Gigi (14 page)

The compound was the largest structure in the entire city. It was a series of different sized buildings enclosed by the highest fence she’d ever seen. It reminded her of the Great Wall only the stones were dark, shiny blocks. The guards escorted them to the lift.

An enormous set of double doors came into view. Drawing closer, Gigi noticed the inscriptions around it. She had no doubt they were the same ones she had around her waist. Two fully-armored warriors guarded each side. Standing aside, the jid’rahal motioned them in.

“Welcome to Pendo’rah, friends. Computer, begin formal proceedings. We’re gathered on this day to hear the petition for political asylum on behalf of First Commander Dru-lah’s friend. Serving as witnesses will be Ounna from Glaxia Prime and Ooh-Baak of the Protectorate high council. You may state your request.” The jid’rahal’s voice resounded through the cavernous room. Gigi couldn’t help but notice the amazing acoustics.

She squeezed his hand under the cloak before stepping aside. She knew he’d rather face an entire Kreeh-noshian colony at this moment. Briq was doing this for her and their children. He hated being indebted to anyone, but now he would beg. Gigi tried to mask her fear, sending him a spark of pure love.

“I’ve come to humbly ask you for shelter and protection. Not for me, but for my mate who is hunted by the Kreeh-noshian scientist, T’zaal.” She noticed his voice held a note of apprehension.

“Why should we grant this petition to shelter your mate?” Ooh-Baak asked, looking at him suspiciously.

“Because I’m begging you.” She heard the raw emotion in his voice. “Because without her I’ll die…Father.”

The combined gasp resonated off the walls. Gigi saw the resemblance between the men when Briq removed his cloak. Even with all the mutations her mate had suffered recently, there was no denying it. She tensed, ready to attack, when someone rushed past her, jumping into her mate’s arms.

“OMG, Briq, what the fuck are you doing here?”

“Lady Amada, I see you’re still as fearless as ever.
¿Cómo estas
?”

“What is the meaning of this? Who is this male, I’mah-nii?”

Gigi couldn’t help liking the girl even when she tightly hugged her mate. She was just too friendly to hate.

“Giant, this is Briq. I told you about him. He’s the one who rescued me from quirky link,” the girl replied, winking at her playfully. Did she say quirky link?

“In that case, I owe you my eternal gratitude. I offer you and your mate sanctuary from the Kreeh-nosh for as long as you need,” the Jid’rahal declared solemnly.

“Bah-Troy?” Ooh-Baak asked in a choked whisper as he stepped closer to Gigi’s mate. He looked at Briq as if trying to find something there.

“It’s me, Father, but I no longer go by that name.”

“Father? I don’t understand. Why did you call him that?” Despair marred the jid’rahal’s face, which looked like a lost little boy’s.

Dru-lah walked to the center of the room “This is a time for celebration. A warrior has returned to us on this day. If you’re willing to hear me out with an open mind, I’ll tell you everything he’s done for us.”

The room grew silent. Gigi’s heart beat faster. She learned how Briq had alerted them of the Kreeh-noshian wormhole experiment. He’d also rescued Amada from Fael. Through the years, he’d secretly waged his own brand of justice by spying and sabotaging the Kreeh-nosh.

“My son, why didn’t you come to us before?” The dismay in Ooh-Baak’s voice was so deep tears gathered in Gig’s eyes.

“I didn’t want to bring shame on to my house, Father. Death before dishonor.”

“Don’t,” Gigi said, her voice firm as she stepped around Briq. “I’ll not allow you to belittle yourself like this. You’re more honorable than anyone I’ve known. If they don’t see it then I’d rather face the enemy than have you beg.”

“My son, our house would’ve never felt dishonored by your capture. We know the warrior you are. The Kreeh-nosh could never take that from you.”

Gigi’s tears fell unnoticed after Briq’s father embraced him. Her mate was finally home.

“Father,” Briq said, pulling her forward. “Allow me to introduce my mate, Gigi Allen. Mor’u, meet your father, Ooh-Baak, leader of the House of Prahn-kril.”

Gigi stood next to her mate and looked at a very handsome man. She was used to be the center of attention. After all, she was a performer. This time it was different. She wasn’t on stage. All gazes fastened on her after Briq removed her cloak. It was obvious what everyone thought. She looked like them, only smaller.

“Where did you find her?”

“Is she from Earth?”

