Bethany's Heart (Unearthly World Book 3) (16 page)

“Do you have children? I wouldn’t like it if my mate had slaves.”

“So far I have no children. I have no mate. Our females have no idea humans exist.”

“So you lie to them as well?”

Kier scowled. “What happens on our planet stays on our planet.”

“Oh, I get it now. I’m in Vegas!”

“You are mocking me.”

“No, you are mocking you. You’re delusional. Your females will find out. Females always find out. You’re just a bunch of unfaithful bastards. You have some nerve berating Finn. He is twice the male you are.”

“None of the warriors with slaves is mated,” Kier howled.

“For now.”

“A slave isn’t a mate. They are…”

“Nothing? Without feeling or emotion? Less than you?”

“You twist my words.”

Bethany could almost see his frustration dripping from his pores. She didn’t have time to spar further, another warrior entered Kier’s home.

“Thane has summoned you and this female.”

That was all. The warrior simply left without awaiting a response. Kier tugged her into his arms and was over the edge before Bethany could utter a protest. She had no choice but to cling to him. His return grip was tight. She may have pissed him off, but it was apparent he wouldn’t drop her.

The city was gorgeous. Domed silver roofs covered massive buildings. Beautiful fountains flowed where Bethany made out a human male drinking. He shielded his eyes as he looked up and waved. Kier waved back. Bethany saw the human man smile before he disappeared into a smaller building. Everything was lower to the ground but still too high for anything wingless to ponder escape. Humans would be trapped in this place. Kier’s feet touched the floor of an open room. The area was huge, airy, and six warriors stood conversing. Thane approached as Kier settled Bethany onto her feet.

Bethany’s neck hair was soon standing on end, she felt ill, and goose bumps dotted her arms. She swallowed hard a few times. Thane looked at her oddly.

“What have you done to this female?” he demanded to Kier.

“He hasn’t done anything,” Bethany said, whispering up at Thane. “I don’t like it in here.”

“This is our second major control room,” Thane said. “There is nothing and no one here who would harm you.”

“Then why are all of my senses screaming at me?” she asked.

Bethany gazed around the room. Her body began shaking. She swiveled slowly, pivoting around on the balls of her feet.

“Thane, she looks ill. Perhaps I should take her back to my home,” Kier said.

Bethany would have been surprised at his obvious concern if she hadn’t caught the movement from the corner of her eye. The winged being stood hovering at a huge panel. Its white boney wings waved as though a breeze were blowing. The clawed toes barely tapped the floor. The vision was a ghost or an apparition.

“It’s over there,” she whispered.

Both warriors turned to gaze where she was watching. “There’s nothing there, Bethany,” Kier said.

Soon all six warriors were fixated on the place Bethany stared, her gaze never varied. Her breath was rapid. The surreal creature suddenly stopped what it was doing, as the room had gone eerily quiet. Bethany knew it would turn, as it did, to face her. It began to float toward her, its clawed toes scraping across the floor soundlessly to everyone but Bethany.

“There isn’t anything there, Bethany. Come with me. Thane, I’m getting her out of here,” Kier’s tone was urgent but Thane stopped him.

“What do you see, Bethany?” Thane asked.

“One of the creatures in the clearing.”

“She must be ill. Fighting the beings made her ill,” Kier muttered.

Bethany stepped away from Kier and Thane. The being cocked its head as though curious. “That’s right, you ugly fucker, I can see you,” she said.

The being stopped five feet from her. Bethany waited for the pain in her head to start but nothing happened. The creature was there, it was real, she knew it.

“You are right, Thane. There are spies among you.” Bethany concentrated. She didn’t know if an apparition could be killed, but Bethany was solid bone and flesh and mind. When she had killed the other creature it had done something to her. She could feel a certain strength. The creature began to flap its wings, it screamed as its wings began to burn. Bethany couldn’t suck air into her lungs fast enough. Her hair whipped around her face, her body shook. Wind chimes tinkled softly in the breeze. Everyone stood frozen, until a pile of bones crashed to the ground and scattered at their feet, rolling on a small gust of wind.

“Shit,” Kier whispered.

“Shit,” Thane whispered, until the entire room was whispering the same.

“I wonder how many more are here,” Kier said.

“None,” Bethany said. “They were called home.”

