Dr. Ariel Landon
“Let us see her, Juno! You have no right to keep the prisoner from us!”
My stomach sank as the voice of Blaithe Corra, the man who had brought me to Pyre’s home on his thuse, reached my cell. There was something about him I didn’t like at all, especially after forcing his way into Pyre’s home and mistreating the poor little Pelin who had been on guard to protect me.
“You have no right to this human!” Pyre growled, his voice terrifying despite his disease. I wished I had a better vantage point, but all I could see from my cell was the wall opposite to me. “Barvaa, now!”
The Pelin was soon in front of my cell, keying in the combination to the door. I ducked in terror as the sound of tremendous banging filled the house, and Barvaa led me as calmly as he could down to the underground bunker. He closed the door and stood against it, panting heavily.
“Perhaps it is time for you to return to Earth now. They have come for you. I fear it is the end for Yul Pyre now.”
“No,” I said, stamping my foot. “I refuse to go anywhere!”
“I’m tired of doing everything everyone wants me to do! This is my life, Barvaa, and I choose to do what’s right, not what’s convenient or safe, all right?”
“But Yula!”
I felt bad for bodily lifting the Pelin man–who was much heavier than I thought he would be–and setting him out of the way of the door, and he scrambled behind me, trying to catch up to me as I ran down the hallway toward the source of the commotion.
“Got you!”
“Ariel! Why?”
I growled in anger and in pain when I was roughly yanked into Blaithe’s body, and he laughed maliciously.
“This is what you were trying so hard to protect, Juno? She is nothing! She is a tool! What happened to you? I thought you cared about the opposition!”
“I care about the human more,” Pyre said, his eyes flashing with fury. “She is mine to care for, not yours to dispose of!”
Blaithe let out another unkind laugh, and I cried out in pain as a knife tip was stuck against my throat. There were several other Verian men standing in Pyre’s sitting room, and all of the furniture was all but destroyed. Pyre was in the center, breathing heavily, his face bloodied and angry. He had certainly held his ground against this group of men; two of them were leaning against the wall, panting in pain.
“You’re a fool, Yul Juno,” Blaithe said, shaking his head. “She will be the end of the opposition. I refuse to let that happen!”
Just as Blaithe prepared to plunge the knife into my neck, Pyre emptied a small vial of liquid into his mouth.
Suddenly I was on the ground, and Blaithe was grunting in pain. I struggled to my feet, shocked to see Pyre’s body moving at a supernatural speed as he beat Blaithe to the floor. Another Verian started toward me and Pyre abandoned his task, leaving Blaithe’s limp body on the floor, and intercepted him, punching him so hard that he flew against the wall.
“You are a fool if you think you can make it past me to harm this human,” Pyre growled. All of the Verians left standing glanced uncertainly from each other to Pyre, whose eyes were bloodshot and frightening in his fury. “But you are welcome to try!”
It didn’t take much debate before the group was pulling Blaithe out of the house by his lapels and carrying the other man over their shoulders. Pyre stared hard at them until we heard the door slam closed and the sound of several thuses taking off down the dying streets of Helna.
“Are you all right?” Pyre asked me, kneeling down to the floor to help me to my feet.
“I am,” I said, though my voice wavered. He smiled kindly at me and nodded.
“Good,” he said. “We can rest for now, but we must leave before morning. I am no longer welcome on this planet. The opposition will surely out me to the Doyan. We are in mortal danger.”
I didn’t know what to say as Pyre, with startling calmness, began to pack his few prized belongings. He summoned the Pelin to help him move his things to the ship downstairs and then touched my cheek. A dull heat traveled from his fingers to my loins, and I bit my lip to keep from showing it on my face.
“All that matters to me is your safety, Yula,” he said, his otherworldly eyes glimmering beautifully. “And I will rectify my mistake, no matter what the personal cost.”
And with that, we headed to the underground bunker, as far as I knew, to never to set foot on the planet Helna again.
***
Underground was dark, but as the ship rolled forward, soon we came upon a shocking light cascading into the bunker, and then we were in the sky, the machine rumbling furiously around us and creating a surreal feeling as the sky began to grow dark and the small orbs of gas flew by the windows, stars up close.
“Are you all right, Yula?” Pyre asked me.
He was leaned back in the captain’s seat of the ship, and I was perched against the command center, staring out one of the port-like windows.
“I’m fine,” I said.
The air between us was quiet and comfortable. The Pelin had retired to his quarters at the other end of the ship long ago, and now it was just Pyre and me awake. I was too full of adrenaline to sleep, and Pyre was still feeling the effects of the steroid he had taken to save me from the opposition earlier in the day. I had studied the vial, shocked by the technology and the implications of it. The Verian government were trying to spawn super soldiers for one-time use attacks, only to leave them as weak distractions, easily killed in battle after they had served their purpose. It was evil.
