Divided

  “So you say. I fail to see the inherent amusement in throwing a flat disk back and forth.”

  “It’s good exercise too!” the girl said.

  “I prefer shedding the blood of my enemies.” The Beast Kindred glowered. “It is not nearly so…ridiculous as jumping and running after a plastic disk.”

  “I’m sure shedding enemy blood is more aerobically effective but no enemy is going to kiss you like I do when you make a good catch.” The girl batted her eyelashes at her Kindred who looked suddenly more interested.

  “Is that so?”

  “Yeah—that’s so. Come on, what do you say?”

  Becca felt a flash of envy run through her as she watched the flirty little exchange.

  She only has one guy to worry about. One partner to deal with. Why did I have to get stuck with two? Why did I have to get stuck at all? I would have taken my vows and become a good nun. Now I have to doubt myself and everything in my life—all because of what happened when I mistakenly ate the wrong piece of cake. It’s not fair!

  “Are you ready?” the girl asked her boyfriend.

  He sighed, though Becca could tell he was really enjoying himself.

  “I suppose. Fling it, then.”

  The girl wound up and threw the Frisbee in a comically high arch which was destined to go right over her boyfriend’s head. Despite his initial reluctance, however, he appeared determined to do his best. The look on his dark face seemed to say that if she wanted him to play such a foolish game, he was damn well going to play it to the best of his ability. Accordingly, he took a running jump for the Frisbee…

  And crashed into Becca, one thick, meaty elbow hitting her directly in the forehead.

  “Oof!” she gasped, going down hard. Or she would have, if there hadn’t been a big male body to cushion her blow.

  “Becca? Mi’now?” That would be Far. The name he called her was a word in the Twin Kindred dialect which meant something like “cherished one” or “beloved.”

  “Get off her, you oaf,” growled another voice which was certainly Truth. Then he was on the other side of her saying, “Are you well, Rebecca?” He usually called her by her full name when he was worried or really serious about something.

  “Fine…I’m fine,” Becca tried to say but the words came out so faint she couldn’t even hear them herself. Her throbbing head was being cushioned in someone’s lap and someone else was propping up her knees.

  “Leave her alone,” Far was saying as he stroked her hair gently away from her hurt forehead. “Go call the nearest Med Station.”

  “I’m not leaving her,” Truth’s deep, growling voice sounded angry and belligerent. “You go run for help. I’ll stay here.” As he spoke, he lifted her knees a little higher, trying to make her comfortable on the grassy ground.

  Becca felt a surge of warning zip through her. They were close—way too close, the both of them. If they both touched her bare skin at the same time…

  And then they did.

  Chapter Three

  “Ahh!” Becca’s back arched as a sudden wave of electricity raced through her. All at once her nipples were painfully hard and her pussy was throbbing with need. The big, warm, male hands on her body seemed to radiate heat and lust, spreading a growing desire throughout her entire being until she was nearly panting with need.

  No, she thought wildly even as the sensations continued and intensified. No, we can’t do this! This is what happened before. If we don’t break the connection we’re going to start hearing each other’s thoughts and—

  It’s happening again. Truth’s mental voice was as growly as his regular one.

  I thought last time was a one-time occurrence. Far sounded bewildered. Because Becca had eaten that bonding fruit confection.

  Guess you thought wrong, Brother, Truth sent.

  Despite her growing need, Becca couldn’t help but notice that Truth had named Far as his brother without a trace of irony or condescension for what was probably the first time ever.

  Is she all right? Far asked. I’m worried about her—about all of us. This…union affects me strangely.

  If you mean it makes you horny as the Seven Hells, then you’re not alone, Truth growled. I’m hard as a rock.

  Me as well. Do you think it affects our lady the same way?

  And that was the first time Far had referred to her as “our” lady, Becca couldn’t help noting.

  I…I’m here, she sent to both of them.

  Are you well? Far asked at once.

  I’m fine. I just…feel strange.