“You know this for certain?” Thane asked.

“Yes,” Bethany said and turned to face him. “I know where they are.”

Thane strode to her and gripped her shoulders. “Think little one, and think carefully before you answer. Do you know where they are, or do you know where their planet is?”

“Both.”

“This is completely unorthodox.”

Bethany heard Kier groaning from behind her. After a lengthy evening of going over charts and learning just how small Earth really was in comparison, Bethany was mentally tired. She had stood mouth agape when realizing dark holes not only brought her to worlds within worlds, worm holes brought her to different universes. When she asked Thane about this, he seemed surprised she had no clue other universes did in fact exist.

“String theory,” Bethany had said, gaping.

Thane merely scoffed at her, telling her earthlings were so primitive he was surprised any existed at all. Thane’s main concern was the Angano, the beings who attacked her; he was insistent on knowing the location of their worst enemies and declared it a huge advantage. He was eternally grateful and Bethany had his word no harm ever came, or would ever come, to any human on his planet.

After her insightful talk with Thane, she found him to be generally interested in humans and their capabilities, wondering if all exposed to the Angano would possess the same ability. She had found time to rest after Kier insisted, but woke with a thirst for exploration.

“Finn already showed me some of your planet,” Bethany said.

“Finn could not possibly show you anything substantial. More can be seen from the sky—where it’s safer.”

“I’m air sick.”

“Fine, you may rest for a while here.”

“This place is beautiful.”

“It’s one of my favorite places.”

Bethany looked out over crystal clear water from a mountainside. They were close to the ground which was dotted with a multitude of colored rocks. Every color of the rainbow and then some, reflected with sparkling brilliance off the crystals.

“Can I have a few of your rocks as souvenirs?” Bethany asked.

“I suppose so,” was his sigh. “If you were my human I could bring you home one every day. I still think allowing you to roam is dangerous. My female wouldn’t be allowed.”

“Well then, it’s a good thing I’m not yours. I want to collect them myself. I want to choose which ones I want.”

Gripping her under her arms, Kier leapt into the air and floated gently to land upon the rocky ground. The gem-like stones under Bethany’s feet were rounded not jagged; it wouldn’t have mattered too much as Thane had equipped her with a type of leather shoe. The footwear was durable and her feet were well protected. She also wore a strip of cloth wound around her breasts and belly, the ties fluttered in the gentle breeze. When she had insisted on clothing before disclosing the enemy’s whereabouts, Thane had merely shrugged; she wasn’t a slave after all. Bethany wished she had pockets in her clothing, or a sack. She collected many of the beautiful rocks until they spilled from her arms.

“Drat,” she mumbled. She turned to Kier. “I’ll never be able to hold all the ones I want. I don’t mean to be greedy but they’re so precious; each color is astounding. Some of these colors I’ve never seen before.”

Kier hesitated for a second. His dark black eyes reflected her face back to her. “Let me help; there’s a plant up there that folds like a natural sack. Hang on and I’ll get a piece. Stay away from the water; I don’t want you to drown.”

Bethany snorted; she could swim before she could walk. It was on the tip of her tongue to yell back she could swim as Bethany watched Kier fly upwards.
Pompous ass.
He remained in her sight, positioning his body to always have her under his radar. Bethany had new appreciation for what it meant to be watched like a hawk. He was definitely the biggest hawk she’d ever seen. The plant he spoke of was amazing, it hung in drapes of hunter green from branches, flapping like tents or flags depending on the direction of the wind and its force.

Bethany jumped from rock to rock, exploring further. When she came to the water, she admired the clearness of the flow beneath her feet. The sun was hot and she was thirsty. A tiny stream trickled drawing her attention. The water was cool to the touch. She scooped a small amount wondering if it were safe to drink and looked up at where Kier was. She chuckled as she watched a giant wing form into a thick sword to slit the material which wrapped around him as though they battled together. The flapping material flew into his face as he battled. Bethany shook her head with amusement. The great dark-winged warrior—beaten up by a plant.

