Fear ravaged Balvan’s big body, demolishing his bliss.
He’d broken his tiny female.
Balvan gathered her limp form into his arms, flayed by guilt, bombarded by panic. He had tried to be as careful as possible with her, giving her complete control of the encounter, but he was a big clumsy oaf, a monster, and had somehow managed to damage the one being who truly belonged to him.
He set her on the modified sleeping support. Three of the human-sized frames had been fused together, creating space for him to lie beside his female. Machines lined the private chamber, monitoring all of the activities within it. The walls were a spotless unrelenting white. Everything in the space was clean, sterile.
Except for him and his female.
He placed his hands on his little mate. Her chest, sticky with his essence, pushed against his palms and retreated, pushed against his palms and retreated. She was breathing. Some of his terror subsided. But her eyes were closed. Her body was still, too still.
Should he give her more of his blood? The medic had yelled at him for doing that. She’d berated him, waggling her finger in his direction and saying his female could have had a bad reaction. Her claim was that it was unsanitary.
He had no regrets. It had saved his female’s life and he’d do it again if that was necessary.
Was it necessary?
“Medic,” he bellowed, requiring expert advice.
His female was motionless, so small, fragile, her skin pale, soft. He had to do something.
Balvan glanced at the machine monitoring her heartbeat. The line was flat. That wasn’t good.
Maybe the machine wasn’t working. He pounded the top of it. The case bent. The screen cracked. The straight line didn’t change.
“Medic,” he hollered again. Where the frag was she?
No one entered the chamber. The next steps, the responsibility for saving his female’s lifespan, was up to him, only him.
He would give her more of his blood. It had worked once. It would work a second time. Balvan strode to the horizontal support, searched through his ass coverings, found a dagger.
The doors whooshed open. “Put down the dagger.” The medic led a pack of females, all of the beings wearing white coats.
“Then heal my female,” Balvan roared back at her. “The line is flat.” He waved the dagger at the machine. “And she’s not moving.”
“The line is flat because you’ve broken yet another machine.” The medic rushed to his female’s side. “The sensors were detached.” She held up the tiny pads. “That’s the problem.” She turned to a member of her team. “Get a replacement machine.”
The less-senior female made a wide circle around Balvan and ran out of the chamber, rushing to do her superior’s bidding.
“She’s broken.” Balvan didn’t require a machine or a medic to determine that. “Do something. Now.”
“Her breathing is a little strained.” The medic touched his female’s chest. She pulled her hand back, looked at her fingers, and grimaced. “What did you do?” The medic glared at him.
Balvan’s face heated. His female’s condition was all his fault. He should have stopped her, waited for her to completely heal, but her small hands on his hard cock had felt so good and he had wanted her. Badly.
Merely being near her, inhaling her seductive scent, aroused him. His brain was shredded with concern over her wellbeing yet his body was shamefully hard.
He truly was a monster.
“She has been through great trauma.” The medic berated him. “She needs to recover, so keep it in your ass coverings.” Her gaze lowered to his unabashed erection. “And put on some ass coverings. This is a respectable medic bay.”
He hastily donned his ass coverings. The other beings tittered. He scowled. They were medical professionals. They must have seen cocks. What was one more?
Apparently, it was a big issue because the medic shook her head at him. “I’m giving my patient extra fluids to compensate for your unsanctioned activities.” She pressed the tip of an injector gun against his female’s upper arm, tapped the trigger. “Put that in her files.” She instructed another team member. “Along with her name. Which is?” The medic looked at Balvan.
His face approached the surface temperature of Carinae E’s solitary sun. He looked down at his bare feet. “I don’t know,” he mumbled.
His female had uncovered his name. He didn’t yet know hers.
The medic raised her eyebrows. “You don’t know her name and you did that to her.” She glanced pointedly at his female’s breasts. “If Kralj hadn’t assured me you would never harm her, I would ban you from the medic bay.”
