Tangled Shadows Tina Christopher After losing not only her ship but also three days of her memory in a freak explosion, Space Captain Brooke Deverell wants only to forget her troubles for one amazing night and fulfill her wildest fantasy. She gets that and more from Vampire Nikolai and ArchNaema Galen. The men have long been lovers and welcome her into their world of extraordinary sensuality. For one blissful night, Brooke believes she’s found her soul mates—but her happiness is short lived when she realizes she’s actually been kidnapped. The men hunted her down under the assumption she sold her crew and human cargo to Feral Vampires as blood slaves. After realizing her amnesia is real and of a paranormal nature, they find themselves at an impasse. To prevent a galaxy-wide war they must work together. The three discover their sensual partnership can heal her mind. But for a complete and successful union, Brooke has to decide if she can forgive the initial deception and open her heart to the two men who stir her blood.
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Tangled Shadows ISBN 9781419937194 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Tangled Shadows Copyright © 2011 Tina Christopher Edited by Grace Bradley Cover design by Dar Albert Photography: IgorZH; Carlo Dapino; Sapandr/Shutterstock.com Electronic book publication December 2011 The terms Romantica® and Quickies® are registered trademarks of Ellora’s Cave Publishing. With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502. Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously. The publisher and author(s) acknowledge the trademark status and trademark ownership of all trademarks, service marks and word marks mentioned in this book. The publisher does not have any control over, and does not assume any responsibility for, author or third-party Web sites or their content.
TANGLED SHADOWS Tina Christopher
Acknowledgments Writing a book is a solitary process, but I could not have done it without the help and support of my friends. Victoria Davies was the first to read an early version of Tangled Shadows. She fell in love with Galen and Nikolai and demanded more immediately, kept me on track and offered valuable insights. Friend and fellow writer Elizabeth reminded me countless times that we have five senses and could I please use them. Big thanks to my writing group the Quince Apples, especially Bonnie and Gina, for their support and always being there when I needed a hand or a shoulder. I would like to thank my fabulous editor, Grace Bradley, for reading my pitch and loving the book. I would not be here without her excellent advice and never-ending patience. And finally a huge thanks to the reader. Thank you for choosing Tangled Shadows. I hope you have as much fun reading as I had writing.
Tina Christopher
Chapter One Hot Jade, somebody broke the mold after creating those two. Brooke Deverell slouched in her chair and admired the man candy who walked into the bar. Her hormones sat up and danced, telling her it had been far too long since she’d had anything other than solar-powered toys between her legs. The bar had seen better days, but that was the norm for a remote outpost like Teren. Smoke and the scent of cheap meat cooking hung in the air like a wet blanket. A handful of customers sat scattered throughout the dimly lit, one-room building, the majority of them pilots and mercenaries taking a quick break for refueling. One youngster, judging by the way he threw his credits around to entice enthusiasm out of the bored street courtesans, had just gotten paid. Three men sat around a table close to the entrance, opposite from Brooke, dressed in flight suits scarred by experiences and battles, carrying their weapons in the open. One of the mercenaries called out, “Galen.” The taller of the man candy raised his hand in a wave. He leaned back, gently kissed his partner on the lips and said, “Give me a minute, Nikolai,” before striding over to the other pilot. His smooth voice carried easily above the low hum of talk. He navigated the uneven splintered floors with a sleek grace that made Brooke drool just the tiniest bit. Their kiss caused her to sigh with disappointment, but she could still appreciate. She studied him from under her lashes, while pulling her comp off the heavy belt that separated the tight synth-shirt and pants to check her messages. She needed a job. If her M-box stayed empty, she’d be in trouble soon. Word of The Debacle during her last job had travelled. Galen looked good enough to eat, or at least nibble on every part of his body. She stood taller than most men, but would have to lean back a little to meet his eyes. He was blond, but if Brooke were a fanciful woman, she’d describe his hair as gold. Long and thick, it was tied at his nape with a leather thong, the kind of mane she itched to run her fingers through. Brooke tilted her head for a better view. His body was a masterpiece. She’d studied some Earth art, including the ancient classics. If he’d been around during the Roman Empire, she bet they would’ve made more than one sculpture to immortalize him. There wasn’t an ounce of fat on his body, his skintight clothing clung to his muscles with every move. Her tongue wet her lower lip as she admired the visible bulge between his legs.
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Unwrapping his body would be like Christmas and her birthday on the same day. She dragged her eyes away to actually check her inbox. Kayla had sent a note to call as soon as she could. Brooke connected to her old friend while watching Galen lean down to talk to the mercenary who’d called him over. She had to bite back a groan as his shirt gaped with the move. “Brooke?” Kayla’s face appeared on the small screen. “Hey, Kayla.” Brooked swallowed and rotated a little on her chair to move the distraction out of her immediate sight. “Any change?” her friend asked. “Nope, I’m still missing three days of my life with not even a glimmer of memory.” Her friend’s expression became sympathetic. “You getting a lot of calls?” “Of course I am. I had one hundred and forty-nine settlers on board the Nebokka and I’m the only survivor. The families want answers and I don’t have any.” “Where are you?” “Teren.” Her screen wasn’t big enough for Kayla to see a lot of her surroundings, but one glimpse of the crumbling gray-brown mud walls and the cheap tin roof must have been enough. “Let me guess, at the local watering hole.” “It’s still the best place to pick up work.” Brooke sighed and spun back to observe the bar. And the yummy diversion. “The loss of the Nebokka is killing me on all fronts. I can’t give any of the families the answers they deserve and nobody wants anything to do with me. It’s as if my years of experience as a captain and pilot don’t matter. My ship exploded and I can’t remember why or how I survived.” Galen stood and shook his head at the men, refusing their offer of a drink. “I can help with the why. Your furillium fusion capacitor blew.” Brooke lifted the comp and stared at her friend. Kayla was the best tech in the galaxy, but she had to be wrong. “No way. The Nebokka had a million safety protocols to keep that from happening.” Kayla shrugged. “I’m only the messenger.” “Talk about unlucky.” Brooke turned away from the screen and rubbed the side of her face, the spot where the headache had taken up residence the moment she woke in her shuttle surrounded by the debris of her beloved ship three weeks ago. Nothing the doctors did or gave her had an impact. The pain simmered down to a low throb only to spring back to life once she’d thought it had finally eased, making her feel as if somebody jabbed spikes into her brain. Galen had finished his conversation. Her eyes followed him as he returned to Nikolai. “Brooke?” Kayla brought her back to the present. “Sorry. Running through options.”
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Her friend shook her head. “I hate to break it to you but those options,” she drew quotation marks in the air with her fingers, “are rather limited. For what it’s worth, whatever paragon of manhood has you so distracted? Break your rules and have a night of fun. You could use it. I’ll let you know if we dig up anything else.” “Thanks, Kay.” Brooke ignored the other woman’s knowing gaze and signed out. She might want to break her rules, but that didn’t mean that the men were ready to play. Glad she’d opted for a table in a shadowed corner, putting her back to the wall, she enjoyed her view. Galen curled around his partner’s back and rested his chin on Nikolai’s shoulder. The other man leaned into him. Brooke met Galen’s gaze. His eyes were a deep blue that reminded her of the beautiful skies over Botannia. His face was as handsome as the rest of his body, the features proportioned perfectly, including high cheekbones, a strong chin and full lips, inviting her to caress every part using the sensitive tips of her fingers. Even in this dark and dingy bar in this backwater outpost where everybody kept to themselves, those two raised a few eyebrows. Especially female ones. Compared to his partner, Nikolai stood a little shorter, but still tall enough to make her feel feminine. Where Galen was sleek, he carried more bulk. Again, no fat, but his biceps and abs appeared hard enough to give a meteorite a run for its credits. Usually bulk wasn’t her first choice, but he had no trouble shooting her already humming libido into overdrive. Under the dim spotlights scattered throughout the bar, his black mane shimmered blue. What is it with these two guys and their hair? Most space travelers preferred a short cut because it was easier to care for on lengthy trips. She wore her brown locks tied in tiny braids reaching all the way to her butt. As much as she hated sitting still for seven or more hours, the style meant she could keep her long hair and not worry about saving water during her showers. Water was precious in space and the recycler could only clean it so many times before the need for fresh liquid became urgent. Galen winked at her. He turned to Nikolai and said something. Nikolai threw back his head and laughed. He flashed fangs. Jade, he’s a Vampire. No wonder everything in her stood at attention. Vampires had a reputation for sexual magnetism all across the universe. She looked at the smiling Galen. Nope, no sign of fangs, but he radiated power. Brooke mentally shrugged. It was a power she couldn’t place, but her contact with Paranormals had been limited. Nikolai’s smile softened. He kissed his partner. For a second Brooke thought she could touch their deep connection, it was as if a ribbon of blue-green light tied them
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together. Brooke rubbed her aching heart and tried to shake off the yearning for a similar connection. Both men exuded so much masculinity and sexuality, for a second she’d forgotten they were together. Definitely a crime against women everywhere. Galen met her eyes again. Brooke didn’t play coy, but held his gaze. Her heart pounded as if it tried to jump out of her chest, and her nipples turned hard. The latter she couldn’t exactly hide under her tight synth-shirt. The material fit beautifully under flight suits, but it didn’t leave much to the imagination. Galen nudged Nikolai, who followed his friend’s gaze. The men’s smiles showed…appreciation? Brooke was a little puzzled why two male lovers enjoyed turning her on, but she was having too much fun flirting across the gloomy bar. Nikolai slowly wrapped his right arm around Galen and caressed the other man’s chest with his fingers. Tension invaded Galen’s body and the bulge between his legs grew. Brooke rested her head in her palm and enjoyed the show. Both men had focused their attention on her. She couldn’t see the Vampire’s face clearly as he stood slightly behind the other man, but Galen’s features appeared to be lit by an internal light. His dark-blue eyes were half-lidded and every touch by his partner increased the tension in his body. Brooke’s breathing grew deeper and she had to bite back a whimper. Nikolai stepped beside Galen and moved his hand to his partner’s nape. Galen’s eyes dropped shut and he leaned into the touch. The Vampire’s smile turned possessive and a tad self-satisfied as he stroked his lover. Brooke’s smile died. They’d been fun to watch, but his mine-and-you-can’t-touch look rubbed her the wrong way. It was as if he wanted to show her what she would be missing out on. She returned her comp back to her belt. Kayla’s news had been disconcerting to say the least. Chances that all safety protocols malfunctioned at the same time were slim to none. It appeared somebody had tampered with the Nebokka, something she’d thought impossible. Her need to remember took on an extra layer of urgency. She couldn’t be sure she was the only survivor anymore. Who would be dumb enough to sabotage a ship and not give himself a way to get off? Brooke rubbed her churning stomach. It looked more and more as if one of her own had betrayed her. But she still couldn’t come up with one reason they would have kept her alive.
***** 9
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She reminds me of an Amazon, Galen Kinvin thought when he caught sight of Brooke Deverell. They’d had pictures of her, but none had showed her vitality or the spinetingling energy she exuded. The way she leaned back in her chair showed her long body to its best advantage. Her butt-long, chocolate-brown hair had been tied into thin braids and he had to restrain his hands from reaching out. He could discern the skeletory cyborg implants, but she had more than enough curves to make exploring her body a pleasure feast for the senses. His blood pumped faster, most of it going south. Nikolai stood so close, he felt bathed in his lover’s heat, which didn’t help keep his arousal contained. Pity she’s involved in this, otherwise we could’ve combined our work with some fun, Nikolai said to Galen through their mindlink. Despite having been together for decades, the intimacy of Nikolai’s voice in his head caused a little shiver of pleasure. You never know. She may be telling the truth, Galen replied. Either way, it would depend on how open she is to the idea. The way her eyes are eating us up, I’d say she’d be receptive, Nikolai said as he stepped closer. Galen leaned into his partner’s body. Look at her nipples, our presence alone had them respond. I’ll wager they are highly sensitive. His cock was hard as granite and Nikolai’s dick rubbed against his ass. Then Nikolai froze. Can you get in her head? Galen tried to gently enter Brooke’s consciousness, but came up against a wall. It was as if she had an iridium shield where most humans had no protection. What the fuck happened? Nikolai asked. Humans don’t have these kinds of shields. Galen paused. This made their plan more difficult, but they’d adjust. The way she appeared to respond to their presence? They could use that to their advantage. Finding answers was too important to have scruples. He rubbed his cheek against Nikolai’s. If humans are abused over any length of time, they can develop shields. Or maybe she has psychic abilities. Makes no difference, we’ll adapt. Let’s give her some more time to admire us, Nikolai said. Galen smiled. “And to let our combined power sink deeper under her skin.” Nikolai shrugged and winked. Galen shook his head. “You get the drinks. I’ll get the table.” His lover liked to draw out the hunt as well as the sex, to keep the prey off balance. It was Galen’s job to make sure he didn’t go too far. Nikolai walked over to the bar and the maid, whose thoughts and experiences streamed through his mind as easy as reading information from a data port. He was glad he didn’t blush.
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“Hello, sweetheart. Two Blue Rocks please.” She nodded, but didn’t move. The information that had smacked him in the head showed she’d worked the bar in this town for the last five years. Definitely no shy maiden, but his Vampire aura was too much for her. Nikolai grimaced and tried to contain his power. It worked. She unfroze and poured the drinks, her fingers shaking. When he picked up the two glasses, she put her hands over his. “Do you have a brother who’s as handsome as you, but likes women?” He threw back his head and laughed, making her shiver. “No, sweetheart, I don’t.” Nikolai nodded to a man sitting at the end of the bar who hadn’t taken his eyes off the maid for more than a second. “He, however, would love to take you home. Why don’t you have a word?” Her attention focused on the other man. Nikolai walked back to their table, grinning like a lunatic. He kissed Galen smack on the lips and flopped down in the chair. “I love playing matchmaker.” Galen smiled and his partner’s love ran through Nikolai like sunshine. “She’s stopped looking.” Nikolai followed Galen’s nudge and studied their prey just as she raised her head again. He captured her purple-blue gaze in his and unlocked his aura, sending sexual power straight at her. She stiffened and her nipples tightened further. He bet her pussy creamed right now, but the sparkle that had lit up her eyes when they stepped inside the bar had disappeared. He relaxed his control some more. Her head dropped back, but her eyes remained untouched. He frowned. It was as if her shield guarded her from the full impact of his sexual aura. And he couldn’t even determine why he cared. But he did. She appeared distracted. “What happened?” “I’m not sure,” Galen said. “She’d been on the com. Bad news, maybe.” Nikolai grabbed his glass. “Let’s meet her.” Without waiting for Galen he marched over to the gorgeous brunette, who’d dropped her gaze away from them. “May we join you?” Her head shot up and he captured her eyes with his. “Well, hello,” she muttered. Nikolai’s lips twitched. “Not sure I’d want to sit with you,” she said, her voice taking on a layer of huskiness that rasped across Nikolai’s body like a lick. He tilted his head. She propped her elbows on the table. “Thing is, I’m not a big fan of look-don’ttouch.”
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Galen put his arm around his shoulders. “Who said you couldn’t touch?” She reacted as if they’d hit her with lightning, only this time her eyes mirrored the heat. Nikolai leaned closer. Goose bumps covered Brooke’s arms below the short sleeves. “Maybe we’re looking for company,” Nikolai said. Brooke burnt from the inside. It was as if solar flares flashed through her, racing from one end of her body to the other. And he only looked at her. She studied the male gods in front of her. “Company?” For a second she imagined what it would feel like to actually be touched by Nikolai and Galen. They would help her forget her worries for a few hours. Guaranteed. Shame they didn’t play for the right team. Nikolai’s grin turned wicked. “What do you think, Galen, have we hit on something here?” Galen studied Brooke. “You may be right, Nikolai.” Nikolai didn’t wait for her response, and dropped into the chair on her right. Unlike the Vampires from the old Earth stories, he wasn’t undead but a different species, so his heat covered her side like a caress. “I’m Nikolai and he’s Galen. What’s your name, gorgeous?” Brooke came back to reality with a resounding thunk. There were few things she disliked more than empty platitudes. “I’m not gorgeous, and you’re a Vampire. The two of you are also gay, so stop the games and tell me what the Jade you’re doing at my table.” Nikolai’s brows shot up and he leaned a little away from her. Before he could speak Galen gently settled into the chair on her left. Brooke felt their sexuality like a touch. Her nipples grew harder and her clit throbbed. Her mood deteriorated further. She pressed her palms flat on the cool metal of the table in an attempt to redirect her focus. “We are indeed lovers, but that doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate women and their powerful beauty.” Galen smiled. She worked at keeping her legs pressed together. “As soon as we entered the bar, your energy hit both of us with the power of a supernova and we couldn’t resist.” Brooke felt as if she were drowning in his blue eyes, which conveyed his sincerity. Her hormones jumped up and down, telling her to make the most of this opportunity. Chances like this didn’t come along twice. Only one problem—part of her brain, the sane and cynical part, didn’t quite believe them. It warned her there was more to this than met the eye. “My energy?” she asked.
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Galen’s smile grew, his blue eyes gaining a wicked sparkle. It was as if he knew the two of them drove her crazy. Brooke felt a tingle at the back of her neck. She could’ve sworn some sort of energy passed between the two men. Breathing became difficult. Her heart pounded and her juices spilled from her pussy, making her panties feel decidedly uncomfortable. Heat ran through her body, pooling in her most sensitive places, making the touch of her clothes near unbearable. That, and her need for these two men. Nikolai leaned close and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek. “We’d be so good. There’s nothing more arousing than pleasing a strong woman,” he whispered in her ear before he nibbled on her lobe. Brooke tried to catch her breath, but before she could say anything, Galen kissed the sensitive spot between her neck and her shoulder. “Will you give us the honor of your name and the opportunity to pleasure you?” He put his hand on her knee and gently stroked upward. She fought a losing battle. “Brooke,” escaped her lips before she could stop herself. In a desperate attempt to gain some sort of control, she blindly moved her hands around until she hit pay dirt and grabbed both men’s cocks. Nikolai froze for a second, then nipped her ear sharply. “Two can play this game.” His hand found its way between her legs. He massaged her clit through the thin layer of her trousers. She couldn’t stop herself and tightened her grip on their members. “We’re yours all night, but maybe we should move this to a more appropriate location.” Galen’s voice had lost its calm, and his fingers joined his lover’s between her legs. Brooke had never been so turned on in her life, but Galen’s words brought a sliver of reality to this situation. She relaxed her hands, but couldn’t resist stroking them a couple of times before releasing them. The men did not follow her example. Instead of letting go, they moved closer. Galen gently turned her head toward him and kissed her. Up until now, he had seemed less aggressive, the gentler half of the duo, but his kiss turned her impression right on its head. There was no tentativeness, no hesitation. His tongue stormed her mouth as if it were an enemy ship that needed to be overrun. Brooke cupped his face. She undid the leather thong and slid her hands through his hair. It felt as soft as it looked. Imagining it caressing her skin drove her higher. And he tasted like ambrosia, dark and rich. His scent of forest and sunshine surrounded her. Their tongues dueled and played, neither of them taking control. Brooke couldn’t remember ever being so involved in a kiss, so taken over. And still, she never forgot Nikolai, whose hand continued to caress her clit as if no clothes covered it.
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The two of them combined drove her beyond the point of no return. Brooke stopped thinking about her surroundings. She disregarded her rule about one-night stands being a no-no. She didn’t know either of the men who drove her toward climax. Instead she exploded, exploded in a way unlike any other climax she’d had. Tingles shot through her whole body and every nerve ending she had stood at attention. She was soaking wet. If Galen’s mouth hadn’t been glued to hers, her scream would have left no doubt what they had been doing. Thank Jade for bad lighting. Nikolai’s strokes gentled, extending her mind-blowing orgasm until he cuddled her and no longer drove her crazy. Galen’s kiss did the same. Where previously it pushed her toward the abyss, it now gave her opportunity to feel. He showered her bruised lips with gentle bites. If he hadn’t put his arm around Brooke’s shoulders, she would have slid off the chair as a puddle of goo. “Jade, you two should come with a warning,” she whispered. Nikolai laughed and nipped her neck. “As should you, milaya, as should you.” Brooke finally regained enough consciousness to realize both men were as tense as iridium. “Looks like I’ve been the only one having fun.” Galen shook his head. “Not at all.” Nikolai snorted. “I’d say this is definitely one of my more memorable bar visits.” He put his hand on her cheek. “My turn.” He kissed her. Brooke hadn’t thought her hormones could be raised for another week. She was wrong. As soon as Nikolai’s lips touched hers, all her muscles, which had languished in total relaxation, came to attention. Where Galen tasted sublime and rich like smooth chocolate, Nikolai had a bite to him, an edge of darkness she’d not encountered before. It had her pussy gushing. His scent was darker, more earthy, making her think of sensual nights under the moonlit sky. Kissing him also drove home that he was a Vampire, when she accidentally nicked her tongue on one of his fangs and bled. Nikolai sucked on her tongue and groaned. “Careful, milaya, those are sharp.” Brooke leaned back. How the Jade had she forgotten he was a Vampire? “Don’t panic.” Galen leaned against her side, chin on her shoulder, chest to her back. “He won’t turn Feral through one drop of your blood. He has too much control.” About three hundred years ago, it had become obvious Vampires weren’t just fictional characters, but a different species altogether, which had existed alongside humankind for centuries. Laws were written to make certain humans didn’t become food supply for the physically superior Paranormals.
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The majority of Vampires accepted the new rules, but a number thought of humans as cattle. Their refusal resulted in an all-out war between humans and Vampires. Humans didn’t distinguish between those who followed the laws and the ones who rejected them, recognizable by their blood-red eyes caused by feeding on the adrenaline-laced blood of their victims. Brooke relaxed into Galen’s embrace. Nikolai didn’t look as if her blood had driven him over the edge. In the end, the never-ending bloodshed drove the leaders to find a compromise. The Coalition and the Vampire Council signed an agreement. As long as Vampires followed the laws they had permission to live wherever they wanted. “Hey, you okay?” Nikolai asked. “Am I your first vamp?” “No, but the first I’ve exchanged spit with.” The ones who still wouldn’t follow were called Ferals and had a kill-on-sight order. The Coalition had designated planets that had non-existent or limited human populations as “un-populable” and turned them over to the Vampires when they signed the peace treaty. Except for the Ferals, most had gotten used to the new regime and either lived apart from humans in their own communes or had integrated into human societies. He waggled his brows. “Care to exchange more bodily fluids?” Brooke straightened, her thoughts tumbling in her head like an old satellite dropping out of orbit. I don’t pick up men in a bar for sex, I just don’t. The temporary release wasn’t enough to cover the loneliness after the hormones faded. But these two made her want to break her rule. She exhaled. “Why not? Not every day I get such an offer. It’s a fantasy come to life.” “We’re very good at fulfilling those,” Nikolai whispered, his breath caressing her ear. Galen moved closer. “Care to share more of your fantasy with us?” he asked before he leaned past her and kissed Nikolai. Brooke’s breath froze. Having them kiss, right in front of her, was highly erotic. She’d expected aggression and fight for dominance, but the kiss was gentle and deep. For a second, the familiarity and obvious connection between the men made Brooke feel excluded. Pull yourself together. This is a one-night kick and not forever. Despite the pep talk and the arousal, a sharp pain stabbed Brooke in the region of her heart. Galen felt her stiffen and ended the kiss to look at her. Her pupils were dilated and he smelled her musk. The kiss had turned her on, but the warmth had left her eyes. They hurt her. 15
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Hang on, he said to Nikolai. Our kiss may have aroused her body, but I sense pain. Let’s keep our focus on her. From the research they’d done on Brooke, up until the unexplained loss of her crew and cargo, she’d been a respected pilot and mercenary. Neither of them believed the amnesia story. They’d planned to read her mind, but her shield made that impossible. Galen needed to know what had happened and the extent of Brooke’s involvement, but he also wanted to fuck her senseless. Their whole exchange had only taken a few moments, but Brooke frowned at them. “If you’ve changed your mind, tell me. I need no pity fuck.” Nikolai snorted. He took her hand and put it on his hard cock. “Believe me, there will be no pity involved when we fuck.” “Your lover just kissed you, doesn’t mean your dick is hard for me.” Nikolai’s brows rose and he grinned at Galen. “Did you hear a challenge?” Galen rolled his eyes, but fell in. “I believe I did. What is your response?” Nikolai pretended to contemplate for a moment. “How about we take her back to the Mercy, tie her to the bed, and torture her with pleasure until she falls unconscious?” Galen laughed and nuzzled Brooke’s neck. “Fabulous plan. What do you think?” Brooke swallowed. Her scent grew more fragrant. “You two have overblown egos. There’s no way in hell you could make me lose consciousness.” Nikolai jumped to his feet, grabbed her hand, and pulled her close. He proceeded to kiss her until only his arm around her waist supported her weak knees. “I can never resist a challenge.” Galen stepped up and leaned against Brooke’s back. His erection pressed against her ass as he sandwiched her between them. His hand found the sensitive crease between hip and thigh and caressed her. He nipped her earlobe with sharp teeth. “Now you’ve done it. He won’t rest until you pass out from pleasure.” Brooke leaned into him, rubbing against his cock. “Bring it on, boys.” Galen suppressed a sigh. Nikolai had locked into the challenge. There would be no turning back now, especially if Brooke continued to perfume her surroundings with her musky smell. They depended on her memories. Without the knowledge, lives all across the galaxy were in danger.
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Chapter Two Brooke felt as if she drowned in her arousal. The world took on an unreal quality. Nikolai and Galen surrounded her with their heat, their scent, their sexuality. Every breath she inhaled sharpened her responses. Her nipples were hard and her clit throbbed with every step. Her wet panties chafed against the sensitive button as she walked out of the bar. She had no idea how long it took them to reach their ship or where on the station it had docked. The men stopped her constantly and pulled her close for another mindbending kiss. She had a vague memory of a boxy Delta-Design covered in Tachyon cannons, but their scent and taste filled her mind, the memory of the feel of their cocks under her hands. It should bother her that she was about to fuck a Vampire, but her explosive orgasm had beaten her thinking-self into submission. She wanted more and she would take more. For once, she would throw caution to the wind. Galen opened the hatch and the ramp lowered with a hiss. Nikolai stood behind her, his heavy arousal a firebrand at her back. “Have you ever had it up the ass?” he asked, his arm around her waist, his hand wandering from her stomach to her breasts. He teased her nipples with touches so light she thought she’d imagined them. She froze at the thought of having his massive cock squeezing into her. His breath caressed her neck. Sweat trickled down her back. “That’s off the menu.” She swallowed and hoped he would let the subject go. Her hang-ups were none of his business. Nikolai shrugged and increased the pressure on her nipples, as if to ease the tension invading her body. “There’s plenty left to feed on.” He played with the hard tips of her breasts and looked at Galen, who’d turned back to them. “She ordered me around. I think she needs to be punished.” Galen smiled. “I knew you’d find a reason.” Brooke pushed a little away from Nikolai and looked between them. “Punish me? That wasn’t in the cards.” Her voice was nearly drowned out when the engine of a neighboring ship roared to life. Nikolai swung her into his arms, strode up the ramp and entered the ship. Galen chuckled as he followed, his footsteps echoed in the hallway. A hallway wide enough Nikolai carried her without difficulties or having to adjust his pace. “Not much you can do about it now.”
