Nine
Elyce regretted her words as soon as they’d flown out of her mouth.
The information she’d relayed about Marowit was correct and had to be shared. But she shouldn’t have threatened Paloma. She was a child, had only sixteen solar cycles, and Balvan cared for her. The male cared for every being in the chamber.
Elyce had been angry, so very angry, and all of that rage had bubbled to the surface, spewing everywhere.
As Balvan talked with Kralj and Orol, she gazed across the chamber, trying to dredge up enough courage to ask the girl for forgiveness.
Rhea and Paloma huddled together, avoiding her gaze. Everyone avoided her gaze, even Balvan.
Elyce had to fix this. She took a step forward.
Paloma sobbed, recoiling from her. Rhea wrapped an arm around her sister and ushered her out of the chamber.
Shit. Shit. Shit. Elyce watched as the doors closed behind them. She’d missed her chance at repairing the damage she’d caused.
And now she was alone again, isolated.
Not physically. Balvan stood close by her. But he and Orol spoke at levels she, with her human hearing, couldn’t follow.
She didn’t know if Kralj was speaking at all. He might be pushing his insights into the males’ minds from his position behind the horizontal support half a chamber away.
That male scared her.
I should. His voice appeared inside her head. I’m a monster.
He wasn’t a monster. Elyce, an expert on that type of being, immediately dismissed that thought. Monsters weren’t capable of love.
Kralj loved Dita. The tiny female sat on his lap. Their fingers entwined as they gazed down at a private viewscreen. He leaned into her. She leaned into him.
That didn’t eliminate the terrifying aura of absolute power radiating from him, or the knowledge he could control beings with a mere thought.
“Are you ready?” Balvan turned to her, his expression distressingly grim.
Was she ready for him to relay how badly she’d fucked up? Was she prepared to hear their relationship was over, he couldn’t be with her, that the disrespect she’d shown his friends had forced him to choose and he hadn’t chosen her?
No, but avoiding reality never made it go away.
“Yes, I’m ready,” she lied.
He swung her into his arms. Because that was the type of male he was. He would safeguard a female even if she created trouble with his buddies.
Balvan strode out of the chamber, carrying her.
Elyce waited until they had exited the structure, were moving through the settlement, the noise around them covering their conversation, to apologize. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have threatened Paloma.”
“I’m not sorry.” His lips curled upward. “You defended me. No one has ever done that.”
She blinked, not expecting that response. “She is a child.” Elyce pointed out, thinking he didn’t fully understand the situation. “I scared her.”
The girl had run out of the chamber crying because of her harsh words.
“She tried to leave the Refuge during the rest cycle.” Balvan grew solemn once more. “Someone had to scare her.”
Elyce cringed. “Marowit would have taken her.” He would have done to Paloma, a child, all of the things he had done to her.
“Or someone else could have hurt her.” Balvan tightened his hold on her. “Carinae E is home to some of the worst beings in the universe. It isn’t a place to take unnecessary risks.”
“Other males might take Paloma.” And they might take her. Fuck. She trembled. She wasn’t safe.
“They won’t touch you, my little female.” Her big male brushed his lips over her forehead, leaving a trail of bubbling nanohumanics on her skin. “I will protect you. And we’ll teach you to protect yourself.”
They stopped in front of a merchant’s stall. An array of weapons was displayed. A ridge-faced Silan watched them warily.
“Dita uses daggers.” Balvan waved at the selection of blades.
Elyce ran her fingers along her sides, remembering how Marowit and his males had tortured her with their daggers, how they’d pierced her skin with the tips, gouging flesh from her body. “I couldn’t use daggers.” She shuddered.
He gazed at her, his eyes soft. “No, I suspect you wouldn’t like that type of weapon.” He studied the display. “You require something light to carry.”
“I don’t want to have to get close to the being to defend myself.” Elyce couldn’t handle having a stranger touch her. She would become paralyzed with fear, overcome with the memories of the trauma she’d suffered.
“May I suggest a gun?” The merchant selected the smallest one. “This is light, but don’t be deceived by its size, sir, it is very powerful, will blow a hole through even a being as big as you.” He handed Balvan the weapon.
It looked ridiculous in his huge hands. He took it apart, put it back together, peered along its barrel. “What do you think?” He passed the gun to her.
“I think I need to learn how to shoot.” She curved her fingers around the handle.
It felt good against her palms, as though it belonged there, the weapon giving her instant confidence. She might defeat Marowit with a gun. He wouldn’t expect her to have one.
But there was a problem. “I don’t have any credits,” she whispered.
“I do,” Balvan whispered back. “And anything that is mine is now yours.” He gave the merchant the gun. “We’ll take two of them.”
She’d have two guns. Her eyes rounded. No one would ever expect that.
The merchant looked giddy over the sale. “And will the miss need a set of holsters for her new guns?” He waved one of his hands over the selection of leather goods.
“She will need holsters.” Balvan perused the colors and designs. “Do you want light-blue leather to match your eyes?”