  Do you feel it too? Truth asked. The sexual need?

  I…I don’t really know.

  Don’t bother lying, Truth sent flatly. I’m touching you. You know I’ll be able to tell.

  I could be wrong, Brother, but it seems to me that accusing our lady of lying is not the quickest way to her heart, Far sent dryly.

  I just want the truth—that’s all. I want to hear it from her. I want to know how you feel, Truth demanded of her.

  I feel…you know how I feel, Becca sent desperately. I feel…hot…needy. But I don’t understand why—I didn’t eat any bonding fruit this time. It’s so confusing!

  What’s so confusing about it? Truth murmured. You may have taken an oath of purity with your mind but your heart needs love and your body needs pleasure, Rebecca.

  What she took was a vow of celibacy and we have already forced her to break it once, Far reminded him acerbically.

  We didn’t exactly break it, Becca sent anxiously.

  Actually, they had really only bent it a little and it had been mostly all in her head—well, in all three of their heads—just as they were now. When she’d confessed what she had done later to Kat, the other girl had been amazed that Becca had been able to do so little to overcome the deadly dose of bonding fruit she’d consumed. Kat declared she still couldn’t figure out why Becca had been able to confine her urges to mental gymnastics, declaring that she’d never heard of anyone who didn’t have to have actual physical sex in order to get over the effects of the powerful aphrodisiac agents in the fruit…

  That’s right, Truth agreed, obviously thinking along the same lines. We didn’t break your oath—mostly we just imagined what we wanted to do to you…didn’t we? Something along these lines…

  A vivid mental image in her mind’s eye suddenly showed her in bed with Truth, and neither of them was wearing any clothes.

  I believe I helped too, Far sent and suddenly he appeared in bed as well.

  Becca gasped at the sight of her own naked self being bracketed by two huge, muscular males. They were all lying on their sides and she was facing Far. Truth was behind her, pressing his pelvis against her bare behind and running one hand possessively over the curve of her hip.

  The sight was so real Becca could almost feel the heat of both big bodies on either side of her, could practically smell the warm, masculine scent the brothers seemed to make only when they were together. She never detected it when she was with just one of them but when they were side by side and almost touching, the scent was enough to make her weak with lust. Strangely, though, no one else ever seemed to smell it. Becca had wondered about it from time to time but since Truth and Far were almost never in such close proximity, it didn’t usually bother her.

  It was bothering her now, though. Along with the sight of the three of them naked and caressing each other, the scent was making her hotter and hotter. It was almost too much to stand.

  Truth! she protested, breathlessly. Truth, please…

  Goddess above, I love your luscious full ass, Rebecca, he murmured. Love how you’re not a skinny bag of bones like so many of the Earth girls I’ve seen.

  And I love your breasts, mi’now, Far whispered through the strange link they seemed to share. In the image she was watching, Becca saw him bend his head and kiss the full slopes of her bare breasts possessively. Are your nipples truly as dark as Truth imagines them? he asked, kissing one lightly. We have no females with y
our lovely skin color on Twin Moons. I find it most erotic.

  Far, not you too! Becca sent. I…we shouldn’t be doing this. You know we shouldn’t.

  Why not? It’s what we did last time and we all enjoyed it, Truth pointed out. As I recall, Rebecca, you came most beautifully when we enjoyed your body. Here, turn to me. He turned her toward him and leaned in to kiss her on the mouth.

  Becca pulled back. But…but I was under the influence of the bonding fruit then! she protested uncertainly. I…it shouldn’t be this way now. I don’t understand why we’re all feeling this way.

  Maybe we just long to be together. Far turned her back towards himself and kissed her nipple again and this time Becca swore she could feel the heat of his mouth as he flicked out the tip of his tongue to taste her. God, she was losing all track of reality! Was she still lying prone on the grass after getting elbowed in the head by the Beast Kindred? Or were the three of them really somewhere naked in bed, about to do things they really shouldn’t be doing? They had to stop this—stop it before it went too far! Last time she’d had a valid excuse to be horny out of her mind, this time she hadn’t eaten any bonding fruit. There was no way to justify such behavior to herself—none at all.

