Harden My Heart (Club Release 3) Science Fiction Abduction Romance (21 page)

“Yes, now that we know what the grounfos are up to we can act accordingly,” Zar adds.

“Don’t kill Git Letcern,” Zairin warns. “We need to question him. We know he’s tied to the grounfos but we don’t know how.”

I grunt my understanding. My twin is right. Even if I don’t want him to be.

We pull into the port and scan every vehicle and every person.

Each passing second is pure torture. “We have to find her.”

“We will,” Zairin assures.

“Yes, the spaceport is on alert. All warriors are looking for her,” Zar says.

My pulse quickens when we spot the rental Git Letcern, that prelling wiptronian, drove. We get out and circle the vehicle. Empty and locked. I break the glass and inhale Kinsey Lea’s precious scent.

Zairin leans in. “Kinsey Lea’s scent is still strong. They have to be close.”

We take off, letting nothing escape our notice. The TocGar brothers continue to search outside as Zairin and I head to the port doors. A flash of silver skin catches my attention before we even get to the doors. The male is walking away. He’s not with my kesdy but I need to see his face. Need to know he’s not the wiptronian from outside the club, Git Letcern.

As we head in his direction, the large bag he’s carrying starts to move. I catch a hint of my kesdy’s scent. My heart kicks my ribs. My skin tightens.

“Git Letcern,” I call out.

He freezes and then slowly turns around. His face is a mask of practiced innocence. “Yes, I’m Git. Can I help you in some way?”

So this is how he’s going to play it. I can lie too. “All wiptronians on this planet are in grave danger. We need you to come with us.” Please fuck up so I can kill you.

Worry replaces his mask of innocence. “What is the source of the danger?”

Me.

Zairin steps forward. “A silver flesh eating parasite.” My twin looks Git over. “We caught you in time but you have to come with us so we can get you to a safe room.”

Zairin and I get within reach of Git and Zairin asks, ”You need some help with your bag?”

Git’s yellow eyes widen. We’ve been busted. Zairin overplayed his hand. Warriors don’t carry luggage. I shoot my twin a look. Regret and determination glow in his eyes.

The bag moves again. Harder this time. My heart lurches along with my body. Git pivots and then drops the bag as he takes off running. I catch the bag just before it hits the stone path.

“Flipping fuck, where am I?”

Music. Her voice is music to my soul. As Zairin tackles Git, I ease the bag to the ground and then open it.

Big green and brown eyes blink twice and then light up. “You found me.” Her lips tremble. “I love you.”

“I’ll always find you, Kinsey Lea GyRol.” I help her from the bag and then look her over. Not a visible scratch on her. There is a bruise around her wrist and she’s dirty but that’s all.

I hug her tightly to me and glory in her precious scent. “I love you, kesdy.”

She says something but I can’t tell what since I’ve got her squashed against my chest. I never want to let her go.

Her squirming makes me loosen my grip and look down.

She’s frowning. “He did the Vulcan Pinch on me.”

What is she talking about? Worry scents the air around her. Her words blur in my mind. I can’t focus on anything except her emotions. I don’t like it when she feels this way. I need her to feel confident and secure. But I can’t bring it up right now. We are on a mission.

Zairin walks past with Git as Zar and Von show up.

As we all head inside Zairin asks, “What’s a Vulcan Pinch?”

“Yes, what is that?” I ask.

Kinsey Lea touches the junction of her neck and shoulder. Her small fingers lightly pinch the flesh.

“Oh, he pinched a pressure point on you that knocked you out. A lot of species have those,” Zairin says.

I silently remind myself not to kill Git.

Shortly after we enter the building embarrassment adds to her scent. She’s trying to hide her breasts. Humans are strange that way. I pull off my shirt and slip it over her head. Her scent gets better but she’s still worried about something.

I have to find out what so I can reassure her. I love her too much not to fix this.

~ Kinsey Lea ~

I drink in Tairin’s scent. His shirt is covered in it. I hug the material to me as we enter a room. It doesn’t take me long to see that the room isn’t empty. Commander Graltin LocMir is here and his dominating presence is filling the space.

Flipping fuck. I was captured. I have to look like a weak wreck to him. Being a weak wreck is bad.

Tairin eyes me with concern but his attention snaps to Git when the commander asks why the wiptronian took a warrior’s kesdy.

Yellow eyes flash. “For money. I was going to sell her on Barpol. Barpolians love humans. The grounfos second in command said it would be easy.”

“Who is their second in command?” LocMir asks. His tone is menacing.

