geo murmured. The frost from his gaze chilled me bone-deep as he took his own seat, directly across from me but far down the table. I could only breathe again when he turned his attention away and onto Xri. “We should start with what our contacts at the Imperial household have discovered.”

I ended up pushing my perfectly placed tablet aside. The notebook would be my go-to during this meeting. It was easier to doodle when my mind wandered too far and much more fulfilling to burn the paper with the word Corza written—by my own hand, over and over—when the meeting had ended.

I stood outside Geo’s office with my right hand raised to knock. I had been in this position for a full minute. Xri had sent word that the rebellion leader wanted to speak with me privately. It didn’t surprise me that he did. I hadn’t been at my best during the meeting, often needing someone to repeat their statements because I couldn’t concentrate.

I swallowed down my apprehension when I heard Xri clear his throat behind me. He had been patient and waited for me to get my act together. This must be his limit of my ridiculousness. I knocked quickly then dropped my arm. I shook the silliness of my response to this summons aside and tried to pay better attention.

“Get in here, Madeline,” Geo barked from the other side of the door.

I wiped the sweat on my palms against my new skirt and opened his door. The blink I gave the two inside the room was extremely slow as I shut the door behind me, getting my thoughts in order and my game face on. I placed my hands behind my back and questioned, “You wanted to speak with me?”

The bastard sat behind his desk and flicked a finger at the free chair across from him. “Sit down.”

The carpet inside his office was plush under my boots as I moved to the chair, sinking in with each light step I took. I didn’t glance at the individual occupying the other chair next to it. Corza the Protector could rot today for all I cared. The woman didn’t deserve any more of my attention than she had already received. Bastard.

I sat down with the calmness of a trained Human and placed my hands on my lap.

No one spoke. At all.

Geo’s purple eyes flicked back and forth between Corza and me. He watched us. He waited for one of us to comment on the building tension inside the room. The awkward silence was enough to break a weaker individual. But I wasn’t that, my mouth staying shut. And, notably, neither was Corza, her own lips glued together. The rebellion leader leaned to his right and opened a drawer in his desk.

He pulled a large piece of candy from the depths of the drawer—it was very sweet, by the scent—and unwrapped it meticulously. He popped it into his mouth and tossed the wrapper onto his wooden desk. He chewed with his mouth closed for two minutes before swallowing, his throat expanding and lowering from the huge treat. His dark gaze eventually stopped evaluating us and landed on Corza.

Geo demanded quietly, “Tell me what you’ve done.”

Corza cleared her throat. “I spoke with her this morning if that’s what you’re asking.”

A white brow rose. “Explain what you did during this conversation.”

The muscles in Corza’s jaw flexed. “I did what any other sister would have done.”

The rebellion leader didn’t comment. He waited for further explanation.

The bastard flicked her thumb at me in disgust and leaned forward toward her brother. “That Human needed to understand how much you mean to me.”

The rebellion leader’s lips curved. “I’m sure she did. That’s why I’m asking for the details. She’s been a thorn in my side since she arrived here. I can’t wait to kick her ass back to her own kind—after I’m through taking my enjoyment with her.”

My bullshit radar pinged, and I crossed my legs in a telling action.

But Corza didn’t notice anything amiss. She continued on, even slapping a hand down on the desk as she clarified, “I know you want her here. That much is clear. If it’s just for sex, then that’s pretty low even for you. When you have sex with her, I know you were forced into it—”

Geo’s head cocked. “When was that?”

Corza’s brows puckered in confusion. “When the damn Dynasty made you!”

“Oh, yes. You’re quite right.” He waved a hand. “Keep going.”

“Well, she won’t be running away from you anytime soon.” Corza sat back on her chair and stretched her arms up, and placed her hands behind her head. Completely relaxed. Just a brother and sister talking with one another. “She learned her lesson.”

“I still haven’t heard the good part.” He paused. “At least, I hope it gets better than this.”

Corza’s smile was all too smug. “I dangled her over the top of the building.” She whistled long and hard. “You should have seen her face. It was a sight to behold. It was magnificent.”

I glanced away and focused on the far wall. Even though I knew the rebellion leader was baiting her—that much was obvious—I couldn’t stand to listen to it any longer. My cheeks were flaming red in humiliation, the heat actually making my forehead sweat, and my fingers were strangling each other in a knot on my lap. The toilet might not be close enough if the stomach acid churning in my stomach rose in my throat.

The seconds ticked by in the silence as it descended on the room.

Tension had fled long ago…and was now replaced with a rising aggression. And power. Wicked and cruel power leaking from the rebellion leader. It haunted the office like a creeping smoke that would choke the lungs if breathed in too deeply. It didn’t take very long for Corza to start fidgeting in her chair next to me, the wooden thing creaking beneath her weight. Only then did I believe she understood her mistake, her massive blunder to his ‘mate.'

This wouldn’t end well for her.

Geo sniffed the air once and rested back on his own chair. Gentle as a whisper, he stated, “Corza, you know Madeline is under my protective care and is not to be physically or mentally harmed. What transpired when we were captured by the Dynasty has misguided you. And your actions this morning have mentally harmed my mate.” His voice was so quiet, so calm. Utterly frightening in its control. A shudder ran down my spine as he finished his speech. “But that won’t keep me from punishing you for breaking my law.”

Purple eyes turned to me, capturing my attention. “You may leave.” He tipped his head at his door. “And tell Xri to come in here when you go.”

I nodded and rose from my chair.

Though I froze when Corza’s hand landed on my right wrist.

I sucked in a harsh breath when Geo moved so fast it had me skittering backward. He was over the desk and slamming Corza’s torso against the wood in a mere blink. With one hand on the back of the struggling woman’s neck, Geo’s narrowed gaze met mine. He ordered quietly, “Now, Madeline.”

I gulped and hurried toward the door. I wasn’t about to get between the rebellion leader and his disorderly sister’s punishment. The knob was cool to my touch when I twisted it and charged out. I barely withheld my smirk as I told Xri he was wanted inside. It was pleasurable to watch Xri waiver this time to enter his leader’s office, the tables now turned. I cleared my own throat and observed as he finally walked in. When the door closed behind him, the furious bellowing that erupted from the rebellion leader put an added bounce in my step that I was in dire need of.

The crumbs on my shirt were quickly brushed off when Geo entered through the glass doors of the conference room. My late dinner sat hearty and hale in my stomach, but the aftermath of it still rested all over the conference table. I made quick work of smashing the wrappers into balls and tossing them into the tiny hov-basket to my right. My blue eyes turned back to the rebellion leader as he made his way toward me, holding two large mugs of what smelled like coffee.

He took the seat next to mine and placed one of the cups in front of me. I stared at the steaming dark liquid as he sipped from his own mug. He eventually pointed at the gifted cup and broke the silence. “It’s a peace offering. Take it. You look like you could use it.”

I snorted. “Thanks.” Though I did lift it and take a sip. It wasn’t bad, and the caffeine was appreciated. I was still so thrilled that the Kireg had this little treat on their planet. “I heard about the conference you gave earlier.”

He sat his drink down. “My people obviously needed to be informed of what actually happened with the Dynasty. There were too many ridiculous rumors running around.” He tapped his fingers on his cup and tilted his head until I met his lingering gaze.

My lips pinched, and I finally exhaled in a rush. “What did you do with Corza? She was only protecting you. She loves you very much.”

Purple eyes stared into mine. Unflinching. Unapologetic. “She received her first mark of misconduct after her mate had agreed it was the best punishment for the guilty act.”

I coughed so hard I had to put my cup down, my eyes widening on his. “Surely you didn’t charge her with something so extreme. Not for a Human—”

“I assure you, I did. She broke my law. She knew the consequences.” There was no remorse in his features. He was at peace with his decision. “She wears the guilt of her actions on her left bicep. It is a tattoo, a tally, much like the marks you wear on your wrists—except, this is a transgression. It is the Kireg way.”

