Engulf [New World Book 5] (6 page)

The reaction was immediate. Raiden felt his secretions surface to slip into her body. It wasn’t just a compelling need it was—everything—to calm her. Her tears absorbed into his body making him pull her tighter. After initially struggling, Abri’s cheek lay against his chest. Raiden’s secretions were geared to quiet a female—especially one he wanted to mate with. He saw Sam move to interfere but Cace stopped her. Cace pulled Sam to his chest. Raiden’s warrior mate’s gaze became enlightened.

Cace cocked his head to the side. “I can feel her fluid mix with mine.”

“I know, it’s instinct, search your scent memory for the feeling. We must get them to our vessel where it’s safer,” Raiden replied.

“There is nothing to fear with these females. Your brother must have been aboard Cobra’s search vessel. There are other Castians now on the surface rounding up the human females. I was told to bring the female, Tasha, to you. Cobra said Doss heard your emotional scent of worry while on board the ship. In fact, Cobra barely had time to open the ship door before Doss was on the move. Your brother has a very big protective streak. He also moves faster than any other Castian. He’ll save Tasha.”

“But how?” Sam whimpered. “She was sliced to pieces.”

Raiden looked at the female in Cace’s arms. She was trembling. Tears rolled down her cheeks much like Abri’s. Raiden could scent her despair. She looked so small. He wondered how long they had been on the planet alone. They all must have become very close. It would be better for all six females to mate with Raiden’s close friends to ensure they weren’t separated.

“Cobra, our leader, has come with a war vessel. Aboard the vessel are healing waters. A Castian warrior has no need of healing waters, and it was by accident we discovered these waters could heal female humans of inflicted pain.” Sam looked hopeful and Raiden knew immediately what she was thinking. “I am unsure if it will help Abri to hear.”

“But you’ll try?”

“Yes, of course.”

Abri tugged on his arm, and when Raiden looked upon her face, he could see her worry. Seeing her tear-filled gaze made his heart flip in an odd way. He stroked her hair. Then cupping her cheeks in his hands, he brought her gaze to his lips.

“Abri?” She nodded. “My ship is near.” He motioned she was to follow him.

“Your ship?” Sam asked.

“We can’t abandon the vessel to the planet. It has coordinates we cannot allow the Tonan warriors to get a hold of,” Cace replied.

“Is that what those creatures were?” Sam asked.

“Yes. We are Castian warriors. Tonan warriors are distant relatives who mutated. There are more on our planet, but you needn’t fear them. If there was a trace of dishonesty in them, Cobra wouldn’t allow them to be near our planet. It’s simple enough to differentiate. The lying deceitful Tonans have long tails. The Tonans on our planet have snapped their tails off. If their tails begin to grow, they will have been caught in a lie and will be severely punished.

“Once we get you to Bagron, we can try the healing water on Abri. With luck, it will cure her.” Raiden was hopeful it would heal her. If not, mating with her should. Mating a female seemed to work on any ailment. Abri’s hearing disorder should be no different.

When they reached the ship, Raiden voiced a command and the vessel de-cloaked. It floated approximately a foot off the ground. If Raiden chose to, he could move it with a touch of his hand, so too could Cace. For any other it wouldn’t budge. It didn’t mean it was invincible—Raiden was. Abri held back and Raiden could scent her fear. He stroked her cheek.

Human vessels were oddities and outdated junk. To Raiden, he thought it would be the same as comparing a human fighter jet to a paper plane. Through his travels to Earth, Raiden had seen images of such things through what was left of the satellites surrounding the planet. Raiden was surprised humans had become capable of flight at all—very astute beings or perhaps tenacious.

The sleek, black, rounded dome vessel before Abri was more than likely intimidating her. Raiden thought briefly of taking her to Cobra’s vessel, but he didn’t want to let her out of his sight—he scented Cace felt the same of his own female. With Cobra’s warship near, Raiden was certain the danger was minimal. If he left Abri alone on Cobra’s ship, another might scent imprint with her as well. That could prove tricky. Cobra wouldn’t allow his warriors to fight each other except in mock battle. If the other warrior was older and more experienced, Abri might gravitate towards the other warrior.

