LORE KNEW THE time had come. He’d been thinking about it for days, ever since he’d felt the new and beautiful tie to Mandy and Zehn. He and Zehn had always connected in a way Lore didn’t with his clan. A love, a bond that could not be broken. With Mandy and her strange human energy, that fiery power that blazed in her soul, the tie grew stronger.

And it changed them all.

Zehn was a barbarian. Mandy a human. Lore, something more than barbarian. But together, their energy could be used to do other things. He sensed it, wanted to experiment when they got back.

If they got back.

Mike, the offworlder, was a telekinetic. Zehn struggled to his feet, shaking off the blow. Mandy could have set the bastard on fire, but Lore didn’t want her to do violence, not with her mates and the clan there to protect her.

Can you lend me your flame, tonan? That I may do harm to the Earther’s power?

My head hurts. I don’t think I’ll be much help.

They watched Zehn engage the humans near him who tried to punch him. He tossed them both at Mike, who dodged, then retaliated with another telekinetic blow that snapped Zehn’s head back. Blood poured from his nose, but the rage in Zehn’s eyes was a thing of beauty.

Keep your energy, tight, sweetling. Lore projected. Shield yourself.

She grimaced. Yeah. Wouldn’t want to hurt the baby.

Ah, sweet. That is all my fault. I will explain later.

If there is a later, she grumbled. Zehn won’t last much longer.

 

 

Behind them, the barbarians fought. Nasuhl to Vyctore, the numbers of warriors swelled over the jungle as blood spilled and insults flew back and forth. Never let it be said barbarians fought in silence. Dear God, but watching the others kill each other frightened her. Mandy had been around violence, but never to this extent. Even Mike and the others looked overwhelmed.

“Shit. We need to get moving,” one of them said. “Red’s waiting for her at the receiving dock.”

She swallowed. “Red’s here?”

Mike smiled at her. “Of course. Daddy wants to see his future daughter-in-law before we get started making babies. Just think how strong they’ll be with the power of fire and telekinesis at their fingertips. We’ll be the strongest crew in the city.” He looked her over as if she was a tasty piece of meat. “And I’ll have no problem fucking you until you get pregnant. And after.” He laughed.

She reached for Lore’s hand, ashamed to admit her terror of the human cretin.

Lore squeezed her hand. He will never touch you.

Never. Zehn stood and shook off another mental blow from Mike.

And then Mike was screaming as Lore delved inside his mind and crushed it. The humans, not understanding what was happening, decided to end the threat and aimed too many pulsers at Mandy and her mates.

Tired of feeling as if she had no control over anything, she let go of her power, embraced the pain at her temples, and somehow leaked some of her energy into her mates.

A jolt of connection passed between the three, and she saw Zehn’s eyes turn a bright green to match Lore’s. The humans screamed, fire burning them from the inside out. Zehn used their distraction to swing a long sword, chopping off flaming heads as he went.

Barbarians poured into their area, and anyone who drew too close ended up on fire, then stabbed with Zehn’s sword.

Seeing this, the Vyctore began herding the remaining Nasuhl toward them.

When she saw Skehl fighting a pack of Nasuhl, the group growing closer to her fire, she released the mental hold on Lore she hadn’t realized she’d forged. It was something stronger, beyond her mating tie.

The connection severed, the fire burned out. “Zehn, help Skehl. He saved me.”

Zehn saw the warrior she’d mentioned. “I don’t think he needs my help.” But he did tell the other Vyctore that Skehl was not to be harmed.

Dizzy, she wavered on her feet. Lore swept her into his arms, the warmth of his care easing the ache in her head. Phelthar, that connection he believed in, joined her to her mates on another level entirely. Beyond mind and body to a spiritual center so beautiful it made her cry.

“Shh. You’re okay, tonan.”

She closed her eyes and felt Zehn’s kiss upon her forehead, Lore’s arms around her, holding her close to his chest.

“Be at peace, tonan.” Zehn stroked her hair. “We have you.”

“And we have you, mate,” Lore said to him. “You need healing.”

“I’m fine.”

“You will be,” Lore promised.

“I’m still mad at you two,” she said, her words slurring.

“Yes. You have every right.” Lore hugged her tighter.

“Something to discuss at home,” Zehn offered.

