Casey's Warriors (Bondmates) (16 page)

The woman gave him a dismissive snort and reached out to Casey, gently patting her shoulder. “Hey now, you’re okay, sugar. I’m guessing by your freaked out expression this big lug didn’t tell you anything about anything. Typical.”

Casey unpeeled herself enough to look over at the other woman and her instant relief was obvious. “You’re human.”

“Yep. Some of the other brides and I have put together a kind of informal greeting committee. I passed out during my first trip to the Reaping ship. They didn’t seem to consider we’d be terrified about being on a space ship, surrounded by hundreds of thousands of guys who look like extras from a Conan movie, and unable to understand what the hell anyone is saying.” She looked over her shoulder and smiled at a Healer Lorn seemed unfamiliar with, a dark-haired man with pale skin who watched his Matriarch closely. “That big brooding hunk of man meat over there is my husband, Mavet. My other husband, Xentix, is nearby I’m sure.”

He allowed Casey to wiggle out of his arms, trying to keep from holding her against him and not letting her move an inch. Remembering his manners he bowed his head to the Matriarch. “It is an honor to meet you…”

“Jazmin, um, I mean Jazmin, Matriarch of House Brooks.” She smiled at Casey again. “But you can call me Jaz.”

Casey glanced over at Mavet then back at Jaz. “You have two husbands?”

“Oh yeah, girl. It’s the normal thing to do in their culture and not a hardship, at all. Hell, Mavet would have been happy if I bonded, their version of marriage, to two more guys.” She chuckled and cast her bondmate a fond look. “But don’t worry about that right now. First, let me hook you up with something to help translate.”

Lorn tensed as Jaz took something from the pocket of her robe, then relaxed at the sight of the tiny crystal and mentally scolded himself for not thinking of it first. Jaz swept Casey’s hair to the side and placed the crystal behind her ear.

“There, now you should be able to hear everyone. It’s some kind of translator thingy. Damned if I know how it works, it just does. You can now speak and understand over eight hundred and fifty thousand languages. Big guy, talk to your bride in a couple languages and help me make sure it works.”

Going to his knees, he grasped Casey’s hips and pulled her close enough that he could rest his head against her soft, cold belly. A hint of her arousal flavored her body and he restrained himself from growling since it seemed to upset her. “Hello, beloved. I’m sorry you are chilled. Please forgive me for not thinking of your comforts and frightening you.”

“Lorn?” she said in a soft voice and placed her small hand on his head. “What am I doing here?”

Before he could answer Jaz laughed. “That is a long, long explanation and if you’re anything like the rest of us human brides you’re already feeling the need to get your man back into the bedroom.”

Irritation mixed with embarrassment flowed through his bride. “Is he responsible for this crazy arousal?”

Jaz’s grin widened. “Yep. When you first kissed he gave you a little bit of his blood. It probably made you sick as hell as it changed your hormones and it acts like some kind of super strong aphrodisiac. Don’t worry, it won’t always be this bad. I know right now you feel like a nymphomaniac on Spanish Fly, but that will ease as your body adjusts. After the bonding you’ll still be a nympho for your man—who the hell wouldn’t—but it won’t be quite so overwhelming. Let me tell you, the things these Kadothian men can do in bed that human men can’t…wow.”

“Son of a bitch.” Casey yanked his hair, hard. “Get off of me.”

Confusion filled him and he backed away then stood and examined his Casey. A light flush colored her cheeks and her dark eyes were filled with fire. Even in her anger she was so beautiful his heart ached. “You are angry with me?”

To his horror tears filled her eyes. “I’m cold, hungry, confused, on a fucking alien spaceship and…and I still want to throw you up against the wall and screw your brains out. This is bullshit!”

All around them people laughed and Casey covered her face with her hands, her shoulders slumping forward. He gathered her into his arms and glared at those who would dare laugh at his bride. More than one Warrior quickly left the area while Jaz watched with amusement. Her bondmate came up behind her and wrapped his arms around the dark skinned woman, dwarfing her with his size. She stroked his arm and gave Casey an understanding look.