Git jerks and then blows out a harsh breath. “Tob LelPe.”

Greed. I was taken to be sold. Sold. My brain fires up. Red skin, yellow eyes, and white hair. I remember the barpolians who sold me to Tairin. A shudder runs through me. If Git had gotten his way, I was going to be sold at the same place as last time. Only this time Tairin wouldn’t be there to save me.

What if Tairin hadn’t been able to find me in time? Git did make it to the spaceport. What if Tairin had gotten killed coming for me? Shouldn’t kesdies be tough like Din Zima? Am I too much trouble? Do I have one leg in the jungle?

Tairin stiffens. “Commander, I need to take my kesdy home.”

An intense blue and silver gaze swings my way. “Agreed.”

A surprised squeak escapes my lips when he picks me up and stalks away.

“I can walk.” My feet are tender but I would hobble along to show I’m not a flipping wuss.

“I should have picked you up sooner, kesdy. You are not a warrior.” He sniffs my hair and a growl rumbles from his chest. “Rest, you are going to need it.”

Why? He must be tired of having a weak female. My past ruthlessly flashes before my eyes the whole way home. Do I still have a home?

The second we get in the house he goes to the couch and sits down. He has me straddle his hips and stare into his eyes.

“What is the cause of your worry? You’ve been concerned about something since the day I met you?”

I nibble my lip. The truth makes me look bad.

“Tell me, kesdy.” His voice is soft and coaxing.

My heart turns to mush. I spill my guts. “I worry about not being tough and useful enough for you. You’ve already saved me more than once. I’ve never been good enough, except once.” I snort out a harsh breath. “Milo was okay with me. He died though. Then his sister came and kicked me out of his house.”

Understanding lights his eyes. I wish I hadn’t been so honest. Nobody wants to hear the truth.

“Oh, little kesdy. You were never the problem. Except for Milo, all of the people who hurt you were selfish greedy people who didn’t deserve you.”

What? Something moves and changes within me. My soul lightens. I feel good, special. Loved for who I am.

Tairin inhales and his eyes pulse. Approval and pure love shine through the gold and purple strands. “I see you get it, my special one. You are my world. I’ll never willingly leave you and I’ll do whatever it takes to stay alive. Why wouldn’t I when I have you to love?”

“I love you so much.” More than he’ll ever know. Tears well in my eyes and to my horror one slides down my cheek and then another. “I’m sorry.” Flipping fuck, I never wanted him to see me so weak.

He inhales sharply and then hugs me to him. “You never have to be sorry, kesdy. You are perfect.”

A few more tears slip down, dampening his skin. He holds me lovingly through it all. I take a shuddering breath and then get myself under control. Joy springs through me. Tairin GyRol set me free.

I am worthy of love. I just couldn’t see it because I’d never experienced love on this level before. Never had a real family. I look up into his beautiful eyes and smile at him. He’s perfect.

His glowing gaze turns hard. My stomach churns. Why is he looking so severe?

“I love you, kesdy. That’s why you aren’t allowed outside without me or one of my friends.”

“What?” I just got my freedom—in many ways. I’m supposed to be able to shout my happiness anywhere, anytime.

“The grounfos have declared war.”

“Well, flipping fuck.”

Zaphin is where my family is…and it’s unstable as hell.

CHAPTER

23

~ Kinsey Lea ~

♥

Each day the air on Zaphin grows thicker with strife and passion. Passion for a need or a cause.

One step into the club, I can feel the refreshing vibe. Club Release is the second best place on the planet. Home is the first.

Dins Dran and Grof are guarding the door with sharper eyes. Not something I would have thought was possible. That doesn’t stop Day Ping Pet from standing near Din Grof and flirting with him. Her pink eyes stare up at him with passion.

When the curvy hiropian sees Din Tairin she addresses him and smiles without compunction. I’d feel bad about getting caught flirting with an on duty guard but Day doesn’t. I like how she goes for what she wants but I do feel sorry for Din Grof, although the warrior does seem more than capable of doing two things at once.

We move on into the club. It’s fuller than normal. The war has raised tension to an all-time high.

Here is a place to relax, to enjoy life.

Po’s wings glow in the strobing lights and her tiny silver top and shorts look adorable as she flits around doing her job. This is a great place. We head to the bar. Din Lok pours us some stros as he reports to Tairin. Bartenders do know what’s happening most of the time.

I look the blue and gold eyed male over. His shoulder length hair could trick some into thinking he’s laidback and unaware but that would be a bad assessment of him or any Din warrior. The grounfos don’t know what they’ve gotten themselves into.