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Brooke turned her head and frowned. “You will not hit me.” She struggled to get out of Nikolai’s arms, but the Vampire only tightened them. She couldn’t move. Brooke felt a spark of fear in the pit of her belly. She was combat-trained, had cyborg-enhanced strength and speed and had experienced enough battle to feel she could look after herself. It had never occurred to her she could be in physical danger. Galen’s face softened. “We’re not going to hurt you, Brooke, I promise.” She believed him. His expressive eyes instilled a sense of peace in her. “But we may spank you,” Nikolai interrupted. “And you’ll love it.” Brooke struggled some more, her hand pressing into the gap in his shirt. “I am not a child to be spanked.” “No,” agreed Nikolai, “you’re a full-blooded woman in need of some punishment. Trust me, anything we dish out will only heighten your pleasure.” When he kissed her, Brooke forgot her name. She had no idea how he managed to carry her to the sleeping chamber without knocking something over or bumping into walls. He held her captive through his kiss the entire way. Nikolai finally released her mouth and dropped her onto a wide bed. One brief look showed her a huge chamber holding the usual assortment of personal belongings scattered throughout. Clothes in a corner, boots tossed against the wall, a half-open compartment in the wall showing something that appeared to be old-fashioned books, made from paper. The bed was big enough to sleep an army, covered in fabric so silky and soft it was a caress under her hands when she leaned back on them. Galen and Nikolai towered at the foot end. Unfortunately, they weren’t undressing. Brooke scrambled onto her knees. “What’s up, boys? Are we doing this or not?” Nikolai took a step forward, but Galen stopped him by putting a hand to his shoulder. She tried to clear the haze, to process the sensations running through her body, but it was impossible. She wanted to experience everything the men had offered her. “Brooke, we need to talk,” Galen started, leaning toward her. Brooke growled and came off the bed in a rush. She grabbed both men’s cocks through the fabric and squeezed. “Why do you suddenly want to talk? The time for talking is over. I want what you promised, a night to remember.” To drive the point home, she let go of their members and unbuttoned Galen’s pants. Under normal circumstances she might have shied away from being this aggressive, but right now she didn’t care, she wanted to experience this moment to the fullest. Nikolai and Galen shared a look, appearing to communicate in some form. He patted Galen’s cheek and turned to Brooke. He wore a wicked grin and his clothes disappeared with the flick of a finger. He climbed onto the bed. But Galen held back. Brooke still had her fingers around his cock and freed it from its confines. 18
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Nikolai knelt behind her, his legs outside hers, and caressed her through her trousers. He leaned over her back and nipped her neck. “I believe you’re wearing too many clothes. How about we get rid of them?” Brooke tried to nod, but couldn’t stop caressing Galen’s cock. The heat and strength covered by silky soft skin engrossed her. Every tug and pull garnered a response. Nikolai stroked his hands across her body. The heat of his palms burned her through her clothing. Her hand clenched around Galen’s penis. His head dropped back. He groaned, reassuring her she hadn’t hurt him. “I don’t think she’ll let go of you long enough for me to undress her,” Nikolai said. “I don’t care.” Galen stood rigid and locked his knees. “She doesn’t have to stop while you take them off.” Nikolai laughed. “My pleasure,” he whispered before he grabbed Brooke’s shirt by the shoulders and pulled. His Vampire strength ripped it to shreds. Freed now of the constraining built-in bra, Brooke’s ample breasts swayed gently against her chest, rising and falling with each breath. The cool cabin air hit her torso, peaking her nipples into tight, hot buds. She quickly shook off the sleeves, which had slid to her wrists. He covered her back, cupped her breasts, and played with her nipples. She finally released Galen’s cock and moved backward, leaning against Nikolai, thrusting her breasts into the heat of his hands. Nikolai pulled harder at her nipples. “Jade.” She tried to catch her breath. “Would you want me to do the same to your clit?” he whispered as he kissed her sensitive nape. Brooke had difficulties following his words. When they sank in, her breath stopped. For a second she had a voice in her head she’d thought she’d left behind years ago. Good girls aren’t supposed to like it hard. Though good girls weren’t supposed to enjoy sex, either, and Brooke certainly did. She pushed it back into the far corner of her mind. His touch felt amazing and the thought he could do the same to her clit drove her higher. It would hurt, it would hurt so good. Her eyes drifted shut. She fell even farther backward and wrapped her arms around his neck over her head. His silky soft hair caressed her hands. She stretched her arms and tangled her fingers in his mane, reveling in the fact she was able to do so. His hand stroked downward, sliding across her stomach. He opened her pants, his fingers moving closer toward her mound with every button he flicked open. For a second Brooke remembered her stomach wasn’t flat or hard as a brick, but it didn’t seem to bother him at all. Nikolai groaned when he reached her neatly trimmed bush.
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“Oh man.” He chuckled. “Been a while since I’ve touched one of these.” Galen’s rich laughter shot through her. Brooke’s eyes flew open. Heat raced through her body. Galen stood at the foot of the bed, naked and stroking his big cock. He didn’t have an ounce of fat on his strong body. His luscious, tanned skin was devoid of hair, except for the patch matching his head surrounding the erection, which stood at an angle from his body. Brooke could have sworn she saw the blood pulse in his length. She nearly drooled with the need to taste. Brooke couldn’t remember ever seeing something more exciting than the picture before her. “He’s hot, isn’t he, milaya?” She shuddered when Nikolai whispered those words in her ear and nodded. Nikolai kissed her cheek. “Though not nearly as scorching as you’re about to become.” He moved his hand farther down, and very lightly stroked across her clit. Brooke couldn’t stop herself from coming up on her knees. She was too sensitive. One firm touch and she’d go over, but it didn’t appear Nikolai would let her get away so easily. “Watch Galen,” he whispered. He played with her clit and fleshy lips, dipping his fingers into her moist entrance. “Watch him stroke his cock. See how big it’s growing, how hot he is.” He slowly penetrated her tight sheath, one inch at a time. “Can you see the drops on his tip? Do you want to crawl over there and lick them off?” “Yes,” Brooke whispered, desperately trying to retain some sort of control over her body. “Then do it,” demanded Nikolai. “Stay on your hands and knees and keep your luscious ass in the air.” He removed his touch from between her legs. Brooke moaned. Nikolai spanked her left ass cheek. She shuddered. The remains of her shirt tangled around her waist and she still wore her trousers. Nikolai had only opened them enough to push his hand inside. She didn’t feel the full force of the slap, but what she felt went straight between her legs. He slapped her again when she didn’t stir. Brooke gathered enough equilibrium to move toward Galen and his glorious, aroused cock. She came close to falling flat on her face when Nikolai held on to the rest of her clothes. Struggling out of her boots and trousers, she got back on track. She knelt in front of Galen and forgot about his gorgeous face and his smile. All her concentration focused on the big, beautiful length right in front of her face. The head was swollen and flushed red. Galen’s big hand stroked up and down the steely-soft length. Brooke had never been a big fan of blowjobs, but right now she wanted nothing more than to suck on the treat in front of her.
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She leaned forward and gently licked the tip. His taste exploded in her mouth and his scent grew musky. Above her, Galen groaned. Sweat moistened the skin under the hand she’d rested against his abdomen. She licked and sucked his dick as if it were her favorite choc-toff indulgence. He bellowed his appreciation. His fingers clenched in her hair and he thrust into her mouth. The sting of having her hair pulled raced through the length of her body. She moaned. Nikolai made a noise. “Looks like you’re having fun, Galen. Want me to turn up the heat?” Brooke ignored their exchange, too focused on the treat in front of her, until Nikolai began to caress her naked bottom. He reached between her legs and fondled her entrance. The slight touch drove Brooke higher. Galen’s grip on her hair tightened, adding to the sensations racing through her. Nikolai thrust two fingers into her dripping wet channel. Brooke tried to pull back, but Galen’s hold made movement impossible. She was caught between the pleasure of sucking on Galen’s dick and Nikolai fingering her pussy. She was so close. All she needed was one firm stroke, or Galen pulling just a little harder. Brooke wanted to say something, wanted to voice her needs, but the other part of her, the part which still listened to the lectures of her mother, silenced her. She screamed around Galen’s dick when Nikolai moved to lie beneath her spread knees and began to lick her pussy. Her arms nearly gave out under her. The pleasure was too much. “Hm, like the best Ziesta. Sweet and just a little hint of spice,” Nikolai groaned while he continued, leaving Brooke’s clit untouched. As he spoke his warm breath caressed her. He stabbed his tongue into her tight channel, licked her outer lips and raised her level of sensitivity beyond anything she’d ever felt. Her eyes closed and she leaned into the caress. She wanted to beg for that one touch, that one stroke to throw her into the abyss, but she couldn’t. Nikolai didn’t let up in his ministrations, pushing her out of her comfort zone. She tried to pull back, but he wouldn’t let her. Her world shrunk more and more with each of Nikolai’s strokes. It was all she could do to stay conscious. When he bit her clit, her world exploded. She could hear a high-pitched scream from far away. Her vision narrowed and grayed at the edges. She had trouble catching her breath. The pleasure drowned her body. Galen clung to his control while Nikolai drove Brooke over the edge. When Brooke screamed as if her life came to an end, he relaxed his control and enjoyed the vibrations along his cock. He followed Brooke only by seconds, his climax violent but leaving him
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a bone-deep sense of satisfaction and completeness. It was as if the part that linked Nikolai and him had branched out and connected to Brooke. He flooded her mouth. She managed to swallow most of it, but some spilled onto her breast. Galen enjoyed seeing part of him on her body. It surprised him how possessive he felt. He wanted to brand her to the world as his, his and Nikolai’s. He’d only experienced this emotion once before, after he and Nikolai had sex for the first time. As Galen looked at his lover, panic built in his stomach. He had found his other half years ago. He had. It would be insane to think a third could enter their bond, especially one who would be pissed as hell when she found out the truth. Nikolai’s cock felt like a throbbing wound. He only thought of thrusting it inside Brooke’s warm, wet pussy and relieving the pressure. Once he coaxed her down from her high and she stopped convulsing, Nikolai crawled out from under her. Without him holding her up, Brooke flopped on to the bed, half-conscious. “Oh no, milaya, we’re far from over.” He gently flipped her onto her back and leaned over her, propped on his hands. She blinked, her glazed eyes opened and focused on him. Once he had her attention, Nikolai lowered his body between her spread legs, bracing his weight on his forearms. Brooke smiled and crossed her arms behind his neck, running her fingers through his hair and pulling him closer. Nikolai couldn’t answer the smile. His aching cock held his focus. About to move, he felt a hand between his legs. His head shot up and he met Galen’s stare. His lover didn’t wear the happy, relaxed look he usually had after a good climax. Instead he looked serious as he guided Nikolai’s cock to Brooke’s entrance. At any other moment Nikolai would have tried to find out Galen’s problem, but right now he could only concentrate on the feel of Brooke’s tight pussy against the sensitive head of his pulsing dick, her hard nipples rubbing against his chest. Brooke whimpered. Moisture engulfed his cock. Nikolai felt the last thread of his control tearing. He thrust into Brooke’s tight channel and nearly lost it right there. She was so tight. Every inch of her sheath caressed him. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been ready to climax after the first plunge. Nikolai barely managed to hang on and wait for Brooke’s vagina to relax and adjust. But Jade, could she please hurry up? He didn’t want to hurt her, but her slightest move stroked her tight muscles around him. He groaned and bit his tongue in an effort to refocus his attention. He needed to catch his breath. It would have been enough if Brooke hadn’t chosen that particular moment to exhale and tilt her pelvis. Her small action slid him inside her to the hilt, his aching balls resting against her bottom.
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Nikolai lost it. With a mental sigh he admitted his weakness and decided he’d have to make it up to her in the next round. He pulled out and was about to thrust when strong fingers wrapped around the base of his cock. “Fuck, what are you doing?” Nikolai growled. “Keeping you from shooting over the finish line without her,” Galen said. “Should I get the cock ring?” “Damn you, Galen, you know how much I ha—” “Why did you stop?” Brooke screamed. She moved her hips in an attempt to drive Nikolai’s cock back inside her. Galen kept his fingers tightly around Nikolai’s dick as he leaned forward and pinched Brooke’s nipple. “He’s not going to last,” he tried to explain, but she was in no state to listen. “I don’t care. Do something!” She moved her head restlessly on the pillows and pushed her hips up. Nikolai was tempted to move his lover’s hand, but was no match for Galen in his current state. “Let go, Galen, and look after her. We can all come together next time. Now we need to fuck.” He shouted the last, unable to stand it anymore. Galen cursed, but released Nikolai’s cock and moved his hand to Brooke. He pulled back the protective hood over her clit. Nikolai thrust. Each plunge raked against the unprotected collection of nerve endings, making Brooke whimper and finally moan. As much as he enjoyed driving her crazy like this, Nikolai had reached the end. One last hard thrust drove him so deep inside Brooke he bumped her cervix, where he exploded. Brooke felt Nikolai’s orgasm and screamed. She was so close and he’d stopped moving. Then she felt pressure on her clit and her eyes sprang open. Nikolai had his eyes closed and leaned back, braced on his hands. Galen had reached between them and now rubbed her clit, giving her the stimulation she so desperately needed. “Jade, yes, right there, don’t stop…please, don’t stop.” She couldn’t contain her words. And then, for the third time that night, her world collapsed around her as she tumbled headfirst into the abyss. Her whole body quivered, feeling the pleasure in every part. She had difficulties recognizing the orgasmic screams as her own. Galen gentled his caress and removed his hand. Nikolai curled his arms around her and rolled to the side, still connected. Every so often a tremor shuddered through her. Holy Jade, they totally fried my circuits. Nikolai pulled her closer and, against her better judgment, she cuddled up to him. The bed dipped on her other side. Galen joined them. He spooned around her back, one hand resting on Nikolai’s hip. That small gesture of connection brought her close to tears. From the first moment she’d seen the two of them together, their love had been tangible. They may have
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looked for some female entertainment, but Brooke saw no future for herself in their union. She was too tired to examine why she’d even entertained the thought of being included in their love. This was only for one night. But what if it could be more? That last thought racing through her mind, she fell asleep.
***** Brooke slept in Galen’s arms. Holding her that way, connecting her to Nikolai and himself, felt so right—as if he’d finally found a piece of his soul that had been missing. Jade, they were in deep shit. She would not be happy when she found out they’d kidnapped her. And they still didn’t know which side she was on. With a deep sigh he kissed her neck and gently untangled himself to climb out of bed. She didn’t move. Galen met Nikolai’s gaze over her body nestled against his chest. He could see the same turmoil in his lover’s eyes. He shook his head when Nikolai opened his mouth to speak. Right now wasn’t the time. He stumbled into the sonic shower. Clean and garbed in a fresh flight suit, he walked to the bridge. They needed to get underway as quickly as possible. Galen had a feeling the only way to keep Brooke on the Mercy would be to make sure they were in deep space, giving her no possibility of escape. It would take them two standard weeks to reach their destination. He needed the time to untangle the web they now found themselves in. At the bridge, Galen dropped into the pilot chair, started the engine and informed Teren Control of their departure. There was little traffic in orbit. He evaded it with ease using the scanner monitor beside him and the massive window at the front of the bridge. Within minutes he reached a position to jump into hyperspace. Once on the way and the autopilot engaged, Galen stood and found himself aimlessly staring at the colors of the hyperspace window surrounding the Mercy. He jerked when two strong arms embraced him from behind. Galen let the familiar warmth surround him. He pulled the arms around him like a security blanket. Nikolai tightened his grip. “You were right,” Nikolai said. Galen snorted. “I’m always right. What are you referring to?” Nikolai cuddled his chin between Galen’s neck and shoulder. “We should’ve asked our questions before we made love. Even putting her in the brig would have been better than abusing her trust.” “You felt it too?”
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Now it was Nikolai’s turn to snort. “Pretty hard to miss. It’s my kind that comes with this added baggage. And we’ve both experienced it before.” Galen sighed and turned around, facing Nikolai. He rested his forehead against his partner’s. “Maybe we’ll get lucky and she’ll understand.” Nikolai kissed him. “Yeah, maybe.” His tone showed that he didn’t believe it. “We can always bind her to our bed, and keep her tied up and drowning in pleasure until she gives in.” Galen didn’t say anything, but gathered strength and comfort from Nikolai’s presence. He didn’t know how long they’d stood like this. It could have been minutes, or hours. The hug tightened when Brooke entered the bridge. Their hearing was good enough to know the moment she woke and used the facilities. She didn’t linger, but came and found them quickly. Nikolai tightened his arms one last time, and released Galen. They both turned to Brooke as she stood in the doorway of the bridge, wearing a shirt and pants too large for her. She must have grabbed them from their closet. Her gaze focused on the hyperspace window outside the main viewport of the Mercy. She didn’t say anything, but her body grew tense. Finally she looked at them. “Why the Jade are we in hyperspace?” Nikolai saw the storm brewing behind her eyes. She was not a happy Space Cadet. He stroked his hand down Galen’s shoulder and took a step toward the woman who had hit both of them in the heart. “Milaya, sit down and let us explain.” “I don’t want to sit, I want you to turn this rust bucket around and take me back to Teren.” “Easy, no maligning the Mercy.” Nikolai wanted to bite his tongue. His instinctive response to calling his beloved ship a rust bucket was not the best way to deal with her justifiable anger. “I’m more than happy to leave your stupid boat alone, as soon as you take me back.” She clenched her fists, her body stiff with tension. “We can’t.” Galen’s words stopped her in her tracks. Brooke studied them with a narrowed gaze. Their seriousness sunk in and some of her belligerence drained away. “Where are you taking me?” “The Hamil Quadrant,” Galen replied. Brooke turned deathly pale. For a moment Nikolai thought her knees would buckle. She crossed her arms in front of her chest, but rather than looking strong and angry, she appeared to be pulling a protective field around herself. “What?” Her voice turned rougher. “Why?” “Because we need to find out what happened to the Nebokka, your crew, and the settlers you transported,” Galen said. He took Nikolai’s hand and gripped it like a 25
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lifeline. Staying calm and keeping his distance cost his partner. It wasn’t in Galen’s nature to let anybody suffer, let alone be the cause of it. Brooke made it clear she would not welcome or appreciate either of their help. She swallowed. “Who are you?” Nikolai clenched his fists. Brooke looked so fucking vulnerable, nothing like the proud, sexy Amazon they’d had the privilege of seducing last night. He’d expected the blast of anger, but he’d never thought he’d see fear in her eyes. It had been only for a second before she masked it with anger, but it had been enough to hit him in the chest with enough force to make his breath stop. He had no idea how to deal with his surprising emotions. Anxiety turned to anger. It bubbled under the surface, similar to the precursor stage of a solar flare getting ready to accelerate. “Sit down, Brooke,” he barked and pointed at one of the pilot chairs. She flinched. Nikolai turned away and pushed his hands through his hair. This was not going at all as he’d planned. He’d never thought she’d capture a chunk of him, a piece of his soul, and become important. She’d been part of the mission, thought to support the other side. And now there was a chance he and Galen could lose her. Just before his frustration and, yes, panic, got the better of him, all tension flowed from his body. He relaxed. Nikolai whirled around and looked at Galen. Yep, his lover was up to his old tricks.
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Chapter Three Brooke had no idea what was going on. She’d woken up in bed remembering and reliving the most amazing sex she’d had in ages—actually, ever. Stretching muscles that weren’t used to this kind of workout, she’d finally realized that the soothing vibrations meant the ship no longer docked on Teren, but was on its way to an unknown destination. For a second she’d felt connected, as if she belonged, thinking these amazing two men had kidnapped her because they didn’t want to let her go. She didn’t know how, but both Nikolai and Galen had taken up residency in her mind, had made her want things she hadn’t thought about in ages. Like an enduring partnership with a man, the knowledge he would be there to support and love her, that she didn’t have to face the world so completely alone. She hadn’t realized that she’d given up hope. And now she’d stumbled onto two. Then she’d found them on the bridge. Their expressions screamed guilt. Reality set in. Brooke remembered The Debacle and its consequences. Her stomach sank. Look where trusting had gotten her. She was scared, but also furious and blasted Nikolai. But when Galen told her their destination she couldn’t help herself, and wrapped her arms around her in an attempt to keep some warmth in her body. Don’t break down, was all she could think. Don’t let them see. Her eyes darted around, avoiding the two bastards before her. The bridge had a typical layout. The pilot chair and the connected console at the center, the copilot chair slightly off to the side. The wall to the right was completely bare, probably meant for any passengers. The wall to the left of the massive viewport was filled with computers and scanners, most likely used for any more-involved investigation, scientific or otherwise. The flashing lights on the pilot console meant the autopilot had been engaged. For a second she frowned when she found a number of oddly shaped scanners she’d never seen before. They appeared to control access to the consoles. She captured all this with an experienced eye, giving her a moment to gather her composure. “Brooke, please let us explain.” Galen sounded oh-so sincere. Brooke ignored him.
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Jade, it had been one night of fun. Now the next day had arrived. She wanted to close her eyes, but instead focused on the colors of the hyperspace window. She wasn’t up to seeing their faces when they explained their lies. She straightened her shoulders. She’d get away from them. It wasn’t the first time she’d found her way out of a tricky situation, and it wouldn’t be the last. Clinging to the thought and the growing confidence, Brooke relaxed more and more, even began to smile. Once she was done with them they’d wish they’d never met her. She finally looked back at the two men who had knocked her out of orbit, metaphorically speaking, and froze. Silver-green light surrounded Galen, strands of it arrowing toward her and wrapping around her body like gentle ribbons. Galen no longer appeared to be the charming man who’d made her come repeatedly throughout the night. Brooke had seen him as the less aggressive and more balanced part of the duo. Where Nikolai exuded confidence and a cocky sexuality, Galen seemed more contained and centered. He’d reminded her of the two Kalogeros monks she once met. They’d had an inner stillness she envied. Galen had shown something similar. His presence still made her blood pump just as powerfully, but he’d missed that harder edge Nikolai carried. Big mistake. Talk about still waters running deep. Galen practically brimmed with power. Brooke’s jaw dropped when she realized that the gorgeous blue-green shadows behind him were wings. Wings. He looked magnificent framed by the large viewport, the colors of the hyperspace window behind him echoing in his wings. “You’re a fucking Naema.” Going by the amount of power she felt, maybe even an ArchNaema. Brooke had never met a Naema before. They tended to stick to the so-called civilized planets far from the outer rim’s more colorful way of life. When humans first encountered this alien species, they’d called them demons or angels. Demons because their extraordinary physical beauty supposedly led mere mortals off their paths, and angels because of the wings they sometimes displayed. As far as she understood it, the Naema cared for neither comparison and they definitely didn’t bother to seduce humans into sin. They kept mostly to themselves and had little regard for other species. Brooke frowned. She didn’t know much about Vampire or Naema social rules, but she was pretty sure that cross-species dating was frowned upon. As much as she tried, she couldn’t drum up any indignation or anger about Galen hiding his true nature. On the contrary, she had to curl her hands around her elbows to 28
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stop herself from touching his wings. They were a midnight blue that matched his eyes, and had green shadows run through them, making her think of a dark and thundery night on Arkiko II. She clenched her hands. Brooke needed to touch those wings. She was desperate to know if they felt as soft as they looked. Nikolai appeared to suffer from the same weakness. He stepped next to his partner and gently stroked along the edge of one of the wings. The silver light around Galen dimmed. Galen threw back his head and moaned. Nikolai chuckled and continued his caress. Galen twitched his wings away. “Don’t expect to get away with your tricks. You know, I always get even,” Nikolai extended his hand and touched the wings again. Galen groaned once more. “Having you explode like a faulty engine wouldn’t have been very helpful,” he growled. “I had to do something.” His big cock grew even bigger behind his tight suit. Jade, he looked mouthwatering. Brooke remembered the delicious taste. For a second she wanted to sink to her knees, pull the piece of flesh from behind its covering, and suck it like an ice cream. Taste it, lick it, until she brought him to his knees. Nikolai pulled Galen’s face closer and kissed him. Their love hit Brooke with the force of a freezing-cold shower. No. She dragged herself out of her memories. They’ve betrayed you, lied to you. She would not let herself be pulled in again. Sweat pooled at her lower back. She balled both her hands into tight fists and clenched her teeth with the effort not to step forward, closer to those seductive wings. It felt as if she was under a spell, pulling her toward the men. Brooke took one step before she managed to stop again. Galen looked up. “Brooke, I’m sorry,” he groaned. His wings shimmered for a moment, then vanished. And so did the need to move closer. Brooke pushed a sweaty strand of hair behind her ear. “What the Jade was that?” She panted. It felt as if she’d just gone ten rounds with a sparring droid. Nikolai kissed Galen’s cheek before he stepped away. “That was Galen’s diplomatic ray gun. He only pulls it out when he can’t think of anything else to do, and needs to make everybody feel pink and fluffy.” “Pink and fluffy?” Brooke crossed her arms and arched an eyebrow. She hoped they hadn’t noticed her taking a couple of steps back to put extra distance between them.
