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Arrista sat in the grass of Wenny’s enclosure, late afternoon sun warming her face. The poisonous rays felt wonderful, hinting at a freedom she’d never experienced before. Yet tension coiled through her belly. She could almost feel the harmful radiation seeping through the protective barrier, seeking out holes and crevices, venturing ever deeper. Even the Outcast healer wasn’t sure the formula would adequately protect her. She felt vulnerable and exposed, but the only way to know for sure if the lotion worked was to test its effectiveness.
She pushed the disconcerting thought to the back of her mind and focused on the task at hand. Smuggling one of the karron cubs out of the underground and taking care of the cub until she was old enough to survive on her own had been the price for Sara’s release. The cub lacked the aggressive nature needed to be a battle cat, so Wenny would have been doomed to a life of hard labor if not for Sara’s arrangement with Lady Isolaund. Lady Isolaund often seemed cold and ruthless, but she cared deeply about the cats.
Wenny lay with her head on Arrista’s lap, but the karron cub wasn’t asleep, just despondent. Her paws looked much too large for her small body, and even filled with despair, her eyes were vivid blue. The color contrasted with her dark fur, making her face even more expressive. “How long has she been like this?”
“Since yesterday.” Sara sat nearby, compassion knitting her brow. Thick-lashed brown eyes reflected her worry as a cool breeze rippled through her long, dark hair. “Isolaund brought Certice to the hostage negotiation.”
“Certice is my lady’s favorite. She rarely leaves her apartment without her faithful battle cat. Certice is part-protector, part-companion. They are very close.”
Sara nodded, but her expression remained tense. “Wenny was thrilled to see her mother but went a little crazy when Certice left and didn’t insist on Wenny returning to the underground. Now she feels betrayed and abandoned.”
Stroking the cub’s dark fur, Arrista’s heart ached for the young one. Arrista had assisted Lady Isolaund during Wenny’s birth. She had been one of six cubs, and Certice’s labor had gone on for many hours. Only four of the cubs survived, so Certice was very protective of them. “Wenny must be so confused. She has never been away from her brothers and sister. I would be upset too.”
They talked about possible ways to cheer the cub, or at least engage her interest, but Arrista suggested they not push her for a day or two. “Let her grieve. She has reason to be sad and needs to process these emotions.” It was sound advice for anyone in a drastically different situation, Arrista realized. It would be unwise for her to make any pivotal decisions until she had a day or two to adjust to her new reality.
Sara agreed, so Arrista eased the cub’s head off her lap. Pushing to her feet, she brushed off her pants and headed for the gate at the other end of the enclosure. The “habitat”, as Sara called it, was surrounded by a tall metal fence, but a stream ran through the far end, so Wenny had continual access to fresh water and fish. It was likely they would need to augment her diet with fresh meat, especially if the cub remained this depressed.
“How are you and Torrin getting along?” Sara asked, reluctantly leaving the cub in the grass as she followed Arrista from the enclosure. “I wasn’t sure how to feel about it when Xorran told me who had been assigned to protect you.”
“Why?” Arrista stopped walking and faced her new friend. They’d reached the trees, and Arrista felt less defenseless in the shade. A healer’s assurances couldn’t undo a lifetime of fearing the sun. “Do you have reason to mistrust Torrin?”
“I don’t mistrust him,” Sara insisted, “but I don’t trust him either. I don’t really know him.”
“Does Xorran trust him?” She was almost afraid to ask. Torrin had already admitted that many, perhaps most, of the Outcasts were uncomfortable with him.
“Torrin hasn’t been with the Outcasts very long, so a lot of the guys are still making up their minds about him. Xorran was like that. He wasn’t sure what to make of Torrin, but they’ve gone on several missions together, and Xorran’s attitude has changed for the better. The overlord clearly trusts Torrin, or he wouldn’t have assigned Torrin to protect you.”
Arrista wasn’t as convinced as the human. “Maybe safety is not their true focus. The overlord might have assigned his most ruthless warrior to guard an enemy.”
“You’re not our enemy,” Sara stressed. “You talked Lady Isolaund into setting me free. That makes us friends, allies.”
