Chapter Four
“Maia—he’s staring at you like he wants to eat you!” Ashleigh’s whisper broke the silence. “Oops! I didn’t mean it that way.” She giggled. “Although that might not be a bad thing. These alien dudes are really hot! I was scared they’d be all slimy and green with tentacles and stuff. But they look like badass Earth guys from back in my day, only taller. I’m talking NBA tall, with big guns and six-pack abs. Not like those skinny pale geeks running around back home now.”
Ashleigh’s chatter barely registered. Breathe, Maia reminded herself. The alien’s smoky gray eyes clouded over a little, as though he was having trouble interpreting Ashleigh’s junkspeak. God, I hope so. It was embarrassing enough seeing the erotic images pouring though his mind without having the girl add new ones.
Embarrassing—yet wildly arousing. Her eyes widened when she saw herself licking up and down his thick cock. Suck it, he demanded, grabbing her head with both hands. A hot shiver ran through her body.
She closed her eyes, breaking the connection, and willed her pulse back to normal. When she opened them again, he’d picked up where he left off in the formal speech. Speaking in flawless English, no less. Introducing them to his domain. The World of the Seven Stars, he called it.
Now Rowan was replying. Explaining what had happened and thanking him for their rescue. Equally formal, every inch the commander. Polite, yet showing no hint of weakness. Only half-listening, Maia concentrated on reining in the jumble of sensations bombarding her.
She had no trouble connecting with this alien species, that was clear. If anything, the leader’s presence was so strong, it threatened to override all other sensory input. She could feel his pulse racing, almost hear the thumping of his heart. He struggled to control his reaction to her, but she didn’t need to look down at his crotch to know he was rock hard underneath those tight black pants.
She’d seen that stiff rod clearly a few moments ago, the images in his mind projecting into hers like one of Sherzade’s naughtier holographic tales. He’d been masterful, taking control of her body as no Earthly lover had ever done. Doing unspeakably wicked things to her. Things that made her beg for more.
Though she could sometimes read the past and even the future of others, the Universe never allowed her to see her own destiny. Were these simply lewd fantasies on his part? Or had he just given her a glimpse of what he knew would happen between them?
Her pussy clenched, releasing a gush of fluid. She squeezed her thighs together and saw his eyes narrow. Surely he couldn’t read her. She’d have sensed it if the connection flowed both ways. Maybe his species had enhanced sensory abilities and he’d caught the scent of her arousal.
Rowan had moved on to introductions. He acknowledged each woman in turn, his deep voice sending butterflies fluttering through her stomach. She scanned her fellow passengers, but none of them seemed to be affected by him the way she was.
“And this is Maia O’Connor. Maia is a Healer.”
He inclined his head slightly, but his gaze locked on hers. She felt a jolt of electricity and her nipples hardened. She caught the tiny downward flicker of his eyes. He raised one eyebrow slightly. Damn his alien hide! He didn’t miss a thing.
“A Healer? We are always in need of Healers. I look forward to seeing the tools and devices your species uses.”
She tried not to stare. Ashleigh was right. These aliens looked like larger, hotter versions of ancient Earthly warriors. Only instead of being dressed in Roman tunics or Celtic kilts they wore tight black pants and metallic gray shirts that flowed over their impressive muscles like a second skin. She would have known Kadan was in charge without the introduction. Not only because he was larger and more muscular than the others. He held himself with a bearing that would have come across as arrogant if it hadn’t been so natural to him.
She summoned up what she hoped was a cool smile, betraying none of her frayed nerves. “I do not use tools or devices. I channel the energy of the Universe to heal both body and soul.”
“A Sorceress?” His eyes narrowed.
“We believe it is her gift, rather than a trick performed with magic.” Rowan broke in, anxious to dispel any potential problem before it arose. “Please, tell us a little about yourselves—and about your world.”
* * *
Kadan fought to keep his mind on the conversation. Maia. Now he had a name to put with the visions that came to him in his sleep at night ever since his meeting with the Oracle.