I chewed on my bottom lip until I chuckled quietly. “And now, she is an example.”

He gently nodded his head, his deep timber quiet. “That too.” Dark eyes held mine for a moment longer before he cleared his throat. “I want to say something to you.”

I raised my brows, waiting for him to proceed.

His words were hard to hear, so blunt and severe. “I don’t think what we did while we were captured was wrong. What you did…what we did together…to stay alive, isn’t anything to be ashamed of. And my people now know the whole story. They have been set straight with the facts, and they know when to heed their leader.” He paused, his purple eyes unflinching. “Outside of that dreadful situation, what we’ve done together afterward in the bedroom is no one else’s business but our own.”

I swallowed hard and ran my eyes over his beautifully brutal features. My brows puckered, and I quickly glanced away when I found myself staring. I eyed my notebook papers in front of me with my messy scrawl all over them, and mumbled in a gust of air, “Thank you for saying that. But I need you to know, we probably shouldn’t have sex anymore. Not right away.”

He was quiet for too long.

I finally looked at him again.

The rebellion leader had been waiting patiently for my attention. His head cocked, his white hair brushing the shoulder of the white dress shirt he wore. “Why is that?”

I rubbed my lips together. Shrugged.

His lips trembled. “Is it because you liked it too much?”

My eyes closed very slowly and stayed that way. “Yes, I did like it too much.”

He snorted. “That isn’t horrible, Madeline. I am your mate.”

I opened my eyes and watched him. “But it screws with my head when I’m trying to figure out how I feel about you. Pleasure is one thing while a lifelong commitment is another.”

A white brow arched. “Madeline, our connection will never change. It is forever.” He cocked his head, his eyes on mine. “But I never said I wanted to have sex with you again soon, either.”

“Oh.” My mouth bobbed, and my cheeks flushed. “I guess that makes it easy then.”

One side of his lips lifted in a rare smirk, his dark eyes watching my reaction.

Too bad my own gaze took a wander to that mouth of his. His lips were so lush I couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to kiss them, to run my tongue over them and taste. To wipe that smirk away as I nibbled and…

I squirmed in my chair, aware of the wetness in my undergarment, and pulled the sheets on the table closer to me. “So I was looking over what the council members said today…” I trailed off as he leaned closer, his right shoulder directly next to my face as he reached in front of me and moved my coffee cup to the side so he could see the papers better. I cleared my throat and pretended like his scent and warmth weren’t turning me on further. “Um, so the council members said the Imperial household has moved to a different location. If it truly is your mission to eradicate them, you can start there. I could even make an explosive weapon to help you enter the facility—”

The rebellion leader yawed, interrupting me. “I’ve already talked with Corza about this. She agrees that your expertise could help on this mission. Though you won’t be going inside the building. I won’t take that chance with your life.”

My brows puckered. “Okay.” I lifted one paper and read the location. “Their hideout is relatively hidden. There’s only one large province near it. We should be able to—”

“Yes, I know,” he murmured, again stopping me. He leaned forward and placed a long finger on the bottom location—Bol province. The soothing scent of coconut oil in the heat of the sun surrounded me…and stirred my lower region to clench even further. Sweat began to bead on my forehead. “We’ll enter through here, depending on the manpower I can raise by tomorrow.” He ran his finger to the other provinces in a smooth glide, ticking them off. “Then we’ll work our way east, removing any lingering radical groups remaining. With enough men, I should be able to plan multiple surprise attacks on those groups.”

I grunted, eyeing the paper and reviewing his plan. “That’s a decent plan since it was the last province you overtook. There will be more Dynasty supporters left there compared to any other province.” I nibbled on my bottom lip. “But what about me? I will need to work in one location to create what you’ll need.”

“You’ll work at a site twenty clicks from here before you meet up with the group. It should take two weeks to complete the march to the Imperial family if I leave tomorrow. Will that give you enough time?”

I nodded. “Yes, that’s plenty of time, granted you have the materials I need.”

“Currency talks. Luckily, I have plenty of that.”

“Enough to create a bomb.” This would be over soon. Peace could begin.

I chuckled and peered to the side, up at his eyes.

I stopped solid.

The black of his eyes had dilated, and his cheeks were tinged with the slightest flush on his tan face. His nostrils were flared as he stared down at me, inhaling deeply.

I gulped and shook my head, my voice husky. In need. “You can’t look at me that way.”

A white brow lifted. “Then quit getting turned on in my presence.” He inhaled again and leaned closer in slow increments. “Your smell drives me just as mad as mine does for you.”

My head shook again. “You said you didn’t want to have sex with me again!”

“That’s not exactly what I said if you had listened.” He dipped his head down, and his lips found purchase on my tender neck. “You should pay attention when I speak to you.”

I moaned, his teeth nibbling up to my left earlobe. “I really can’t do this with you again.”

“I’m positive your body is saying otherwise.” He growled softly against my ear. “I don’t want this any more than you do. You’re not a full-blooded Kireg, and you’re mind is weak against attacks.”

It came out a sigh. “Then stop.”

He chuckled, the noise cruel. “But my body is saying otherwise, too.” His teeth nipped my earlobe hard, and I groaned. He liked that, having me susceptible to his charms, his mouth curving against my flesh. “Fuck it. You are my mate. One more time before I leave will be good for battle.”

I sucked in a large breath when his hands found my ass. He picked me straight up off the chair, my legs holding around his waist. He shoved my back roughly against the glass and pressed a hand to it. He typed in code with fast fingers and the glass tinted gray, the doors latching in a locked position.

“This is probably not the best place for this,” I muttered, even as I wrangled my skirt up to my waist. Then my fingers were busy undoing his belt and unzipping his pants, too lost to care when his lips found my jaw, his right hand palming my left breast over my shirt. My flesh fit his palm so damn well, creating an even more painful ache between my thighs.

“We won’t be here long. We’ll make it quick before we head to my room,” he rumbled, assuming I would sleep in his bed again. Which I might. The bed had been very comfortable. The rebellion leader nibbled closer to my mouth. I panted hard when his lips hovered over mine, tantalizing as he teased. “The glass will hold us too. It’s bomb proof.”

I chuckled softly. “That’s a relief.”

I waited with my hands on his pants, just waiting for his mouth to touch mine.

A brow quirked, his voice scratchy with need. “You’re going to hold out until I kiss your mouth?”

“Mmm-hmm,” I hummed. I ran a finger along the waistband of his undergarment. It was my turn to tease him. I peered at his dark eyes under my lashes. “Can you do it? Can you kiss a Human?”

He growled, “I can sure as fuck rip that soaked underwear off you.”

I tilted my head forward, just enough to show him I would meet him half way.

He snarled quietly deep inside his chest. “Fuck you.”

And his mouth landed on mine.

It wasn’t soft or gentle or sweet. His mouth took mine in an angry burst of ferocity, his lush lips demanding my total attention. I had never been taken by a kiss like this, my head swimming as I groaned in satisfaction. He tilted his head further as I melted against him, his tongue demanding entry. My nails dug into his hips as our tongues collided, warring with each other in complete abandon. His right hand lifted, and he ran his fingers through my hair, holding my head steady for his assault on my mouth. The heated air from his lungs puffed over my cheeks as he tilted his head the other way, his mouth diving back against mine.

He took. He plundered.

I was afraid he would take a piece of my mortality if he continued.

I tipped my head back and nipped at his lush bottom lip. My panting breath was maybe a little embarrassing as I followed his mouth once more, uncaring the price it cost me, just as long as I had his lips to give me what I needed. His groan was guttural when our tongues touched again, the fisted hold he had on my hair tightening.