She manufactured a smile, though she was still too tense to actually feel encouraged. “Do you know why Torrin was...altered?”
“Altered? In what way?”
Sara’s surprise seemed genuine, still Arrista hesitated. Torrin hadn’t told her it was a secret, but she had the distinct impression he preferred not to discuss it with anyone.
“Are you talking about his cybernetics?” Sara asked after a lengthy pause.
Thrilled that she wouldn’t have to betray his trust in order to gather more information, she nodded. “He wouldn’t tell me why it was done to him.”
“I’m not sure. There are all sorts of rumors, but I suspect the overlord is the only one—besides Torrin—who knows the entire story. Kage Razel is extremely picky about who he allows into the brotherhood. Are you uncomfortable because of it?”
“No. If he had not told me, I never would have known about any of it. I have read stories about such things, but Torrin is the only one I’ve met who has artificial body parts.”
“Has no Sarronti ever lost a limb?” Sara looked at Arrista, clearly unsure of the claim.
“Of course there have been accidents and illnesses that disfigured others of my kind. But the Sarronti have ways of regenerating damaged tissue. Is this not possible with humans and hybrids?”
“Humans are definitely not able to regenerate limbs. I don’t know about Rodytes. Their regeneration tubes can repair all sorts of injuries. It’s possible that their medical equipment could regrow an arm or leg.”
They’d drifted off topic because Arrista wasn’t sure how to ask about what she really wanted to know. She only knew Sara slightly better than the males, and they all seemed to have strange ideas about how life was structured. It was unlikely that Sara would be any different.
Arrista strolled along through the trees. The verdant scents and familiar sounds soothed her frayed nerves. She generally saw these woods by moonlight, but she felt more at home here than on the Wheel surrounded by alloy walls and unfamiliar technology.
“We’re not supposed to lose site of the barracks,” Sara told her suddenly. “It’s the limitation I agreed to, so Xorran would let me stay here with Wenny.”
The barracks, which were still under construction, were barely visible through the trees. Arrista sighed and turned around. “It’s a wise precaution. It’s likely General Alonov is plotting his next offensive.” They returned to the edge of the clearing where Wenny’s enclosure had been erected before Arrista spoke again. “If a human female has an interest in one of the Outcasts, how does she let him know?”
Sara’s reply was preempted by the sound of female voices and laughter. Three females emerged from the trees, following a path that led to the stream that flowed through Wenny’s enclosure. The sunlight gleamed on bright red hair, and Arrista realized one of the women was Heather. The other two were strangers to her, but Sara obviously knew them.
“Hey there? Come to gawk at the shirtless workers?” Sara called as she walked to intercept them.
Arrista followed, feeling awkward and out of place.
“Very funny,” Heather grumped. “The last time I let you indulge your lust for naked chests, I ended up in the underground.” She glanced at Arrista and added, “Hi.”
A lovely blonde moved closer to Arrista and held out her hand with a friendly smile. “I’m Thea Cline, and we didn’t come to gawk at the workers. We came to see the cub.”
“I’m not sure you’ll get much of a reaction out of her,” Sara cautioned. “She’s really homesick right now.”
“Boy, can I relate,” Heather muttered.
“You didn’t seem homesick last night,” the third female said with a sly smile. Her face was a perfect oval framed by sleek black hair, and her delicate features were easily dominated by big blue eyes.
“That’s Lily,” Thea told her. “And she’s right. Heather was having the time of her life last night in the commons. Two of her suitors started a brawl over her. Chairs went flying, as well as fists. It landed them both on the detention level.”
Sara led her friends to the perimeter fence and called out to Wenny. The cub raised her head and looked at Sara, then just lowered it again.
“Weniffa, ornell.” Arrista issued the command in a loud, clear voice.
Wenny slowly pulled herself up out of the grass and lopped over to the fence.
“Oh my god, she’s adorable,” Thea cried as the cub drew near.
“Her eyes look so sad,” Lily commented.
As Wenny reached the fence, her lips drew back from her teeth and she stilled.
“Is she smiling at us?” Heath looked to Sara for the answer.
