Boris stood at attention next to the warrior, Zillion, as Dex paced back and forth across the richly appointed room they had been led to in the King of Maalika’s palace.

He looked around the room with a grimace, grateful that the palace on Zerconia was not decorated so elaborately. It would soon become nauseating to live in a place such as this.

While Dex tried to calm his temper, Zillion and Boris stood and waited. Zoey and Nassir had been led away by some attendants soon after they arrived, with Jaxan and Torex accompanying them.

Boris did not like being apart from the females and wished that Dex would begin with his questions so he could return to them. He told himself that it was purely concern for Zoey.

But it wasn’t just Zoey who was tugging at him, demanding that he ensure her health and safety. After all, Zoey’s health was mainly Dex’s domain. Much to his aggravation and confusion, he felt a tie to the other female. Nassir. Why, he did not understand. Dressed in filthy rags and obviously well overdue for a bath, she should not appear attractive to him. Her stature was small, her face sunken, her body too skinny. No, she was not his normal type, not that he had felt particularly attracted to any female in these last few years.

Perhaps that was it. She was the first female he had felt any interest in for a long time and he was reading more into it than what was really there. That jolt of sexual arousal he’d felt as he touched her arm had been like nothing he had experienced before. It had sizzled across his skin, warming his blood and hardening his cock to the point of discomfort.

Yes, obviously the problem was that he needed sexual release. As soon as he was certain of Zoey’s safety, he would find a place that catered to sexual needs and relieve himself of this problem. Then Nassir would appear as nothing more than another female.

He had known she would be a problem as soon as he had seen her back on Ulrika. Something about her screamed trouble.

So you didn’t let her go because you felt attracted to her?

No. That had nothing to do with it.

“Explain how my mate ended up in the Royal Guardsmen building, her face swollen, fighting her way through a crowd of angry, brawling males.”

Dex’s voice was low, controlled, although that was not to say that he was not seething with anger.

“She got herself and us arrested,” Zillion stated. “It is her fault we were all there in the first place. Hers and that other female’s.”

Boris turned to the traitorous male and snarled at him. Zillion paled and stepped back. Then to his credit, he pulled himself together and straightened his shoulders, stepping forward once more.

“You blame my mate and Nassir?” Dex asked in a low voice. “They are two females. Delicate, soft, and under your guard.”

He would not call Zoey delicate. Ever. Although with half her face swollen and bruised she did look infinitely fragile.

“The other female attacked a pet of some important male, a friend of the King’s. The Empress decided to get involved and the Royal Guardsmen ended up arresting all of us.”

Boris just glared at the other male. He was not lying exactly, but he was putting his own slant on things.

“Really? And you are saying that you could not prevent this from happening? That you could not diffuse the situation? Perhaps offer compensation to this male for any injury to his pet?”

Zillion shook his head, his eyes wide.

Boris made a disparaging noise in the back of his throat. Foolish male.

Dex swung to him. “You disagree with Zillion’s assessment? You are saying he is wrong?”

“I speak the truth!” Zillion protested.

“Quiet,” Dex snapped at him. “I wish to speak to Boris.”

“But he does not talk.”

Dex just gave him a look. The other male swallowed heavily and stepped back.

“Did Nassir injure this pet?”

Boris shook his head.

“Was Zoey right to interfere?”

He nodded. He would never go against Zoey. Not for anyone. At the time, he had been irritated at her for interfering in a matter that was none of their concern, but now…well, he would not like to think of Nassir being arrested and held by the Royal Guardsmen over something not of her doing.

“And how did Zoey end up with her injury? Was that from this male with the pet?”

He shook his head then glanced around the room, resting his gaze on the royal crest.

Dex raised an eyebrow. “Really? The Royal Guardsmen? I will have to speak to Rohan about this. I know he would not be pleased to hear of one of his guardsmen hitting a female. So how did the fight start? Was that Zoey’s doing as well?” He glared over at Zillion who wisely took another step back. Boris held his superior smile. Zillion should have known that Dex would not take kindly to someone speaking badly of his mate.

Boris shook his head and pointed at himself.

“You?” Dex raised both brows. “That is a surprise. You only erupt in anger when it regards Zoey…oh, she was hit and you retaliated.”

