A Warrior’s Claiming

The Instinct

Marie Harte

A WARRIOR’S CLAIMING

It’s time to claim her mates…

Raia is on the hunt, and she never misses a target. No matter how big he–they–might be.

Arghet doesn’t know what to make of the new addition to the clan. Skehl is huge, an indomitable warrior with a berserker’s power. Once part of a hated enemy clan, he’s watched carefully.

Somehow Arghet finds himself having to look after the beast. Arghet’s a Vyctore warrior. He has more important things to do than care for a troubled male. He’s doing his best to track down the strange female who stole his kill not long ago. Oddly, she bears the same skin markings as Skehl, a dark tribal marker on her left cheek.

But when he finally finds her, Arghet learns he’s no longer the hunter, but the hunted. And that Skehl is much more than the quiet, subdued warrior he once seemed…

The Instinct
A CIVILIZED MATING

A BARBARIAN BONDING

A WARRIOR’S CLAIMING

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and plot points stem from the writer’s imagination. They are fictitious and not to be interpreted as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locations or organizations is entirely coincidental.

A Warrior’s Claiming

Copyright © June 2017

No Box Books

Cover by EDH Graphics

All Rights Are Reserved.  None of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without express written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations used for reviews or promotion. 

http://marieharte.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

About the Author

Other Science Fiction & Fantasy Romance Releases

A CIVILIZED MATING Excerpt

A BARBARIAN BONDING Excerpt

BEASTS OF BURDEN Excerpt

Chapter One

Planet Ussed, 4th Quadrant
Universal Year 3655, Earth Year 2437

ARGHET CROUCHED BY the crushed leaves of a small kelkel shrub and sniffed the bruised stem.

Faint but there, the scent of his prey continued to tease, never settling in any one place. The female continued to evade him. She hadn’t yet encroached on clan territory, but she skirted near enough. Her scent had trailed from the offworlder resort, where he’d first encountered her, across the border into barbarian lands along Vyctore clan lines.

In the weeks he’d spent tracking her, he’d get close, then her trail would disappear. Annoyed, Arghet rose to his full height and decided to return to the village. He had responsibilities, but even his alpha agreed the female owed Arghet recompense for stealing his kill. Such a thing wasn’t done with impunity, not in the East. They were not uncivilized offworlders to boldly take another’s conquest. Barbarians had respect for one another. And those who could not abide by tradition met punishment, even death.

He smiled, recalling the grand battle that had wiped out their enemy not long ago. The Nasuhl, an honorless clan of warriors who thought nothing of raping and pillaging, had been disbanded. The Vyctore had delivered the remaining Nasuhl, mostly women and children, to the tribe, where the now clanless members had then been parceled out to any of the other hundred clans the Cloud Tribe ruled.

Yet…

Arghet’s smile left him. Though they’d killed nearly all the Nasuhl warriors, Skehl, that giant bastard, had somehow impressed their alpha, and now Skehl had become a part of the clan. Despite the others accepting Skehl’s presence, Arghet kept an eye on the hardened warrior.

Something about the male bothered him. It wasn’t that Skehl stood as tall as their largest warrior—half a head bigger than Arghet. Or that the women seemed to love him because they thought him gentle—and how was being quiet the same as being kind? Or that the male had annihilated many of his old clan. Taken them apart with his bare hands. No, the quiet warrior seemed to be hiding something. Arghet could feel it.

Though Skehl didn’t say much, he obeyed the alpha without question. But Arghet didn’t trust him. He wouldn’t make the same mistake many of the others had already begun to make, turning their back on a former enemy. With that in mind, he left his pursuit of the female behind and headed back home.

A day later, he found the village bustling with activity. The Vyctore talked about nothing but the upcoming tribal competition, packing wares for trade and praising those selected to accompany their alpha to the Cloud Games, a festival of strength held every other year, where the Cloud Tribe’s warriors would compete for victory. Challenges of power, skill, and accuracy pitted clan against clan for a shot at prestige and glory.

They’d emerged victorious at the last games, and Arghet was honored to be among those chosen to represent the Vyctore once more. He passed by many a warrior, all of them clad in the xechelln pelts which protected them from offworlder tech, the hide both soft yet durable and impervious to phasers. Like Arghet, the warriors were mostly dark-haired and tanned. The skin markers on their chest and arms flashed according to emotional response, like on the warriors grappling by the water barrels. And there, on the couple discreetly pairing in a thicket by the weapon hut. The female knelt between the warrior’s feet as she pleasured him, and Arghet grinned, seeing Vyctore life at its finest.

In the center of the bustling village stood Talzec, his alpha, and the fiercest, largest warrior they had. A male filled with integrity, fairness, and a generosity of spirit who kept his clan healthy and lush with riches. Now mated to his beta, Xav, and a human female with battle power, the triad strengthened the Vyctore considerably.

Talzec saw him and waved him over.

After discussing the upcoming games, their security measures, and Arghet’s latest failure to find his prey, Talzec let slip a worrisome notion.

Skehl would accompany them to the games.

“Your warrior will compete in the strength test this year. Time I let someone else take my place,” Talzec said with a wry smile. “I’m sure I’ll be busy keeping my female out of trouble.”

That had a ring of truth. Skye was the only female warrior in the Cloud Tribe that Arghet knew of. He still didn’t think her warring nature suited the clan, but he deferred to his alpha and beta. Both mates acknowledged Skye’s skills without question.

Then what Talzec said penetrated.

“Since when is Skehl my warrior?” Arghet asked.

Talzec shrugged. “He seems most comfortable with you and Lore. But with Mandy breeding, Lore and Zehn will remain here, in the village.”

Arghet swore. Lore and Zehn were two powerful warriors he’d liked to have taken to represent the clan. But Skehl… “What am I to do with him?” They both turned to see Skehl sitting on a stump by one of the females. He held a skein of maffet leaf wool while she manipulated it into some form of garment. “He does little unless asked. He barely speaks. And when he does, it’s usually in one word answers. The only thing he’s good for is training, and that’s only when he feels like it.” Or when Arghet tasked him to battle. Skehl had a tendency to ignore the other warriors, which didn’t put him in their good stead.

Then there was the matter of the male’s facial marker, what Skye called a tattoo. It was much like the one sported by the female who’d stolen Arghet’s kill.

The treacherous female refused to leave his mind’s eye. Long black hair, purple eyes, and full lips complemented a face many would consider beautiful. Hell, he considered her striking. That she’d moved liked a warrior and wielded a blade had both captivated and angered him. She’d moved with grace and skill, then stolen his victory. Yet for all her barbarian airs, she hadn’t worn a loincloth or breast sash. She’d had on offworlder gear—black trousers and a black shirt and boots.

The marker under her left eye had blazed red while she’d stared at him, the same way Skehl’s had a tendency to glow when the big bastard watched Arghet.

It meant something. He knew it. But he was hesitant to mention it to Talzec, and he didn’t understand his reticence.

“Help our new clanmate, Arghet. Skehl was raised as part of the Nasuhl clan, though he’s clearly not Nasuhl-born. His life cannot have been an easy one.” Talzec knew that of which he spoke. His first mate had been Nasuhl, an abused female who should have been treasured by her alpha—her own brother. Instead, he’d tried to mate with her, then killed her.

Talzec had avenged her in a brutally efficient way, finally destroying the entire enemy clan.

Arghet respected his alpha, comfortable to serve a leader with so much power. Phelthar—the energy that connected a warrior to the life all around him, to the planet itself, was strong in Talzec. There could be no mistaking the Maker’s pleasure with such a great leader.

Because of this, Arghet would handle his misgivings about Skehl and the female. And he’d watch the giant closely.

At that moment, Skehl shifted his attention to Arghet and simply stared.

You do anything to harm my clan, and I’ll take your head from your neck, then carve you into pieces.

The marker on Skehl’s face glowed red. He gave no sign of interest before looking back at the maffet wool in his hands.

“Yes,” Talzec murmured, looking from Skehl to Arghet. “I think you’re exactly the warrior I need to keep our newest clanmate in line.”

***

Skehl had spent the better part of his short, worthless life under the harsh regime of the Nasuhl. A barbarian of little worth, the only thing he’d had in his favor, so he’d been told time and time again, was his massive build and immense strength. That he chose to exercise temperance and adherence to a strange moral fiber absent in his clanmates made him the lowest of the low. His attitude also explained the many scars on his body, remnants of the discipline he’d been sorely needing. Beatings hardened a warrior. Fear taught respect, conditioned adherence to hierarchy. Obeisance.

The Nasuhl believed in harsh discipline. Females were nothing more than whores or breeders to service the alpha and his interior guard before being passed along to the rest of the clan. Those not in the interior guard trained with diligence, so as not to be excised from the camp. The men raided and hunted. They did not farm, barter, or ask for anything. They took what they wanted. As they’d taken Skehl during his fifth year, adding to their numbers.

He had vague memories of his first people, of trying to return to them. But there were harsh penalties for those who refused to assimilate. He wanted to think he’d tried to resist, but Skehl knew they hadn’t had to work very hard to break him down. Before long, he’d joined them in their raids. For even at a young age, Skehl had enjoyed fighting. He was weak in every area of his life but one—battle.

Numb to most pleasures life had to afford, he only felt excitement during a fight, defeating an opponent. Causing pain. He’d never known softness in any form, at least, not with the Nasuhl. Since he hadn’t earned the right to procreate, he’d never been allowed near the females, who might have shown him another way. But he’d been confined to training and warring, with no room in his life for anything more.

Those things made sense. All this…

Five days after they’d set out for the Cloud Games, the jungle teemed with warriors from a hundred different clans among the tribe. Barbarians ruled the habitable regions of the planet, minus a small section in the west that the offworlders had claimed, a vacationing resort that had all manner of visiting alien lifeforms.

Because of an old treaty, the East and West held to their sides of the border. The barbarians provided security and refused to harm the offworlders, and the offworlders left the rest of the planet alone.

Many of the Vyctore clan had provided services to the offworlder resort. The Nasuhl had always refused, wanting nothing to do with foreigners, not when they had clans to conquer, women to rape, and enemy to kill—and they considered everyone not Nasuhl their enemy.

Skehl had never liked the Nasuhl or felt a part of the clan. He’d rebelled in his quiet way by not doing anything he couldn’t stomach. He killed those he felt deserving of death, but never the innocent. Something the Nasuhl alpha had never understood.

“By the Hells of Fyanthul, move your ass.” The familiar growl eased something inside him, because with it came a sense of security. “The tribal games are getting ready to start. I don’t want to miss the opening ceremony.” Around them, more Vyctore warriors gathered close, eager to watch and participate in the competition. “I said move.” A shove from behind had his feet heading in the direction he’d been told to go.

Skehl walked slowly, testing, waiting. Yet no one speared him. No one took away his food or refused him water if he didn’t move fast enough. No one in his new, very strange clan mocked him, choked him, beat him, or forced him to live in the pit amidst the refuse.

Arghet, a stern, able warrior many in the clan looked to for leadership, guided him toward the edge of the crowd, from where they could see their alpha. Talzec, a giant of a warrior, stood with his mate and many other alphas, yet he seemed to overshadow them all. Near them, on an upraised dais, the Cloud’s elders, three wise men who ruled the tribe, sat between two shaman, one representing each Father Sun.

In the middle of the wild rainforest, a wide open field had been cleared to fit all those in attendance, yet the openness of it all made Skehl anxious. He’d lived most of his life in the underground caves with the Nasuhl. And with the Vyctore clan, he lived in a village bordered on one side by a lake and on the others by dense jungle. This open space made no sense from a strategic viewpoint.

His head ached, and he longed for the quiet dark under a canopy of maffet trees, or even the hut he’d been given back in the village with its small, enclosed space.

Then Arghet’s arm brushed his, and his tension dissolved. He took a subtle step closer to the warrior, heard him sigh, and pressed close anyway.

Arghet didn’t shy from the contact, but he didn’t encourage it either. “See that? Our alpha is better than all of them.” Pride laced his words. “Even his mate is fierce. A worthy female, even if she is an offworlder.”

Skehl didn’t know what to make of Skye of Earth, or rather, Skye of the Vyctore. She’d mated the alpha and beta, forming a powerful ruling triad. She had ties to the land and her mates, could move things with her mind, and felt like a true barbarian. She made her mates stronger, and her tie to the planet could be sensed by one and all.

But still, a female warrior? He glanced at Arghet and saw the same confusion underlying his pride. Females should be treasured, for they alone had been chosen by the Maker to carry a barbarian’s young. A warrior protected his mate, provided for her, and sheltered her. And the female cared for him.

Not that he’d seen any of that with the Nasuhl, but the Vyctore and most other Cloud clans believed in such.

A few other female mates stood interspersed with their clans, while many barbarian maids had been provided for the men’s entertainment. Though Skehl didn’t care one way or the other about pleasures of the flesh, he knew his clanmates enjoyed sex. He wondered if Arghet did. Oddly, he’d never seen or heard the male engage with a female, and the men of the Vyctore were not shy about taking surcease when needed. In public or private didn’t matter when a warrior needed ease.

“Yes, our alpha is the best,” Efhel, another of the Vyctore, dragged Skehl’s attention back to Talzec.

The others around them nodded as well. A dozen warriors in all, the Vyctore had sent their very best to showcase their skills.

One shaman raised his hands, and the gathering grew               quiet.

Overhead, the binary suns shone brightly. A cool breeze whispered of sweet-sylk vines and honeyed red-stems. The lavender- and blue-layered sky, spotted with clouds, blanketed their tropical forest and gave home to the colorful ondi birds gliding on warm winds.

Skehl felt himself relaxing despite being surrounded by so many enemy. No, not the enemy any longer. The Vyctore didn’t war with many outside the Nasuhl, and since that clan no longer existed, Skehl needed to learn to relax.

“Brothers, sisters,” the shaman spoke, his voice deep, commanding. “Welcome to the Cloud Games. Father Sun Krahl welcomes you.”

The crowd nodded their heads in respect.

The other shaman raised his hands. “And Father Sun Zehyl welcomes you.”

As one, the three rulers stood and clasped hands, and the tallest said, “Safety and peace to you all. At the Games, we allow no discord but for the competition. By the Maker, we shall feast and fight and enjoy the blessings of Ussed!”

A rousing cheer went up, the cacophony of sound both disturbing and welcoming. The numbness keeping Skehl apart from his brethren retreated as phelthar wound through his flesh and bones, tying him to the planet, to his clan, and more closely, to Arghet brushed up against him.

After a moment, the tide of belonging faded, and he sensed Arghet put a breath of space between them.

Ignoring the strange sense of loss, Skehl glanced around, noting the similarities and differences between the many clans. Skehl had no problem seeing past the heads in front of him as he looked around at the barbarians standing with them in the open field. Though most wore the traditional loincloth and boots, the females garbed in thin shifts or a loincloth and breast sash, many clans wore dyes on their bodies and faces, feathers or animal hides of adornment, and in some cases, piercings and ornamental scarring.

Not the Vyctore, though. They wore only their loincloths, boots, and arm-bracers. Nothing special. Skehl looked the same. Though taller than most except for a handful of males, Skehl blended in. Or so he liked to think.

Similar to Arghet and the others, he had skin tanned from the sun, skin-colored tribal markings on his chest and arms, long, black hair, and plenty of muscle and scars from a life lived for war. Unlike the Earthers and a few barbarians with obvious offworlder ancestry, he and his kind possessed white eyes with a golden center, no hints of other color or black at their focus.

But differentiating him from many, Skehl had been born with a dark tribal marker on his left cheek, one that sometimes turned a dark black or red, he’d been told. Skehl didn’t know when the color changed, but he’d often sensed some indefinable emotion and felt the mark heat in response.

“You paying attention?” Arghet said in a low voice as one of the elders continued to talk.

Skehl leaned down to hear better. Though Arghet was tall, Skehl stood a good head taller. So close, he caught Arghet’s scent, a robust, masculine essence that made Skehl feel…strange. He pulled his head back and stared straight ahead, not trusting himself to look at his companion.

“We have tonight to bed down and relax. Tomorrow morning starts the competition.”

Skehl said nothing.

“I need to ‘relax,’” Efhel said in a low voice. “I’m all knotted up.”

Tattan, a fellow warrior, laughed quietly. “Yes, I am as well. I think we should definitely find a few females to help us relax before the coming competitions.”

Nearby warriors from different clans, having overheard them, nodded in agreement.

“What about you, Arghet?” Tattan asked. “You feeling ‘knotted up’ too?”

“I’m keeping my head clear for the scitia match.” The scitia—a slender blade Arghet was famous for wielding. 

“I don’t care about keeping my head clear,” a warrior from another clan added. “As long as my cock is no longer so stiff, my sword arm will be ready.”

The elder finished his speech, and more lurid comments from those around them had the group laughing. Even Arghet cracked a smile.

When Talzec and Skye joined them, the Vyctore moved as one to an unoccupied area by a small lagoon. Talzec nodded. “This is where we shall stay.”

The others began depositing the many sacks of goods they’d brought for trade and gift-giving. Among the clans, the giving and accepting of gifts, apparently, was welcomed at such a large event. It also showed everyone what clans had worth bargaining for.

A large male, his hair in braids and threaded through with colorful feathers, approached with a smile. “Ah, the Vyctore.” To Skehl’s eyes, that smile read false. The dozen warriors with the stranger stood tall and strong. One of them, a male almost too pretty to be a warrior, shot Arghet a sharp look.

“Fehlen.” Talzec took the male by the forearm and gripped him tight. “How fares the Chamra clan?”

Fehlen glanced from Talzec to his group, lingering on Skye before focusing again on Talzec. “Not as well as the Vyctore. Hear tell you have a female warrior as one of your mates, and you defeated the hated Nasuhl. Elder Ihlar was singing your praises.”

Arghet returned the sharp gaze directed his way, his expression flat, yet Skehl felt him ready to move at a moment’s notice.

Not liking the attention the Chamra alpha had given Skye, Skehl took a step forward at the same time Arghet did, protecting her sides while Talzec stood front of her.

Skye sighed and muttered something under her breath, but blocked from view by the larger men, she would need to physically push them aside to see anything.

The pretty male continued to stare at Arghet. “Arghet of the Vyctore. It’s been a while.” The barbarian was more slender than most and stood slightly taller than Arghet. His gaze remained intent, bordering on rude.

“Yes.” Arghet said nothing else.

Skehl didn’t like the stranger. He glared at the threat, not caring for the Chamra clan. The others didn’t seem to like them either, for they too stood ready to battle.

“Ah, Elder Ihlar. A good man.” Talzec continued to hold Fehlen’s arm, his smile wide, as if nothing was amiss.

Skehl didn’t notice either male putting undue pressure on the other, but Fehlen broke out into a sweat. He tugged his arm once, and Talzec released him.

Fehlen cleared his throat. “We shall see you on the field tomorrow.”

“We look forward to it.”

The Chamra warriors departed.

Talzec gave Arghet and Skehl an approving nod.

Something hit Skehl in the back, and then he felt himself shoved aside by…the wind?

“Hey. I’m right here, you know.” Skye glared at everyone before centering her ire on her mate. “What the hell was that about?” Her golden hair and brown eyes with a black center looked so different from what Skehl was accustomed to. He did his best not to stare, but she intrigued him with her alien appearance. Skye had more height and more muscle than typical barbarian females.

He could well believe her a warrior, even if she did baffle many in their clan. The women and men seemed to like her, especially because she completed Talzec and Xaveht’s bonding. But many couldn’t understand her need or want to battle.

Arghet regarded the woman with a faint smile. Skehl knew Arghet found her amusing. Arghet liked her, but he didn’t know what to do with her. Skehl did what came naturally. He’d protect her until his dying breath. Skye was female and mate to his alpha; he could do nothing else. But when he tried to step closer, the wind kept him back.

“Skye, stop.” Talzec chuckled. “Poor Skehl. My mate is a power, is she not?”

Skehl realized Skye had been pushing him with her mind and blinked in surprised. “Yes, alpha. She is.”

Skye smiled. “Good. Now that we’ve determined I’m not some helpless lamb, what’s going on with the Chamra clan?”

Arghet frowned. “What’s a lamb?”

“The Chamra clan?” Skye said again, louder.

Talzec answered, “They have always been leaders in the tribe. But when I took over, we replaced them in favor. Apparently they haven’t accepted their place yet. But we’ll make sure they do, won’t we, warriors?”

The others shouted their encouragement. Skehl thought he should have done so, but he remained cautious around the others, afraid to say or do the wrong thing. Still not trusting of the clan who seemed too good to be true.

The group broke up, many in search of food and entertainment. Arghet tugged him away from their space, then nodded back at their alpha.

Talzec and Skye embraced, and Skehl thought they intended to have sex.

As he and Arghet walked away, Arghet warned him to not get into trouble. “Stay here while I fetch us some flehik to eat. Don’t kill anyone.”

Arghet left, and Skehl stuck to the shadows of the trees, comfortable with the fullness of life in the jungle. A faint moan reached him, then the panting and grunting sounds he’d heard all too many times in his old clan. But what he saw when he moved closer surprised him.

Chapter Two

ARGHET DIDN’T KNOW why he felt protective around the big bastard when he knew Skehl could protect himself, but something about the giant seemed vulnerable. He couldn’t figure it out, but Skehl felt almost…innocent.

Thinking such absurdity irritated him, and he wondered if the male did that on purpose, made others underestimate him before he destroyed them.

When they’d stood shoulder to shoulder in the clearing, phelthar had surged between them. It had been especially strong. Arghet felt the male to his toes, and to his shock, his body had responded. Lust for a male when Arghet had never wanted more than one female to bond with. It didn’t make sense.

Though Talzec and many others had taken to male pairings to satisfy their sexual needs, Arghet kept his tamped down. He fucked a female or two and always left them pleasured, but lately sex felt lacking. His body released, but his mind and soul remained apart. So now he abstained.

Perhaps too long if his body considered Skehl a potential partner.

With a grunt of annoyance, he fetched two large hunks of crisp flehik and returned in search of Skehl. What he found shocked him.

Skehl seemed fascinated by a trio fucking against a tree. The female sucked one cock, and while she worked him, another took her from behind. The threesome didn’t mind their audience, as Arghet noticed several other warriors watching, many of whom soon took enjoyment in each other.

“You would join them?” Arghet asked his new clanmate, nodding to several warriors beginning to engage in sex.

Skehl shook his head, and Arghet saw that Skehl wasn’t aroused. Arghet wasn’t either, his mind on tomorrow’s bout, and oddly, of the frustrating female he had yet to capture.

He and Skehl walked away, taking a moment apart from the others by moving deeper into the jungle. With so many barbarians in the vicinity, it wasn’t easy to find space apart. But Arghet had come to the last set of games, and he knew a few areas not heavily trafficked.

Some distance deeper into the jungle he found a flat slab of raised rock surrounded by red-stems that not only smelled lovely but provided some semblance of privacy. He and Skehl settled on the rock and ate. Arghet shared the water skins he’d brought, foregoing the ale many others had been consuming.

Though the festive air encouraged one and all to let loose and mingle, Arghet didn’t trust so easily. Though they all were part of the Cloud Tribe, not everyone subscribed to the ideals of brotherhood. Just look at the Nasuhl.

