Guardian [New World Book 6] (6 page)

“Five years, damn you. Not one lie in five fucking years. And who do I lie for? A damned Castian…
Fuck.”

Taz was swinging around reaching behind him. Roam would have felt sorry for him if he hadn’t looked so comical.

“Here let me do it.”

Roam grabbed the tail stump and yanked hard. The stump snapped off.

“
Ssshhhiiitttt.”
Taz bent over gasping.

“Hurts eh?”

Taz’s armor came down and he settled a foul look at Roam. Roam’s eyebrows rose. “Now you listen,” Taz’s words came out with a growling snarl. “You are going to say you are from Florida.”

“I can’t lie. I’m not capable. You know that as well as I do.”

“
Dammmn youu.”

“I’ll think of something.”

“You better or you can leave now. I knew this was a bad idea.”

“I know you can scent I’m honorable, I also know it confuses you. You’re at war with yourself. Use your scent emotions—just scent me, not your memories. Focus on your instincts, it’s what I’m doing. It will be better for the others to get to know me first, you too. When Cobra shows up, he’ll take all of them aboard his ship kicking and screaming if he has to. Earth is dead. You may think this area is safe but it’s not. As we speak the ocean is moving closer.”

“I know,” Taz bellowed. “I know. I’ve seen it, we’re trapped. It’s the
only
reason I allowed you to stay with us. Never did I think we would be saved by a Castian.”

“Well, who then? Your Tonan buddies, after five years? Yeah, hey, how’s that workin’ out for you? Listen, it’s time for the females to sleep. I’ll have a plan by morning. Even if it means leaving first thing and returning each night. I’m on a mission to locate humans, survivors, that won’t be a lie.”

“I don’t want you bringing back any human males.” Taz was still snarling. “I’ve come across a few who think they can do whatever the hell they want when they want. That cave is full of vulnerable females and two are children, one female is my mate. Haven was only eight when I came across her and her sister Skylar, alone five years ago when the Earth went to shit. Macey was trying to keep everyone together. It had been years since I had seen a child, let alone a female child. Even though Skylar is older, she and Haven are like my own. I’ve watched them grow up. Skylar was barely sixteen, trying to keep her and her sister alive before they met Macey. Skylar had been trying to be so grown up and tough she was completely vulnerable. Thankfully Macey found them. I watched this planet fall apart and I put my own pieces back together by saving my family.”

“I’m told it takes a special kind of female to tame a Tonan,” Roam said, curious as to how Taz and Macey got together.

“The circumstances were like nothing you could dream.” Taz stared at a far off place for a moment before returning to the present. “Aunt Greta treats me like her son, a very loved son. I will allow nothing to happen to any of them. Jinx is a pain in my ass but my responsibility. She became my responsibility when I saved her life and healed her. I’ll be watching you.”

The passion with which he spoke amazed Roam. Taz meant every word. “You know I have the ability to scent deception. I will allow no male to come near your females. If by chance we come across one, I will take appropriate action. Cobra wouldn’t allow anyone on Bagron who would cause harm.” Roam could also feel Taz’s apprehension. “Right now, it’s time we returned. They’ll be wondering about you and I can’t wait to hear you explain about your tale of a tail.”

“Oh, shut up.”

Taz stormed away and Roam laughed. When they reentered the cave, all but Macey had gone to sleep. She went to Taz immediately. He took her into his arms and the two disappeared behind a partition. Roam went and sat near the fire to think. His sudden appearance was going to be tricky to explain, especially since everyone was terrified of Castians as well as Tonans. The idea was hard to wrap his head around. He’d never been hated by a female.

Lost in thought his shield warned him he wasn’t alone. It was a flicker, no more, he wasn’t in any danger. Before long Jinx stepped around her sheltered area and approached him. She settled herself across from him. Long fingers swept locks of jet black hair behind her ears.

“You’re not from Florida are you?” she asked.

“Why do you say that?”

“Taz doesn’t lie very well.”