Boris nodded.

“I can guess at what happened next. The other prisoners joined in, the guards were overwhelmed and I’m guessing Zoey and Nassir were trying to make their way to you. Zoey would not leave you behind.”

Boris nodded.

Dex paced back and forth. “It is unacceptable to me that my mate was in such danger.”

“May I speak, Emperor?” Zillion asked.

“No,” Dex snapped. “I think you have said enough. I know you do not care for my mate, Zillion. That has been very clear to me. You do not have to like her. I do not demand that. But, by the stars, you will respect her. You will speak to her as though she were me. I will stand no insult against her; do you understand me?”

Finally, Dex was putting that jerk, as Zoey would say, in his place. It was unfortunate that Zoey was not here to see it. She would have cheered Dex on.

“I am not pleased with you, Zillion. I assigned you to guard Zoey, not only because I know you are an excellent warrior, but because I had hoped you would change in your opinion towards not just my mate, but all of the human females. She came to you with one simple request, to train the females with blasters. Now, while I find it hard to understand their need to learn to protect themselves, my mate has been in enough danger that I am not going to deny their requests or belittle their desire to learn as much as they can. I expect my warriors to help them in this quest, not laugh or belittle them.”

“B-but Emperor, it-it is up to their warriors to protect them!”

Dex narrowed his gaze. “Yes, it is. But what happens when we are not there? What happens if we are separated from them? What happens if they are caught in the middle of a fight like Zoey and Nassir were today? If you had a mate, would you not want her to be able to protect herself or would you wish her to be helpless?” Dex waved his hand at Zillion. “Leave. Go to our accommodations and remain there until we leave.”

After Zillion left, Dex turned to him. “I am not happy about this. She was hit! She could have been seriously hurt!” Dex started pacing. “She manages to find trouble no matter where she is or what she does.”

Boris frowned. This wasn’t Zoey’s fault. She had only been trying to defend Nassir.

“What do you think of Nassir? Do you really think it’s a coincidence that she’s turned up again?”

Boris thought that over. Could this have been setup? Could Nassir want something? It was possible. Although he would have said that she hadn’t been acting, there was something strange about meeting her again. It was a big universe, how did she come to be on the same planet at the same time as them once again?

But then, she did sneak away from them that first time, if she was a spy of some sort she would have stayed.

And she did protect Zoey.

He’d glanced back a few times to check on them while he’d been fighting and seen Nassir crouching over Zoey’s prone body, her face pale and shocked but determined as she studied those around them. And when he’d seen one male kick her, the fury that had rose in him had been nearly uncontrollable.

And he did not want to question why he felt so angry over someone a female he did not know and could not trust and should feel nothing towards but suspicion.

He had been making his way back to them, knowing he had made a mistake in getting so far from them, knowing he would never forgive himself should something happen to either of them.

He now owed Nassir a debt. That thought did not sit well with him. He did not know her. He certainly did not trust her.

And yet there was something about her that called to him.

So he shrugged at Dex. He did not know what to think of her. He could not trust her. But he could not turn her away, either.

“Yes. I do not know what to make of her either.” Dex sighed. “Despite the fact that Maalika is not a dangerous planet, Zoey managed to place herself at risk. I shall be sending her home tomorrow.”

So he was basically punishing Zoey. Boris gave him an irritated look.

“This is for her safety,” Dex bit out. “I am not trying to hurt Zoey.”

Then he was not doing a very good job. Because Boris knew this would hurt Zoey immensely. And what of Nassir? They could not leave her here.

“My only question is what to with the female. Perhaps Rohan would take care of her.”

Instant denial flashed through him.

She was his to take care of.

No. No, she wasn’t. He could not have a female. He still had a vow to fulfil. Even though his vow had been pushed aside temporarily, did not mean he had forgotten it. A fragile female would only get in his way. A female could easily be taken from him, as his family had been.

No, the female was not for him.

That did not mean he liked the idea of that fire-haired King with his booming voice taking care of Nassir. He knew exactly how men like that took care of attractive females.

Attractive? Did he really just think that? She was not the type of female he ever went for. He liked strong females, big women who he did not have to fear breaking with a firm touch or a hard look.