He knew what color her eyes were. She beamed, that small observation pleasing her.
“I prefer green leather.” She wanted everyone to know she belonged with him.
“Green?” The pigment on his cheeks darkened. “Is that a new color preference?”
She nodded.
His eyes glowed. “And what was your preference before you met me?”
“Black.” Some of the joy evaporated from her shopping excursion. “The only time I wasn’t in pain was when I was unconscious.”
She had dreaded waking, never wanting to return to her horrific reality.
“Those planet rotations are over.” He said softly. “What was your favorite color before you were abducted?”
“I don’t know.” It hurt her heart to think about who she once was. “I’m not that female anymore.”
“You’re stronger.” His bald head dipped. “We’ll take a set of holsters in green.”
They completed the transaction and the beaming merchant passed the holstered weapons to Balvan, who then passed them to Elyce. The weight was comforting against her hips, as reassuring as her big male’s arms around her.
He carried her through the market, insisted on purchasing more supplies for nourishment bars and more garments for her, green flight suits in sinfully soft fabric, a decadent leather chest and ass covering combination that made her feel powerful when she donned it.
Other beings kept their distance from them. Balvan asked her opinion on items and listened to her responses, treating her truly like his equal, his mate.
It felt…normal. She liked it.
They returned to their domicile, where their purchases and Sparkles awaited. The little puffker yipped as they entered the structure, as excited about seeing Elyce as she was about seeing Balvan.
“Dare and some of the other males have been guarding the gate.” Balvan relayed as they tended to the puffker, feeding her, refreshing her beverage, cleaning her.
He normally guarded the gate. Guilt filled Elyce. “I’ve been keeping you from your important role.”
“Being your male is my most important role.” He placed his arm around her. “At sunrise, I’ll take a shift at the gate.”
“I could help you.” She wanted to be useful to him.
He gazed at her for a long moment. Elyce braced herself for rejection. She had no knowledge about what guarding the gates to a settlement encompassed.
But a couple of planet rotations ago, she had no knowledge of caring for a puffker and she was doing that right now. She’d also fabricated a nourishment bar for Balvan, although it wasn’t the best one she’d ever fabricated, and she’d polished his boots.
“I want to add value to your lifespan.” Then he’d keep her.
His face softened. “You add great value to my lifespan.” He paused. “And I will require your assistance to guard the gates.”
“Yes.” She smiled, clasping her hands together. “What tasks will I be tackling?” She’d prepare for them as best she could.
“First, you must learn how to use your weapon.” He smiled back at her. “We’ll go to an area to practice.”
* * *
Several moments later, they entered the practice area. Dita stood before a group of females, including Azalea, demonstrating how to toss a larger opponent over her shoulder. Hulagu was her unhappy volunteer.
Elyce’s eyes widened as he was flung to the ground, Dita grunting with the effort. The male was double the other female’s size and the tiny brunette had thrown him.
“She could teach you also.” Balvan suggested, his voice quiet. “They practice once a planet rotation.”
Other than Hulagu, who slunk to the side, dusting his ass coverings off, the group consisted of females. “I could try it.” She should be able to tolerate females touching her.
“We’ll shoot first.” Balvan led her toward the far end of the space.
Her stomach twisted when she saw who was also shooting. Rhea stood behind Paloma, correcting the girl’s aim.
She didn’t see Orol. Rhea might be his slave, his collar circling her neck, but she seemed to have total freedom to move around the settlement.
Which meant Elyce had to face her now. She squared her shoulders. They were Balvan’s friends. She would have to talk with them eventually.
Pain delayed was still pain. She survived Marowit’s abuse. She could survive this.
“Put me down.” She patted Balvan’s big arms.
He lowered her. “Paloma hasn’t done anything.” He reluctantly released her. “Yet.”
“I’ll keep my temper.” She assured him, hoping that was the truth. “I plan to apologize.”
She walked toward the two females. Paloma lowered her gun. They turned to face her.
“Hi.” Elyce summoned a smile.
“Hi.” Rhea placed one of her hands on Paloma’s shoulder.
They gazed at each other, the awkwardness making Elyce want to squirm.
She opened her mouth.
“I’m sorry.” Paloma said the words at the same time as she did. The girl blinked, looking as surprised as Elyce felt.
“We’re all sorry.” Rhea’s laugh was shaky. “But not as sorry as Marowit will be. He messed with the wrong females.”
Elyce gazed at the two females, females who hated her abductor also. After over half a solar cycle of fighting to survive on her own, she had beings on her side. She gazed over her shoulder at Balvan.
He stood right behind her, ready to protect her if that was needed, his proximity and massive form giving her additional strength.
She smiled at him. His eyes glowed.
“Are you here to shoot?” Rhea asked.
“I’m here to learn.” She rested her hands on her newly acquired weapons.
“From whom?” The pregnant female lifted her eyebrows. “Not from Balvan. He’s an…adequate shooter.” Her face said otherwise.
“Hey.” He rumbled his objection.