Then Mandy let herself go, this time ready to sleep in the safety of her mate’s arms.

 

 

Zehn watched his brethren cull the remaining Nasuhl. An effective battle that had seemingly cured them of their plaguing enemy. Skehl had finally finished beating his opponents to death and slumped down in the middle of the carnage. He looked spiritually bruised, though Zehn couldn’t have said why he thought that.

To several of the warriors watching the Nasuhl giant, Zehn ordered, “Bring him back with us. Have a care, but treat him with respect.”

They nodded. An able warrior, Skehl had fought against, not with, the Nasuhl. And Mother’s Moons, but the bastard was huge and skilled with his fists. Like most of those who’d come to fight, they’d used brawn over weapons.

But some, like Zehn, had brought swords and axes. He saw Arghet and frowned. “Shouldn’t you be back at the village?”

Arghet was frowning at Skehl. “I left Katan in charge. We have more than enough at home to protect our people. But what in the Hells of Fyanthul is wrong with the big one?”

“Mandy said he protected her.”

Arghet nodded, lost in thought. “Good. Still, he’s Nasuhl.” Arghet barked orders, and the warriors gathered the pulsers as they drew Skehl to his feet. The male didn’t offer resistance, and they took him with them as well.

Zhen and Lore followed the sound of cheering to see Talzec beating Morlo to death. When Talzec flashed golden, from his eyes to his chest tattoos, everyone knew to give their leader space. His battlelust was a thing of beauty, and seeing his prowess only added to their alpha’s mythic reputation.

“He killed a dozen while avoiding Morlo’s alien tech,” one of the warriors told him with a grin. “Then he took the pulser and started beating Morlo with it.” The male laughed. “Morlo’s not long for this world.”

He wasn’t. Zehn watched as Talzec choked the life out of what remained of Morlo, then dropped the body to the ground. Talzec turned to those around him. “The Nasuhl are no more. We will head back. Tomorrow, we scour for survivors.”

And they’d bring those survivors to the Cloud Council, where the tribal leaders would decide what to do with the clanless ones. Xav walked up to Talzec and said something, to which Talzec responded, “Exactly. Make sure every one of those cursed offworlder weapons comes with us. I want nothing left behind to poison the land.”

The Vyctore around him nodded. Of like mind, they detested most things alien. Except offworlder women, Zehn thought, and stroked Mandy’s cheek. She lay sleeping, trusting, in Lore’s arms.

Zehn leaned close to kiss Lore, for once ignoring Lore’s need to keep their love private. He saw more than one male smile at them, but his attention centered on his bond-mate.

“Why did you do that?” Lore flushed.

“Because I love you. And I refuse to hide it any longer. Not for you or Mandy or the clan. Our bonding is blessed, Lore. There is no shame in it.” Or in you, my worthy mate.

Lore studied him with those intense eyes, one green, one gold. And then he smiled, and the beauty in such open affection brought tears to Zehn’s eyes.

It wouldn’t do to cry like a female, so Zehn blinked to rid himself of the moisture. But Lore had seen. And he knew. That was enough.

 

***

 

Back at home, Zehn let the healers tend to him while Lore settled Mandy in their dwelling. They’d brought softness to their home, hoping their female wouldn’t be too angry with them when she realized they’d do anything to make her happy.

After cleaning the blood and dirt from his body, he dressed in a clean loincloth and headed in the direction of his mates. The bustle of his clan distracted him for a moment, men and women laughing and smiling and mourning the death of those who’d fallen in battle. A just and welcomed death, but a loss all the same.

As their people took care of one another, Zehn wished Mandy could see this. To see what she could be a part of if she’d just agree to stay. He could easily imagine her tending to the children with the other mothers, of being cossetted by himself and Lore, of being loved by them.

The urge to make things right between them hurried him on his way, but before Zehn could return to Mandy and Lore, Xav stopped him. “You and Lore must come with me. Fetch your bond-mate and meet me in the common area.”

Zehn had a bad feeling. He ran into Skye on the way and asked if she’d keep an eye on Mandy for him.

“Sure.” Skye studied him. For a time, he and Lore had lusted after the golden-haired female. A female warrior, an Earther, and a woman with energy that called out to Ussed. She’d intrigued him, yet even then he’d known Xav would have her, which meant she’d soon belong to the alpha as well. But had Zehn sensed his alpha or beta attracted to Mandy, he’d have fought to win her for his own. Mandy owned a piece of his soul, as Lore did.