Healer? Hah. He didn’t believe in Healers. He’d seen their kind at work—chanting and praying over a fallen comrade while the man slowly bled to death, nearly biting off his tongue to keep from shaming himself by screaming in agony. Give him an old-fashioned laser wand any day. With that, even he could perform triage well enough to give a poor bastard a fighting chance to make it back to camp, where trained professionals could use their skills and knowledge to save his life.
That left Sorceress. If she was a Sorceress, she was a damn good one. He’d never heard of one who could implant visions into someone’s head while she herself was in suspended animation. He’d monitored their life forms since his ship first encountered theirs nearly thirty hours ago. According to every bit of data he’d scanned, Maia Awakened only a short time before he boarded their ship.
So if she was no Sorceress, then the gods themselves were responsible for him waking up with a raging hard-on and aching balls every morning. He hadn’t stopped at any of the Rapture Domes in the colonies along the way to relieve the constant need. He told himself he didn’t have time to waste on sweaty, lust-driven dalliances when the fate of the Worlds was in play.
But truth be told, for the first time he had no interest in other females. He was captivated by the one who came to him in his dreams. Tender and warm, yet strong. Not afraid to stand up to him when even his own men dared not disagree. A brazen, uninhibited lover who’d awakened not only his manhood but also the soul inside the warrior’s shell he’d worn for so many years.
If this was truly her, he needed to harden his heart. The glimpse of the future he’d been given held nothing but grief and pain in the end. Love found, then ripped away cruelly. He’d fuck her at some point, of that he had no doubt. No reason to scorn a gift from the gods. He’d bury himself in her hot, tight pussy down to his aching balls, get his release at last, then turn away.
He’d suffered enough losses, had too many people he cared about taken from him. The last thing he needed in his life right now was a female who would steal his heart, the way he planned to steal the Heart of the Entity.
He came back to the present, found them all staring at him in expectation. What in the name of the gods did they want? Oh, yes. Their leader had asked him to tell them where they were headed.
“We are on a mission for Seneschal Niall, Supreme Commander of the World of the Seven Stars. A Quest.” He glanced at their faces, wondering just how much he could divulge without creating panic.
“A quest? Like the Knights of the Round Table?” the little yellow-haired one interrupted, a look of delighted anticipation on her face.
“I do not know these knights of whom you speak,” Kadan replied. “But my Quest and your present… difficulty… may be connected. I believe your original destination was destroyed by an enemy we have in common. The Entity.”
He went on, describing the Void and the beings inhabiting its core.
“These beings are cunning and warlike. Their range of emotions seems to be limited to aggression, greed, and anger. They travel through space, constantly expanding their territory. Taking over planets and all their resources and enslaving the inhabitants. If the unfortunate creatures rebel, they are simply wiped away. Obliterated without a trace. I believe that is what happened to Tyrendia 3. You are fortunate to have escaped unharmed.”
“How do you know about Tyrendia 3? I never mentioned the name of our destination.” Rowan glared at him suspiciously.
“We have been monitoring your transmissions since we discovered your ship.”
“Transmissions? Those weren’t transmissions. You’ve been listening in on our private conversations!” the yellow-haired one burst in. “That’s creepy! What are you, some kind of alien stalkers?”
“That’s enough, Ashleigh.” Rowan’s voice was firm. “In his position, I would have done the same.” She turned back to him. “I assume you searched Siri’s memory banks as well. I haven’t had an opportunity to do that yet. You probably know more about what happened than I do at this point.”
“I know the Entity destroyed Tyrendia 3 and the other planets orbiting its star. Once the planets were gone, they swallowed up the star itself. Their World is powered by the energy they absorb. Each land they conquer, every solar system they devour, makes them stronger. They are making their way through the Universe, drawing near the Seven Stars. I’ve been sent to stop them.”
“You’re going to stop an entire civilization from conquering the Universe. Single-handed.” Ashleigh put into words the skepticism he saw on the faces of the others.
He mustered up a grimace he hoped would pass for a smile and went on to explain the plan the Oracle had revealed to him. “Not alone. I am but the first. The Entity has seven centers of power. Each one linked to the others. I have been sent to capture an object of great significance to them, the symbol of one of those centers—an object they call their Heart.