“I’m being generous.” Rhea shook her head. “His huge hands aren’t designed for guns.” She whispered to Elyce.
Balvan had enhanced hearing. Elyce suspected he heard the female’s words. Yet he didn’t say anything.
Which meant his huge hands weren’t designed for guns.
“I’m the best shooter in the Refuge.” Rhea drew her guns, the action fast despite her protruding belly. “I’ll teach you how to use your guns.”
Elyce swallowed the lump of emotion forming in her throat. “You’d do that for me?” She’d lost her temper, yelled at the female’s sister. Rhea should be upset with her, not granting her favors.
“It is the least I can do for you.” The brunette’s smile wavered. “I had the opportunity to kill Marowit. It would have meant my death and Paloma being left alone, so I didn’t pull the trigger. I didn’t think he’d punish someone else for our escape.”
They were merely trying to get away from him, from his evil, hadn’t considered anyone else, as Elyce hadn’t considered anyone else when she had escaped. The only thought she’d had was self-preservation.
“Father and Mother are dead.” There was an endless depth of sadness in Paloma’s voice. “They aren’t coming for us. We won’t ever return home. Our lifespans will never go back to what they once were.” Tears ran down her cheeks.
Rhea hugged the girl, her stomach making the embrace clumsy.
“I can’t return home either.” Elyce shared. “I’m not that female anymore.” She had more solar cycles than Paloma but the loss of her innocence had been even more soul-shredding. “I’m stronger.” Those were Balvan’s words. “You’ve changed also.” That was a calculated guess. The girl’s experiences would change anyone. “You have your sister, friends who love you, care for you. You’re strong and beautiful and intelligent.” The girl had so much. “You can create your own lifespan, your own happiness.”
“We will all create our own happiness.” Rhea smiled, her eyes glassy with unshed tears. “The Refuge will be our new home.”
Paloma sniffled.
Elyce glanced behind her, meeting Balvan’s gaze. Was the Refuge her new home? She was happy here but she suspected that feeling was because of her big green male, not due to the settlement.
“Can I see your guns?” Rhea held out her hands.
Elyce gave her the weapons. The female took them apart, naming all the pieces, telling Elyce what she should look for, how to clean them.
Most of the first session was learning about her guns, perfecting how to hold them, stand, aim. Elyce did squeeze off a few rounds of projectiles. She missed the target, but not by much, hitting the wall beside it.
Elyce cleaned her guns to Rhea’s satisfaction. Brimming with confidence, engulfed in the glow of power that came with being able to defend herself, she bounced back to where Balvan was patiently waiting.
“Did you see my shooting?” She jumped into his arms. “Rhea says I have potential.”
“I saw.” He grinned. “That’s high praise from Rhea.”
Rhea was now her friend. She settled against Balvan. Paloma was more prickly, but she had friend potential also.
Friends were important, not only emotionally. They were protection. When she was abducted, she had been alone. If she’d walked with a friend, Marowit might not have taken her.
Or maybe he would have. The male thought himself untouchable, had boasted of the things the Humanoid Alliance would allow him to do.
Balvan was right. The abduction wasn’t her fault.
Her big male carried her through the settlement. She recognized some landmarks. They were heading toward their domicile.
A male pelted along the pathway, veering directly toward them. He looked over his shoulder as he moved, not paying attention to where he was going.
They’d collide. Elyce cringed, pushing backward into Balvan’s big form. The stranger would touch her.
Her great green male’s arm blurred, sweeping before them. The stranger flew across the pathway, slammed into a wall, and fell to the flattened sand.
There was a crack in the wall at the point of impact. That was how strong her mate was.
“Is he”—she gulped air—“is he dead?”
“He’s unconscious.” Balvan continued walking, carrying her away from the scene of the accident. “His head will hurt when he wakes.”
Two more males ran toward them, huge knives in their hands. They saw Balvan and immediately changed direction.
“Kralj has informed residents about the siege.” He explained. “They can’t leave, not without risking their lifespans, and are becoming restless. You won’t go anywhere without me.”
She hadn’t planned to leave his side. “I have my guns.” She touched the holsters. “If you need help, tell me and I’ll shoot in their direction.”
Elyce doubted she could hit moving beings. She wasn’t that skilled. But she might scare them, make them think twice about attacking him.
“Will you protect me, my little female?” His lips quirked upward.
“You can protect yourself.” She rolled her eyes. Balvan was a huge, strong male, with enhanced senses and bewildering speed. He was in no danger. “But you’re not alone.” She reached upward and smoothed his eyebrows. “I want you to know that.”
“I would never forget that.” His voice lowered to an arousing rumble. “Every part of me is aware of you, Elyce. I draw your distinct scent into my lungs every time I inhale. I listen for your little breaths, watch you with a fascination I don’t ever want to shake.”
Her mouth dried, passion curling her boot-clad toes. “Oh.”
“Yes, oh.” He increased their speed. “We’re going home where you can show me how not alone I am.”
She could do that. Elyce wiggled against him, anticipating his touch.