Not fragile, scared females with too-big, sad eyes that made him want to…to what? Take revenge on everyone who had harmed her, to protect her from further pain and fear.

That was just stupid talk.

He rubbed his head. Now he was starting to sound like Zoey.

“Rohan has invited us all to share a late lunch with him. I need to smooth things over with him. After all, my mate did just cause a large incident that could have ended in disaster.”

Actually, if anyone caused that incident it was him.

Dex waved his hand tiredly. “I know you did your best to protect her, but this is a mess. I am here for Rohan’s help, not to make life difficult for him.”

Why was he here? What help did he need?

Dex sighed. “Go and get yourself checked by Racar. He should be finished with Zoey and Nassir. I will decide who will return home with you tomorrow. I believe I shall have to keep Zillion here.”

Yes, best he keep Zillion away from Zoey. And Boris.

“After he refused to train Zoey and the other females, I thought he only needed more time with human females to change his opinion.” Dex shook his head. “I heard of what he said to her and of how all the blasters went missing two days later.” He reached the door then turned back, his face stern although Boris saw his lips twitch. “I would appreciate if you returned those blasters when you get home. My younger warriors still need training. I will find someone else to train the females.”

Hmm, seemed Boris hadn’t fooled anyone.

 

***

 

“How does your wrist feel?”

Nassir jumped as the healer touched her wrist gently. She was so unused to being touched that her first reaction was to shy away or shove back. But she forced herself to stay still as he pressed on her wrist then turned her hand this way than that. The healer was a nice-looking man with kind eyes. Not as big as the other warriors she’d seen, but still much larger than she was.

He could so easily hurt you.

She could feel her heart racing and forced herself to take a deep breath then let it out slowly. He’d been nothing but gentle with her.

“Nassir? Does that feel all right?”

Once they’d been brought to the palace, she’d been led into this large bedroom with Zoey. A flurry of attendants had bathed them then dressed them in clean, floaty dresses, which had come from somewhere. She was pretty certain they weren’t Zoey’s. The other woman was curvier than Nassir but much shorter, and these dresses were too long, even for Nassir. Zoey’s had to be pulled up and pinned so she didn’t trip over it.

Then the healer had turned up, introducing himself quietly before examining them and explaining that Nassir would need to use a regen chamber.

She’d been nervous about being separated from Zoey but the other woman had given her a smile of encouragement and she’d somehow found the courage to go with the healer, whose name she’d already forgotten in her near panic.

“Nassir? Nassir, I know you do not know me so you have no reason to believe me when I tell you that I will not harm you. But I promise I only wish to help you. I do not know what you know of Zerconians, but we tend to be rather protective of females.”

“Z-Zoey said something to that e-effect.”

Actually, she’d said she would probably be locked in her bedroom for the next year once Dex calmed down enough to talk to her.

Racar gave her a small smile. “Our Emperor is very careful with his mate’s safety.”

Then why did he allow her to go to the markets on a strange planet with just two guards? Did he not know the dangers that lurked? She shivered. Nassir did, only too well. She wasn’t stupid enough to voice that opinion of course.

“Your wrist appears to be fully healed. Is there any lingering pain?”

“N-no. It feels fine. Thank you.” She stood and he reached out to clasp her arm as she tried to move away. She froze, her breath catching.

“What about the bruising on your side?”

“It is all gone. I feel as good as new.” Well, perhaps not as good as new. The regen chamber couldn’t fix her light-headedness or the cramping in her stomach from lack of food.

“I would be remiss in my duties did I not check. Perhaps you would feel more comfortable if you were to lie down?”

Panic flooded her. Lie down? Bare herself in front of a stranger? She wrenched her arm out of his hold.

“No! No, stay away from me.” She held her hands up, moving back toward the door. She needed to leave, to get away from here. She could not allow him to touch her.

Suddenly, she felt a presence behind her, something that both calmed and excited her. Whirling, she saw Boris standing in the doorway. His face was foreboding, stern as he stared at her, but she didn’t care. When she looked at him, all she saw was safety.

Before she knew it, she was standing so close to him they were almost touching. Her body still shook with aftereffects of the panic that had flooded her, but her breath came easier and she no longer felt as though she might pass out.