Balvan frowned, drawing himself up to his full height. “I’m not leaving her side.”
“You should leave her side.” The medic approached him, staying out of range of his arms. “Your antics haven’t yet caused her any additional damage.”
The knot at the base of Balvan’s neck unraveled. His female was fine.
“But they could have.” The medic clucked her tongue. “She needs rest, time to recover, and you clearly aren’t able to give her those things.”
“I’ll give her the time she needs and ensure she rests.” He wouldn’t be tempted again, wouldn’t allow his female to touch his cock until she was fully recovered. “She asked me to stay with her. I won’t break that vow.”
If his female woke up alone, she might be scared. He wouldn’t inflict more trauma on her.
“I see.” The hardness in the medic’s eyes dissipated. “You require rest too. You’ve been here for three planet rotations. Return to your domicile, change your ass coverings, get some sleep. You won’t be any good to her if you get sick.”
He was a modified humanoid. He wasn’t susceptible to illness. Balvan crossed his arms in front of his chest. “I’m staying.”
“Stars save me from stubborn males.” The medic rolled her eyes. “If you won’t listen to me, I’ll find someone you will listen to.” She left him with that warning as she ushered her team out of the chamber, leaving him alone with his female.
He loomed over his little mate. The chamber was cool and her nipples were tight. He retrieved a covering cloth, rubbed it over his bare chest, transferring his scent to the fabric, draped the square over her naked body.
If she had been another being, he’d tuck the cloth under her, but his little female had been restrained against her will. The Humanoid Alliance had constricted his movements also. Balvan rubbed his wrists, recalling the weight of the chains upon them. After he escaped, he couldn’t bear to be held down.
They were similar in that way, him and his female. He pulled a chair close to her and sat. Not designed for his tremendous size, the chair creaked in protest, the seat lowering until it touched the floor.
Balvan ignored it, took one of his female’s tiny hands, held it between both of his large paws. Her stillness still disturbed him. He watched the movement of her chest, listened to her breathe.
She had touched him, acting of her own free will. He shuddered, remembering that pleasure, the most exquisite he’d ever experienced.
His little female had gazed at his face with desire, not disgust. There had been no screams of terror, only of blissful release.
She had felt flashes of fear but that was understandable. He traced the scars around her wrist, anger darkening his mood. Males had abused his little female. He would have to earn her trust again and again, constantly reassure her he wasn’t like the others.
They would take their relationship slowly, solidify their connection. His nanohumanics would extend her life forever. He would protect her from any possible threats. They had time.
He stroked her palm. His breath synced with hers. His female was beautiful, an otherworldly being. Her blonde hair framed her face, like a planetary ring system he’d once seen. The strands reflected light onto her pale cheeks and pink lips, making her glow.
When she had opened her eyes and looked at him, every ab muscle he sported had seized. Her eyes were the most delicate of blues, the hurt in them pulling at his protective soul.
He couldn’t be the bigger male and let her go. Not now. Not after she’d reached for him, voluntarily explored his body with her fingertips.
Asked him to stay with her.
That had affected him the most, her request almost bringing him to his knees. While Balvan was enslaved, the Humanoid Alliance trainers had thought it humorous to put rebellious females in his chamber.
The females would scream and scream, beating on the doors with their tiny fists, becoming hysterical with fear. They would agree to any sick request the humans would make, in order to escape him.
The females had preferred to be abused than have Balvan protect them.
His female had chosen his protection, had chosen him. Balvan caressed her hand, relishing the opportunity to touch her, however innocently. He would ensure she never regretted her choice.
She was his and he was hers. For all eternity.
He gazed at her, willing her to heal, to regain consciousness. His nanohumanics bubbled within her. He sensed them. They would speed her recovery.
There wasn’t anything more he could do.
Meet me inside the gates. Kralj, the Refuge’s Ruler, pushed that thought into Balvan’s brain.