“Smelling, actually,” Sara told her. “She has a gland on the roof of her mouth that—”
Suddenly, Wenny lunged for the fence, growling variously and clawing at the barrier.
“Deztee!” When the cub ignored her, Arrista shouted a more forceful halt command. “Deztee lot naltar!”
With a whine and a telepathic, Bad one. Watch her, the cub walked across the grass and went into her shelter.
“Did you hear what she said?” Sara asked, eyes wide with concern. “What did she mean?”
Arrista gestured helplessly. “I can’t explain why she reacted that way.”
“Must have sensed I’m a dog person,” Heater said with a tentative smile.
“Maybe this is just more homesickness,” Thea suggested. “Didn’t you say she’s been acting weird today?”
“She has,” Sara admitted, “but not like that.”
Once the others left, they could see if Wenny would explain her reaction. There wasn’t much they could do while the visitors looked on. “May I ask you a question?” she asked Heather.
“Sure.” The redhead sounded casual, but her gaze shot toward the others.
“Did you enjoy seeing your suitors fight over you? Is that a common human reaction?”
A guilty smile told Arrista all she needed to know. “It’s just never happened before.”
“Arrista asked me how human females let a male know that they are interested,” Sara told the other three. “Lily and Thea have both found their mates. Maybe it would help to hear how it happened for them.”
“Arton and I both fought it at first,” Lily began. “He was still struggling with some pretty powerful demons from his past, so things developed gradually. Also we weren’t genetically compatible, so we weren’t dealing with the pull. Don’t get me wrong. We still found each other attractive, but I’ve heard the pull makes resisting almost impossible.”
Tilting her head, Arrista studied the human for a moment. “I thought Rodyte hybrids had to bond with genetically compatible mates to reproduce. Do you not want children?”
“My focus has always been my career,” Lily admitted. “I probably would have had children if I’d matched any of the males, but I didn’t. So it isn’t possible for me to have a child with anyone on this planet.”
“You don’t know that,” Arrista pointed out. “You might have been able to produce offspring with a Sarronti male.”
Lily just smiled. “The point is moot. I’m happily bonded with the love of my life. We’ll just have to spoil everyone else’s babies.”
Arrista nodded as her gaze shifted to the blonde. “Are you a genetic match for your mate?”
“Oh yeah.” The admission turned her cheeks bright pink. “But I was the one with the complicated past. I lost my family in a horrific accident back on Earth and was not in any way ready for anyone else in my life. Rex was patient, but persistent. And the pull is like nothing any human has experienced before. ”
“How long did you resist this pull before you agreed to bond with your Outcast?”
“Rex and I will bond, eventually. I love him like crazy, and I know he loves me, but it’s just too soon. Allowing him to claim me now would be disrespectful to the ones I lost.”
Again, Arrista found Thea’s words confusing. “And this Rex is willing to wait?”
“If he wants me as his mate, he doesn’t have a choice,” Thea said with a laugh. “Actually, his willingness to give me time is one of the reasons I knew he was the one.”
In both of these situations, it sounded like the male pursued the female. She needed to know how to convince a reluctant male.
“We should get back,” Lily said after a long pause.
“Thanks for sharing your baby with us, even if she didn’t like us very much.” Thea gave Sara a hug and waved at Arrista as the three headed back the way they’d come.
Glad they were gone, Arrista turned back to Sara. She was Arrista’s last hope. “How did you attract Xorran?”
“I’ve always preferred to attack things head-on.” The corners of Sara’s mouth tipped up, and amusement brightened her gaze. “And like Thea said, the pull burns away all the indecision and makes it harder than hell to resist. Is there someone specific you’re interested in?” Sara’s knowing smile revealed that she had a pretty good idea how Arrista would answer.
Arrista tensed. She must serve someone, and the only person she’d encountered in the world above that would make service tolerable was Torrin. But each time she’d tried to explain this to him, he’d become indignant. It was unlikely Sara would understand either, so Arrista chose another strategy. “I am interested in Torrin, but he doesn’t think my attraction is real. When I expressed my interest, he moved me out of his apartment and insisted that I stay in a different cabin. It is humiliating.”
