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Planet Maloid
The Caverns of Dooirin
12254 Years, 10th Month
The roughly hewn rock walls did nothing to cool the air. This far down, in the bowels of Maloid, the air was fecund and stale. He adjusted his sense of smell, lowering its sensitivity. The purifiers didn’t penetrate this level, which meant not much foot traffic disturbed the workings of the sorority of assassins. Their renowned skills had never tempted Malo when the cost of a single night would be far-reaching. Not to mention, the standing wager. He’d known about it. His king expected him to know every secret.
Malo strode along the passages carved through the rock, ignoring the dripping walls and thick heat. He had one goal and could barely catch his breath as excitement coursed through him. All his information had led him here, Argaxx, the imperial city of Maloid, home to Queen Alllero. Sometimes they could port down, depending on the severity of the planet’s continual storms. Today wasn’t one of those times. The kuta’s slow descent had been unbearable. All worth it if Caro was near.
He strolled into the vast cavern and onto the stepped terrace, halting alongside Imarri who observed her students with a keen eye.
“You are training them better, I see,” he said, though the urge to grab her by the throat and pin her to the wall barraged him.
She glanced at him but said nothing at his unexpected presence, at his intrusion on her most-hallowed ground. In silence, they observed two students battle with katacs. They wore the uniforms of recruits—loose pants, tunics, and headscarves in greens and browns.
“Law of escalation. We must keep ahead of other species.”
“That one has grace and efficiency. It is hard to learn one without sacrificing the other,” Malo said as if he had a right to. When her brow twitched, he grinned. He was too jubilant to care. Caro was near. That was all that mattered to him.
“She is a new recruit. I have trained her for a few weeks. Although, she forced me to return her to staves yesterday. She injured another when she tested blades. I fear she may have a bloodthirsty streak. Her adaptability has surprised me. I do not wish to see her leave.” There was true sorrow in Imarri’s voice.
He grunted. It wasn’t unheard of for a teacher to become attached to a recruit. Yet only after a weeks? Absurd. Imarri must be softening. “She is leaving? Are you releasing her with the training incomplete?”
“I must. You have come to collect her, have you not?” At Imarri’s smirk, Malo’s head spun to study the female in question.
Caro? Nothing of this female seemed familiar with her face and body hidden. Her movements weren’t of his timid thamani either.
He scowled. “You mock me, Imarri. Please do not encourage my need for retribution. You will not like the results.” His tone had lowered, now lethal and dripping with menace. He didn’t appreciate her toying with him, not after what she’d put him through.
“Caro,” Imarri called out.
His gaze settled on the sparring pair. A female finished off her opponent with a sweep of the stave, before tossing it to the floor. Her head lifted, and she stilled. Ripping off her headscarf to reveal her joy amid falling tears, Caro bolted toward him.
He wasn’t aware he’d moved, that he met her halfway until she filled his arms.
“You found me,” she whispered, her breath fanning his neck, her arms tightening around him. She pinned him to her, her strength improved. Beneath the loose clothing of the Kayarra, she was thinner too but as soft as he remembered. And she scented the same. He sucked her scent in, filling his lungs to their maximum capacity.
“Caro,” he ground out, unable to form other words. Her light imbued his soul, vanquishing the darkness, and easing the overpowering Ethera. Leaning back and with trembling fingers, he brushed hair from her face.
He kissed her. Sipped at the nectar of her lips. Reverence, longing, joy, he revealed in his gentle touch. He crushed her against his body, drinking, drowning in her taste, relearning the crevices of her mouth he’d doubted the memory of.
“I am pleased to have found you, thamani. I have died these past weeks. Are you well? How is your wound? Maker, I have missed you.” He finished with another hug, not wanting her to leave his embrace.
“This is a little overdramatic, do you not think?” Imarri snapped, drawing the attention of the other recruits.
He glanced at her, his grip tightening around Caro’s waist, not wanting her to stray too far from him. “Is Caro a Kayarra?” He despised Imarri’s smug expression.
Imarri stiffened and peered at him, her brow furrowing. “Yes.”