  Please, she sent. I don’t…don’t want to do this.

  Then why is your body so ready for me? Truth murmured. Don’t lie, Rebecca—you know I can always tell.

  She responds to my touch as well. Far stroked one large, warm hand down her side. Come, mi’now, Truth is wrongheaded in most things but you cannot deny that he’s right about how you’re feeling.

  My body may be saying yes but my mind is saying no! Becca sent desperately. Listen to me—we need to stop now.

  We must listen to her, brother. Becca’s wishes must be respected. Reluctantly, Far stopped kissing her breasts.

  Truth sighed and stopped rubbing his hand over her bare ass. All right but I still say you should listen to your body, not your mind. You must need this kind of release or we wouldn’t have fallen into this strange dream-state a second time the moment we touched.

  Not everything has to be about lovemaking, Far objected. There may be some other, perfectly logical reason why we find ourselves bound together. There may be—

  Suddenly Becca heard howling—a long, liquid moan like a wolf pack in full cry. The chilly, lonesome sound sent a shiver down her spine and she felt a sudden sense of foreboding she couldn’t explain.

  What was that? she asked, looking around wildly. That sound—what was it?

  I don’t know but I don’t fucking like it, Truth growled.

  The harbinger. Far’s deep voice was soft and unhappy. It is the harbinger.

  The what? What in the Seven Hells is a harbinger? Truth demanded.

  It’s a warning. I only hear it when I’m about to have a vision, Far explained. But I’ve never had anyone else hear it with me before. I’ve never—

  Suddenly the bed they were in disappeared and they found themselves in another part of the Mother Ship. Becca saw that all different kinds of Kindred warriors were talking and walking around. Some were eating, some using Think-mes to speak to loved ones, some arguing or talking to each other. Strangely, though, there were no females in sight—it was all males.

  All men. And I’m…Becca looked down at herself and saw that she was still naked. The other Kindred males seemed not to see her but still… Far! she complained, trying to cover herself with her hands and arms. Since this is your vision will you please put some clothes on me? And put some on Truth and yourself too. I don’t need to see all that.

  I can’t. Far still sounded distressed. The vision shows what it will. I cannot change it.

  Well, maybe I can, Truth said. Let’s see…

  Looking anxiously down at her naked self, Becca suddenly saw her nipples go a shade lighter.

  Hey—what? she began angrily.

  Sorry, Truth sent, sounding anything but. I just thought I might have gotten it wrong before. Should they be darker, then?

  Clothes! Now! Becca demanded.

  Sorry, Rebecca, he sent again. But I—

  Hush, can’t you feel it? The vision is coming, Far whispered. This will be a bad one—I can tell.

  How can you tell? Becca sent anxiously, forgetting to be angry.

  I just know. I feel it in my bones.

  Far sounded so apprehensive that Becca felt a shiver run down her bare back. Truth, however, evidently didn’t feel the same.

  What is this? he demanded. What’s supposed to be so frightening about the Unmated Males area of the ship? What—

  Suddenly all the activity around them ceased. One moment all of the various Beast and Blood and Twin Kindred were going about their business and the next they all froze. Then, as she and Truth and Far watched, Becca saw every single one of their heads lift up to look at the vaulted ceiling of the Mother Ship above. It was eerie—as though they were all puppets being pulled by the same string.

  What in the Seven Hells is going on? Truth demanded. This time even he sounded anxious and uncertain. What are you doing, Brother?

  Nothing—I do not make the visions—they come to me.

  Well make it stop—you’re scaring our lady.

  I cannot. The vision must run its course. Look!

  A dark cloud of black smoke was suddenly coming down, drifting like a deadly rain from the air vents in the ceiling far above. As it touched them, the warriors in the Unmated Males section began to change.