He hissed against my mouth, “Is this what you want, Hybrid?”

“God yes,” I moaned and dug my fingers into his flesh.

He chuckled quietly, an all-male satisfied tone. But he didn’t stop, and he was done teasing. The rebellion leader pressed my body harder against the glass and took my mouth all over again, kissing and nibbling at his own pace, his muscular warmth flush on my soft curves. He took his time to completely examine my moans, to scrutinize my responses to his sensual assault. The man was undoing me. He was learning me as I was learning him. The king moaned every time I rubbed my tongue on his in a slow glide; his hips ground against mine every time I nipped his bottom lip. It was fucking heaven.

Corza had said to open my heart. And I did so—a little—as he took me… body and mind.

It wasn’t as frightening as I thought it was going to be.

I was safe in his arms. And he was safe in mine.

But the rebellion leader did steal something that night. It was a small piece of soul, a turning point to understanding this was where I belonged. When he eventually carried me to his room, his cheek pressed against my forehead, I pressed against him. Because I wanted him near. I wanted this Kireg to keep me in his arms. I was changing, adapting. Perhaps Jasmine hadn’t been wrong after all.

I blinked sleepy eyes down at the man who had woken me, his muscular frame resting lower between my spread legs. The softness of his tongue tracing circles on my bare stomach sent a splendid shiver up my spine. I hummed gently in appreciation.

Through the fall of his white hair, his formidable eyes peered up at me. His pink tongue peeked back out as he watched me, and he traced a circle just below my belly button. His eyes flicked back and forth between mine, a gradual grin rising on his lips of satisfaction. The deep rumble of his voice was quiet. “Good morning.”

My lips twitched as I glanced at the clock. “It’s not even four o’clock yet.”

“Do you want me to stop?” He kissed my left hipbone.

“No.” I stretched under him, raising my hands above my head and arching my back. A pinch of pain between my legs had me stiffening and my brows puckering. I settled back on the bed, my eyes drifting down to the rebellion leader. His hands were on my hips, and his teeth were nibbling up my right side—not softly. Any other day—or morning—I wouldn’t have minded, but today, I worried my bottom lip with my teeth. With my brows still furrowed, I hesitated a few seconds, deciding. Then I whispered, “Geo?”

He ran his tongue over my skin. His purple eyes lifted and met mine. “Hmm?”

My cheeks were rosy red and burning with heat. I had nibbled on my bottom lip before I spewed, “I’m a little tender…down there. I’m fairly positive we shouldn’t have sex this morning. I want to be able to walk today without a limp.”

His lips left my skin, and his eyes lowered to my stomach. He lifted to straighten his arms, staring down at my lower section. The juncture of my thighs. His white brows pinched together while he considered what I said. Until he crawled up my body. Muscled legs lay between mine, keeping my legs spread while he placed his weight on his elbows on either side of my head. His brutal features hovered over mine, his lashes hiding his full gaze.

He answered softly, “I know I’m much stronger than you. But I can be gentler if that’s what you need.”

My eyelashes fluttered when I understood. “Wait. You didn’t hurt me last night. That’s not it.” I shook my head and then tentatively placed my hand on his left cheek. I brushed my thumb back and forth. It was…nice…touching him like this. “I enjoy rough sex. In fact, I love it. Just, every so often, I get a little sore.”

His brows furrowed again, and his biceps flexed. He ground his teeth together and stared severely into my eyes. Then his forehead suddenly dropped to my right shoulder. His groan wasn’t of pleasure.

Eventually, he mumbled in disappointment, “So no sex? Really?”

Keeping my hilarity at bay was difficult. I bit my bottom lip so deeply I nearly drew blood, and I patted the back of his head, his face still smashed against my shoulder. I wiggled my hips in an experiment and ignored the hiss that passed his lips from the movement against his hard cock. The bite of pain wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t completely enjoyable either. My chest raised and lowered as I sighed.

“If you can be gentle like you said, then we can still have some fun this morning.”

His head shot up off my shoulder, and his purple eyes held mine. “Are you positive?”

I snorted in an attempt to hold back my laughter. “Yes.”

His eyes narrowed. “This isn’t funny.” He wiggled his own hips against mine, lightly pressing his stiff dick against my tender flesh. “My balls would have been aching later if we didn’t take care of this.”

I retorted, “And, if you’re rough, then I will be aching later.”

“I’ll keep it tempered,” he assured precisely and brought his face close to mine. The heat from his breath on my face was a small pleasure. He brushed his lips against mine, the softness of his mouth a balm for the uncomfortableness between my legs. He kissed me again and smiled against my lips when I pressed my mouth harder to his. “Though it may prove difficult if you don’t behave.”

I closed my eyes and tilted my head, wrapping my arms around his shoulders to keep him close. I shivered as his hard chest touched mine, the warmth delicious, and I ran my lips against his softly. “I’ll behave. I promise.”

He chuckled quietly and rotated his wrists so he could hold my head in a controlling stroke. “From all accounts, behaving hasn’t been your specialty.”

“Shh,” I hushed. And pressed my lips to his again and tightened my grip around him. “Quit calling out my lies, Kireg, and just kiss me.”

He growled, “With pleasure.”

His lips. My lips. Our tongues.

It was the most seductive and delicate kiss I had ever encountered.

I moaned softly against his mouth and ran the bottom of my right foot up the back of his left leg. His coarse hairs tickled my sensitive flesh. The flex of his leg had my toes digging into his calf. His fingers in my hair held me steady for his erotic assault on my mouth, and his own groan of desire stirred a fire deep in my gut, wetting my core. With my arms hugging him close, I ran my fingers over his flexing back muscles, his hot skin smooth beneath the pads of my fingers.

Against my lips, he groaned my name quietly.

It was a sound I was beginning to adore. Yes…adore.

I arched and pressed my breasts against his chest more firmly, the soft pressure against my swollen flesh delightful. “This was such a good idea.”

His shoulders shook under my arms as he snickered and brushed his lips against mine. The rebellion leader stalled a second later, his head shooting back. The flush of arousal was bold on his tan cheeks, and his lips were parted as he caught his breath.

But he wasn’t looking at me. He was staring at the headboard above my head.

His eyes suddenly flashed in danger. A predator staring out.

I froze underneath him, my arms stable around his shoulders.

He hissed in a deadly whisper, “Hunters are here.”

My brows slammed together, and I jerked my arms away from him. This wasn’t the time to be underneath the soon-to-be king. With much speed, I was out from beneath him and standing next to the bed. I skittered back a step when he snarled in fury, not pleased with my getaway. I held my hands up in the air, my palms out toward him. “No offense, but you look like you could kill someone right now. And we have more issues to worry about, like being kidnapped by the hunters again.”

Geo shoved off the bed and towered over me, a flash of concern reflecting in his purple eyes before it vanished. Only fury took its place. But I could still see he was worried. Possibly even scared by the narrowing of his eyes. He bent and shoved his face right in front of mine, and growled, “There will be no ‘we’ where the hunters are concerned. They are coming for me. Not you. You need to hide in my bathroom while I take care of this.”

I sucked in a harsh breath. He was protecting me again. It wasn’t anything I generally minded, but as I stared into his purple gaze, it hit me hard. I didn’t want him taken away. I wanted him next to me, safe and happy. “We will handle the hunters. You can protect me against their mind hold, and I can shoot a gun with accuracy. We will take care of this.” I glared. “Together.”

He grabbed my chin in a brutal hold. “You choose now to fall for me?”

My eyes flicked between his, but I held perfectly still. I didn’t flinch as I told the truth. “You’ve been growing on me. It wasn’t immediate.”

His nostrils flared, and his hold on my chin gentled. “You aren’t entirely awful, either.”

I grinned in his face. “So you’re falling for me, too.”