“Why do you not have others suck your cock?”

Arghet choked on the bit of meat he’d been swallowing. When he could catch his breath, he stared at Skehl, who remained expressionless. “What?”

“The others pair often, but you never do.”

“You don’t either.”

“I don’t feel the need. Not usually.” Skehl frowned. “In my old clan, there was much screaming, blood, and beating involved with sex. It didn’t seem worth the price for release.”

Arghet considered what the big male was telling him. “Skehl, have you ever been with a woman?” He paused. “Or a man? I know the Nasuhl didn’t believe men should have sex with each other, but they must have. You didn’t have many females in your clan.”

Skehl shrugged. “Everything pleasurable with the Nasuhl had to be hidden. The alphas didn’t want us happy. They wanted us mean, hungry.” Skehl paused. “I did what I was told. In my way.”

“What way is that?” Arghet asked quietly. He couldn’t always get Skehl to talk to him, so he didn’t want to ruin anything now. Perhaps he could learn what it was about the giant that bothered him.

Skehl looked into his eyes, and the marker on his cheek began to glow. “I do what is right. And only what is right. Nothing else.”

Passive resistance. Who would have guessed the berserker had it in him?

Arghet found himself impressed despite his reservations. “You’re a lot smarter than others give you credit for, aren’t you?”

Skehl stared at his face, his gaze intense.

“Skehl?”

“Fucking. What does it feel like?”

Arghet blinked, trying to keep up with Skehl’s thoughts. “Ah, well, it’s good. Very good. The heat around you builds. Pressure between your legs, then it’s gone when you release your seed.” Arghet had a strange thought. “You do know about a male’s seed, don’t you?”

Skehl shook his head.

Arghet’s cheeks heated. He felt awkward having such a conversation. Typically the older males instructed the younger ones in the ways of sexual desire upon a male’s first awakening into manhood. But Arghet wasn’t always good with words.

“So, yes. Okay.” He drew in a breath and let it out. “When a warrior is aroused, when he desires a partner for pairing—for sex—his cock fills. Thickens.”

Skehl shifted so that he sat with his legs crossed. Then he shocked Arghet anew by untying his loincloth, so that he sat naked…his cock stiff as a board.

And the thing was huge. A large shaft to fit with Skehl’s large frame.

“I, ah, you feel the urge to pair now?” Kind of obvious, but Arghet was out of his depth.

Skehl’s cheek glowed a bright red, and his golden eyes gleamed with what Arghet might have viewed as hunger. “I feel your energy. It likes mine.”

Arghet had no idea what Skehl was talking about. “Yes, well.” He coughed, determined to ignore Skehl’s arousal. Except his own body responded in kind, his cock impossibly hard, almost to the point of aching. What the five hells…? “When we grow aroused, our member grows slick. It allows for ease of penetration, as we are so much bigger than our females.” He might as well tell Skehl all of it. “Should you choose to pair with a male, it allows ease of penetration there too. Because we do not grow wet inside us as the females do.”

Skehl frowned, glanced down at himself, and gripped his dick. His eyes widened. “That feels good.”

Arghet swallowed a groan. Had Skehl never touched himself before? He refused to ask. “Yes, it does. The pressure on your cock increases your enjoyment, but you must take care not to squeeze too hard, or you’ll hurt yourself.” Seeing Skehl’s nod, he continued, “When that moment of release comes, you can measure what you give. Your first or second seed.”

He watched, dry mouthed, as Skehl began pumping himself, the male’s cock slick with arousal.

Arghet cleared his throat. “Your first seed is that which stays. It is to release the phelthar which builds in us. It eases us, and it will not make a female pregnant. Unlike our second seed, which comes out in abundance, more than our first seed. It is then absorbed into another’s skin and body. It can also be used as a scent marker.”

Skehl met his gaze again, his breath coming faster. Arghet had to admit, watching the male take his pleasure had turned their conversation into a most erotic interlude. His balls ached, and his dick pressed against his loincloth, the tension within frustrating and stimulating as hell.

“To mark with one’s seed?” Skehl panted. “To show ownership?”

“Of a sort,” Arghet answered, his voice hoarse. He shifted on the stone, aching. “The male’s second seed is a power, a gift from the Maker that when shared with a female, will saturate her with seed and get her with child. It’s copious, so releasing second seed into another’s mouth can be a bit much.” But so fucking good. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d released into a female, and he didn’t know why he’d waited so long. “Yet when released onto another’s skin, acts as an odorless marker. Only our kind can detect it.”

The urge to claim the male near him was overwhelming, not to mention startling.

“You want to release.” Skehl nodded at Arghet’s lap, Arghet’s erection evident. “Yet you do not?” Skehl released his hold on himself. “I should stop? This is wrong, my taking release?”

“No. No, you may take your release any way you like. And it’s never wrong with a partner either, so long as your partner is willing.” Arghet wanted to emphasize that, especially to a former member of the Nasuhl. “When it comes to sex, we never take from another what they do not willingly give.”

Skehl cocked his head. “Do you wish for ease?”

Arghet needed to tell Skehl about the instinct, about a male’s need to pleasure his female, to get her with child and share his second seed. But a roaring wave of desire stole his breath. He didn’t understand this driving carnal hunger, and he tried to ignore it.

But Skehl was there, in front of him, removing his loincloth. “You are very big. Nearly as big as I.” Skehl nodded. “I want to feel this again. To know this pleasure. It is… unexpected.” He seemed surprised. “It is good.”

Arghet groaned, and seeing the markings on Skehl’s chest and arms deepen to black, knew he couldn’t leave the male alone.

“You are darker. You want me too,” Skehl said, suddenly more chatty than he’d been since entering the camp. “Yes. I think this is something I should do.”

Before Arghet could ask what Skehl meant, the warrior bent down and took Arghet’s cock in his mouth.

Arghet hissed, in surprise and pleasure, and placed his hands on Skehl’s head to pull him away. But he couldn’t make himself. “Yes,” he moaned, and tugged Skehl by the hair to show him exactly how much to take. “Suck me. Just a little bit of teeth there. Not too much. Stars, yes.”

He neared completion way too soon, his body on fire to mark the male before him. To show everyone where Skehl belonged. Even as Skehl sucked him with enthusiasm, his movements awkward yet sincere, Arghet couldn’t slow down. He wanted to give the innocent male pleasure first, but Skehl’s relentless mouth made that impossible.

“I…release me,” he said, his voice hoarse. “My second seed is coming, Skehl. Please.”

Skehl barely managed to pull away before Arghet was releasing over the male’s throat, his chest. He continued to spend, marking Skehl’s belly, some of his seed running down to coat Skehl’s own cock.

Skehl watched, seeming fascinated, as the seed slowly disappeared, the marker now embedded into Skehl’s flesh.

“You marked me.”

Arghet didn’t know if Skehl was glad or not, but he couldn’t let the male go. Not yet.

“You are still hard?” Skehl asked, glancing in surprise at Arghet’s unflagging erection.

“Yes. As are you.” Arghet smiled. “You have more to learn, Skehl. Lie down.”

Skehl obeyed without question, captivated by the sensations coursing through his body. The foreign heat and pleasure made him want more. Knowing he now belonged to Arghet brought home the fact that his life was now safe, full of mysterious wonder. And he had to experience it all with Arghet.

Arghet maneuvered Skehl to lay flat on the rock, Skehl’s ass at the edge, his legs dangling over so that his feet touched the ground. Arghet moved between his splayed legs, his erection brushing the inner part of Skehl’s thighs. And that contact sent bursts of heat throughout Skehl’s body. Skehl heard himself moan; he couldn’t stop. Ecstasy, as he’d never before felt, consumed him.

Arghet’s markers lit up with black, and a subtle red glow shone from within. Skehl’s influence, he thought with satisfaction. Then he couldn’t think at all when Arghet’s large hand wrapped around him.

“Oh, yes. That’s so good.” He now knew why so many warriors fought to have sex with others. This feeling…indescribable.

Arghet squeezed and pumped him, his touch perfect. Hard but not painful. Then he grazed Skehl’s tight balls, and Skehl cried out as fluid left his body and hit his belly. He came, the cathartic release bringing tears to his eyes. And like Arghet, when he finished spending, he remained erect.

He blinked at the mess that didn’t sink into his skin. “My seed is not leaving.”

Arghet smiled, and the beauty in his expression did something to Skehl’s hardened heart. It raced for this male, and this male alone. “Your first seed. You needed the ease. And you’ll need it again and again.” Arghet’s cock brushed over his, sliding through the seed there, a spark of energy lighting Skehl up again.

“I would enter you, Skehl. This I have not done with a male, but females find it most pleasing. From what I can tell, our males like it too.”

That Arghet hadn’t known another male in this way made it all so much better.

Skehl nodded.

Arghet gripped his upper thighs, and Skehl’s cock pointed straight up, even thicker than it had been before.

“This might feel unpleasant at first,” Arghet warned.

“Do it.” He needed Arghet inside him. Just as he needed…

The foreign intrusion shocked him, because for some reason, Skehl sensed a female presence within. A melding of sensation, of need. Then her voice. Open, warrior. Give me what is my due.

Skehl closed his eyes, trying to listen past the joy spreading through his body. But then Arghet was pushing inside him, and Skehl blinked his eyes open to see Arghet’s markers flashing with color as he slowly penetrated Skehl.

The tight fit brought pain. At first. But as Arghet’s slick cock pushed past Skehl’s virgin tissue, the feeling of belonging settled, and his body adjusted quickly. The desire to feel more overwhelmed him as Arghet took Skehl’s cock in hand.

Arghet thrust until he could push no farther. “Stars, you’re so tight. You feel so good.” He jerked Skehl’s cock, up and down, then started moving in him.

Skehl shook, his body tense as carnal fire burned within. Arghet continued to surge in and out of him, and Skehl yelled as a burst of seed left him, spattering his belly.

“Yes, yes. Come all over.” Arghet panted, his powerful thrusts sliding over a spot inside Skehl that made him blind with desire. The climax—for he knew he’d just experienced his second with this male—didn’t end. He continued to spend as Arghet fucked him.

Arghet brought his hand to his mouth, tasting Skehl, staring into his eyes.

Something snapped in place, locking the two together. Phelthar blinded Skehl to everything, and he could only feel as Arghet slammed into him twice more before stilling. Arghet groaned as he emptied himself, and Skehl felt the male’s seed inside him.

It seemed an eternity before Skehl softened, and Arghet released his hold on Skehl’s cock.

They remained joined, both staring into the face of the other.

“I like this,” Skehl said. “Very much.”

Arghet blinked, then laughed and slid out of him, leaving a mess of seed behind. “Yes, Skehl. I like this as well.” He continued to laugh.

Skehl smiled at Arghet’s joy, an awed sense of similar happiness filling him.

Then Arghet stopped smiling. “Why do you cry?”

Skehl wiped his cheeks, not aware he’d been upset. “I do not know.”

Arghet studied him. “Perhaps you do not. But there is one thing we have not done yet that must be remedied.”

“What?”

Arghet pulled Skehl to a sitting position, then leaned down and kissed him. The firmness of Skehl’s lips softened under the unfamiliar connection.

“Open for me,” Arghet whispered against his mouth.

Skehl obeyed, shocked to find the act as intimate as the one they’d just shared. The kiss felt strange for a moment, and then he returned Arghet’s touch. Kissing him back and allowing the weird feel of Arghet’s tongue stroking his to fire his body back to life.

He pulled away, shocked. “Again?” he asked, aroused anew. A glance at Arghet showed the same.

“I, this…” Arghet swallowed. “This is new to me as well. But I would show you more pleasure if you would have it, Skehl.”

Skehl gave him a slow smile. “Ah, yes. This. Again.” He leaned back and spread his legs wide, wanting to be filled once more. “I am ready.”

“Maker.” Arghet shook his head. “I’m tired, but I have to have you. Again.” Then he pushed against the tender flesh of Skehl’s ass, and their desire returned full force.

From a spot high in the trees some distance from the pair, Raia watched in annoyance as the Vyctore barbarian claimed her spoils. Granted, the pleasure she’d indulged from her psychic tie had shocked her with its potency, but she should have been the one to show her mate the joys of copulation.

She peered through her spy glass, shaken by the sight of the male splendor before her. She’d seen many barbarians since having arrived to partake in the Cloud Games. She blended in with the barbarian maids, having covered up her tribal marker on her cheek with dye and hidden her eye color with false lenses.

She’d intended to take her prize and leave. She hadn’t expected her prize to be stolen by the arrogant male from the resort. She’d saved his life, and how had he thanked her? By stealing her mate and trying to hunt her down! She might have rewarded him with her body had he been properly gracious, but to have the gall to try to capture her? Preposterous.

Yet his beauty swayed her. I am weak. How can I watch the thief of my heart, know he claims what’s mine, yet still desire him? She should just kill him and take what belonged to her. But as she watched his ass flex as he powered into her prize, she couldn’t look away.

Her mate’s joy filled her, and with it, she sensed the barbarian taking him as well. Arghet, she thought, had a vitality unlike so many others she’d met during her lifetime. Powerful, he hadn’t collapsed from the joining with her mate. Nor had he been overwhelmed with Skehl’s physicality. Her mate’s seed should have been too powerful for Arghet, discouraging him from copulating. Yet Arghet put it in his mouth and stimulated her mate to spend over his hands.

She gasped as she experienced their dual orgasms again. So strong, the sensation nearly knocked her out of the tree. But she regained her wits, watched the pair kissing and touching as Arghet cleaned them up. As he cared for her mate.

She should be jealous. Should be enraged he took what was hers. She’d searched for years to find Skehl. Had endured the training forced upon her, the excruciating separation from the planet, all to develop the skills which would let her defeat her enemies and take back what had been wrongfully stolen from her all those years ago.

Only to find the Nasuhl dead and her mate in the arms of a Vyctore warrior.

So why was she smiling at the men hugging below her? Why did she long to join them, to put her marker on Arghet and Skehl?

At the thought, she stilled. Hmm. Perhaps she would take two mates. They already liked each other. They were strong, would make fine young. Yes, she’d take them back with her when she left. Now she just had to figure out how to incapacitate Arghet so that she could bind Skehl to her once more and get the big male to do her bidding. With his help, she’d secure Arghet.

Then she’d teach Arghet who was really in charge of their new family.

Chapter Three

ARGHET DIDN’T KNOW what had happened between him and Skehl, but he could feel the male inside him now. As if he and Skehl had bonded.

Not what he’d had planned for his future.

They passed others who’d clearly been enjoying themselves, and as they made their way back to their own, he wondered that he felt discomfited about what he’d done. He stopped in his tracks, and Skehl nearly knocked him over, following closely behind.

“Go on. I’ll meet you there.”

Skehl studied him, the joyful glow that had earlier been present now gone from his face. Instead, the emotionless giant riddled with scars nodded and moved on, obeying without question.

Arghet scowled. He didn’t want Skehl to behave as he had been. And he sure the hell didn’t want anyone else thinking they could take a bite of the male he’d claimed—had sex with.

Frustrated and confused, he stomped after Skehl and shoved past his companions, not pleased at the many grins and jokes tossed his way.

“Ah, so Arghet’s finally fallen, eh? Found yourself a sweetheart, did you?” Tattan laughed.

Efhel and Drotek slapped him on the back. “Way to go, stud.” Efhel chuckled. “Who knew you liked them so big?”

Thinking to protect Skehl from their teasing, not sure the male would understand they meant nothing mean hearted toward him, Arghet stepped in front of Skehl to potentially stop him from doing anything. “He’s mine. Fuck off.”

The others erupted into laughter.

Skehl only sighed and hugged Arghet from behind. And Arghet felt his spirit drifting closer to the big man at his back, keeping him safe, near. He gently pulled away from his—not mate, lover would do—and nodded for Skehl to find shelter.

Skye wound through the warriors to join him. She nodded to the food everyone had gathered. “You two need to eat. Talzec told me you’re first tomorrow, Skehl. Feats of strength, eh?”

“Yes.” Skehl followed Skye’s directions and began eating. And eating. And eating.

Everyone watched in awe. Arghet had never seen a male eat so much.

“Guess he worked up an appetite.” Talzec slapped Arghet on the shoulder, and the blow nearly had him off his feet. “Nice work, Arghet.” Obviously everyone had scented his marker on Skehl.

What had he been thinking? “I just wanted to protect him, Alpha. Nothing more.”

Talzec drew him away from the others. “That’s why he’s glaring at me for standing so close to you. And why my mate is keeping him in his seat by force.”

Arghet swore under his breath and turned. “Stay there, Skehl. I’ll be right back.” He purposefully walked farther away with Talzec, alarmed to see Skehl still scowling at their alpha. “I’m sorry. I’ll talk to him.”

“No. This is good. Skehl has been living a half-life for too long. His spirit is strong, but the Nasuhl hurt him. He’s a part of us now through you.”

“I don’t—”

“His strength can only help the clan. I like that you’ve connected, Arghet. Though you did not have to do so.”

He felt his face heating, not pleased when Talzec looked on the verge of laughter. “I claimed him for our time at the games. He’s safe. Now let’s talk about our strategy for tomorrow.” He opened his mouth to say something else when that scent hit him. “It’s her.”

Talzec frowned. “Who?”

“The female I’m tracking. She’s here.” He would have gone after her, but Talzec stopped him, holding him back.

“First we play the games. Then you may chase after her. Arghet, we must focus on the competition.” Talzec paused. “We must remain vigilant. The Nasuhl are not the only ones we needed to watch.”

“But there’s no fighting at the Cloud Games.”

“And how often do those with no honor obey the rules?” Talzec raised a brow. “I’m not saying we will need to war. But there are many here who do not share our sense of discipline.”

Arghet thought back to the Chamra clan, and in particular, to Ackhlen, that bastard with a blade he’d bested the last time they’d fought. Ackhlen had always seemed a bit off to Arghet, and he’d noticed the male’s interest that hadn’t waned.

Arghet knew Talzec was right. The Cloud Games proved status, and the tougher the Vyctore were here, the less likely others would attempt clan wars at home. Keeping the peace and making new friendships and alliances helped everyone. Tracking down one wily female would only help him.

He relaxed until Skehl lifted Talzec’s hand from his shoulder. Shit. Arghet had done this, stirred Skehl’s mating instinct because he’d been too undisciplined to stop himself from fucking the innocent male.

“Skehl, it’s okay. Our alpha is just talking to me.”

Skehl crossed his arms over his broad chest and stared at Talzec, straight in the eye.

Talzec stared back, and his eyes began to glow. Not a good thing. “Do you challenge me, Skehl?”

Skehl didn’t look away. “He’s mine.”

Talzec nodded. “Yes. I know.”

“I am his.”

“Yes, but you are both mine. And my will takes precedence.”

Skehl studied him for a moment. He glanced back at Skye, who’d also joined them. She raised a brow but said nothing. The others around them drew closer, watching with interest. Then Skehl looked to Arghet for answers.

Arghet sighed. “We obey, Skehl. He’s our alpha. He looks after us.” As I’ll look after you.

Oh. I understand now. He acknowledges our bond. This belonging to Talzec is good.

Arghet stared at Skehl. Did you just talk to me? In my head?

No answer. He tried again, but Skehl didn’t respond, so he assumed he’d imagined it.

Skehl nodded and bowed to Talzec, leaving himself vulnerable to attack and showing his submission.

Talzec grasped the back of his neck, then let him go. “Now if you two lovers are done posturing, let’s talk about tomorrow.”

The others gave Arghet knowing looks and sly grins. But Skehl seemed immune to the teasing. Instead he stayed close to either Arghet or Skye, protecting her. And putting a visible claim on Arghet.

Arghet wanted to smack himself for his stupidity. In a weak moment of compassion and lust, he’d made a big mistake with the male. One he’d need to rectify after the games.

And after he’d tracked down that blasted female.

***

Raia watched from the sidelines the next day, having fended off several admiring warriors wanting a tussle or two during their downtime. She couldn’t believe how often the barbarians had sex on their minds. Though to be fair, after watching her future mates last night, she’d thought of little else but how well they’d please her in bed.

In the center of the commons, the tribe had established an arena of sorts, where the first of the strength tests would be held. Other portions of the commons had been set up to accommodate other matches, which would be ongoing all day long. But to get everyone’s blood pumping, the beginning contest was a much anticipated one, the betting intense.

The strength competition pitted warrior against warrior, without weapons, in a fight to defeat the other. The first match to take place was between the Vyctore clan, the Cloud’s current champion, and the Kwatahk clan, who were known for having immensely powerful contenders.

Skehl was up against the Kwatahk alpha, she noted with pride.

She’d waited for him for so long, and he didn’t disappoint. Huge, muscular, and riddled with scars, he was a mate to make any female proud. He was also a popular topic of conversation, since several of those present had fought with him while he’d been a member of the Nasuhl. Many disliked him because of his past ties to that treacherous clan, but no one could argue his war skills and ability to win in battle.

They admired his power, and everyone had been waiting to see him battle hand-to-hand.

Pleased to know she had a mate who commanded respect, she eagerly anticipated the match. The men near her shifted, so she had to move to keep Skehl in her sights. She didn’t mean to but found her gaze straying to Arghet. Across the arena from her with his clan, he stood straight and tall, his mien serious and a bit arrogant.

“Do not maim or kill your opponent, Skehl,” he said, loudly enough to be heard by the Kwatahk. “A simple victory will do.”

They didn’t seem to like that, or the laughter from the surrounding clans. The Kwatahk responded by insulting Arghet, Skehl, and the Vyctore, who traded back barbs. Arghet ignored them, his posture that of a man unwilling to speak to those his inferior. She grinned at his conceit; he wore it well.

Boasting, insolence, and bragging were all expected at the games. So long as the warriors contained their fighting to the arenas, the tribal rulers encouraged the competitive spirit.

Plus all that brash talk increased the gambling pot.

Skehl waited for his alpha, a most commanding male, to give a nod before stepping farther into the ring, signaling his readiness to fight. At his alpha’s okay, he joined his equally large opponent.

Skehl wore his loincloth, boots, and arm-bracers. His hair had been braided on either side of his face, accenting his facial marker, which had turned a deep, dark black, the intensity of the color a sign he prepared to do battle.

She stepped around another barbarian who blocked her view.

And made her first mistake.

Arghet noticed her movement among the many she stood with. Subtle though her step had been, it had attracted attention she could have gone without. He stared at her from across the fighting ring, his gaze intense. He looked her over, taking in the breast sash and loincloth, her xechelln boots. She’d worn her hair long, unbound, and had covered her cheek with dye, hiding her facial marker. Even the enhancers that turned her eyes from indigo to a barbarian gold masked her identity. Excellent camouflage for a trained assassin.

He would see nothing but an attractive female, perhaps one he wished to bed later. She tried to ignore him, but no. She could feel it. Somehow the bastard knew it was her.

She glanced back at him, and he gave her a slow, satisfied smile that made her blood boil. Skehl turned to Arghet suddenly, then looked her way. But she’d taken a step behind a large warrior, not wanting to distract him from the fight, and peeked around the warrior to keep an eye on him.