Boris let out a low, growling noise then pushed her gently behind him before stepping forward. The relief she felt at his appearance since turned into alarm as he stepped towards Racar, the menace rolling off him so strong she shivered.

“I was simply trying to examine her, Boris.”

She peered around Boris’s wide body to look at Racar who now stood with both hands up, watching Boris warily. Oh no, she could only guess that Boris’s face had grown dark and terrifying. She knew that look, she had seen him after that Royal Guardsman hit Zoey, and she would not want him to look at her that way. Although she could not understand why he was reacting this way to Racar.

“Boris,” she said hesitantly, reaching out to touch his good arm, remembering her body’s sharp reaction last time. But while there was a hit of heat that washed through her, this was more like slipping into a warm bath rather than being enveloped in an inferno of fire.

“Boris, what is wrong?”

“Nassir, might be best if you explained to Boris that I was not trying to harm you, just examine you.”

She frowned. “Do you mean he is angry at you over me?”

But that was impossible. Why would Boris care what happened to her? He did not even like her. And the feeling was mutual.

Oh yes? So why did you practically run to him as soon as you saw him?

It was merely that he was familiar to her and the healer was unknown.

“Yes, I mean exactly that. When he came in, he no doubt saw how petrified you looked and I believe he thinks I was attempting to harm you.”

But that was preposterous. However, as she moved around to stand in front of Boris, looking up…way up …she saw the way he was focused on the healer, his gaze black, his body tense, a muscle ticked at the side of his mouth.

She just stared for a moment, completely shocked.

“I thought he didn’t even like me,” she whispered to herself.

“I think it is obvious that he feels something for you. Perhaps, though, you could save the revelations until after you have reassured him?” Racar asked in a tight voice. “I have no wish to have to use the regen chamber myself.”

She blushed as she realized she’d spoken aloud. She turned to look at Racar, who had grown more pale and wary. Did he really believe Boris would attack him because he thought Racar had been going to harm her?

Another growl erupted from Boris and he grabbed her arm, gently, attempting to force her behind his back once more as he took another step forward. Before she had thought it through, she threw her arms around his middle.

“Boris, wait! He was not trying to hurt me. He just wanted to check that I was healed. It was my fault I was so scared. I don’t like being touched.” Kind of hard to believe, considering she was wrapped around him as tight as a blanket. To her amazement, even with her weight hanging from him, he managed to take another step.

“Boris, please, you’re scaring me.” It wasn’t a lie. Even though she felt a small thrill that he would defend her, she did not wish to see Racar hurt for doing his job or to be the cause of that hurt. “He really was trying to help me. I’m the one with the problem. I do not trust easily.” Or at all. No, that wasn’t quite true. She found herself trusting Zoey. Something about the other woman screamed honesty. Maybe it was because she said what she was thinking. Without a filter. Nassir’s mother would have been shocked that an Empress would speak that way, but Nassir enjoyed Zoey’s openness and honesty. It was much easier than playing games and second-guessing every conversation you had with someone.

“I wished to check the bruising on her side, Boris,” Racar said in a calm voice. “She was kicked during the fight and I was concerned a rib could be broken.”

Boris pointed to the regen chamber in the corner of the room.

She turned to look at Racar as he nodded. “Yes, she has been in the regen chamber. However, I do not know what species she is. She would not give me that information, so I cannot be sure how well a regeneration chamber works on her. However, seeing how easily she just moved, I believe it is safe to say that she is fully healed.”

She blushed slightly and tried to untangle herself from Boris, but he merely plastered a large hand against her back. She froze. Even though he had not spoken she knew he wanted her to remain still.

He was still for a moment then she felt the tension in his muscles ease. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

That had been tense. To say the least.

She squeaked as he suddenly placed his hand under her ass. Oh Gods, it shouldn’t feel so good to have his large, warm hand against her forbidden area, but it did. Her body tightened, that place deep inside her that sometimes throbbed with a need she did not understand, made itself very known.

Her skin sizzled, and he pulled her higher, placing his arm beneath her ass so she was resting against his chest. She felt slight, a little childlike, but also safe.

At home.

