Mated (The Sandaki Book 1) (9 page)

She finally approached the door she wanted, but it didn’t open like the rest. She held her bracelet up to it and within seconds the door slid soundlessly open. She stepped in and looked around at the equipment that was vaguely familiar. Her stomach sank. She hated when her premonitions were right, especially considering what the equipment meant. If she was correct, and she was almost certain she was, both
Taj Katan
were going to be furious.

She turned to the warriors who’d escorted her. “Stay outside this room.”

Kavich, of course, did not listen; instead he walked in behind her. She hoped the man didn’t realize what he was looking at but doubted it. He would not be the Second of the
Taj
Rakin if he were stupid. She approached the command console and once again used the bracelet to access the controls.

When the Sandaki warriors were created, they’d had the ability to tap directly into the ships they controlled. They were, themselves, such an advanced technology they could command systems with barely a thought. Haldise didn’t have that advantage, so she had created for herself a mini-version of what the warriors carried within their bodies. It certainly wasn’t as sophisticated, but it did the job.

As her fingers danced over the screens, she was very aware of Kavich walking around looking at the large see-through cylinders. There were two of them and multitudes of cables and tubes ran to them from banks of panels. She knew, while in use, the lit panels would pulse with power. Now they were cold and dead.

She used her bracelet to download the information contained in the units. She knew the ship’s main systems wouldn’t support them. The machinery in the room was something the Silarin shouldn’t have and never would have had the sophistication to create on their own. She wondered how much they’d paid for it and how many people they’d used it on.

She shut down the system for the last time and turned to walk out of the room. Kavich hesitated then fell into step beside her. She knew the warrior wouldn’t ask any questions, for which she was thankful. She certainly couldn’t tell him anything, not until she’d spoken to the
Taj
. After that, her rulers could decide what to share. The only thing she knew for certain was war was on the horizon. Once both
Tajs
learned about the information she carried, it was inevitable.

Rakin pulled himself out of bed and looked down at his sleeping mate. Even after taking her multiple times, he wanted her. She was nothing at all like what he pictured his
talla
would be. He’d assumed he’d find a Sandaki female, but once again, fate had stepped in and redirected his life. Of course, the few Sandaki females he knew had done nothing for him. None of them had made his body burn and cock harden as this luscious alien did. Her hair was a rich and impossibly deep red and her eyes the clearest and sweetest he’d ever seen. He huffed out a breath. If he didn’t watch out, he would begin composing poems to her.

Reluctantly, he left Laira and quickly showered. He needed to contact his
Kalkan Arkadasi
. Too many people knew of his mating, and he wanted to make sure Dev didn’t hear it from anyone but him. His
Arkadasi
was volatile and dangerous even in the best of times, and Rakin wanted Dev to have plenty of time to get used to the idea. Rakin sighed; he wished truly that Dev had found his
talla
first. Dev walked a thin line with his inner beast and needed the gentleness a woman would bring.

Rakin pressed his palm to the communication console and waited. Within seconds, the image of the man appeared on screen. To him, Dev was incredibly handsome, but intimidating due to the thin scar that ran down his right cheek and ended at his lips, and the fact that his beast rode closer to the surface. He'd gained the scar in the fight for supremacy of the Sandaki. The person who’d delivered the blow hadn’t lived long enough to celebrate, because in the next instant, Dev had gutted him.

Rakin looked into the eyes of the person who meant the most to him, who knew him best. He and Dev had shared everything from the moment they’d met in the training facility when they had been mere children. A burning settled into his stomach at the thought.

“What is wrong?”

Rakin shook his head. “We discovered a Silarin slave vessel attempting to use our space for their auction.”

Dev smiled. It did not reach his eyes. “I would assume they will no longer attempt to do anything so foolish again.”

Rakin laughed. “No, and with the message sent to the home world the Silarin will stay far away from us or suffer the consequences.”

“It has been a long time since we conquered a new world.”

“If they push us, we will occupy many
kotakes
of new space.”

Dev nodded, still staring at him. “There is something else. I can see it on you.”

“I have found my heart mate. She was a slave on the Silarin vessel, and they were attempting to sell her.”

Rakin watched the shutters drop down over Dev’s eyes. Though Dev attempted to hide his emotions, Rakin knew the news shook his
Arkadasi
. They were true shield mates
and had been since Rakin had turned sixteen and Dev was eighteen. Though they had both taken women on the occasions they weren’t together, it never lasted since the women had meant nothing. They were a convenience to scratch an itch. Rakin had never needed or wanted anyone but Dev to satisfy him. Now, Laira had appeared like a gift from the gods. A rightness had settled in his soul when he’d taken her the first time. He wouldn’t give her up. Couldn’t give her up.

“I cannot wait to meet her,” Dev finally said. “When will you arrive?”

“In approximately four suns’ risings.”

“I will be waiting.”

Both men stared at one another then signed off simultaneously. Rakin wondered how this new development would affect their relationship. He hoped not at all; however, Dev was a hard man to know. He could also be deadly when roused. Rakin didn’t want his mate to be afraid of the man he cared so much for. He knew Dev would not open himself up to Laira. He never did with anyone. He allowed people to think what they would of him. He didn’t care for anything or anyone but Rakin.

Laira opened her eyes and stretched. The bed beneath her was so comfortable she truly didn’t want to move. Still, she felt sticky and needed a shower. On top of that, nature called. She sat up and shoved her hair out of her face. Damn, this was why she never allowed her hair to get past her shoulders. Okay, before, she hadn’t had the hair for it since originally it had been fine and fly away. Even if she’d had these luxurious locks, she doubted she would have let it get this long.