“Dershalga,” Pyre said, his heart clearly heavy. “I never should have taken you from Earth in the first place.”
“Please, don’t apologize,” I said, walking to him and taking his strong hands in my own. It was nice to feel strength in him again, especially after seeing him collapse with fatigue. Even if it was just because of a steroid. Even if it was just temporary.
“I owe you more than an apology,” Pyre said, standing up from his chair to face me. “I owe you a life. A life free of violence.”
“Don’t be silly,” I said with a small laugh. “Nobody can promise that.”
Pyre looked down at the ground a moment, his eyes cloudy, but when he gazed back into my face, he was grinning.
“Nobody who does is telling the truth, anyway,” he sighed. “But still, I would do anything to try.”
“Why are you doing this for me?” I asked, shaking my head in exasperation. “You’re losing your home…all your allies…”
“If they were truly my allies, they would have allowed me to spare you. They are self-interested and cold. I’m better off without them. And as for why…” Pyre trailed off, his eyes stormy as he looked at me. “I care for you, Yula. I would die before…”
His hands were suddenly on mine, and I gasped in surprise as he pulled me closer to his body, an unexpected wave of pleasure coursing through my body at his touch. I had wanted for so long to succumb to the power of my attraction to him, surrender fully, and now that I knew he was truly a good man, there was nothing stopping me now. He was all I had hoped he could be, and he held me close, our lips just inches away from each other.
“I love you, Yula…I will always protect you, with all of my body and heart, I will protect you.”
I cringed, remembering how his body was breaking down, how a virus from Earth was going to take away yet another person I loved.
But the thought disappeared when Pyre tilted my chin up with one of his long, strong fingers and smiled at me, his eyes dancing.
“Fate has plans for us yet,” he whispered.
My heart knew only peace at that moment, and I closed my eyes, swept away by the incredible pleasure of Pyre’s touch. He devoured me sensually, letting his hands roam up and down my body, his own body strong and virile as the effects of the steroids continued to urge him forward.
“Come,” he whispered into my ear. “Let us retire to my quarters.”
I nodded, stricken silent by my acute longing, and allowed Pyre to lead me to his quarters. He lifted me easily from my feet and onto the bed, stripping me of my clothing as he did so.
“I must taste you,” he whispered, his handsome face alight with curiosity. I moaned softly as his hands explored my every crevice, his fingertips touching me lightly in an exploratory way they hadn’t the first time we’d given into our urges. His time he seemed to be savoring every moment, and I did my best to do the same, not knowing whether or not I would ever get another chance to be with him like this. The disease was coming on fast. And I had no materials on the ship to make him a vaccine. If we made it to Earth, then maybe…
“Oh!”
I laughed and looked down at Pyre, whose soft, sensual lips had found their way to my middle. He was testing my every reaction, and I guided him by the shoulders so that he was on top of me once again.
He smiled at me, a smile I wanted to hold close to my heart and savor for the rest of my life, and then suddenly, as if by magic, he was inside me.
I was enthralled by the shocking wave of heat that consumed me as Pyre entered me, my body pulsing with fire and anticipation as he began his act. Again and again, he pushed inside, granting me more and more pleasure each time.
This time was completely different than the first though. My body felt light, weightless in a way, as Pyre took the reins. I gripped onto the broad shoulder blades of his back and moaned softly as again and again, pleasure consumed me, nearly to the point that all I could focus on was my own need to have him with me always, to feel the sweet release of our bodies as they became one.
“You are mine, Yula,” Pyre whispered into my ear. “No matter what happens, I will be part of you always.”
The deep rumble of his words sent me skyrocketing with ecstasy, and my body filled again with bliss as the power of Pyre’s hips began to show itself in earnest. With every long, sensual stroke of my middle, I felt myself rising higher and higher until I couldn’t take anymore.
I shuddered, gripping Pyre’s body and bringing him closer to me as my entire being exploded into awakening. He sensed this and brought his power to the next level, causing me to cry out in shock. He lowered his lips against mine and kissed me languidly as he coaxed me to continue my orgasm a few moments longer, and I was brought to new heights as his own climax became imminent. Finally, he gritted his teeth, and I was filled with the hot gratification of his orgasm. We held each other as his sensual explosion consumed my body, until finally, he collapsed beside me, our hands still entwined.
“The serum is wearing off, Yula,” Pyre said, his voice suddenly weak. “I think I will sleep for a while.”
I turned to look into his face, frantic and concerned, but by the time I did, he was already gone, snoring softly beside me.