“How did you express your interest?” Sara asked, a hint of dread creeping onto her tone.
This was a waste of time. Humans would never understand a Niffal’s instinctual need to serve. “The details are unimportant. I seemed desperate, so he rejected me.”
“He didn’t reject you, Arrista. He was trying to protect you.”
The pity in Sara’s expression was even more humiliating than the dread. “I made him uncomfortable, so he got rid of me. It’s as simple as that.”
Sara shook her head, dark hair swishing around her pretty face. “He was trying to be honorable. You’ve been through a lot in the past few days. He doesn’t want to take advantage of you.”
“But I am...” She sighed, unable to construct a defense Sara would understand.
“You are what?” Sara prompted after a long pause. “What were you going to say?”
Arrista still hesitated. It was unwise to admit any sort of weakness to an enemy. She didn’t consider Sara her enemy, but she wasn’t yet sure she could trust the human either. Still, Sara was the closest thing she had to a friend, and trust had to start somewhere. “I have never been alone like this before. It makes me feel unsafe.”
“Did you tell Torrin that?” Sara paused, then added, “Is fear why you want a relationship with him? Do you want someone to protect you?”
He had already agreed to protect her. The situation was much more complicated than that. “I find him...intriguing.” The claim sprang readily to her lips. There was more truth to the statement than she cared to admit. Torrin was so different from any male she had ever known. He was fierce and powerful like Alonov, yet honorable and kind. The combination confused, yet attracted her. She felt as if two separate people lived inside her and they continually argued with each other.
“I’ve seen how Torrin looks at you. I don’t think you need to do anything but spend time with him. If a Rodyte male wants a female, he won’t be able to resist her for long.”
Which was the exact reason he’d banished her to the other cabin. She nodded and smiled, but like the other two, Sara had been very little help.
Xorran arrived a short time later and escorted both females back to the Wheel. Sara invited her to join them for the evening meal, but Arrista declined. It was obvious that the couple wanted to be alone, and Arrista needed time to formulate a new strategy.
Arrista paced the confines of her cabin, resenting the solitude. She felt useless and forgotten, restless and annoyed. A beeping sounded, and a life-size image of Torrin formed in the middle of the living area.
“I was hoping to share dinner with you, but I’m needed elsewhere,” the image explained. “Someone will bring you food and some clean clothes in a few minutes. When the computer announces that you have a visitor, say ‘visitor approved’ or just walk over and trigger the door. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
The image flashed out as suddenly as it had formed and her heart sank. He was avoiding her. Despite his claim to want her, he was clearly minimizing the time he spent with her.
She crossed to the door a short time later when the disembodied voice told her someone was waiting for admittance. She triggered the door, and Heather greeted her with a smile.
“Hey there.” Heather indicated the tray in her hands. “I brought you a nice veggie wrap and some sort of fruit. Don’t know what they’re called, but they’re delicious.”
Arrista looked at the yellowish orange fruits on the tray and told her, “Those are fritinttos. And I agree. They are delicious.”
The red-haired human placed the tray on the table across the room, then paused to look around. “Wow. This cabin is way nicer than mine.” Her gaze narrowed and gleamed. “Is this where Torrin sleeps?”
“Torrin’s cabin is farther down the hallway. I was told no one would bother me here.” Unlike Sara, Heather was rather abrasive and insensitive. Arrista regretted that Heather had been subjected to General Alonov’s brutality, but that didn’t change her basic personality.
“I’m supposed to teach you how to use the matter generator so you can print your own uniforms and personal items. I’ll also activate the entertainment module so you can watch movies and play games. They’ve compiled a pretty good selection of American films. You’ll go crazy in here with nothing to do. Believe me. Boredom has been a big problem since we arrived on this planet. The males don’t want us to leave the Wheel without an escort, so we’ve all been scrambling for things to do.”