The rebellion leader repeated my words. “You’ve been growing on me.” He inhaled heavily and cupped my cheeks. “Listen to me. I won’t let them harm you. They won’t take my mate.”

I blinked rapidly, my eyes stinging with unexpected tears. “I know.” My own nostrils flared. “I’ll help you as much as I can.” I pulled my face from his grip and sped around his room, opening random drawers. I tossed clothes at him and grabbed a random shirt and a pair of his sweatpants for myself. I started dressing in a rush, mumbling, “My guns….my guns.” I thought a second as I pulled the sweatpants up, the material far too long on my legs and too wide around the stomach. “They’re next to the couch, I think.”

Geo dressed just as quickly. He opened his nightstand drawer and drew out the guns I already knew were there from my snooping. “Prepare yourself. There are more than a few.”

“Of course.” It was never simple.

I shoved the shirt over my head and ran to the couch. “How much longer?”

“They’re close.” King Jordan typed code into a safe on his wall. It opened instantly.

I blinked as he slammed his hand against the back of it over a white sensor. A red horizontal line scanned down the screen, evaluating his handprint. When the screen flashed white, and a digital set of black numbers appeared, and he typed in code again.

My entire body flinched as a blaring jarred overhead—and the alarm sounded.

Then the blue lights were flashing in great annoyance from ‘fire detectors.’

“I hate that shit,” I mumbled. But I aimed at the door.

Geo whispered, “Three… Two…”

His solid wooden door slammed open and crashed against the wall.

I zeroed in, focusing on any exposed flesh I could see outside of their tactical body armor.

Their throats. I began shooting in rapid succession. So did the rebellion leader.

I groaned when our bullets ran out. But the people stomping over the dead bodies didn’t.

I jerked my guns up when Geo launched himself at the intruders. I ducked behind his couch, scanning his room for any type of weapon. The snarling and ripping of body limbs were gruesome behind me as I stopped to stare at a coat rack. It was metal and long with only two hooks on it. That I could definitely use.

I dropped my useless guns on the ground and dove across the floor, rolling on the carpeting as freaking darts barely missed my stomach and right leg. I grabbed the coat hanger, swiftly pivoted, and brought the metal down on one assailant’s throat. My grin was sadistic as he garbled to breathe through his own crushed esophagus.

Geo had his claws out, beating the hell out of two men’s necks.

I rushed another man coming through the door.

“Argh!” I slammed the weapon directly into his crotch and then rammed it upward into his face as he hunched over. When he landed on his back, my left foot did the rest. I stomped down onto his neck. “Goddamn-hunter-shit.”

When I twisted around to the door again, I stopped solid.

The tiniest prick on my right ankle had me looking down.

The bastard had stabbed me with a green dart right before he passed out.

“Shit,” I mumbled on a slur. The scene tilted, the horizon slanting to a new and horrid angle. Pictures on the walls hedged into a whole new frightening landscape, and the jagged stone fireplace belonged in a horror movie. My head turned to Geo just as I fell onto my left side, my weapon tumbling silently to the carpet. A grunt shoved from deep in my throat as I landed on two dead Kireg bodies, the side of my head smacking one of their helmets.

I watched in horror as five, and then ten...

Twenty hunters piled inside the room, all aiming their weapons at Geo where he stood with dead bodies littered around his feet. All were shouting at him to stand down. Just for the hell of it, because we were fucked, I used the remaining energy I had to lift one of the dead assailant’s guns. The gun wobbled in my grasp, but I fired a pulse wave right at one man’s throat.

It actually hit the man’s throat standing next to him. My aim was a little off.

Either way, I watched as he instantly fell to his knees and vomited on the carpeting. Or, more like foamed white crap from his mouth. Until he couldn’t breathe anymore. Then he fell face first into his own puke, a stunning thump silencing the entire room.

Dead.

I snorted as my eyelids became heavy and closed. “That makes me feel better.”

Even as I began to pass out, the shout of fury from Geo made me flinch.

Then it was as if the heavens had opened up and released chunky rain.

I went under into a deep sleep, my body coated in wet warmth.

“Geo,” I whispered. I lifted my head from a warm shoulder and peered up into his face. He wasn’t dead. He wasn’t kidnapped. He was holding me in his strong arms. I blinked repeatedly, but it didn’t clear my blurry vision. “We’re okay?”

“Yes,” he murmured, staring down into my face. “I protected you.”

My white brows puckered as I evaluated his appearance. “What is all over you?” I glanced at my arms wrapped around his shoulders. “What’s all over me?”

Corza cleared her throat, capturing my attention on my left. “It’s brains.” She tipped her head at her brother. “He nuked all their minds when you went down.” Her hands waved above her head in frantic action. “Their heads burst all over the place right before the backup arrived.”

“Oh.” I blinked a few more times. “I’m happy they drugged me. Otherwise, I’d be screaming right now.” I swung my head back to the rebellion leader. “They did just drug me, right? It’s not a poison that will kill me?”

He shook his head, his voice rough. “It’s just a sleeping agent.”

I nodded and then let my head fall back to his shoulder. “I’m tired.”

“I know, but I need to get you away from here. It’s no longer safe for you.”

Not a care in the world, I hummed, “Where are we going?”

“That’s a secret.” His attention turned to his sister, his voice quieting. “Make sure no one follows me. And I mean absolutely no one, Corza. Do you understand?”

Her head nodded gradually, her purple eyes searching his gaze. “Yes. When will you be back?”

“By the end of the day. Tell the council members to keep the preparations going. We’ll be moving along as planned. It’s time to end this shit.”

Without another word, he turned and walked away from her, out of his room. He kept me steady in his arms as he walked past all the Kireg peeking out from their doors and silently watching us.

“I bet we look disgusting,” I mumbled on a slur.

“That would be an accurate statement.”

“Can’t we take a shower first?”

“No, I won’t chance it.”

I hummed and stared up at the stars when he stepped outside of the stronghold. It was quiet out here. There was no one around. I asked candidly, “It was the traitor again, wasn’t it?”

He grunted. “I thought you had forgotten about that.”

“I wouldn’t forget that detail. I just haven’t thought about it with all your people around. I do listen to you sometimes. I’m attempting to adapt, to make myself safe.” I squinted at the treed area he was striding toward.

“Why are you still stringing this person along? Why don’t you just throw them in a cell and be done with it?”

His lips twitched. “Because that person is playing both sides. Mine and the Imperial family.”

“Explain further, please.”

“It means, I can use the intel I’m giving that person against the Imperial family. And I can take the money that person continues to receive from the Imperial family when this is all over with. You need to understand that the banking community will acquire the Imperial funds after I take over.”

“You mean when you kill them.”

“How else would you have it? They are powerful individuals, and their reach is still there. That wouldn’t change, even if they were inside a prison. Plus, they have tortured countless Kireg. They’ve killed even more. It’s time for them to pay for their crimes.” He glanced down at me. “Just as I killed the scientists who had kept us prisoner. I don’t go back on my word. What I say, I do.”

I tapped my fingers on the back of his neck as we entered the silver-treed woods. “Power wise, are you more powerful than the King?”

His lips curved. It was sexy and smooth. I didn’t look away as he answered, “I am the most powerful Kireg in existence, Madeline. And I think it’s adorable that you didn’t know that.”

“How do you know you are?”

An easy, non-arrogant answer. “Because I can hear everyone, if I want to.”

I blinked. “Oh.” Another blink. “No wonder you think I’m so weak.”

“It’s not that I think you’re weak. Your intelligence is actually remarkable.”

I crunched my body with his when he dipped underneath a low hanging limb. “What is it then?”

His shoulders shrugged against my arms. “It’s that you have no protection against my kind.”

I chuckled quietly. “I am half Kireg.”

“And still, you have none of our powers.”

“True enough,” I murmured, and rested my head back on his shoulder. “Where are you taking me?”