“Are there more of her kind?”

There were so many questions she thought her head would explode. In the midst of all the madness Gigi heard Amada’s amused remark, making her burst into laughter.

“No freaking way. You weren’t bullshitting me, Briq. She really is human, and she’s pregnant?” She snorted “The House of Prahn-kril is now officially screwed.”

* * * *

Briq gave Zaaq-niq a weary look. His brother had asked everyone except his father, Dru-lah and Onno’e to exit the room. Alone with his family for the first time in ten years, he finally shared his ordeal.

His brother had carried the burden of guilt for a long time. What had happened that fateful day on board the
Q’alor
wasn’t Zaaq-niq’s fault. It was time he knew that. Zaaq-niq had been too fresh out of the learning matrix to realize they’d headed right into a trap. No one had suspected the danger until it was too late. Two Kreeh-noshian colony ships had tricked their sensors by emitting a distress signal.

As commander, Bah-Troy had been left with no other choice but order his Glaxian engineer to join with the ship. It’d been so damaged only by joining directly would they have stood a chance of coming out alive. They hadn’t been able to call for help, because the ambush had caused multi-system failure, including long-range communications.

The warriors had fought fearlessly under his command. Bah-Troy had flown one of the shuttles personally, giving the
Q’alor
enough time to retreat. The Glaxian engineer had succeeded repairing the
Q’alor
. Later, he’d learned at what cost. The ship had permanently absorbed the Glaxian into its systems. Bah-Troy’s hell had begun that day.

He’d woken up in a Kreeh-noshian science ship attached to machines. For what seemed like months, the scientist had subjected him to painful experiments. He’d been forced to witness the torture of his female warriors. They’d tried to crossbreed them with other races, because they wanted strong warriors they could control.

Countless males from different species had raped the females, attempting to impregnate them as he’d watched helplessly. Every time a female resisted they’d punished her severely. If he tried to intervene, her punishment had been even worse.

A young officer’s death had hit him the hardest, because she reminded him of his lovely sister, Mah’yanna. The Kreeh-noshian scientist had forced Bah-Troy to watch how five males had defiled her over and over. She’d refused to beg, never uttering a word. She’d broken loose of her bindings and snapped a Jog’nafan’s neck before she’d been subdued. After the males had been done with her, the scientist had sliced her open from neck to navel.

The young officer had lifted her head high and looked at him, yelling “Drac’yaa, dra’lyaa, dra’ehn!” She’d died with the Pendo’rahn ancient battle cry on her lips. Honor, loyalty, strength. He’d sworn to avenge her death that day.

By the time he’d escaped, he’d become the monster he now was. Since crossbreeding wasn’t possible, T’zaal had altered his DNA, using a reptilian creature from a primordial world. The scientist had believed that by mixing the two, Bah-Troy would become more docile. The resulting creature would be a mindless slave with the strength of a Pendo’rahn warrior.

It hadn’t worked. Instead he’d become stronger, more aggressive. Bah-Troy had transformed into a highly intelligent killing machine.

“Brother, I can’t imagine the pain you suffered. I won’t contest your right for toq’ma’lal. Only the goddess knows how my part in your death haunted me. Now knowing your fate was much worse I can’t deny you. My life for your life. My fate is in your hands.”

“Zaaq-niq, brother, the goddess in her wisdom willed it so. Your inexperience shouldn’t be a reason for me to invoke the right of swift justice. There’s nothing to avenge. I’ve nothing but admiration for the man you’ve become ever since.”

Briq tightly embraced his brother. He meant what he’d said. He was very proud of his brother’s growth as a man and leader of the Protectorate Armada. Briq turned as his father joined them. He couldn’t stop the chuckle when his brother groaned. They all turned toward the tiny figure who jumped onto Zaaq-niq’s back.

“Awww, group hug. I want some of that too,” Amada said, smiling irreverently.

“Well, since you’re handing out free hugs, I could go for one.”

Mor’u put her arms around his waist and leaned her head against his back. Briq tensed. His cock instantly jumped as her fingers skimmed the brand. His mate was playing a dangerous game by drawing little circles around his now tensed abs. He brought his tail up and wrapped it around her waist.

“You have a tail now? I swear, Briq, you keep getting cooler and cooler every time I see you. Can I touch it?” Briq laughed at Amada when she leaned over, trying to grab his tail.