Arrista payed close attention to Heather’s instructions but didn’t encourage her to stay. Talking with her was awkward at best, and Arrista’s thoughts were much too troubled to share. After printing a clean uniform for the following day and consuming the food provided for her, she watched several “trailers”, but none of the advertisements convinced her to activate the actual file. The three-dimensional games were a bit more distracting, but even they didn’t hold her interest for long. Her time was generally packed with tasks from the moment she woke up until she fell into an exhausted sleep. This lack of direction made her feel lost and useless.
Frustrated and lonely, she took a long, hot shower, then crawled into bed wearing the oversized undershirt Heather had suggested she print in place of a nightgown. The loose garment was much more comfortable than the ugly, masculine uniform, but sleep refused to free her from the strange, confusing world that was now her home. She tossed and turned staring up at the ceiling and at the smooth, manufactured walls. So much in the world above was artificial, unnatural.
Anxiety gathered around her until she felt each surge of blood through her veins. She needed a master or mistress. Each moment she spent without serving compounded the driving need. She tossed from side to side, muscles cramping, insides aching. Frequently she felt a strange sort of urgency, a need pulling her toward Lady Isolaund. She didn’t understand it, had never felt it with any of her other masters or mistresses. But none of the others had been as powerful or important as Lady Isolaund.
Arrista lay flat on her back and slowly filled her lungs with air. She needed to calm down, to accept that her life was on a new path. She could not return to the underground, at least not while General Alonov was in power.
So how did she ease this consuming need? She must have a new master, or she would go insane. The answer was simple and clear, if only Torrin would accept it.
Unable to lie still a moment longer, she tossed back the covers and strode from the bedroom. She didn’t care that she wore only a clingy oversized shirt. If snapping his control was the only way to make him reasonable, then she would gladly give him use of her body.
She hurried down the corridor, not wanting to be discovered before she reached her destination. Unwilling to risk rejection, she stopped before she triggered the proximity sensor by the door and turned to the wall instead. It was unusual for the Niffal to possess magic powers, but many of the females in her family had some sort of abilities. This anomaly was what had brought Arrista to Lady Isolaund’s attention. Pulling energy into her center, Arrista extended her arms out to each side and slowly “flowed” through the barrier, emerging between Torrin’s sitting area and the table where he ate his meals.
She paused, making sure her actions hadn’t triggered any sort of alarm. The cabin seemed to be empty. It wasn’t horribly late, but he should have returned by now. She crept across the living area and approached his bedroom. The door slid open automatically, but the bed was undisturbed.
With a sigh of frustration, she started to leave when the door to the bathing room slid open and Torrin froze in the doorway. His hair was wet, his face devoid of whiskers and a towel wrapped around his lean hips. His smoky green eyes narrowed as he growled out, “How did you get in here? My door is always locked.”
Ignoring the question, she slowly approached. “I do not want to be alone. I need you. I need this.” She ran her hands up his bare chest, thrilled by the strength so apparent in his shape and the firmness of his muscles. He caught her wrists and pulled her hands away from his skin. Pressure erupted behind her eyes, throbbing so hard, she moaned. “Please,” she persisted. “Do not turn me away. I choose this. I choose you.”
He moved both hands to her face and stared at her oddly, searching her gaze and examining her features as if to diagnose an illness. “You barely know me. Why are you being so insistent?”
The urgency drove her onward. Her hands began to shake, and her mind only registered one thought. “I must serve someone,” she stressed. “I want you, only you.”
“Why must you serve someone?” His tone softened, though his gaze remained sharp and assessing. “You are no longer bound by Sarronti rules, so what will happen if you refuse to serve?”
“I will...I must serve. I must!” His questions confused her, made the buzzing in her head intensify. The throbbing was nearly blinding now. She grasped the hem of her shirt and dragged it upward.
Torrin caught her wrists and used her hands to push the shirt back down. His gaze narrowed as he slowly stepped back. “Havier to Razel, emergency interrupt.”
“This is Razel. What’s wrong?”
What was he doing? This had nothing to do with the overlord. Panic surged through her, speeding her pulse and respirations. He was going to throw her out or give her to the overlord!
“Can you come to my cabin immediately?” Torrin asked the unseen leader. “I think we have an unwitting spy.”
“On my way.”