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“Yeah, you know, when everybody’s temper is about to explode and things will get ugly, Galen pours out his power, and everybody loves his neighbor and wants to make peace, not war,” Nikolai said, grinning like a lunatic. Brooke didn’t see the funny side. The power had been too strong. She felt as if part of her had been imprisoned by the need to touch. Her shoulders tightened. She didn’t stand a chance against either man. No, not men, one was a Vampire and the other a Naema. And she was only human. Galen took a step closer, holding his hand out to her. Brooke felt a dull ache in her chest. Under normal circumstances she would pull her spiny-anteater shell around herself, but today she lacked the strength. She wanted away from both of them. “Where am I staying during this trip down memory lane?” she asked, not looking either in the eyes. Galen dropped his hand and exhaled. “You can stay in the master cabin with us,” Nikolai said. Brooke flinched. Her eyes found his. He couldn’t be serious. His gaze didn’t give anything away. “I would prefer not to.” “You can have the guest cabin if you wish,” Galen said. Brooke nodded briefly and turned around to leave the bridge. “Brooke, we still need to talk,” Galen said. She didn’t turn around. With each step, she battled with the emotional torrents bubbling under the surface to keep them where they were…under the surface. The bridge doors slid open. “Not today,” was all she said, making sure not to show the two Paranormals any of the fear, desperation and anger. Nikolai threw his hands up in the air. “What the fuck happened? Where’s the Amazon? I expected attitude, for her to throw things, not buckle like a faulty chip.” He turned to Galen, panic in his eyes. “How can we learn more if she doesn’t talk?” Galen took Nikolai’s hand. “I think she got hit by the fact she’s alone with a Vampire and an ArchNaema, and she’s only human.” Nikolai frowned. “We wouldn’t hurt her unless she has something to do with the missing settlers.” He paused for a moment and looked down. “And I couldn’t move against her even then,” he mumbled. “Nor I,” agreed Galen. “But I don’t think she’s necessarily worried about that. We have a shipload of power between the two of us, not something she’s seen before.” Nikolai shook his head. “But she resisted. Did you see? She even held on against your allure.” Galen nodded and watched his other half pace.
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“Does she not realize how rare this is? To find the strength to resist you? She managed to stand still a couple of times.” “I don’t think she’s ever met a Naema before, definitely not an ArchNaema, nor has she any clue how much power she has herself,” Galen said. He wanted to pace or even punch something, but one of them had to remain calm. “We have to tell her.” “No, we have to give her some space.” He held up his hand when Nikolai was about to interrupt. “She trusted us last night and we broke her trust. When she lets us, we have to explain why we did so and our plan.” His hand curled into a fist. They destroyed something beautiful and fragile with their lies. Nikolai sighed. “And hope the connection we’ve established will be enough for her to come back to us.” Galen pulled him close. “Yeah, and hope she doesn’t want to leave once this is done.” He kissed Nikolai, long and deep. His partner gave as good as he got. They dueled for supremacy, channeling their worry in a different manner. But Galen knew something was missing. He loved Nikolai, would give his life for him, but part of his soul needed somebody else as well. He gentled the kiss and pulled back. Nikolai leaned his forehead against Galen’s. “You feel it too?” he whispered. Galen nodded. “It feels as if part of my soul is empty.” Nikolai tightened his embrace. “I love you.” Galen’s vision blurred. “I love you too.” He pulled Nikolai even closer. “I don’t want to lose you,” he whispered. Nikolai gripped Galen’s face in his hands, making sure their eyes met. “That will never happen, Galen. We haven’t lost anything, we’ve gained a third. We filled the void—the empty space both of us felt, but never spoke about. We’ll make sure she understands.” He shook Galen a little. “Are you with me?” Galen met his lover’s blazing gaze. And despite the pressure in his chest, he had to smile. Power and pride filled Nikolai’s eyes. “You know the answer,” he said. “I’ll always be at your side.” Nikolai kissed Galen. “Then let’s go and get the girl.” Galen grabbed his enthusiastic partner by the back of his suit. “Hang on, hang on. I still believe we should give her some time alone. We knocked her down pretty bad. Give her a chance to find herself, to gain confidence again.” Nikolai frowned. “It’ll also give her the opportunity to miss us.” His partner smiled. “Ah, I knew there was more to it. You’re playing one of your games.”
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Galen shook his head. “Not really. I only remember what it was like after we fucked for the first time, how much I needed you. I was hard for three days straight until I tracked you down.” He threw his arm around his partner’s neck and mock-strangled him for a moment. “You did that on purpose, you bastard.” Nikolai snorted. “I suffered as well. We’re both just too good at evasion.” Galen stroked his cheek and grinned. “Took us days to get the need out of our system, neither of us could walk at the end.” Nikolai looked at the closed door. “You think she’ll be in a similar situation?” Galen hugged Nikolai’s warmth around him. “I’m hoping, babe, I’m hoping.”
***** Brooke stormed to the guest cabin. Her steps echoed off the synth-metal and rang around her. Of course, it had to be right across from the master cabin. If those bastards thought physical closeness would make any difference, they could think again. She wished for doors she could slam, but the gliding e-panels gave her no such opportunity. Brooke kicked the wall instead. It wasn’t enough. How dare they kidnap her and drag her back to where she’d lost not only her ship, her crew, and a bunch of settlers, but also part of herself? She crossed her arms over her chest and wanted to pace, but the cabin was too damn short to give any sort of satisfaction. And the bloody bed stood in the way. She kicked the wall again. What were they hoping to achieve? Why would a Vampire and a Naema even be interested? She stopped her pacing and dropped onto the much smaller bed. The cabin was sparse, no personal items here. But the sheets were made from the same luxurious material. When she realized she caressed the bedding Brooke pulled her hands back as if she touched fire instead of fabric. The window opposite her with the flickering colors of hyperspace racing past drew her gaze. And why did they make love—no, that wasn’t the right word—why did they fuck her? They could have put her in the brig as soon as they arrived on board. There’d been no need to continue this farce. Brooke slumped. All these questions and no answers. Because, for the first time in her life, she’d run away. She’d turned tail, uncertain if she could stand up to those two. She rubbed her arms, trying to feel warm again. Compared to them, she was only human. They could break her in half without even trying. They’ve only been gentle with you, a voice whispered at the back of her mind. Yeah, Brooke agreed, it had been she who’d told them to fuck her, who’d been the initiator once they’d reached the ship. Brooke straightened and unclenched her arms. First things first.
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They were the enemy now. It broke something inside her, but she needed to wash their touch off her skin, take off their clothes filled with their scent. The closet had a number of fresh suits to choose from. Then she’d have a closer look at the data ports and check StarNet. She needed more intel. Her personal comp was in the other room, but wouldn’t work in hyperspace anyway. While pulling off the clothes, Brooke instructed the data port hovering at eye level to run a background check on Galen and Nikolai. Jade, she didn’t even know their surnames. “More data required,” the comp replied in a husky male voice. Brooke froze. Nikolai’s voice. Her nipples hardened and a shiver ran down her spine. She pulled herself back to the task and instructed the comp to change its voice as well as list the few bits of information she had on the two men. There couldn’t be very many Vampire-Naema couples out there. “Acknowledged,” Galen’s voice replied. Brooke’s clit throbbed and she couldn’t suppress a growl. Damn these bastards. She stormed into the bathroom and planned the men’s downfall while washing away the traces of the most amazing night of her life. In an attempt to make them have to stop sooner than planned, she used water and lots of it instead of the sonic shower option. If she felt as if part of her soul was connected to the two men at the other end of the ship, she pushed it aside as fanciful imagination. They had no idea what they’d gotten themselves into by kidnapping her.
***** It wasn’t easy, but Galen gave Brooke the day. He got up the next morning, rubbing his dry eyes. Neither Nikolai nor he had gotten much sleep. Both of them had been hard, but neither had felt like fucking without Brooke there. Galen was not in what could be described as a particularly good mood. He was determined to get her attention today. The information she carried was vital. They’d been certain she was part of this heinous enterprise. He’d lost this certainty, but he didn’t know if it was because she was innocent or because he wanted her to be. Galen yawned. He studied Nikolai, who still lay in bed, his eyes half closed, stroking his hard dick. Galen shook his head. “You’ll only make it worse.” Nikolai growled. “Jade, I’d forgotten how bad this was. You wanna suck my cock?” Galen’s only answer was a rude gesture as he stumbled into the bathroom.
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“Yeah, I hadn’t thought so. I hope your super plan works,” Nikolai shouted after Galen. “If this one day hasn’t been enough for her to vent her frustration, I’m holding you responsible.” Minutes later Galen came out of the bathroom fully dressed, and watched Nikolai squeeze the base of his cock, growling in pleasure-pain. He threw a towel he’d drenched in cold water. “Stop fucking around and get up.” Nikolai caught the towel before it hit him, but squeezed too hard and water dripped all over his face. “Hey, what was that for?” “To prepare you for your cold shower.” Galen walked out, going over ways to tempt Brooke out of her room. His head shot up when he heard noise coming from the galley, an open concept area a few steps from the sleeping chambers. Due to Nikolai’s limited need, the galley was small for a ship the size of the Mercy. He saw Brooke immediately. She stood with her back to him, stirring a bowl of what smelled like oatmeal. Galen couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen anybody eat oatmeal. He hadn’t thought the food processor would have it in its programming. Her presence raised goose bumps all over his body. He felt their connection like a living entity. Galen hesitated, not sure how she’d respond if he stepped closer. Brooke had stiffened, so he knew she’d heard him approach. “You going to stand there for the rest of the day?” she asked without turning to him. “If that’s what you want me to do.” Brooke scoffed. “I don’t really give a fuck what you do, as long as you stay away from me.” He stepped forward. “There is only so much space on the ship,” he said. “Will you let me explain?” Brooke continued to keep her back to him. “It’s not as if I have much choice. Between the two of you, you have every avenue covered.” She slammed her bowl on the clear surface of the counter, the spoon clanging against the edge. She picked up a cup. Galen smelled the distinct fragrance of strong Beral tea. Brooke took a drink and finally turned around. She leaned her luscious ass against the counter, crossed her arms and looked at him, her eyebrows raised and sipping more tea. “What’s your great explanation?” Ouch, he thought, the Amazon is back. He cleared his throat. “Maybe we could sit down.” “Maybe we should do it standing up.” “If I remember correctly, we did it every way but standing up,” Nikolai said, putting an arm around Galen’s shoulder.
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Galen had felt his lover walking up, but he’d stood in the doorway, making it impossible for Brooke to see behind him. She flinched when the other man came into her view. Her tense body went rigid. The arms, which had been loosely crossed, tightened across her chest. “Hey, gorgeous, how are you doing?” Nikolai leaned against him, resting his chin on Galen’s shoulder. “Let’s move on to the bridge, it’ll be more comfortable there.” In his mind he snapped at Nikolai, Stop pushing. She needs to feel safe around us. Give her some space. Nikolai kissed Galen’s cheek. Don’t get your knickers in a twist, he said, showing his age. He turned and walked to the bridge. Some of the tension left Brooke, but she still held on to her mug as if it were a lifeline. She gestured to Galen. “After you.” He nodded, turned, and walked to the bridge, giving Brooke the space she so obviously wanted. Nikolai slouched in the pilot chair, backrest pulled back and legs stretched out in front of him. Behind him the flight consoles and scanners beeped and flashed as the autopilot carried them closer to their destination. He looked divine. Galen wanted to lie on top of him and make love, while Brooke watched. Naked. Nikolai’s lips quirked and he stroked one hand across his chest. Slowly. Galen snorted and dropped in the copilot chair, turning it so he faced the doorway. Brooke walked in, still holding her tea. Knowing his partner, Galen kicked Nikolai’s ankle before he could make a comment about her clinging to the mug. She stood before the empty wall and instructed it to form a chair close to the exit. “Explain,” she demanded. Brooke studied the two men. Being in the same room calmed something inside her, but also made her feel as if lightning ran beneath her skin. She was horny as hell, but felt certain she had it under control. A nagging ache in her chest kept her headache company. She’d spent most of yesterday going through the ship’s systems and hitting her head against an iridium wall. The locks she’d noticed earlier were paranormal aura locks and they were all across the ship. As “only human”, there was no way she could decode those. It was impossible for her to get off the ship or change course, even if she managed to somehow trick or overwhelm them. The StarNet hadn’t been much more help. She found a couple of short articles about ArchNaema Galen Kinvin and Vampire Nikolai Ranweth starting a union, but the paper had been human-owned and didn’t carry many details. Neither Vampire nor
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Naema press had picked up on their liaison or given her any ideas why they would be after her. She perched at the edge of her seat, clutching her fingers around the heat of the mug. “Explain.” Galen leaned forward, hands dangling between his legs. “A Vampire friend of ours, Darius, a pack of Ferals kidnapped his mate—” “Since when do they kidnap people? They usually drain them dry.” She wanted to ask about Vampire mates, but bit her lip and stopped herself in time. “The pack leader had a plan.” Galen waved her off. “I won’t bore you with the details, but the aim was to take over Darius’ trade routes and smuggle humans as blood slaves for Ferals who can pay the price.” Brooke nearly dropped the mug. “But that would mean another Vampire war.” Dread froze her heart. Nikolai came out of his slouch and sat up straighter. “They don’t care. They live and work deep in the shadows. The chances of figuring out who runs this operation are slim. As far as we can put together, the victims have been from small communities on the outer planets with a limited Watch and the strand of society that doesn’t talk to Security.” For the first time this morning, Brooke met his eyes. His silver gaze warmed an empty space deep inside her. She tightened her hold on the mug. Anything less than Un-ob would have crumbled under the pressure. “Street courtesans, homeless, addicts, runaways, that strand of society,” he answered her unvoiced question. Galen picked up the tale again. “Darius and Stasia managed to kill one ring leader, but the operation is like a hydra. You chop off one head, three more grow, meaning they still kidnap and sell humans.” “How did you get involved?” Brooke asked. “We are part of a small strike force under direct authority of the Head of the Vampire Council. As soon as he received the information he organized the team. Also,” Nikolai leaned forward, resting one elbow on the arm of his seat, “I’ve lived through one war and I have absolutely no intention of wading through a second. When Darius told us what happened, there was no question we would help.” Galen leaned over and gripped his lover’s shoulder. Brooke turned away. It both hurt her and turned her on to observe the tender exchanges. A small part of her desperately wanted to be included in their love, to be part of their connection. But how could she after they lied to her? And she would always be only human compared to their Paranormal powers. They might fill a hole she hadn’t known was there, but she had too much pride to be the weak link, the fool who fell for them.
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She stuffed those thoughts into a dark corner of her mind. Instead she cleared her throat and looked back at them. “How is this human trafficking ring connected to me?” She had a horrible idea, but wanted confirmation. Galen gazed at her for a moment, his eyes filled with darkness and something that appeared close to pity. Brooke felt her horror turning toward anger. Nobody pitied her. “You had one hundred and forty-nine settlers on the Nebokka, the majority young and fit, prepared to leave everything behind for a better life. You also had twenty-three crew members.” He continued to look at her as if he expected her to draw her own conclusions. Brooke leaned down and gently put the tea mug on the floor. She clasped her hands to stop her fingers from shaking. “You think I was involved.” She swallowed. “You think I sold out my fellow humans and handed them over to Ferals.” Her stomach churned and she had to swallow the bile racing up her throat. How the Jade am I going to prove my innocence if I can’t remember what happened?
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Chapter Four “The amnesia story seemed implausible,” Galen said, shifting in his chair. “This is the first time they’ve taken so many people in one raid. We need to find out who and how far the knowledge of the operation has spread. Unless we stop them, they’ll continue and get more and more audacious and daring,” Nikolai said. “And you picked me as the weakest link to interrogate,” she whispered. It hurt that they would think her capable of something so horrendous. “No,” Nikolai interrupted her downward spiral. “The original plan was to read your mind and find the relevant information.” Brooke’s brow rose. “Really.” Nikolai sat up straight and smiled. “But we couldn’t climb into your head in the bar —” “And decided by climbing into my pants you get all the information, plus some tail on the side.” Brooke couldn’t contain her bitterness. “No.” Galen rose, but sat back down when she flinched. “No,” he said in a quieter voice. “When we understood your mind was impenetrable, we knew we needed to get you away for a more thorough questioning.” Nikolai nodded. “What he said. Your energy knocked us on our respective asses. As soon as we got close enough, all plans went right out of the hyperspace window. We only wanted to touch you.” Brooke shook her head and got to her feet. “And you expect me to believe my aura or presence or whatever you want to call it, made a Vampire and a Naema forget what they’re thinking? Dream on.” She faced off against them, still attempting to come to terms with everything she’d learned. They both remained sitting, studying her as if her next words would decide the fate of the galaxy. “Brooke,” Nikolai began. For a second her heart clenched. He called her by her name and not his little nickname. “Brooke, if we still followed our plans, I would have attempted to invade your memories as we made love.” He shrugged. “All I thought about was you, your taste, your scent, the silky softness of your skin, watching you suck Galen’s cock and how much I needed to touch you.”
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The words made a lump form in her throat. He sounded sincere, but they manipulated her once, they could be doing it again. “As to your remark about a Vampire and Naema, Brooke, you have power as well. It is different from ours and I’m not sure where it comes from, but you have power. Yesterday you stopped when the need to touch my wings should have dragged you across the floor.” Galen leaned forward. His words unclenched something deep inside her. Of course, there was the chance he lied, but she didn’t think so. Some of her confidence flooded back and the arms she crossed so tightly over her chest loosened the tiniest bit. “We now realize you really cannot remember what happened. I believe the Ferals wiped or blocked your memory.” “What?” “Have you ever asked yourself why you were left behind?” Nikolai asked. “Of course not, the thought never crossed my mind. Now I know Ferals are involved, I can only assume my blood wasn’t to their taste or I was too tall.” Nikolai winced as sarcasm dripped off her words, but what did he expect asking such a ridiculous question? “We will find out why. Both Nikolai and I have abilities that will help to determine what they did and fix it,” Galen interrupted their exchange. Brooke turned her back to them. She was cold despite the pleasant temperature on the bridge. The thought Ferals had done something to her mind made her feel tainted. For a moment she wished she could find safety and comfort in Galen’s and Nikolai’s arms, but the memory of their lies stopped her. They’d explained why they kidnapped her. From an objective point of view they had no reason not to suspect her. They didn’t know her. It didn’t mean she didn’t want to vent the hurt and frustration nagging at her insides like a loose wire in the engine tunnel, but they offered her a way to regain her memories. Maybe. She came to a stop in front of them. “What would you need?” Neither of them changed their expression, but Brooke thought their relief stroked across her body. Probably just her stupid hormones. “Ferals will have left behind evidence of their tampering. As a Vampire I’m best equipped to discover and untangle any barriers. I need you to be as relaxed as possible, preferably lying down and as open to my contact as you can be.” “Say all that happens, what will be your next step?” “Attempt to find whatever the Ferals left behind to stop you from remembering.” “Will you be able to read my every thought?”
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Nikolai tipped his hand back and forth, indicating maybe yes, maybe no. “You have an unusual shield. Chances are I won’t be able to read anything but superficial thoughts once we connect.” “But you don’t know for sure.” Brooke balled her fists. “No way. I don’t want you anywhere in my thoughts. My thoughts and feelings are not for public consumption.” “It’s the only way to figure out what happened,” Galen interrupted. Brooke looked at him. “How would you like to have your innermost thoughts read?” Galen shrugged. “Nikolai and I share one mind. We have no secrets.” “That’s just supernova for you, but I don’t want my one-night fuck partners to read me like a data port, thank you very much.” For some reason the men looked insulted. Why would she trust them if the first thing they’d done was lie to her? And give you explosive orgasms, the little voice at the back of her mind said, the one Brooke kept pushing aside. “You don’t even know if that would be the case,” Nikolai said. Yeah right, Mr. Persuasive. “What is the alternative?” Galen asked. Brooke looked at him and wanted to punch him. Honestly, she wanted to walk over there and bash him over the head. And then kiss him breathless. He had to be all logical. She strode away. What was the alternative? She could stay stubborn and not let either of them close enough to connect with her brain, and have three days missing from her memory forever. With the possibility a Feral had tampered with her mind. Talk about a happy thought. Or she could trust two men who had lied to her with her innermost thoughts. They’d know she still desired them, how she yearned to be part of their love. They’d see her loneliness and her hunger to belong. Unless this shield worked, they’d see everything. And if they used the knowledge as a weapon against her, they could destroy her, rip her to shreds. “Brooke, he’ll try not to look where he isn’t wanted,” Galen said softly. “Anything you want to keep secret, imagine a sky-high impenetrable wall in front of it. Nikolai will honor those boundaries.” Brooke kept her back turned to them, hands in fists at her side. “Of course, you’ve been the poster boys for honesty and trustworthiness. I have no trouble believing you.” Silence fell between them. “You can’t want to live with a Feral in your head for the rest of your life,” Nikolai said.
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Brooked flinched. His blatant statement hit her like a punch in the gut. She exhaled and straightened her shoulders. They just weren’t getting it. “You are expecting me to trust two men who’ve done nothing but lie to me from the moment we met.” Galen sighed. Nikolai rubbed his face. “Is there anything we can do to prove our trustworthiness?” Galen asked. Brooke swallowed the lump in her throat when she saw the need in his eyes. She wanted to trust him, them, but the risk…the risk of being betrayed again was more than she could bear. “That’s the problem with trust,” she whispered. “It has to be earned.” Galen closed his eyes and his shoulders dropped. Nikolai took his hand. “We’re at an impasse, Brooke. We need your memories to find out what happened and who was involved, but without your consent, we cannot remove the Feral barrier. With every hour we wait, more humans could be suffering or dying.” “You decide,” Galen added. Brooke stared out of the main viewport in an attempt to close out their presence, their energy, their impact on her. It didn’t work. She still saw them before her eyes. But they were right. As much as she hated Nikolai for bringing it up, people were dying right now, sucked dry by brutal Ferals, who more often than not played with their food before they tore it apart. When she took on the responsibility of being the captain of the Nebokka, she took responsibility for her crew and any humans she may transport. She couldn’t turn her back on her duty because she feared these two men would rip her heart to shreds if they discovered her need. “I am sorry for what we have done. Milaya, I will not betray your trust. I give you my word I will only look for the damage the Ferals left behind,” Nikolai said. His words sank inside her. Since the horrific morning when she found out the truth, they had done their best to show her their regret. She needed those three days back. The Feral taint had to be removed. And this would be the only way to prove her innocence. She whirled around. “I am not lying down for this. And if you overstep the boundaries by just one inch, this operation is over. Understood?” Galen exhaled silently. Thank Jade, she would give them another chance. Nikolai put his hands in the air as if to fend off an attack. “Whatever you say, milaya.” Brooke glared at him. Galen jumped in before either of them could set off another argument. “Let’s move to the lounge next to the galley. The chairs are more comfortable.”
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She looked at him with her eyebrows raised, and hesitated for a moment. Galen was about to say something when she moved toward the bridge exit, her body screeching with tension. We’d have more space in the main cabin, Nikolai said inside his mind. She’d never trust us in there. Galen followed Brooke. And she needs to relax for you to work, doesn’t she? Nikolai came behind him. Yeah. Galen wasn’t sure what gnawed at his partner, but he didn’t have time to hold Nikolai’s hand as well as Brooke’s. Brooke waited in the lounge, her arms still crossed over her chest. Every time he saw her hold herself so defensively, it stabbed Galen in the heart. He wanted her confident and full of energy, like during their first night. The lounge was a small cabin with two reclining chairs before a massive screen. They used it to watch vids or play games in virtual reality. Their journeys could be long and any distraction was welcome. He directed Brooke to one chair, after instructing it to expand its width so Nikolai could sit on the edge without scaring her. Galen then instructed the malleable wall to form a seat in the corner. He wanted to be closer, but both of them hovering over her would make things worse. “Sit down, milaya. Close your eyes and see if you can relax,” Nikolai said. “Have you ever meditated before?” Brooke sank down and shook her head. “No problem. I’m going to sit on the edge here.” Even from where he sat, Galen could see her stiffening. Nikolai sat down and gently took her hand. Brooke’s eyes shot open. “It’s okay, Brooke, I need physical contact to build the connection. I’m only going to touch your hand, nothing else, I promise.” Brooke locked gazes with him for a moment and nodded. She closed her eyes and her body slowly unwound. “Great,” Nikolai said. “Now I want you to relax each individual muscle, from the tips of your toes to the top of your head. Just let go. Don’t think about anything in particular, let your mind wander.” Nikolai continued with his hypnotic talk until Brooke’s body had relaxed and her breathing had evened out. Nikolai leaned closer and Galen felt his partner’s aural energy becoming more and more focused until it resembled a spotlight. He carefully tried to penetrate into Brooke’s energy and stream inside her mind. Galen expected to be pulled along on Nikolai’s journey of discovery, to stumble through Brooke’s mind and memories. But nothing happened.
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Nikolai’s eyes flew open and he looked at Galen. His lover could not establish a connection to Brooke. To quote from the olden days, they were royally screwed. Nikolai had no idea what had gone wrong. He’d followed his usual pattern of weaving his power into his subject’s energy, expecting Brooke’s mind to open up to his pressure. But abso-fucking-lutely nothing happened. It felt as if his energy bounced off a bubble, a bubble that blocked Brooke’s mind from any outside influence. He couldn’t retrieve what had happened in those missing days. “What’s going on?” Brooke’s husky voice pulled him back to the now. Without thinking, Nikolai kissed her palm. “I’m unable to link with you. Your mind is covered by an impenetrable field.” Brooke raised the chair into a more upright position, but didn’t pull her hand away. “What does this mean? Did the Ferals do it to me?” Her fingers trembled. Nikolai was quick to reassure her. “No, milaya, no, this feels nothing like a Feral. If I didn’t know humans can’t build shields like this, I’d say you made it yourself.” “You know there are reasons why she could have developed such a shield,” Galen said, his voice subdued. Brooke’s gaze flew to him. “Why?” Galen sighed. “Humans who have suffered trauma at a young age tend to block far more heavily than other kids.” He smiled for a second, but it never reached his eyes. “Or a Naema entered your family tree some generations ago.” Brooke looked at them as if they’d declared they’d give up sex and retire on Monktoon. “Naemas don’t fuck outside their race, and they definitely don’t impregnate humans.” Nikolai snorted. “What am I, chopped liver?” Brooke frowned at him. “But you’re the exception. Are you telling me your families were particularly happy with your relationship?” Galen extended his seat closer to her chair. “No, our families aren’t happy, but this is a relatively new development. Over the last few decades, my people have pulled back more and more from other species. They’ve begun to think of themselves as better, purer than everybody else.” “Yeah, thanks to your esteemed leader,” Nikolai said through clenched teeth. He loathed Arch-Senator Gabriel. Galen waved off his grumblings. It was a discussion they’d had before, and most likely would have again.