Despite their battle being over, he worried she wouldn’t forgive them. No matter what punishment Talzec might give him for taking an offworlder from the resort—without her consent—nothing would compare to Mandy’s judgement.

“You guys are in trouble for taking Mandy, aren’t you?” Skye asked.

“Probably.” Obviously Talzec had learned that they hadn’t left with a willing offworlder, but that they’d not only taken her without Talzec’s permission, they’d taken her without Mandy’s permission.

Skye stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. “Good luck. Don’t worry. She loves you.”

“I hope so.” He sighed. Skye laughed at him, and he knew he could put off the inevitable no longer.

He walked with her to his dwelling and grabbed Lore. “Xav wants us. Skye will stay with our mate.”

“Pretend you’re sorry. That’ll go a long way toward getting Talzec off your back,” Skye offered.

They left, and Lore said, “Do you think she’s right?”

“I don’t think anything will protect us from our alpha. We broke the law.”

“To save her. I’d break it again and have no problem saying so.”

Zehn rolled his eyes. Great. He had an unrepentant mate, another mate who didn’t want to carry his child, and an alpha who’d probably oust them from the clan. Then maybe he and Lore could join the leftover Nasuhl. He cringed just thinking about it.

Lore clapped him on the back. I’ll protect you.

And I’ll protect you.

They found Talzec, Xav, and their fellow inner circle waiting in the central commons. Talzec stood front and center with Xav just behind him. The inner circle stood just beyond Xav. And ringed around the commons were a good fifty warriors, with more joining the crowd as he watched. Hell.

“Zehn and Lore, come forward.” Talzec stood, his arms crossed, his body a well-honed killing machine. He seemed to glow, replete with victory, his fighting spirit endless.

Lore sucked in a breath, feeling the same thing Zehn did. Since bonding together with their third, Zehn felt more from Ussed than he used to. It was as if he and Lore had opened each other up even more, allowing Lore’s abilities to filter through Zehn.

Yes. I think that has happened. Lore nodded. Mandy’s fire continues to burn inside me. Inside us.

“Before we get to disciplinary actions for your role in stealing an unwilling offworlder,” Talzec paused, and Zehn saw empathy in the eyes of his fellow clansmen. “We must first discuss the battle.”

Zehn frowned. “What about it?” Okay, so he and Lore had jumped in before Xav had given the order. And they had killed a number of Nasuhl guards without permission. But it was battle.

“‘What about it?’” Talzec scowled. “You went in against Xav’s express orders to wait.”

“But—” Lore tried.

“You killed Nasuhl guards before I’d even approached Morlo.” Talzec talked over him. “You also protected your mate, decimated the humans, and set fire to countless Nasuhl warriors using an energy we have never before witnessed.” The silence around them grew deafening. “Lore, we had no idea you could dive into another’s mind the way you did with Watta. That takes considerable skill.”

Lore stared back at his leader with angry pride. “I’d do it again without hesitation. No one threatens my mate.” He paused. “Or my clan.”

Talzec stared at him, and Zehn felt a strange pressure directed at his mate. He growled and joined in Lore’s energy.

“Ah, see that?” Talzec said. “The joining.”

Xav nodded. “Yes. Their eyes are green. Phelthar is strong in this pair.”

“In this triad,” Talzec corrected. “The fire comes from Mandy, does it not?”

A shrewd perception, considering Mandy hadn’t exactly shared the entirety of her abilities with the clan. Zehn nodded.

“Yet the mindspeak comes from Lore.”

“Yes.” Zehn had two very special mates.

“But Zehn is the one who amplifies it,” Lore added. “Without him, my tie to Ussed is not as strong.”

Xav considered them. “Zehn is a bridge. He allows the energy to flow more easily. A worthy group of warriors—and a mate and babe.”

“Ah yes, let’s get back to that. You are valuable warriors I’m proud to have in our clan. And your offworlder female is a true bond-mate. I can see it. We can all sense it.” The men around them agreed. “That she will soon bear your son is a gift from the Maker.”

Many of them bowed their heads, as did Zehn and Lore.