“Even now, other warriors are being summoned. Each charged with a task. Together we will strike at every one of their centers and halt their path of destruction. Eventually, their World will die—as all Worlds do.”
Several of the women stared at him with disbelief, but he saw Maia and the veiled one nodding.
“We may look upon each other as aliens but our Worlds share similar beliefs,” the veiled woman said. “In my Sanctuary we called those the seven chakras. I know Maia uses her knowledge of those power centers in her healing. What you say is true for individual life forms, so why would it not be for a colony of interconnected beings? Each center you strike at will weaken the Entity further. No creature can survive long when every chakra has suffered a major wound.”
Kadan glanced at her, surprised. Until now, he’d written off the Oracle as a demented old hag who maintained her position of power by dazzling gullible fools with a few well-rehearsed tricks. Even convinced himself that she’d somehow drugged him, then induced visions of a fantasy woman using other holograms. He’d refused the ale she offered. But he thought she might have sprinkled a potion over the ice on the temple steps and it entered his body through his skin when he fell. Or burned her secret herbs in one of those braziers, and he’d ingested them as he breathed.
Stealing a chunk of rock would somehow save his World? Insanity. Deep inside, Kadan knew he’d only taken on the Quest to gain back his self-respect, give purpose to what remained of his life. Forget bringing back the object. He never expected to survive the mission. One man alone, penetrating all their defenses to snatch a closely guarded treasure out from under their noses? They’d slaughter him. The thought didn’t worry him. He’d been praying for death. At least this way, he’d die a hero.
The Entity, and the threat it posed, was real enough, of that he was certain. Seneschal Niall would never have sent him on a fool’s errand. Somehow their ruler had fallen for the old witch’s spiel, believing that a being so powerful could be defeated merely by striking out at one of its symbols.
Kadan was shaken. The fantasy woman he’d been shown by the Oracle now stood before him. What’s more, she and her fellow traveler from across the Universe both shared those bizarre beliefs. Could the old witch have been telling the truth?
He put aside the turmoil in his head and went on.
“The Entity do not carry the Heart with them in the Void. It is kept in a secret place, known only to those who are charged with guarding it. This ship is headed for a military base we maintain on Prya, a minor planet located at the outer edge of the Seven Stars. They’ve been collecting data on the Entity and they have an idea of where the Heart may be. I’ll drop you off there. Seneschal Niall has been informed of your rescue and he’s eager to meet all of you. He’s taking the rare step of coming to greet you personally. You’ll stay on Prya until the Seneschal’s ship arrives to take you back with him to Anteres.”
“Did you hear that, girlfriends? A military base. I bet it’s full of hot warriors like these guys.” Ashleigh giggled. “I swear it feels like I haven’t gotten laid in a hundred years.”
Rowan frowned at her and addressed Kadan, inclining her head slightly. “We are honored that your… Seneschal… is personally coming to meet us. The people of Earth will be forever in his debt when they learn of his gracious hospitality to us.”
She went on, lifting her head to stare Kadan straight in the eye.
“No doubt he is also aware the solar system we were bound for no longer exists. It appears we cannot complete our mission. Please tell him I look forward to his input on a plan to get us back to our own World.”
Maybe these alien women had balls instead of pussies. This one certainly acted like she did. She’d just made it clear in no uncertain terms that she expected them to be treated as guests, not lost waifs who needed rescue, drifting aimlessly through space without a home. Certainly not as captives. What’s more, she expected Niall’s cooperation in getting them back to where they came from.
“I will convey your message to the Seneschal,” Kadan replied, equally formal. Knowing Niall, he’d be amused and intrigued, rather than offended, at her thinly veiled demand. He almost wished he’d be there to see which of the female aliens Niall would be drawn to. Knowing their ruler, he might charm every one of them into his bed.
No. One of them is mine. He had a flash of pure rage at the thought of Niall fucking the woman who came to him in his dreams. Maia whipped her head around, contemplated him as though she’d felt the sudden blast of heat from his anger pour through her body as well. He’d better be careful. Keep rein on his emotions as well as his thoughts. Strangely, this alien female seemed capable of reading both.