Skehl stared at the male in front of her, then glanced back at Arghet. A slight grin crossed his face before he squared off against his opponent. As if the pair communicated without words. Interesting.

One of the judges gave the order to begin, and the crowd grew silent, the air heavy with anticipation.

The alpha paired against Skehl had thick muscles, perhaps larger than Skehl’s. The male feinted left then attacked straight on. Skehl didn’t fall for the maneuver and met the alpha with a crack of flesh against flesh. The giants grappled with each other, matching brute strength as the crowd went wild.

They held fast, trying to take the other off his feet. They parted, punched and kicked, then came back together. Feet fought for purchase as they tried to knock the other off balance with kicks that would have done in a lesser warrior.

They seemed evenly matched, which was a huge compliment to Skehl, who should be nowhere near an alpha in power or prestige.

“Quit playing,” Arghet yelled.

Impatient mate, she heard Skehl send to Arghet through their shared connection. She didn’t think Skehl was aware of her presence inside him yet, but she felt Arghet’s clear surprise. Not many barbarians could share a mind-bond along with the mating bond. Even phelthar couldn’t connect souls who had not the power of such a union.

But Raia had offworlder blood, as evidenced by her decidedly odd eye color. Not barbarian gold but a deep purple. And she and Skehl were special. She remembered being told them often before traitors had sold her to offworlder thieves. And she’d been joined with Skehl as a child in some way, though the bond had been severed easily enough once she’d been taken from the planet. Too easily it connected them again, as if she’d never left. A sign that she and Skehl were mates.

She still didn’t know where Arghet fit into their connection. By all rights, he should not be able to join with a bonded pair, let alone form a mind-bond.             

Skehl managed to take his opponent off his feet and toss the huge warrior to the ground. An incredible feat of strength. Everyone grew silent, then they exploded in cheer. Bets continued to flow as Talzec, a male Raia considered a problem she’d need to deal with at a later time, laughed with his female applauded Skehl with pride.

Raia had studied Skehl’s new people for some time. She liked what she knew of them, but her mate belonged with her. That the Vyctore had a female warrior gave her hope that perhaps not all the eastern barbarians were such a backward people. With the exception of the Vyctore, she’d only heard of a few clans that which were matriarchal in nature, and they belonged to the Water tribe.

Drawn back to the battle by Skehl’s battle snarl, she watched as he took a hit to the face and soon got caught up in a hold that had to be cracking ribs. The Kwatahk alpha screamed challenge as he lifted Skehl off his feet, binding his arms to his sides.

A truly impressive battle between near equals, with the fight now going in the other direction. She felt her own blood stir, the need to wade in and engage next to her mate.

Skehl smashed his head into the alpha’s face, breaking the alpha’s nose. Blood spurted, yet the Kwatahk didn’t loosen his grip.

So Skehl loosened it for him. With a burst of strength, Skehl freed his arms, his muscles straining. He continued to fight in silence while the Kwatahk alpha bellowed with rage as he struggled to once more contain Skehl.

Between one heartbeat and the next, Skehl maneuvered the alpha before him, caught in a chokehold. The markers on Skehl’s entire body pulsed black to gold and back, while the alpha’s started fading.

Shouts and screams of victory echoed, the crowd thoroughly entertained.

She clapped and cheered as well. Honorably won, mate. You are very worthy.

He dropped the unconscious alpha to the ground and glanced in her direction, though he wouldn’t be able see her, since Raia remained hidden by the males in front of her.

You are the one Arghet seeks, he sent her, and his energy entwined with hers, soothing her frayed nerves. How odd that he’d exposed vulnerabilities she’d as of yet been unaware.

I am the one seeking you, she corrected. And Arghet, if he proves to be of value to me.

You are female.

Yes. She sensed his confusion, felt her own amusement. You wish that I was male?

No. But I do not like that I cannot see you, woman. Come and you shall be protected. A blessed female should not be without defense.

She didn’t answer and let the crowd swallow her as she made her way back into the jungle, away from the competition. Gratified that for all his time away from his kind, Skehl still had that ultimate need to protect those he considered weaker, she let his insult to her pride go. He no doubt though her like a typical barbarian female. He wouldn’t know she could protect herself.

And that like him, she’d been raised by animals, taught to end life at the direction of a madman.

***

Skehl accepted congratulations as he rejoined Arghet while looking over the crowd, trying to sense the female claiming to be his mate. His other mate, he thought, and glanced at Arghet.

“Good fight.” Arghet didn’t say more, but Skehl felt his approval, and it warmed him. Truth be told, he’d liked grappling with the Kwatahk alpha. He hadn’t needed to kill, and he hadn’t wanted to wound the male. But the exertion had eased him nearly as well as his orgasms from the previous evening.

At the thought, he wondered if he could convince Arghet to pull more seed from his cock. He liked Arghet’s hands almost as much as the male’s hot mouth.

“Not now,” Arghet murmured. “Later.” He stepped away, answering some question Talzec had.

Skehl wondered if Arghet had read his mind or simply noticed his cockstand, which Skehl wished away. It wasn’t difficult. Apart from Arghet, Skehl’s drive to pair waned. He wondered what it might feel like to have sex with a female. Would her flesh be as hot? Her scent and taste excite me, the way Arghet had?

A few maids gave him looks he recognized as carnal. But he didn’t want them. He did wonder about the female who thought him her mate. She spoke in his mind, which wasn’t at all common. But he didn’t sense her, not the way he sensed Arghet.

Since their pairing, he could feel the male inside him, not a remembrance of their sexual congress, but the essence of Arghet lingered. The man’s spirit remained a part of Skehl, sanctified by the Maker, no doubt. For how else could a man of such low worth find himself a mate like Arghet?

“Well fought, Skehl.” Talzec slapped him on the back. Unlike most others, Skehl didn’t react except to grunt. “We should challenge each other at home. I think you might just give me the workout I need.”

Next to him, Skye snorted. “Like Xav and I can’t give you what you need.”

Talzec smiled. “Ah, little mate. Don’t be jealous. What you and Xav give me sates every need but one. And I have no wish to pound you into the sands of our training ring. Xav, however…”

She laughed. “Okay. I’m not jealous.” She glanced at Skehl and grinned. “Well, maybe of Skehl’s endurance. That fight was awesome. I’m impressed.”

Skehl flushed, not used to praise.

“As am I.” Talzec nodded. “I knew you were strong, Skehl. But even I could not have thrown Memhet so well.”

Memhet must have been the alpha. As if speaking his name had summoned him, the large alpha joined them. He stared at Skehl, saw that Skehl did not look away, and frowned.

“Forgive my warrior, Memhet. Skehl is not used to our civilized ways.” Talzec glared at Skehl, who obediently glanced down. He heard Skye’s low laughter and hoped he would not be in trouble. “He was raised by the Nasuhl and is relearning what it means to be a Cloud warrior.”

“Ah. No offense taken.” Memhet held out a hand, and Skehl assumed he would be allowed to look at the Kwatahk alpha as he took it. To his relief, he found Memhet smiling. “Excellent fight, Skehl. You must be the strongest warrior in the tribe. It was my honor.”

Skehl bowed his head, not comfortable with the admiration. His old clan leaders had used trickery at times to take him off balance. A word or two of praise, then they’d beat him for thinking himself above his station. Talzec and Arghet he knew. They were not deceitful. But he didn’t know Memhet, and he didn’t want to do anything to disgrace his alpha.

He bowed lower. “It was my honor, Alpha Kwatahk. You are a most worthy warrior, Maker ordained.” He chanced a glance up when Memhet removed his hand and patted him on the shoulder.

“Such a gracious victor. You have a winner here, Talzec.”

Arghet reappeared, frowning at Memhet’s hand on Skehl. He said nothing, but he didn’t seem to relax until Memhet stepped back. Then he nodded with respect. “Alpha, your skills were most impressive. Thank you for allowing us a chance to watch you spar.”

Memhet laughed. “You have such charming warriors, Talzec. Mine tend to grunt, break limbs, or stab with a sword before they’ll smile. Yours are full of pretty compliments.” He leered at Skye, though his gaze was more teasing than serious. “And pretty females. Hello, beautiful. So you’re Talzec’s mate, eh?”

Talzec rolled his eyes behind Memhet and didn’t seem alarmed or threatened, so Skehl let Arghet draw him a short distance away.

“You are unharmed?” Arghet asked, his voice low, as he studied Skehl for injury.

“Yes.” Skehl wasn’t used to being worried over. “Thank you.”

Arghet grunted. “Good. Let’s watch the next battle.”

They watched several of the strength competitions taking place in the many smaller arenas all over the commons. To Skehl’s surprise, he found them as much fun to observe as to engage. When asked, he competed in a few rounds against winners of the other bouts.

To no one’s surprise, he won them all.

At the day’s end, he obeyed a direct order to present himself in the arena, expecting one final challenge of the elders’ choice.

“Cloud champion Skehl of Vyctore, we would see your skills against the female warrior, Skye of Vyctore,” Elder Ohgren said, a twinkle in his eye.

Skehl glanced at his alpha, sure the elder was mistaken. But Talzec nodded. Skehl would never hurt a female, and certainly not his alpha’s mate. A warrior did not falter during a challenge, so trying not to do his best was not an option. What in the great skies of Ussed was he to do? Disobey an elder? Disobey his alpha, or possibly harm a precious female?

Panicked at any option, he stood like a stone, frozen with indecision.

Then Talzec took his choice from him.

Chapter Four

TALZEC WALKED NEXT to Skehl and said in a loud voice, “Elders, warriors, I know this is unusual, but I would have my mate demonstrate for you why we consider her a warrior. And there is no better fighter for her to go up against than Skehl.”

Those who’d grown restless in the crowd settled down. The alpha ordered his warriors to compete, and so they must, no matter that a female did not belong amidst weapons and violence. Skye joined them in the middle of the arena looking eager, and Arghet wondered what his alpha was up to. Skehl would not want to fight his alpha’s mate.

Arghet felt Skehl’s worry deep inside. His mate’s markers flashed with anxiety and fear, a fact not lost on the crowd.

Talzec appeared not to notice.

“Skehl, come. Attack Skye.”

Skehl didn’t look happy about it, but he had sparred with other warriors before. He would no doubt do his best not to hurt her.

Talzec nodded. “Fight to first blood.”

First blood? Arghet noticed the others not meeting his gaze. He whipped his head to Talzec, thinking his alpha must be joking. But he remained firm.

Skehl stared, shocked. “No.”

Everyone grew quiet. No one disobeyed his alpha, and certainly not in public.

Skye bit her lip. “Talzec, maybe you should—”

Talzec held up a hand, and Skye quieted. “Skehl, I gave you an order.”

“To attack a female,” Skehl growled. “To draw her precious lifeblood.”

Arghet started forward, but his fellow warriors intercepted him.

Drotek whispered, “This must happen. Wait for it.”

“What?”

“It’s for Skehl’s own good,” Efhel said. “Be at ease, Arghet. Our alpha cares for all under his command.”

Arghet trusted in his alpha, but he couldn’t help his concern for Skehl, who didn’t realize Talzec would never treat him poorly, as the Nasuhl had. He reached out to Skehl, not sure how he did so. He felt their energy touch and link, and the furious apprehension in his mate unnerved him. Obey, Skehl. It will be all right. Talzec would never—

No. I will not harm his mate. I will never hurt those who are innocent. Not a female.

Arghet tried once more to move, but the warriors closed in on him, four of them caging him like a prisoner.

Talzec walked into Skehl’s personal space and shoved the warrior back. “I gave you an order.”

Skehl stared at Talzec, not speaking, and didn’t move.

Talzec punched him, a blow that would have winded another male yet only made Skehl stagger back before righting himself. Their alpha lifted a hand, as if to slap Skehl across the face. A slap from Talzec was no small thing. The contact had taken many a warrior off his feet.

Skehl stared back, implacable.

“You will not obey? Before all these warriors? Before your clan?” Talzec growled, “In front of your elders?”

Arghet could see the sweat beading on Skehl’s face. He felt the male’s confused anger and nervousness.

And determination.

“No.”

Talzec stepped back, his expression difficult to read. He turned to the elders, giving Skehl his back, as if not at all concerned that Skehl might rebel with physical force. “You see? My warrior is not Nasuhl, and I doubt he ever truly was. He is strong of body and spirit. He would never harm a female or an innocent. It is not in him to do so.”

Sighs of relief filtered in from those in the crowd.

The elders sitting watch over the procession talked in low voices to each other, then turned back to Talzec and nodded. Elder Ohgren said, “Very well. We approve of Skehl of Vyctore. Now, let us see your female spar. We have heard she can best actual warriors. Do we have any volunteers from the clans?”

Many hands shot up, and Skye remained, looking excited, while the elders selected the warriors with which she would fight. One from the Chamra clan, a Mitcahl, a Vasnahl… Arghet looked away, his concern for Skehl.

Talzec walked a stiff Skehl out of the arena. “You are an honorable warrior. You do us proud.” He drew Skehl in for a swift hug, then rejoined a group of alphas watching Skye, a small human female, dance around able-bodied warriors with ease, keeping them back and kicking their asses.

Arghet ripped himself from his clansmen and dragged Skehl away amidst many congratulations from those around them. It was as if all the animosity and guardedness that had faced Skehl since their arrival had never been. And Arghet realized what Talzec had done and why.

“Come.” He took Skehl back to the place where they’d come together the day before. Damn if he didn’t recognize the scent of his female prey over the sweet smell of red-stems. Excitement at the notion he’d soon have her, and Skehl, gave him the mother of all hard-ons.

Once apart from the others, he faced his pair-bond. “Skehl, you know why Talzec ordered you to attack Skye.”

Skehl frowned.

“He wanted to prove to everyone that you are not Nasuhl. That no matter what clan you once came from, you are truly Vyctore. None of us would ever attack Skye. Even at home in the village, we train with her only under Talzec or Xav’s watch, and never to first blood.”

Skehl seemed to relax. “This was a test?”

“Yes. A test to show you belong with us, and that you are not Nasuhl.”

“Never Nasuhl.” Skehl shook his head, his expression no longer bruised.

“No.” Arghet had told himself to remain distant, to stop giving Skehl mixed signals about his intentions. Though a hardened warrior, much about Skehl remained innocent, susceptible.

Yet his very frailties called on Arghet’s instinct. The natural need to protect a mate. To give ease, to give pleasure.

He stepped closer, tugged Skehl down by the neck, and kissed him. After a moment, the large male sighed into his mouth. Arghet didn’t hesitate. He wanted to bombard Skehl with desire. While they kissed, he stroked Skehl’s tongue with his own, then plunged in and out of Skehl’s mouth, a prelude to what he’d soon be doing to Skehl’s sexy ass with his stiff cock.

Skehl groaned and yanked Arghet to him, his kiss ravenous.

Smiling into his mouth, Arghet continued to kiss him while sliding his hand over Skehl’s nipples. He plucked the buds, encouraged when Skehl moaned. Then he trailed his hand down, past the corded abs clenching with desire, under the loincloth now tented from a massive erection.

He didn’t have to work hard to get his bond-mate slick. And in a heartbeat, their phelthar intensified, heightening Arghet’s senses, allowing every bit of Skehl’s pleasure to bleed into his own.

And there, the slight hitch of a female’s breath, the sweet scent of her need on the wind.

He tore his mouth from Skehl’s and bit his way down Skehl’s neck, then sucked at his throat, aware his female, as he’d come to think of his prey, watched, and that Skehl was close to coming. Drawing out his lover’s sexual agony, Arghet pushed the loincloth out of the way and gripped that thick cock, loving how slick Skehl was.

“Yes, please,” Skehl begged, caught on a sob.

His sheer need—and the female’s—made their pairing so much better. Arghet stroked him, pumping that shaft as if stroking his own. He felt so aroused, aching to enter his mate. His mates.

Lost to the desire frothing among them all, he moved his hand faster and kissed Skehl’s chest, then sucked his nipples, biting to give his mate a hint of the pain Skehl didn’t know he needed.

Skehl roared as he came, his seed spurting all over Arghet’s belly and fading away.

Excited he’d stirred Skehl’s second seed, Arghet continued to pump him, surprised when Skehl dragged his face back up for a kiss.

The male had caught on quickly, because Skehl used his tongue and teeth, drawing on Arghet’s tongue, stimulating so much pleasure it felt as if Skehl was sucking his cock.

The female had climaxed as well, because her lingering cries echoed in Skehl’s—and Arghet’s—minds, shocking them with feminine desire.

And then Arghet couldn’t think anymore. He gave in to his instinct and pulled away from Skehl. He turned his mate around and bent him over their rock, flipping the loincloth out of the way. Dragging his own down, he watches his cock spring up and stepped between Skehl’s ankles.

“Maker, I need to fuck you.” He didn’t give Skehl time to respond and pushed between those firm cheeks. The warmth felt so damn good, Arghet was coming as he penetrated, easing his entrance even more while he pumped in ecstasy, moaning and climaxing, his release too much and not enough.

He left a mess as he withdrew, his first seed evident on Skehl’s ass and thighs. Then Arghet stroked himself, rubbing against Skehl’s ass, loving the feel of that smooth flesh as his cock swelled, then released his second seed all over Skehl’s back. The force of his orgasm stole his breath and caused the female to cry out from close by.

But Arghet didn’t care, lost to the mate beneath him, Skehl taking every bit of Arghet’s passion into that big body.

Arghet felt hot everywhere, especially on his arms and chest, the burn of belonging settling deep, tying him to Skehl and the mysterious female just out of reach.

When he’d finished, he stepped back, and Skehl straightened and turned to face him, his cock still stiff. “Arghet,” he murmured and cupped Arghet’s cheek. “We are one.”

Arghet had trouble standing.

The female was suddenly there, between them, pushing Arghet back as she got to her knees before Skehl. To Arghet, she ordered, “You, wait for me. This I have been waiting for. He is mine.”

Arghet had a glimpse of an irate female, one who smelled of a woman’s need and glorious battle lust. Then he watched in awe as she took Skehl’s cock between her lips.

Skehl froze, his eyes wide, his facial marker glowing red. He stared at Arghet even as he started pumping into her mouth. His cheeks were flushed, and his eyes gradually closed. He tentatively put his large hands on her shoulders.

“Maker,” Arghet said on a breath, not sure what he was seeing. Because the scene before him could have come from his deepest, most private fantasies. But the female making soft sounds as she drew Skehl deeper, taking that thick root down her throat, was a flesh and blood woman. The scent of her cream enticed, stole the will from Arghet as his body responded despite his exhaustion.

He knelt with her, desire riding him. But in this position, all he could do without interrupting Skehl’s pleasure would be to fondle the female. Fucking her would have to wait.

Behind her, their bodies flush, he felt her stiffen but not stop working Skehl. Arghet wanted to reward her for giving his mate such bliss—the pleasure radiated from Skehl’s large body, saturating the area with thick, delicious energy. Arghet kissed her neck and ran his hands around her body, hugging and stroking her. He cupped her full breasts and teased her nipples. She must have liked it because she sucked harder, teasing a moan from Skehl. Arghet lowered one hand, diving beneath her loincloth to the wet silk between her folds.

“I’m in Fyanthul,” he rasped, a barbarian’s heaven, as he slid a finger inside her while pinching her nipple at the same time. She keened around Skehl’s cock, and he thrust that finger deeper, then fucked her with it.

Skehl swore and withdrew, his seed dribbling down her lips to her chest, coating Arghet’s hand.

The incredible orgasm she’d given Skehl worked its way through her and into Arghet, and he came against the small of her back, his second seed and Skehl’s soaking into her body.

He hadn’t meant to let it go, but now that he had, Arghet knew he’d marked her as his—as had Skehl.

When he could function again, he looked up to see Skehl staring with satisfaction down at them both. “Mine.”

Arghet had a feeling things had gotten turned around, but before he could make sense of it, he felt himself falling. And then he knew nothing more.

Raia did her best to catch her breath, still not sure how she’d gone from a willing—oh Maker—observer to a willing participant. Not how she’d thought she’d claim her mate. Or was it in fact mates, plural? Though she’d been toying with the idea of taking Arghet as well, she’d decided to wait until she’d seen him fight.

But these two just had to fuck around. I am truly a weak woman. She sighed, still on her knees, still savoring the taste of one male while dizzy from such an explosive climax from the other.

Yet none of that had prevented her from using a spiked fingernail to inject the sleeping toxin into Arghet.

“Female, you are mighty.” Skehl gently lifted her to stand. They both turned to see Arghet lying peacefully at her feet. “I would…” Skehl paused. He drew her up, lifting her in his hefty arms, and slowly closed the distance between them. His kiss, when it came, was so light she barely felt it. But the soft wash of his breath over her mouth, and the second, firmer kiss, pulled her deeper under his control.

Whoa. Wait. She struggled to go free and was immediately set down. His facial markers glowed red, pulsing with a rhythm that echoed inside her.

He grazed her cheek. “The same.” He smiled, and the sweetness of it melted her heart.

“Yes. The same. You’re mine.” She tugged him down to kiss his marker, and everything clicked into place. “And I guess he’s mine now too.” She looked down at Arghet and smiled. “He won’t be pleased when he wakes up.”

No, he won’t. Female, who is mine, by what name are you called?

Raia. She loved the fact that Skehl had instigated their mental bond. You, Skehl, have been mine since birth. As I have been yours. We were meant to grow up together. But circumstances tore us apart. Now I’ve found you.

He looked confused.

“I will explain it all later. But now, we must go. Pick him up and bring him.” She turned to leave, feeling slick between her legs. Mother Night, but her mates had skills. That pleased her. She turned and saw Skehl holding Arghet over his shoulder. But he didn’t move.

“Come,” she said.

He shook his head. Not good. “We must wait for Arghet to wake.”

“No. We have to go before he wakes up and sets the Vyctore on us.”

“We’ll protect you.” Skehl nodded. So naïve.

She rolled her eyes. “Skehl, your warrior thinks I’m the enemy. He’s been hunting me for weeks, and after I saved his life. No, he won’t protect me. He’ll try to capture me. But it’s I who’ve captured you two. Now come.”

Skehl, who by rights should obey her commands, refused. “No. We must finish the games. Then we return home. You will come with us.”

She frowned. “Do you not know your place?” What had the bastards done to her poor mate all those years she’d been looking for him?

“My place is here, Raia. With you both.” He motioned for her to follow him. “Come. We will introduce you to our alpha. And then we will…”

But she’d already turned away, making new plans to rescue her stubborn mate from the dictatorial ideals of the eastern barbarians. When she next had him and the stubborn Arghet under her control, she’d teach them how a family unit should work, with the female taking charge.

Raia hurried to the waterfall she’d been using to clean herself. Though the males had given her their second seed, she felt sure she could wash the scent clean. She needed to be unmarked, to keep a low profile from all those nearby. Wearing a marker from Vyctore barbarians in the midst of so many at the games would be like painting a target on her back, attracting one and all to take aim.

Yet even with the confusion that came from two mates she’d have to train, she felt true joy at finally being home. Killing the human Francesco clan of Earth had been a joy. She’d waited a long time for the opportunity to succeed. Then, using what she’d gained to follow them back to Ussed to finish them off as she had a few weeks ago?