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“Before this turn in thinking, Naemas lived in harmony with other peoples. Matings occurred rarely outside the species, but it did happen.” Galen nodded at Brooke. “And it is possible one of your ancestors comes from such a union.” Brooke appeared to process the information, but didn’t reply. Nikolai jiggled his right knee. By Jade, why couldn’t she get past their beginnings? Through their mindlink, Nikolai knew Galen didn’t think Brooke had Naema ancestors. Her shield was too different. Which left a traumatic event. They needed to know what she’d been through. It was the only way he could find a weakness in her shield. Nikolai’s knee froze for a second, before it picked up its pace again. Could it have to do with her connection to us? he asked Galen. His partner paused. We had no problems talking mind-to-mind after our first night together. Yeah, but neither of us is human. Do you know of any human bound to a Vampire and a Naema? Maybe it’s for her protection. We can’t tell her yet, Galen barked. We’ll talk about it later. He put his hand on Nikolai’s wiggling knee and the hand resting on it. Then he leaned toward Brooke, touching her shoulder. “Whatever this is, we will sort it out.” As soon as Nikolai clasped his lover’s fingers, electric shocks sparked, shooting through all three of them and their minds connected. Nikolai felt the familiar warmth of Galen’s mind, but also Brooke’s shock and fear when she realized they had linked. For a second he thought he saw a deep-seated need to belong, but the link broke too quickly to be certain. Brooke tried to pull back, but Nikolai held on to her hand and Galen moved with her, keeping contact to her shoulder. “Hang on, Brooke, don’t move,” Galen said. “We might be on to something here.” Brooke stilled, her body rigid. “What happened?” Nikolai studied the closed circle they’d made by accident. He’d only realized the nagging ache and need to be close to Brooke had disappeared after touching her. He looked at Galen, who nodded in agreement. They were both hot as hell, but the pain was gone. “What’s going on?” Brooke asked again, her voice growing louder. Nikolai saw her nipples harden. His sensitive nose picked up her thickening scent. Galen cleared his throat, but his voice was husky when he spoke. “Our minds linked.” “How?” Brooke attempted to let go, but they wouldn’t allow it. “After our night together, we’ve established a link. By touching as we’re doing now, all three of us, the connection is activated.” “You were in my head.”
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“For a second your shields dropped and allowed us in,” Galen said. “Let’s try something. We all let go and then touch again. By re-establishing the link I may be able to identify the barrier,” Nikolai said. Galen nodded and they released each other. After a brief moment, Nikolai clasped Galen’s hand and offered his free one to Brooke. She hesitated. “The same rules still apply. No going anywhere you aren’t welcome.” Nikolai nodded his agreement, continuing to hold out his hand. This time around it had to be her choice all the way. Brooke swallowed. She took his hand and the one Galen offered. Sparks flew again. Nikolai groaned as a shock shot through his hard cock. They waited, but no mindlink. Brooke released their hands and hugged her arms around her knees. “It didn’t work.” She felt torn. For a moment she thought there would be a way out, a way to undo the taint the Ferals left behind, but now it appeared only a fluke. She tugged her knees tighter against her chest, her heart racing. Every way she looked she only saw closed doors with no way out, no way to prove her innocence, to regain her memories. “Brooke.” Nikolai cupped her nape. “Breathe, milaya, breathe. We’ll figure something out. Breathe.” The heat of his hand and his voice sank inside her, unclenching her frozen lungs. She took a couple of deep, slow breaths. She’d never had a panic attack before, but right now she deserved one. “How are you going to figure out anything? I have impenetrable shields and neither of you has any clue on how to re-establish the link.” Nikolai stroked his thumb up and down her racing pulse. Before she could stop herself she leaned into the caress. As much as she hated to admit it, his touch helped to fight down the panic. “Brooke, there is another way for us to reconnect,” Galen said quietly. She looked at him and knew right off she wouldn’t like whatever he had to say. “We know touch led to the first mindlink. I believe sex will help you to relax your shields enough to allow us to enter your mind.” Brooke gaped at him. “Well, let’s get right on it. I’ll just spread my legs and you can go ahead.” Galen flinched and Nikolai’s grip on her nape tightened. Brooke couldn’t stand it, pushed his hand off her and scrambled to her feet to pace the confines of the cabin. She saw a certain logic to Galen’s belief. The idea scared her to death, because part of her wanted to jump up and down with excitement at the opportunity to spend time with them, to experience their lovemaking again.
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But if she gave in to this part of her, she risked being hurt. Or it may open a door you had already thought shut in your face, the little voice said. She leaned her forehead against a porthole. Jade, could she let them close again? Could she not? There was more at risk than only her heart. People depended on her. “Brooke, the choice is yours, but I promise it is not just a cheap way to get you in bed. Nikolai and I can’t imagine anything as exciting and fulfilling as making passionate love to you. We want you. It is not just a means to an end.” Brooke turned and studied them. She couldn’t see another way to clear the Feral taint out of her head and get her memories back. They gave her the most amazing night of her life. They touched something deep inside her, opened up a fragile part of herself in search of belonging and love, a part she hadn’t been aware of. And then they broke it. Crushed it with their lies and carelessness, left her feeling as empty as the space the Mercy traveled through. The risk was huge. They could break her again. But it was the only way to clear her mind and release her memories, the only way to find and save potential survivors. And the only way to fulfill this insane demand inside her to spend as much time as possible with these two men. Yes, they had lied to her. Yes, they were Paranormals. But there was more. Walking away now would bury any chance for the more to develop. She walked over to them and offered each a hand. Her decision grew solid when they didn’t hesitate for a moment and clasped her fingers, but at the same time waited for her next step. This was her decision and she wanted it. Whatever consequences she would have to deal with later, she would cope.
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Chapter Five Nikolai lifted her hand to his lips and suckled on one of her fingers. Brooke felt as if she’d been caught on the edge of a black hole. Each gentle suck lit a fire in her lower body. Galen nipped at a finger of her other hand and soothed the ache with his tongue, sending little shocks through her. The nagging ache in her chest she’d felt all day, the need to touch both men, faded. She wanted to repeat the pleasure of the first night, wanted to drown in passion. Nikolai bit her thumb, the pain shooting through her frame like an electric pulse. She couldn’t help but moan. The reclining chairs didn’t look up to the task, so Brooke led them to her cabin, to her bed. It would be difficult, but she could keep her emotions separate from her body. She could protect her heart. She would deal with the consequences once they arrived. Now she needed. She was in control. “Fuck me,” she demanded hoarsely. Both men stopped in their tracks. Then Galen pulled her head around and plunged them into a kiss that made her deaf, dumb and blind to everything around her. Their tongues dueled, for what she did not know, his taste raising every nerve ending she had. Nikolai worked his way up her arm, kissing and nipping the responsive flesh on the inside of her elbow. As heavenly as that felt, Brooke wanted him somewhere else. She tore her lips from Galen’s, who immediately moved to her sensitive neck. “Nipples,” she whispered. “Suck my nipples.” Her demand narrowed the focus of both men. Instead of scaring her, their singlemindedness drove her higher. Nikolai gave her one sharp bite in the bend of her arm and moved his hands to her chest, tearing open her suit. The conditioned air of the cabin hit her nipples first. Brooke couldn’t suppress her moan. She wanted touch, not a breeze. Nikolai laved her breast with his tongue, always keeping a distance to her nipple, leaving the aching tip unattended. Brooke didn’t know where the demand came from. She’d rarely voiced her needs in bed, but some cold, hard shell inside her had begun to melt. “For Jade’s sake, suck my nipples.” She thought she’d heard low laughter, but then Nikolai picked her up and deposited her on the bed, sucking on one of her nipples, pressing the hard tip against the roof of his mouth and using his teeth to nip at her breast. Brooke screamed as the orgasm tore through her. “Hot Jade, just from sucking your nipple?” Galen groaned. 47
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Nikolai let go of her first nipple and moved on to the second. “Let’s see if we can do this again.” Galen stiffened. He leaned over Brooke to grab Nikolai’s shoulder. “Hang on, Nikolai, we need to be sure this time.” He ignored Nikolai’s growl and looked at Brooke. “Are you okay?” he asked. “Is this what you want, or because you feel duty bound?” Brooke struggled to focus on his face. He looked serious. His eyes held a darkness she hadn’t seen before, tension pouring off his body. He had seen and understood far more of how her mind worked than she had thought. She realized he wanted her to agree to this union out of need and not because her honor demanded it. She lifted her head and kissed him on the lips. “I want this, I want you,” she said. The need inside her would be fulfilled. She’d deal with reality when it came to bite her on the ass. They still held something back from her. But right now she wanted the pleasure only these two men could give her, the possibility of remembering what happened in those missing days. And unlike before, this time she entered the relationship with her eyes wide open. The heat that shot into his eyes nearly branded her. Nikolai leaned forward with a growl and covered her other breast with his mouth. Brooke tensed, unsure if she could survive another orgasm like the one before. “No, not again, it’s too much.” She moaned when Nikolai ignored her whispers and tortured her second nipple. Galen moved onto the bed next to her shoulders, taking hold of her weakened hands, which pulled on Nikolai’s hair. “It’s never too much,” he whispered. “But if you need distraction, how about you suck on this?” He’d removed his clothes, and his large cock stood full and hard at attention, the blood-flushed tip throbbing to every beat of his heart. Brooke moaned. Her mouth watered with the memory of their last encounter. And his delicious taste. Sucking his cock might give her some distance from Nikolai’s mouth, and his hand following the curve of her hip. Galen gripped both her hands in one of his and used the other to guide his cock into her mouth. He groaned as soon as she drew her tongue along his length. His dark, rich taste shot through her. She suckled his head and laved the underside of his steel-hard length. His groans guided her, helping her to distinguish which caress he liked best. All the while, Brooke attempted not to focus on Nikolai, who worked his way down her body. Each part of her he undressed and opened up to his hungry gaze, he kissed, nipped and licked, making her realize that the curve of her stomach was an extremely sensitive area. When he’d opened her clothes as far as they would go, Nikolai raised his chin and found her eyes. “How important is this suit to you?” he asked, his voice dropping low.
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Galen’s cock popped out of her mouth. She frowned at Nikolai. “Not mine, found it in the cabin.” Nikolai growled and tore the suit off her. This expression of strength made her moan, her pussy growing wetter. He looked so sexy. With a chuckle she once again shrugged off the sleeves. Good thing the computer could manufacture clothes. It appeared she’d need a few more. Galen pulled her back to his cock and Nikolai dove between her now-uncovered legs. Her clit throbbed close to painfully, but Nikolai ignored the little button and concentrated on thrusting his tongue into her vagina. Brooke groaned and tried to move her hips so he’d lick her clit, but Nikolai was having none of it. He held her down. When she thought she couldn’t stand it anymore, Nikolai brought his hand to her entrance and pushed two thick fingers inside her. Her channel clenched around the intruders. Galen changed positions and now knelt above her, his face toward her bottom half. His engorged cock hung above her face and she continued her work on it. Galen had let go of her hands, and she used them to massage and stroke the shaft to her heart’s content. Galen joined Nikolai at her mons and began to stroke her clit with his tongue. Brooke’s nails left marks on Galen’s legs, her whole body as tightly strung as a bow. While Galen played her clit, Nikolai thrust his two fingers into her tight passage. “Give me a taste of that,” Nikolai said. Brooke couldn’t see the two men, but her imagination provided plenty of pictures of them kissing. “By Jade, she tastes glorious,” Nikolai groaned. “She does,” Galen said. “Care to join me?” Nikolai chuckled. “Sure.” Brooke climbed higher and higher as they took turns, each lick and suckle driving her closer to the edge of the abyss. She only wished she could watch the two men, watch their tongues intertwining as they sucked her off. Nikolai’s fingers didn’t stay idle for long. He plunged them into her sopping cunt and then moved them downward to her back entrance. Brooke went rigid and pulled away. “Let me,” Nikolai whispered. “I’ll make sure you’ll like it.” “No.” She jerked her legs up and away from them. Galen tumbled next to her, his arms around her waist. “Shh, baby, sorry. No means no, and we respect that.” Nikolai’s hand stroked the inside of her thigh. “I’m sorry, milaya, I didn’t mean to frighten you.” Brooke unclenched her muscles in increments. A small part had been excited, but her memories thrust that aside. “Not there,” she whispered. She felt as if she’d disappointed them.
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Galen kissed her, the heat still simmering, but no longer burning out of control. “You’re in charge.” Nikolai kissed her upper thigh. Brooke tensed. “Are you ready to restart this flight through hyperspace?” “Yes,” she said, her voice hoarse. She slowly uncurled and stretched into a more comfortable position, allowing Nikolai to return between her legs. “Excellent, because I know Galen can’t wait to play with this pussy and I would like to be entertained by your amazing mouth.” He moved up her frame before Brooke had a chance to respond. Galen scrambled out of the way. Unlike his partner, Nikolai enjoyed the more direct approach. He straddled her chest, keeping his weight on his knees, and pushed his cock in her face. For a second Brooke felt intimidated. Nikolai was more darkly tanned, and black hair covered his chest and loins. His cock was maybe an inch shorter than Galen’s, but decidedly fatter. Brooke didn’t think she’d be able to wrap her hand fully around him. His balls hung heavy and thick below. He didn’t give her a chance to think twice, and fed her his dick. He had a sharp, tangy taste that left her desperate for more. She flattened her tongue and caressed the tip of his cock. Nikolai’s fingers tensed. He grabbed her hair and thrust his cock deeper into her mouth. Brooke gagged, making him retreat. He mumbled apologies, but pushed inside her mouth. “Breathe through the nose, milaya, keep breathing, and swallow.” Brooke tried to follow his instructions. Panic bloomed in her chest when she felt as if she couldn’t get enough air, but Nikolai withdrew a little. She swallowed the saliva accumulating in her mouth, making him throw back his head with pleasure. “Come on, milaya, here we go again. You can do it.” Brooke wanted to give him the pleasure he was after, and attempted to focus on her breathing. This time he went more slowly, which helped. He also kept up a steady string of words, his deep voice caressing her even though she didn’t understand the meaning. She swallowed and concentrated on getting air into her lungs. Gradually Nikolai pushed his cock to the back of her throat. She swallowed. He groaned. “Jade, this is so fucking good. Milaya, do that again.” He leaned forward until his hands rested against a bump he’d instructed the wall to form, giving him needed stability. Their gazes met. The heat burning in his eyes flashed through Brooke. Her clit, tormented by Galen, became more sensitive and her arousal skyrocketed. Nikolai began to thrust, always making sure she felt comfortable and could breathe. Eventually his thrusts gained speed, but he remained attentive to her needs.
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Brooke sucked and swallowed, trying different variations, watching his responses. She enjoyed the power she had over this big male, the power he gave her. He might be in a position of authority, but she controlled his pleasure. She turned into an accumulation of sensitive nerve endings, her clit throbbed and her nipples ached, but none of it was important. Nikolai’s silver eyes held her captive. Gone was the dominant male who wanted to push her out of her comfort zone. In his stead she had a man who had relinquished control over his pleasure to her. Nikolai grimaced. His eyes dropped shut as his head fell back. “Take it, milaya, take it all.” He bellowed when he exploded in her mouth. Brooke swallowed his semen, savoring the vulnerability he showed her. She wanted this connection. She wanted to mean something to them. Nikolai tumbled to the bed next to her. “Jade, that was breathtaking.” “Yeah, quite a show,” Galen growled from between her legs. “Our turn now.” Brooke moaned when his dick rubbed through her wet heat. The feeling was amazing, but not quite enough to push her over the edge. “Take me,” Galen growled as he pushed the fat tip of his cock into her sensitive entrance. He was not as controlled as he’d been. He gave her a moment to adjust to his presence, and then continued to push inside her without stopping. Brooke groaned, uncertain if she felt pleasure or pain. Galen pushed against her cervix, something she couldn’t decide if she enjoyed or not. Before she could make up her mind, Galen pulled nearly completely out and drove inside her with hard strokes. He bumped the end of her channel in irregular intervals, driving Brooke that little bit higher on the blade’s edge between intense pleasure and pain. Galen increased the pace. Brooke’s muscles clamped down on the thick invader, as if to make him slow down or stop. Galen moaned. Sweat dripped from his body. She locked her legs around his hips, digging her heels in his firm ass. Sensations shot up from the soles of her feet to the top of her head, hitting every sensitive point she had. Brooke dug her nails into his muscular shoulders. “More, Galen, more,” she moaned. Galen lowered himself from his hands to his elbows, his muscled chest rubbing against her nipples. So close, she was so close. “Galen,” she screamed. He leaned forward and bit her on the neck. That final sensation drove her over the edge. She felt as if she’d exploded into a million pieces, as if she’d turned to stardust streaking across the sky. Galen dug his fingers into the sheet and roared. The pulsing of his orgasm nearly made Brooke fly apart again. For that brief moment when they were both in another dimension, their minds linked. Brooke saw Galen’s love for Nikolai. She felt his need for her and for Nikolai, and realized Galen wanted her. She wasn’t only a quick fuck for him.
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Brooke knew Galen read her desire for both men. She desperately hoped that she’d buried her longing for more deep enough. As quickly as the link established, it was gone, leaving Galen and Brooke panting. “It worked,” Brooke gasped. Galen attempted to put his scrambled brain back together again. The sex alone would have been enough to knock his senses awry, but linking with Brooke, even for only a few moments, took the feet completely out from underneath him. Nikolai sat up against the wall. “Interesting.” Brooke didn’t respond and only waved her hand, clearly unable to put together a coherent sentence. “Galen.” She pushed against his shoulders, making him realize he’d just dropped on her. He kissed her and gently disengaged his already hardening cock. He moved to the side and rolled onto his elbow. Brooke struggled up until she leaned against the wall. “So your belief turned out to be true.” “Yep, while Galen and you flew high, you let your guard down and linked with him,” Nikolai said. Brooke rubbed her face. “So we fuck for you to get to my memories,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest, attempting to put her walls up again. Galen hadn’t seen anything that would explain the shields. Maybe Nikolai’s idea was correct—as their lifemate, she needed protection until she trusted them enough to open herself up to them. He took her hand. “We’ll make love to you. You’ll be having a lot of orgasms.” “What about you guys?” Nikolai shook his head. “It’ll be easier if we have some blood in our heads and not all of it in our dicks.” “We know how to link. It’s all about you dropping your walls,” Galen said. Brooke fell silent. Galen looked at his partner. Nikolai shook his head. “What’s going on, babe?” Galen asked. Brooke shrugged. Galen nearly laughed. He’d not expected her to pout. She looked adorable. Nikolai nibbled on her earlobe. “Tell us, what are you thinking?” “It seems so, I don’t know, cold. You’re fucking me to scour my brain.” Galen met Nikolai’s gaze briefly. “Are you kidding?” Nikolai pulled away from Brooke so he could meet her eyes. “What planet have you escaped to?”
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She didn’t meet either man’s eyes and shrugged again. “What am I supposed to think? You’re going to make me orgasm so you can get into my head.” Nikolai grabbed her hand and put it on his hardening cock. “Does this feel like I don’t want to lick you to orgasm and then do it all over again?” “Why do you think we’re excited?” Galen asked. “We want nothing more than to lay you on our bed and feast to our heart’s content.” “Really?” The uncertainty in her eyes nearly broke his heart. Nikolai pulled her face around and kissed her. Galen felt the arousal spreading through his partner, felt Nikolai’s tongue like his own, dueling with Brooke’s. He stroked his hardening length. It would be torture to feast on Brooke and not get any release, but if it meant gaining more of her trust and finding out what the Ferals did to her, he was happy to make the sacrifice. Nikolai ended the kiss. “Really.” Nikolai’s heart beat like a hyperdrive engine. Despite his earlier release, watching Brooke and Galen had turned his cock hard and throbbing. He wanted nothing more than to sink into Brooke’s tight pussy. Unfortunately, that wasn’t in the cards yet. Galen had other plans, but Nikolai swore to himself that he’d make his lover suffer. Galen’s decision would come and bite him in his delectable ass. Literally. He jumped from the bed, Brooke in his arms, and stormed to the main bedroom. Brooke grabbed his long hair and pulled. “Hey, hang on.” Nikolai stopped. “What?” She grabbed his face and made sure he looked into her eyes. “What about you? You feel,” she shifted her ass against his straining length, “as if you have other things on your mind.” Nikolai snorted. “You could say that.” Brooke stroked his cheek. “How about we take care of you first, before we move on to the investigation?” She drew quotation marks around the last words with her fingers. “This one would be just for us, with no added agenda.” Nikolai realized she might have said she wanted to go ahead, but deep down she still doubted their honest desire for her. Part of her believed the sex was to get into her mind and not for the enjoyment of the act. Galen came up behind, leaned his head on Nikolai’s shoulder and caressed Nikolai’s cock. He agreed with his assessment. “I think Brooke is on to something here.” He nibbled on Nikolai’s neck. Both the caress and the nip shot through Nikolai like hot lava. “Let’s,” he whispered hoarsely. He continued his march to the main cabin, where he dropped her on the bed and followed her down. He notched his dick between Brooke’s soft legs. The
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heat covering the head of his oversensitive cock felt amazing. He rubbed against her some more, coating himself in her juices. Brooke wrapped her legs around his waist and pulled him tighter, making him throw back his head and groan. Nikolai barely felt the bed sink as Galen lay next to them, fully focused on Brooke. Only when Galen leaned over and kissed his cheek did Nikolai look at his lover. Their eyes met and held. Galen moved his lips along Nikolai’s cheeks until their lips met. Nikolai curled his tongue around Galen’s, stroking, filling himself with his lover’s taste. The kiss became more heated as Galen responded and before long their tongues dueled for supremacy. “You guys are so hot,” Brooke whispered. The men disengaged, slowly, and looked at Brooke. “You like to watch?” Galen asked with a chuckle. “The two of you? Yeah.” “You wanna see more?” Nikolai whispered against her lips. Brooke released her legs from around Nikolai’s hips and pushed against his torso. “Give it your best,” she said, a grin spreading across her face. The men laughed. Nikolai released Brooke. She rolled onto her elbow and put her head in her hand. “I’m waiting.” Fire raced through Nikolai’s veins. He loved Galen with all his heart and the pleasure they shared was nothing short of miraculous. Having Brooke watch them raised the bar so high he had to clench his fingers around the sheets for a moment before he could gather enough control. He came up on his knees, crawled between Galen’s legs and began to caress his lover’s taught body. Galen leaned against the wall, content to let him take control. Nikolai kissed his way across Galen’s chest, the firm skin a delight against his lips, until he reached the first nipple. He licked and nipped at the tight peak and the firm muscles. Nikolai took his time, working his way down until Galen’s rigid cock bumped his chin. “You happy to see me?” he asked. Galen made more room between his legs. “Depends on how much longer you’re faffing about,” he panted. Nikolai chuckled. “Nearly there.” He licked Galen’s throbbing length and sucked the flushed head between his lips, pulling hard, making sure Galen could feel the edge of his fangs. Galen’s groan was music to his ears, but the panting he could hear from behind him drove him even higher. Brooke’s musky scent permeated the air. He withdrew a little and the cock popped out of his mouth. Galen’s hands clenched around his head and attempted to push him back on his steely dick. Nikolai pushed them away. “Not so fast, I’m in charge right now.” Galen groaned. “What are you planning?”
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Nikolai stayed silent, knowing the uncertainty would drive Galen even higher. He stroked the rigid shaft, softly, more a tickle than a real touch and enjoyed the twitching results. Galen balled his fists. “Stop fucking around, you bastard. Suck my dick!” Nikolai loved it when Galen lost control and made demands. Slowly he pulled the pulsing cock into his mouth again, making sure he used just enough pressure to keep Galen on edge. One hand held the base of the steel-hard length, the other moved up to where Galen’s hip met thigh, and massaged the firm flesh. Galen loved the sensation of being touched there. Nikolai’s fingers moved farther down until he reached Galen’s dark entrance. Again, gently, because he knew any firmer touch would bring him closer to the end, Nikolai circled the pucker. He had no lubricant close by, so he sucked on his finger and pushed the tip into the tight entrance. Galen groaned. “Oh, so good, give me more.” Nikolai wanted to follow his friends demand. Fuck, he needed better lubricant. He was just about to release Galen and instruct the wall to open the compartment, when a moan sounded from behind him. Holding his lover’s cock, he looked at Brooke. His arousal jumped to lightspeed. “Jade, woman, you look like a goddess,” he mumbled, unable to stop his hand from moving to his own hard length and stroking up and down. “I was about to say something similar,” Brooke moaned. She was naked, leaning against the wall, her legs splayed open and her hand massaging her clit. “By Jade, the two of you look so sexy it should be forbidden.” Still holding his friend’s cock, Nikolai moved closer to Brooke, more or less pulling Galen behind him. Hell, Galen liked a little pain. “Look here, Galen, I’ve found what we’ve been missing.” He leaned forward and stroked his tongue across Brooke’s slit, fingers and all. She arched her neck and gasped. Nikolai chuckled and repeated his action. Then he stabbed two fingers of his free hand into her tight sheath. She screamed. He moved his fingers, massaging her clenching tunnel and coating his fingers in her juices. “By Jade, you’re dripping, girl. I’ve never seen anybody so wet.” Now it was Brooke who chuckled. “Take this show on the road and you’ll have plenty of dripping pussy.” Nikolai kissed her on the lips. “I think we’ll keep this between us.” He moved, never forgetting the other hand he had around his panting lover’s cock. He kissed Galen, knowing his lips still had Brooke’s taste on them. Galen moaned. “The two of you taste so good,” he whispered against Nikolai’s lips. Nikolai squeezed Galen’s erection. “Time to get serious.” Galen exhaled deeply and leaned back, giving Nikolai the necessary access. One hand massaging the throbbing dick, the other pressing against Galen’s tightly shielded
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pucker, Nikolai knew no compassion. He pressed in, not stopping when Galen hissed. He kept pushing and squeezing, until both fingers were inside Galen’s tight back entrance. Galen moaned. Nikolai pushed deeper and played along the channel, awakening every single nerve ending. Slowly. “Jade, Nikolai, stop playing around. I need you.” Nikolai bit his lover’s chest. “Didn’t I say I was in charge?” He bit again, strong enough to leave teeth marks. “Any more complaints and I’ll leave you hanging.” Galen groaned, but dropped his hands on the bed. Nikolai caressed Galen’s nipple with his lips as a reward, at all times holding his lover’s penis in one hand, massaging and stroking it. “Brooke,” he demanded. “Come over here.” Brooke came up on her hands and knees and slunk across the massive bed. “What?” she asked, her voice husky. Her hunger singed him like a laser beam. He leaned over and kissed her, their tongues tangling. Nikolai struggled to pull back. “I need lubricant for my dick,” he whispered. “I’m going to fuck Galen in a few moments and if I stay as dry as I am it won’t be much fun for him.” Brooke breathing became more uneven. “Where’s the lubricant?” Her pupils dilated. Nikolai smiled. Going by her widening eyes it wasn’t a nice smile. “In your mouth and in your pussy,” he whispered against her lips. Brooke’s eyes closed and her hand went to her clit. Nikolai released Galen’s erection and slapped her mound. She gasped. “Stop playing around, milaya. Do you want Galen to suffer?” She shook her head. “Then get my cock nice and wet.” He’d expected her to suck it, but she scrambled over their legs and sat on his lap, her back to Galen. Brooke grabbed his rock-hard dick and sank down forcefully. Her head dropped back in pleasure. Nikolai let go of Galen completely and grabbed her ass. “Jade, Brooke, what are you doing?” Galen roared with laughter, though his voice sounded hoarse. “If you need her to explain, I’m not sure where you’ve been for the last hour.” Brooke was wet, her juices gushing. Her tight channel gripped him from base to tip and he was one thrust from exploding. Brooke moaned. “I’m getting you wet and myself off at the same time.” She leaned backward, putting on more pressure. “Jade, I’m so bloody close.” She bit his lower lip. “Don’t come, I want to watch you and Galen. Please don’t come.” She whispered over and over again, her movements becoming more and more frantic.