Slowly, she climbed off the bed and looked around the room. She hadn’t noticed much upon her arrival. The only thing she’d known was she’d badly needed to be fucked. The desire was still there, but not as fierce. The necessity to be clean and fed took precedence, although she didn’t think that would last. Some kind of sixth sense told her she would have to take care of her other urges first before the compulsion for sex returned. She rolled her eyes; she’d gone from not wanting sex to fiend overnight.

She looked up from her reverie to find Rakin watching her from the doorway. His presence alone caused the banked fires to flame to life. Shit, if she didn’t watch out, she’d end up climbing all over him. She hoped he didn’t want some kind of shrinking violet that waited until he asked for sex, because at this point she didn’t think she could do that. Especially, if he kept looking at her like he wanted to eat her up in one bite.

“I really need a shower or something,” she spoke, breaking the spell that had wrapped around them. “Oh, and my friends. How are they? Where are they?”

“Come, I will show you the bathing facilities. Unfortunately, since we are in space there is no water, but it will get you clean. Your companions are safe and well cared for. I will make sure no harm comes to them.”

Her fears eased. She, Isha, Garja, and Chal had been through so much together, she needed to know they were okay. She decided that once the whole mating heat abated, she would visit them. She wanted to talk to them and hopefully make sense of everything that had happened.

He stepped up to cup her face in his hands. Laira had figured with her new height she wouldn’t find many men who could look down at her. This man towered over her though, making her feel small and delicate. Without thinking, she went up on tiptoe and pressed her lips to his.

“What do you do?” He pulled away from her.

“I kissed you.” She wondered if she had committed some type of horrible
faux pas
. If so, he would have to learn to live with it, since she wouldn’t have sex with someone she couldn’t even kiss.

“On my world we do not do this touching of mouths.”

“Is it forbidden or something?”

“No, it is just not done.”

“Well, we do it on my world.” Laira shrugged. “When two people are involved in a sexual relationship they usually kiss and hug, too. It all kind of goes together.”

His eyes lit, and he smiled. “I like how you do things on your world. Our face to face mating was something we’ll do again…soon.” He ended his sentence with a growl that hit her right between the legs. If she didn’t get clean and find food now, she would end up throwing him on the bed and having her way with him.

“Come, you must bathe, and we will break our fast before we can investigate how you do things on your world.”

Laira hit the shower facilities that weren’t nearly as fun as those on the Silarin ship. However when she stepped out, she did feel much cleaner, and her hair was once again untangled and perfect. After taking care of her other needs, she left the bathing room to find Rakin sitting at a table that was heavy with food. For the first time, she felt awkward, which was stupid since she had fucked this man repeatedly. Since they’d never had time to actually talk like civilized people, she was unsure how to proceed.

He quickly stood and moved to hold out a chair for her. “Come, break your fast.”

“Do you have something I could wear?” Laira pulled her hair around to partially shield her nudity.

He cocked his head. “Why? You are beyond beautiful.”

“Thanks, it would make me feel less weird to wear something while I eat. Do the people on your planet wear clothes?” Laira cringed, hoping they did. She would hate to think she would have to run around naked in front of the entire world.

“In my private quarters I don’t usually, but you are right. Since we are on the ship, someone may enter. I will have no one’s eyes on you, but mine.” He moved to the bed and grabbed a thin sheet. He wrapped it twice around her, making sure it was secure. She lifted an edge and took a deep breath, finding it smelled just like Rakin. The scent of him alone caused her pussy to get wet.

She looked up to find him watching her with his wild topaz eyes. “You smell ready, mate. We must eat first, though.”

A flush stole up her cheeks. Damn, she hated that he could scent her arousal. However, when he did, it made her even hotter for him. Shaking her head, she took a seat and investigated the food on the table. He sat across from her and explained what she saw. The breads were really good, and she particularly liked a small roll that tasted of cinnamon, though she doubted it was that spice. The fruits were sweet and juicy, but the green gelatin glob tasted like paste flavored with pencil shavings. She swallowed the bite she had in her mouth, since spitting it out on the plate would probably be bad etiquette, then quickly swished her mouth with the liquid in her cup.

“Do you not like the
gastal
?” Rakin watched her as she put her cup down.

“It was interesting,” Laira answered. “Is it something you eat often?”

“It is normally on the table during each meal. Do you not find it palatable?”

Laira sat for a moment, and figured the truth would be best. She hated to lie, and since this man had seen all of her, he ought to know what he was getting into. “Truthfully, it’s gross. I don’t like it at all.”

Rakin laughed, and she found herself watching him, fascinated. He was also the most handsome man she’d ever seen. Not to mention his body was totally hot. She put a stop on her thoughts before she jumped the table and straddled him. She figured that would be a real etiquette buster.

“Dev and I despise the stuff. As young children we would attempt to feed it to our pet
lorcan
. Even it would not eat it.”

Laira laughed. “I can see why. It sort of reminds me of paste, which is a type of adhesive from my planet.” She picked at the fruit on her plate as she could feel moisture ooze out from between her thighs. The need also began to rise, and she tried to ignore it. She hated that her body basically did what it wanted. She couldn’t control her attraction to this man, and that made her angry. Hell the whole situation made her angry. Her life was no longer her own and would never be again.

“Come, sit on my lap, mate.” Rakin held a hand out to her, tearing her from her thoughts.

Laira took it and allowed him to ease her to him. She hitched up the sheet and straddled his thighs so she could put her arms around him. Not taking his eyes from hers, he began to slowly drag the sheet from her body. Parting it, he growled low in his throat. She leaned forward to press her sensitive nipples to his chest and rub them back and forth through the soft hair.