“I’m from a very far distance. I’ve traveled a long way to look for survivors. I think Taz just doesn’t want you to be afraid of how far I’ve come and the destruction I’ve seen.” Roam tried to keep to the truth with tactical explanations.

“Do you have any family left?”

“I have a very close friend who is like family. I’ve known Slay all my life. He and the woman he loves have a beautiful daughter together. They are trying for a son.”

“Why would anyone want to bring children into this world?”

“Taz and Macey have Ally. Has she not enriched your lives?”

“Very much so. Where are your friends, why didn’t they come with you?”

“If there was any chance of Slay and Tia conceiving, she needed to avoid stress. Slay would need to stay with her.”

“Does that mean you’ll be leaving us soon?”

“I won’t leave you. I’m hoping you will all come with me.”

“This place is safe.”

“There is a much safer place.”

Jinx leaned toward him waiting for Roam to elaborate. If he allowed her to, she would drill him all night. Slay’s mate was the same in that respect, so Roam was used to dealing with human females. It would be nice to sit and chat with her. He wanted her to get to know him. Jinx was beautiful, her scent was compelling; her dark green eyes were a jungle of mystery. When he had touched her and their essences had mingled, his body surprised him with its reaction. He wanted this female. She was vulnerable, in danger, and yet she was strong willed. Her beauty radiated from within. Roam could feel his must build.

She was so close. His essence would calm her with a simple touch, but if his body absorbed too much of her, he would need to mate with her. Closer she moved until her bare knee rested against his thigh. The strange clothing Taz called denim became saturated with the need to reach her. Roam could feel the groan within his blood as it struggled to pull any fluids it triggered inside him, to flow through him. Jinx looked dazed as more of his essence took her. Roam could feel his heart pounding.

Damn this is harder to control than I thought it would be
.

If he didn’t move, if he didn’t stop he might just snap. Reluctantly, Roam stood up and, physically shaking with his determination, he yawned, excusing himself and claiming it had been a long day, which was by no means a lie. He went to the area he had set up his things and lay down. He didn’t want to answer any more questions. He also had to get his body under control.

Roam could see Jinx, he was able to see in the dark; he also knew she could no longer see him. Taz had obviously planned it that way—just in case. Roam stopped a groan as he scented Jinx’s disappointment and her attraction to him. She wanted to get closer, he knew it. He shifted uncomfortably, damning the strange material that didn’t compensate for his erection.

Damn, my balls are squished and my cock feels jailed.

Roam would have to be careful; he wanted her to like him. He would be devastated if she found out what he was before he could explain and she ended up hating him. After a few moments, Jinx went back to her own area.

Roam laced his fingers under his head after he undid his pants to let his cock breathe. Taking a few calming breaths he stared at the fifteen foot high ceiling. Parts were scorched black from smoke. With the partitions the cool night air was kept at bay. The cave itself was about the size of his home on Bagron. This home was filled with small inventions to aid with survival.

A number of animal skins littered the floor. Crude furniture made of wood such as small beds, tables and a few logs that passed as chairs were situated out of the way. Water bags made of a large animal bladder or stomach hung slowly dripping. On a shelf unit where Jinx stacked the jars and cans she found were other food stuffs. It was organized clutter really. Not a bad little place. Taz had done well with what he had.

Before long Roam heard the gentle breaths of slumber. Only one other was awake. He could sense Taz. He could sense Taz battled emotionally. Roam kept his emotions as even as possible, not wanting to confuse the Tonan further. Tonans were cousins of the Castians. Normally evil creatures who lost their way in an effort to be better and stronger by dangerous drug enhancements over thousands of years. Tonans only became soulless in their greed for power. When a Tonan mated a human female he seemed to regain the soul he lost. It was said a human female had overwhelming emotion, too much for a Tonan to handle and stay cruel. Roam was happy for the discovery of human females. Perhaps in time the Tonan cousins would wander home, the way it used to be.