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Galen had come up on his knees and knelt behind her thrashing body. He caressed her back and stroked his hands across her chest until he held a breast in each hand. An electric spark shot through all three, making them all moan in delight. Nikolai saw a kaleidoscope of images, Brooke as a child playing ball, as a teen dancing with some young prick, as a young woman getting her pilot license. The pictures raced through his head, too fast for him to focus on anything. Galen pinched harder. Brooke’s muscles clamped down on Nikolai and she came. He had to grab his dick by the base to stop himself from exploding alongside her. She was a firecracker. Panting, she laid her head against his shoulder. Gently, Nikolai stroked her hair, while Galen caressed her back. “That was amazing,” she whispered. She rallied and moved off Nikolai’s aching cock. He groaned when the damp heat moved away and he was left in the cool air of the cabin. Brooke slumped on the bed. Her hunger shone from her eyes and she gently stroked her pussy. The fact she was still turned-on drove Nikolai to greater heights. He focused on Galen. “Bring them out,” he demanded. Galen tensed and his lids dropped. “Yes,” he whispered.
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Chapter Six Brooke couldn’t believe she was lying on this bed, watching the two men before her make love. Nikolai’s demand drove both of them closer to the edge. Galen slunk to the center of the mattress and knelt. Massive blue-green shadows appeared behind him. Brooke’s breath froze. His wings. Nikolai’s smile held an edge of darkness. “Spread them.” Galen complied. Nikolai moved forward slowly until their chests touched and he could caress them. His first strokes along the edges made Galen hiss. The ever-changing color mesmerized Brooke. Galen’s feathers constantly changed; one moment they went from sky to royal blue, the next from deep turquoise to sea green, then a mixture of both. The cabin’s spotlights added a shimmer when they hit at a certain angle. She wanted to crawl closer and touch, but at the same time she didn’t want to miss a moment of the exchange. Nikolai moved his hands all across the wings, gaining greater and greater responses from Galen, until the Naema balled his fists and shouted, “Fuck me, you bastard!” Nikolai let go. Galen became so tense the veins stood out on his chest and arms. His cock was flushed and dripping pre-come. The men’s gazes held each other captive. Nikolai’s silver eyes reminded Brooke of polished metal and Galen’s blue ones had gained a nearly blinding light. She couldn’t predict who would win this battle of wills. Then Galen leaned forward and grasped Nikolai’s face in his hands. The intensity hitched up a notch. They moved at the same time and their lips met. Once again Brooke expected violence and a battle of dominance, and the kiss had some of that, but underneath they clearly saw each other as equals. Their love surrounded them. If she reached out, she would be able to touch it. Her vision blurred, her heart ached with the need to be part of the circle. The men ended the kiss. Nikolai caressed Galen’s face before moving around him until he sat at his back and stroked across the center of the wings. Galen’s tension reached breaking point. Nikolai clasped Galen’s hips and pushed him on his stomach. Galen got on his elbows and knees. Lubricating two fingers with the juice she left behind as well as gel
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from a small bottle he retrieved from a compartment in the wall, Nikolai prepared his lover. Galen’s lids dropped. Nikolai removed his hand and looked at Brooke. As he entered Galen, both men groaning, he held her eyes captive, pulling her in and making her part of the lovemaking. Brooke froze for a second. The picture before her was the most erotic she’d ever seen, but it hit a nerve she’d thought she’d buried years ago. What she saw right now shouldn’t have this beauty. She shouldn’t be this intrigued. But “should” had no place right here, right now. Through the strong movement and dominance their love shone like gossamer strings linking them. Brooke wanted that. She needed to be a part, needed to be included in their love. As she watched them explode together and joined with a smaller, less intensive climax, she understood they’d gotten far deeper under her skin than she’d ever imagined possible. Both men panted and Galen groaned as Nikolai withdrew. He flopped on his stomach and turned his head to Brooke. “Did you enjoy the show?” Exhaustion shadowed his face. Brooke struggled to push her needs down and out of the way and hide her inner turmoil. “Yes, it was great.” Going by Galen’s frown she didn’t do a very good job. He came up on an elbow, but before he could say anything Brooke raised her hand and asked, “May I?” His smile lit up his face. “Of course, you are always welcome to touch.” She stretched out her arms and grazed the closest feather with the back of a finger. Galen’s lids dropped. “They are highly sensitive.” She cleared her throat. “Yes,” Galen hissed when she used her palm to caress long sweeps of his wings. They felt like a mixture of the richest velvet and the softest mohair, but that wasn’t quite true. Brooke had never felt a texture like it before and she had difficulty describing it. “Why do you hide them?” He leaned into her touch. “Our wings have become the expression of our emotions. Over the last few centuries Naemas have developed the ability to hide them in an alternative dimension. You can’t see or touch them when they are hidden through the rift.” “But why do you hide something so special?” Brooke asked again, her gaze focused on the swirling colors. “Because their esteemed leader wants them to give up all emotions,” Nikolai said. Brooke tore herself away from the feathers and looked at him. Galen touched his arm. “Let me explain.” Nikolai nodded.
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Galen looked at her. “All Naemas have special gifts like telekinesis, psychometrics, telepathy, remote viewing as well as different levels of magic.” “That is a lot of power for one person.” He nodded. “Which is why control has become the most important aspect in our society. If we don’t control our gifts, others are at risk.” He moved one of his wings to caress her arm. She shivered. “They demonstrate our feelings. We cannot lie without them giving away our emotions. This is an unacceptable weakness, so one of the first things we learn is control of the dimensional portal. No matter what happens, our wings are supposed to stay hidden. To show them in society is to say you are lacking the necessary control and may have to be secured until you can.” Brooke nodded. “That must be where your inner stillness comes from.” Galen’s brows shot up. She played with a couple of feathers, not meeting his gaze. “I don’t know how to describe it, but you have a balance and a calm, which lives in the center of you.” “Thank you.” He smiled and kissed her. “As you have seen, they are also extremely sensitive to a lover’s touch and can be brought out to heighten the experience of the love play.” “And they come in handy when you are facing overwhelming resistance,” Nikolai said. Galen chuckled. “Yes, that is true.” Brooke frowned. “Why is that?” “Our wings double as weapons in hand-to-hand combat and they increase my power when visible.” He held his hand out to her. “Why are you over there? Come here and cuddle.” “Yeah, what are doing so far away?” Nikolai asked. Her thoughts swirled like a vortex, attempting to process everything she’d just learned, but the pressure eased from Brooke’s chest. They wanted her closer. Maybe there was the opportunity for more. She exhaled deeply and slowly cuddled between them. Whatever this was, it was better than anything she’d ever experienced. The more time she spent in their arms, the more she thought the risk of opening herself up to them may be worth it. She snuggled closer and wrapped their heat around herself like a blanket. For now she would make the most of what she had.
***** Over the next two weeks Galen and Nikolai heaped so much pleasure on Brooke, she sometimes had trouble processing it. Nikolai in particular took great satisfaction in torturing her for hours. He would kiss her from head to toe and start again from the
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beginning, while Galen went the other way, always keeping Brooke on edge, never letting her fall into the abyss. During their lovemaking both Galen and Nikolai gained insights into her life, her history, but nothing to do with the Nebokka. Brooke managed to keep her emotions and needs tucked away behind the wall Galen mentioned, so she was sure neither man knew how deep she’d fallen for the both of them. There had been no talk about what would happen once they reached their destination. Nikolai seemed to assume once she was back where it started, her memory would return. With their help. Brooke dreaded their arrival. When they found out what happened, what then? Would the two of them take on a group of Ferals all by themselves? If the settlers and her crew had been sold as blood slaves, chances of finding out where they’d been taken had to be limited. It had been over a month since The Debacle. The trip of the Hamil Quadrant was another two weeks. More than six weeks. Chances anybody was still alive were slim. Brooke sighed as she looked at the colorful stripes of the hyperspace window. What was she going to do? A hand gently touched her shoulder. Brooke couldn’t stop her smile. Galen. He continued to find her when she woolgathered or worried. “A credit for your thoughts?” he asked, leaning his cheek next to hers. “They’re not worth that much,” she said. He kissed her cheek. “They are to me. Tell.” She exhaled. “I am scared when we get to our destination I won’t be able to help. We’ve had no breakthroughs with your method. You and Nikolai have been able to link to me, but we never connect with the right time frame.” “Maybe it’s because only two of us link.” Brooke frowned and turned around. “What do you mean?” “It is either myself or Nikolai who makes love to you.” “Penetrating, you mean.” Galen smiled. “Yes, penetrating you. The other is involved, but only on the periphery.” “You want to do what you and Nikolai have been threatening me with from the start?” Galen frowned and cupped her cheek, his calloused hand a little rough against her skin. “It’s not a threat, love. We understand that you’re not ready for this and may never be. It is one of the most amazing pleasures you can imagine.” Brooke sighed and began to pace, the tension in her back rising with every step. “So you tell me, but I have trouble believing. You’re both hung like rhino-bull, and I have only so much space inside me. It would hurt like hell.”
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Galen caught her hand and pulled her close. “Oh yes, it would hurt, but we’d make sure you’re ready and in the moment, the pain will be welcome. It would drive you even higher.” Brooke shook her head. She wasn’t prepared to go there. “What about another link? If you fuck Nikolai and Nikolai fucks me? That way we’re all connected.” She drew marks in the air around the last word. Galen eyes sparkled. “That would be another way to try it.” She studied his expression. “Why haven’t you suggested it?” He caressed her cheek. “Baby, why do you fear anal penetration so much? You enjoy watching Nikolai and myself, why not take that pleasure for yourself? Is it really only the pain?” Brooke’s gaze dropped. Galen was too perceptive. On top of not wanting to talk about this, she feared that if she looked him in the eye, he might see her fear of them breaking her heart. She crossed her arms and walked up to the big window. “Good girls don’t enjoy anal sex,” she whispered. “Good girls don’t enjoy sex at all, let alone voice what they want.” “What a relief then that you’re no good girl.” Nikolai’s laughing voice came from behind. Brooke couldn’t suppress a flinch. “Ignore the idiot in the room.” Galen stepped up to her, but didn’t force her to look at him. “Who told you good girls don’t enjoy sex, Brooke?” “My mother.” Galen gently stroked her nape. “What did she do, baby?” Brooke closed her eyes, keeping the tears inside, keeping the pain inside. “I’m sorry, Brooke, I didn’t mean to hurt you. Tell us, milaya.” Nikolai came up next to her and slowly stroked his hand down her back. A stabbing pain shot through Brooke. She couldn’t share this with them. Why in the solar system had she brought it up? “We can only help if we know where the wound is,” Galen said. A tear escaped and trickled down her cheek. She’d thought she was over this, she’d really thought her memories no longer held her prisoner. She wiped away the tear and faced the men. “No big deal, just an old issue I’m struggling with.” She put on a fake smile. “Let’s try the other way of linking the three of us.” Storm clouds gathered in Nikolai’s eyes. “That’s it? You’re not going to tell us what’s holding you back?” “There’s nothing to tell,” Brooke said. “I’ll get over it.”
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Nikolai snorted in disbelief and grabbed her chin. His silver eyes bore into hers as if he tried to dig into her thoughts. Brooke patted his cheek and stepped away from him. “We’ll be in Abanthe’s orbit tomorrow. If you want to fix me, we have to try this today.” Nikolai looked at Galen with his eyebrows raised. Galen sighed and rubbed his face. “Double penetration, but with one of us being the filling.” “Why?” “I’ve theorized that to circumvent her shield, we’ll have to all be touching at the same time, but more than kissing or oral sex.” Nikolai thought for a moment and shrugged. “It’s worth a try,” he finally said. Now it was Brooke’s turn to frown. “Why are you so certain it’s not going to work?” Nikolai crossed his arms. “We’re trying to get past your shield. If I had to make a guess, I’d say you have to be the filling in the sandwich.” Brooke paled. “Let’s see if this works.” Her lips trembled when she tried to smile. “It’s something we haven’t tried before.” She laughed, but even to her ears it sounded hollow. “I hadn’t thought that was possible after the last few days.” Her cheeks ached from the big smile she plastered on. Neither man moved. Brooke’s smile died. “What’s the matter?” Her arms crossed over her chest, making a shield against them. She cleared her throat. “You don’t want to try it?” Galen rubbed his face again. “Brooke, darling, we’d love to try it, but this doesn’t feel right.” Brooke’s heart raced. Could she tell them? “Why do you think you need to know?” Nikolai cursed. “We care for you. It’s fucking obvious something happened that damaged your sexuality, something you’re not letting go. We want to help.” Brooke swallowed. “You care for me?” Nikolai threw his hands up in the air. “Of course we do. Haven’t we shown you every day, with every touch how important you are?” Memories of their lovemaking flashed through Brooke, the care, the tenderness, the utter commitment to give her more pleasure than she could have ever imagined. She realized they’d never excluded her. Even when they made love in front of her, it was for her entertainment and they’d pulled her in the act somehow. They’d never cuddle with her on the outside. Her heart rate increased and butterflies danced through her stomach. Brooke understood that in her need to protect herself, she’d been blind to what they’d showed her. They weren’t only fucking her.
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But what did it mean? What if she saw too much, what if they only wanted her as a friend with benefits, what if they were going through a phase? What if? Both men studied her in silence. Nikolai’s silver eyes still showed storm clouds, but there was a hint of worry. Galen’s blue eyes reflected the lights of the hyperspace window, but behind his calm demeanor lay a touch of vulnerability. If she wanted more, she had to risk baring herself. Brooke slowly dropped her arms to her side and raised her chin. There was only one choice. “I never knew my father, he died when I was little. My mother and I were never very close. We lived in a small community on a podunk moon, where nothing exciting ever happened. Everybody knew everybody’s business.” She clasped and unclasped her hands, her stomach churning. “A couple of months before my eighteenth birthday I became close with one of the boys. Henry, he was a classmate. I was a late bloomer and he knew exactly which buttons to press. I fell for him hard. We started to hang out and the more we did, the more we wanted. We experimented, seeing what we enjoyed, what the other enjoyed,” Brooke began. It was as if for a moment the universe held its breath. Both men slumped. Nikolai grabbed her wrist and dragged her to their cabin. “I need to touch you,” he grumbled. For a second Brooke thought he wanted to make love, but when Nikolai pulled her down on the bed, spooning around her back and Galen hugged himself against her front, she understood they offered support. Touched, she closed her eyes for a second. “My mom wasn’t too happy about my relationship, but she knew we couldn’t do much without anybody finding out. It’s tough to do more than kiss when all eyes are on you.” She scoffed, playing with a button on Galen’s suit. “Fat lot they knew. Henry had been around the block a few times and knew all the secret hideouts. He wanted more and I thought I loved him.” Galen gave her a gentle kiss on the lips and Nikolai stroked her hair, which helped to shake off some of her anger and disgust at her naivety. “Henry wanted sex, but we had no way to get ahold of reliable contraception without it getting back to my mom. He said we didn’t need any, but I managed to cling to a little of my common sense.” Brooke stopped talking. “He pushed you into anal sex,” Nikolai whispered against her neck, his arm around her waist tightened. The strong grip gave her a feeling of security. She nodded. “It was a way to have sex without the risk of pregnancy.” When she remained silent, Galen caressed her cheek. “He didn’t know what he was doing?”
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She snorted. “That would be an understatement. He told me he’d done it before and I trusted him. We used my facial moisturizer as lubricant and he paid no attention to me. Foreplay didn’t belong in Henry’s vocabulary.” “He hurt you.” Nikolai’s words were a statement, not a question. Brooke nodded. “I believed the best way to show my feelings was to give him my body, make him happy.” “What else?” Nikolai asked when she remained silent. She closed her eyes. “He wouldn’t stop,” she whispered, humiliated by her stupidity. “It hurt so bad, but when I told him to stop, he ignored me. Afterward he’d say it would get better if I relaxed, I was too tense.” “Scecxi,” Nikolai muttered, pressing even tighter against her back. “I was stupid. Instead of learning from my experience I believed him. I let him do it again and again. It never got any better for me.” “You trusted him, you wanted to share yourself with him,” Galen said. She cuddled closer. “It wasn’t so much the physical pain, but I felt so helpless. I lay there, on my stomach, and let him use me. Because I loved him, I handed over all control.” The men shared their warmth, their presence soothing a wound Brooke thought she’d left behind years ago. “Something else happened,” Nikolai said. Brooke kept her eyes closed, the wetness behind her lids hidden. “He bragged to his friends how he was doing me up the ass. One of the old biddies overheard and ran to my mother. She freaked out and dragged me to her gynecologist to get confirmation that I was still a virgin so I wouldn’t dishonor her when I got married. Of course I was, but he confirmed the anal sex—” “He told your mother his findings?” Galen interrupted, his body tensing. He pulled her closer. “Has he never heard about confidentiality?” Brooke laughed bitterly. “He saw it as his duty to turn me off my sinful path. Having the doctor’s verification made my mother nearly hysterical. How could I have done something so disgusting and horrible? How could I have shamed her in this manner? There were no repercussions for Henry. I was the one everybody held responsible.” “What did you do?” Nikolai kissed the back of her neck. “I tried to live up to her expectations. While I was with Henry I relinquished control and let him do whatever he wanted because of an emotion. That scared me. From the moment we came back after the visit to the doctor, she couldn’t look me in the eyes without revulsion. She reiterated the fact how disgusting and dirty anal sex is every time we sat down for a meal. If something is beaten into you for long enough, part of you begins to believe.”
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Galen kissed her, his tongue exploring and teasing. “She is wrong,” he whispered against her lips. “I know. I’ve learned to shut out her voice and enjoy sex. Jade, over the last few days I’ve had more orgasms and fun than ever before.” “But something about anal sex still has your mother in your head,” Galen said. She rubbed her cheek against his chest, wallowing in his delicious sunshine scent, as she nodded. “Yes, both she and Henry ghost through my mind. It’s not something I’d expected, I thought I’d gotten over this little hitch.” She kissed both of them. “I love watching you two together.” “But you’re scared of the actual act,” Nikolai said. Brooke nodded again. “Every time I think I’m there, I remember the feeling of lying on my stomach, face pressed into the cover after giving up control. I see her face, hear her voice in my head. I have no idea how to push it all aside.” “How did you get away from her?” Galen asked. “I turned eighteen and graduated. The Merchant Academy sent a recruiter to the outposts and I signed up immediately. After I began my training as a pilot, I never saw her again.” “Sounds like the next time we have to keep your mind busy and concentrated on us rather than the past,” Nikolai said. Brooke grimaced. “I’m not sure it’s going to be that easy,” she mumbled. Galen kissed her. “If you give us permission, we could push you through, ignore your hesitation and help you enjoy it,” he said. Brooke stiffened. She was uncertain how she felt about that suggestion. Her eyes blurred. “I’m not sure,” she whispered. “Do we have to?” Galen caressed her lips. “We won’t do anything you don’t like.” Nikolai’s hand petted her stomach. “How about we throw a touch in here and there and you try to be open to it, but nothing until you’ve had time to think.” A tear trickled down Brooke’s cheek. “Do you really think connecting the three of us that way is the only way to break my shield?” She couldn’t make up her mind. Watching them together was one of the most erotic acts she’d ever imagined, but allowing their touch would mean being helpless again. “Not to break your shield, but to get inside it,” Galen corrected. “We don’t want to destroy it or hurt you. We need to be behind it, to see.” Another tear dropped. Nikolai wiped it away. “Milaya, don’t cry. We’ll find a solution. Let’s grab a nap, something we haven’t been doing very much lately.” Galen leaned across and locked lips with Nikolai. “Excellent idea. It’ll give my dick opportunity to rest and recuperate. Both of you have worn me out.” He instructed the comp to dim the lights, kissed Brooke and rested his hand on Nikolai’s hip, connecting all three of them in one of their favorite positions.
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Chaos whirled through Brooke’s mind, flashbacks to her time with Henry, images of her mother, of the few men she’d shared her body with only to discover they had nothing in common, as well as snapshots of the last two weeks. She couldn’t focus on one thing and wanted to crawl under the men’s skins, disappear from the universe to not have to make a decision. “Rest, milaya.” Nikolai nibbled at her nape. Brooke closed her eyes and exhaled in an attempt to release some of the tension. Slowly their warmth seeped into her and her body relaxed. Her brain, however, wouldn’t shut up. Nikolai moved his hand across her stomach. “Concentrate on my hand and on my voice, nothing else,” he instructed. He gently caressed her and murmured soft words. She clung to his touch and lost herself in his rich voice. Brooke fell asleep. Galen caught Nikolai’s eyes across Brooke’s head. Part of me just wants to hold her and not have to push her where she doesn’t want to be. Nikolai nodded. You know we can’t let this go. We’ll be over Abanthe tomorrow. If we want any chance to track down the slavers, we need her to remember. We may already be too late. Galen cupped Brooke’s cheek and stroked it. I don’t want to hurt her. Nikolai leaned across and grabbed Galen by the neck. We won’t. We have close to a day. Let her catch a nap and then we’ll drown her in so much pleasure she can’t help but focus solely on that. Galen’s hand curled around his lover’s wrist. She has to agree. Nothing else is allowed. This is her decision. Nikolai could be ruthless when the situation called for it, but this was too important. She has to want it. Nikolai grimaced, but nodded.
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Chapter Seven Brooke woke up, her body on fire. Galen lay behind her, massaging her breasts. Nikolai worked his way down the front of her body, nipping, sucking, kissing, hitting every sensitive spot they’d mapped out over the last few days. Galen petted her until he reached her pussy. These two had her responding to the slightest touch. He stroked through her wet folds. Her clit grew sensitive. She wanted to hook her upper leg over Galen’s to make entry easy, but he used his legs to keep hers in place. Jade, they’d torture her for hours before they’d allow her to climax. They’d done it before and she’d nearly passed out. Galen thrust his finger inside her, making her squeak, as she hadn’t anticipated it. The squeak became a moan. His thick finger made her toes curl. It was rougher than his cock, priming her sensitive walls. Nikolai latched on to one nipple. Where Galen was gentle, not using the pressure she needed, Nikolai sucked her nipple as if he wanted to pull it off her breast. The line between pleasure and pain wavered, leaving Brooke uncertain on which side she stood. Nikolai let go of the first nipple and moved on to the second. Now Brooke experienced only intense delight. Galen moved away a little and turned her. Once she was on her back, he crawled between her legs, his big cock bumping her upper thighs. He didn’t continue his torture, but grabbed his thick shaft and lined the head up with her sensitive entrance. Galen thrust deep, catapulting Brooke into that pleasure-pain world Nikolai had set her up for. He gave no leeway, made no excuses, but pushed in until he hit her cervix and his balls bumped her ass. Brooke panted, whimpered, once again not sure where delight started and agony ended. She attempted to focus her vision when she saw his wings. Her pussy gushed. Every time he brought out his wings their lovemaking reached another plateau. The indescribable texture of the feathers drove every nerve ending to new heights. She sensed movement on the bed. Nikolai had crawled behind Galen. She realized their plan.
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Nikolai ran his hands across the wings, making Galen lose his rhythm for a moment. The bottom ends of his wings trailed along Brooke’s upper thighs, adding another layer to the sensations shooting through her. Galen pulled out and pushed inside her in the same moment Nikolai entered him. Both men groaned. Galen threw his head back. “Jade, this is so good. We have to do this more often.” Sweat dripped from his chest. Seeing the expression on his face drove Brooke closer to the abyss. Her vagina had adjusted to Galen’s girth and she wanted more. “Move, damn you, move,” she moaned. Galen had never felt anything similar. Sex with Nikolai had been amazing from the very first time. Sex with Brooke had been like racing through space. Having both of them together was beyond his wildest dreams. He came back when Brooke shouted her demand. He grinned. Over the last few days they’d made her comfortable voicing her needs and it always gave him a little tingle in his heart to know she trusted them enough. He moved, pulling out of Brooke and pushing Nikolai deeper. Moving inside Brooke and having her tight channel clamp down on every inch of his hard cock while Nikolai pulled out of his ass nearly made him climax. The heat and pressure of his lover’s body against his responsive wings didn’t help him keep hold of his control. “We need to change the driver of this little group,” Nikolai growled and bit his neck. Hard. Then he grabbed him by his hips and thrust deep, pushing him inside Brooke. She screamed. Nikolai pulled back, moving him at the same time, to then push forward again. Repeat. Galen leaned forward until his hands were next to Brooke’s head and tilted his ass to give Nikolai better access. He sank deeper inside Brooke. She grew more vocal. Suddenly he felt Brooke, experienced how his cock drilled her, keeping her on the edge of the abyss. He knew she felt Nikolai and him, what it was like to thrust into his ass and how it felt like to receive it. This was amazing. The pleasure climbed to another level, combining all of them. Galen wanted nothing more than to let go, but he pushed his impending climax back and shared Brooke’s memories through Nikolai. The same wall they saw every time they caught glimpses of her memories stood to the right. For a second he wanted to explore it and discover what she hid from him. Then he remembered why he was here and attempted to find Brooke’s memories about the Nebokka. He nearly crashed against a barrier. It resembled nothing he’d seen before. It had aspects of the expected Vampire magic, but there was another energy as well. Before
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Galen could catch more details, the connection disappeared and he was back in his own mind. “Did you see?” he asked Nikolai. Nikolai panted, clinging to control. “Yes.” He hugged him and offered support. Galen stopped moving, making Brooke moan. He leaned forward and kissed her. “Hang on, we need to try again.” She looked at him, her eyes more purple than blue and huge, her pupils dilated and unfocused. “Try again? We haven’t finished yet.” Galen’s arms nearly gave out when she clenched her muscles around his cock. “Brooke, focus, we’re close to IDing your mental block. We have to see it again.” Slowly but steadily she gained control. “What do you need?” she whispered, her voice husky. Galen kissed her again, his tongue curling around hers. “What I need is to fuck both of you senseless, but before that can happen, I need you to focus on the last memory you have of the Nebokka.” She pulled his head down and nipped his lower lip only to soothe it with her tongue. “I will try.” Galen leaned into Nikolai. “Stay as close to me as possible.” Nikolai hugged him around his chest and caressed his nipples. “As close as possible,” he replied, laughter in his voice. Galen bit his biceps, the only thing he could reach in the current position. “Don’t think I’ll let you get away with this,” he panted. Nikolai thrust deep. “As if you have an alternative.” For a moment Galen lost all focus and crashed into the supernova of being loved by Nikolai and loving Brooke at the same time. “You bastard.” “Not according to my family tree,” Nikolai whispered. “You need to relax and not be so tense, you make any link impossible.” Nikolai pulled back and thrust forward again, driving Galen deep into Brooke’s heat. “Stay more in the moment, otherwise we won’t reconnect.” Nikolai couldn’t suppress his laughter. They had to enjoy their encounter otherwise a link became impossible. And as he was in the driving seat, he had to drag the other two along. It was a tough job, but somebody had to do it. Galen swore revenge. Nikolai knew it would never manifest, but he also knew he was right and drove them closer to the point of no return. They’d both seen the Naema magic, an impossibility if there ever was one. Nikolai needed a better picture to figure out how it had been linked with Vampire magic, how to untangle the knot without hurting Brooke.