“To my hidden hov-craft.” He paused. “If I can remember where the door to the hangar is.”

I snickered and stayed quiet. The landscape wasn’t awful in the pre-dawn light.

Geo continued walking south. There was an access road to follow—of sorts. The blue grass had been driven over so many times through the heavily wooded area that he followed the path. But when he stopped walking, there sure as hell wasn’t a building nearby. The sky was hardly seen under all the foliage, the light trying to peek through the leaves but finding it difficult with each breeze.

My eyesight finally sharpened and scanned high and low. Trees and more trees, all ancient and massive in girth. “I think I can walk now. You can put me down, I’ll help you look.”

When he lowered me to my feet, he held onto my elbow until I was steady on my feet.

“What are we looking for?” I bent and brushed away fallen leaves, trying to find the previous path.

“A red marker on a door.” He glanced left and right, squinting through the dusky light. “This is the right place, but it’s been too many years since I’ve been here.”

I leaned back and evaluated the hill before us. I could hear traffic a few miles further to the south, motors revving and a constant whirling of tires on concrete. I stepped back and began searching anew for the red marker, shoving tree limbs and hanging vines aside.

A small entrance door finally revealed itself when the rising wind whipped. A replica of a small boulder, pressed against the hill, bowed on its hinges. The wood creaked loud enough that I followed the eerie noise to the hidden location.

“Finally,” I muttered. I glanced over my shoulder. “You could have told me it was hidden.”

“I thought that much was obvious.” He moved in front of the fake boulder and shoved it to the left. It rolled on wheels and bumped over the dirt that had formed on top of the rusted railing. A door painted with a huge red X lay before me. He thrust with a shoulder when the handle didn’t immediate give way, the sticking door swinging open on a whine.

Bright yellow light attacked my eyes.

I threw up a hand to shield my gaze from the sudden onslaught.

“There’s my baby.” The rebellion leader grinned.

I lowered my hand and squinted into the light. The vision before me was comical at best.

The area was enormous, a hangar for an eye-catching hov-craft and plenty of space for extra vehicles. A darker area at the far end of the hangar appeared to be a tunnel, leading who knew where the hell to. The black hov-craft sat on my left with the stairs down, just waiting for its owner.

I cleared my throat, eyeing the machine. My voice was dry. “It still runs, right?”

“It may not look the best, but it's damn fast,” he stated, pride filling his tone.

A weak groan escaped past my parted lips when he lifted me into his muscled arms. My eyes narrowed on him, but he didn’t back down. He planned to support me, and that was that.

He carried my tired body into the hangar and walked straight to the hov-craft. My frame didn’t even bounce as he ascended the stairs into the contraption. He glanced down at me, his expression innocent. “Have you gained weight?”

“What?” I sputtered, my eyes widening. I wasn’t fat. Not by a long shot.

He smirked. “Just kidding.”

I bared my teeth at him, while he placed me in the passenger’s chair and strapped me in.

His gaze flicked up to mine. “I was just distracting you.”

My brows instantly puckered. “Distracting me from what?”

“From your reflection in the glass we passed.”

I glanced at the glass near the opening of the hov-craft. “I already know we look gross.”

The rebellion leader shook his head and took his own seat in the operator’s chair. “It wasn’t the brains I didn’t want you to be upset about.” He buckled himself in and pressed on the halo-screen.

The stairs folded up, and the door closed.

“Then what’s wrong with my reflection?”

“Nothing’s wrong with it.” He tapped on a few more buttons, the hov-craft lifting silently into the air a few feet.

I groused, “Explain, please.” I said that too much to him.

“First, don’t fret. I imagine the change occurred because we finally kissed.”

I blinked. “Tell. Me.”

The hov-craft rotated a hundred and eighty degrees, now facing the small tunnel inside the hill.

He cleared his throat and peered directly at me. He didn’t look away. “Your eyes are no longer Human blue.” He grinned, showing me all of his white teeth. There was actually humor lighting his gaze, too—so unlike his normal cold glare. “They are now a Kireg purple. Just like mine.”

I didn’t blink. “I have purple eyes.”

“Yes.”

“Just like yours.”

“Yes.”

I did blink then. “One day, I will get you back for this.”

He winked and then turned his attention to the tunnel. “As long as you’re by my side, I won’t mind.”

My head slowly tilted to the tunnel, too. “Damn.” I bit my bottom lip. “That was actually kind of sweet.”

“Just wait. I’m not always an asshole.”

“Only ninety-nine percent of the time?”

“Ninety-nine point nine.”

I nodded. “Sounds about right.”

He chuckled softly and tapped on the halo-screen. “Are you ready?”

I mumbled, “Only if you’re going to tell me how we take off from inside a hill.”

The bastard shrugged, still typing code into the controls. “It’s magic.”

“Geo…”

“All right. The hov-craft will taxi down the tunnel. There’s a small runway at the end of it right before the thoroughfare.”

I closed my eyes and kept them shut. “Magic sounded so much better.” Little tunnel, medium sized hov-craft. The pilot would need to be an escape artist to make that work. “We better not crash or your sister will kill me.”

His right hand, covered in gore, landed on top of mine. It stayed there until we were airborne.

The sandwich I munched on—the fourth one—was delicious. The meat wasn’t fish. We had arrived at the new safe house—and showered. The location was an actual ranch with real animals. The house was a mansion sitting on over two hundred acres of land, and the closest rural area was only ten miles away. Civilization didn’t even know who their neighbors were. I thought it was pretty genius really as I took another bite of my sandwich and glanced at the servants who were preparing enough food for us—both Geo and me. The morning light pouring in through the bay windows, next to our kitchen table, underscored their efforts.

Geo raised white brows. “I knew you hated fish, but I didn’t realize you were starving yourself.”

I shook my head. “No. It’s the drug.” I gulped down my third glass of water, licking the small droplets off the corner of my mouth. “I’m hoping if I eat and drink enough, it’ll leave my system sooner.”

He nodded. “Let me know if that works.” His lips twitched. “While you’re peeing every hour.”

I nudged his left shoulder with my right one. “Be quiet. This is an experiment.”

Geo draped an arm over my shoulders and kissed my right temple. “Are you done now?”

“Almost.” I finished off my sandwich and wiped my mouth with a napkin, stifling a yawn. “Is this your private house?”

He nodded his head. “I purchased it recently. I thought you might like it.”

I stared. “You bought it for me?”

“Not exactly.” His eyes narrowed, an expression of disgust on his features. “I bought it for the animals they keep here and produce. Every time you bite into fish, you grimace. So I decided to indulge your Human side.” His stare was pointed. “But fish is better for brain power.”

My lips twitched. “Point taken.” And now I understood why the Kireg ate the foul-smelling dish at every meal. “But I do appreciate you thinking of me.” Another kind gesture. He surprised me left and right. “Perhaps you’re not quite as high on the asshole scale.”

“Oh, I am,” he muttered. He took my hand and pulled me from my chair. “But I can’t have my mate hating the planet she lives on.”

I laughed as I followed him outside. “So this is all a bribe?”

“Maybe a little one.” Scowling purple eyes glanced at me, and then quickly peered away. “Is it working?”

“A little,” I answered honestly.

“I hope so because these animals are revolting,” Geo muttered.

His head turned left and right, his eyes taking in the many animals penned in their cages. He wrinkled his nose at the smell lingering in the air, a mixture of cut grass and fresh manure. In some areas, it was sour enough to make my eyes sting. The gravel under our feet crunched deeper into the earth with each step we took.

He glanced down at his shiny black shoes, dust now coating the tops, and then to my black, scuffed boots. “At least, you have the correct footwear for this.”