“I think Abri’s remembering the last shuttle ride we were on, I can’t blame her for not wanting to get on,” Sam said with a grimace. “The landing was rough, the pilot and co-pilot died. We spent a year in purgatory.”

“I promise you, I won’t allow that to happen,” Raiden said.

After lifting Abri aboard he settled her into a seat near him. Abri’s tried to look everywhere at once. Raiden was realizing just how new this must be to her. He could scent her worry. After a thought he crouched before her. His gaze went from Sam to Abri.

“When the vessel hits space my armor will go up. This is a shuttle not a war vessel. The moment my eyes see the change in the atmosphere it will be unavoidable. It’s not something I have control over. My armor takes care of me. I need you to try and explain this to Abri. I know you find us fearful when shielded.”

“How long will the trip take?” Sam asked. She was trembling and reached to take Abri’s hand.

“A few Earth hours.”

“How come you speak our language?” Sam asked. “Don’t you need some weird device? Or to channel our thoughts? Mind probing—is that what your brother did to Abri?”

Raiden chuckled. “I think you read too many science fiction books.” Sam gasped. “Yes we know all about your world—at least what there was of it. I’m sorry but it’s almost dead. We haven’t found survivors in a long time. Our hope has been some shuttles like your own crashed on neighboring planets.”

“Like we did?” Sam said.

“Yes. With the war dwindling to minor terrorist attacks, we can focus on searching more planets. As for me speaking your language—how do you know you’re not speaking mine?”Raiden countered. He chuckled again. Humans were so self-centered.

Raiden squeezed Abri’s hands. He mouthed, “Trust me.” She really had no choice, but she gave him a tiny nod. Raiden sat in his chair near Cace. The shuttle hovered for a brief moment then shot forward. The second they broke the atmosphere, Raiden heard Abri’s sharp intake of breath. His armor was up. She was afraid. He guessed if he turned to grin at her with his fangs she might very well faint, so he refrained from doing so.

Raiden had spent his entire life surrounded by hard warriors. He had met few females. Instinct told him he needed to be gentler. It would take some getting used to. Above all else, Cobra had stressed the need for a soft touch. A warrior wouldn’t want to accidently rip off a vulnerable human arm. The image Cobra had invoked disgusted Raiden so much that every time he touched Abri he made certain of the pressure.

Cobra’s vessel had not left the planet as yet. They were more than likely still rounding up the terrified females. A blip sounded on the console. All Raiden had to do to control the ship was wave his hand over a desired area; the panel could scent his will. With talons for fingers, this technological idea was practical. A message then sounded.

“We have the last of the females.” It was Cobra’s voice. “You can begin your return trip. We’ll follow closely. Our docking bay is full. We were on our way to a larger planet near this one when Doss heard your distress call. That planet is bigger and I feel we will need all available vessels. I want to get these new females settled, then we’ll make a new trip.

“I understand you have two other females. Why were they not brought to my ship?”

“Cace and I have imprinted with these females.”

There was silence for a moment and Raiden could scent Cace’s worry. Cobra could demand the females be brought to his warship. If the ship was full, Raiden would have no choice but to pilot the vessel home.

Raiden felt a small hand touch him. Sam’s scent was anxious. “Our friend?”

Raiden had almost forgotten about the wounded woman. “Cobra, how is the injured female, Tasha?”

“You can thank your brother’s speed for saving her life—damn, that warrior can move. Cobra out.”

Raiden breathed a sigh of relief, not only for Tasha, but he was being allowed to keep the females on board. This time Raiden did grin at Abri who shuddered then brightened when Sam howled in her ear Tasha still lived. Raiden maneuvered the craft with practiced ease. The sleek, black, rounded hull sliced through the dark atmosphere. The planet below became a beautiful green ball.

A strong scent of worry invaded Raiden’s senses. He turned to look at Abri who was now frowning. Her teeth began to click together. She looked at him in a panicked way. It was odd. There was nothing she should be frightened of. Abri lifted her arm to Sam. Very odd bumps were across her flesh. Was she sick? Perhaps flying didn’t agree with his little female.

No sooner were they free of the planet, when a blip sounded on the panel. A red light glowed.

Shit.