As though being nestled against his chest was exactly where she was supposed to be. But how could that be? She decided not to question it for the moment as he turned and walked from the room. She was so tired. So sick of making all the decisions, of second-guessing everything and everyone. Of trying to figure out if an act of kindness came with an ulterior motive. In her experience, they often did. Like the male who had offered her shelter during a storm once. This was months ago, when she was more naive. He had seemed so kind, so gentlemanly, so trustworthy.

And she had awoken to him touching her, to him trying to force her legs apart so he could…

Boris made a low, soothing noise and she realized she had been whimpering.

“Sorry,” she whispered. “I think I nearly fell asleep.”

The heat from his body was incredible. Had she ever felt so warm? It would be so easy just to close her eyes and drift off. She was so tired…so very, very tired.

 

Boris felt alarmed by the feel of how slight the female was. He had known she was small, but dressed in her rags and now this floaty contraption, the truth of the matter had been hidden. But she hardly weighed more than a child. And it was obvious from the way she relaxed so fully against him that she was exhausted.

She needed food and rest. Not to attend a lunch held by the King of Maalika, and if she was his…he sighed. She was not his. And he needed to stop thinking that way. He could still not believe he had just reacted the way he had. He knew that Racar would never harm a female. The Zerconian healer was always gentle with females. Yet, when he had given in to the urge to check on her and had seen how scared she was, the need to protect had overwhelmed him.

He paused outside the door to the bedroom where Zoey was resting.

“Boris?” She lifted her head tiredly, staring up at him from sleepy, heavy-lidded eyes. She had the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen, a light purple that was almost at the opposite end of the scale to his dark purple-black eyes. “Is everything okay?”

No. No, nothing was all right.

He set her down on her feet, holding onto her as she swayed, his frown deepening. Her eyes widened, flashing with hurt before she averted his gaze from his. Then she stiffened and threw her shoulders back. “My apologies. I am fine now. You may remove your hand from me.”

And there was the princess back. Her formal voice grated on him like nothing else. He was hit by the need to wipe that cool, composed look from her face. Before he could think it through, he pushed her up against the door, placing his good hand on the door above her head, before leaning in and taking her mouth with his.

Sparks shot through his blood, and his cock, which had already been hard and throbbing due to her closeness, hardened even further, pressing against the clean pants someone had procured for him. The kiss wasn’t soft, wasn’t gentle. It was hard and hot and demanding. He thrust his tongue against her lips, demanding entrance.

When she let out a sigh, her body softening against his, he knew he had won her over. He pushed his tongue into her mouth, conquering her, taking from her, but she didn’t seem to mind. Her arms wound around his neck, drawing him closer. He lowered his hand, cupping her breast, cursing the fact that his other arm lay useless at his side. How he would love to pinch and squeeze her nipple while he ran his fingers through her folds. He could scent her arousal, it teased him, tantalized and enthralled him.

He shoved his hand between her legs and under her ass, drawing her up into the air, tired of having to bend himself practically in half just to kiss her.

Gods, she smelled good. And he didn’t mean that flowery scent that she’d obviously been bathed in. He hated that scent, it masked her, detracted from the beautiful smell of her arousal. Her folds were hot and damp against his arm.

The condescending, stiff female of just moments ago was gone, leaving in her place this hot bundle of need. When the door opened behind Nassir, he stumbled forward, caught off-balance and he only just managed to catch himself before they tumbled through the open doorway.

“Nassir? Boris? What on Earth…”

Boris pulled Nassir off him, setting her hastily aside, wincing as she stumbled and nearly fell. That was not well done of him. But he forced himself not to reach for her. He could not show what she meant to him. He was not even certain what she did mean.

Zoey stared from him to Nassir then back again. He held himself stiffly, at attention. How would she react, would she be disa—

Zoey clapped her hands, interrupting his thought, a gleeful smile breaking out on her face. “This is great! This is awesome!”

She gave a little dance. He risked a glance over at Nassir to find her staring at Zoey with no small amount of shock and disbelief. Although he was not certain if that was in reaction to their kiss or Zoey’s behavior.

“The two of you like each other. I can’t believe I didn’t notice. I kind of thought you hated each other.” Zoey shrugged. “Well, we’ve all seen with Moroco and Saffron that love and hate can be a very fine line.”