She finally felt as if their deaths balanced the cost of her childhood. The first time she’d stepped foot on Ussed after being gone for most of her life, she’d known she’d made the right decision to avenge herself and her mate, and to root herself once more in the world that had borne her.

Her time on Ussed since “stealing” Arghet’s kill had been to learn as much as she could about the Vyctore, who had been rumored to have killed the Nasuhl trash who’d enslaved her mate and given her over to offworlders so many years ago. The decades between them had changed sweet bond-mate, as they had changed Raia as well.

Skehl was no longer the same boy he’d been so long ago. But neither was she an innocent young maid.

Arghet was a factor she hadn’t thought to consider. Yet after having him so briefly, she knew she’d keep him. Phelthar tied them all together, a unique bond melding barbarian and assassin essences as one. How would Arghet fit? How had he been able to bond with Skehl in the first place? And then to her? She hadn’t thought it possible, yet she’d felt him deep inside. Where he continued to linger.

Grumbling under her breath, she washed herself clean and still felt their presence. She sighed and reapplied her camouflage, hoping she could resist pairing with them again before she could successfully, quietly, steal her men away.

She had a feeling Talzec of the Vyctore would not approve.  

Chapter Five

ARGHET WOKE TO find Skehl leaning over him, both of them bathing in a pool of crystalline water while Skehl held him afloat.

“What…?”

Skehl continued to run water over his face, his body, stroking him with a large hand covered in scars and calluses. That same hand moved with a tenderness Arghet was hard-pressed not to snuggle into. Not at all warrior-like.

He cleared his throat and glanced up at the mother moons over head. Night had fallen? “What happened?”

“Raia drugged you. Then she left.” Skehl shrugged and lifted Arghet to his feet, both of them standing thigh deep.

“Raia?”

“Our mate.”

Arghet blinked, wondering just how long he’d been out of it. Then memories returned, of him and Skehl, of the female he’d been searching for sucking from Skehl’s cock, of the amazing feeling of belonging and rapture as they’d been awash in one another’s orgasms. Ah, Raia.

Skehl put a hand over Arghet’s heart. “Feel.”

Arghet didn’t mean to, but at the command, a surge of energy flooded him, both male and female, and all of it felt right. Organic, as if it had always been thus. As if the voids in his spirit had been filled by the beings meant for him and him alone.

An odd sense of gratitude and worship for his Maker had tears filling his eyes, and he blinked them away, not comfortable showing, let alone feeling, such emotion.

“Yes.” Skehl nodded, apparently sensing the same.

“How…?” Arghet coughed. “In the village, we know of only a few who can share thoughts and feelings with mates. Lore and Zehn have been able to talk to each other, in here.” He tapped his temple. “As they talk with Mandy, their female. But we had thought that was due to Lore’s offworlder blood.” He frowned at Skehl. “You’re a barbarian. The marker on your face is different, but still, of this world. How is it I can hear you without words?”

Skehl shrugged. “I do not know. I do not share this bond with anyone else. Only you. And Raia.”

The sexy, stealthy female he was coming to admire as much as he wanted to throttle her. “She looks and feels like you, inside me. But her eyes aren’t barbarian. Perhaps she’s got offworlder blood.” But that still didn’t explain why Skehl and Arghet could mentally communicate. “Did you know her before you went with the Nasuhl?”

“Not went. Taken.”

No matter how much they’d tried, no one had gotten Skehl to talk about his past. “The Nasuhl took you?” At Skehl’s nod, Arghet asked, “Hold old were you?”

“I do not know. I think maybe I had passed my fifth year. I don’t remember much about being taken, only that I was sad, and that I did not belong.” Skehl sighed. “I tried, but I didn’t like the Nasuhl much. They were cruel masters.”

“Barbarians have no masters,” Arghet automatically responded.

“I know, but to the Nasuhl, no one stood as tall as their alpha. And to disagree meant discipline. I needed a lot of discipline.”

Arghet saw the many scars over Skehl’s back, legs, and arms. On his chest, his neck, and even a large one down his right cheek. They made him look even more intimidating, a fitting countenance for a Vyctore warrior.

Confused at his conflicting need to hold onto Skehl while also distancing himself, he hoped Skehl couldn’t read him. He had no desire to hurt his large lover, just because he didn’t think himself ready for a mate, and not a male one at that.

“You cannot read my mind, can you?” he asked.

Skehl shook his head. “Only if you project. Mostly you close yourself off. You shield well.”

“But the female, she was in my head. Somehow her energy is with me still.”

“With me as well.” Skehl looked pleased at the fact. “She called me hers. You too. We belong to her, she said.” Then Skehl frowned. “She tried to get us to go away with her, but I refused. She didn’t like that.”

“Where did she go?”

“I do not know. I brought you back here to rest. I didn’t think you wanted the others to see you asleep, so I told them you were practicing for tomorrow.” When Arghet would wield the scitia.

“Good.”

Skehl gave a shy smile. And Maker, but he was beautiful when he let himself show emotion.

Arghet cleared his throat. “My clothing?”

Skehl nodded to the pile a short distance away but made no effort to cover himself, or his rising erection.

Arghet dressed, his gaze on Skehl, who seemed different somehow. That difference worried him, because as much as Arghet liked to think he could deny the mating, he had a feeling that was no longer true. “So we are bonded, you said?”

Skehl nodded.

“And that sits well with you? What do you want, Skehl? Do you wish to stay with the Vyctore? To be a warrior, one who fights to protect the clan? Or would you rather farm or trade? In our village, we can choose what we want to do. We are all warriors at heart, but we can be anything else we desire.”

Skehl frowned. “I do not know.”

“Have you ever been asked?” Arghet regretted Skehl’s lack of choices in his life. The Nasuhl had oppressed all their clan, but to a tender heart like Skehl’s, that was especially wrong.

“No. But my home is with you, Arghet. And Raia. She will need to come with us as well.”

“I don’t know how that’s going to work, but we will see.” Arghet needed to focus, and the distraction of his mates would take away from the next day’s competition. “We will soon head back to join the others. But Raia, she will be our secret, yes?”

Skehl nodded. “I think she will fit in well with the Vyctore. Skye will like having another female warrior.”

“Yes. Though warrior might not be the right name for what Raia is.” Having seen the female wield a blade, and how skillfully she’d drugged him, he though she might be more of an assassin than a warrior. Stars knew the offworlders in the resort gossiped about the mythical assassin guilds that rampaged throughout the galaxies. Security measures had been put in place to prevent their murderous intention from infiltrating the resort.

Arghet had figured the rumors of assassins to be just that. Rumors and nothing more. But having been the target of skilled cutthroats while protecting Lore and Zehn’s mate weeks ago, he knew just how real they were. And how real Raia was.

“I do not think the female will want to come with us. She’ll need to be persuaded.” Arghet tossed the thought in his mind and smiled. “Perhaps we can persuade her as we did earlier.”

Skehl flushed. “She was most tempting. Her mouth is…” He sighed. “I would like to know all of her.”

“As would I.” Arghet had so many questions for the female, the least of which was why she’d taken his kill. He walked with Skehl toward the sounds of revelry when an odd thought struck him. “Skehl, are you pleased you’ve mated?” Perhaps poor Skehl had been as surprised as Arghet about them bonding. Did Skehl wish to undo what had been done? Could he? And why did the notion upset Arghet so?

Skehl stopped and looked down into Arghet’s eyes, his blazing with emotion. He didn’t answer, but his wide smile said what words would not.

With a sigh, Arghet put a hand on his back, needing the contact, before regretfully severing the connection and moved forward to join the others.

Skehl followed, content to let Arghet lead. Was he happy about bonding to Arghet? Unbearably so. But he had read Arghet’s doubts, and Skehl needed to prove himself a good mate. His victory the previous day was a start. The incredible sex he and Arghet continued to have helped as well. But to show Arghet that Skehl would be an asset, perhaps he should give Arghet what he wanted most. Raia.

Skehl felt warm all over when he thought of her. The marker on her face was just like his. She’d kissed him in the most intimate way a woman could kiss a man. And she’d enjoyed it. He hadn’t been immune to the musk of her need, or how much joy she’d radiated when he’d given her his second seed.

The female had claimed him willingly. But did she know who he was? That worried him. At least Arghet knew he’d been a lowly member of the Nasuhl. The female had heard about him, surely, but she might not realize how terrible his old clan had been. What if she learned and didn’t want him anymore?

He didn’t like knowing he wasn’t good enough. He never had been, but the Vyctore seemed to see something in him he’d felt but could never justify. A need to do good, to protect the innocent, and to fight and be proud of his skills in battle. Talzec had praised him. As had his alpha’s mate.

That made him feel wonderful. But the hesitance in Arghet would need to be addressed the right way. Skehl would show his mate that he could be counted upon. He’d prove himself by protecting Arghet, so that his mate could concentrate on the scitia fight tomorrow while Skehl showed himself to be a defender of worth

Then Skehl would find Rai and deliver her to Arghet. That would please his barbarian warrior. Lost in thought, he nearly ran over a barbarian while following Arghet.

“Watch where you’re going, Vyctore.” The male was one of the Chamra clan, and the one who’d been staring at Arghet from before.

At his voice, Arghet turned around. His expression flattened. “Ackhlen.”

Ackhlen brightened. “Arghet. We are to duel with the scitia tomorrow. I’ll wait for you to win your battles, of course. But when you succeed, we will compete to prove who is the better swordsman and the Cloud champion.”

Arghet turned away. “Skehl, let us return to the clan.”

Ignoring Ackhlen only seemed to annoy him. “Wait. I’ll walk with you.” Ackhlen left his fellow Chamra, inserting himself between Arghet and Skehl, which didn’t make Skehl happy. But he trailed them, satisfied to be at Ackhlen’s unguarded back.

The dynamic between Arghet and Ackhlen puzzled him. Arghet seemed to want nothing to do with Ackhlen, while Ackhlen acted as if he couldn’t stand to be apart from Arghet. Admiration, pleasure, and, yes, lust, radiated from Ackhlen in waves as he studied Skehl’s mate.

It was all Skehl could do to contain a growl.

“I have not seen you in over a year, when we both raided in the shadowed fields. Have you taken a mate yet?” Ackhlen asked.

Me, Skehl wanted to shout.

“That is not your concern.” Arghet didn’t look at Ackhlen as he spoke, giving the male no hint of interest.

Unfortunately, Ackhlen didn’t seem to care. “Why not? Do you still refuse my offer of a pairing? I would be happy to relieve you any time you like.”

Skehl did growl then, but he was ignored by both males as they continued through the festivities toward the Vyctore by the lagoon. All around them, barbarians danced, laughed, and feasted, celebrating the gathering. The noise annoyed Skehl, but the others didn’t seem fazed by it.

When still Arghet said nothing, Skehl answered in a low voice, “He has a mate,” not sure why Arghet didn’t just tell the annoying male he was taken.

Ackhlen glanced at him and didn’t look impressed. “I know he scent-marked you, but it’s obvious he did it to protect you. We all know you came from the Nasuhl, and many here would as much skewer you as look at you.” Clearly Ackhlen was one of those many. “Arghet is a fine warrior. He can do bet—”

“He can do what the five hells he wants to.” Arghet put himself between Skehl and the annoying Chamra warrior. “Skehl has no need to hide from anyone. He’s an honorable warrior.”

Ackhlen leaned closer, sniffing in Skehl’s direction. His scowl darkened. “Arghet, you have bonded? With that?” He shot Skehl a contemptuous look. “You, who swore you would never have sex with a male, bonded with one of the Nasuhl?” Ackhlen seemed more than upset. “You have made a grave mistake. I do not offer myself lightly.”

Arghet sighed. “Ackhlen, enough. This discussion is over. I told you once, and I’ll tell you again. I do not want you. Though I’m pleased your alpha has finally lifted the ban on same gender pairings, it makes no difference to me.”

Because you are mine, Skehl sent telepathically, annoyed enough not to care if Arghet didn’t want him in his head.

Arghet flushed and tried to push past Ackhlen, but Ackhlen grabbed him by the arm to stop him, then gave Skehl a subtle side-glance.

Skehl would have ripped the male’s head off had Arghet not pushed him back. “Skehl, please go to our camp. I’ll join you shortly.”

I do not like this.

I know. But he’s baiting you on purpose. Something is wrong here. Let me handle it. You let our clan know to be ready for anything and help protect our most vulnerable—Skye. I fear this is not about me, but about the Vyctore in some way. The Chamra have always been our rivals, but they are more direct about their dislike at these games. Prepare for a real battle.

Pleased his mate thought him a warrior able to protect the clan, Skehl reluctantly left. When he found the others, he relayed the situation to Talzec, who nodded.

“Ackhlen has been fixated on Arghet for years. But Arghet is right. I have felt the rumblings of trouble from the Chamra. Fehlen has been making demands and accusations, according to some.” He gave Skehl a frown. “You stay here, close by.”

Skehl nodded and stepped closer to Skye, who groaned.

“Not to protect me, Skehl. To protect the whole group.”

“Yes, Skye.” Yet he refused to budge.

The others thought it amusing.

But one particular female did not. She is not your mate. I am. Raia. His heart thundered. Make sure to stand some distance from her, Skehl. You belong to me.

 Where are you? He imagined her close by, her golden eyes glowing, a purple sheen behind them. Her facial marker would be lit in irritation, because like Arghet, he did not like to listen to female reason.

Where am I? I’m close enough. I do not like the way the Chamra warrior eyes our mate.

Neither do I. It was nice to have someone on his side.

I will watch out for him. And you. Males. He thought he heard her sigh.

He sighed as well, wanting to talk to her, to watch her laugh, smile, sleep. To know what she liked and didn’t like. How could he provide for his mate if he didn’t know what would please her?

You please me, Skehl. He felt her smile deep within. You will know more of me soon enough. But next time, you will obey.

Next time. He smiled, ignoring the surprised looks from his clanmates.

***

Arghet glared at Ackhlen, irritated with the male’s arrogance. Clearly overstepping his bounds, Ackhlen put hands on Arghet again, the intent to draw him closer for a “private” discussion.

The warrior was trying to show his superiority in front of others, and Arghet knew it.

He shoved Ackhlen away then kicked him hard in the gut, which caused Ackhlen to fall back. He tripped over a nearby log and sprawled over the ground, appearing undignified.

Arghet smiled. “The Vyctore do not bow to dogs. Or to those in second place.”

Around them, several warriors stopped what they were doing and watched. Arghet had no intention of getting his clan in trouble by fighting outside the organized challenges, but he refused to show himself as weak.

Ackhlen slowly rose to his feet. He brushed the dirt off his legs and ass, then shot Arghet a sharp smile. “Tomorrow, I will defeat you in front of everyone. And when I win, I’ll claim my victory in any way I choose.” The way he looked at Arghet told one and all he expected a sexual prize as well as a battle win.

Arghet shrugged. “Win or lose, you can’t handle me either way.” Then he turned and walked toward his clan, to the approval and laughter of those around him.

He felt the change in the air, the sense of menace, then Raia’s voice in his mind. Arghet, he comes from behind.

I know, female. I did not need the warning. But I thank you for your concern. He could almost sense her huff of displeasure and smiled as he stepped out of Ackhlen’s path and avoided an attack from behind. When he faced Ackhlen once more, it was with the intent to put the warrior down. Hard.

But he didn’t have to. Talzec appeared by his side, a scowl on his face directed at Ackhlen. “We do not violate the rules. The elders have stated there will be no battles outside the arenas. If you wish to best my warrior, do so in the morning on the field. And lose with dignity, warrior.” Talzec snorted. “Not the shame you serve your clan even now.”

The silence felt heavy, especially when Fehlen approached. He took in the scene in tight-lipped silence, then nodded at Ackhlen to follow him. “Talzec, well met. Thank you for stepping in before I had to.”

Talzec nodded.

To Arghet’s surprise, Ackhlen seemed not to care about his alpha’s displeasure. His angry gaze remained on Arghet until Fehlen barked a command to hurry the hells up.

Once the Chamra had gone, the festivities resumed in force.

Arghet followed Talzec back to the lagoon, where the warriors had set up a perimeter, with Skehl hovering over an aggravated human female. No matter how much Skye sniped at him, Skehl refused to budge from her side.

He grinned, saw Talzec’s amusement, then hurried to wipe his face clean of a smile when Skye spotted them and stomped to her mate.

He watched with interest as Skye managed to berate their alpha without using disobedient words or mannerisms. A skill, to say so much without saying it. Her body language spoke volumes though. So much that Talzec dragged his mate to him and kissed the fight out of her.

His hand found her breast, and Skye’s squirming ceased. She moaned as she struggled to get closer.

Talzec wrenched his mouth free. “We will return,” he rasped and tossed a now laughing Skye over his shoulder before stepping away for some privacy. The old Talzec would have mounted his female in front of his clan, but Skye had some offworlder notions of sexual seclusion.

Raia is not happy with you. Skehl sounded almost smug. Apparently Skye wasn’t the only one not conforming to barbarian standards of hierarchy. Skehl was starting to behave differently, more aggressively, since bonding. And the female, Raia, kept insisting that Skehl, and now Arghet, belonged to her. To her?

Arghet snorted. “She can be as unhappy as she likes. In time she’ll learn her place.” Serving me, as will you, he broadcast, just to needle Raia and Skehl both.

Skehl blinked, then gave a shy smile.

Seeing that smile, Arghet’s heart raced, his feelings softening even more for the brutal warrior who hid a deep well of caring under past hurts.

By the Maker. Arghet had to accept it. He had a warrior for a mate.

And an assassin, came the self-satisfied female response. One you will learn to obey.

Arghet pinched the bridge of his nose, annoyed, amused, and needing to find the female so he could show her how to be a proper bond-mate. And to correct her ideas about leaving with Skehl.

Tomorrow, Raia. We will come to terms with our future.

Yes, Arghet, we will.

Skehl crossed his arms, watching, waiting.

“What?” Arghet snapped, still not sure why the female continued to ignore his superiority.

The others around them grinned. He ignored them.

“I will stand watch while you rest. It’s important you do well in your battle.” You will not lose and give yourself over to that Chamra fool.

Arghet blinked. Of course I won’t. I’ll win, and I’ll do my best not to kill him in the doing. Now stop giving me orders. I’m going to rest because I’m tired. Not because you’re telling me what to do. And not because that blasted female thinks she owns me. And quit smiling.

Skehl outright grinned. Yes, Arghet.

Annoyed, Arghet found an open pallet and laid down. Even more aggravating, he started to drift to sleep with ease, knowing his mates, and not just his fellow warriors, watched out for him.

Finally. I thought he’d never stop talking. Raia sounded muffled, as if she tried to send to Skehl and not him.

Definitely have to fix that stubborn streak tomorrow, was his last thought before he fell asleep.

Chapter Six

RAIA STOOD NEXT to Skehl the next day while they watched Arghet prepare for his duel. The scitia blade was crafted of a rare metal found on the planet. Only the very skilled and supremely focused could use it without cutting themselves. It was thin yet balanced, and the metal resonated with the individual’s energy.

She herself often had a blade at her side, but since female barbarians didn’t fight, she’d stashed it away. She missed her Flongian steel, a blade as thin and even stronger than the scitia. But it was missing a core of energy the barbarians would use this morning.

With the scitia, the stronger one’s phelthar—and thus connection with the planet—the better the fighter.

According to those placing bets, Arghet was the finest swordsman in the tribe, though Ackhlen was a close a second.

Raia would never have guessed it. She’d kept an eye on the Chamra clan the night prior while Skehl watched over Arghet, and she didn’t like what she’d seen.

Though most of the warriors in that particular clan seemed no different from the Vyctore, a few spoke in low voices, apart from the others, as if planning something. The alpha, Fehlen, Ackhlen, and two others seemed involved while their clanmates did not.

Ackhlen in particular had been animated and not at all subservient to his alpha, which made little sense. After getting thrown around by Arghet, then ordered around by Talzec, the warrior should have been a little more humble, or at least angry. But he acted as if none of that mattered.

As if his altercation had gone according to plan?

She didn’t like any of it.

Tired of hiding in the shadows, too far away to fix things should they go awry, she stood in her barbarian maiden disguise next to her bond-mate. He is prepared for trickery? she sent Skehl.

Yes. I kept watch all night as he slept. No enemy came near. But I sense danger. My alpha is aware. He paused, looking down into her eyes. Our alpha, I mean.

Not mine.

Not yet.

She frowned up at him, startled to see a gleam of humor on his normally stoic face. Skehl had been quiet and mostly submissive when she’d first found him. But lately, he was growing bolder. She liked his spirit and had no desire to squash it, but she’d need to curb his tendency to take charge. Only a female ruled her household. In short order, she’d make sure both Arghet and Skehl knew how to properly behave.

The years spent learning her trade as an assassin had not been kind, but she’d watched, curious, as the many human units in which she’d been fostered withered under male oppression. Time spent among the serpentyne, a snake-like species known for poisons, speed, and the ability to go unnoticed, had shown her the merits of a matriarchal society.

Unlike the first few families she’d been adopted into while training, Magda’s had been healthy and thriving. Her daughters had skills beyond compare, and her sons blended so seamlessly with their targets’ surroundings that they’d never once been caught or associated with Magda’s family.

Raia hadn’t liked her life until Magda. All she’d learned from the astute woman was worthy of passing on to her own young. Now that she’d avenged herself and her mate by killing the human vermin who’d traded with the Nasuhl—who no longer existed—she could build her own family unit. It was as if she’d been pulled back to her homeworld by destiny, because that kill Arghet thought belonged to him had actually been hers all along. A traitorous Earther from a clan who’d conspired with the Nasuhl to capture and enslave barbarians.

They’d wanted a professional assassin out of Raia. Instead, they’d found their own end at her hands.

Skehl’s seed would produce strong assassins. Perhaps warrior-assassins. She liked the thought of it. She also liked what she sensed in him. Under all the hardness, the killing instinct, and the ability to endure, lay a fundamental kindness. A purity of spirit. It called to her on another level. Perhaps that made him such a great warrior, an ability to truly understand his prey before annihilating them.

Arghet seemed more guarded, more difficult to figure out. But she had this opportunity to watch him in battle, to see the true mettle of the man. That he could wield a scitia spoke highly of him, as did his status among the Vyctore. Having spiritually joined with him, she sensed the great phelthar tying him to all things. For all his bluster, he would never harm her. She felt his innate honor, an underlying goodness of spirit.

But she needed to see him in action, and she needed to be with him and Skehl, as one. The distance from her bond-mates had started to irritate her, like a small pebble stuck in her boot that gradually wore and grew painful.

As if sensing her need, Skehl moved closer, his arm brushing against hers, and a warmth unfurled in her mind.

She sighed. A male taking charge yet again. Then she felt his amusement and couldn’t hold back a chuckle. He would be a handful for certain. And if memory serves, a mouthful as well.

He blushed, and she laughed again.