I snickered, my lips curving up at the edges. We continued on our trek down the small path, eyeing each new animal that we passed. They weren’t at all the typical critters for a farm. I didn’t even know what they were called—yet. But whatever meat had been on my sandwich had tasted like sliced chicken.

I eyed the old red barn fifty feet in front of us. “Is that where we are heading?”

Geo peered down at me, his purple eyes accessing. “It isn’t as it seems, so prepare yourself. The Dynasty family who lived here before were active members. They also hunted, so there is a secret passage at the back. The schematics are perfect for the job you’ll be doing.”

I nodded and wiped a bit of sweat off my forehead. “Making a bomb.”

“Yes.” He glanced at my right cheek where my hair was hanging and glared.

I punched his left shoulder. “Don’t say it. I was still woozy when I got out of the shower. It’s only a small bruise.”

“The line on your cheek matches the color of your eyes.” He bent and brushed my hair back, examining the bruise—for the third time. “You need to be more careful.”

“I’m fine,” I groused. I pointed at the lock on the door. “Do you have a key?”

“It’s a fake lock. If you try to tamper with that, you’ll be electrocuted.”

I blinked. “A little more warning next time.”

“I wouldn’t have let you touch it.” Geo snickered and opened the door.

I followed Geo inside, lifting my feet over the small barrier of the entrance. I eyed the rotting silver timber, my brows puckered. Little wooden pieces flaked off on my right boot when he shut the door behind us. This barn was certain to be ancient. “Is that to keep the rain out?”

“That is correct. This area may have stunning mountains, but this barn sits on a flat and low area of the ranch. Water rushes straight down that path right at the barn.” He gestured behind him with his right arm. “I’ll take you to the secret passage now. Unless you have more lingering questions about the very fine construction of this building?”

I snorted. “Lead the way, smartass.”

He winked. “Of course.” There was a thin layer of hay covering the entirety of the dark floor, the only light inside shining in through the slats of the wood siding. He veered to the right side of the barn, quickly glancing over his shoulder. “Don’t walk on the left. Trust me.”

“I don’t even want to know,” I hissed, staying far away from that side of the barn.

“No, you really don’t,” he mumbled under his breath.

The mansion and grounds were pristine. Opulent even.

Just not the ‘barn.’

I cleared my throat when I noticed rusted butcher knives hanging in a dark corner, scrutinizing every detail of the rundown structure. I pointed at the iron hooks hanging from a low side section. “Are those—”

“Don’t ask,” he rumbled.

I lowered my arm, my eyes narrowing on the hooks. But I kept quiet.

Wonderful. We were inside a Dynasty’s slaughter house.

Though I wasn’t frightened. Not in the least.

I was only interested in each section we passed.

Geo stopped at an impressive black square box toward the back of the barn. It went from the ground all the way to the ceiling. There was a slit down the front. It appeared to be an elevator. He pressed his palm to the small circle indention on the right, a red horizontal light rolling down the screen and scanning his handprint.

His purple eyes were on me. “I can’t believe you find this place fascinating.”

I held up my right hand, stopping him. “I like information. And this place is full of it.”

He snorted. “Of course, my mate would be even odder than I am.”

I returned, “Intelligence is better than no intelligence. You know that.”

“Yes, I do.” His gaze flicked between mine before he quickly dipped and kissed my lips.

I stared. “What was that for?”

“Because, even though you are a pacifist at heart, you still want to be with me.”

My grin was slow. “Well, like I said, you grew on me. And peace will come soon.”

He ran his fingers through his hair, for the first time appearing tired. “Sacred Moon, I pray it does.”

The doors opened to a comfortably sized elevator interior. It was well lit in comparison to the barn. We stepped inside. Geo pressed the bottom button—there were five of them in a line going down. It started descending, an area beneath the busted barn. His hands were clasped in front of him. All business. “Your materials will be here tomorrow. You’ll still only have two weeks to complete it.”

“That won’t be an issue.” I hesitated but grabbed his left hand. I intertwined our fingers together as the elevator stopped and the door opened. “Where will I be working down here?”

He was staring down at our joined hands, his expression hidden by his long lashes. “Your handprint will work on the elevator, so this is the floor you’ll be on.” We stepped outside the elevator at the same time, our hands still joined. “Only you and I have access to this elevator. None of the house staff are allowed down here.”

“So I’ll be carting the material all by my lonesome.”

“Yes. Will that be an issue?”

“No, most of it light weight. Easy for traveling to another location.”

He led us down the hallway. There was only one way to walk—straight forward—so I strolled down the whitewashed hallway, completely at ease with my current living situation. I opened the door and stepped into a room, exactly like the conference bunker of the previous stronghold. An outer area circled a glass conference room. I snorted and flicked my eyes at him. “Well, if it’s done right at one place…why not the next, right? And it is bomb proof.”

His lips twitched. “Exactly.” He took over the lead and pulled me further into the room. He released my hand and walked around the room without me, pointing at the ceiling. “There are emergency ventilation units in here, too.”

Even now, I felt a slow kindling deep in my gut just seeing him prowl across the tiling, his black pants pressing against his thigh muscles with every confident step he took. I glanced down at my own clothes and brushed off a white, long hair stuck to my shirt. The man was always dressed immaculately for whatever situation while I preferred to rush when getting ready. Though I did think that I looked damn good in this Kireg style choice. Confidence had never really been an issue for me on that front. He just looked…better.

Delicious.

I blinked and pulled my thoughts from heading down that road. “Those are perfect.”

He couldn’t stop the grin that curved his lips. “I can stay for a few more hours.” He tipped his head at the bare table next to his hip. “We were rudely interrupted this morning.”

My eyes instantly flared in desire, my tone quieting. “I’d like that.”

His own eyes darkened. “Hop up on the table, and I’ll show you how gentle I can be.”

This Kireg—this man—was definitely delicious. “You’re everything I never knew I wanted.” My cheeks instantly flushed at my brutal honesty.

His tone quieted, softening. And so did his eyes. “Keep talking like that, and I’ll steal the stars for you.”

I smiled. “I’m not always sweet.”

His eyes held mine. “That’s why we fit in the strangest way.”

I believed in peace, not war.

And still, I had made bombs for him.

I had even endured a long hov-craft ride with Corza’s constant chattering to bring them here.

The least he could do was pretend to be impressed. Instead, he palmed the ball in his hand while he glared at the explosive. “This is it? Really?”

I pointed at the box at his feet. “There are twenty more inside.”

“It doesn’t look like much,” he rumbled. The white ball was the size of his fist.

“The best presents come in the smallest packages.”

He snorted and peered down at me. “Is that a Human phrase? Because I can tell you from experience that women adore big objects.”

My eyes narrowed ever so slowly as a burning jealous roared inside my mind. “Let me show you.” I grabbed the bomb from his hand and typed in its number on my tablet. I shoved the tablet against his chest, and growled, “Hold that, Mr. Women-Love-My-Cock.”

His jaw started to slack, and he grabbed it quickly. “I shouldn’t have said that.”

“No shit,” Corza muttered next to him.

“Sacred Moon, Corza, this is still new to me,” he groused.

“Just shut up,” I mumbled. I cocked my arm back and tossed the bomb as far as I could from us. It went a decent distance, far enough away we wouldn’t be harmed. I turned and tapped the tablet back on. “Get ready for the boom.”

I hit ‘DETONATE.’

The ground shook under our feet as it exploded. Dirt and debris shot into the air, raining down on us. The silver trees closest to the explosion site were splintered and toppling over. And the gust of wind that hit us knocked our hair back.

I cocked my head, eyeing the destroyed area. “It’ll work for blowing up buildings.”

Corza choked next to me and pulled a twig out of her hair. “That was impressive.”

I shrugged. “It doesn’t have to be big to make a big impact.”

Geo handed the tablet over to Corza and pulled me close into his arms. He pressed his forehead against mine, and whispered, “My apologies.”