But when Zehn looked up, he saw a furious leader. Father Suns, this won’t be good. Talzec punched Lore in the gut with such speed neither man could move before the blow landed.

Lore sagged, and Zehn helped steady him.

“You should not have kidnapped an offworlder,” Talzec growled. “I thought she had gone with you willingly. Did you learn nothing from Maht’s mess?”

“Hey.” Maht glared, saw his leader’s anger directed his way, and glanced down.

“Lisa is part of us now, but Maht broke the law. And Maht made right his wrong.” With a lot of extra duty and weapon cleaning detail.

Hope unfurled in Zehn’s chest. Then Talzec poked him with a finger made of iron. He sucked in a breath, still sore from where Mike had thrown him all over the place.

“I would have hit you, but you’re still healing,” Talzec said, his expression still livid. “You know better. Both of you do. Lore, you will now stop acting as if you expect us to toss your ass out all the time. You’re a warrior, one of our strongest. We do not discard those who serve to make us better. Your skills are a proud addition to our clan.”

Around them, warriors roared with approval.

Zehn felt his mate’s pride zing through their tie.

“Zehn, you are strong, a leader, and you’re cunning. So perhaps you can tell me what I’m to say to Welcome’s resort manager to explain why my barbarians stole a peaceful Earther from the resort, breaking a treaty that has held for over five hundred years.”

Zehn swallowed. “Ah, perhaps you should tell him we took her to protect her from the human bent on taking her back to Earth. They would have kidnapped her had we not taken her to safety.”

Talzec rubbed his chin.

“A good explanation,” Xav said, amusement dancing in his eyes.

“True.”

“And we eliminated the threat not only to our mate,” Zehn continued, thinking fast. “But to our clan and lands as well. The alien tech hurts phelthar. The Nasuhl had plans to spread it around their territory.”

“Now our territory.” Talzec grunted.

“Another good point,” Xav said.

“I know.” Talzec glared at his bond-mate, and Xav grinned back at him. “Beta, you need discipline.”

Several warriors laughed, then coughed to hide their amusement. Many clan alphas would have killed their warriors for breaking laws. But Talzec looked beyond to a man’s true measure.

The alpha stood straighter, his voice booming. “Since you saved an offworlder and rid us of a menace hurting Ussed, you shall be forgiven your transgression—at the battle. But for breaking the treaty, you must take Mandy of Earth back to the resort. You will not speak to her or in any way influence her. She must explain the situation to the offworlders as she sees fit. Then you will come home. Alone.”

Everyone grew silent.

“No.” Zehn would not leave his mate.

“Skye told me Mandy wishes to leave. She has agreed to stay, then?”

Zehn opened and closed his mouth, unable to lie.

Talzec sighed. “Zehn, Lore. I know you value your mate, that you have bonded with her. But we do not force our mates to stay when they want to leave. She must come to you of her own free will.” Since Talzec’s his first female had been kept against her will then killed by the same male who’d raped and oppressed her, Talzec had decreed that taking mates by force would never happen again. Not in the Vyctore clan.

“We must stay to protect her,” Lore said. “What if there are other Earthers waiting to take her back to Earth?”

“We’ll keep watch over her. But if she chooses to leave Ussed, you must let her.”

“She’s with child,” Zehn yelled, losing his calm at the thought of losing his mate. “She’s ours. By the Maker, don’t be so dense. You would never let Skye go. Why are the rules special for you?”

Xav stared from Zehn to Talzec, and Zehn knew he’d gone too far. But Mandy was his and Lore’s. She had to stay.

Talzec clenched his fists. “Xaveht, arrange an escort to take Mandy back. Make sure to follow my directives.”

“Yes, alpha.”

Talzec glared at Zehn. “Then bring them back and work them until they drop.”

Zehn wanted to argue, but Lore grabbed him by the arm.

“Yes, alpha,” Lore said.

Talzec stared at Zehn, his tattoos racing, his dominance irrefutable.

Zehn met his gaze for a moment longer than he should have. He readied to be beaten to a pulp. Because without Mandy, he lost a part of himself that should have cared. Next to him, Lore grieved as well.

The fight sapped out of him, and he bowed his head. “Yes, alpha.”

He was surprised to feel Talzec’s hand on the back of his head. “Don’t worry, Zehn. She’ll come back to you.”

But what if she didn’t?