“The rules are simple,” the judge for the scitia competition called out, quieting the crowd. As had happened the previous day, the first bout held everyone’s attention. All three elders watched as well, giving more credence to the fact that the scitia was indeed a special part of the tournament. “The competition ends when a warrior concedes defeat and not before. Blood may be drawn, limbs may be lost. But true victory belongs only to the one who conquers the other.” He shot his hand into the air. “Begin.”

Arghet looked wild, wicked, and deadly. He wore only a loincloth, his boots, and arm-bracers and held the scitia in his left hand, then changed to his right. Ackhlen, on the other hand, had painted symbols she didn’t recognize over his face. He wore a chest plate, arm-bracers and boots, and a longer loincloth made of shimmering scales.

“Flahvlae scales will protect him well,” Talzec said, standing behind her.

She tensed, annoyed she hadn’t sensed the powerful warrior, too busy studying her stubborn bond-mate. Distraction would get her killed if she weren’t careful.

“Yes,” Skehl said to his alpha.

“Seems Ackhlen is worried about the match, wearing all that armor.”

Barbarians near them muttered about the Chamra warrior seeming weak. She agreed, to a point. When one went up against a superior opponent, one did what one must to survive.

And watching Arghet move with the scitia, she had to admit had this not been a simple competition, she’d worry for Ackhlen’s life.

Arghet moved with fluid grace, dodging Ackhlen’s attacks while engaging with his own. Ackhlen wasn’t slow either, and as he blocked and ducked, he grew quicker. Both males did, until they seemed caught in a frenzied dance of thrusts and parries that had scitias glancing off armor and blades. Yet Ackhlen continued to miss hitting Arghet entirely.

“Arghet would have won by now if Ackhlen wasn’t so warded,” Talzec murmured. “He is something to watch. We do not take advantage of his skills often enough, I’m thinking.”

Skehl grunted but said nothing.

Raia understood, to a point. The scitia were mostly ceremonial. Since they were also hard to come by, few warriors had ever tested themselves with a scitia blade after their first contact with it at a young age.

She’d done her research, and from what she’d learned, all males touched the scitia when they came of age, from boyhood into manhood. Those selected by the blade itself went on to train with it, and then only to carry on a tradition, not that the blades were used in battle.

She thought that ridiculous, but it wasn’t her tradition to continue. Raia flinched when Ackhlen sliced a bloody line along Arghet’s ribs. A tactical error, one would think. Except Arghet didn’t shy from the contact.

She watched, anticipating his moves, and smiled. “He is quite good.”

Skehl glanced at her. “Ackhlen just drew blood.”

“Perhaps. But Arghet is setting him up for a series of strikes that will weaken the Chamra male. Watch.” She felt Talzec’s gaze, as well as the stares of several warriors who’d overheard her. But no matter. She wouldn’t be using this disguise much longer. She had mates to claim, a family to start, and a new business to run. Something she could do without leaving Ussed, because now that she’d returned, the phelthar would be impossible to replace should she leave.

In coming home, she’d ended up tying herself to her world. And this time, she didn’t think she’d survive if she left. She knew for sure her bond-mates wouldn’t. And that answered the question of where she’d put down roots.

“Mother Night, she’s right,” one of the Vyctore muttered as Arghet executed a whirling attack that set Ackhlen back. Not only did he counter every blow, Arghet struck the scitia from Ackhlen’s hand.

The crowd swelled with cheer, and the elders stood in applause.

Arghet grinned, his side bloody, and a small cut had bisected his brow. Ackhlen had a few cuts as well but otherwise looked no worse for wear.

She felt it before she saw it. Down, she shouted telepathically to her mates. Arghet, enemy overhead.

Skehl shoved Talzec back and tried to grab her, but she’d dodged him and raced past. A glance back showed Arghet and Ackhlen using their swords and arm-bracers to deflect pulser fire from above.

“What in the Hells of Fyanthul is going on?” Talzec yelled. Even as the warriors moved to intercede, Raia grabbed her stashed weapons, took her favorite set of throwing knives, and followed the glint she’d seen in the trees. The whispered sound of pulser fire didn’t tell her much. The warriors bellowed and sought cover, everyone trying to detect the threat of offworlder tech that shouldn’t exist outside the western resort.

There was a reason the offworlders kept to their side of the border, under a tech-shielded barrier protecting them. Alien tech didn’t—or hadn’t—ever worked on planet Ussed before. Somehow the enemy had gotten pulsers to fire in a place that didn’t tolerate technology.

Fascinating, and something she’d look into later. Just as soon as she took care of the threat from above. She climbed a nearby tree with ease, sighted her prey still firing down at Arghet, and threw a knife. It lodged in the attacker’s throat, the poison on the blade setting in for instant paralysis, then death.

He fell from the tree and landed with a broken neck. But she was already moving, taking out the second shooter now firing at her. He went down hard as well, the blade in his arm. Bastard had shifted or she’d have hit his jugular.

A glance at the ground showed Arghet and Ackhlen slicing through the remaining four interlopers still moving.

Warriors rounded their dead enemy while a few followed those racing from the skirmish. The barbarians let out a war whoop, pleasure at their victory a thing to celebrate. Arghet and Ackhlen grinned at each other, took each other by the forearm, and declared it a good fight.

Exuberant with the fire of battle heating her veins, Raia laughed. Then, realizing her cover had been revealed, decided to quietly leave and come back for her knives and mates. She’d retrieve them later, away from the others, and—

She gasped as an unseen force dragged her from the tree and held her suspended in the air, high above those below.

“Hurry, she’s heavy,” the Vyctore alpha’s mate rasped.

A true telekinetic then. Good to know. Raia struggled, but fighting against a foe without form was near to impossible. Unless she could regain her balance and throw one of her remaining knives at Skye. But she didn’t think her mates or their alpha would welcome a dead Vyctore at the Cloud Games.

She sighed, then felt her breath leave her as the force holding her vanished…and she plummeted to the unforgiving ground.

Skehl caught the slight female, plucking her from a drop that probably wouldn’t have been enough to kill her unless she’d landed wrong. But he had no intention of allowing her to take a chance.

Talzec, Skye, and the others gathered close, staring at Raia with interest. Skehl looked on her with both affection and exasperation. She’d thrown her knives with skill, no indecision, only dead-shot accuracy. She’d helped his clan. More, she’d defended her mates…while putting herself in danger to do so. That was unacceptable.

You should not takes risks with your safety, he said as gently as possible.

She squirmed in his arms, but he tightened them, not willing to let her go.

I could kill you with two flicks of my finger, you know. She sighed and relaxed. I have so much training to do with you.

Arghet joined them in time to hear her continue her diatribe.

However, it is my life, bond-mate. And I’ve lived plenty in the years before I found you. I take responsibility for my own actions. I don’t need a male to save me. She glared at Arghet. And you’re welcome for saving you too.

Arghet sighed. “Talzec, this is Raia. Our mate, apparently.”

Talzec’s brows rose. “Our, hmm? So you’ve bonded both Skehl and Raia?”

Skehl saw Arghet grimace and knew his mate hadn’t gotten the permission males were supposed to get before officially claiming a female. But Talzec didn’t seem upset as much as amused.

“It was a sudden thing.” Arghet scowled at Raia tucked against Skehl’s heart, but Skehl could tell he wasn’t upset. Just baffled at how to deal with such a stubborn creature. “And she still owes me a kill.”

“Ah yes, the woman who took care of Mandy’s stalkers.” Skye beamed. “Hot damn. Another female warrior. Yes.” She pumped her fist in the air. “If we keep this up, we’ll have a whole platoon of women warriors shaking up the clan.”

“What’s a platoon?” Tattan asked. “Is it some kind of harem?” His eyes grew wide. “Or maybe some female pairing? I’ve heard some of the distant tribes have females that only have sex with other females. And they let their males watch.” He looked excited about the prospect.

“I doubt it.” Efhel shrugged. “Some boring Earther custom, probably. Skye knows many strange things we do not.”

 “But we might need to know, especially if is has to do with Earther sex.” Tattan said, ignoring Skye fuming next to him.

“Oh my God. It’s not sexual, Tattan.” Skye glared up at the male. “It’s a military term. Women do fight, you know.”

Talzec bit back a grin and focused on Arghet. “Raia seems used to fighting, and she appears native to Ussed.” He studied her facial marker, which shone under the dye she’d used, then looked at Skehl, who could feel the heat building under his marker. “She and Skehl are clearly connected. Skehl has not told us from what tribe he was born before being taken by the Nasuhl. Female, do you know where you’re from?”

She shook her head. “Like Skehl, I too was stolen from my clan. I only know the marker on our faces signifies we are bound. My handlers thought it made me a natural born killer, as barbarians are known to be great in battle, and I’ve always been better than most with my knives. I feel things others do not.”

Skehl nodded. “This seems correct, though I cannot say why I am sure.”

“Killers?” Talzec rubbed his chin. “I don’t thinks so.”

“They’re both better than many in our clan,” Arghet said. “No one can beat Skehl.”

“I haven’t fought him yet, only sparred.” Talzec studied the three of them, and Skehl wondered what the alpha really thought. “But when we do, I look forward to the match. Now, Arghet, I give you leave to celebrate our victory by claiming your mates.”

Before Skehl could stop her, Raia escaped his hold, as slippery as a nalian snake. “Thank you, but I do not need your permission to claim my mates. Skehl, Arghet, come.” She walked away, expecting them to follow her.

“Hot damn. I like her.” Skye laughed. “Now that is how you rule the roost.”

“Roost?” Tattan asked. “More Earther pairing customs?”

Efhel sighed. “You really need a female.”

As do I, Skehl thought. He and Arghet exchanged a glance, then moved as one to follow their stubborn mate. She moved through the crowd, which parted for her as if by magic, as word of her skill had quickly gotten around.

This is going to be an interesting claiming, Arghet sent him.

Yes. I believe our female thinks she’s in charge.

Arghet grinned. That’s a mistake.

Skehl wondered. He didn’t feel the need to command Arghet or Raia, except when it came to their safety. Sexually, he still had much to learn. And he liked everything Arghet had taught him. Raia had shown him a softer side, but one no less intense. He ached thinking about how much pleasure they had to share.

Skehl worked to channel the mental pathway only to Arghet. Though new to sex and pair-bonding, he had his pride. Arghet, is releasing inside a female the same as releasing inside a male?

Arghet’s stride stuttered but he didn’t pause. It feels good but different. A female has curves, and she’s hot inside, like a male. But females usually like a gentler touch. And when we take her together, we might move in tandem at her front and back, or like we did before, with one of us in her mouth, the other at her sex.

Skehl felt Arghet’s rising arousal as if his own.

Raia will try to tell us what to do, but I’ve felt this female, I can tell you what she really wants is to be dominated, sexually. Perhaps not all the time, but definitely by your cock. Arghet gave him a sly smile. Just as you liked getting reamed by mine.

Skehl flushed. He did love the feel of Arghet inside him. Tasting that thick cock while he stroked himself to climax. Will I ever be inside you? Your body, not your mouth, I mean.

Arghet shrugged. I don’t know. I’ve never done that before, never thought I wanted to. He paused. Is this something you wish to do?

Skehl felt a spurt of moisture at his cockhead. His arousal painful, especially at thoughts of burying himself in the male. He rubbed himself as they moved, trying to stem his desire.

Arghet shook his head. “Two mates who will prove to be difficult. Why am I not surprised?”

Before Skehl could ask why Arghet might find him difficult, they’d reached the boulder surrounded by red-stems. And Raia. The place held a special significance to him. It was where he’d first known physical intimacy with both his mates.

“Does the area seem extremely lush to you?” Arghet frowned. “The trees even seems taller. And I know these flowers weren’t as thick the last time we were here.”

Raia turned to face them. “All right. I’ve had about enough of this. You two, strip down. I shall show you how to serve me best.” She removed what little clothing she wore, showing a body toned all over, firm with muscle yet soft with round breasts, a bitable belly, and a smooth body devoid of hair except for her dark brows and that mane on top of her head.

 Her gloriously nude frame invited pleasure, and Skehl happily followed Arghet’s lead, needing to mark her again as his.

Chapter Seven

ARGHET STARED AT his female, the sight of her splendor burning into his spirit. She was small of frame yet muscular, her strength of body complementing her strength of mind. She looked so cute standing there, a hand on her hip, waiting to be obeyed.

He noted Skehl by his side, his cock straining, his body tense. The poor male needed ease. Arghet knew he’d never before taken a female, and that lack made Arghet long to show him everything, to make the experience perfect for Skehl.

Arghet disrobed, and Skehl did the same.

Now all three stood naked, studying each other. Arghet’s markers flashed, a hint of red surprising him, though he should have expected it seeing Raia and Skehl’s facial markers turn the same shade. The color of blood, of passion. He felt the pulse inside him quicken, the rhythm matching the ones flashing on his bond-mates’ faces and on Skehl’s broad chest.

Raia gave a regal nod of appreciation. “Now, you two will come here and—”

Arghet shook his head, amused when she frowned. “Raia, what is it you think you’re going to accomplish here?”

She blinked. “What?”

“You’ve obviously had some warrior training, and—”

“Assassin, Arghet. I’m a trained assassin.”

And proud of it, by the cocky stance and assured tone. “You can kill. I’ve seen you on more than one occasion. But Skehl and I are trained in the art of battle as well.” He stepped closer, Skehl by his side. “And this is one fight you will not win.”

He pounced and grabbed her, pinning her hands behind her back. The front of his body dwarfed her soft curves and lean muscle. “Maker, you feel good.”

She squirmed, grinding against him, and he groaned. Skehl, get behind her. Skehl moved swiftly. Grab her hands, hold her for me.

“Bastard. Get off of me.” She tried but couldn’t free herself from Skehl. The large male held her easily, but with care. Skehl radiated affection, and Arghet knew if he didn’t watch out for him, Raia would have Skehl wrapped around her little finger.

He kissed her to distract her, and then he forgot about distracting her as she sighed into his mouth, no longer fighting to get away, but fighting to get closer.

“So good,” Skehl moaned, holding her tight against him.

Arghet felt Skehl’s arousal, and Raia’s kiss sent waves of need through him. He trailed his mouth down her neck, sucking at her pulse points. Skehl, kiss our mate. Show her how much you want her.

Skehl obeyed, moving Raia’s hands from behind her up to clutch the back of his neck. The position thrust her chest forward, and while Skehl leaned forward to kiss any part of her he could reach, Arghet kissed her breast, sucking the nipple before biting it.

She gasped and moaned, and he noted Skehl palming the other breast, molding it and moving in tune with Raia’s need. The three of them felt each other’s responses, and the ramping desire made it difficult to keep himself together.

Inexperienced Skehl had a tough time of it, and Arghet noted his urgency as he ground against her back.

Raia’s satisfied smile pleased him. She whispered, “Give it to me, Skehl.”

Skehl grunted, shoving against her back in frustration, and Arghet knew the poor warrior needed a quick ease before he could take his time with their female. “Give her your first seed, mate. She wants to feel you against her skin.”

Skehl thrust faster, and Arghet took his hand from Raia’s breast and sucked Skehl’s forefinger deep into his mouth.

Skehl moaned, bucking against her. Arghet scented his release.

“Ah, ah, Raia.” Skehl hugged her tight, still pushing against her, no doubt sliding through his own seed.

Raia moaned his name, her hands still holding him around the back of his neck, her ass grinding against him.

Arghet let Skehl’s finger go, watching his mate find joy. So beautiful, that wash of sensation, that glorious need expelled over their female. And Raia, basking in his pleasure, a sight to behold.

The air around them shimmered with power, phelthar flowing in the sweet smell of creation, flowers, and good green life. Arghet saw several red-stems unfurl from the ground and thicken into healthy stalks. The markers on his mates’ faces were neon bright.

And made him hungry for more.

He trailed kisses down Raia’s fine body and knelt between her legs, nudging her stance wider. Without pause, he kissed down her mound and latched onto her ripe clit, dragging his tongue over the thick flesh, lapping her cream. She was so wet, ready for him. For them.

Groaning and wishing he could stay in this position forever, he continued to feast, his balls full, his shaft thick and heavy. Like Skehl’s were becoming even now, the hungry male broadcasting his desire once more.

“Skehl, come here.” Though it pained him to do so, Arghet left the treasure of Raia and circled to her back, taking Skehl’s place as he held her steady. Her breathing came fast, her eyes no longer a comforting barbarian gold, but a deep purple that gleamed with feminine mystery.

“You have skills,” she whispered and turned her head, open for a kiss.

He gave her what she asked for, his tongue searching, demanding. Hers acquiescing, submitting to his pursuit.

Gently, Skehl. Lick her. Learn her taste and feel how much she wants us. He mentally sent a picture, not sure Skehl would receive it the way he’d intended him to, but Skehl caught on with an enthusiasm that had Raia moving her hips and giving Arghet the mother of all hard-ons.

He called forth his warrior’s discipline, containing his seed. But feeling Skehl’s excitement and Raia’s desperation to come didn’t help.

I need her. Want to be inside her. Inside you, Raia, Skehl said.

Arghet heard the question Raia would never say aloud, pleased she checked with him before consenting. He knew she wanted them both, but like Arghet, she wanted Skehl’s first time with a female to be special. Loving.

You are a worthy mate, he sent her, and hugged her to him while he continued to kiss her in between breaths.

She sent back a humorous I know, then let him pull her away from Skehl. Arghet lifted her onto the boulder, splaying her out like a feast. “Give your female the pleasure she deserves. But Skehl, not your second seed. That gift must be one Raia wants.” A female should never be pressured into giving birth—a sacred law among their kind.

“No, don’t hold back,” she told them. “I can control my cycle.” At their confusion, she explained, “I allow the moment of conception. Not my male mates.” She grinned. “So you may— Skehl.” 

He’d lunged on top of her, quivering with need as he put himself at her entrance.

Arghet moved around to watch, caressing Skehl’s back, his ass, then stroking those tight cheeks, gliding his thumb closer to Skehl’s tight hole.

“Maker, need to move.” Skehl’s voice was so low he could barely be heard.

Raia wrapped strong legs around him, linking her ankles behind his back. “Take me, warrior. Be mine.”

Skehl moved slowly, his face one of agonized ecstasy.

“Now. All of you, in me,” Raia growled.

Arghet grinned, loving the fact that all of them could handle some rough play, and perhaps even needed it. He shoved his thumb deeper into Skehl’s ass, breaching that tight hole.

Then watched as Skehl clenched his thumb before slamming into Raia. Satisfied Skehl was where he should be, Arghet pulled back.

He could tell Skehl tried to stop, to slow down, but Raia’s mental cries for more and Arghet’s demand he satisfy them both turned Skehl into a raging lover.

He fucked with a ferocity that set Arghet close to coming.

Watching him power into Raia was incredible. The play of muscle, the raging tempest of desire roaring through them all, nearly took Arghet with the pair crying out on the slab of rock, more like an altar than a toppled boulder.

Skehl’s wide eyes when he finished and Raia’s throaty chuckle made the pain of his pent up desire worth it, though.

“Raia, sweet, that was amazing.” Skehl kissed her face, her cheeks, her throat. He pulled back, then groaned and surged inside her once more, coming again. “Ah, Maker. My first and second seed.” Skehl swore as he pumped. When he withdrew, he left a mess inside her.

“You are exactly what I was hoping for in a bond-mate,” Raia said, her pledge both joyous and honest, and the sheen of tears in Skehl’s eyes brought them all to an emotional crisis.

“Yes, he is. As are you,” Arghet agreed, staring at Raia, a female offering from the Maker.

Skehl stood on shaky legs, then turned and drew Arghet into a hug.

Arghet tensed, holding onto his control by a slim thread. His cock felt ready to burst, his energy building, soon cresting that point of no return.

“Come to me, warrior.” Raia beckoned.

Skehl smiled and drew back, then gave Arghet a gentle shove toward her. “Give her everything, Arghet. Our female is most generous with her woman’s cream.”

Arghet grunted with amusement and frustration, finding it difficult to walk.

Raia opened her arms, her nipples flush, her marker an irritated black and red, the same colors as his chest.

“Will you fuck me? Or will you keep me waiting?” Her cruel smile incited a furious passion. “Or perhaps you are more inclined to watch?”

He moved with deliberation, stalking his prey. “You still owe me for stealing my kill.”

“Do I?” She drew a finger down her body, from her breasts to her sex. She parted her folds with one slender finger, then shoved it inside her.

Arghet heard Skehl’s breathing deepen, felt his pulse-rate spike. But when Raia arched her back and moaned, thrusting her pelvis into the sky, he couldn’t wait any longer.

He mounted her on the slab and stared into her eyes as he shoved home. No gentle taking, no gradual entry. He hammered her stroke by stroke, the violence of his taking met by her aggressive kiss, by the hand she fisted in his hair as she kept him in place while she ravaged him.

He powered into her, so large and tied to her he felt as one, especially when she clamped down on him, her body refusing to let him withdraw.

And then he was coming, blinded by a pure light. Phelthar overwhelmed him, Raia, Skehl, and the jungle around them. His orgasm stole his breath and his senses, nothing but the bliss flowing from his body into hers, from hers into his, all under Skehl’s watchful gaze. They were his entire world.

He’d given her his first seed, followed by his second. And as he continued to come, he felt Skehl’s lips on his back, his shoulders. Hands stroking, fingering his anus, reaching between his legs to graze his balls.

He groaned and surged deeper, giving her everything inside him.

“Yes, mine,” she growled and nipped his throat.

Arghet and she remained locked, one body, one soul, but not complete, because Skehl was missing from their physical union.

When Arghet relaxed enough to withdraw from her body, he moved like an old man.

“Mother Moons. Shit.” He stared down in awe at his still hard cock, saw Skehl fisting his as well, and glanced back at Raia, who smiled, her eyes like faceted gems.

“I think this union is blessed.”

A look around showed life in abundance. The vegetation had turned their meeting place into a covered hideaway, the vines and trees growing over and around the altar of rock like a constructed place of worship. And Maker knew, he’d been worshipping Raia just fine.

Then Skehl took a step forward, and Arghet drew him close for a hug, followed by a kiss and some fondling.

With me, warriors.

Arghet let his assassin have her way. For now. Because they needed to share their energy, to release the buildup that shouldn’t have been present considering the climaxes they’d already had. Something was happening, but hell if he cared right now. He couldn’t do more than kiss and touch Skehl, then make his way toward their mate, where they continued to pet and play.

Through the evening and into early morning, when they finally dropped into exhausted slumber, protected by the trees, the flowers…and the conglomeration of predators now around them.

***

The next morning, Raia stared in consternation at a pair of flahvlae, large, snakelike beasts that had retractable legs and three venomous sets of fangs. They normally lived below ground in tunnels, but for some reason a set of them guarded the eastern side of the their meeting place. On the western side, carrion crawlers, man-sized insectoids with razor sharp incisors sat watching. And just in front of her, three black and green striped caerrn cats, six-limbed felines who liked nothing better than barbarian for dinner, sat in watch, their tails swishing, eyes flickering in bursts of gold and red.

She had the impression they were laughing at her, but she had no idea why.

Or why nature had suddenly gone mad.

She sat up and groaned, pleasantly sore all over. None of the beasts moved, and she realized they were no threat. So very strange. Skehl moaned in his sleep, and she smiled, looking down at her beautiful new mate.