Both women screamed when a massive vessel de-cloaked in front of them. The gray Tonan vessel powered up. A warning went wild in the cockpit. Raiden’s shuttle had been locked onto. The sequined pattern displayed was total annihilation. It was apparent the enemy didn’t want the females—just revenge.

Raiden’s craft sped through the air, just missing the first assault of blue-streaked lightning. Even so, it sent the vessel spinning until Raiden regained control. Raiden felt panic building until his armor controlled it. Cace and Raiden would be fine—their armor would keep them safe until Cobra’s war vessel could scoop them up. Raiden looked over at Abri—she would die. Unless…

Raiden jumped from his seat and grabbed Abri, he ripped her shirt off. The Tonan warship powered up. The warning on his panel sounded—they had been locked onto. Abri was screaming and fighting him. The only way for Raiden’s armor to come down now was to mate with Abri. It was the only way to save her life. It was apparent the idea had occurred to Cace as well. Raiden hated Abri’s terror of him—she felt lied to, betrayed. Not a good way to begin a mating. But it couldn’t be helped. With his fangs dripping his potent drug essence Raiden spun Abri around and bit into her shoulder blade.

Chapter 4

Abri was terrified. They were being attacked by the vessel outside and now she was being attacked by the being inside. When Raiden’s fangs slid into her tender flesh Abri tried to scream but felt awash with lethargy. She had been drugged. There was no pain and yet she could feel Raiden’s fangs slicing into her. Was he eating her? Was this what they had intended all along? She was food. Her legs buckled, but a large arm was wrapped around her midriff, holding her up.

She was watching out the window as the large gray vessel was now confronted by an ebony vessel. Had they come to save them? It was too late; a blue streak of lightning was coming directly at the front window. Abri knew she was going to be obliterated. She was spun back around and crushed to Raiden’s chest right before her surroundings exploded.

They were spinning through the dark space like a bullet. Abri couldn’t move. She felt the warmth of Raiden’s chest as her breasts were crushed up against him. Her arms were wrapped tight around his neck and her face buried into his throat. Her legs encircled his waist. With widened eyes she could see the stars. Abri had no clue what had happened. Somehow she was outside, in space, engulfed in a creature’s arms. She gasped for air for brief seconds before realizing she could breathe.

“It’s all right, don’t be afraid.”

Abri heard Raiden. She felt surrounded by him. She was afraid and yet not. She wanted to be afraid—tried to be afraid. It was the only normal reaction she should be having, and yet her emotions seemed stymied.

“How?” she whispered. Raiden didn’t answer her. Had she only imagined hearing him? “How?” she said again.

“What?”

Abri tried to jerk back, but couldn’t move, it was like she was fused to him. “How,” she said louder. “And don’t yell in my ear.” Abri was astounded, she could hear. She could make out Raiden’s words in her left ear. She hadn’t imagined it.

“I can’t hear you in my left ear, the sound only goes to my right,” Raiden voiced.

“It only goes to my left.”

“What?”

Abri was feeling frustrated. His lips were right next to her left ear and he kept shouting. “Don’t yell, Raiden.” She realized because her mouth was almost pressed into his neck her words were muffled. Why couldn’t he hear her?

Abri gasped when she saw the two large vessels come into view. Blue lights once more sluiced across the dark atmosphere. Another blue streak smashed into them and they went spinning. Abri wanted to scream as she and Raiden were flung across the empty airless vastness. Somehow Raiden had tucked her inside his armor. Was that why he bit her? A ritual to allow her in?

She should be terrified of him—Abri wasn’t, but she was annoyed. She was flying through space pressed to a being she had just met. A being that had bit her. Something told her no matter how often the Tonan—being—things shot at Raiden, he would remain unscathed. Abri determined her life just went from odd to holy shit.

“What is going on?” she demanded. “Why can I suddenly hear out of one ear? Why are we flying through space?”

“Our shuttle exploded,” he said stating the obvious. He sounded irritated.

“Well stop this armor of yours; I want to get off.”

“I don’t have a control panel.”

“You mean we’re going to float like this forever?”

“Cobra will pick us up once the fighting stops.”

“Cobra?”

“Our leader.”

“How long does it take two indestructible vessels to fight? And don’t ask me how I know they’re indestructible—while I’m floating in outer, fucking space.”

“You were a lot easier to deal with when you couldn’t hear.”