It took Arrista’s sluggish mind a moment to absorb the implication. “I am not a spy,” she cried. “Why did you call the overlord? I have harmed no one.”
“Arrista, this isn’t natural. Something or someone is controlling you.”
She pressed the heels of her hands against her temples, rocking back and forth. “I need you. Please, just accept me, and this will pass. I must...I need...”
Her knees buckled, and Torrin swept her up into his arms. He carried her into the bedroom and placed her on the bed.
Arrista wept, blinded by pain and tortured by rejection. “All I wanted was to serve you. Why is that so bad?”
He said nothing, and she no longer sensed him nearby, so she forced her eyes open. He stood a short distance away, fastening up his uniform pants. A buzzer sounded, and he called out, “Visitor approved.”
Too upset to face another stranger, Arrista rolled onto her side and tightly closed her eyes.
* * *
TORRIN MOTIONED KAGE into the bedroom, tense and uncertain. “My readings are erratic, but I’m not sure what’s wrong with her. She’s barely coherent and utterly obsessed with ‘serving’ someone.”
“Do we need a medic?” The overlord moved into the room but didn’t approach the bed.
“This is metaphysical. I don’t think a doctor could help.”
Kage nodded and turned toward the female lying on the bed. Arrista had curled into the fetal position, and her hair completely covered her face. She was muttering under her breath as she rocked back and forth. Torrin knew Kage had mystic powers, but they’d spoken more about his abilities than the overlord’s. Kage knelt beside the bed rather than sitting on its edge. Extending his hand, he ran it from her head to feet, then back to head, never actually touching her.
“Oh yeah, there’s a powerful compulsion driving her behavior. I don’t sense a psychic tether, so I don’t think she’s being used as a spy.”
“Can you neutralize the compulsion?” It felt wrong to step aside and allow someone else to tend his female. He should be able to meet every need of his—his what? Arrista didn’t belong to him. She might hate him once the compulsion was destroyed. He had no way of knowing how much it controlled her personality.
Kage grew still and silent, hands hovering over her body, eyes tightly closed.
Arrista cried out, rolling to her back, head tossing wildly. “Stop,” she yelled. “You must not—” Her shrill scream interrupted the objection, and she arched nearly off the bed.
“Steady.” Kage took her face between his hands and pressed his forehead to hers. “Release.” The steely command in his deep voice sent a chill down Torrin’s spine. “Let go!”
Another scream escaped Arrista, and her entire body began to shake. “No. Please, stop. I will not survive if you...” She went limp, and her pleading ended in a shuddering sigh.
Kage jerked back, then forward with a deep sigh. “It’s gone.” He wilted, resting on his heels as he lowered his arms. “Whoever implanted that compulsion is incredibly powerful.”
“Arrista faithfully served Isolaund for years. Is there any doubt who did this to her?” Bitter anger propelled the words from his mouth with more vehemence than he’d intended. If he ever encountered that bitch again, his face would be the last thing she ever saw.
“Isolaund benefited from the compulsion, but that doesn’t guarantee she was the one who created it. She is rich and influential. She could have commissioned the spell. We’ve seen evidence that she possesses basic telepathy, but nothing else.”
Torrin just nodded. Either way Isolaund was responsible, which meant she would pay for harming his—there he went again. His mind was determined to stake his claim on the lovely elf. He’d been attracted to her from the start, but this crisis left him feeling possessive and intensely protective.
Arrista lay still as death, sprawled on her back. “Is she all right?” Torrin asked the overlord.
“This reaction isn’t unusual. Let her sleep, but don’t let her wake up alone. She’ll likely be confused and frightened. Someone should be here to explain what happened.”
“I won’t leave her side.”
Pushing back to his feet, Kage looked deep into Torrin’s eyes. “Do you sense the pull with her? Is she your mate?”
What was the point in denying it? He’d known the first moment he saw her. Something inside him opened up and flooded his senses with life. He’d wanted her ever since. “She is.”
Kage looked back at her and sighed. “I know I’ve encouraged you to explore the attraction, but this changes my attitude. You need to determine if her reaction to you was the result of the compulsion before you begin a serious courtship.”