 “I’mah-nii, I thought I ordered everyone out. What’re you doing here?” Briq was surprised at his brother’s harsh tone. He was about to admonish Zaaq-niq, but Amada spoke up first.

“Ordered?” She huffed loudly. “I don’t take orders from you, giant. You’re not the boss of me.”

The look on his brother’s face was priceless. Why would Amada stick her tongue out like that?

“Gentlemen, if you’ll excuse me,” his brother said in a strained voice. “I need to remind my mate who’s in charge.”

Gigi gasped after his brother tossed Amada over his shoulder. They both turned to see Ooh-Baak doubling up laughing just as Zaaq-niq’s hand connected with Amada’s ass.

“Hey, Gigi, I’ll see you later. I can’t wait for you to meet the kids. Welcome to Aly’noos. Ouch, what was that for, giant?” Amada waved at them, smiling widely before disappearing through the doorway.

Lust spread through Briq like warm trip’kee. He glanced at his mate who was staring at him with her lips curved in a sensual smile. “If you don’t mind having someone show us to our room, Father, we need to rest before our meeting tomorrow.” Briq ignore his father’s laughter as he dragged his mate behind him. One thing he knew for sure, his life was about to take an interesting turn.

* * * *

The only way to describe their private apartment was opulent. It was the most beautiful thing Gigi had ever seen. It resembled a Roman villa she’d stayed at once when touring Italy. The sitting room had a huge panoramic window overlooking a beautiful garden. She’d never imagined finding one in the stern-looking fortress. It turned out the other side had a secluded valley with pristine lakes and waterfalls.

Everything in the structure spoke of wealth and tradition. The security it boasted was, according to Briq, the best in the twin galaxies. Aly’noos had their own security force headed by a charming warrior named O’frahm, who’d escorted them to their private home.

Gigi explored the apartment while Briq finished his conversation regarding security with O’frahm. Briq wanted to make sure she’d be well-guarded all the time. The head of security assured them he’d already assigned her a detail of highly-trained guards.

She wandered through a door leading to the biggest bathroom she’d seen. It came complete with a pool-size sunken tub. The decon unit was so big ten people could stand together with space to spare.

Gigi walked up to the tub and almost fell in when a female voice chimed, “Hi there. How would you like your bath?” It sounded suspiciously like Amada.

“Can I have a warm bath please?”

“Sure, one warm bath coming right up, sweetie. Hey, would you like some bubbles? How do you like the jets? Full blast or regular? I also have some music if you like some tunes while you soak.”

“Yes, please. Warm bath, regular strength jets and bubbles would be nice.”

“How about the tunes? Do you like jazz, rock, pop, hip hop, rap, Latin, classic…”

“Mozart?” Gigi asked, not sure what to expect.

“Coming right up.”

Gigi sat on one of the seats carved into the pool and closed her eyes. The jets massaged her skin while the music relaxed her completely. She woke up to the most wonderful orgasm imaginable. She didn’t know how she came to be sitting on her mate’s lap with his cock deep inside her. His big hands caressed her breast while a very frisky tail massaged her clit.

“Oh, yes…what… Oh, Briq…”

“Mor’u, you keep amazing me.”

“How?”

“Even in your sleep you respond so passionately. You’re so slick and tight for me. It’s a pity you need to rest.”

“We could just fool around for a bit. I’d like another orgasm. This time, while I’m awake.”

“Later we’ll spend hours exploring this room, I promise. Now we must rest. Tomorrow is going to be very hectic. Besides, I don’t want my brother’s mate running in here checking on us. That one is dangerous.”

“You too? Don’t tell me you’re afraid of a little thing like her?”

“Little thing she might be, but lethal. Did I ever tell you how we met?”

Gigi laughed so hard by the time he’d finished the story she felt a stitch in her side. According to Briq, Amada had used his pulse weapon to blast the arm right off her Labonian kidnapper. Briq admitted to giving her the weapon, but he’d never thought her aim would be that accurate.

She yawned, thinking what the following day might bring. It’d be a long one, but for now she’d enjoy the feel of her mate’s body tightly wrapped around hers.

Ooh-Baak requested a special meeting with the council to hear his full report. As head of the family, it was also his duty to publicly announce that his son was alive. Her new father told her Bah-Troy’s name had to be reinstated in the book of Pendo’rah. Gigi’s would be added as a branded mate.