I green tail wraps around my wrist. “Chick, you look amazing with your rounded baby belly.”

Lingma. I grin as I look into her happy black eyes. The tasrocian and her mewmosian friend, Babshi, have become good friends of mine.

Babshi dances up to us and grins at my growing belly. “Zaphinian babies grow fast.” I rub my hand over my visible bump.

Babshi licks her full pink lips as she watches Din Soja walk up and then head behind the bar. Lust lights her pale blue eyes. “I’m glad they grow up fast and big.”

Lingma fans herself with her tail. “Me too.” She winks at Din Soja as he slides a drink her way. “Those are fine leather boots you have on. They suit you well.”

He grins big enough to reveal the dimple in his right cheek. “I do like to impress you lovely females.”

Din Soja is a big flirt, even bigger than Din Lor. The females love both of them.

I’m glad my pretty boy warrior doesn’t have a flirting problem. Something’s are best not tested often. A growl tries to escape my lips but I stop it just in time. I rub my belly to calm myself as well as this little one. I’ll be glad when my emotions are back to normal, not so wild and unpredictable.

Speaking of unpredictable. Skyla waddles over with Din Ryk. She looks cute in her short red dress.

Hallie and Zar are next to show up. We don’t get to talk for long.

A worried Fraysta comes to the bar and asks, “Has anyone seen Tling By?”

The missing petrokian’s pretty pink skin and white eyes comes to mind. Like the others, I shake my head.

The worry in Fraysta’s green eyes is unsettling.

A quick round of questions reveals that Tling By didn’t tell anybody she was going anywhere.

As talk swirls Din Soja comes back to our end of the bar and says, “I heard her talking to Morsa about being homesick.”

Tairin sends Lo to tell Morsa to come to the bar. It doesn’t take the tasrocian long to show up. Her naked green skin shines in the strobing lights. Her tail swishes around randomly touching people.

Din Ryk meets her. “Din Soja said you and Tling By talked about being homesick. Did she say she was planning a trip?”

Morsa’s dark green tail flicks around. “No, we just said it would be nice to go for a short visit but neither of us made any plans. Why?”

“She’s gone,” Fraysta answers. Pain flares in her voice and eyes. My heart aches for her.

“Did she take her stuff?” Morsa asks with a frown.

“No,” Fraysta states. “But it’s not like her to miss a night mingling with the warriors. She loves the night life.”

Morsa taps her tail on the bar to the beat. “Maybe she changed her mind. I’ll keep an eye out for her.”

As Morsa dances away with a warrior, Fraysta turns questioning eyes to Din Zar. “Did Tling By change her account information or ask you to exchange money for some she can travel home with?”

“No, everything went through as normal.”

Lingma fans herself with her tail. “Maybe she’s having a wild romp with a shy guy.”

“That’s hot,” Babshi says. “Let’s go play.” The two playthings dance off and are quickly approached by warriors.

Even though the guys don’t say anything I know they’ll be keeping an eye out for Tling By. I think of how nice and happy she is and hope she’s off having a good time. We all need that.

The guys talk in low tones for a bit and then Tairin takes my hand. “Time to move on to the pool area, kesdy.”

I like the way the owners take shifts in different sections of the club allowing them all to be seen and approached in multiple places.

As we pass the dance lounge area I see Din Helde caressing Rosda in a sensual way that has her arching and crying out in ecstasy. The warrior may have a strange personality but I’m glad to see that he’s good to the playthings. Other than being a warrior, he does have some redeeming qualities.

The crowd parts for Din Tairin so it doesn’t take us long to make it to the pool area. A flash of yellow has me looking down. I grin when I see the petals of a purrdot open wide and lean my way. It only gets a small hint of my scent but with Hallie and Skyla coming up behind us the flower will get a healthy dose of human scent.

If I’d never been taken from Earth, I’d never have encountered purrdots, or Tairin. I rub my extended belly, I’d never be pregnant with a zaphinian baby. The path I chose in the woods was the right one. Sometimes bad things don’t stay bad. I look at Tairin, my keslon, my love. No, not every tragedy stays a tragedy. Mine, Hallie’s, and Skyla’s lives are proof of that.

We settle in the pool area. Purple and silver lights dance across our bodies. The chairs have been arranged in a sharp arc. All three warriors pull us into their laps. I understand why. This arrangement allows us to be held by them but still able to talk. My heart does a little leap. Tairin and the others don’t miss anything. I love that about them.