It was plain to see everyone in the cave trusted Taz, loved him. It would be interesting to learn how it came about. Roam’s eyes drooped, it wouldn’t hurt to regenerate through sleep mode for a little while. His armor would warn him if it detected anything dangerous.

* * * *

“Where are you going?” Roam had been watching Jinx out of the corner of an eye, he was pretending to be asleep until she headed for the cave entrance. Jinx pulled up short.

“You should be sleeping; the sun isn’t up yet.”

“You should be sleeping too,” Roam countered.

“I’ll be back before Taz wakes up, I always am.” Her whisper was more warning than desperation. Roam could scent her determination. She was a free spirit, marched to her own beat—as long as Taz didn’t find out.

Roam sighed as she slipped from the cave—without him.
Yeah, right.
Roam was up and after her. It took mere seconds to stash his clothing and put his shield up. He was then on the move. Her attempts at stealth were laughable. Jinx moved through the underbrush like a wounded Tonan. Roam hovered above her, high within the treetops. Jinx seemed to have a specific destination in mind.

Soon enough a clear pond appeared. Jinx glanced around. Seeing no visible bystanders, she shucked off her t-shirt and pants. Before Roam had his fill of her naked body, she dove into the water. Roam counted out seconds in his mind, anxiously perched on a branch. After one hundred seconds passed, he made ready to dive in after her. Jinx surfaced gasping for breath. Her body sluiced through the clear surface. Roam suspected this had been a morning ritual for a long time. She seemed perfectly comfortable being alone.

Roam settled back to watch her. Her pale long legs were a contrast to her tanned arms. Her snow white ass looked luscious. Roam wondered what it would feel like to take each ass cheek into his hands and squeeze. His armor steadied his heartbeat while he fantasized. He wondered at his attraction to her; they really had only met. He then remembered must was approaching. Although, after his encounter with her last night, he guessed he was no longer approaching must—he was in it. Roam would have to be cautious. Must was a hard emotion to control.

Roam plucked a stick from a branch and rolled it in his taloned hand. He wouldn’t mind swimming with her but knew it would be too intrusive. Plus, she was buck naked. No doubt she’d be perturbed by his appearance. Also, he’d have to swim with his shirt on, which he didn’t have; he wondered how Taz handled situations like this. Roam couldn’t lie to her; he wouldn’t be able to tell her it was a birth defect. Just because human males had nipples didn’t mean a Castian warrior had them too. They were a separate species after all. Roam preferred his nipple-free hairless chest. He preferred that most of his entire body was hairless.

The gentle way Jinx sluiced through the water was hypnotic. The surface looked like glass until she rippled her way along, making tiny waves to mar the water’s perfection. Jinx enhanced the perfection. Roam tilted his head, watching the gentle sway of her hips when she strolled casually from the water to sit on a bank and sun herself in the morning warmth.

Her breasts bounced slightly when she leaned over to retrieve her t-shirt. Her sweet ass tapered to shapely legs. Her feet were perfect with perfect toes. Her hand rose to gently tuck her wet wayward locks behind an ear. Roam’s shield readjusted to once again control his pounding heart while expanding to make room for his erection. He sighed in contentment. The scene was picture perfect. Serene. Roam could stare at her forever.

Jinx screamed, her high pitched tone shrilly breaking his calming thoughts. She jumped to her feet. Roam was so startled he fell out of the tree, arms and legs flailing, to land on his ass. He was in motion seconds later. Just before he came into her line of vision his shield came down. Jinx was dancing around holding something long in her grasp.

“What the hell?” Roam shouted.

“Run, Roam. I can’t hold it,
I can’t hold it
. It’s a rattler.”

She was right, the long thing made a furious rattling noise with its tail. Perhaps the rattle was significant in some way. Fangs protruded from its mouth. Part of it curled around Jinx’s arm. Roam wasn’t certain what it was, but he knew one thing, Jinx was scared shitless. Her terror-filled scent invaded his nostrils. That alone had him reaching for the slithery creature.