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It became more and more difficult to keep focus. Galen’s wings caressed the whole front of his body, teasing and tickling him in ways he couldn’t push aside or ignore. Nikolai clenched his teeth. Then they were in his head and he in theirs. Nikolai saw the mixture of Naema and Vampire magic. Despite the amazing pleasure he felt loving both Brooke and Galen, he felt his partner’s pain. A Naema working with Ferals was utterly unbearable to him, an ArchNaema and protector of his race. Nikolai used his body to stroke Galen’s wings, gave him his strength and unconditional support. “We’ll sort it out, Galen. At least now we know what we’re up against.” For a moment Galen leaned back into his strength, taking everything Nikolai offered. “Guys, whatever is going on, deal with it later. For Jade’s sake, move.” Brooke’s demand brought Nikolai back to the present. He hadn’t realized he’d stopped. “Yeah, pilot boy, how about you take charge again, before I come and take over the controls?” They were still in each other’s minds. Nikolai felt Galen’s struggle to not let their discovery impact the lovemaking and kissed his lover’s neck. “Not a chance in the stars. This ride is mine.” They would have to work out the best way to overcome this mixture of magic. Nikolai put everything else out of his mind and gave them his full attention. He gripped Galen’s hips strong enough to leave marks and thrust. Galen drove hard into Brooke. She tried to wrap her legs around Galen’s waist, but Nikolai’s hands were in the way. “Shoulders,” he grunted. It took a second for Galen and Brooke to respond. In a show of flexibility Nikolai wanted to explore at a later date, Brooke pulled her legs to her breasts and then stretched them along Galen’s chest. All three of them groaned when Galen slid deeper. Brooke had no control over Galen’s entry and both men got a shot of her vulnerability, the feeling of being controlled. Their connection flickered. Nikolai gathered more pictures of that barricade in Brooke’s mind, something Galen and he could work with. The link broke. All three of them moaned. Nikolai stopped for a second, missing the feel of Brooke’s pussy around Galen’s cock and vice versa. “Finish this,” Galen groaned.
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Nikolai took a deep breath. Every time they’d come close to flying through the stars something dragged them back. No more. He rode Galen with no hesitation. He reached around his lover to grab one of Brooke’s hands lying on Galen’s biceps. She returned the pressure. Brooke’s whimpers gained in volume, becoming more like screams. Galen’s groans turned to bellows. Her nails dug into Nikolai’s hand as she came closer and closer to her point of no return. Sweat dripped off their bodies and the temperature in the cabin resembled a supernova. His balls drew up. He knew he was so close he wouldn’t hold on much longer. Neither would either of the others, but to make sure, Nikolai moved his free hand to Galen’s left nipple and pinched. Hard. Galen bellowed his pleasure and pushed back, driving Nikolai deeper. Feeling Galen enclose the whole length of his cock was the last straw. He pulled back and thrust all the way, pushing Galen deeply into Brooke. They all exploded. Nikolai felt as if he flew through a hyperspace window without a ship. All he had to cling to in this whirling vortex were Galen and Brooke. For a few heartbeats the pleasure eclipsed everything else. Once he regained control over his limbs as well as feeling in said limbs, he carefully pulled out of Galen. Despite wanting nothing more than to drop facedown on the bed, he stumbled to the bathroom to clean up. He managed to wet a towel and take it back to the bed. Galen and Brooke lay side by side. She only grunted at him when he cleaned her. Galen was mostly asleep and didn’t respond to his ministrations. Nikolai dropped the towel, crawled into bed and curled along Brooke’s other side. When they woke up, he and Galen would have to untangle the mess of magic, but for now he had the two most important people in his life in his arms. Right now, that was enough. Brooke exhaled and cuddled closer to Galen and Nikolai. Their scent and presence surrounded her like a favorite blanket. They’d seen the barrier and had to know of a way to get her memories back. She was so close to finding the truth. Her emotions ran amok inside herself. Brooke struggled to make sense of her feelings. On the one hand meeting this Vampire and Naema had been an eye-opener. She hadn’t realized how far down she’d pushed her need for love and companionship, always pretending she didn’t want or need anybody. Seeing Nikolai and Galen together had broken through her wall. She wanted to be their third, the center of their love.
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She snorted. On the other hand, they’d kidnapped her, told her Ferals messed up her mind and she had to open her shields, which would risk both of them seeing her need. In her mind and heart, the last was the biggest problem. The thought of them reading her feelings and realizing how deep they’d crept into her heart only to gently let her down would be unbearable. Nikolai nibbled on her neck. “Stop thinking so hard,” he murmured. “You’re making my head hurt.” Brooke leaned into his caress. “How can my thinking hurt your head?” “I can feel your brain turning over and over and it’s giving me a headache.” Brooke frowned and turned around until she lay face-to-face with him, Galen still sleeping at her back. “What do you mean?” She tried to stay quiet to not disturb Galen. Nikolai smiled and kissed her. “We have a connection,” he started. “It’s not yet strong enough for us to get behind your shields, but we can sense your emotions.” “We?” Brooke no longer cared about disturbing Galen. “Yes,” Galen’s husky voice made her shiver. “Both of us. If you tried it, I’m sure you could get a sense of us as well.” “How much can you read?” She swallowed, her mouth suddenly dry. Nikolai studied her. Galen cuddled closer and stroked her shoulder. “Calm down,” he whispered. “Brooke, we can’t read your mind, we only get a sense of the emotions.” “What are you so afraid of?” Nikolai asked. Brooke dropped her gaze and curled in on herself. “Nothing,” she muttered. Galen tightened his arm around her waist. “It’s not nothing.” Brooke tried to suppress the shiver his caress evoked. “It’s not important right now.” She came up on her elbow and struggled out between the two. “How will you fix the mess the Ferals left in my mind?” She pulled part of the blanket around herself and sat at the foot end. Nikolai made a move to join her, but Galen shot him a look, which stopped him in his tracks. “It’s a mixture of Naema and Vampire magic,” Galen said as he moved up and leaned against the wall. Brooke’s focus wasn’t on his words. “Did you just talk to Nikolai mind to mind?” Nikolai shrugged and joined Galen. “It’s no big secret.” Brooke frowned. “If it’s no big secret, why do the two of you look like I’ve caught you with your hands wrist-deep in the choc-toff jar?” “It’s the first time somebody felt it,” Nikolai said. Brooke studied the men. “You mean, the first time a human noticed. You can’t tell me that other Vampires or Naemas wouldn’t know.” 73
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“They might know from our faces that we’re talking, but they wouldn’t feel anything. Was it the first time you’ve observed this?” Galen asked. She tucked the sheet more securely around herself. “No, I’ve felt a tingle, this energy running between the two of you at our first meeting, when you came to my table at the bar.” The men exchanged another look, but it was only a look, no words. Both smiled like lunatics. “What’s so exciting?” “It means that you’re more sensitive than humans in general,” Nikolai said. Brooke had a feeling that there was more to it, but Galen’s earlier words finally sunk in. “What do you mean it’s a mixture of Naema and Vampire magic? A Naema collaborating with the Ferals?” The smiles drained from their faces. Nikolai cupped the back of his partner’s neck as Galen nodded, his lips tight. “Nikolai and I caught a glimpse of the barrier.” Brooke’s heart stopped for a beat. A Naema and Ferals working side by side was unexpected and hurtful. She swallowed. “Can you fix it?” Nikolai began to tickle her toes, sticking out from under the sheet. When she didn’t protest he pulled her foot onto his lap and gave it a massage. “It’s complicated,” he began, focusing on his work. “If it was only Vampire magic, something I’d seen the Ferals use before, I could untangle it. But the addition of Naema magic means Galen and I need to work together.” “Neither of us has seen this kind of collaboration before,” Galen added. Brooke took a deep breath. For a moment she’d thought there was a way out. “What do you need to fix it?” The men exchanged a glance. Brooke slapped her hand on top of the sheet. “Stop looking at each other like you’re trying to figure out how much to tell me. Don’t decide for me what my little female head can comprehend. Tell me everything.” Nikolai took her other foot and began his ministrations. Their silence killed her. “What?” Galen shuffled a little to the side, making room between them. “Come here,” he said. Brooke felt the blood drain from her face. The news had to be awful if they had to hold her while they told her. Galen watched Brooke pale. He leaned forward, took her by the hand and pulled her between Nikolai and him. “I didn’t mean to scare you. You’ve been too far away for too long.” He nuzzled her neck. “I need to touch you.” Brooke softened a little, but she still resembled a tightly coiled wire. “Tell me.” Galen kissed her. “Nikolai and I need to see the barrier to work on it.”
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Nikolai had taken her hand and began to play with her fingers. She shivered. “The only time we caught a good look was during our last session.” He caught Brooke’s eyes. “It wasn’t good enough for us to work on. The link flickered too much, making it difficult to see the detail we need.” Brooke swallowed. “So we’re back to me being the filling in the sandwich.” Galen nodded. “We still think it will be the only way to clear this mess.” He stroked her hair, the sensation of the silky stands increasing his heat level. “We could try it like we did last time, but it’ll take longer and we might not catch everything they did.” Brooke squeezed her eyes closed. Galen felt a stab of pain in his chest. She looked so discouraged. He pulled her close and Nikolai curled around her back. “If you trust us, Brooke, we can make it good for you, even fantastic. You’ll drown in pleasure. There will be no pain, no memories. We will take care of you.” Her racing heartbeat was audible to both men. She swallowed. “If it’s the only way to finish this nightmare.” Brooke couldn’t look at either of them. She wanted to be rid of the Ferals’ hold on her. Galen and Nikolai had shown her so much pleasure. Maybe they could get her over her issue and even make her enjoy it. But what then? Would they disappear into the galaxy and leave her? Nikolai hugged her tighter. “What’s underneath the fear? Whatever just ran through your head had nothing to do with anal sex.” Brooke stiffened and tried to move, but they held her without trouble. “Brooke, you need to tell us what’s going on, otherwise we won’t be able to help.” Brooke kept her eyes closed. “What happens once you’ve repaired my mind and I remember what happened? You climb aboard the Mercy and chase Ferals?” The men stayed silent. Brooke didn’t want to face them, but when they remained quiet she couldn’t stand it any longer. Galen’s brilliant-blue eyes captured her the second their gazes met. They appeared filled with sunlight. “Is that your worry?” he asked. “We jet off and leave you behind without a backward glance?” Brooke couldn’t turn away. She tried to keep her body language casual, as if the answer didn’t matter to her. Nikolai bit her neck. “Hey.” Brooke attempted to move away, but Nikolai nipped her again. At least he hadn’t brought out his fangs. The pain from his bite shot through her body like a lightning strike. Her pussy started to cream. “Do you really think you stand the slightest chance to get away from us, now that we’ve found you?” he whispered in her ear. 75
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“What do you mean?” Brooke barely dared to hope they returned her feelings. “You can’t just keep me.” “Wanna bet?” Nikolai smirked. “That’s exactly what we’re doing,” Galen said, his eyes filled with fire. Brooke felt as if she stood frozen on the edge of Kantator Abyss—an abyss which had never been measured and no scientist had ever reached the bottom. Part of her wanted to know where she stood, wanted all their feelings out in the open, but another part was scared. Galen read the answer in her eyes. He gave her the sweetest, gentlest kiss. “For now, believe we want you and we’re not leaving you behind.” He kissed her again. “How will we make it work? We’ll talk once we’ve removed the barrier and know what happened on the Nebokka.” She leaned into Nikolai’s warmth. He rested his chin on her shoulder and she rubbed her cheek against his stubbly one. Brooke curled one hand around Galen’s neck and pulled him close for a deep kiss. Nikolai released her. “Let’s untangle this barrier.” Brooke exhaled. She trusted them, not only with her body, but she’d begun to also trust them with her heart, something she hadn’t done since she’d been a teen. They would get her through this. She looked at her Vampire and at her Naema. “Let’s do this.” Nikolai felt all his blood draining south. Brooke had agreed to one of the most erotic acts he could think of. Making love to her while feeling Galen in her at the same time would probably kill him. But hey, who wants to live forever? He stroked his hand down Brooke’s back. Where up until now she’d been a soft, flexible weight in his arms, she now reminded him of an iridium pole. He stroked his hand across her body until he covered her heart. It raced fast enough to give the hyperdrive a run for its credits. He looked across her shoulder at Galen. Calm her down or keep her distracted and occupied? Galen chuckled. I don’t have to ask what you’re thinking. Brooke interrupted the exchange. “Guys, we’ve been over this. No keeping me in the dark, tell me what you’re talking about.” Nikolai nipped her neck. The thought of biting her for real had been growing in his mind. He drank from Galen regularly, but his lover was an ArchNaema and could regenerate if Nikolai took too much. Brooke was more fragile. Maybe, in time, with Galen supervising?
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Brooke turned and grabbed his ear. It was not a lover-like grip. “What are you jagging on about?” “Nikolai is trying to decide if we should ease you in through pampering and soft touches or if he can go to town and bring his inner Dom into the game. We’ll keep you so busy with different emotions and experiences you won’t have time to worry.” Brooke studied Nikolai. “Have you been holding back on my behalf?” Nikolai shrugged, a little uncomfortable with putting his dominance out there like that. “Not really holding back, more redirecting.” He caressed her cheek. “You’re human. I worry I’ll take it too far.” She cupped his face in her hands. “I am sorry you felt you had to hold back on my behalf.” He pulled her close and held her as she leaned against him. He may be the Dom, but in this instance Brooke was in charge and had to decide which road they would take. Nikolai rubbed his hand up and down her back. “What is it to be?” She straightened and looked him in the eyes. Hers were more purple than blue and simmered with heat. “Other than this little hang-up,” she drew quotation marks in the air with her fingers, “I prefer to approach things head-on.” Galen chuckled and Nikolai had to bite his tongue not to laugh. “Really? We hadn’t noticed.” Her lips twitched. He gently held her chin and forced her to meet his eyes. He found no fear, only a storm of emotions tumbling about too fast for him to capture their meanings. “Head-on it is.” He clasped her hand and sucked her finger into his mouth. The scent of her musk grew, perfuming the air around her. He stroked his tongue along her finger. Her eyes nearly closed. He nipped at her finger. “You may have bitten off more than you can chew, milaya.” She didn’t hesitate or waver. Instead a fire grew in her eyes. A fire he’d seen flicker before, in moments when the balance between pleasure and pain was difficult to distinguish. His Brooke had a darker side to her and maybe now was a good time to reveal it. “Show me your worst and we’ll see.” Nikolai laughed. He never walked away from a dare and definitely not from one thrown down by Brooke. “You’re on.” He nodded at his partner. Nikolai trusted him to make sure he didn’t go too far in the heat of the moment. Then he looked at Brooke. “This will be so much fun.” His fangs snapped down. “For me.”
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Chapter Eight Galen couldn’t help but smile as the two most important people in his life challenged each other. His cock grew rock hard at the thought of watching his partner take Brooke to the place where she couldn’t decide if she wanted more pleasure or pain, where torment became ecstasy. He trusted Nikolai implicitly. His partner wasn’t as confident in his control and worried about hurting her by accident, but Galen knew he would never do so. Nikolai had taken Brooke by her shoulders and thrust her on the middle of the bed. “Galen,” he called. “Take her hands while I get some of the essentials.” He moved and took her wrists in one of his hands. She wasn’t a weak woman, but she didn’t stand a chance against a Vampire and a Naema. “You’ll love it.” He leaned forward and kissed her. He thrust his tongue into her soft mouth as if he stormed a Feral outpost. She didn’t back down and gave as good as she got. Their tongues rubbed against each other, her sweet taste a life-saving elixir. He wouldn’t let her go, no matter the problems or obstacles. She belonged to them and anything else was out of the question. He leaned away. She licked her lips as if clinging to his taste and any blood he had left in his head went straight to his dick. Nikolai instructed the wall to open the doors to their play chest. Galen didn’t turn until his lover stepped to the foot of the bed. They watched as Nikolai opened a small bag and pulled out a number of items. Two vibrators of varying size, one vibrating beaded wand that made her frown. Galen realized she wasn’t quite sure about its function. A paddle as well as an oversized bottle of lube followed. Galen knew Nikolai only attempted to distract her with most of the toys, refocus her thoughts, but her expression of confusion and interest was priceless. They’d have to come back to this once Brooke was more comfortable. The last item he pulled out of the bag was a small box, which rattled when he shook it, and an arm-length of padded cable. Nikolai threw him the cable and he proceeded to tie Brooke’s hands. The line was made from T-Guard, meaning she felt everything but she could no longer use her arms. She attempted to move and for a second Galen read panic in her eyes. He was about to calm her, but Nikolai had seen the same. His fingers circled her ankle. “Choose a safe word.” Brooke frowned.
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“The safe word is your protective net. You say the word and we’ll stop what we’re doing. It’s your way out if we go too far,” he explained. “It helps if you choose something you wouldn’t usually say while making love, to avoid any confusion,” Galen chuckled. “Strawberry,” Brooke said. His brows rose. “Why strawberry?” She tried to shrug, but her tied arms made it impossible. “Strawberries were hideously expensive when I grew up. When I began flying for the Merchant Guild and had earned enough money, I treated myself to a whole basket.” She closed her eyes and smiled. “They tasted absolutely amazing.” Her eyes opened. “And until I met you, they were my usual treat to reward myself.” “Now you have us,” Nikolai stated. Brooke nodded. “Now I have you.” “Strawberry it is,” Galen said. Nikolai smacked the paddle against his palm. “Let the games begin.” Brooke had trouble breathing. She’d never expected to find herself in a situation where she was tied and had two men eager to plunge her into a vortex of passion and pleasure. Throwing caution to the wind and challenging Nikolai without thinking now didn’t seem quite such a good idea. He had a dark glint in his eyes and Galen, the soothing influence, looked as if he anticipated Nikolai’s actions. The fact she needed a safe word didn’t calm her nerves, but at the same time she couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so alive, tied to a bed and about to be pushed way beyond her comfort zone. Nikolai continued to slap the paddle into his palm. Brooke wasn’t too sure about the whole spanking thing. The paddle was heart shaped and made from leather. A border of metal studs decorated the frame. They looked painful. “I see you’re admiring my friend,” he said. “It’ll be you new best friend soon.” She frowned. “I’m not so certain.” Nikolai tapped the leather against her upper thigh. “Are you questioning me?” She swallowed. He’d always been easy with his smiles, but now there wasn’t a hint of levity. Her heart rate increased. The anticipation had her blood pumping as if it were trying to set a new hyper-speed record. Every part of her had come to attention. Her nipples were hard, her pussy creamed, and her clit throbbed, desperate to be touched. Much to her surprise the threat of pain appeared to heighten her arousal. And watching both of them naked was no hardship. Their bodies gleamed in the cabin light and both cocks stood at attention. Brooke licked her lips. She couldn’t wait to have them in her mouth again.
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Galen lay down next to her and started to stroke his hand across her body, avoiding the places that wanted to feel his touch. His hard length rubbed against her leg when he caressed the outside of her breast, her waist, the inside of her arm. He came back to her breast and circled around the tip. Nikolai stood at the foot end of the bed, one hand holding the paddle, the other stroking his dick. Watching this gorgeous man stroke up and down his hard length left her breathless. Never mind how many times she’d seen the two play with themselves and one another, each time sent her into overdrive, wanting to be the one stroking the hard length. “You want this, don’t you?” He waved his cock at her. She swallowed and nodded. “You can’t have it.” The denial shot through Brooke like a lightning strike. Her mouth watered and she wanted nothing more than to suck his dick. Nikolai chuckled. “Hey, I’m here, too.” Galen pulled her focus to him. He circled closer and closer to her attention-seeking nipple. She swallowed again. “Stop playing and touch me.” “You have no say in this tonight,” he whispered into her ear and nipped at her earlobe. “We will play with you however we want, and there’s nothing you can do to stop us.” Brooke’s heart rate went up even further and sweat built on her upper lip. “But you’re not doing anything,” she burst out. Galen frowned at his partner. “Did you hear? We’re not doing anything.” “We’ll have to change that.” Nikolai dropped the paddle on the mattress and picked up the little box. She couldn’t see what he removed from it. He climbed on the bed and spread her legs before kneeling between them. But he didn’t touch her. On the contrary, he planted his hands next to her hips and leaned close to Galen, who stopped caressing her breast and kissed Nikolai. It wasn’t an aggressive kiss, but deep and long and delicious. Brooke panted. Nikolai moved slightly back and nibbled on Galen’s lips, nuzzling his lover’s face with a delicacy they hadn’t shown before. She was so engrossed in their kiss, she’d lost track of their hands. When they moved apart, Galen held something she couldn’t see. “What is it?” Neither man replied. Galen returned to circling the sensitive tips of her breasts, always coming close, but at no time close enough. She hadn’t thought it was possible for her nipples to grow so tight.
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Nikolai caressed up and down her legs. Brooke discovered the sensitivity of the back of her knees. He came as close to her throbbing clit as the sensitive curve where leg and torso met, but he never came near enough to where she needed him. She was one step away from sobbing. They continued to drive her up and up, to then stop and let her drop, only to start again. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could stand this. Finally, after an eternity, Galen gently surrounded her nipple with his fingertips and applied pressure. Brooke couldn’t suppress a moan. “More,” she whispered. “Please more.” He stopped. She nearly yelled. The little pinch had pushed her closer to the abyss, but now she dropped away. “You keep making demands,” Galen whispered. “You need to be punished.” Before Brooke could comprehend his actions, she felt a Jade-awful tweak on her nipple and yelped. When she looked down, she saw a metal clamp covering the tight peak. “What are you doing?” she moaned. The pain definitely outweighed the pleasure. “Playing,” Nikolai said and stabbed a thick finger into her dripping channel. Her walls closed on the intruder and in under a second her arousal shot through the roof again. Brooke screamed. But this time it was out of pleasure. Her head swirled. The constant changes were too quick for her to follow or prepare herself. Most likely their goal. Nikolai moved his finger in and out, massaging her sensitive channel, but leaving her clit completely unattended. Galen shifted to her other breast, once again circling the tip without touching it. Brooke didn’t know where to focus her attention, the pain in her clamped peak, the growing sensitivity in her other nipple, or Nikolai’s finger moving inside her. Before she could decide, Galen pinched her free nipple lightly. She tensed, expecting him to attach another clamp, but he only kept pinching delicately. Nikolai’s rhythm didn’t change either. She relaxed. Big mistake. Galen pounced and attached the second clamp. She screamed, climbing onto another plateau of arousal. The pain was unbelievable, but her clitoris felt huge and the juices dripping out of her cunt making Nikolai’s movements easier belied any attempt at saying she hurt. Brooke panted, concentrating on the pain, trying to breathe through it. Then Nikolai attacked and added a second finger to her channel, pumping deep. His thumb caressed her clit, but so gently it wasn’t enough to push her over. She moaned, her attention jumped between her aching nipples and her even more sensitive clit. Neither man seemed to be in the least bit of a hurry. This would be a long night. 81
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Nikolai admired the feast spread out before him. Brooke had given in to them, but there was still a small part of herself she held under wraps. For now she could keep her secrets. He couldn’t wait to feast on her, but the first few moments were the most important and delicate. They needed to keep a fine balance between her pain and her pleasure. But seeing her helpless before him, panting, trying to anticipate the next move, pushed him higher than he’d ever been. He caught Galen’s gaze and saw similar arousal in his partner’s eyes. They’d shared women before, but it had never been so hot nor somebody so important. He couldn’t stop himself from leaning forward and kissing her rounded stomach, using his teeth for a small nip. Then he nodded at Galen. His lover leaned over and, using an experienced twist, opened the first nipple clamp. Her nipple turned cherry red as the blood shot into it. Brooke screamed and when he moved his thumb across her clit, she convulsed. Nikolai chuckled and nodded at Galen. While his lover opened the second clamp, he sucked on Brooke’s throbbing clitoris and threw her into another orgasm, this time catching a brief link with Brooke as she became lost in the pleasure-pain. Nikolai clamped his fingers around the base of his cock. Brooke’s emotions raced through him. He had to stop himself from exploding right alongside her. Galen caught the backlash of the link and dropped next to Brooke, moaning. All three of them had trouble catching their collective breaths. Nikolai slowly took his hand off his member, once he was sure he wasn’t going to erupt any second now. He slapped Galen’s leg. “No time to rest on the job.” Galen kept his eyes closed. “I thought this would be easy fun.” His eyes sprang open, filled with such light Nikolai had to hold up his hand to not be blinded. “How wrong can you be?” Galen chuckled. “Turn down those spotlights, otherwise nobody is getting any more tonight,” Nikolai grumbled. He turned to Brooke and stroked the hair out of her sweaty face. “How’re you doing?” Her green eyes were cloudy and unfocused. “I’m fine.” Her voice was hoarse and she tried to clear it. “Let’s do it again.” Nikolai’s lips twitched and his heart melted. “That’s my Amazon.” He pushed Galen. “Next step, you know what to do.” Galen groaned. “This’ll be pure torture.” Brooke frowned at them. “What’s the problem?” Galen snorted. “We have to keep control to remove the barrier. That means you’re on the receiving end of multiple orgasms, but we can’t lose it.”