Others could guard the gate. Balvan didn’t move, didn’t rush to obey as he had in the past. He’d given enough to the Refuge.
While he was standing in front of the entrance, like a great, giant fool, his female had been alone, unprotected. Males had tortured her, abused her.
He wouldn’t leave her alone again.
She won’t be alone. Kralj’s tone communicated his irritation. I’m sending Rhea to sit with her.
Rhea, Orol’s female, was mere planet rotations away from delivering three offspring. She was a regular patron of the medic bay.
Balvan cared for Rhea, but they were discussing his fragile female. If she woke, saw a stranger—
I’ll notify you when she awakes. The Refuge’s leader addressed that objection before Balvan fully formed it. This has to do with Elyce.
Elyce. Balvan repeated that name in his mind.
Your female. Kralj clarified. I am waiting for you.
The doors to the chamber opened. Balvan jumped to his feet and turned, positioning his body protectively in front of his female, Elyce.
A short brunette female waddled into the space, her flight suit stretched over her protruding belly, a smile on her face. “You’ve found your female,” she whispered.
“I’ve found my female.” He confirmed, lowering his voice. “She’s recovering from…she’s recovering.” His female’s past was hers to share. He wouldn’t relay any unnecessary knowledge. “She requires quiet.”
“Don’t worry.” Rhea laughed softly. “My sister isn’t joining me.”
Paloma, Rhea’s younger sister, wasn’t yet fully grown and had a flair for drama. Balvan liked the girl, had tended to her when she suffered her own trauma, but he didn’t want her to upset his female. Elyce. He savored her name.
“Good.” He held out the chair for Rhea. It hadn’t regained its original shape, the seat dragging along the floor.
“It’ll be a break for me too.” Orol’s female sat. A sigh escaped her lips. “She’s been asking where you are.” Rhea glanced at Elyce. “My sister might not take this change well, Balvan. She’s already upset with me for paying Orol and the babies more attention than I give her.” She curved her hands over her belly. “And she sees you as a father figure.”
Paloma was a scared child, afraid of losing more than she’d already lost. Balvan understood her thought process but he wouldn’t allow her emotions to hurt Elyce. “Paloma believes her father and mother are still alive.”
“You and I know that’s not true.” Rhea rubbed her stomach. The Humanoid Alliance had executed the two females’ parents. “I suspect she knows that also.”
He wasn’t certain what Paloma thought. The girl was Rhea and Orol’s responsibility.
He bent over Elyce, pressed his lips against her forehead. “I’ll be back as soon as possible.” He made that announcement to both of them.
“Your female will be fine,” Rhea reassured him. “She’s in a medic bay.”
Orol’s female was right. Elyce should be safe. He took one more look at her beautiful face and left, striding at modified humanoid speed through the medic bay, out the main doors, along pathways, growling warnings.
Residents dropped objects, rushing out of his way. He didn’t try to ease their minds. A cleared pathway was faster to navigate.
He would hear what Kralj had to say and then return to his female. She wouldn’t wake up in the company of strangers, even a stranger he considered to be a friend.
Kralj waited for him inside the gates. Shadows hid the male’s scarred face. Dita held his right hand. She swung the Ruler’s arm. Orol stood on Kralj’s left.
“Follow me.” Kralj led them up the stairs, his long black coat swirling around his boots. Dita skipped along behind him. Orol used his wings to propel him to the top of the wall, the lucky male.
Balvan had to walk. He gritted his teeth and followed Kralj and Dita. The wall hadn’t been designed for beings of his girth and falling great distances hurt. Tremendously. He wouldn’t die, but he would ache for a planet rotation.
Once he reached the top, he stood beside Orol and peered at the sand dunes. He didn’t see anyone or anything, but his senses weren’t as acute as Kralj’s. The male could hear thoughts, view things others couldn’t.
Dita leaned against Kralj, her face a careful blank. Balvan suspected she knew everything. The Ruler often confided in her, relying on the little assassin’s counsel, especially when it came to security.