Kammy walks up proudly naked with her red hair floating around her shoulders. She address the warriors and then gives us a wave before she turns back to the guys. “Thanks for giving Tin WorMoc a new job. His mood is better, focused on less petty things.”

Din Zar dips his chin. “Tin is better at counselling employees on their finances than at club finances.”

“He’s helped me. I’m saving more than ever. Thanks, again.” Kammy dances over to a grinning warrior.

I can’t help but remember how Tin had been pissing people off. Now he’s helping people. Being an owner has many challenges and rewards.

The air around the guys changes. It feels heavy. Din Tairin pulls me in closer. A looming figure approaches. A zaphinian male with a long scar down the right side of his face stops in front of us. His sharp gaze runs across us before moving on to the guys. I’m not sure how trustworthy he is.

Din Zar eyes the male. “Din Stok MarNe.”

Din Stok inclines his head. “I’m here for work and pleasure.” He pulls out a screen and then shows a picture of a rough looking male to Ryk, Zar, and Tairin. “Have you seen him? He’s the leader of one of the grounfos groups. I hear the group is in this area.”

Din Ryk gives Din Stok the name of a man who might be able to help. The warrior thanks them and moves on.

Tairin tsks. “I don’t care much for bounty hunters but in this case he may come in real handy.”

Bounty hunter! My heart pounds faster than the beat of the music. No wonder he made me leery. They will do anything for the right price.

Calm down. I take a deep breath and inhale Tairin’s calming scent. The music slows and pulses through me. Tension slides away. Hallie snaps at Zar and he growls a warning. Not everyone is relaxed yet.

We huddle and start talking about the plants and animals we have. It feels good to have friends to hang out with. To remember that not everyone is bad.

Through the dancing crowd, Din Noleb walks up with his hand gripping Mayren’s. The mewmosian looks happy and nervous. I nudge Skyla and Hallie. We stop our conversation to listen in.

Din Noleb goes straight to the point. “I’ve asked Mayren to be my seema and she’s agreed.”

Din Tairin strokes my thigh as he says, “Congratulations, that’s good for you two. Not so much for us but we are always happy when a warrior finds a sweet seema.”

I don’t know how much more my heart can soften. Tairin and his friends are tough yet fair and happy when things turn out well.

I lean in to Hallie and Skyla as the couple walks away. “I love a happy ending.”

“Me too,” Skyla agrees.

Hallie takes a deep breath. “Okay, I have a happy ending. I can’t hold it in anymore.” She pulls her eyelid down. Silver!

I squeal and so does Skyla. We wiggle out of the guys’ possessive grips and hug each other.

“Now we’ll all have babies close enough in age to grow up together,” I burst out. Friends. My baby will have lots of friends.

“You shouldn’t have waited to tell us. I could have gone into labor and not found out for a long time.”

“I debated waiting several more days. What if the silver is from something else?”

Zar growls and Hallie growls back.

Ryk laughs. “She’s pregnant.” I don’t miss the warrior’s confident tone. Truth be told, we are more aggressive than normal.

Heat flares within me as a flash of aggression passes through me. Tairin sniffs and then stands. He looks at Ryk and Zar. “Our replacements are here. I suggest we move on to the Servitude room.”

I look around and see Dins Von and Hauk strolling up. As I’m led through the club, I let the idea of the Servitude room sink into my brain. I like the idea of them serving us. Aggression flares strongly through me.

When we get to the room, I drink in the sights. A few feet in, the room splits into two sides. A massage side with several padded tables in a lush plant and oil and waterfall-statue filled environment. I’m ushered into the other side. I stop and gape at the fight scene playing out on a holoscreen. “That looks so real.”

“Yeah, I like it. The fighting fires me up,” Skyla says.

Din Ryk growls a warning but it’s too late. I feel hot and aggressive. The others must too. Tairin inhales and groans. So does Din Zar.

“That’s right, you guys need to prepare yourselves.” Hallie looks at us and grins. “We are ready to be serviced. Lie down. We are in control.”

“Sorry guys. I shouldn’t have recommended this room. It’s turning on us.” Tairin grumbles as he strips and settles on one of the many lounges.

Other playthings are catering to warriors but that’s not what will happen to our guys.

Our warriors get a few sympathetic looks as all three of us demand they stay still. I stare down at Tairin’s naked beauty. Moisture drips from my core. “You are magnificent. A pretty boy from head to toe.”

A chuckle comes from nearby but a glare from Tairin has the warrior apologizing.