I glared up at him under my lashes. “Accepted.”

His lips slowly twitched. “Are you sure?”

“Not really,” I humped. “But just keep comments like that to yourself.”

“I will.” He rubbed his forehead back and forth against mine. “I might have missed you a little.”

It had been two weeks. “Nice way of showing it.”

He grunted. “I apologized, Madeline.”

“I know.” I sighed and sank against him. “Corza said you weren’t going to let me stay.”

“You’re not a fighter. You don’t belong here, and you know this.”

“Do I have to go right away?”

“No,” he hummed. “Would you like to go inside?”

I ran my hands up his muscled chest and draped my arms around his shoulders. “As long as we head straight to the bedroom, Mr. Big-Cock.”

Corza snorted and swiftly picked up the box of bombs and walked away.

“That’s what I meant,” he whispered. He kissed the tip of my nose. “I have a little pent up energy my mate could help me with.”

Thank Mother Joyal.

“Fuck,” Geo groaned. His head fell back on the top of his couch, his fingers gripping into the bare flesh of my hips. I held my body still as my tight channel adjusted to his massive cock, having impaled myself on him. My legs straddled his, the tips of my breasts brushing against his pecs.

He flexed his fingers, stretching them out, and then curled them back down so his fingertips rubbed in circles against my skin. It was decadent, the light touch, compared to the fullness of him inside me.

He lifted his head. “Ride me, Mate.”

My legs tensed, and I tilted my hips and lifted up and down on his lap slowly. The gradual glide of his cock sliding in and out of my core had my mouth parting on a soft exhale. Though I kept my attention on his gaze, eyes identical in color to my own now. “I missed you, too.”

He held my gaze straight on. “I like the way you express it. It’s much better than my fumbling.”

I undulated my hips, lifting and lowering. My legs shuddered, pressed against his. “You’re making it up to me right now.”

A hiss escaped his lips, and his lashes lowered pleasure. He slammed his hips up against mine, filling me completely, watching as my breasts bounced. He growled quietly, “My mate.”

My attention honed directly on his gaze, and my fingers tightened in his hair. “And you’re mine.” I began rolling my hips in a brutal rhythm. His cock hit perfect spots deep inside my core.

And I wanted more.

He grunted, changing his tempo to match mine. His legs flexed, lifting his hips to pound his cock into my pussy, just as savage as my own pace.

He growled, and then he hissed, “You like that?”

“Mmm,” I moaned, my fingers curling into his hair. It was divine.

His palms slid over my hips to clutch my bouncing ass. He grabbed tight, his hands full.

This man—my man—didn’t relent, and neither did I.

Our bodies met and retreated, becoming one in the most carnal of ways.

My back arched, and my head fell back while I grabbed onto his flexing shoulders. Our skin was covered in a shine of dampness. I pumped my hips more fiercely, ramming his cock into me over and over. Eventually, my gaze slid down, and I moaned his name, “Geo.”

His lips were parted in panting breaths, and his heated gaze was glued to where our bodies continually met, watching his glistening cock as it entered my pussy. He groaned deep in his throat, completely masculine and rough. “I’m going to fuck the shit out of you tonight, Madeline.”

I held on when he stilled my movements and lifted us from the couch. He prowled on sure feet to his bed and slammed his lips on mine. The rebellion leader held me close, devouring my mouth until he jerked my head back.

He lifted me off him and onto the bed, and demanded, “Turn over. On your hands and knees.” His gaze ran over my features and gradually, down my naked body. “You’ve had your fun. It’s my turn now.”

There was no hesitation in my actions. I crawled to the center of the bed and stayed on my hands and knees. I glanced back over my shoulder, the devil in my eyes. “Are you going to fuck me like an animal?”

“Yes, I am,” he answered bluntly, intense desire in his dark eyes.

He crawled on his knees behind me and slapped my ass—hard. I flinched at the sting, yelping in surprise. The rebellion leader grabbed my hips and bent, taking his time to lick over the redness.

I hummed in appreciation and wiggled my butt, my invitation clear.

He took his position and slammed his cock inside me without apology, his grip rough on my hips. Bruises would be evident tomorrow, his mark on my flesh. Our skin slapped loud inside the room at the continuous ramming of his hips against mine, taking all he wanted, all he needed.

My fisted hands grasped the sheet underneath me, holding myself steady.

I screamed his name, pure pleasure heating my chest.

He cursed heavily, “Goddamn mother… Fuck.”

My resulting groan was in agreement.

The air left my lungs when he leaned down and bit the crook of my neck, his teeth sinking in so brutally he almost drew blood. His palms slid to my chest to squeeze my breasts, kneading the flesh and pinching my nipples hard. I shuddered and slanted my head further to the side, and tilted my hips for further penetration in his lowered position.

He growled around his dominant hold on my neck, his hips pistoning against mine.

The whole world reduced to our heartbeats. This moment of pleasure.

On this frenzied ride of animalistic dominance—heaven on Egyac.

“I can’t hold out much longer,” I whimpered. “I’m going to come all over your dick.”

My mate released his grip on my breasts, and placed one hand on the bed, the other palm sliding down my stomach to my wet pussy. Two of his fingers rubbed with fever against my clit.

He pumped his cock into me with brutal abandon. Never stopping, not holding back.

Hard. Cruel. Beautiful.

I went over the edge, his mastery over my body a fantasy.

My mouth parted on a shriek, and my body jolted relentlessly against his. My head swam, and my arms went out from underneath me as shocks of heat overtook my body, my mind. The rebellion leader grunted and quickly relented on my clit to clutch under my ribs, holding my frame up for his constant, brutal rhythm. His cock slammed into me continually as I went totally weak inside his embrace, my arms useless and my core clutching his hard member. My head hung down from my shoulders, my hair twisted over one shoulder splashing the dark sheets with white color. The man had completely undone me, my frame still jerking with pleasure filled aftershocks and his unrelenting thrusts.

His teeth stayed latched onto my shoulder until his body trembled, his muscles tensing even further. He slammed his cock into my clutching flesh and released a bellowing shout of his own. His swelling cock pumped deep inside me, the warmth of his cum making my stomach quiver in satisfaction.

His groan was profound as his muscular frame shuddered.

My mate dropped his damp forehead between my shoulder blades and breathed deeply, catching his breath. He eventually lowered us flush to his new bed. My legs were still trembling on either side of his, sprawled out underneath him. He lifted his forehead from my back and turned his face to the side. “Fuck.”

I huffed out a breath of air. It was all I could manage.

He pulled his semi-hard cock out of me and merely moved so that he could take his weight off his arms. He rested on his left side, pressed against me, with his right leg draped over both of mine and his right arm over my lower back. He didn’t remove his head from my person, his left cheek resting on the spot between my shoulder blades, his hair stuck to my own damp skin.

We were both breathing heavily, our chests pumping for much-needed oxygen.

My eyes fluttered shut, and I panted, “I don’t want to leave yet.” I didn’t think I could move.

“You’re not going anywhere. You’re staying here until we’re ready for another round.”

I stretched a little underneath him, my body appreciative of the action, the tension in each aching muscle releasing. “Jasmine was right.”

His leg pressed against mine. “Who is that?”

“The woman who birthed me on Joyal. She said it would all work out.”

He held me closer and hummed. “She sounds like a wise woman.”

My body snuggled closer to his. “She is. And she’s just as odd as us.” I wiggled my shoulders, making his head bounce. “You’ll be careful tomorrow, won’t you?”

His cheek snuggled against my back. “For my mate? I’ll always come back home.”

I walked the hallways on the ranch—more like pacing. My mate was due back at any time.

At least, I prayed he would be coming back tonight.