“It’s not that bad. While it’s Lorn’s place to explain it all to you, I can tell you this. Kadothian men worship their women, and I’m not exaggerating. He will never, ever cheat on you, hurt you, or leave you. He will die before he lets anything happen to you and will…” Jaz paused and looked up at Mavet, “What did you say you would do to anyone that would harm me?”

His low growl vibrated through the air and when he spoke his lips lifted to reveal his extended canines. “I would eviscerate them, slowly, then remove their internal organs while keeping them alive, making sure I left their eyes and throat for last so they can see their destruction and scream-”

Jaz placed her hand over his lips with an amused look. “Yuck. So yeah, you will never find a man on Earth who will love you like they love you.”

Casey shivered and Lorn gathered her into his arms again. “I am taking her to my quarters.”

His bride looked over at Jaz. “I’m scared.”

Irritation filled him that Casey was looking to another for comfort but Mavet met his gaze and shook his head ever so slightly.

Jaz gave Casey a sympathetic look. “I understand, I really do, but please believe me that you’re safe here. Just give him a chance, okay? His life quite literally rests in your hands. If you liked him enough to kiss him try to hold onto that feeling.”

“Okay.” Casey hid her face against his chest.

Lorn nodded to the Matriarch and her husband. “My thanks.”

“You’re welcome, Warrior.” Jaz grinned. “Now, go show her how much fun the courting ritual is.”

He left them, walking quickly through the ship to his quarters and despair crushed his heart as he felt Casey’s love for him fading. Misery filled him as he realized not only was he losing her, but he would have to tell Nast he’d failed. Darkness threatened to overwhelm him but he prayed to the Lord of Life as he carried his reluctant bride through the halls of the ship that he would find a way to make her understand that all he wanted to do was love her.

Casey took a deep breath of Lorn’s scent, her mind so overwhelmed by the changes happening to her life that she couldn’t do anything but exist. She caught glimpses of metal walls, more men like Lorn, and the occasional woman, but mostly she just hid against his body. That damned arousal was beginning to flood her again, making her aware of how good Lorn smelled, and how worried he was. In an odd way, she could feel his anxiety and she didn’t like that either.

Finally he stopped moving and said, “Welcome to our temporary home, Casey.”

Peeking over her shoulder she let out a soft gasp. It was beautiful and definitely not what she expected. The furniture was all sleek, smooth lines done in pastel gold tones mixed with different shades of brown. The floor was covered with what looked like cream carpet but it was smooth with no lines or imperfections anywhere. What she assumed was framed artwork adorned walls, images of fantastical forests where the trees hung heavy with jewel toned fruits and the grass was a deeper green than the kind on earth, almost a pine green color with hints of teal. Dragging her gaze from the pictures she took in an array of what appeared to be electronic equipment on the far wall and more curved furniture. He let her slide out of his arms and she shivered as soon as she was away from the heat of his body. Stepping away from her he placed his hand on her cheek, turning her gaze to him.

“You are cold. Let me get you something warm to wear.”

She could only blink at him and he sighed then left her standing in the middle of the room. Taking a hesitant step forward she smiled as it felt almost like she was walking on wet sand. Either way it was very comfortable and gave her the courage to take another step to the nearest chair. After cautiously touching the surface, she gasped softly at the silken feel of the fabric or whatever it was covering the chair. While it was soft like satin her hand didn’t slide over the surface and it had a slightly velvety rasp to it.

Lorn’s scent filled her a moment before he stepped up behind her. “Please remove your wet garment,
alyah
.”

For a moment she considered fighting him, but there really was no point. She was cold and bone-tired, yet still aroused. As she pulled her dress off the sensation of the fabric dragging over her skin tore a little moan out of her which brought a corresponding growl from Lorn. A moment later soft, fluffy fabric enveloped her when Lorn helped her into some kind of thick peach robe made of a shimmery material. It seemed to both warm her and dry her instantly.

“Thanks.”

He moved into her line of sight and set his hand over hers as she continued to stroke the chair. “Casey, please look at me.”