Torrin barely kept himself from rolling his eyes. “Give me some credit. I’m not a mindless animal. She is my potential mate. I have never encountered one before, and I’ve been searching for years. I won’t do anything to harm her in any way.”
Accepting Torrin’s assurance with a nod, Kage moved toward the door. “Update me in the morning. I’d still like to interview her, eventually.”
Torrin moved to the bed and sat without bothering to reply, so Kage saw himself out.
Unable to resist his need to touch her, Torrin brushed her hair back from her face. She moaned softly and followed the warmth of his fingers. Her deep blue lashes fluttered, and then she opened her eyes.
“What did he do to me?” she whispered. “I feel so strange.” He tried to remove his hand, afraid he was upsetting her. She caught his wrist and pulled his hand back to her face. “Don’t let go.” Tears escaped the corners of her eyes as she whispered the plea. “You are the only thing holding me together right now.”
He crawled onto the bed beside her and pulled her into his arms. “I’m right here, love. I’ve got you.”
Her next sound was a ragged sob. She wrapped her arm around his back and entwined their legs, slender body trembling. He pulled her even closer, ignoring his body’s immediately reaction to her nearness. She needed comfort, and only comfort. Anything more was unthinkable.
She cried for a long time, clinging to him as her tears dampened his skin. He stroked her hair and back, unsure what else he could do for her.
“I had served her for nearly a season cycle when she enslaved my mind,” Arrista finally broke the silence without lifting her head from his shoulder.
“Then it was Isolaund who created the compulsion?”
She nodded, her soft hair swishing against his shoulder and arm. “I served her willingly. Why did she take away my freedom?”
He curved his fingers beneath her chin and gently tilted her head back so he could see her face. She was so lovely, it made his chest ache just looking at her. “Did your tasks change after she anchored the compulsion?”
She gazed past him for a moment, likely searching her memory. Then her eyes widened. “She allowed me to accompany her into the world above. I had never been beyond the underground before.”
“Apparently, she was afraid of what you’d discover up here, so she made you her slave.”
She blinked furiously, stubbornly keeping a fresh rush of tears at bay. “Now that it’s gone, I can feel how limiting it was. But while it was still in place, I would have argued with my dying breath that I served her by choice.” She shuddered. “It’s so twisted. Most slaves can see and feel their chains. She didn’t even allow me that much dignity.”
Her lips trembled. She looked so lost, so miserable. Acting on instinct, he leaned down and kissed her tenderly, caressing her lips with his. “You’re free now. Free of all of them,” he spoke softly, easing away just a little.
Her hands suddenly tangled in his hair, and she pulled him back down. Her mouth sealed over his, and her tongue traced the seam between his lips. He tensed, hesitating. He wanted nothing more than to kiss her, to unleash his need and lose himself in her sweetness, but now was not the time. She needed to determine what she really wanted.
“Kiss me,” she whispered, her lips moving against his. “Really kiss me. Please.”
Desire flooded his system, demolishing his good intentions and urging him on. It was a kiss, just a kiss. He tilted his head and slanted his mouth over hers, providing a better angle. His tongue was in her mouth before he could decide how far to take this. Her hands stroked him boldly, taking full advantage of his shirtless state.
Suddenly, she pushed him over onto his back and climbed astride his hips. He groaned as the heat of her sex settled over his aching cock. This was insane! He was supposed to be soothing her, comforting her.
I need this more.
Her assurance was so in keeping with his raging desire that it took a moment for him to realize their mouths had never separated. How long have you been able to hear my thoughts? Transmitter nanites amplified his natural telepathy. Without them he was only able to communicate with blood relatives, and none had survived the war with Bilarri.
The compulsion also bound most of my abilities. She wanted to— Pushing off his chest, Arrista sat up. “The last thing I want to think about right now is Isolaund.” Then to accent her point, she tore her shirt off over her head and smiled. “I am finally free to do whatever I want, and I want to be with you. Do you have any objections?”
