Afterward, they lay in each other’s arms.
“I never knew it could be like that,” Apolly said, snuggling into him, her fingers tracing designs on his healed chest.
“Neither did I,” he said.
Apolly pulled back to look up at him, disbelief in her eyes.
Kade’s face heated for the first time in his life. “It’s true.”
“I would say I find that hard to believe, but I know you’re telling the truth.” Apolly smiled.
Kade felt as if the light and heat from one of the universe’s many suns, something no Andrican could tolerate, was shining upon his soul.
“Who was that woman earlier, with the wolf?” Apolly asked.
Kade didn’t know what to think of his sister and what she’d told him. “She’s my sister, her name is Indris and she’s always been a handful.”
“Well, she’s very beautiful,” Apolly said.
“Not as beautiful as you,” Kade said, running his fingers over her soft skin.
Apolly ducked her head, but Kade could feel his words both embarrassed and pleased her.
“You are very beautiful as well. Are all Andricans good looking?”
“A lot are,” Kade answered.
Apolly leaned up and kissed him, then stretched.
Kade felt himself growing hard again.
“I feel so good, like I could run a marathon.” Then Apolly sat up. “Crapolie, what time is it? I need to get back to my sister.” She looked around his room. “I need my clothes Kade.”
Though he too felt amazing, and wanted nothing more than to stay in bed and explore every inch of Apolly’s body, the mention of her sister had him up and dressing. His hunters should have checked in.
He called Belsuma first. “Can you bring Apolly her clothing?”
“You were a little busy, so I left them outside your door,” Bel said, and Kade could hear the smile in her voice.
Kade collected the bundle and handed it to the woman he had just spent the best moment of his life with. A woman he knew he’d not be able to let go.
As Apolly dressed, Kade contacted his crew on Earth.
All but Viper and Mayara checked in. Kade threw up a shield as he glanced at Apolly, not wanting to worry her. “Mayara, check in.”
He tried his surely warrior next. “Viper?”
Nothing.
“Kellan, how long since you saw your brother?” Kade asked.
“I left him two hours ago after we cleaned up the mess at the school,” Kellan said. “Why?”
“He’s not responding,” Kade said.
“I’m on it. Let you know when I find him,” Kellan said.
“Charro, Antoli, Rossa, any of you hear from Mayara?” Kade asked.
None had.
Apolly stood at his shoulder, and despite his best effort, worry vibrated through her. Kade gave his hunters her address. “Go see what’s happening. I’ll be back down with you in just a bit.” Kade glanced at Apolly and noted the determination in her eyes to go with him. “There’s a young woman at the address who is scared of men, so use caution.”
“Will do,” Rossa said and the others agreed.
Kade internally swore, not liking that two of his hunters were out of touch.
“I’m coming with you,” Apolly said.
“Remember what I said about craving blood, it’s not a good idea. It’s too soon. You’re newly turned and won’t be able to turn off the craving. I’ll go and let you know what’s happening.”
Apolly moved in front of him and shook her head. “You are not leaving me up here.”
“Apolly, you’ll be a liability down there,” he said.
Her jaw firmed. “It’s my sister down there in danger because of me. If it was your sister would you sit back and let others go?”
Kade knew he wouldn’t. “Fine, but you stick close to me so I can help if you get the urge to taste someone.”
Apolly’s eyes widened, but she nodded. “I will.”
This time Kade took a two-seater down to Earth. Kade found a secluded spot in a park close to where Apolly lived and landed, activating the ship’s cloaking system.
“Aren’t you worried someone will find this?” Apolly asked after they climbed out.
“Not really,” Kade said and activated the cloaking system.
“Oh, that’s kind of cool,” Apolly said.
Kade tried Mayara again and Viper to no avail.
Then he tried Kellan. “Anything?”
“No,” came the too serious reply.
Rossa buzzed him. “Cap, it’s not looking good here. Door is busted open and we found blood.”
Shite! “Come on,” Kade said to Apolly, but needn’t have bothered.
He put on a burst of speed to catch up to her.
“I’m really fast now,” Apolly said beside him.
“I think you’ll find there are many things you can do now that you couldn’t before,” he said as they arrived at her home within seconds.
The sight of Kade’s hunters gave Apolly a moment’s pause, then she was inside the house, shouting for her sister. Silence met her call.
Kade ignored the stares of surprise from his crew and followed her inside. Her small home looked like a whirlwind had swept through it. Apolly raced down a hallway, calling for her sister.
Kade inhaled the different smells. The two Weren who’d escaped them earlier in the night had been here, along with another four Weren, one of which seemed faintly familiar. Though why that would be, Kade had no idea. But there arose another scent over it all. Blood, and not of the rich human variety either.
This was Andrican.
“Where is she?” Apolly returned, face pale. “Where’s my sister?”
Kade wanted to pull her close and offer comfort, but from the anger vibrating within her, he didn’t think she’d appreciate it at the moment. “We’ll find them, I promise.”
Rossa walked in and glanced at Apolly briefly before addressing Kade. “Mayara’s hurt.” He held up a broken comm unit. “Charro found this.”
“Goalendamn,” Kade swore. “We need to find them now.”
“Antoli and Charro are tracking the Weren as we speak,” Rossa informed him.
Kade looked at Apolly. “Ready to go hunting?”
Without a word she walked back outside.
A block away they found the imprint of what looked like a fight. The scent of Weren was strong, leading Kade to believe Mayara had taken at least one out. But from the scuff marks and blood on the ground it was obvious Kade’s main pilot, and possibly Apolly’s sister, were both hurt.
“Blood,” Apolly said, fangs lowered. “Ali’s hurt. Wait. I can smell my sister. How is it I know this is my sister from the smell of her blood?” She moaned and drew in a deep breath, then let it out. “And you’re right, it’s so sweet.” She wrinkled her nose in disgust, and Kade knew through their connection it was at her sudden craving.
Antoli’s voice came through Kade’s comm. “Cap, we found Mayara and the girl.”
“Where?” Kade asked.
“At the shuttle.” Antoli hesitated.
Charro piped up. “There’s more …”
“What?” Kade asked.
“I think you need to get over here fast Cap.” Antoli gave him the coordinates of where Mayara had hidden the space craft.
Kade looked at Apolly. “Your sister’s with Mayara at the shuttle.”
Kade contacted Kellan next. “Anything on your brother yet?”
“No.”
Kade gave him directions to the shuttle. “Meet us there.”
They raced through a copse of trees and pulled up short.
A group of fifteen Weren faced the shuttle, Charro and Antoli.