Chapter Five
The shuttle groaned and stopped as it connected with the mothership. Any second now, the doors will open.And my life will change forever.
Syri tried, and failed, to pull the red dress more closely around her long legs. Her heart pounded. Her palms were sweating. Her blood was burning in her veins. She was finally going to get to see Rayden after all these long years.
As if the Xoater knew that she was thinking of him again, another probing object entered her core. She cried out and gripped the edge of her seat, gasping for air. Her pussy ached. Her need sent her inner muscles clenching around the foreign object inside her. Like four large fingers.
“Gods!” She ran a hand slowly down her chest. Her nipples hardened even more painfully, and she bit her lip. I almost want to touch myself, to sooth the fire burning within me.
But Rayden will be there to ease the pain soon.
The doors to the small shuttle opened. She stood, trying not to clench her thighs together as the muscles jumped involuntarily. Just outside the ship, her father and uncle waited.
She pushed aside her needs as tears pricked the corners of her eyes. “Father!”
Even though her father hadn’t yet reached two hundred years, he looked older than she remembered. His dark hair had unexpected streaks of gray, and the red rings around his eyes looked strangely duller. Yet, it was like a dream to see him again after so many years.
In an instant, she launched herself into his arms.
He stood stiffly for one moment before wrapping his thin arms around her. “Syri. My daughter. Your presence brightens every room.”
She drew back from him and smiled. “The day is finally here.”
The corners of his mouth drew down, and he looked away. “It has been a long time.”
“What? No hug for your uncle?” a jolly voice asked from beside her.
Turning to her uncle, she smiled and hugged him softly. He returned her hug with a fierce one of his own, squeezing her against him until she could hardly breathe.
“Tayker…” her father said, a note of warning in his voice.
Her uncle instantly released her and stepped back, a wide smile painted on his face that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Apologies. I’m just excited to see my little niece, grown into such a beautiful woman.”
“Speaking of which—” Her father eyed the other man, then his gaze flickered back to Syri. “The announcement of your arrival has been made. All the unmated males are restricted to their quarters until we arrive at our apartments.”
Just the thought of all the males on board made it feel as if an insect clawed within her stomach. “And what of Rayden? Why isn’t he here to greet me?”
Her father and uncle exchanged a glance she couldn’t quite read.
“Daughter, let us discuss such things in private.”
More claws seem to scratch at her insides. Something about this feels wrong. What aren’t they telling me?
Six guards gathered around them as her father and uncle flanked her sides. Somehow, their presence only increased her nervousness. How much danger could I really face just for being in my mating frenzy? Or is there something more?
They passed ship after ship in the docking bay before finally reaching the door to the main part of the mothership. The doors opened as they approached, and their party made its way through the large, pristine white hallways. A woman smiled as she approached and tossed brilliant blue flowers at her. Syri smiled and tilted her head in acknowledgment. More women lined the halls every twenty feet or so, tossing the flowers at her as she approached. And each woman she passed followed her down the hall until twenty or so women trailed them as they rounded a corner.
A man exited a room on her left. He turned surprised eyes on her party, and then his gaze fell on her. The red around his eyes changed, the color becoming more black than red. Suddenly, he dived at her. The guards blocked him, slamming him back into the wall, but still he clawed and fought to reach her, all along a strange animalistic noise emanated from his throat.
“Come on,” her father urged, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her faster.
She glanced back at the still-struggling man as they continued down the hall. Is this what my mating frenzy does to males? She shivered. Will Rayden control himself better than that man? Fear sparked to life inside her. She had started to imagine sharing his bed in the shuttle ride over to the mothership. To look forward to it. Now, she wondered if their night together would be more pain than pleasure.
Another door opened on her right, and the guards moved to block the male who exited.
“Kaemon, back in your suite!” her father ordered.
The man stood straighter. “Not to worry, Yurki, I only wished to see your beautiful daughter.”
Her father moved partially in front of her. “You are an unmated male! You may see her when her mating frenzy is over!”
Kaemon. Her gaze locked with that of the man being blocked by her father and guards. A man I remember as a boy, although he has changed little. He was short, for a male. In fact, they were almost of the same height. But his perfectly groomed black hair was styled such that long spikes of hair stuck out on top of his head, while other spikes had been smoothed down over his forehead, almost entirely covering one eye. It was unique and interesting, although it whispered of a male attempting to look taller. His face was symmetrical. Almost pleasing. But the sharp lines of his cheekbones, and his taut body, gave him the feeling of a man who was severe and controlled, almost to a fault.
“Syri,” he greeted, his nostrils flaring as the red rings around his eyes darkened. “It is good to see you.” His gaze raked over her body, lingering on her breasts, then trailing down and stopping to stare directly at the junction of her thighs. “You’re a woman now,” his voice was husky with need.
“Get. Back. In. Your. Room,” her father ordered, his tone dangerously low.
“No need to worry. I’ll go.” He turned to go, and her small party began to walk again.
Then, suddenly there was a flash of movement and a body smashed into hers. She had only an instant to recognize Kaemon before he was forcing himself between her thighs, one hand pushing away the fabric of her gown to squeeze one of her breasts.
She cried out in shock as her nerves vibrated through her body. Her mind told her it was wrong. She felt angry and violated, but heat grew between her thighs and her hardened nipples cried out to be caressed harder.
And then, he was yanked off her.
The guards slammed him against the wall as he fought savagely against them. At one point, as she climbed from the ground, adjusting her dress, he almost seemed to free himself. But at last, one of the guards forced an arm against his throat.
He stopped struggling, his gaze burning into hers. “I will have you. That I promise. I will taste your sweet—“
“Enough!” her father shouted, his red skin growing darker with anger. “You will never touch my daughter again. She is Rayden’s.”
“Rayden is dead,” he spat. “His father is dead. Soon I shall be ruler of the Elementas, and your daughter will be my Khara.”
Rayden is…
“Father?” she whispered, turning to him with her heart in her throat.
He held her gaze. “We have much to discuss.”