Her men had ridden her through the night like animals, and she grinned, not at all disappointed. Ussed, we appreciate your blessing, she sent to the sentient planet few could actually commune with. Not that Raia understood it, but she had always sensed the energy of the planet react to her in some way.

But never like this.

The grassy area filled with red-stems that she’d first come across now looked like a man-made fortress of bark, vine, and flower. The rock on which they’d paired—made love and fucked, she thought absently—now shone like white marble with red and black streaks of burnt onyx and bloodstone.

She felt the magic of it, and though she’d never in her life sensed the like, knew the power within her and her mates to be real. Odd that such a beautiful place should be a home for those skilled in death and destruction, but who was she to question the will of Ussed?

She slowly got to her feet, glancing back at Skehl and Arghet, who laid on either side of her on the broad slab. Hmm. That rock hadn’t been that wide yesterday. Yet they certainly fit, male specimens of beauty and vitality. So large, physically, but also in spirit. Yes, she had been well rewarded.

Raia warmed just watching them. Her warriors.

She stretched and winced, then blushed to realize she had some dried fluids on her. Feeling a lot less carnal in the light of the early morning, she cautiously skirted the felines and found a small stream nearby. After cleaning herself, once more refreshed, she rejoined her mates, only to find them rousing.

Seeing the powerful males who now belonged to her, she felt more than gratified. She felt as if she’d come home.

“Ah, female, you are a sight.” Arghet smiled. He seemed younger to her, his vitality sparkling in his golden eyes. The flex of muscle on his chest intrigued her with the rhythmic patterns of black and red that flowed along his markers. But…

“Your injury. It’s gone.” She blinked. “You heal fast.”

“Not usually.” He reached for his brow. “It’s healed as well.” Then he stared, wide-eyed, at himself. “All of my scars are gone. My battle wounds as well.” He swore a black streak and stomped away.

“Skehl?”

She didn’t know what to think, surprised she hadn’t noticed it before. Like Arghet, Skehl’s many scars had vanished, and the brightness of his markers matched hers. He looked like a different person, and though he was prettier now, she only cared about what lay beneath his skin.

Raia. Such a wealth of feeling in her name. Skehl gave her the sweetest smile and rose to his full height, still a giant next to her much smaller frame. He closed to give her a hug but stopped when she held a hand against his chest.

“Bathe first.” She grimaced.

He laughed, a sound so lighthearted and happy she could only stare as he raced into the trees in Arghet’s direction. She sensed the pair ahead, near the water filled with fish, some insects, and several amphibious creatures.

Such insight. This pairing, bonding, it’s changed me. Changed us.

Arghet continued to swear, his oaths growing louder as he returned. “What did you do to us, assassin?”’

She sighed. “This assassin has a name, warrior.”

“Raia.” He growled. “Look at me.” He wore nothing but the skin the Maker had given him, and he looked gorgeous. Long black hair, wet and framing a hard, masculine face. His square jaw made her want to nip along his jawline to kiss the tip of his arrogant nose. And his eyes. Stars, they blazed with angry confusion. And lust. Because even as he stared at her, his cock rose, stiff and ruddy and ready.

“Arghet?” Skehl sounded unsure.

They both turned to him.

“What happened?” He stared at his chest, arms, and legs in wonder. “My scars are gone.”

Arghet softened his voice, but his glare for her remained. “I know. Raia?”

“What? How should I know? I’ve only just come back to the planet. Aren’t barbarians fast healers, normally?”

“We are healthy and we gradually heal, but not like this! Not from wounds long past.” He gripped his hair, walking around while waving that juicy cock like a treat.

Skehl, lighter in spirit than she’d ever seen him, winked at her, then grabbed Arghet to hold him still, hugging him from behind.

Arghet seethed. “Skehl, not now. Damn, woman. Don’t you… Raia…” He moaned. “Not again.”

On her knees before him, she stole the anger from him one draw at a time as she lovingly licked him from tip to stem, fondling his sac and hollowing her cheeks as she bobbed over him.

Skehl pinched Arghet’s nipples, and Arghet turned his head to the side to accept the kiss Skehl had been pressing to his throat. They kissed while she sucked, and the orgasm shook all three of them. She felt Skehl come against his back while she swallowed Arghet’s first seed. Her own climax wet her thighs, and she knew she’d have to use the stream again before she could present herself to the others.

It was some time before they rejoined the barbarians for day three of the festivities. But apparently the elders weren’t satisfied with the events from the day before. Talzec met them as they made their way to the Vyctore. His eyes were wide as he saw their state of perfect skin and mottled markers of black and red.

“The elders request your presence.” He walked them to the pavilion set some distance from the festivities, where the elders met to talk to clan leaders or preside over the games. Behind it a small waterfall fell, and the suns shot rainbows of light into the tiny mist around the flow.

Talzec said nothing more until they stopped outside the structure. “I’ll be right here. I am still your alpha.”

“Of course you are.” Arghet frowned.

“Go. And remember where you belong.” Talzec shot them a warning look, but the anger he directed at Raia was unexpected.

What had she done?

She was about to find out…

Chapter Eight

RAIA DIDN’T KNOW these elders, but she sensed an ancient power calling to her. Like the phelthar she and her bond-mates now shared, the elders possessed a tie to the land she felt in her bones.

“Ah, so it is true.” Elder Ihlar smiled at her. “Welcome, Sehvar.”

“Sehvar,” Elder Ohgren said to Skehl, his eyes wide as he took in Skehl’s healing.

Elder Xehlett bowed his head to Arghet, who stood frozen. “Sehvar.”

“Wait, what?” Arghet frowned, the warrior apparently having forgotten deferential respect for his elders. “I am Arghet of the Vyctore.”

“You were.”

“Elder Xehlett, why do you call us Sehvar? What does that even mean?”

“We had not expected such a blessing. It’s been many moons and suns since the Maker gave the Cloud Tribe such a gift.”

The elders knelt before them, and Raia sensed the horror from her mates at what was happening. She laughed. “Oh, come on. Get up. We’re the same people we were yesterday.”

“No.” Elder Ihlar slowly stood. “You are not. You are more.”

“What exactly are we?” Arghet ran a hand through his hair, and Raia noted the healthy shine, as well as the golden glow of his skin.

“You are the best of us, Arghet. Tied with the wonders of the Maker. Your phelthar is what we hope to one day achieve, a community of spirit with all life in our world.”

For a bunch of barbarians, these guys sound a little like religious zealots. She’d seen her share on Earth and Vulcan 4. Talk about wacky aliens.

Skehl frowned. “I am nothing special.”

Not true, Raia and Arghet said at the same time. Arghet frowned at her. She frowned right back. Stubborn male. She’d need to work on that.

Skehl gave them a brief glance filled with warmth. “Well, to my mates I am special. But to the others, I am a warrior of the Vyctore, previously of the Nasuhl. Nothing more.”

Elders Ohgren and Xehlett stood, and Ohgren said, “You are not just a warrior, Skehl. You are our people’s greatest treasure. For not only do you fight with a pure heart, you heal with one as well. Only when the Sehvar are three will our people know hope, that ills may wash away in the wake of selfless purity.” The words sounded familiar to her, as if she’d heard them long ago.

“It was thought the last of the Sehvar were killed in a raiding party centuries past.” Elder Ihlar frowned. “The facial marker is a sign of potential power, but not a definite attribute. We knew of your marker some time ago, Skehl, and we studied you as a boy.”

Interesting they had studied Skehl but did nothing to help him. Raia liked these leaders less and less.

“That you were with the Nasuhl and an intimidating fighter convinced us you were not what we sought.”

“Sought?” Arghet repeated.

Elder Xehlett nodded. “We have always had healers in the past, but for hundreds of years, this has not been the case. The only ones in existence, before you three, can be found in the Fire Tribe. But they want nothing to do with us. When our ancestors begged for training and a true path, they were told they were not worthy. Only the Maker can bless a healthy tribe with life-giving power.”

Elder Ihlar sighed. “And now we have you. We had never thought this day would come.”

“Wait.” Arghet cleared his throat. “Elder Ihlar, what does this mean?”

“It means, dear boy, that you three will guide us into a new era of prosperity. You shall each take mates and spread your abilities throughout our clans. And once again, we will be strong, able to heal our clanmates in times of great need.”

Skehl frowned. “We have mated already. Arghet, Raia, and me. We are one.”

Elder Ihlar nodded. “To become Sehvar, you must take the bond. But the greatest sacrifice you give back to the tribe is each other. You will end your ties and go forth among the clans, repopulating our tribe with Sehvar.”

“No.” Raia glared at the old men. They weren’t her elders. “This is why your society is so backward. You have old men ruling with their heads in the clouds.” She would have called attention to her bad pun, but she thought the situation warranted a bit of seriousness. “I am no one’s pet, not ever again. Nor is Skehl. We are free to live as we like. And if the Maker did indeed bless your tribe, it is because we have already sacrificed.

“Our childhoods were spent in abuse and enslavement. Skehl was forced to think himself unworthy, fighting for a clan that didn’t deserve to call itself barbarian. I was forced to take lives I had no business taking. Arghet is a fitting warrior, but even he knew a sense of isolation, aloneness from the others.” She saw her mate start, disconcerted that she’d read him, apparently.

But Raia was a good leader. She protected and looked after those in her care, and her bond-mates would learn to trust her. “We will decide who we trust, who we love, and who we gift with life. Not you, old man.” She turned on her heel and strode from the pavilion. But when she sensed herself alone, she turned to see her bond-mates gaping at her. “Well? Come.”

She didn’t wait, but walked away.

Female, we are going to have a talk, Arghet swept into her mind in a fury.

You did not agree?

No. Yes. But…Those were our elders.

“And they were wrong,” she said out loud, waiting for Skehl to chime in. He remained quiet and didn’t meet her or Arghet’s eyes. But Arghet was spoiling for a fight with her.

One she had no intention of giving him. You will stay with your clan while I tend to Skehl. We will talk tomorrow. Skehl, come, love.

He jerked his gaze to hers, surprised and pleased at her pet name, she could tell. He joined her without question.

She stroked his hand, pleased when he grabbed hers and held on.

Arghet watched them, still scowling. Fine. He ordered Skehl, Keep her safe, as if Raia hadn’t already told Skehl to join her. I’ll talk to you two later.

He stomped off.

She and Skehl watched him go. She shook her head. “Such an attitude on that one.”

“Raia?”

“Yes?”

His cheeks were a delightful pink. “Is it true? Am I a blessing?”

She softened and crooked her finger at him. When he leaned down, she kissed him. “Yes. You are my blessing. The barbarians can go to hell. You belong to me, and I don’t share.”

“Except with Arghet,” he said, his eyes glowing.

“Maybe. If he’s lucky.” She caressed Skehl’s smooth cheek. “Now, would you like to feel the inside of me again? I’m all soft and wet and warm for you.”

He moved with speed, pulling her back toward their special place.

She laughed. “Yes, yes. But first, warrior. We need food.”

***

Arghet swore his way back to Talzec’s side. “That female is like a burr underfoot. Clingy and sharp and painful. But you feel it when it’s gone.”

Talzec didn’t smile.

Arghet sighed. “You know what the elders have said?”

“Yes. Most of it, but not all.”

His alpha waited, and Arghet repeated everything he’d been told. By the time he finished, Talzec wore a thunderous scowl.

“A warrior may not interfere with the bond. Ever. It’s sacred.”

“Apparently not as sacred as the Sehvar,” Arghet said wryly.

“I understand the need. I remember the old stories of healers and the magic of those connected to the land in a way that was deeper than our concept of phelthar. But there must have been a reason the Sehvar faded away. I cannot think the elders expect you to sever your connection with each other.”

Talzec wouldn’t fathom such a thing. Mated to his beta and to Skye, Talzec had become a real force within the tribe—a male who loved his mates. He’d been a power before, when mated to Nalla, but the connection, though real, hadn’t been a true bond. When Nalla passed, Talzec didn’t die with her. He remained. A warrior filled with grief and rage, but one who put his people first.

He’d taken care of his clan, building in strength to exact his revenge. And he’d been justly rewarded for it.

Arghet didn’t need to look hard to see the connection from Talzec to the lagoon, where Skye no doubt waited. Their energies seethed, lapping at each other.

And how the moons and suns can I know this? Arghet hadn’t even tried and he’d seen a world beyond the normal one he lived in. A world full of ties to life in different phases.

He shook his head and blinked, and thankfully, everything returned to normal. But he didn’t like it. Didn’t like any of this. Arghet was a warrior who had plans to mate and have young in the far future. He’d already had one part of his life plan changed. Now he not only had a mate, he had two, and one was male.

The Maker should be going easy on him. But just as he was adjusting to having bonded, he was expected to give them up to help the tribe?

The warrior he’d been raised to be demanded he obey his elders. That the welfare of the many superseded the few. But damn it, while Arghet could handle suffering, Raia and Skehl would not. Though he’d hate his life if he gave them up, he would sacrifice in a heartbeat to spare them pain. But he knew, deep down, Skehl would be forever harmed if Arghet abandoned him. Skehl had healed, physically, and mostly emotionally, but part of him would always be a wounded warrior needing acceptance.

Raia, he knew, wouldn’t agree to let him go for the sheer principle. She’d claimed him, and in her mind, he belonged to her. He chuckled, expecting nothing less.

“What’s so funny?” Talzec asked.

“Raia. My female thinks she’s in charge of me.”

“And isn’t she?”

He opened his mouth in rebuttal, saw Talzec’s humor, and shook his head instead. “She is not my alpha. She’s my mate.” He scowled. “My mate, and they expect me to give her up for the good of the tribe?” He blew out a breath. “Talzec, am I being selfish for not wanting the stubborn female and Skehl to go?”

Talzec gripped his shoulder and stared into his eyes. “No, you are not. Love is a blessing. We fight, we war, and we do it to protect our own. But connections, love, is what pulls us to each other. I cannot think the Maker would want you to throw all that away to make healers for our tribe. We haven’t had them for hundreds of years, yet we are still here.”

“But for how long remains the question,” Elder Ihlar said, joining them. “I am sorry, Arghet. I know what Talzec says is true, in here.” He tapped his heart. Though older than most, he was still strong, still a warrior in frame and spirit with the wisdom of years of experience. “But we have heard from the Fire tribe, and their news troubles us.” He glanced around, and seeing them alone, explained. “The offworlder technology is becoming more of a problem. We’ve had reports that aliens are landing in various parts of the planet and taking pieces of our world. They are destroying small sections before we can get to them. Deforesting, stealing wildlife, and blasting for minerals they take back to their worlds. But they are doing it with weapons we cannot defeat.” He paused. “But the Fire tribe’s Sehvar have been effective.”

Talzec scowled. “Why has this not been told to the clan leaders?”

“Because we thought the few instances of offworlders in our lands were just happening here, in Cloud lands. Yesterday, one of the Fire tribe sent a messenger. It was he who spoke of the Sehvar doing what others could not. And he told us more invaders will come. Flushed out of Fire lands, they invade the Water and soon the Cloud lands.”

“Like they came yesterday,” Arghet murmured, now understanding why the elders would ask him to break a sacred bond.

“Yes.” Elder Ihlar paled. “Talzec, you are our strongest alpha, yet against the weapons the aliens bring, you are helpless.”

“Not so.” Talzec frowned. “Our pelts protect us from the blasts.” He raised his arm-bracer. “The xechelln hides repel alien tech. If Ussed cannot withstand the invaders, then we must. That is why we were born.”

Arghet nodded. “To defend our planet. A gift from the Maker to the Mother—Ussed.”

Elder Ihlar sighed. “I want to believe, I do. But at the cost of our people? Things are changing, warriors. Infighting among us must stop. And it’s time we all embraced each other, clan to clan, tribe to tribe, to repel the invaders from our world.” He turned to Arghet. “Think on that, Sehvar.” He left, and Arghet felt a heaviness in his heart he hadn’t felt before.

“There is always a way,” Talzec said. “Elder Ihlar is right to be worried. But this is why we exist.” The light in Talzec’s eyes blazed. “Barbarians are bred to fight. But not each other.” He nodded. “We fight to protect our own, what we love. I love this world, my clan, my mates. But what do you love, Arghet? What sacrifices would you make to save what makes life worth living?”

Arghet spent the next few days in deep thought. His bond-mates gave him space. He’d ignored Skehl’s attempts to mentally communicate. Keeping his mates out had grown easier, as if a muscle in his mind had strengthened. He often wandered the jungle, moving in and out of fellow Cloud warriors enjoying the games and each other. They didn’t know of the coming danger, instead embracing the camaraderie of barbarians in battle, mock though it was.

He missed his mates, his body still heavy with need as phelthar continued to build at a surprising rate. And blast it all, he felt eyes on him at all times. Inhuman eyes.

A caerrn cat followed him any time he ventured away from the barbarians into the solitude of the jungle. Far enough away that Arghet could not touch it, yet the pet remained in visual proximity. Letting Arghet know it was there. He’d heard that the felines had a greater intelligence than any other predator in their territory. But he believed it also had a sense of humor.

Twice when he’d tried to follow it, the creature had walked him into hidden puddles of water, and once almost into a pit of viplings, whose bite would not kill but itched like crazy.

Then the feline had bared its teeth, as if in a smile.

Arghet sighed and sat on a tree stump, staring at a drove of flit birds, tiny things that could fit in the palm of his hand, as they swarmed a meyrn tree for its sweet, sugary blossoms. Near him, the caerrn cat sat in wait.

“I don’t know what I should do,” he said to it, not expecting a response. “I feel a need for my bonded mates, but I must serve my clan. If what the elders say is right, then the Sehvar can save our planet from destruction. Is my happiness more important than the survival of my clan? My tribe? Ussed?”

He knew the answer was no, but he couldn’t imagine no longer having a tie to his mates. Through them everything was brighter, better.

He felt…love. Though he had much to learn about his mates, he felt them deep inside. He knew their strengths and vulnerabilities. Though Raia acted tough and expected to protect the males she thought she’d claimed, she hadn’t been able to hide her fears that she would never be strong enough to defend them.

For much of her life she’d been beaten and poisoned and abused, worked to become stronger. Better. At the expense of her innocence. And that is why she would do anything to protect Skehl, a male they both knew was the best of them. Amazingly strong, powerful, yet so kind at heart. A heart he didn’t let others see. But they knew.

As Arghet understood they knew about him. Nothing special, Skehl had said about himself. But that was Arghet’s flaw, that he knew he was nothing special but wanted to be more anyway. Pride, the need to show himself as better than those around him, because he knew he wasn’t.

That’s why he trained so hard, why he worked to do anything his alpha and beta asked of him. Because he belonged as one of the many. But what about Arghet stood out? What about him was different from any other?

A burst of energy lit him from within. Damn. Raia and Skehl were insatiable, and he continued to feel the aftereffects from their frenzied sex. The buildup energized and drained him at the same time, because he hadn’t been able to relieve the pressure.

A glance underfoot showed small buds growing. Grasses seemed taller, the trees swaying as new leaves sprouted on branches. He glanced down at his chest and saw the telltale red streaking through his markers.

Maker, what he wouldn’t give to sink inside Skehl or Raia right now. To feel them around him, touching him. Making him whole.

And the elders wanted him to give that up? To share himself with other barbarians so intimately after knowing the perfection of a true bonding?

A furious burst of energy left him, the light from his marker shooting like rays of energy and covering the cat and the area in front of him with a crimson light.

The feline blinked at him and started to…change. As did the area under his light.

Arghet stared at a new vibrant section of tropical forest and laughed, giddy and a little dizzy. He tried to stand and sat again, unable to balance himself. The cat padded to him, now twice the size it had been before, a monster with huge claws and fangs. It butted his hand, and he stroked it, amazed at the thing’s silken texture, the fur so soft, the color of the feline now black, white, and green in marked patterns that reminded him of his chest marker.

It purred, steadying him, before it froze, scented the air, and ran away.

The flit birds had doubled in number, swarming the many blooms on the meyrn tree, which appeared…larger?

He had to laugh.

“What goes on here?” Ackhlen, a male he hadn’t talked to in days, but who’d seemed to always be there, on the periphery, walked toward him, studying Arghet and the thickening jungle in awe. “Arghet?”

Arghet didn’t want the male too close. Ackhlen’s phelthar connected to a strange, creeping rot Arghet could sense but not see. A rot expanding, making his skin prickle in warning.

He tried to rise and found he couldn’t.

“He’s in here.” A whisper of breath, a prick in his neck, then Ackhlen crooning into his ear from way too close, “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of you.”

The last thing he heard was Ackhlen talking to someone else, then nothing.

Chapter Nine

SKEHL FELT THE absence of Arghet even as he poured into Raia’s willing warmth. After she clenched him to her, then eased past her own orgasm, she tensed.

“He’s in trouble.” She stared up at him with worry, her dark eyes glowing with the fiery need to protect Arghet.

Skehl pulled out of her, still not sure if she could really control her reproductive cycle. With as much seed as he’d given her over the past three days, he thought it a wonder she wasn’t carrying already. Or that she could still walk.

The only thing marring the beauty of his joining was Arghet not being there. He made everything better. Skehl had connected with the male warrior right away and now understood he’d been meant to be Arghet’s partner. Arghet had always looked out for him, from the first. A protector. Not a cruel man, but a strong warrior who would never let another abuse him.

Even when some of the Vyctore warriors had given Skehl a hard time, Arghet had put a stop to it, sensing Skehl’s confusion at how warriors should be treated. And he’d never made fun of Skehl for being near the children or females, when the other warriors would tease him for shirking a male’s rightful place with a sword in hand.

“Do you think he’s leaving us?” he asked Raia as he straightened his loincloth and put on his boots and bracers.

“No. I think he’s thinking about leaving us, but he won’t.” She didn’t sound as sure as he wished.

Arghet’s duty was to his clan. And he took it seriously. Skehl knew that Arghet was tempted to release the bond, but only to help their people. Skehl himself had pondered the notion of sacrificing his happiness to allow Arghet and Raia to be together. They were so much better than him, honorable and—

A slap on his ass distracted him. And damn, it hurt.

“Stop it.” Raia glared, and the marking on her face turned a deep black. “You are mine, that makes you worthy.” She no longer dressed in barbarian garb, but wore what she called her uniform, a pair of black trousers covering her from ankle to hip. Her black shirt exposed her arms and came to a V between her breasts, which she bound in some odd clingy material. She’d pulled her hair back into a tail, then braided the hair within, and the thick lustrous strands were hidden among knots of hair that intrigued him, made him want to explore.

She was so beautiful, this clever female. She’d managed him for days, giving him her body and spirit to bask in while he finally learned the pleasures in sex. Fucking, pairing. Raia liked to call it making love, and he agreed. Because with each sexual encounter with the woman, he fell deeper in love with her.

She flushed, feeling what he’d sent, and smiled back at him. But the worry in her expression remained.

“We will get him back,” he promised. Because though Skehl might not be as strong when it came to emotions, he could defeat anyone and anything on the battlefield. That he believed whole-heartedly.