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Brooke gaped for a moment and then burst out laughing. “By Jade, I can’t say I’m sorry. Serves you right for torturing me.” Galen growled and pulled her above him, his long cock trapped between their two bodies. Brooke groaned and began to move on top of him, rubbing her pussy against his member. Nikolai slapped her ass using the paddle. “None of that.” Brooke hissed and stopped, but little shivers continued to run through her. Galen hooked her still-bound arms over his head, so she ended up lying flat on his torso, her ass in the air, on her knees. Nikolai spanked the other cheek. “This is exactly where I want you.” He dropped the paddle at foot of the bed next to his pile of toys. He picked up the smaller vibrator, shaped like an egg. He switched it on and the whole thing began to pulse. Nikolai checked all four settings. “This’ll work.” Galen opened his legs. Nikolai climbed on the bed and sat behind Brooke’s raised ass. She tried to turn and look at what Nikolai was doing, but Galen kept her facing forward by grabbing her head and dragging her into a deep kiss. Nikolai caressed both her cheeks, sometimes grabbing the overflowing curves in both hands and making her booty shake. Jade, she had a gorgeous ass, full, round and with just enough muscle. He played with her labia, ever so often teasing her with the pulsing vibrator. He thrust his finger into her and spread her juices along the sensitive skin leading to the anus. The first few times she’d stiffened, but Galen pulled her closer, kissing her and teasing her nipples. “Let him play, baby, he is an expert.” When at first she didn’t respond, he threatened her. “Do you want us to bring out the clamps again?” Brooke shook her head and tried to loop her arms more closely around Galen’s neck, but the cable didn’t allow it. Nikolai dropped the egg. He leaned across her back, helping her to sit upright and Galen removed the cable. Brooke relaxed a little and hooked her arms around Nikolai’s neck, pulling him in for a kiss. Then she lay down and curled her arms around Galen’s neck, clinging to him as if he were her life pod. Galen stroked down her spine, gentling her, relaxing her. The men exchanged a look. This was difficult for their Amazon. Galen hesitated. Do we continue or go the other way? Nikolai thought for a moment. We need to drown her in sensations. That way the anal play may not register as much. Nikolai exhaled silently. Brooke needing their comfort and support had kicked him in the gut like a mule on Botannia. He loved her trust, but seeing her so anxious wasn’t easy. There was no going back. Time was running out.
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Brooke clung to Galen. She knew what was coming, but she still needed encouragement and comfort to take the next step. Releasing her from the cable probably hadn’t been in their plans, but they’d seen her need. She no longer saw it as a weakness to show her anxiety. Nikolai and Galen didn’t judge her. Brooke hadn’t realized how important it was, how strong a mask she wore to protect herself from other people’s judgments. With them the mask became unnecessary. The tension flowed out of her like water through a drain. They would look after her. She felt some sort of exchange between them and guessed they discussed the next step. She hugged Galen tighter, but otherwise stayed relaxed. At least until Nikolai slapped her ass again. The smack burned her behind and shot through her like a solar flare. His hand didn’t have the same impact the paddle had, but it raised nerve endings she didn’t know she had. Each slap resulted in a jerk, which rasped her abused nipples across Galen’s chest, adding more sensations to the already overflowing cup. If anybody had suggested to her she’d enjoy spanking, her reply would have been a knee to the balls and a right uppercut. Never in a million moons would she have believed getting smacked would drive her arousal higher and higher. Nikolai varied the timing of his slaps and the location, making it impossible to predict when or where the next painful slap would fall. Brooke couldn’t help but rub her dripping pussy against Galen’s hard cock, caught between their bodies. She was desperate for some sort of stimulation on her clit. Galen smacked her hard at the same time Nikolai did. “Stay still,” Galen said. “You are not to move.” Brooke gulped. The tension in her body grew. She came closer and closer to that point where one hard rub would be enough to push her over, but neither man would give it to her. Galen stroked along her back, caressed the sensitive curve of her hip and stomach, moving lower. Finally, Brooke thought. But Galen’s pace would have made a snail look like a speed race winner. “Touch me,” she demanded. Both men froze. Brooke focused on Galen. “Why did you stop?” Nikolai’s dark voice sounded from behind her, caressing her body like a feather. “You are not allowed to move or to speak.” “You can scream, though,” Galen whispered against her ear. “Exactly,” Nikolai agreed. Storm clouds built in his voice, a power blanketing Brooke’s spine that raised the hairs on the back of her neck. He showed her a side she hadn’t seen before. A shiver ran down her back. 84
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She was about to speak, but a quick pinch from Galen against her nipple made her think twice. Brooke nodded. “Very good,” Galen said, kissing the rim of her ear, nibbling on her earlobe. “If you break these two rules, we will stop and make you wait before we start again.” Brooke’s head dropped onto Galen’s chest. She wasn’t sure if she would survive the night. Galen’s laughter made his chest vibrate under her forehead. “Just realizing what you let yourself in for?” Brooke sunk her teeth into his meaty chest. Galen threw back his head and groaned. When she released him, he moved his hand along her shoulders, her side until it ended up covering her stomach. She automatically moved upward a little to give him better access. Galen teased her naval, making her smile despite the circumstances. At no point did she forget the heat of Nikolai behind her, his hands caressing her upturned ass, increasing the heightened sensitivity of her burning skin. Nikolai moved his hand between her legs, stroking the responsive skin of her inner thigh, wandering to her left knee and up again, passing the gate that really wanted the attention, and down to her right knee. And back again. Galen’s hand had also moved down between her legs. He circled the throbbing nub, pushing her higher and higher. So close. But then he moved away again. Brooke wanted to groan in disappointment, but right at that moment Nikolai thrust two fingers inside her wet pussy. Brooke’s torso shot up and her eyes nearly rolled back in her head. His two fingers were close to the same girth of a cock, but unlike a cock, his fingers had calluses and knuckles. Every thrust raced through her like lightning. Because he sat behind her, none of the strokes touched her clit. Brooke couldn’t stop herself from moving forward, trying to gain friction against Galen’s body. Nikolai stopped, his fingers deep inside her, and slapped her ass. “What did we say? No movement.” Brooke ground her teeth. The smack had travelled straight through exciting to painful. His fingers unmoving, her orgasm, only moments ago so close, moved out of reach. Again. Neither man said anything or moved. Brooke didn’t know what they wanted from her. She wasn’t allowed to move or speak. How could she communicate her needs? Before she could think of what to do, Nikolai’s fingers thrust inside her again. It was as if the short break had tripled her susceptibility. She wanted Nikolai to thrust deeper, to rub against her clit and throw her into the abyss. As if reading her thoughts, Galen palmed her pussy and pressed the heel of his hand against her mound. Brooke nearly screamed.
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Nikolai withdrew his fingers and Galen took over. He used two fingers as well, adding a third intermittently, but he also rubbed his thumb across her clit. His other hand tortured the hard tips of her breasts with twists and nips. All the while Nikolai caressed her perineum, his wet fingers sliding along the sensitive stretch between vagina and anus. Brooke used all her concentration to focus on Galen, focus on how the pain in her nipples drove the need in her pussy even higher. She tried not to tense in response to every one of Nikolai’s movements. Galen increased the speed and depth of his fingering, supporting her attempt of ignoring the Vampire. He angled his fingers, stroking across her G-spot with every thrust. Nikolai had reached his target. He caressed her puckered rosette. For a moment Brooke’s memories raised their ugly heads. She flashed back to Henry pushing her down, not listening, the feel of him behind her. Then Galen was there, kissing her with enough force their noses mashed together. He bit her tongue and suckled the pain away. The past cleared out of her head. Brooke returned the kiss with all she had, clinging to Galen’s neck. Nikolai hadn’t stopped his ministrations, stroking and gently penetrating the sensitive ring. Galen let go of her mouth and nipped his way along her cheek to her ear to her neck, once again punishing her nipples. The sensations came from everywhere. Brooke could no longer distinguish where one started and the other ended. Nikolai’s finger disappeared, only to return covered in lubricant. Brooke tightened her arms further around Galen and bit his neck. Galen smacked her butt and pulled her right nipple. In the same moment Nikolai grunted, “Push out,” and squeezed his finger into her ass. Brooke groaned, the passage too tight and sensitive to make the penetration anything but painful. Nikolai remained still for a moment before pulling out. Brooke’s whole body tightened. That dark movement catapulted nerve endings she didn’t know she had to life. The pain subsided, only to return as Nikolai thrust inside. And out again. The movement threw Brooke from pain to brain-tingling pleasure, a pleasure containing a dark edge, something she’d never imagined herself enjoying. Cool lubricant dripped onto her ass and Nikolai growled, “One more,” before adding another finger. Brooke’s nails dug into Galen’s shoulders. The pain outweighed the pleasure before Galen concentrated on her clitoris, raising her arousal to the next level. Nikolai’s fingers slid more easily. For a moment Brooke heard a small buzzing sound. The fingers in her ass were replaced with a beaded wand, the beads graduating
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from small to larger to even larger. He stopped when Brooke clenched around the intruder. “Relax,” he demanded. Brooke tried but couldn’t quite follow through. Nikolai flipped the switch and the beads began to vibrate. She dug her nails even deeper into Galen’s shoulders and vaguely heard him hiss. Brooke couldn’t pay attention because every single bit of focus concentrated on the sensations shooting through her. Pain, pleasure, guilt, rapture, disgust and delight raced through her, combining into a chaos she couldn’t untangle. Nikolai increased the setting. Brooke no longer wanted to untangle anything. Her fingers relaxed and a tension she hadn’t known was there ran out of her body. Even Nikolai pushing another bead through her puckered sphincter didn’t return it. Nikolai circled his arm around her waist and helped her sit in an upright position. Brooke kept her eyes closed and her body soft. She moaned when Galen stroked his hard length along her clit. Backward and forward, coating his cock in her juices. She sagged against Nikolai’s chest when Galen thrust his big dick inside. Her pussy welcomed the fat length, finally having something to clench around. Brooke moaned in delight. This double penetration threw her on to a new plateau of arousal. She no longer felt like racing to the finish line, she could enjoy every second of this mind-bending experience. Galen had seated himself fully inside her, remaining still for a moment to give her a chance to accommodate him. The wand still vibrated in her ass. Feeling stuffed, Brooke breathed deep in an attempt to cope. Nikolai moved the wand with one hand, increasing the friction against her clamoring nerve-endings. His free hand caressed her breasts. “You’re in charge now,” Galen said. “Move to your heart’s content. Brooke needed no extra encouragement. She began to move on Galen’s thick length. They linked. Brooke felt her pussy clench around his throbbing length, knew Galen felt what it was like to have him thrust along her clenching walls. She increased her tempo, ensuring that each downward glide rubbed her pulsing clit along Galen’s body. Brooke cried out when Nikolai matched each of her movements with the wand. He pushed in when she moved up and pulled out when she moved down. The sensations racing through her were incredible. She had never felt so alive, every nerve in her body raised to peak condition. Sweat dripped down her face and Galen now countered her movements as well, pushing up when she came down. They were still linked and the added sensations drove Brooke even higher. She was close, so close.
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Nikolai suddenly pushed one last bead inside, a bead the size of a spaceball bat. It hurt. Brooke felt she was being pitted on a pole. At the same moment Galen thrust deep and centered a finger on her clit. Everything came together and Brooke exploded into rapture. She floated through the galaxy, colored shapes flickering around her, but she just kept on drifting. Gradually, she became aware of Galen in her head. He worried about her, worried that she’d disconnected completely from reality, but it hadn’t been a conscious choice. Her orgasm had pushed her further than she’d ever been and floating made it possible for her to bear the sensations. Galen’s hard cock was still deeply imbedded in her. He’d pulled her forward so she now rested on his chest, her ass in the air. Nikolai had removed the wand and himself. His presence no longer loomed behind her. Before she finished the thought and worry could enter her mind, Nikolai’s sexy heat caressed her back again. Galen tightened his embrace. Brooke realized why when Nikolai inserted the bottle of lubricant into her anus and squeezed. He must have warmed the gel, because it felt warm and relaxing, not cold and functional. She knew she should be worried about what was happening, but her mind still drifted in space and Galen’s arms kept her safe. Nikolai’s cock caressed the crease between her cheeks. His heat in comparison to the room’s cooler temperature incited her. Brooke hadn’t thought she’d be able to feel arousal for the next century, but Nikolai’s movements, combined with his Vampire aura heightened the sensations. “Push out,” he demanded. Brooke obeyed and dug her nails into Galen’s shoulders once again. Nikolai’s thick length pushed past her only partly relaxed sphincter. It hurt, but the feeling of Nikolai pushing through the resistance and deep into her was indescribable. Both men remained still, Galen pressed to her chest and Nikolai curled around her back. “How are you doing?” Nikolai asked. Brooke got a sense of how much the question cost him. That’s when she realized she felt both men. They had established the link. And she’d reconnected to her body. Brooke cleared her throat. “Why don’t you look for yourself?” Nikolai chuckled, the movement caused by his laughter making Galen and Brooke moan in pleasure. Brooke gently twisted her hips. Both men tensed and groaned. “If you want us to concentrate on the barrier in your mind and not leave this party prematurely,” Nikolai grumbled, “you better stay very still.”
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She snorted. “You guys are big. I’m trying to get a bit more comfortable.” Galen bit her in the sensitive spot between neck and shoulder. “If we have to suffer, you can suffer right along with us.” Brooke grumbled a little. “Can you see it?” Instead of an answer Nikolai showed her. She’d had no idea what she’d thought the blockage in her mind would look like, but she’d never anticipated anything as impossible as this. There was no way in the galaxy they could untangle it.
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Chapter Nine Nikolai experienced Brooke’s shock at the sight of the barrier. Her mind resembled a space ship with the majority of it in perfect working order. Brooke could walk her ship, dip in an out of cabins, labs and cargo halls containing her memories, examine her experiences and knowledge without a hitch, and access the bridge to make choices and decisions. There was the point of that impossibly tall synthsteel door, but it wasn’t the issue right now. No, the biggest concern was the huge, pulsing, tangled web that sat in front of a small, disused cabin. It was as if endless strings of different colored energy lines had become ensnarled. Unlike a snarl of cables or yarn, this web constantly changed. The colors ranged from the darkest black through gray and muddy brown to an off-white that reminded him of pus. “Charming comparison,” Brooke said. She stood next to him, studying the tangle. If Nikolai thought he’d identified one energy line as Vampire, it shifted length and color and became Naema. His gaze met Galen’s, who’d appeared on Brooke’s other side. Brooke slapped both of them on the chest. “Stop trying to protect me. It’s a little hard to keep a secret when we’re in each others’ heads.” “You’re right,” Galen agreed. He looked at Brooke. “It’s going to be difficult. We both need to find a strand, stop it from changing and follow it back to the source. At the source we have to cut the line and unravel this mess.” Brooke frowned. “What do you mean, follow it to the source?” She must have seen the answer because she paled and grabbed their hands. “You’re going inside that?” Galen released her hand and framed her face. “Everything will be fine. We can do this.” Brooke shook off his hands and took a step back. “Stop trying to pacify me like I’m a little girl. Treat me like I’m a capable person.” For a moment the image of the three of them standing in front of the web flickered. They were back in their separate bodies on board of the Mercy. Brooke’s frustration had destabilized the connection. Nikolai grabbed her hands, clinging to the wavering link. “You’re right. This is just Galen’s way. He meant no disrespect. It’s one of his faults to want to make everything seem good.” Brooke studied him and his mind. She relaxed and the link stabilized again.
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“It’s going to be tough to hold on to the strand we need,” Nikolai began, “while keeping the others from burning us.” He leaned forward and kissed her. “We can do it and, even more important, we want to do it.” Brooke rubbed her hands across her face. She exhaled loudly and turned to them. “Is there anything I can do?” Nikolai smiled. “Can you see the green and blue light connecting Galen and me to you?” Brooke looked around. Her eyes widened. She hadn’t seen the threads of light linking them together, green between her and Galen and blue between her and Nikolai. She stroked her fingers across the line. Nikolai froze. It felt as if she sucked his cock. He hadn’t realized the level of sensitivity the link had. He filed that thought away for later. “Hold on to them,” Galen said. She frowned. “You’ll be able to pull us out if we’re in trouble,” Nikolai finished the explanation. She didn’t say anything, but curled the lines of light around her hands. Nikolai nearly dropped to his knees. Brooke’s brows shot up. “This has unexplored potential.” Galen laughed. “It does indeed, though I’m not sure right now is the best time to experiment.” Her smile dropped. “No, I guess not.” Galen stole a quick kiss and stepped up to the tangle, close enough to touch. He raised a protective shield. Nikolai mirrored his lover’s movement, but also sent Brooke a quick wink. “We’ll play with this some more once we’re back.” She pressed both lines. “We will.” Nikolai turned to the snarl and tried to identify a strand of Vampire energy. After minutes of tense waiting he grabbed a line of pure black, pushed his Vampire power into it to stop it from shifting and hung on. He felt Galen do the same with a strand of Naema energy. Together they stepped inside the writhing mass. Galen clung to his line of pus-white while struggling to keep the protective shield between himself and the rest of the power. As if sensing an intruder, the cables had grown frenzied, battering against his guard, trying to stop any progress. He’d lost sight of Nikolai. Only their mental connection told him his lover battled the same problems. The resistance became worse and worse the closer they made it to the center. More than once Galen thought he’d be unable to hold the shield. He couldn’t imagine why somebody from his race would have turned traitor and collaborated with Ferals.
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He needed to find out who it was. Right now he only knew the traitor was male. Unfortunately, the Naema line he’d grabbed carried nothing familiar. Attempting to find this Naema’s signature would be like trying to identify a specific star in the night sky with the naked eye. Galen pushed the thought aside and concentrated on his shield. Sweat ran down the side of his face and pooled in his lower back. His arms ached as if he’d been lifting an impossible weight for hours, rather than clinging to a wildly bucking rope of power. Brooke squeezed the connection between them and strength flooded him. Galen froze for a moment. She fed him power through their link. Nikolai had received some as well, making it a little easier to battle through the last few feet. Everything fell silent. No more battering against his shield, the line lay still in his hand. They’d reached the eye of the storm, the center of the tangle. Galen lowered his shield with care. Nikolai followed. They stood in an endless, white room. Galen could see no walls or doors, only a white floor and ceiling. Nothing else. “What do we do now?” he asked Nikolai. His friend shrugged and studied their surroundings. “I’d expected to find something, anything.” He held up his limp black cable. It hung a couple of feet in the air and disappeared out of sight into the endless room. If they attempted to follow the cable to its source, the encircling web would spring back to life and most likely stun them severely, if not kill them outright. He couldn’t see his connection to Brooke. “Can you see your link to Brooke?” His friend twisted with the same panic he had building in his gut. “No.” Nikolai dropped to his knees and patted the floor. Galen realized the floor was covered in a layer of white fog, fog so thick it had looked as if he’d stood on solid ground. As soon as the discovery hit, his feet dropped through the fog onto a sandy, boggy ground. Darkness spread across the room, the lights dimming. Galen caught Nikolai’s gaze. This couldn’t be good. “What the Jade is going on here?” Nikolai cursed. “This resembles nothing we’d anticipated.” Galen agreed. “It’s as if we’re being duped, like all this is some sort of elaborate camouflage to protect the source.” Nikolai growled. “How do we break it?” “I’m not quite sure, but let’s try usual glamour breakers first, before we worry about doing something exotic.”
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Nikolai nodded. Galen ran through his repertoire of illusion-breaking spells and fired a couple at the walls. The darkening white walls flickered and the colored energy from the tangle became visible for a moment. Nikolai muttered under his breath and slung an incantation at the fake walls. A loud bang sounded and the wall flickered again. “Together,” Galen said. They stood back-to-back and flung spells at the illusion. Galen pushed as much power as he could into the act while keeping some of his strength in reserve. They had no idea what would come next. This time a loud crack sounded and the fake walls disappeared. As expected, they stood in the center of the writhing mass. Both still held on to the original line, no longer limp in their hands but under tension and connected to the boggy ground they stood on, covered by fog. Nikolai pulled out a knife and tried to saw through his cable. The blade turned hot and melted on the spot. “Metaphorical knives it is.” Galen pulled up his line and studied it in more detail. It still looked disgusting, but it no longer pulsed. He tugged and followed it until it disappeared in the white fog. He waved to disperse the barrier. Jackpot. Four thick power strands came out of the ground like roots. Galen held the puswhite one, Nikolai gripped the black one. The last two strands of power were gray and muddy brown. They followed along the ground and disappeared into the web, the first two ran through their hands before hitting the tangle. “Any suggestions?” Galen asked. “Cutting didn’t work. What about using opposites?” Galen’s brows shot up. “Interesting concept. We have to decipher the original intention first.” Nikolai shrugged. “Ferals have a limited emotional palette. There aren’t that many choices. The Naema could throw a wrench in the game, he’s the unpredictable part.” Galen rested a hand on his shoulder. Together they studied the dark black strand Nikolai held, sharing their thoughts. “Big surprise there, anger and hate,” Nikolai said. Galen raced through his memories, back to the day Nikolai and he’d realized the connection between them. They’d met in a bar and had taken a shine to each other the minute their eyes met. Galen had had only a handful of encounters with men, usually more drawn to women, but Nikolai had captured his attention. They’d shared a couple of drinks, the sexual tension growing until neither man wanted to resist any longer. Nikolai had taken control, taking Galen on a journey like nothing he’d ever experienced. The next morning they’d split with a kiss and a wave, not expecting to see each other ever again. 93
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Nikolai cupped Galen’s nape. “What a joke,” he said. “Within hours of separating from you I’d turned so hard, I could’ve used my cock as a hammer. Nobody but you would do.” Galen kissed him. “I’m so very glad it was me.” Nikolai understood he had found his lifemate, the other part of his soul, torn asunder at the beginning of time, and he’d gone on the hunt. Galen had been highly aroused as well, but Naemas had nothing comparable, so he’d suffered and continued on his journey. A day and a half later, he decided that he couldn’t stand it anymore and turned around. It took them three days to find each other. After satisfying the physical need for another three days, Nikolai had explained the connection. Sex established the bond, but both sides had to make a conscious decision to mate otherwise the union would fade. Galen hadn’t thought twice, despite only knowing Nikolai for such a short time. The Vampire complemented him in so many ways. The thought of letting go had hurt like hell. There had never been a question on Nikolai’s side. Finding a lifemate was a once in a lifetime chance at happiness. Their mating that night, the confirmation of their link, would be something neither man would ever forget. Nikolai grabbed Galen around the neck and pulled him close for a mind-bending kiss. The strand dissolved. Taking his time, he dusted off his hand once he finished the kiss. He bent down and picked up the muddy-brown strand. This one vibrated slightly between his fingers. He met Galen’s gaze. “Rage?” Galen tightened his grip on Nikolai’s shoulder and grimaced. “I believe that would be too close to anger, which we’ve already had. What about hunger? Ferals always crave blood.” Nikolai shook his head and added a second hand to the strand. “Greed.” The strand’s vibrations increased. Galen didn’t have to go far, remembering the morning after they’d spent the first night with Brooke. She’d filled the gap both of them had carried in their hearts. For one brief moment, before the problems began, they’d been fulfilled and content. They thrust the memory into the strand and it dissolved to dust. Next came the gray. Nikolai picked it up and got only a faint impression. Galen gripped the strand next to Nikolai. A jolt shot through them, but it was too vague to give more information. “It doesn’t feel pure Vampire,” Nikolai said. “Nor only Naema,” Galen replied. Nikolai’s lips tightened. “They combined powers, but I’m still not sure what emotion they trapped here.” 94
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A lighting strike shot through Galen. Brooke. There was still a barrier between her and them, which stopped free-flowing mental communication, but she could read some of their emotions through the link. “What is it, baby?” She struggled, but he got one word. “Traitor.” Nikolai nodded. “He betrayed everybody, not just Naemas, but Vampires and humans as well. If the Ferals start another war, nobody will be safe.” “Betrayal and deception,” Galen murmured. He didn’t have to dig deep to find a memory. The day he introduced Nikolai as his partner, his lifemate, to his family had been engraved in his mind. To say they’d been unhappy with his choice would be an understatement. They’d demanded he break it off or at least meet Nikolai in secret to protect the family’s standing. Galen hadn’t wanted to hide his love. His honesty and loyalty to Nikolai had cost him his parents. They didn’t want to be connected to a son who affiliated with a Vampire. Nikolai curled his arms around his waist, bathing Galen in his love. He took a deep breath and pushed his dedication and loyalty into the line. The dust covered both their hands. “One left.” Nikolai gripped the pus-white strand next Galen. Each dissolved energy band lessened the frenzy of the surrounding tangle. “I don’t feel anything,” Nikolai said. Galen nodded. “It’s pure Naema.” Nikolai let go of the strand. Galen still felt him in his head, but he couldn’t help the identification. What did this Naema want? Why would he turn traitor and work with Ferals? Naemas tended to stick to themselves and had limited contact to other species. As the average age for a Naema was five to six hundred years, they tended to amass fortunes. And social standing. Naemas had a low birth rate and were cliquier than a high school senior class. Families grew through profitable marriages and business contracts. The further the family line could be traced back, the snobbier and more self-important the members. Moving up from one of the lesser families was nigh impossible. Galen met Nikolai’s gaze. His lover nodded. What the Jade was the opposite of ambition? Galen rubbed his face. They’d already pushed being content and fulfilled into the malicious tangle. What emotion was left? He went deeper. This Naema had betrayed everything. He didn’t care about the destruction his action may result in, didn’t think about the consequences.
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Nikolai took his hand. For a moment Galen sank into his partner’s eyes. He could literally see their connection like a shining light linking them. The care for each other and Brooke, the need to free the trafficked humans and prevent an all-out war slid inside the power strand, but it didn’t dissolve into dust. Instead energy sparks exploded off it, making them jump back to avoid being burned. He managed to hang on. The strand now bucked like an unruly Santo-Horse, but he didn’t want to release Nikolai. Lightning flashed, hitting the ground with a hiss. They dodged and weaved as if in a ring, but they didn’t let go. Galen ground his teeth as the strand grew hot, burning his palm. He hung on. The bastard thinks he can throw us off with a bit of pain? Think again. He struggled to keep his anger and frustration separate, but he managed to push more love and compassion into the bucking energy. It gave one last mighty push and exploded, showering Galen and Nikolai in dust. For a second Galen saw the inside of a ship, crew running around like headless Gota-Chucks, screams coming from the back. Then he was back in his own body, in the bed aboard the Mercy, Brooke clenching hard around his cock. It had felt as if their little trip had taken ages, but it had been only a few minutes. Brooke screamed.