“Good, then give her the reward.” He feathered his lips across Caro’s temple, longing to do more than hold her.
“What do you mean?” Imarri scowled.
“I’ve joined with her.” He grinned when Imarri jerked back, her eyes widening. Few things caught her by surprise, he was certain.
She studied him, then Caro. “I do not believe you.”
“Etterians do not lie. Many times have I joined with my Caro and with more to come.” He rested his gaze on Caro’s upturned face. “As I expect with my Dar Eth.”
“Your what?” Imarri squeaked. She gaped, then clamped her mouth shut. Her pale-yellow skin darkened as she peered into his eyes. “I...I apologize, Malo. I did not know.”
Her regret meant nothing. The female was dishonorable, and for that alone, he had no mercy. “And had you known?”
“I would not have taken her. I know how your males seek their life force.” She pressed her palm to his forearm, silently pleading with him to forgive her. “I have always respected you, but when you declined my offer, I became angry. I planned to inconvenience you by taking your toy. I did not—”
“It shouldn’t matter if I’m his Dar Eth,” Caro ground out. Her anger rippled through her tense body and vibrated along the arm he’d wrapped around her waist. He pulled her closer. “You don’t go around kidnapping people. It’s rude and arrogant and...and selfish.”
“My Caro is correct. I should claim your life for this. Instead, I went to a higher power. Alllero would like to see you, and do not delay, she is not a patient female.”
“You commed my queen?” Imarri’s skin darkened to umber. He didn’t care. Her fury meant nothing to him.
“Of course. The moment you took my life force, I sacrificed every ally I had. I commed you, Imarri, granting you one chance to save yourself.” He shook his head. “I kept Queen Alllero abreast of the situation. She is most displeased with you. Should you not be aware of this, your uncle is off-world and cannot assist you.”
Imarri raised a hand to cup his cheek, hesitated, then lowered it. “Malo...”
He flicked a wrist, silencing her. “Pay my Dar Eth, Imarri. I wish to leave this sodden hell hole.”
When she snatched Caro’s wrist, he growled. She gentled her touch and swiped her forearm over Caro’s wrist. Flickering holographic letters confirmed the transfer.
He smiled. His Caro having an O.D.I. saved him from insisting she have one implanted. With a muffled sigh, he rubbed that familiar ache in his chest.
But Imarri didn’t release Caro, instead, she laced her fingers with hers. “If you ever need anything, tewaa, I will be there for you.”
Caro arched a brow, one he longed to trace with a fingertip. “I need you to release Veor.”
Imarri frowned. “How did you—?”
“Release him.” Caro stiffened her shoulders.
“Caro?” Malo tilted her head to caress her jawline. “Who is Veor?”
She spun into his arms, layering her body along the front of his. Heat exploded outward. “She has an Etterian male trapped down here, Malo, and they take turns...hurting him.”
It took a moment for Malo to understand. Blinding fury blazed through him. He curled his fingers into fists then relaxed, not wanting to harm his Dar Eth even by accident.
“Imarri,” he roared, facing the Maloidian. She trembled under his glower. “Bring him now, or I will end you where you stand.”
She gestured to her females to do so. Two scurried off, returning a few minutes later with an emaciated Etterian male. Malo hadn’t wanted to believe it possible. That she would dare to imprison one of his own... He back-handed Imarri, his fury demanding he do more. Uncaring that she lay sprawled on the rock floor, green blood dribbling down her chin, he punched on his O.D.I. and called for his males.
“I found him the night I arrived.” Caro smiled at the male.
“As I said, Caro, your Eth will come for you.” Veor thumped his chest. “Operations Commander.”
“Answers must wait,” Malo grunted.
His males burst in. He tasked them to search the tunnels and to bring what they found. Within minutes, a small gathering of prisoners crowded the center. Kayarra shuffled toward the rear of the cavern, fear darkening their yellow faces. A single prisoner stood out—a pale-faced Maloidian female.
“Veor?” She took a hesitant step, then halted, flicking a gaze at the Kayarra then Imarri.