Raia’s eyes sparkled. “Yes, we will. And warrior, I love your confidence. That is who you are, you know.” She would have said more when one of the caerrn cats who’d taken to following them appeared. One of them followed Raia, while the smaller of the two felines preferred Skehl. The female, he knew it was female from her scent, oddly enough, liked for him to pet her when the other cat wasn’t present.

But the one that came to them now was twice the size of the other two. It also looked different, its markings like…Arghet’s.

It growled at the female, who stepped out of the tree line near Skehl. She cocked her head, then meowed at Raia’s cat, which also appeared. The trio looked at them, then looked to the forest.

“Let’s go.” Raia started after them, but Skehl stopped her.,

“No. We are a clan. We take the others.”

She would have protested, he saw, but something stopped her. She gave a slow nod. “Yes, let’s get them.”

They hurried through the crowds, barbarians still competing in all manner of contests. Not many warriors had seen Skehl since his transformation to a male without scars, and they hadn’t seen Raia either, because she preferred the shadows. But followed by caerrn cats who acted tame, he and Raia caused a stir.

Barbarians stared in shock, moving out of his way as he hurried to find Talzec, following the connecting strands of the male’s energy. To Skehl’s pleased surprise, his alpha truly considered Skehl a part of the clan. It was there in his energy, in his tie to Ussed and to Skehl.

Talzec blinked.

Skye gaped. “Oh wow. You guys have pets now? And what happened to your face? Mother moons, but Skehl. You’re freakin’ hot.”

He flushed but focused on the matter at hand. “Arghet is in trouble.”

At his words, all the Vyctore around, those not involved in the challenges in the arenas, gathered.

“Where?” Talzec asked.

Raia started off in the direction Skehl felt Arghet’s energy, this time following the felines. He trailed her, along with Talzec and the clan.

“What happened?” Talzec asked.

“We do not know. He won’t answer.”

Talzec frowned. “Answer how?”

“To my mind,” Skehl said. “My mates and I share thoughts and feelings.”

Skye had overheard, because she gasped. “Like Lore. Are you guys offworlders too?”

“I have never known another world.” Skehl shrugged, feeling the tie to Arghet growing stronger. But with it came something foreign, and wrong. “Raia is a barbarian, but she was taken when she was young, raised on other worlds. So in that sense, she is offworlder.”

Quit sharing my secrets.

They are our clan. We need keep no secrets from them.

He felt her eye roll.

“Arghet is up ahead.”

Talzec frowned. “Yes. I feel him. But something else…”

“It is not of Ussed. It’s wrong.” Skehl didn’t like Raia too far away from him. He sped up but couldn’t catch her.

He spent the next several miles trying, as they moved farther from the games.

Something massive flew overhead, and he stared in shock.

“That’s a ship,” Skye said, breathless. He knew Talzec had carried her a good part of the way, as Earthers couldn’t keep up with barbarian endurance. But she’d run a good portion too.

Nine of their brethren accompanied them, though by now the other three would be worried not to find their clan. It couldn’t be helped. Skehl had to find Arghet. Now.

Raia returned, then motioned him to the right. They settled overlooking a crater in which the ship landed. Offworlders worked, carrying plants and rocks to crates. They stacked lumber as well. And there, sitting off the side and fighting to rise, sat their mate bound in ropes. Near him, four barbarians stood watch.

Talzec growled low. “Traitors.” He turned to his men. “Fan out. Wait for my signal, then we go in slow. We must get Arghet free first.”

Skye nodded. “He’s a hostage they could use to try to negotiate. I can loosen his ropes, but not from here. Get me closer and I’ll take out the guys with guns on the ship’s far side.”

Talzec frowned. “You will take care, or I will be displeased.”

She huffed. “Yeah, sure, big guy. Love you too.” She grabbed him for a quick kiss, then left with two barbarians at her side.

Raia watched with approval. “It is good you recognize your female’s abilities. Stifling that which comes naturally only hinders a warrior’s strength.”

Talzec glanced at her, then at Skehl. “Thank you for that bit of advice.” He chuckled. “No wonder Arghet doesn’t know what to do with you. You, Raia, also belong to me.” She sputtered, but he interrupted with, “do not get killed. Assassin you may be, but you are Arghet and Skehl’s mate first. That matters more.”

She opened her mouth, to protest, Skehl was sure, but after a startled look at Skehl, she closed it. “Yes.”

Skehl knew something had happened, but he wasn’t sure what. Only that Talzec looked more than satisfied, and Raia as if she’d learned something important. Skehl didn’t care at the moment. He didn’t like Arghet tied up, looking helpless. That didn’t seem right. Arghet’s energy was off.

“He looks weak.” He frowned. “Arghet is not weak.”

Raia clenched her jaw. “He has been poisoned or drugged. See how he continues to try to stagger to his feet? Even in the rope he fights, but he’s sluggish.” She glared at him, and from the tree line, a vine snaked along the ground.

Skehl blinked, then felt the tie to Raia. He put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed, then lent his strength, his love, to her. The vine moved faster, joined by others. The cats glanced at him, then slunk away at his nod. He wasn’t sure what they’d read in his face, but he wanted them to protect Arghet. And they’d gone.

“That’s a handy talent,” Talzec murmured. “But one that won’t stop alien tech. Let me distract them. You two, get Arghet. Then we unleash a barbarian’s rage on these intruders.”

“Yes.” Skehl nodded, felt the fire in his cheek, and knew it glowed the same blood-red as Raia’s.

Talzec nodded and left them, moving through the trees that led down into the crater, to distract the enemy.

Raia nodded after him. “The ship can take Arghet offworld if we do not get there first. And they will destroy our alpha. And our planet’s life. The animals, the plants, the rocks, they belong here. They will wither and die without Ussed.”

As we will without Arghet.

She nodded, a smile curling her lips. “You are a very worthy mate. I have decided to keep you,” she teased.

He smiled back. “I am grateful. I think I would like to keep Arghet too. There are things I have yet to experience with my mate, and things he should experience with us, and only with us.” He refused to allow Arghet even the thought of leaving them. “For that, we might have to leave the tribe.” A place he’d only ever known as home.

“We do what we have to. Together.” She dragged him down for a kiss, then his assassin disappeared. Wait for my signal, then unleash all of your strength. This time, you will not hold back.

I will not hold back. Be careful. I love you.

He felt her amusement, her responding well of love. I know.

And he waited.

***

Arghet’s head hurt. He was groggy but aware enough to know Ackhlen and a few of his Chamra comrades had turned traitor. They’d drugged him, then moved him away from the games. Because he’d woken up just before they’d tele-jumped here. Wherever here was.

He remained on Ussed, but his phelthar had weakened in this large pit. It looked like a giant depression left by a meteor, as the section was large enough to accommodate his entire village. The meteor must have hit long ago, though, because vegetation had begun to grow back among the rock and caves set on the far side of the impression.

A spaceship sat nearby. Too close. He didn’t like the feel of it, the energy in the metallic thing scraping along his nerves. He would have attacked the weak pair guarding him, then gone after Ackhlen and Fehlen, that vile piece of auhleh, but he had trouble getting his balance. Each time he stood, he fell back, dizzy.

“Stay down, I said.” One of the barbarians kicked him in the face, and his nose popped. Pain followed and blood gushed.

But then a tendril of energy touched him at the same time a creeping vine curled around his waist from behind. The barbarians didn’t see it, content they’d done him damage and that he remained on the ground.

His nose heated, shifted back into place, and hurt no longer. But the burning sensation inside him, as something was squeezed from his blood, felt as if he’d been set on fire.

“Father Sun.” One of he barbarians swore. “Teehl, look.” The pair gaped at him, and he had a feeling they’d spotted the vine. “He’s bleeding all over. But it’s…black?” They moved back, horrified, and called out for Ackhlen and the others.

The burning caused him to scream. Undignified but he couldn’t help it. It hurt.

The barbarians next to him fell, each with a dart in his throat. They spasmed, then stopped moving. Dead.

Feminine ire, that he’d let himself get captured, consumed him.

He smiled. Raia.

He felt her now, and Skehl as well, very close. He rolled to look into the dense jungle growing along the wall of rock behind him. Growing at an astronomical rate of speed. As he watched, a jungle grew out of stone, and grass formed under his body and crept throughout the crater.

Glowing green eyes appeared in the new forest, then he spotted two sets of fangs from a grinning feline mouth. You’re back, eh? A huff of amusement, and then the cat disappeared, swallowed by the encroaching growth.

“What’s going on?” one of the Earthers asked. “Wait. Who the hell is that?”

Talzec strode into the clearing as if he belonged there. Hell. They’d shoot him before he could defend himself. Arghet had seen the guns they’d positioned around the place for security. As fast as Talzec could move, even he couldn’t protect himself from the speed of laser and pulser fire automatically discharged by the ship’s defensive countermeasures.

Arghet hated alien tech.

Now that whatever had made him dizzy had vanished from his bloodstream, he freed himself from the ropes.

Talzec was challenging Fehlen openly, in front of everyone. To refuse would make Fehlen look weak. But did he care? Consorting with aliens to rape the planet was the work of a traitorous coward.

While Talzec had the attention of most of the crowd, Arghet realized Ackhlen had never taken his focus from his “prize.” The male watched with pleasure as Arghet freed himself from the ropes and stood. The crater continued to turn green with plant life, flowers blooming, the buzz of insects and the chirp of birds arriving.

But they shouldn’t, not yet. It wasn’t safe.

Arghet called out to his mates along lines of energy, and they hurried to overwhelm the many guns placed discreetly around the work area.

Too late.

“Fire,” one of the Earthers shouted. The enemy hit the ground while laser ripped through anything in reach, and the pain of destruction hurt Arghet and his mates deep inside. Talzec fell. Two of their Vyctore clanmates tumbled down into the crater and lay unmoving.

Then Skehl gave a loud roar that made Arghet’s bones shake. Raia raced past Arghet and around the paths of the guns. She disappeared inside the ship.

The phaser fire stopped. All went quiet.

Then Skehl ran toward one of the gun positions. He picked the massive metal weapon up and crushed it with his bare hands, now holding a ball of twisted metal nearly his size. He threw it at another gun stand.

Arghet moved, surprised to find the feline by his side. He reached a gun position opposite Skehl and destroyed it by knocking it over and throwing it toward Ackhlen, who blasted it with his own gun.

Not good.

The smile he shot Arghet was evil. No other way to describe it.

The ship’s guns are disabled, but the enemy’s individual weapons must be dealt with, Raia said, seeming distracted. Now quit gawking at your new crush and go.

Woman, when this is over, we are definitely going to talk. Arghet watched the cat leap onto an Earther and tear out his throat while Arghet made a beeline toward Ackhlen. He heard shouts, saw Skye attacking with her mind and body, taking out Earthers left and right. The other Vyctore poured into the crater and engaged with the aliens, stripping them of weapons and killing them.

Fehlen kicked at Talzec once. Talzec caught the alpha’s foot in his hand, let out a loud bellow of rage, then shoved back. He’d been shot through the side, blood pouring down his body, but he readied to fight.

The Vyctore sounded their war cry, and the battle commenced in earnest. More of their opponents poured out of ships suddenly overhead, tele-jumping into the fight.

Arghet lost sight of Ackhlen as he engaged the aliens trying to steal from his land. He fought on several planes—with his fists and feet, with his mind as he joined with his mates and encouraged Ussed to allow it’s forest to fight back, and with his heart. Phelthar tied him to his mates, the bond so strong they were one.

He attacked and defended, used his energy to grow the trees and shrubs, the poisons of insects, serpents, and plant life to disable their enemy.

A large blast overhead showed one of the ships explode. But before he could worry, Raia told him and Skehl to relax.

I’m fine, warrior. Do your job. I’ll find you soon. She paused. Erase the rot before it spreads. The blackness is not healthy. And whatever you do, don’t let it touch Skehl.

Arghet frowned. Where the hell had Ackhlen gone? Why not?

I don’t know. I just know he’s the most vulnerable to it.

I’m on it.

I’m right here, you two. Skehl growled as he crushed the hand of an enemy attempting to strike him. The man went to his knees howling in pain.

Talzec, he noticed, glowed with the Maker’s mark, a golden figure bathed in light who tore Fehlen’s head from his neck with his bare hands. He roared his victory and scared the remaining aliens into trying to tele-jump back to their ships.

Raia, he saw with alarm, ferried a ride on the back of an airtracker, an individual fly-pack carrying a crate of stones toward an airborne ship. She waved at him before disappeared into the alien craft.

I’m good. Protect Skehl!

As if Skehl needed protecting.

The giant crushed anyone not a friend, tearing through the enemy with gusto. Arghet and his Vyctore clanmates paused to watch him, impressed.

“Stars, he’s worse than Talzec,” Tattan said in awe.

“And he’s one of us,” Efhel said with a smile.

“Yes,” another agreed. “Clearly we are the victors in the games this year. Best clan in the tribe.” He grinned, wiped blood from his face, then followed a few offworlders trying to escape into the jungle.

The rot in the energy around Arghet returned. And in its wake, the land decayed and the ground crumbled. A thick brush of greenery suddenly turned black and died.

In its place, Ackhlen stood. Though he glowed with supposed health, the sickly energy filling him up was black and corrosive to the planet. “Finally, Arghet, we will have our battle.”

Chapter Ten

RAIA WAS JUST about done with the alien ship. She’d killed most of the occupants who hadn’t jumped when they’d seen her. Only about a dozen piloted this vessel, but she’d done enough damage. She fired on the other ship hovering close by, and it blew up, making her heart happy.

Her mates continued to plague the enemy on the ground. She heard the reports, saw the visuals on the feed from the pilots. Unfortunately, they wouldn’t see anything ever again. The ship on the ground, though without anyone to fly it, was still intact. She would have fired on it from up here, but she didn’t want to risk the blast hitting her allies.

Or her mates.

She tingled watching them on the vidscreen. Skehl walked through the carnage like a god, his strength and rage a joy to watch. Arghet was much more constrained, but no less lethal. And the Vyctore with them fought well. Though outnumbered, they would come out the victor.

Talzec had literally ripped Fehlen’s head off.

Very nice, warrior. She could see why Arghet would stay with such a male. Strong, protective, yet he watched his female take on their enemy with pride. So not too smothering in his defense of his people.

Then she saw something that did not belong. Ackhlen, the last remaining Chamra barbarian alive, stood where moments ago the newly grown jungle had thrived. He’d melted it into a black goo, was all she could think.

His energy felt wrong, tainted. It was a decay that infected all it touched.

She didn’t understand it, but she knew it wanted more. More power, more life. It wanted Ussed. None of this made sense. She knew how to kill a person, how much toxin to subdue and Venetian or what pressure points to hit to incapacitate a Frellian. But this seeing beneath the surface, joining with the sentience of the planet?

Unnerving to say the least.

Raia set the ship on auto-destruct, then gritted her teeth and tele-jumped into the other ship. Once on the ground, she ignored the nausea from the jump and raced outside to watch the ship explode, parts raining down, barbarians leaping for safety.

“Sorry. Watch out for the ship,” she yelled.

Talzec frowned at her, but he didn’t move away from Ackhlen facing off against Arghet. And no one tried to stop Skehl from moving closer, coming up on Ackhlen’s back.

“No, Skehl.” She reinforced her denial with a mental no. He ignored her, his lifeforce shining bright, overflowing with vitality. The cats appeared, surrounding him.

Skehl looked as if ready to pounce.

Skye saw her shaking her head and turned to Skehl and narrowed her eyes. The big male tried to move and couldn’t. He took a step, then was pushed back. He roared.

Skye didn’t budge.

Skehl, no. This is my fight. Protect Raia, Arghet sent him.

Raia growled. She didn’t need protection. Yet the distraction worked, because Skehl finally left Ackhlen and Arghet and came to stand with her, the cats in tow.

He nuzzled her neck and sighed. “You smell good.”

She couldn’t help a smile, despite her worry over Arghet. “You do too. I love the smell of victory, love.” We’ll play later. Now let’s watch our stubborn mate kick some ass.

He sighed. “I guess. I wanted to play too.”

She snorted.

The others joined her, their small group watching the new battlefield, one where creation met the crumble of decay.

“What is that?” Skye asked. “And why does it keep trying to creep closer?”

Raia gripped Skehl’s hand. Together, without realizing how they did it, they shielded the others from the bad energy tainting their phelthar.

“Better,” Talzec said with approval. 

“Does anyone else find this really strange?” Tattan asked.

Everyone grunted.

And Ackhlen attacked.

Arghet had been waiting for the barbarian to move. Armed with a scitia against an unarmed opponent. Not very sporting. But then, Ackhlen had never been one for equality. He wanted Arghet because he thought Arghet came close to his skill with a sword, as no one else had.

Arghet hadn’t liked Ackhlen from the first. Not the way he watched Arghet with lust or envy. Or the fact he considered himself entitled to whatever he wanted because he thought himself superior to everyone else.

It had come as no surprise to see Ackhlen disrespecting his alpha. But then, any barbarian who would throw his lot in with aliens deserved what he got. It was one thing to join an offworlder in love and communion, another to join with the intention of stealing from the planet.

Ackhlen’s energy wasn’t tied to Ussed anymore, yet he remained strong.

“What is inside you?” Arghet wanted to know. “You are not tied to the planet. Or to your kind. What have you done?” He jumped back to avoid being skewered. Apparently whatever surged inside Ackhlen had increased his speed and strength.

At the thought, Arghet felt a burst of energy from his mates, his clan, and even the cats.

One hissed while the other two growled.

Skehl laughed. Figured his berserker of a mate would enjoy the battle.

“I am more, Arghet. More than any of you can understand.” He slashed at Arghet and scored a hit. But the moment Arghet started to bleed he healed, at one with the world around him. “But perhaps you comprehend more than I’d thought.” Ackhlen dropped his sword arm. “This world is not the only sentient planet in the universe. When the alien raiders came, we told them to go home. We fought them.”

Arghet glanced around. “This doesn’t look like fighting them. This was us fighting them—and you.”

Ackhlen sighed. “We tried to fight back, but their tech worked. We didn’t understand it. And then the leader took Fehlen aside. I do not know what was said, but Fehlen made him a deal. I went with the aliens back to their homeworld. And it was something else.” His eyes seemed bottomless. “It hurt, being away from Ussed. I had not wanted to go, but Fehlen promised them my service in exchange for the protection of our clan.”

“You are no possession to be bartered. He should have protected you.”

“He did what he thought right.”

Yet Talzec had stood up for Arghet, even in the face of their elders.

“I grew to adapt to the planet. It was different, but like Ussed, it needed a host.”

“A host?”

“It’s parasitic, living in me. Through me.” Ackhlen smiled, and a black stain veined through his arms, up his throat to his face. “It is an eternal hunger. And now I give it a new place to feed. And all I want in return is you.”

The chorus of noes in his mind gave him a headache while making him want to smile.

“You were always meant to be mine,” Ackhlen said. “Yet you resisted. And you didn’t realize that made you even more perfect. Only something unattainable could possibly fulfill someone of my worth. For I am a god. And soon I will be your god.”

To his shock, Arghet watched the black overtake Ackhlen. As it started pouring over him onto the ground, it ate at the goodness that was Ussed.

Which was not acceptable. Arghet dove at Ackhlen, coming in contact with the dark stuff that tried to eat away at his spirit. The rush of energy that belonged to his mates held it back, but not enough. He felt it eating away at his insides, heard the yells from his clan as it poured over him. Then he sensed Skehl and Raia pulling him back, their hands on his flesh, touching him. Touching it.

He growled, ignored the pain, and prayed to the Maker to protect his mates while he reached for the scitia. He yanked it from Ackhlen’s hand and ignored the crazed laughter of the barbarian who was no longer mortal. No longer a warrior, but an alien predator.

Then he threw his mates from him with a strength he borrowed from Skehl.

“No, stop,” Raia commanded.

Skehl bellowed, “Arghet, come back.”

Arghet saw the form that used to be Ackhlen and watched as the golden eyes of his rival returnee for a brief moment. Then he plunged the blade deep, biting into his heart.

Ackhlen shrieked, and the expulsion of power tossed Arghet up through the air. Expecting to break as he landed against a tree or rock wall, he was surprised to find himself caught by Skehl, who cradled him close. Raia hurried to their side and laid hands on him. The scitia remained in his hand, scoring his palm with pain that faded into a steady buzz of energy. The scitia attracted the blackness into the metal, where it burned it away.

Raia and Skehl’s power continued to pour into him.

The black all around raced into the blade and disappeared, until all that had been Ackhlen and the black rot vanished.

Love for his mates filled him, as did a love from Ussed. The energy made it difficult to think of anything but sharing with them his life-giving seed.

Talzec reached them and stopped in his tracks when Skehl pointed at him. A ray of golden light covered Talzec’s wound, healing him.

The other Vyctore rallied closer, and that energy flowed to each an every warrior, bathing them in a curative energy.

They gasped, laughed, and thanked the Sehvar with good humor.

“Don’t think this makes us even,” Tattan said, stretching with a groan. “You still owe me a sparring match, Skehl.”

“And I want a chance to talk to Arghet when this is over,” Efhel grinned, no longer bleeding from his thigh. “Tell me how to fine my own sexy assassin.”

Talzec hugged Skye to him and chuckled. “Many thanks for the healing, Sehvar. Arghet, I see you are in fighting form.” A not so subtle reference to his obvious erection. The others snickered. “I understand a celebration is in order. Enjoy yourselves. We’ll meet you back at the camp.” He walked away with his mate under his arm and gave orders to the others. They would bring back word of what had occurred and station Vyctore to protect the crater, which now looked like a natural part of the rainforest.

Greenery covered the ground. Trees sprouted to full maturity, and canopies of maffet and meyrn leaves covered areas, giving shadowed life to the dark-craving species that the jungle required to thrive. The vegetation crept over the hunk of aircraft and pulled it under the ground, burying the tech under the hard rock below.

The felines rolled around in the new growth, while Arghet felt his needs continue to rise. He’d been without his mates for days, and now, with the instinct inside him clamoring to be set free, he was desperate to rejoin them.

As if hearing his unspoken plea, the land created an area for them reminiscent of their bonding place by the red-stems. The ground nearby gave way to a small stream that snaked through the crater and streamed up the rock, defying gravity, to connect to the natural waterways above. Before him, a small room bordered by walls of bark and leaf was created. A smooth slab of marble grew out of the ground, and around them red-stems blossomed, the sweet smell a gentle reminder that the love he felt for his mates, they felt for him.

He didn’t know who began to disrobe first, but in moments he was naked and on his back on warm marble while his female slid over his cock. He bucked up, on fire to have her. And as she rode him, he saw Skehl standing close, the male aroused and slick.

In my mouth. Arghet had to feel them both.

Skehl stood closer in a blink. The stone dais on which Arghet lay grew taller, so that when he turned his head and opened his mouth, he was at the right height to take Skehl’s cock inside.

He sucked while Skehl gripped his hair and fucked his mouth. Raia bounced up and down, taking him so hard and deep.

It didn’t take him long to come, and as he gripped her thighs and ground up into her, she moaned her orgasm, pulled into one by him, no doubt. Skehl shoved to the back of Arghet’s throat and poured himself, his second seed, before withdrawing to spatter his marker all over Arghet’s throat and chest.