“Are we under attack?” Orol appeared as perplexed as Balvan felt.
“It isn’t what’s here that concerns me.” The wind whipped around Kralj. “It is what isn’t here.”
Balvan perused the space. Beings lingered below them, merchants, caravans of settlers, lone travelers. There weren’t as many beings in front of the gates as there usually were, lessening the threat level. And they appeared harmless.
All of them appeared harmless.
His stomach twisted. “Where are the Humanoid Alliance warriors?”
Those battle-trained males were notably absent.
“They left at sunrise.” Kralj met his gaze. “They weren’t told anything except they were to travel to a designated spot outside my terrain.”
The being in charge knew Kralj could read their minds. “What’s special about the designated spot?”
“It’s close to the place where your female entered my terrain.”
Fraggin’ hole. Balvan squeezed his fingers into fists. “The Humanoid Alliance were the beings who tortured her.” He would kill all of them, every single Humanoid Alliance warrior on the planet.
“I suspect the fools will try to block incoming supplies.” Kralj didn’t address Balvan’s comment. “Our water is self-supplied.”
Kralj gazed down at Dita. She looked up at him, love for their Ruler, her mate, glowing from her eyes, and Balvan felt a tinge of envy.
Would Elyce ever look at him that way? Could she grow to love him, a monster?
“We have enough nourishment in underground storage containers to feed residents for twenty planet rotations.” Kralj relayed that information for Dita. Balvan and Orol already knew about the supplies. “My female and I will ration those supplies.”
“I will monitor the Humanoid Alliance activities.” Orol spread his wings.
“Maintain a high elevation.” Kralj cautioned. “You’re outside my range. I can’t assist you.”
“And I can’t save you. Again.” Balvan added. He’d saved his friend six times during the last nine hundred and sixty-seven battles they’d fought together. “I must protect my female.”
“You must protect my female also.” Orol nodded, his customary grin missing. “And our offspring.” When it came to his loved ones, his friend lost his sense of humor.
Balvan felt the same way. No one would harm Elyce ever again.
“No one will harm anyone within my walls.” The wind intensified around Kralj. “We’ve been besieged in the past and survived.”
Balvan caught Orol’s gaze, saw the apprehension in his friend’s eyes, a feeling he shared.
The dangers during the previous siege had come from within the walls, not outside them. Carinae E attracted the most vicious, violent beings in the universe, rule-hating rebels and outcasts. They often sought sanctuary within the Refuge, abiding the laws for a short duration, then leaving to release their true brutish natures outside Kralj’s terrain.
Caging beings like that would result in bloodshed and death. In the past, Balvan and Orol only had to worry about protecting themselves. Now, they had females to safeguard.
“If there is a siege, I’ll shield the mates of all modified humanoids from violence.” Kralj tried to ease their unspoken concerns.
“There will be no siege if I kill them all.” Balvan didn’t want to leave Elyce’s side but he’d make that sacrifice to eliminate threats to her, to ensure she not only was safe but felt safe.
“We’ll assess the situation first.” Kralj was irritated about his lack of information. Balvan heard that in his voice. The Ruler was usually all-knowing, all-powerful. “Then we’ll decide upon next steps.”
Elyce’s tormenters would die. Balvan would ensure they paid for their brutal treatment of his female. But he could wait for Kralj’s endorsement of that action.
He turned, gazed in the direction of the medic bay. Were they done? Could he return to Elyce?
“She’s not awake.” Kralj’s tone was dry. “Focus, warrior. Once I have communicated the situation, residents are unlikely to leave my terrain. Some of them will leave the Refuge, however.”
Kralj’s rules only applied within the settlement. Residents would venture beyond the safety of the walls to kill, to vent the darkness within them.
Balvan blew out his breath. “There will be an increase in violence outside our gates.” They had to plan for that situation.
He couldn’t yet return to his female.