A childish impulse to ignore him raced through her, but she pushed it aside and gazed up at the man who made her feel such crazy things. His blue eyes were light, almost white and his handsome features were tense. Even if she didn’t have the slight impression of worry coming from him she could easily read his fear in his face. It shouldn’t matter to her that he was upset, but she couldn’t help the urge to soothe him any more than she could fight the need to breathe. He’d removed his wet shirt and now wore a pair of loose black pants that showed the impressive bulge of his cock. Tearing her eyes away from his groin she clutched the robe about herself and returned her gaze to his face.

Tilting her head, she studied him. “Why are you afraid?”

“I fear your hatred for me will close your heart.”

The raw honesty of his words moved her. “Lorn, I don’t hate you. I just…this is a lot to take in okay. I know we’re on a ship, but where are we?”

He held out his hand and when she slipped hers into his warmth flowed between them, chasing back her fear. “Come, I will show you.”

Following him through the large room they went into a short hallway with a single door on one side and two doors on the other. He made a gesture with his free hand and the door slid open, revealing a room about half the size of what she assumed passed for the living room of his apartment. To her right a huge bed covered in shiny gold fabric butted up against the wall. Pillows done in brown and green tones softened the curved headboard and when she took another step forward, still holding Lorn’s hand, she smiled at the sight of the soft cream walls and a table near the door constructed of a shimmery white material. On the table there was a vase that held what she assumed were flowers. They were pale pink in the center with elongated, curved creamy petals that stretched out in a frill almost like lace.

“What are these?”

“On my planet they are the first gift we give our bride. My blood brother grew these for you on our land.” He smiled at her and urged her forward. “Touch them, smell them.”

She hesitantly bent over the flower and gasped in surprise when the wonderful perfume enveloped her. It smelled like fresh baked cookies mixed with a floral perfume she couldn’t identify. When she leaned back and touched a petal little glowing beads of pink and white light floated through the air before dissipating. She touched it again, amazed at the light coming off of the flowers.

“Wow.”

“I want to show you something.”

Curious, she followed him across the room with a little more confidence. They reached the bare wall on the far side of the bed and he stopped. Tugging at her gently, he pulled her into his arms. As soon as he held her the sense of comfort, of being loved intensified until if filled her soul, chasing away the last traces of fear. God, being held by him was like taking a sedative without getting fuzzyheaded.

He waved his hand and the wall began to dissolve; what it revealed on the other side left her speechless.

“Holy shit, is that…
Jupiter
?”

“Yes. We are on one of its moons. I believe it is called Callisto on your planet.”

She tried to remember to breathe but it was an effort. A rocky lunar surface with jagged spires of dark stone stretched out before her, but beyond that outer space filled her vision. Stars, so many stars surrounded the huge planet in the distance with its never-ending storms. Unlike most images that she’d seen of Jupiter on Earth, from this perspective the world wasn’t merely shades of tan, but brilliant swirls of green and gold with hints of blue swirling through the brown. Her heart sped as she eagerly took in the view, marveling at the beauty of space. But the stars...she’d never seen anything so beautiful and there were so many. In theory, she knew the universe was immense but it was one thing to imagine it, but to see it…she felt like she was looking at God.

“It’s so beautiful.”

Lorn rubbed her arms through the plush fabric of her robe, awakening sensitive nerves to his touch. “It is.”

Unable to look away she nodded in the direction of Jupiter. “Is that where you’re from?”

“No, we came through the wormhole from the Bel’Tan galaxy. It is the space anomaly that your scientists are studying that appeared a few Earth months ago causing what your people refer to as ‘The Event’.”

“Really?”

“Yes. The other side of the wormhole opens into my galaxy.”

She contemplated the idea for a moment. “Why did your people come here? To explore?”

He stiffened slightly. “No, we came here seeking brides.”

“Why? Don’t you have women on your planet?”

“No.”

Shocked, she managed to tear her gaze from the glory of space to look up at him over her shoulder. “None?”

“There has not been a female Kadothian born in over ten thousand years.”

“What?” Now she turned so she could fully face him. His grave expression told her that he wasn’t joking. “How is that even possible?”

“May I close this?”

“Sure.” Her curiosity about Lorn’s planet eclipsed everything.