If they’ve done this before, everyone has come out of it alive.
Maybe not with the property or wealth they had beforehand – there’s clearly a motive for these kidnappings, just like buying my father’s Orb-deposits is the motive for kidnapping me – but at least I don’t need to fear these Aurelians killing me for no good reason. That’s a good first step.
I’ve been captured, yes – but these Aurelians don’t appear to be monsters.
At least, not yet.
But I saw the animal lurking behind the slate-grey eyes of the leader of this triad. I saw the primal need burning in him for me – a need that’s barely held back.
How long can anybody hold back nature?
How long before the leader of the Aurelians, and his two battle-brothers, snap and claim me?
6
Lazar
Brennan storms out of the room.
I’ve seen him cut down a Scorp Queen that towered three times his height, and he’d stayed cold and aloof throughout the fight. I’ve seen him barely react when he piloted us out of the blast zone of a Toad missile by mere inches. I’ve seen him keep his calm in almost every situation – until today.
I don’t need to see the tent in Brennan’s pants to know how badly this woman is affecting him. His aura is a raging torrent of need – barely held back.
I ache for her, too – but I’m scared I’ll lose the last shreds of my honor if I go near her.
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but all three of our minds have been clouded ever since we saw her. Carani’s daughter highlights the glaring flaw in our plan.
“We can’t stay here.”
“Why?” Brennan turns to me, his jaw clenched. Otho is pacing like a caged animal. Pent up need wells within his aura – and, by the Gods, I feel it too.
The presence of this woman has turned us each into a volcano on the brink of eruption. I’ve had women before – I’ve felt the mating rage well up in me…
…but no woman has ever had an effect on me like this one does. I don’t even know her name, and she’s ruined me.
Just one taste of her scent is more satisfying than seeding any of the other women I’ve ever been with. She eclipses them all, instantly.
Could she be the one? Could she truly be our Fated Mate?
I almost can’t bear to think such a thing. Every Aurelian hopes for it – prays for it, fights for it, and lives for it. Every Aurelian would do anything for their Fated Mate – once they find her.
But few ever find their Fated Mates. In a universe of billions, the chance of encountering that one, unique woman who can bear us sons…
Statistically, it’s an anomaly…
…but it has happened. First Queen Jasmine, and then others.
Carani’s daughter could be our Fated Mate – and that’s why we broke the laws of our Empire and kidnapped her.
None of us want to admit it, though. It’s easier to hide behind the veil of respectability – the plausible deniability that we’re not kidnapping a human woman, but securing those Orb-Materials. After all, our orders were “by all means necessary.”
Kidnapping is an “all means necessary” that has a long history on Marn.
But what we’ve done can’t be undone – and it will not be without consequence.
“We’re the only Aurelians on the planet,” I warn my battle-brothers. “Mr. Carani knows it was Aurelians who took his daughter, and it won’t take him long to find out where we’re staying.”
We’d hardly made a secret of it.
“So? What can he do about it?”
“He could send an army of mercenaries,” I warn. “Now that he knows I can disable his Sentinels remotely, he’ll use trained killers. He can afford them, after all.”
Otho turns from his pacing, his lips curled back and showing the white of his teeth.
“You’re ahead of yourself, Lazar. The guard didn’t even see us before we sedated him. Carani doesn’t know Aurelians took his daughter. Any family on Marn could have kidnapped her.”
Brennan clenches his fist. Otho might be holding out, but I know I’ve convinced him.
The truth is: Our brains have all been clouded by that woman. We’re acting rashly.
“Gods be damned,” Brennan shakes his head. “Even if Mr. Carani doesn’t figure it out, Gerard will. I know a good soldier when I see one. He suspected us even before we planned this kidnapping. He’ll point Mr. Carani right to us. We need a new location – now.”
I nod.
“Exactly. We can send drones from the Reaver to scout. In the meantime, we need supplies. The girl will need clothes.”
Otho snorts, as if to say: “Not according to me, she doesn’t.”
I ignore him.
“She’ll need clothes,” I repeat. “Especially if we keep her a few days before we make our offer, to make Mr. Carani... sweat.”
I pause before that last word, hearing the lie in my own voice.
Our plan might be to keep Carani’s daughter for a few days – but it’s not to gain a stronger negotiating position.
It’s just an excuse to draw out our time with her. The three of us plunged into this reckless course of action without a clear plan – driven half by instinct, half by her scent.
Otho growls. “Get a gag, why don’t you? I could hear her voice in through the bedroom door. Every word out of her mouth makes me ache for her.”
He’s right.
Carani’s daughter has a voice that’s as soft as liquid honey pouring down your face – drowning you in sweetness when you open your mouth for air.
Even when that intoxicating female spits out hateful words, her voice has this... quality to it. It’s as though her voice bypasses my ears and enters my mind directly – possessing the same telepathic qualities as the communication Bond I share with my battle-brothers.
I heard her swearing at Brennan. There’s defiance in that beauty’s soul.
Also, nobility. The first