I padded down the stairs to the first floor and through the foyer. The space was quiet, the chandelier with decorative—odd—antlers lighting an empty room. I followed the red carpeting to the correct door, and pressed, the entrance swinging open on silent hinges.

The kitchen was dark, no artificial lights illuminating the comfortable space.

My boots stopped moving as soon as the door swung shut, though. The air in my lungs stalled, my heartbeat pattering at too fast a rhythm. There was one occupant inside the room. The moonlight streaming in through the bay windows spotlighted his position where he sat at the wooden table.

My mate lifted his spoon from a frozen treat and raised it to his mouth. The darkness shadowed his eyes, but the impact of his gaze sent a pleasured thrill through me. He chewed his late night treat soundlessly, not saying a word. He was wearing his black pants and a simple white shirt. He had lost his socks and shoes somewhere, only bare feet peeking out beneath his pants.

I heaved an immense sigh of relief. He had come back.

Geo took another bite of his treat, his noiseless attention comfortable.

I strolled forward to the preservation unit. The cool treat he was eating made my stomach growl. He had the right idea. I searched the shelves and found a load of frozen goods. I thieved one from the back and eventually discovered—on my own—where the cooks kept the silverware.

I sat in the seat directly next to him.

He didn’t speak.

Neither did I.

We sat in complete silence in the dark confines of the kitchen, eating our treats.

Only when he propped his feet up on the chair across from him did he open his mouth to speak. His voice was quiet. He stared down into his frosted decadence and jammed his spoon into the frozen texture. “It’s finally over.”

My spoon froze in my mouth for a long second before I gradually pulled it out. I rolled the sweet treat around in my mouth and finally swallowed. I cleared my throat and stated clearly, “How do you feel about that?”

He snorted and spooned another bite. “Exhausted.”

I twirled my spoon, the silver reflecting in the moonlight with each dip. “Did you kill them?”

Geo placed his treat on the table. Crossed his arms, staring straight ahead. “I did.”

He had said he would. I hadn’t doubted him.

When he didn’t comment further, I didn’t press on the subject. This was a war he had fought for. A war he had believed in. He had fought for freedom and won. As far as wars go, it was a valiant cause. One he had accomplished.

I ate another bite. “So…you’re the king now.”

“I am.”

I hummed quietly. “What’s next?”

His blink was gradual, his tone bored. “I plan to speak to the Plumas of the East.”

My attention snapped in his direction. “What?”

He patted the air. “To speak with them about the negotiations they have with the Humans. It wasn’t just the Mian genes they stole. They used Kireg DNA, too. I should be involved in what transpires.”

I sighed and lifted my gaze back to the ceiling. “I thought you wanted peace.”

The new king moved and picked his treat up and began eating again very slowly. His peered back across the room, deep in thought. “I won’t go to war. That’s not what I’m saying. I’m ready for peace.”

My shoulders relaxed. “What do you want with the Humans on Joyal then?”

He snorted as he chewed. “I want to know what their end game is.”

“That should be obvious.” I yawned and turned my frozen container in circles on the table. “They want a stronger species.”

“That might not be the only reason. I think they want to integrate their people with ours.”

I kept spinning my treat on the table. The man was always so blunt. “To further the Human race?”

“Precisely.” He shrugged his left shoulder. “Either way, I need to know what’s headed in our direction. I have to keep my people safe.” His dark eyes captured mine, his conviction strong. “I must keep you safe.”

My lips twitched. “You like me that much?”

“I like more than that, Madeline. You are my moon.”

I sucked in harshly. “There are times you take my breath away.”

His resulting smile was gradual, all male satisfaction. “I knew the moment I met you that you’d complicate my life.” A tiny shake of his head. “I just never thought it would be this delightful.”

I slid my treat in his direction absently, done with it. “When was the point that you decided not to hate me?”

He peered straight at me, his eyes solely on mine in the darkness. “When we were captured, and you pressed the red button. You weren’t trying to save yourself. You were saving me.”

My brows rose. “You knew that?”

His eyes flicked between mine, and then he looked down at my gifted treat. He lifted it and took a bite of it before responding, his attention settling on me. “I did. I thought it was brave.”

I chuckled softly. “That’s very sweet of you.” My purple eyes settled on his mouth as he slid the spoon from between his lips. “I have to know. Who was the traitor?”

His soft eyes turned hard in an instant, cold and ruthless. “My brother-in-law. Xri.”

I yanked my attention away from his mouth, up to his cool gaze. I blinked repeatedly.

A white brow arched. “Now you understand how I didn’t see it for so long.”

“Is he dead?”

“No. He’s in a cell. I’m allowing Corza to decide his fate.”

“That is remarkably valiant of you.” I licked my lower lip and stood from my chair. I took the treat from his hand and sat it on the table.

He didn’t protest when I lifted one leg and slid it over his body, mine settling down onto his lap. The sensation of straddling him was divine, my gut clenching in warmth. I placed my arms over his shoulders and brought my face close to his. “I’m sorry you were deceived by someone so close.”

His nostrils were flared, and his jaw set hard. The heat from his palms that landed on my hips sent shivers up my spine. The king shook his head slowly. “I’d rather not talk about him right now.”

“I understand,” I whispered. He held perfectly still as I licked across his bottom lip, my groan gentle at the warmth I tasted there. And my lips curved into a smile against his mouth when his palms ran up the back of my top, his fingers gripping into my skin. I nipped his bottom lip.

“Do I have to call you king now?”

His lips suddenly curved into a wicked grin. The heated air from his words warmed my cheeks. “Are you seducing me?”

“I’m trying,” I grumbled. “How am I doing?”

“You should really divest yourself of these clothes. Then try again.”

My entire frame shook, I laughed so hard. “You told a joke!”

“I did just win a war.” His eyes crinkled at the edges, a small smile lifting his lips while he watched me snicker further. “I know. It’s hard to believe. I’m…happy.”

Still grinning, I sat back, placing room between our faces. “You didn’t answer my question.”

He tipped his head forward and kissed my lips softly, his voice a quiet whisper. “You may call me whatever you wish, Madeline. Just as long as you always come home to me.”

I leaned in and pressed my lips to his. He was my home. He had nothing to fear from me. “For my mate? Always.”

We continued to sit in the moonlit kitchen.

Just enjoying each other. Loving each other.

An odd woman on Joyal had been right.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

New York Times bestselling author and award-winner, Scarlett Dawn is the author of the Forever Evermore new adult fantasy series, the Mark new adult science fiction saga, and the Lion Security contemporary series.

She lives in the Midwest, adores her music loud, and demands her fries covered in melted cheese.

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Woodland Creek Series.
30 Authors. 30 Shifter Stories.
WoodlandCreekSeries.com

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The Lion Security series fires off with Obsidian Liquor, where resolve is tested and passion ignites...

Elizabeth Forter is a preacher's daughter.

Daniil Kozar is the head of the Russian mafia.

Elizabeth is on a personal mission to destroy, and Key West is her destination - where a brutal competition is being held. Daniil is not a man to be trifled with, and the bitty she-devil's antics don't escape his notice . At the realization that she's caught, Elizabeth's curiosity rapidly turn to fear, but she can't outrun a man who kills for a living.

Stuck in a situation of her own making, a deal is made with the mafia king.

Liquor and unwanted attraction never make for wise companions. The outcome is...dangerous.

Elizabeth was not prepared for Daniil. Each second of the day, her every action is watched. Elizabeth must decide how to handle the gun-toting criminal, and his seductive charm. Daniil may be the devil her father warned about...or the balance Elizabeth has been searching for.

Somewhere, Elizabeth's dad is screaming a prayer...

*Originally published in The Obsidian Collection*
*This work contains sexual material intended for readers 18+*

Table of Contents

- Copyright
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- Newsletter
- About the Author
- Preview of Gargoyle
- King Hall
- Preview of Obsidian Liquor