Cupping her hand she brought a small amount of water to her lips and flicked her tongue to taste. The flavor was identical to the stream from Kier’s wall. Bethany sipped a larger amount, swishing it around her tongue to moisten her mouth. The humming of the water was pleasant; it reminded her of Finn’s tune when he wanted to lull her. Thinking of Finn, Bethany wished he was here with her. It would be so hot to have him take her surrounded in water. She could picture his stunning hips pounding against her, thrusting his huge cock into her while the water danced in a fury all around them. She could drink from the water if she became parched—and she would. Finn was steel and power, he was…

To her right, a movement caught her eye. Pond scum was creeping closer. It had to be her imagination; it hadn’t been there a few moments ago. The green brackish substance rolled closer on tiny waves, inching forward, hypnotizing her into immobility. Something stung her bare ankle.

“Ouch,” Bethany yelped and jumped up.

The green scum was attached to her footwear and creeping over her exposed ankle. It hurt. It became agonizing; it burned, it itched. “Kier,” she howled. She tried brushing it off, but it then clung to her hand, seeping around her fingers. The small amount of moving scum in the water was suddenly a ten foot high wave before her. Two feet in width, the sides began to curl as though to embrace her—a death embrace. As she screamed, she was grabbed from behind and yanked into the air as the wave crashed down harmlessly onto the rocks.

“I told you to stay away from the water,” Kier admonished in anger.

“You said you didn’t want me to drown. I can swim. I didn’t know it would eat me.” Bethany gasped. “It hurts, Kier.”

Kier landed high on the mountain in seconds. His giant wing formed a soft surface to brush the scum from her ankle and hand. He looked at the rash. Some areas were blistered and raw. Bethany had had third degree burns before, this was worse. She couldn’t hold still, her body writhed in agony as Kier held her tighter.

“You’ll be fine. I imagine it stings a bit. We have a lotion that will help; the pain will be gone as soon as I get you back. Didn’t Finn warn you about flesh-eating scum?” Kier asked.

“He said it was on his planet.”

“There wasn’t much on my planet before but it has been spreading. This is the first time I’ve seen it in this place. It’s one of the reasons the humans can’t wander. You think us cruel, but there are some restrictions we place on humans for a reason, much as you would on a child to keep them safe. It’s why I was surprised Thane allowed you to explore.”

Bethany groaned and grasped at her belly. Her gut began to ache. She coughed and gagged, trying to vomit but almost nothing came up, what little did burned. She clutched her throat. Kier gripped her shoulders and gazed deeply into her eyes.

“Please tell me you didn’t drink any of that water.”

“It was only a little.”

“Oh, shit.”

Kier crushed her to his chest and soared so quickly, turning into his bullet capsule, he made Bethany pass out.

* * * *

“Why in the hell weren’t you watching her?” Finn demanded.

“I was watching her. She needed a sack to carry her crystal rocks in,” Kier said, his voice was filled with distress. “Our humans are never to leave the compound. Our females don’t have this scum on their planet. I told her to stay away from the water. I didn’t think she’d go near it, let alone drink from it. I accept the blame. Is there anything that can be done for her? We can’t just stand here and watch her die.”

Finn was feeling frantic but he noted Kier’s agitation. There was nothing malicious in what had occurred; the warrior looked distraught.

“I need to get her to the healing waters on Bagron. Roam, my Castian friend, will help her.” Finn was pacing back and forth. Bethany was dying; he would lose her if they didn’t act fast. She lay on a soft piece of furniture in the main control room. Her normally sweet-colored skin was pale; her dark expressive eyes were glazed over in agony. Finn had entered the room only moments before seeing Bethany. She cried out his name then gasped as the words widened her mouth; she was trying to gasp in air.

Finn had knelt beside her; he had taken her trembling hand in his and felt that limp hand squeeze his heart so tight he thought he’d die on the spot. A soothing cream covered her fingers and ankle but it couldn’t be swallowed. Gazing at her defeated form, Finn realized he was wrong, something did frighten him as nothing ever had, a large warrior mercenary, and his fear was close to becoming all consuming. Leaping to his feet, he had bellowed out orders the second he found out what had occurred.

“The females on their planet died of poison water,” Thane said.

“Castian healing pools were developed after the poison water; it had taken hundreds of years. The Castians had to add chemicals to the water to keep some creature out so they could bathe in peace or their armor kept coming up. The creatures were one of the Tonans’ minor annoyances. They only discovered the healing properties of the altered water when a female ended up on their planet,” Finn said.