“I am well, Teela. Come.” Veor gestured, and she hurried across to him.
“Teela.” Imarri clambered to her feet, holding out a hand as if to halt the young female
She paused, ran her gaze over Imarri, then settled beside Veor. The way he gathered her close revealed far more.
Curious but aware now wasn’t the time, Malo faced his males. “Gather them all. The prisoners are to be returned to their homes. And should the Kayarra resist, kill them.”
His well-trained males acknowledged his command with a chest thump. The capture was swift with a few females wounded in the process, those too stubborn to realize they’d brought this upon themselves.
Ronin appeared at Imarri’s side and nudged his chin at the passage.
“What do you intend to do, Malo?” Gone was her smirk.
“Fuyra,” he answered out of respect for what she’d once been. Her Kayarra gasped, and scuffles broke out again, subdued by his males with ease. “I will comm Alllero when we return to my battleship. Perhaps she would prefer to mete out justice.”
“Fuyra?” Caro gazed at him.
“A small moon where we mine rock.” He brushed a curl off her cheek. “Is there anyone you wish to spare?” He swept out his arm to the Kayarra.
When she scanned them, her eyes narrowed on a single female. “No.”
“Tewaa?” Imarri stretched out a hand then lowered it. She gave Caro a stiff nod and marched down the passage. Ronin trailed her.
Malo had one kuta, but they’d need many more. His hungry gaze traveled over Caro’s face and braided hair to linger on her exposed neck. “Are you ready to leave, thamani?”
She scanned the cavern, slid her hand free, and hurried to collect the katac she’d thrown down. While she hurried to him, she called out, “Mine.”
With her hand in his, he pulled her behind him, taking the passages he had but within the hour navigated. He meandered along them like he’d been born there, having memorized the routes to ensure they’d escape unharmed. When they reached the platform, he commanded Afax to power up and take them to Alllero.
He took his time strapping his Dar Eth into her seat. Doing so brought him a peace he couldn’t describe, as if such a task conveyed the depth of his emotions. Ronin guarded a somewhat subdued Imarri. Veor whispered soothing words to Teela as he too secured her to a seat.
Malo traced a finger along Caro’s cheek. “We must spend a few moments with Queen Alllero.”
Caro smiled and caught his hand to kiss his knuckles. “Protocol.”
He flipped his fingers and caught hers, pinning their clasped hands to his thigh when he settled beside her.
The shuttle shot up, passed foragers, broke into the lightning-intense sky, and across rocky caverns.
“It’s pretty.” Caro leaned around him to stare at the forevids.
So close to him, he caught the delicate fragrance of her skin, the pale perske hue in her cheeks, the flutter of her dark eyelashes. He wanted to spew that she was far prettier than a planet but bit his tongue. They were not alone, and any compliment he gave her should be for her ears alone.
“We will not tarry,” he said.
She met his gaze, and her eyes darkened. “Good.”
Plummeting down another crevice, this one as wide as it was deep, saved Malo from doing something stupid, like kissing her again. His chest constricted. His hearts thumped, in and out of synchronicity.
When the shuttle touched down and the door opened, royal guards lined the perimeter. “My queen will see you now.” An emissary in a silk tunic reaching his knees, tight leggings, and useless slippers gestured to a well-lit tunnel lined with artifacts, artwork, and strange objects.
Caro gasped as he ushered her along the straight yet long tunnel to a small cavern. Sitting areas in a kaleidoscope of colors peppered the space. The rich aromas of various foods greeted him. To the side was a common room with overladen tables and auto-servos bearing trays.
Silence descended. Groups of familiar and unknown species watched as he followed the emissary to the massive gilded doors. They opened as they neared. Ferusi-green marble floor met pillars reaching levels high to a ceiling mimicking the star-filled skies over Argaxx. Warmth glowed from wall-mounted lights. A five-feet diameter chandelier hung over Alllero’s throne, no doubt made from gold. Cushions softened the three-seater stone throne. And in the middle sat Alllero, frail and petite.