The passion, the love, smelled as sweet as the many red-stems surrounding them. Around them, the planet shuddered, caught in more growth as the Sehvar—the saviors of their tribe—gave back the love they felt.

And Arghet knew a peace he’d been sorely lacking. No way would he ever give back the bond that held him to those he loved.

Skehl had never felt so good. Not in all his life. The pleasure they shared from making love tied their spiritual bonds tighter. He belonged now, in a way he never had.

“Oh yes.” Raia sighed, still sitting on top of Arghet. She glowed with a beauty all her own, and he’d never seen anything more glorious.

“I agree,” Arghet smiled, reaching up to cup her breasts. “Such a sweet, biddable female we have, Skehl.”

“You’re an ass, you know that?” Raia snapped, then grinned. “Probably why you and I get along so well.”

Skehl chuckled, interested when Raia rose and stepped aside, and saw that Arghet remained hard. He hungered for his male, needing something he hadn’t yet experienced, wondering if Arghet would feel what he did when penetrated with such strength.

“Oh yes. That I want to see.” Raia winked at him, then slapped a hand over Arghet’s chest when he moved to sit up. “No. Stay down, mate. Skehl and I saved your life.”

“Oh?” Arghet relaxed and placed his hands behind his head. “How is that?”

“We brought help with us. And we stopped Ackhlen from destroying the planet.”

Arghet snorted. “Really? Because I think I’m the one who stopped Ackhlen.”

“After we rescued you,” Skehl added when Raia gave him a mental nudge.

Arghet cocked a brow.

Skehl wanted him with a passion that bordered on crazed.

Arghet stared at him, looked him over from head to toe, then spread his thighs wider, showing his plump balls, his thick, flushed cock. “For you, Skehl, I would welcome the attention.” He glanced at Raia and grinned. “But only because I allow it. Not because you want it to happen, assassin.”

She frowned, but Skehl felt her amusement. She and Arghet would butt heads often, and he had a feeling they’d like that conflict, keeping them both on their toes.

Skehl was content to let his mates bicker, especially if he got rewarded so handsomely.

He stared at Arghet’s arousal and licked his lips. Without waiting, he leaned down and took that fat cock in his mouth, gratified to hear Arghet’s hiss of pleasure.

He sucked, tasting Raia as well, and lost himself in a haze of pleasure. He ached, full and needing to spend.

“In him, Skehl.” Raia’s small hands grazed his sac, then rubbed him, getting him nice and desperate. “I want to you come inside our mate.”

He moaned, wanting that with everything inside him. He would have flipped Arghet over, but Raia stopped him. No, on top. Raise his hips and mount him. I’ll help.

Arghet watched, his eyes a blazing gold, his markers blushing with red and black pulses of need.  

Skehl knelt on top of the slab and gathered Arghet’s hips in his hands. He lifted the male up some and scooted closer, sitting back on his ass, his cock like a spike, especially as Raia continued to play with him.

She pumped him, sliding her hands over his slick rod. When he’d positioned Arghet’s hole near him, she guided his cock close. “Now, mate, push deep.”

Arghet watched, and Skehl stared into his mate’s eyes as he slowly pushed himself inside a tight, tight hole.

Arghet gasped. “Mother Night, you feel huge.”

Skehl couldn’t speak. He continued to pull Arghet closer, seating that hot passage around him while he dug deeper. Maker, Arghet felt like perfection.

Raia smiled, aroused as well. “Yes. It’s very good, isn’t, sweet?” She leaned close to take Skehl’s nipple in her mouth, then teethed the nub before she pulled back.

He jerked and shoved home again, unaware he’d started moving until he couldn’t stop.

Raia jerked off Arghet while Skehl took his mate, feeling so much he worried he’d pass out.

“Come inside me, Skehl,” Arghet rasped and groaned, spending his first seed all over his belly, and all under Raia’s satisfied smile.

“Yes, Skehl. Mark your mate.”

Skehl wanted to hold on, but he couldn’t. He roared as he exploded, his orgasm all encompassing as he jetted into Arghet’s tight ass. The second seed he expected made him lightheaded with the giving. And then he felt more come out, his first seed bathing Arghet’s ass, so that the male would feel that essence in him and over him.

It seemed like forever before he’d stopped, and he knew Raia had yet to find her satisfaction. He motioned for her to come closer.

When she did, he lifted her in his arms and drew her higher, so that she sat, her pussy at his mouth, her legs over his shoulders, as he ate her into a raging climax.

Embedded in one mate while swallowing the cream of the other, Skehl had never, ever, been happier.

Chapter Eleven

“THEY WILL NOT be breaking the bond. They will not be leaving the Vyctore.” Talzec stood, his arms akimbo, as he faced the elders, both shamans, and a member of the Fire tribe. Behind him, all of those attending the games, except for the traitorous Chamra members, watched in silence.

So much had happened. Raia knew the barbarians would need time to comprehend it all. Frankly, she still didn’t understand how she and her mates had accomplished so much sex without having body parts fall off.

Two days of tender lovemaking interspersed with raw fucking, until the jungle rang with their cries of completion. The vegetation in the entire area, including the game site, had thickened to such a degree that warriors had been tasked to once again clear passageways through the forest so barbarians could eventually leave.

The Vyctore had gotten their own treat. Tied to Arghet and Skehl, and now her, they’d been plagued with extreme sexual desire and had been pleased by both men and women in their quest for satisfaction. She had a feeling if Skye wasn’t breeding already, she’d be carrying as soon as her other mate joined in the fun.

The entire clan seethed with sexual energy, even two days after the effects of arousal had finally started to wane.

“So you think to defy your tribal leaders?” Elder Ihlar asked, sounding sad. “Is it not enough the esteemed Chamra have fallen? That they will no longer have a clan?”

Like the Nasuhl, they too would be disbanded, their dishonor one that demanded hey be disbanded. The warriors who remained hung their heads in shame, and those around gave them a wide berth.

“That’s ridiculous.” Skye interrupted when Talzec would have spoken.

Raia grinned, really liking the Earther female.

“The Chamra here and at home, in their village, had nothing to do with Fehlen’s decision to turn traitor. Only the Chamra warriors who strayed should be punished.”

Talzec stopped her tirade, a hand on her arm. “That is our custom, love. And they know it.” He shook his head. “A sad truth. But I do agree with you. They should not hold their heads in shame. It is not their fault their leader was weak.” He turned to the men. “We Vyctore would welcome you to join us.”

The Chamra warriors looked surprised, then pleased. The Vyctore had won all but one of the events at the competition, in addition to battling offworlders and making claim to the only Sehvar in the tribe.

“That is our decision to make,” Elder Xehlett looked offended.

“Yes, it is. But I wanted it known the Vyctore do not hold the actions of their leaders against them. Skehl was once Nasuhl, forced into a lifestyle not of his choosing. Yet no one helped him.” The glare Talzec shot the elders shocked Raia. She hadn’t though he’d care about a wrong done to a young boy. “We protect our own. And I will never, so long as I am leader of my people, ask a barbarian to disregard the mate bond. There is no truer thing on this planet.”

The crowd murmured their agreement, many shocked to hear such a thing.

Elder Ihlar flushed. Before he could speak, the Fire tribe representative stepped forward.

“What nonsense is this?” The male was as large as Skehl, the markers on his body flashing black and orange, as if he were on fire. “You tried to sever a mate-bond?”

Elder Ohgren explained, “We are not as plentiful in our resources as the Fire tribe. With our new Sehvar, we thought to seed our population with the potential to save our people. You have heard how just these three prevented an invasion and repelled offworlder attacks.”

The male, Ruak, Raia had heard him called, scoffed. “You never learn, do you?”

Talzec glared. “Have a care, warrior. These are our elders.”

“And elders can’t be wrong?” Ruak challenged. Though he gave Talzec an approving nod. “You are a good leader. You protect your people.” He smiled at Raia, Arghet, and Skehl, whom he gave a solid study before looking once again at Raia. “Even those who are not of your tribe.”

“What?” Raia asked.

Skehl frowned.

Ruak held up a hand, and the entire tribe grew silent. “You should know that the reason you lost your Sehvar in the past is because your leaders did just what they’re trying to do now. A bonding without love, without connection, is not a true bonding. The phelthar fades, and the power disappears.”

Elder Ihlar flushed. “That’s not true.”

Ruak nodded. “That’s exactly true. Hundred of years ago, we fought among the tribes. And the Cloud tribe wanted more power. So hungry for it, you took your greatest weapon, your Sehvar, and forced them to separate, thinking you could breed a new force to control your enemy. And you lost it all. Because phelthar is not enough to draw the power of the Maker’s healers. Only a true bonding, which is rare between triads, can house that which is Ussed.”

Talzec smiled. “That makes sense.”

“Yes,” she, Skehl, and Arghet said as one.

Arghet frowned, still not entirely comfortable at how close they’d all become, though he loved them fiercely, she knew. He cleared his throat. “I would do anything for my clan, for my tribe. But I will not do it at the expense of my bond-mates. Our love is true, and it is a gift from the Maker. I do no think throwing it back in his face will endear us to him.”

Ruak nodded. “When you did it the last time, he took the power from you. Now that there’s need of the Sehvar once again, the choice is yours to accept the responsibility or deny it.”

“What does that mean?” Skehl asked.

Ruak regarded him with affection. “It means, my friend, that you can protect your clan and tribe by going where you’re needed, or you can choose to live an uncomplicated life. Our people do as their hearts tell them. We have some Sehvar who live in their villages and heal the sick and injured. And we have others who patrol the lands to wipe out threats—warriors defending the land. They go as they are called, or not.” He turned to the elders with a frown. “But that is their choice to make. They have been called. You have not.”

Elder Ihlar didn’t like the male’s attitude. She couldn’t blame him, but she liked the guy.

The elders turned to confer, the silence in the crowd heavy.

Talzec waited with them, unafraid. Next to her, Arghet and Skehl stood, tense. She felt Skehl’s nerves but knew Arghet would make sure they were all okay.

I’ll make sure we’re okay, said to taunt him. I’ll protect you, lover.

He scowled. You’re due for a good reaming later. I think you’ve forgotten your place—beneath me, female. The pain from his intrusion into her backside had felt surprisingly good, and he knew it. He winked at Skehl. Or with that smart mouth full of cock.

Skehl blinked, and his eyes crinkled with pleasure. Arghet smirked, then emptied his expression as they waited for word from the elders.

Once they’d finished conferring, Elder Ihlar spoke. “We have been remiss not to better study our history. Our desire was never to part mates, as we do know that’s a blessing from the Maker.” The elders and shamans paused, giving thanks. “But we worry for our tribe. We are thankful to the Vyctore for protecting our lands. And for our Sehvar, who protect so much more.”

The elders, as one, bowed to Raia and her mates. She liked it, but she could tell her mates found it disturbing. Ruak shot her a sly grin before he bowed his head. But when the entire tribe did it, she too found it a little weird.

Then the elders straightened, and the tribe followed.

“We will abide your decision,” Elder Ohgren said.

“We will,” agreed elders Xehlett and Ihlar.

Behind them, each shaman nodded.

A great cheer went up from the crowd.

And around them, flowers bloomed. Overhead, birds flew in patterned formations. The cats decided to join their new barbarian pack and sat at their feet, watching the elders with amusement.

Ruak blinked, and she realized they’d managed to startle the male. “Caerrn cats?”

“Apparently they’re keeping us,” Arghet muttered. The large one who’d claimed him butted him from behind, nearly knocking him over. “Hey, stop that.”

The cat relented when Arghet petted him, scratching behind his ears.

“Blessed in truth.” Ruak bowed to the cat, his respect evident, and puzzling.

Elder Ihlar proclaimed the last day of the games a celebration of barbarian spirit. And no one was surprised when he proclaimed the Vyctore the year’s victors.

Before everyone scattered, Skye, Talzec, and Raia and her mates cornered Ruak.

“What?” he asked, seemingly not in awe of anything that had happened.

Raia chuckled. “I like this one.” At Skehl’s unfriendly look at Ruak, she added, “But not that much.”

Talzec asked what she’d been about to. “What did you mean before about protecting those not of my tribe?”

Ruak pointed to Raia and Skehl. “They are not Cloud.”

“We’re not?” Skehl frowned.

When Ruak said nothing, Arghet growled, “Well? What are they?”

Ruak sighed. “You people know so little about your history.”

“Speak, warrior,” Arghet ordered.

Ruak didn’t seem to like his tone. He glared. “Make me.”

“Seriously, could you lower the testosterone?” Skye shook her head.

Raia met her gaze. “Males.”

“I know, right? Look Ruak, we all know we’re lacking. Now how about telling us what you know?” When the Fire tribe barbarian smirked at her, Skye lifted him into the air with a wave of her hand.

He gaped and nodded. Once again on his feet, he gave her a wide smile. “I know Talzec is your mate, but have you ever tried a Fire warrior? We burn much hotter.” He gave Talzec a long onceover. “And for much longer than what you’re probably used to.”

Skye put a hand on her mate’s chest to hold him back.

Talzec glared. “I’d love to show you just how long I can last.”

Raia coughed to cover a laugh. “Yes, well, great Fire warrior. Can you pleased just tell us what you meant?”

Ruak shrugged. “Is it not obvious? You are of the Rock tribe.”

Everyone stared. Arghet shook his head. “There is no Rock tribe.”

“Yes, there is. But they keep to the dark and to the land. They prefer the underground caves in the south, near our people. But they especially like the damp places, where Ussed creeps over rock and washes the land with life. There are not many of them left.” He gave her and Skehl a compassionate look. “Many raided the Rock tribe to take mates. They are prolific and ripe with the Maker’s blessings.” To Raia and Skehl, he bowed his head. “You will have many children. And they will all possess your abilities to commune with Ussed.” To Arghet, he said, with all sincerity, “You must be a great warrior to be so graced. The Rock people remain one of our greatest treasures.”

Arghet smiled. “Yes, I know.” But to Raia, he said, “Let it go. I’m not calling you my queen, my master, or my alpha. Not now, not ever.” Even if I do love you more than the mother moons and father suns combined. And you too, Skehl, I’m not leaving you out, though you’re a literal pain in my ass.

Skehl laughed, and the booming sound encouraged everyone to join in.

Raia smiled, lost in love with her mates. They’d figure out how they’d live, though she planned on learning as much about the Vyctore as she could before searching out other Rock tribe warriors.

But she didn’t know if she’d say Arghet was the lucky one.

Arghet, Skehl, you know I love you two, do you not?

They looked at each, then back at her, and answered wearing the same grin, I know. 

About the Author

Caffeine addict, boy referee, and romance aficionado, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Marie Harte has over 100 books published with more constantly on the way. She’s a confessed bibliophile and devotee of action movies. Whether hiking in Central Oregon, biking around town, or hanging at the local tea shop, she’s constantly plotting to give everyone a happily ever after. Visit http://marieharte.com and fall in love.

Other Science Fiction & Fantasy Romance Releases

Creations

The Perfect Creation

Creation’s Control

Creating Chemistry

Caging the Beast

Life in the Vrail

Lurin’s Surrender

Thief of Mardu

Engaging Gren

Seriana Found

Ludos Deorum

Beasts of Burden

Jackal’s Measure

The Instinct

A Civilized Mating

A Barbarian Bonding

A Warrior’s Claiming

Single Titles

A Familiar Face

Tempting Traditions
A Scorching Seduction

For more contemporary, paranormal, and futuristic romance, visit marieharte.com and fall in love

              A CIVILIZED MATING Excerpt

BEFORE LISA COULD expound upon the craziness, more barbarians entered the scene. These two didn’t give off the ugly vibe the others had. But their intensity was palpable. Skye shook with the vibration of violence and felt like calling to like, especially when she looked into the gaze of the taller of the two.

“What is all this?” the shorter one asked. Shorter one. Ha. He still topped her by a good foot and a half.

“A very good question,” Hottie the Barbarian answered. He wore authority well, and she had the impression he was of higher rank. She couldn’t be certain, but he felt more…dangerous.

Both men wore standard barbarian gear, and heavens, but those loincloths really did reveal a great deal of sexy man-ass. When Hottie shifted, she couldn’t help noticing his front matched his back in the Holy Hannah department.

Hottie’s lips quirked when he noticed her attention, and she swore under her breath, bemused that she couldn’t seem to control her libido around these people.

His friend pointed at Lisa and grinned. “Maht’s mate.” He laughed at Lisa’s blush. “You have been well-pleasured, female. The look suits you.”

“Zehn.” Hottie sighed. “We’ll figure this out later. You, female—” he motioned to Lisa “—come with us.” Then he crooked a finger at Skye. “You as well. We will settle this matter at home.”

“I don’t think so.” Skye straightened and rested on the balls of her feet, buzzing and ready to go again. “Lisa and I are part of the resort. We’re offworlders,” she emphasized. “We know you guys don’t mingle with those not of your tribe, so we’re heading back to Welcome. Now.”

Lisa continued to sniffle even as she stood on shaky legs. “Skye, I don’t know…”

“Lisa, you are Maht’s female.” Zehn nodded. “He has made an excellent choice. You are most pleasing.”

“Thanks.” There went Lisa, blushing and fawning just because a hot guy told her she looked good.

Skye glared at the pair. “Lisa, we have to go.”

Slowly, the smiles faded. Zehn cocked his head and he studied her. “Xaveht, do you sense something different about them? Especially that one?” He nodded at her.

“About the light-haired one?” Hottie—Xaveht—asked, all but ignoring Lisa now. That should have been a good thing.

Skye knew it wasn’t.

“Yes.” Zehn frowned. He stepped toward Lisa, as if to grab her, and Skye rushed into action. She kicked him back while pushing Lisa behind her.

“Lisa, grab my pack and follow the course-finder back to the resort. Go.”

“But, Maht…”

“Damn it. We’ll sort it all out later. In the safety of the resort. Go.”

The men didn’t give Lisa a second look. Their concentration on Skye made her fuzzy for a moment, awash in tactical energy. Assessing, watching, planning. They felt like a well-oiled machine and acted like one unit as they fanned out to flank her.

“Hell no.” She turned and attacked the weaker of the two—Zehn—first. Once she had him on the ground, she turned to face Xaveht but found him gone. “Shit.” He must have darted after Lisa.

She turned to leave Zehn but ended up running smack into Xaveht’s chest. Where the hell had he come from? His arms wrapped around her like steel bands. As she struggled with Xaveht, she heard him order Zehn to capture Lisa.

Skye fought harder, but no matter how she tried to tap into Xaveht’s moves and escape, she couldn’t break free. Unlike Zehn, Xaveht had a tighter, less manageable energy.

So she used her telepathy to kick him in the balls.

His eyes widened and his hold loosened, but not enough for her to go completely free.

“Female, you surprise me.” The bastard had the nerve to grin at her.

Laughing at her, like the chauvinistic fools back on Earth had. Before she’d kicked their asses.

She tried to head-butt him and threw herself right out of his grasp when he suddenly wasn’t there. Seconds later, as she tried to rise to her feet, he knocked her back to the ground. She struggled, managed to find a few tendrils of his ability to call her own and grappled with him, feeling like a slippery eel he had trouble catching.

“Female, cease.” He sounded annoyed and no longer smiled.

Not that his lack of a grin made him any less appealing.

She hated that she found him more attractive, especially because she couldn’t help noticing how firm he was. Everywhere.

A Civilized Mating

Note, this is a m/m/f story, where everyone is touching everyone. Enjoy!

A BARBARIAN BONDING Excerpt

SO FAR FROM the center of the resort, and situated behind a rock wall accessed only by a small opening she had to crawl through to access, Mandy spent her evenings under the moonlight, surrounded by nothing but warm water, sweet flowers, and lush greenery.

The three moons overhead promised a bright night, and after taking a short meal in the form of a nutrition bar, she grabbed a synth towel and walked toward her grotto. Peace and quiet, finally.

She shifted around the bush shielding the entrance, then crawled through the stone opening. A few feet inside, just as she started to rise, she heard rustling in front of her. She froze. The murmur of low voices came to her. What sounded like… Zehn and Lore?

Though they’d left her small gifts before, they’d never intruded at night, and certainly never near her grotto. She crawled the short distance to the shrubs surrounding her tiny lagoon and peered over them, astounded to see the giant warriors in her special spot. How had they fit through the entrance? Had they been spying on her to find her hidden paradise?

“I do not need this. I can wait,” she heard Lore say. The quieter of the two, he seemed more intense than his partner.

Both males dwarfed her. Their breadth of shoulder, sheer mass, and muscular frames intimidated the heck out of her. It didn’t help that both men were drool-worthy. The flesh-colored tribal tattoo on Lore’s chest darkened, then faded as suddenly.

Zehn’s coloring echoed Lore’s, pulsing with a hint of red before fading.

She couldn’t stop herself from crawling closer, then froze when she cracked a stick underfoot.

The barbarians didn’t seem to notice, intent on each other.

She felt something in the air, a sweltering of energy that seemed to reach out and caress her like the softest breeze.

“You cannot go so long. You know this.” Zehn sounded concerned.

So beautiful, was all she could think as they took off their clothes.

A Barbarian Bonding

Note, this is a m/m/f story, where everyone is touching everyone. Enjoy!

 BEASTS OF BURDEN Excerpt

HALL LICKED HIS lips, managing to swallow his grimace. The scarab tasted like burnt offal. Along with Avarr, he remained in his feline form and approached Eira. Their valkyrie was covered in blood and scratches, yet she glowed like the purest snow. He smelled her blood, her power, and wanted to lick her up.

The wary look she gave them felt so damn good. For years they’d been dying to show her their true selves. Not the “gentle kitties” she’d often accused them of being, but battle-hardened warriors who could and did fight with ease. Though he loved his goddess, her mandated constraints when dealing with Eira had frustrated him to no end. But no longer.

He cocked his head at Avarr and signaled they should surround her. In their beastly shapes, they didn’t communicate often out loud, but with body language. The slightest shift of a whisker often said more than words could.

Avarr nodded and hissed, and Eira stiffened. She gripped her spear tight, her bow now over her shoulder along with her quiver of arrows. She made a fetching sight in her battle gear—the short skirt and sleeveless tunic that showed off her muscle. Yet it was the confused look in her eyes that held him—lust, bewilderment, and caution—and made him want to pounce.

“Hold.” She lifted her spear, and Avarr growled. “Back off. I want to talk to you. Shift back.”

Avarr curled his lip, as did Hall. It was past time Eira learned she wasn’t in charge.

They were.

Avarr pounced, but the spry valkyrie managed to avoid being flattened. She rolled away and came to her feet in one swift movement. That she had yet to throw her spear told Hall she had no intention of hurting them. No. Their Little Snow wanted them. He could scent her need. The mix of passion and power pulled him, as it did Avarr.

He chirped to distract her while Avarr moved, ready to take her down.

Eira surprised them both. The blasted woman threw her spear. He easily batted it away and watched her turn on her heel and run like lightning into the woods still standing beyond the lake. Time to give chase. Finally. He grinned.

Beasts of Burden

Note, this is a m/m/f novella, where everyone is touching everyone. Enjoy!