  It happened all at once. To Becca’s horror, their faces began to run like wax, revealing horrible, dark visages beneath. Their handsome, regular features became sneering, leering masks of evil and hatred.

  And then their eyes began to glow…

  * * * * *

  “Ahh!” Becca came back to herself yelling in terror. She sat up so fast she almost knocked Far, who was leaning over her anxiously, in the head. He sat back just in time and she was able to launch herself up off the grass.

  But standing up so suddenly made her head throb and the world whirled giddily around her. Becca stumbled and almost fell but Truth caught her arm.

  “Easy, Rebecca.”

  “Leave me alone.” She jerked away from him and stepped back, putting distance between herself and the two of them. “Just don’t…don’t touch me for a while.”

  “We’re sorry.” Far really did look completely remorseful. He still knelt on the grass where he had been cradling her head in his lap, looking at her as though he thought she hated him now. A glance at True showed a similar look. Their expressions made Becca feel bad.

  “Look, I’m sorry, guys,” she said, taking a deep breath. “But that was…what was that, anyway?”

  “I don’t know but I’ve never had a clearer vision,” Far said quietly. “I’m sorry if it scared you, mi’now, but it’s probably just a passing dream. Half my visions are, you know.”

  “No,” Truth said flatly. “No, this is going to happen. I don’t know how, exactly but I could feel it.”

  “But…how could such an awful thing really happen?” Becca protested. “I mean, did you see them? Their faces were running like wax and their eyes were glowing…They…they looked so evil.”

  “I don’t know how it could happen, I only know it’s going to.” Truth raked a hand through his black hair. “We have to alert the Council. The Unmated Males area isn’t safe—we have to sound the alarm. Now.”

  Chapter Four

  “Tell me the circumstances of this vision the three of you shared,” Commander Sylvan said, frowning.

  “The, uh, circumstances were, uh…” Becca found herself stammering and her cheeks heating up. She liked Sophie’s husband a lot, really. He was usually very patient and understanding and she knew from watching him with his twins what a wonderful father he was. But that still didn’t mean that she wanted to explain how she’d suddenly found herself trapped in another hot and heavy sexual fantasy with two men at once—a fantasy that had somehow turned into a nightmare.

  “Becca
was hit in the head in the parklands around the Sacred Grove,” Far said, taking up the story to her relief. “Truth and I were both trying to tend to her and suddenly we fell into a type of mental joining.”

  “Which caused us all to be subjected to his insane vision,” Truth growled, frowning at Far.

  “I noticed you didn’t object to our earlier shared vision,” Far snapped. “The one where you were finally able to get your hands on Becca as you’ve been itching to do for six solar months.”

  “As if you haven’t been trying to get your filthy hands on her too! Don’t lie, Far—I know your true intentions.”

  Becca sighed mentally. And here we go again. They had worked together so much better in the strange mental fugue the three of them had shared. Though it had been horribly embarrassing, she had to admit she had been relieved not to hear their bickering for a while. Why couldn’t they get along in real life the way they did in the weird dream state?

  “So they both had their hands on you at once? On your bare skin?” Kat, who had been visiting Commander Sylvan and Sophie when they came in to talk, spoke up.

  Becca’s cheeks got hot again. “Well…yes, in a manner of speaking. I mean, Far was cushioning my head and Truth was down at my feet, propping up my legs. So I guess…yes. Yes, they did.”

  Kat frowned. “That’s the way Deep and Lock and I do a joining when we want to do a Seek and Find, but we usually have to be touching a lot more, ah, intimately to get such strong results.”

  “But we weren’t!” Becca protested, feeling like her face was about to catch on fire it was so hot. “I swear! I mean…”

  “Easy, doll…” Kat levered herself off the couch and came to put a hand on her arm. “Nobody’s accusing you. It’s the most natural thing in the world to be between your men when you’re with Twin Kindred.”

  “There is nothing natural about what we saw,” Truth growled. “Or in having the lady Rebecca between us. She should be with one of us only—with me.”