From what he had seen, Moroco and Saffron seemed to view arguing with each other as some sort of strange foreplay. To each their own. Still, he would not like to be at battle with his mate constantly.

If he ever took a mate. Which he did not intend to. Even if he didn’t have the issue of his vow to avenge his family, as well as his job of guarding Zoey, there was his physical appearance. Most females did not wish to have a crippled and scarred mate. It was why he sought out establishments where he could pay to have his needs taken care of. Those females did not turn him away and if they were disgusted by his appearance then they did not let it show. He preferred to fuck in the dark anyway.

But Nassir did not seem to be put off by his appearance.

He studied her again. That mask was coming over her face once more as she straightened, bringing herself under control. He admired her ability to control her reactions, even as it irritated him that she hid her true thoughts and feelings around him.

 “I apologize, Zoey,” she said in a low voice. “I believe Boris was just trying to prove a point.” She nodded at him as if to say well done.

He scowled at her. All right, so he had been trying to wipe that cool look off her face, to show her that she felt more for him than she let on. But it had soon turned from a lesson into something far more intimate.

Zoey’s face dropped. “You mean, you don’t like Boris?”

Nassir gave a quiet laugh and waved her hand. “I do not know him. Believe me, what you just witnessed was simply a reaction to the stress we have all experienced today.”

Zoey bit her lip and looked at Boris. While there were many, especially among the female Zerconians, who believed that Zoey lacked intelligence, Boris knew that was not the case. And she saw far more than he felt comfortable with her knowing.

“Right. Of course. Stress. Happens to me all the time. I often jump Dex as soon as he gets through the door after a stressful day.” Her face grew tense. “Kind of hard to jump someone when they get home when you’ve already fallen asleep then leave before you wake up, though.”

Nassir sent him a slightly alarmed look. He wished that Dex would reveal to Zoey his true reason for being here. It might go some way to alleviating her unhappiness.

“So, I don’t know if you’ve heard, but King Rohan has invited us all to lunch. I don’t know about the two of you but I could use a really big glass of Sola. Might help cool Dex down a little as well.” She grimaced. “He is not a happy chappy.”

“Chappy?” Nassir questioned.

“Doesn’t matter. Suffice to say that Dex gets very grumpy when he thinks I’m in danger. It will take him a while to calm down. Meanwhile, we might as well eat, drink, and be merry.”

Nassir looked over at the bed with a look of such longing that Boris felt the urge to pull her into his arms, carry her over and tuck her in for a good, long sleep.

And then once he thought she had rested enough he would wake her by lapping at the cream between her thighs. The cream he could still smell from where she’d rubbed up against his arm.

“Zoey, I believe it might be best if I beg off lunch,” Nassir stated. “I am certain the King does not really wish me to join you and I would be more than happy to retire with a small platter of food.”

Zoey’s face dropped. “Of course, I’m sorry. You’re exhausted and it’s been a horrible morning. Only problem is that King Rohan requested your company.”

He saw the look of fear that flashed across Nassir’s face, gone so quickly he could almost believe he imagined it.

“He did? Do you know why?”

“No. But he probably wants to ask us about what happened today.” Zoey grimaced. “Not looking forward to that. Maybe I should take a vow of silence like Boris. Might keep me out of trouble.”

He did not think that even a vow of silence would keep Zoey out of trouble.

Nassir gave him a curious look. “Vow of silence? There is nothing wrong with his vocal chords?”

He gave them both a ferocious look, to let them know he did not appreciate them speaking about him as though he were not even in the room.

“No. It was a vow, but his reasons are his own. I think it would be better to give the King what he wants right now. Don’t want to push him too hard, not with that red hair.”

Boris was not sure what the color of the King’s hair had to do with anything.

“His hair? Is there something special about his hair?” Nassir asked.

“Oh, no, it’s just a silly Earther thing. Some redheads are said to have big tempers. I can say it because I’m practically a redhead myself. But I think we better keep the big guy happy.” She bit at her lip. “I could tell him you’re not feeling well, but Dex is going to know that I’m lying. Not that I could really get in more trouble with him, but…

Nassir nodded. “I will come. There may be questions I need to answer.”

“Good and don’t worry, Boris and I will be there. Truth is, I could really use another friendly face.”