***
I glared at the door to the ship’s bathroom, tired of everyone asking me what was wrong. I felt sick and agitated, and everything in my body felt sore.
“I’m fine!” I barked.
“We’re here if you need us,” Pyre’s uncertain voice said.
Despite his brush with death due to his disease, Pyre had become quite energetic over the past few days, almost to the point where I wouldn’t have believed there was anything wrong with him at all.
I burst out of the bathroom, staring at Pyre accusingly.
“You got me pregnant?” I exclaimed, more in awe than angry.
Barvaa and Pyre studied me for a moment as if I had just spoken in a language they had never heard before, then exchanged looks of astonishment.
“Let me see,” the Pelin said, walking up to me and placing a hand on my stomach. He leaned his head against it, and we were all quiet and still until finally, he moved again. “My dear, you are with child!”
“A super soldier?” Pyre asked quietly, making his way toward me. He almost seemed shy about it, and I glared at him.
“No, our son! He will never be a soldier!”
“He?” Pyre asked, tentatively reaching out to touch my abdomen. I wanted to smack his hand away, but the news had us all shaken.
“Does that mean that your disease is cured?” I asked, my voice small and far away, even to my own ears.
“No,” Pyre said, smiling sadly. “I may still have after-effects from the serum for another week or so. But once the disease is this advanced, there is no help.”
“Then we will get to Earth!” I exclaimed. “We’ll get to my lab, and you will be fine. I found the cure!”
“I’m afraid it will be too late for me,” Pyre said, the same infuriating smile still lingering on his face. “But you will have a piece of me forever.”
“That’s not good enough,” I grumbled. “Pick up the speed. We have to go. Now.”
Pyre and the Pelin exchanged looks, and Pyre shrugged, igniting the power boosters so that the ship jerked forward. The speed was unsafe to navigate, but I trusted Pyre to get me home safely. He had promised, after all.
“Look who we have here!”
The voice was familiar, but it was one that I couldn’t place. All I knew was that it was chilling, and it belonged neither to the Pelin, nor to Pyre. And the owner of it was standing right behind me.
“How did you get on the ship, Arke!” Pyre demanded, shoving forward and inserting himself between me and Arke.
I turned to face him, frowning at the old man whose bushy eyebrows were knitted close together in an expression of concentration and amusement.
“I told you that you wouldn’t get away with this,” Arke said. “The pathetic little terrorist organization that you run told us everything you’ve done, and the guard was there to prove it. You’re in big trouble, Pyre.”
I cried out in shock as Pyre lumbered toward the old man, wiping the smug look off of his face.
“It won’t do you any good, Pyre. You are surrounded by the special forces of Doyan Yoltaz’s army. You’re under arrest for treason.”
We all looked up at the monitors as three huge stealth ships unveiled themselves. My heart began to pound heavily in my ears, but Pyre seemed completely calm.
“Let them come and try to take me,” he said coolly. “Barvaa, show them what this little beauty’s got while I take care of this.”
“Yes, Yul Pyre.”
Suddenly, all the lights in the ship were cut out, all but for a red glow lining the ceiling. It took next to nothing for Pyre to knock Arke out; he was a sickly old man after all, who had been counting on Pyre to be sick as well.
The ship moved forward with startling speed, and I heard explosions sound in the air around us.
“Don’t fret, Yula! We will win!”
I could barely acknowledge Pyre’s voice as the ship sped forward as Barvaa sought a vantage point. Suddenly, there were soldiers marching into the ship. The men shouted in fury as the ship knocked them off balance, and I cried out as a pain in my abdomen suddenly brought me to my knees.
“Hang in there, Yula!” Pyre’s voice said to me. But the agony was overwhelming.
I crawled under the dash of the control panel, where Barvaa was working his hardest to avoid enemy fire. From there, I was able to watch in awe as Pyre became a completely different person. He seemed immune to pain as the men came at him, shooting lasers and throwing punches at him that normally would have knocked him to the ground. But one by one, Pyre managed to disengage from combat and strip the soldiers of their weapons, until the floor was littered with the unconscious bodies of the invading soldiers.
As he did so, Barvaa had begun to fire shots toward the enemy ships, critically damaging one and aiming the guns at the other as they attempted to bring survivors from the first on board.
The third ship had turned away to flee, and Pyre took the wheel over, with vindication and fury in his eyes, to shoot them out of the air around us.
The battle was over almost as quickly as it had begun, but the whole thing felt as if it had happened in slow motion. I was shaking like a leaf by the time Pyre knelt down to check on me, where I was cowering beneath the control panel.
“It’s going to be all right, Yula,” he said, helping me to my feet gently and carrying me to the bedroom. “Let’s get you home.”