He searched her gaze and analyzed his ocular readouts, but all he saw was rebellion and desire. She was no longer bound by the compulsion. Was it really so surprising that she wanted to act out? “It would be wiser to wait until you’re less—”
“You keep saying I can do whatever I want, that no one will force anything on me. So don’t force me to be alone tonight.” She rubbed against him, and challenge filled her gaze. “I’m pretty sure you want this too.”
He sat up and framed her face with his hands. “I want you more than anything, Arrista. But not like this. Not to spite Isolaund. When we share pleasure, I want you focused entirely on us and the future we’ll build together.”
She covered her face with her hands and released another harsh sob. “I hate her! I hate them all. I need to destroy something. I want to feel something other than fury!”
“Hit me.”
Lowering her hands, she shook her head. “I do not want to hit you. I want to hit her.”
“I’m all you’ve got right now, so hit me.”
She swung and lightly punched his shoulder.
He challenged her with a look. “My bones are reinforced with magnalium alloy. You can’t hurt me. Now hit me!”
Her little fists struck his chest and shoulders, the determination in her features making him chuckle. “You’ll have to do better than that.” She growled low in her throat, then let loose with a flurry of surprisingly hard punches. He made no move to stop her and desperately tried to keep his gaze on her flushed face. Clearly, she’d forgotten she was naked and straddling his lap. Each blow jostled her breasts and rocked her lower body against his. Gods, how he needed to be inside her.
He anchored his gaze on her eyes, watching the gradual play of emotions so evident in her delicate features. Fury gave way to pain, then regret and abject misery. Her lips trembled, and tears filled her eyes. She took his hand and guided it to her breast.
“Touch me, please,” she cried. “I ache so badly.”
Knowing any rejection at this point would shatter her, he pressed his other hand to the side of her face and kissed her deeply. Their mouths pressed and slid, exploring until they found the perfect position. Then he eased his tongue into her mouth and let her taste flow through his system. Warm and sweet, she tasted like spiced honey. She responded without hesitation, rubbing her tongue against his and pressing her breasts against his chest.
He slowly drew his hand downward, sliding along her silken belly and easing his fingers between her thighs. Her crease was damp, folds slick and incredibly soft. He wanted to lay her back across the bed and explore her with his mouth, but it was doubtful he’d be able to stop once he tasted her. And he was still determined to wait until this crisis passed before courting her.
She rocked up onto her knees, giving him more room between their bodies. The invitation was clear, and he didn’t hesitate. Slowly pushing two fingers into her hot, wet core, he found her clit with his thumb and began to circle.
“Oh gods,” she moaned as her head dropped back. Her eyes closed, and she rocked her hips, eagerly riding his hand.
He watched her face, mesmerized by her beauty. The iridescent quality in her skin rose to the surface, shimmering and changing as she arched and wiggled. Her nipples darkened to sapphire blue and tightened, begging for his attention. He bent and caught one between his lips, sucking firmly while he continued to fill her with his fingers. She gasped and shuddered, her inner walls pulsing as her hips rocked more forcefully.
“That’s right, love.” He kissed his way up her neck, then said firmly, “Come for me.”
She cried out sharply, and her core convulsed in rippling waves. He rubbed her clit, keeping the sensations pulsing as long as possible. She collapsed against him, so he eased his fingers out of her slick core. If he pushed his cock into her right now, she’d welcome him. But he wanted their first full body joining to be special, untainted by either of their pasts.
Wrapping her arms around him, she pressed her face against the bend of his neck. Each time she inhaled, her soft breasts rubbed against his chest and her breath teased his skin with each exhale. “The Niffal are not created to serve,” she whispered as her mind began to clear. “We are manipulated and abused, left with no other choice.”
“I know, love.” There was much he could say, much he had been trying to explain since her rescue, but a lecture was the last thing she needed right now. Instead, he stroked her hair and fought for control of his wayward body. “She can’t hurt you anymore. You’ve seen who she really is.”
Arrista straightened, and her gaze locked with his. “This wasn’t fair to you. Would you like me to...” She licked her lips as her gaze shifted in the general direction of his aching cock.
He groaned but shook his head. “I’d like that more than you can imagine, just not right now. We vanquished your past tonight, and you need to rest. Your new life, a free life, begins tomorrow.”