On the display vid, she’d appeared as vibrant as he remembered.
“My queen,” he thumped his chest while refusing to release Caro’s hand.
She dipped into a half-bow. Princess Oriana had done the same. Malo considered it an odd gesture when meeting royalty.
Alllero pushed off her seat and waddled over to clasp Caro’s hand. Glancing at Malo, she smiled. “This is Caro? She is beautiful. What species are you?”
“Human, your majesty, from the planet Earth.”
“Majesty?” Alllero giggled. “I do like that. Deeezo, my address will so.”
“As you wish, your majesty.” The emissary tapped his O.D.I.
“I cannot reveal how Imarri has angered me.” Alllero grimaced. “I am to maintain my calm due to...health reasons. What do you wish to do, Malo?”
“Stealing my Dar Eth and an Etterian male is grounds for war.” Malo sighed. “King Xeus has fought so hard for peace. This cannot be the trigger. I refuse to allow Imarri to be successful if that was her agenda.”
“Fuyra?” Alllero rubbed her temple. “I watched it unfold, Malo. I am most displeased.”
He gathered Caro closer. “Yes to Fuyra. Imarri’s length of stay is for you to decide.”
“I shall comm Xeus.” Alllero turned to her throne but wavered. Malo lunged for her but halted when Deeezo caught her by the elbow. “Thank you for bringing your Dar Eth to meet me, Malo. As per usual, Etterians remain honorable.”
Dismissed, he trailed another emissary to the shuttle, climbed in, and strapped Caro in again.
“She’s ill?” Caro captured his hand when he sat beside her.
“Older than we know, I suspect.” He offered a smile. “Now we go home.”
He tapped commands on his O.D.I. while the shuttle headed for the Kevol. Ronin was to take a few older warriors and escort the Kayarra to Fuyra. Then Malo leaned back, draped an arm around Caro, and counted down the seconds until he could have her alone.
As soon as they broke through Maloid’s atmosphere, Afax ported them to Malo’s quarters. For that, he would earn another commendation.
Malo glided the katac out of Caro’s hand and leaned it against the bulkhead. Then he spun and pinned her to the same bulkhead, claiming her mouth with a desperation that couldn’t be silenced. He ravaged her, attempting to meld with her, unite their souls, to cease the endless torment. Emotions swelled and engulfed him. He needed her with him, near him, touching him. He ached to hear her voice, inhale her scent, have her bless him with smiles.
He broke the kiss to rest his temple on hers. “Do not leave me again, Caro. I cannot survive it.”
“It wasn’t by choice, Malo,” she muttered then moaned when he cupped her breast through her garments.
“Within weeks, you have decimated my foundation, my understanding of who I am as an Etterian warrior. With my skillsets, I could not prevent you from being harmed.”
Her shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry.”
“No, ensa, you misunderstand. I am not angry with you. There was nothing you could do, there was nothing I could do, but yet you were hurt under my protection.”
“But you found me, Malo. I knew you would.” She stroked his cheek. “I missed you,” she whispered.
He groaned and ripped her uniform off, tossing the fragments to the floor for the auto-servos to clear away. “What has she done to you?” He studied Caro’s body, running his hands over familiar and unfamiliar curves. Her soft stomach had definition, along with her thighs. Her hips were still there, and he grabbed those, like long-lost blood-bonds.
“Nothing pizza and chocolate ice-cream can’t fix,” Caro said, a smile teasing her lips.
“Are you hungry, thamani?” His need to care for her overwrote the urge to be buried in her. If he was patient, he could do both, appeasing the Ethera and his sense of honor.
“Hungry for you.” She tapped his chest, releasing his armor.
Shrugging it off, he let it fall to the floor. He shuddered when she touched him, traced the ridges and dips, and brushed over his taut nipples in the process. She fluttered her fingers up his chest, caressing his neck, to slip in his hair behind his ears.
“How about you take me fast then slow?” She raised her heated gaze to his.
Maker, I adore her.
“Caro.” With one destination in mind, he swung her over his shoulder and placed a caressing hand on her bare backside.
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