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Chapter Ten It had been staggering to watch Galen and Nikolai walk through something that was ultimately her mind. Once they’d stepped inside the tangle, she’d been unable to follow. She got snippets of emotions, but nothing tangible. They had opened themselves up to her, had invited her into their memories, but Brooke still held back, hesitant about the intimacy of such a close link. She caught one word, which seemed to have intense meaning, lifemate, and wanted to know more. Did lifemate explain why the connection between the two of them felt as if their souls had melded? The last energy line exploding filled her with relief, but she didn’t get a chance to process the change. A deluge of images and emotions flooded her mind, drowning out the here and now. She tried to stem the wave, but torrents tore down every block she put up. In the end she couldn’t stand it anymore and screamed. Around the edges of the tsunami overwhelming her, Galen pulled her tight and Nikolai covered her back. Brooke! Galen’s voice shouted in her head. Let it run, don’t try to control it! Was he insane? Let this madness run rampant? Brooke pushed against the swell, fought against the memories of crewmembers, people she thought of as friends, screaming while Ferals fed off them, blood splattering. They didn’t just drink blood, they bathed in it. Brooke struggled as hard as she could, but her head felt one hyperspace jump from exploding. Her heart pounded in her chest and sweat poured down her face. How could she stop this? Galen kissed her hard enough to make her lips bleed. “You need to let go,” Galen repeated again. “Otherwise the blocked memories will overwhelm you. You could end up in a coma.” “If you don’t let go, I’ll have to bite you to pull you out. Let go now, before it is too late,” Nikolai added. Brooke felt the worry racing through them, the fear she wouldn’t trust what they said. The last was the deciding factor. They had done everything in their power to help her, had been open with her once she’d decided to leave the kidnapping behind. She trusted Galen and Nikolai. Brooke stopped fighting her memories.
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She clung to both Galen and Nikolai, who’d curled even more tightly around her. They stayed close to her in real life and in her head. She relaxed as much as she could. The memories raced through her, but she stopped trying to focus on anything specific. Brooke hoped once this was through, everything would settle back to where it needed to be, and she would find the memories in the correct place, making sense. It didn’t mean waiting for the wave to finish was much fun. Her heart hammered and her head had reached launch point. She gritted her teeth. She couldn’t hold on much longer. They held her even closer, making sure as much skin as possible touched. It was difficult to breathe with both holding her so tightly, but Brooke didn’t care. She was too grateful for the closeness. Her nails dug into Galen’s shoulder. “Galen.” “We’ve got you, Brooke, hang in there. Not much longer, don’t give up.” His words helped her cling to consciousness. He was right. The flood, which had washed away everything she was, began to slow to a fast-running river, and then to a trickle until nothing new came rushing in. Brooke exhaled and unclenched her muscles. They were still connected, but Brooke’s arousal had drained away. She wanted them surrounding her, but wasn’t up for hot monkey-sex. “We’ve got you, milaya,” Nikolai murmured at her ear. He moved back, leaving her body and walking into the washroom. Only then did she realize their arousal had diminished as well. Galen chuckled, shadows under his eyes. “Believe me, this is in direct response to your feelings. We want you with us all the way.” Brooke relaxed even further and Galen gently disengaged himself, but still held her close. She slipped off his body and snuggled next to him. Her muscles felt as if she’d been piloting a ship through battle for hours without break. It had happened before, so she knew what to expect. “I need a shower,” she mumbled against Galen’s shoulder. He held her. “Sleep first, we can clean up once you’ve gained some strength.” Brooke wanted to move, but couldn’t make her body respond. She gave in and closed her eyes. She’d get a shower in a moment.
***** Nikolai stepped back inside the cabin after cleaning up. Brooke had passed out and Galen studied her sleeping face as if he expected to find the meaning of life in it. Galen looked up at him. “She is everything.”
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Nikolai’s eyes blurred. His partner was right. Brooke had taken hold of not only their hearts, but also their souls. There was no going back. He gently wiped her down with a moist cloth and then scrambled onto the bed to take up the already familiar position around her back. “What do you think our chances are?” He kissed her shoulder and met Galen’s gaze. His lover curled his hand around Nikolai’s cheek. “I believe she feels as strongly about us as we do about her.” Nikolai nodded, feeling as if the Obsfabra Peaks, one of the highest mountain ranges in the system, rested on his chest. “She trusted us,” he whispered. “She did.” But until she declared herself, there was always a chance she’d change her mind. And there was the wall behind which she hid parts of herself. Nikolai stretched his arm across Brooke until his hand rested on Galen’s thigh. He needed the contact. Galen gripped his hand. “We’ll be in the Hamil Quadrant in five hours, in orbit of Abanthe in six. She’ll need a couple of those to recuperate. Once she’s more settled, we can go through what happened. Hopefully she will provide a workable lead to the Ferals.” Nikolai’s fangs snapped down. Those bastards had put Brooke through hell with the tangle stuck in her brain. He wanted the scecxis in front of him right now so he could tear them limb from limb like they’d done in Brooke’s memories. He stroked his thumb across Galen’s hand. Galen hadn’t said anything about the Naema yet. That last energy strand had been powerful. Finding out more about his involvement with the Ferals would be priority after tracking down the Vampires and any clues about the missing settlers. Galen leaned across and kissed him. Their lips met, the familiarity and connection hitting Nikolai in the heart. It sometimes happened like that, the realization of how much Galen enriched his life, how lucky they’d been to find each other. Nikolai ended the kiss and caressed Galen’s lips. I want to lie in bed with you and Brooke as long as we can and soak up the moment. The mind-to-mind speech was more intimate. Galen’s smile lit up his face. He nodded. Nikolai closed his eyes.
***** Three hours later Galen extracted himself from the tangle of limbs and grabbed a shower. Fighting the web had taken its toll. The sleep had helped. Now he needed food.
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While making breakfast he heard Nikolai and Brooke in the shower. He grinned when he felt Nikolai’s need and saw Brooke’s heartfelt response. When her fist closed around Nikolai’s cock he had to lean against the counter. As much as he wanted to join in, time was running short. They tended to get carried away. He gritted his teeth and continued to make eggs and bacon for breakfast. Nikolai’s synth blood was already breathing on the counter. He sent Nikolai a prod to bring things to an end. His partner groaned, but twenty minutes later Brooke and Nikolai walked in the kitchen. Brooke’s smile grew when she saw Galen. She walked up to him and gave him a quick kiss before turning to pour a cup of tea. For a second Galen just stood there, stunned. Nikolai grinned like a kid in the choc-toff candy store and came up for a kiss of his own, one that involved tongue, teeth and the fight for supremacy. “I didn’t want you to feel left out,” he chuckled. Galen smirked. “I’m in your head, how could I feel left out?” Brooke filled plates for Galen and her and took out the necessary utensils. Nikolai flopped down on a chair and sipped the blood. Galen loved the scene of domestic bliss. He wanted every morning to be like this, to have them sit together and enjoy a meal. He cleared his throat and randomly opened cupboards for a moment. It will happen, Galen. What you wish for will be our future, Nikolai said in his mind. Galen composed his features and sat down. Brooke had been waiting for him and began to eat. “What’s next?” Galen studied her face. She had rings under her eyes, but overall she looked healthier, as if an invisible load had been lifted off her shoulders. “How are you feeling?” “Better, thanks. The sleep helped.” Nikolai pushed the plate closer to her and took the fork away. “It won’t do you much good if you’re pushing the food from one end of the plate to the next.” He loaded the fork. “Open up.” Brooke followed that order with a smile and Nikolai fed her breakfast. They didn’t say much, the underlying tension of what was to come present. Once everybody had finished, Galen refilled Brooke’s and his teas. Nikolai shook his head when Galen asked if he would like more blood. They moved from the small eating area to the bridge. Nikolai sat in the copilot chair and pulled Brooke onto his lap. Galen settled into the pilot chair. “How are your memories?” Brooke swallowed. “All there, unfortunately, in graphic detail.” “Will you let us walk through?” Galen asked.
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Brooke looked at him. Galen read the struggles in her eyes, the guilt. Nikolai tucked her closer. “We will be with you every step of the way,” he assured her. Galen took her hand. “Remember all this has happened already. As horrible as it may be, it has happened. Your friends have been dead for weeks and by remembering, you will help bring their killers to justice and honor their memories.” Brooke nodded. She patted Nikolai’s hand and slid off his lap. “How do we do this?” Galen ordered another chair to form. “Have a seat and relax.” Brooke sat, but tension still vibrated through her body. “Have you noticed anything different this morning?” Galen asked. She frowned. “What are you talking about?” He’s talking about the fact that we are inside your shields now, Nikolai inserted himself into the conversation, talking mind-to-mind to both of them. Brooke froze, but after a deep breath worked on loosening her muscles again. So…I can now talk to you in my head? she asked. Galen’s heart nearly jumped out of his chest and his cock turned rock hard. Having her respond with mindtalk was beautiful and intimate. Yes, he replied. He read worry in her eyes and hastened to reassure her. We won’t go where you don’t want us. It hurt that she felt she had to keep parts of herself protected, but he hoped time would take care of her fear. As a human she didn’t know about lifemates, the connection and trust that were the base of such a relationship. She’d been tapping her fingers, but came to a decision before Galen could work on more reassurance. Here we go, she said and closed her eyes. Galen entered her memories. Nikolai and he stood on the bridge of the Nebokka, next to their Brooke, and watched Memory-Brooke go through flight-check. Galen admired her poise and easy relationship with her crew. He read loyalty in her people. They admired their captain and trusted her to lead right. How wrong they were, Brooke said. Galen sent her his warmth. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Memory-Brooke talked briefly to her copilot and then walked off the bridge. They followed her through the ship, observing as she stopped intermittently to talk to crew until she reached the cargo area. The Nebokka was a medium-sized vessel with twentythree crewmembers, but the cargo area took up close to sixty percent of the ship’s space. They all watched as hibernation chambers floated aboard, each filled with a settler. It wasn’t strictly necessary for the relative short trip to be in hibernation, but it was cheaper to store the settlers in this manner than having to feed over one hundred people for a couple of weeks.
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Once everything had been settled and Memory-Brooke was satisfied with the loading, she returned to the bridge. The Nebokka left port. Can you fast-forward to the day of the attack? Nikolai asked. Brooke nodded and closed her eyes. For a moment everything around them lost focus and blurred into an amalgamation of colors. Seconds later they were on the bridge again. Galen wanted to pull Brooke out and hold her. She’d paled and the rings under her eyes were more pronounced. Focus on the leader of the Ferals, not on what they’ve done. He wasn’t sure if she’d heard him. The Nebokka suddenly dropped out of hyperspace. Memory-Brooke and her copilot were running scans on the systems, trying to figure out the cause, when a blast shook the ship. “Shields up,” Memory-Brooke shouted. “We’re under attack.” “Shields not functioning, Captain,” one of the crewmembers said. His face was pale yellow and his Adams apple bobbed. Another shudder shook the ship, this time that of another vessel docking with the Nebokka. Memory-Brooke grabbed the intercom. “This is the captain speaking. Emergency protocol five, I repeat, emergency protocol five. Enact immediately.” Is it to abandon ship? Nikolai asked. Brooke nodded. Somebody on the ship worked with the attackers. My security force was too small to fight against an invasion. To abandon ship was the safest plan. It could be they threatened family or got to the person and planted orders, Galen said. Brooke didn’t respond, but watched herself grab a phaser from a compartment of her captain chair and race off the bridge. They followed. The enemy ship had docked halfway between the cargo bay and the bridge. They heard the screams quickly. Memory-Brooke made her way to where the other ship had docked, shoving any crew members she stumbled across toward the rescue pods. She still didn’t know who was attacking her ship or why. Then she found the first bodies, a group of catering staff. They had been ripped apart. At closer inspection Memory-Brooke realized their throats had been torn out. Her heart racing, worried at her outlandish thought, she hurried on. Vampires had lived in peace with humans for over two and a half centuries. Why would they suddenly start attacking a human vessel? Memory-Brooke rounded a corner and quickly stepped back. Three Vampires were in the process of killing staff. Her phaser would do no good and three were too many for her to fight off by herself. It killed her inside, but she had to change course. That would be the smart thing to do.
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Good thing nobody had ever accused her of being smart. Memory-Brooke set her phaser to its highest setting and came around the corner shooting. She hit one monster in the eye and he dropped the woman he held. She wasn’t sure if he was dead, but she had no time to worry, because the other two focused on her. One just let go of the man he’d been draining, but the other snapped the neck of his victim with a malicious smile. Memory-Brooke shot again, aiming for the eyes, but they ducked and weaved, using Vampire speed to escape her blasts. Within seconds the Ferals were close enough to grab her, but before they could, the backs of their heads exploded. Three men from security had opened fire, using steel bullets as opposed to phasers. Memory-Brooke didn’t know how the weapons had gotten on board, but she was glad they had. Until one security officer aimed his gun at her. “Daniels, what the Jade are you doing?” “What I’m being paid to do, Captain.” The other two men stepped next to her and restrained her. Memory-Brooke was too shocked to give any resistance. “Come with us,” Daniels said. “Their leader wants to see you.” Memory-Brooke straightened her back and marched between her two security guards, furious she’d been so easily duped. “I hope you’ve been paid enough for the lives of your friends and crew members.” He flinched, but didn’t stop walking. “I have.” Memory-Brooke addressed the men holding her. “And you, is the money enough to warrant the death of every human aboard this ship?” The men didn’t respond or look at her, but appeared to be in a trance. She shrugged and twisted her shoulders, trying to escape their grips, but neither man let go. Instead they tightened their holds without looking at her. “What have you done, Daniels?” “He put them under. I needed men to help me transport you through the ship. And they accompanied me when I opened the docking door.” He shrugged. “Bad luck on their part.” His casualness stunned Memory-Brooke. “People are dying here, people you’ve worked beside for ages. Does that mean nothing to you?” His gaze met hers. For a moment the hate in his muddy-brown eyes shot through Memory-Brooke like a laser beam. “The crew got what they deserved. Nobody ever gave me the respect I had earned, always tried to make themselves superior.” He shook his head. “It’s their own fault.” Memory-Brooke had to scramble to regain her composure. They’d reached their destination, the balcony overlooking the cargo bay. Where she’d stood fifteen days ago watching the delivery and storage of the settlers, now stood a short blond Vampire. He was well dressed and looked harmless, but something about him raised the hairs on the back of her neck.
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He turned when they approached. “Ah, you’ve found her. Very good, Daniels, very good.” He stretched out his hand to Memory-Brooke. “Captain Deverell, such a delight to meet you.” She kept her hands locked in front of her as she stood in parade rest. “I wish I could say the same about you. Who are you and what do you want? Are you aware this kind of attack will be the start of a new human-Vampire war?” He smirked, his black eyes completely void of all emotion. “I don’t give a flying Jade about a new war. Nobody will ever know the occurrences on this ship.” Memory-Brooke remained silent. “Ah.” He chuckled. “You think some of your crew got away and are heading for the next human outpost. Unfortunately, none of the escape pods worked. Right now my men are collecting your wayward people and are either having a bit of fun or are adding to our loot.” He smiled and his fangs stood out like a beacon. She swore she saw bloodstains. “Who are you and what do you want?” She needed more information. “My name is not important. I am here to collect my spoils.” Memory-Brooke frowned. “You have one hundred and-forty-nine people sleeping away in hibernation. When they wake up they will start a new life, a life they could have never imagined, and the most attractive and healthy of your crew will join them.” Memory-Brooke clenched her hands, her stomach churning. “A new life?” He smiled and the evil literally dripping off him made a shiver run down her back. “As blood slaves, my dear, as blood slaves.” He clapped his hands. “And you know the best? Nobody will miss them. Your little baby,” he tapped the walls of the Nebokka, “will suffer mechanical failure and explode, taking everybody with her into a fiery grave. Well, everybody except you. Once we’re done with you, you’ll have another task.” Memory-Brooke stiffened. “What do you mean? Why do you think I won’t tell the authorities?” He stepped closer and patted her cheek. Memory-Brooke jerked back, but the two men next to her made escape impossible. “Who said you’d be able to remember anything?” He pulled out a pressure syringe and injected her before she could respond. Then his brown eyes bored into hers. For a moment she thought she repelled him, but then agonizing pain shot through her head. It felt as if somebody pulled her brain through her nose. With magma-hot pokers. He leaned closer and everything turned black.
*****
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Brooke blinked a few times, relieved to see the metal roof of the Mercy before her. Nikolai and Galen held a hand each. Galen leaned in and kissed her. “Well done. I’m sorry you had to suffer through it again.” Nikolai was next. He pressed her hand to his racing heart and kissed her hard. But Brooke sensed something different, as if he held part of him back. She released Galen’s hand and curved hers around Nikolai’s cheek. “What is it?” He only met her gaze for a moment before looking away. Brooke gripped his chin and centered her eyes on him. “Tell me,” she demanded. Nikolai cleared his throat. “I know the bastard who’s responsible.” Brooke smiled. “Why are you happy?” He frowned. “You know the leader, which means you can track him down. There’s a chance to rescue some of the victims.” “But I’ve known him for decades. As a youngster we’d been out together. He’s no Feral, he lives amongst humans and is respected by both Vampires and humans.” “Then we need to make sure we have irrefutable proof before we go and kill him.” Nikolai gaped at her. She kissed him. “You’re not responsible for something another Vampire did,” she said. “I am sorry a friend betrayed you, but I am also relieved we have a lead.” Galen stepped next to Nikolai. “She’s right. You haven’t seen him for close to a century. People change.” Nikolai’s tension slowly drained away. He leaned into Galen. “When I recognized Silas in your memories I thought you’d hate me.” Brooke’s eyes widened. “Hate you for what?” “For knowing him, for not stopping him before he hurt you.” It surprised her to see the usually confident Nikolai humbled. Brooke decided she didn’t enjoy it. She smacked him on the chest. “Snap out of it. I’m not going to hold you responsible for something another person did. And I don’t think it’s fair you’d believe that about me.” Nikolai froze for a moment, but then relaxed and his lips quirked. “I’ll keep it in mind.” He leaned in for a toe-curling kiss. Brooke wanted to drag her two men to bed, but now wasn’t the right time. “How did he get into my head if neither of you could do it?” Nikolai’s silver eyes turned metallic. The fury in his eyes caused a shiver to run down Brooke’s spine. “My best guess is he used a mind-weakening drug and ruptured your shield. Such tactics are extremely painful and can lead to brain aneurysms.” “When we walked through your ship,” Galen drew commas in the air, “did you notice the metal scars along one section of the hull?”
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Brooke thought back and nodded. “Your shield repaired itself, making it even more difficult to penetrate.” “Is that why I can’t read your minds like you read each others? I thought you said once you’re inside my shield you could read me?” Galen cleared his throat and dropped his gaze. Nikolai chuckled. “You’ve stumped him. He thought once we’d circumvented the shield, we’d be able to read you, but you still hold a number of closed doors. It could be because of your unusual shield or because of the damage done.” Brooke climbed off the chair and looked out of the main viewport at the hyperspace window. “Now we know who the leader of this particular operation is, what next?” She changed the subject, not ready to face those last demons. They stayed silent for a moment before Nikolai picked up the conversation again. “Silas has a villa on one of the moons close by.” Brooke frowned and ordered a data port to her. It hovered at eye level and ran the required scans. “Other than Wadhwa, most of these planets are uninhabited. It’s a new system. As far as scans go, Ferals have stayed away so far. Why would your friend own a villa this far out?” She turned back to him, hands on her hips. “And how the Jade would you know if you haven’t seen him in so long?” Nikolai smiled and crossed his arms in front of his muscular chest. Brooke drooled a little as the tight flight suit molded itself to those yummy contours. “The system may be new, but a number of Vampires built a small community as soon as terraforming finished. We wanted something far out and private.” He held his hand out to Galen. “Sometimes social standing and people’s responses become too much. The need to get away grows unbearable. We bought the house before construction began and the settlement is close to a century old.” He sighed and rubbed his face. “At that point Silas and I were still in contact and I told him about the opportunity.” His shoulders dropped. “I didn’t think he’d use it as a smuggling HQ.” Brooke nodded and checked the data port again. “Why haven’t you set course yet?” The men exchanged a glance. She clapped her hands. “Boys, we’ve been through this, no hiding from me.” They looked at her, but didn’t say anything. A sheen of challenge had taken over their posture. Brooke frowned and studied them more closely. Yes, definitely challenge. What the Jade were they on about now? Nobody spoke. They waited for her response. She bit her lower lip. What did they want her to do? The lines around Galen’s eyes deepened. Brooke stiffened and crossed her arms. She was failing some sort of test. Then she understood.
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Brooke exhaled and closed her eyes. She had no idea how to do it, but she tried to open a door between her and Galen and Nikolai, to reach them with her mind. After a few false starts she connected to Galen. His happiness at her attempt filled her mind. She increased her efforts and reached Nikolai, whose enthusiasm nearly knocked her over. Brooke enjoyed their approval, but tried to get deeper into their minds and discover their plan. She managed to overcome her hesitation and stepped into Galen’s mind. Where hers resembled a ship, his was a massive chamber, lavishly decorated with a number of doors going off it. Galen chuckled. “That’s how you imagine it. Nikolai and I don’t visualize our minds in the same way,” he said in real life. “Maybe because we knew what to expect when it happened,” Nikolai said. “What happened?” Brooke asked. The men only grinned. Brooke gritted her teeth. Great, another test. She pushed it to one side and dug deeper for their plan. When she found it her jaw dropped. The link snapped. “This must be the stupidest plan I’ve seen in the history of plans.” The men only shrugged. “It’s what we’ve got,” Galen said. Brooke threw her arms into the air and glared. “How did you find out about the explosion on the Nebokka?” Confusion darkened Galen’s eyes. “We received the intel as an anonymous tip.” She snorted. “Of course. And the barrier in my mind? A Vampire and a Naema worked together to create something that could’ve fried your asses while you attempted to dismantle it. Do you honestly believe this is all coincidence?” Her voice grew louder with each word. “We don’t.” Nikolai’s calm words took the power out of her hyperdrive-engine. “You don’t?” He rose from his chair and sat next to Galen, pulling his lover’s embrace around himself. “No.” “If you know you’ve been targeted, why in Jade’s name would you go into the lion’s den?” “What else can we do?” Galen asked. Brooke opened her mouth as if to answer, but she couldn’t. What was the alternative? She began to pace. “We could go in with back-up and force him to surrender.” “What about irrefutable proof? And you know he will kill any hostages as soon as he sees us approach.” Galen stroked his finger up and down Nikolai’s neck. “Give me a moment,” Brooke grumbled. 107
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The men watched her in silence as she marched back and forth on the bridge. There had to be another way. Nikolai stretched his arm out, offering his hand. “Milaya, as long as he believes the barrier is still in place and that we’re working on dismantling it, Silas will not attack us. Using you meant there would be no link back to him. The community has a number of permanent residents. Dying or disappearing while visiting him will raise questions he won’t want to answer.” She wasn’t yet ready to listen. Their plan was ridiculous and would get them killed. “We will spread rumors as well,” Galen interrupted her mental ranting. “What rumors?” “Little hints we’ve had a falling-out with the Council, about their unhappiness with our progress. How they think we’re too slow and should have broken through your mental barrier by now.” “How?” Galen smirked. “We know a few of the people on the Ferals’ payroll. Snippets of transmissions will leak to the right ears and Silas will hear about our presumed failure.” “It’ll make him feel more secure and superior,” Nikolai said. “And while you’re on your super-secret mission, you decided to make a quick stop and visit an old friend with your suspect, who you’ve turned into a blood slave, in tow. Really believable,” Brooke protested. Nikolai’s lips twitched. “We are close to where the Nebokka exploded and we’re working hard at getting to your memories. He’ll happily believe we’ve been incapable of breaking through his Vampire-Naema trap. He’ll savor his victory.” “How are you going to explain me? Why would I allow you to keep me as a pet, a blood slave?” “In an attempt to break your shield I’ve begun to drink your blood and liked it. I’ve also seduced you for your compliance. As we’re suspecting you of being a criminal, I have no scruples about using you.” Something sharp stabbed Brooke’s heart. She held her face as expressionless as possible. His words had hit too close to her fears. Were they using her? She cleared her throat. “And Silas will believe it?” Nikolai shrugged. “He knows I can be ruthless and the stakes are high enough for me to use unethical means. In his opinion nobody can withstand Vampire powers, so he’ll gladly believe that you’ve dropped all thought of what happened just to be with me.” “Arrogant jackass,” Brooke muttered. She could play the brainless bimbo to get this monster. Something occurred to her. She captured Nikolai’s gaze. “I’ll need fang marks to prove you’re using me as a blood slave.” He nodded.
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Brooke took half a step back. “Won’t my blood turn you Feral, make you lose control?” Nikolai sighed. “It’s a rumor Vampires started after the war. It gave humans a sense of safety and control. Drinking blood doesn’t drive us crazy, Brooke. Vampires have been drinking human blood since the beginning of time.” Brooke frowned. “I don’t understand.” “We never stopped drinking from willing donors, we’ve just kept it very discreet and quiet to not frighten humans. We can live off synth-blood, but real human blood is filled with life and spirit. It keeps us linked to this reality.” “Nikolai drinks from me regularly.” Galen smiled. “It is one of the most erotic experiences you can imagine.” “Unfortunately, we don’t have time to add sex and pleasure.” He rose and cupped Brooke’s cheek. “I will make it as enjoyable as possible for you.” For once neither his heat nor his luscious scent garnered a response. Brooke remained frozen. “You’ve snowed the whole of humanity? What else are you lying about?” He didn’t physically move, but distance stretched between them. She regretted her words, but the tachyon bomb he’d just dropped was hard to swallow. “Brooke, we fought for our survival when we signed the treaty with the Coalition. We had no choice but to agree.” She studied him and Galen. Trusting them meant she not only risked her heart, but her life. The men remained inscrutable. She had to make her decision. They wouldn’t try to defend themselves or persuade her. She didn’t believe they’d take her into danger lightly. Brooke exhaled. She ignored the stubborn little worry nagging at the back of her mind. “All right. How do we do this?” Some of the tension left the men, but her hesitation had hurt them. Brooke couldn’t think of a way to make it up to them right now. Nikolai pulled her onto his lap. “I could take blood from the wrist, but as a pleasure companion as well as a blood slave he wouldn’t believe that.” Brooke read the worry in his eyes. Deep inside her where the connection to him lived couldn’t stand it and relaxed. She leaned forward and kissed him softly on the lips. “Nothing you do will scare me away.” An infinitesimal tension flowed out of him. Brooke tilted her head and waited. He kissed her neck and her nipples turned hard. He scraped his fangs across her skin and her juices flooded her underwear. Nikolai chuckled. Brooke wasn’t embarrassed by her response. This was Nikolai.
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His fangs dug into her neck and Brooke nearly exploded. His bite shot through every part of her body and when Galen kneeled between her legs and massaged her clit through her pants, she flew apart. It was over that quickly. Brooke slumped against him, panting. “So much for not adding sex and pleasure,” she mumbled. Nikolai kissed her on the lips. She tasted her blood on his tongue, but instead of disgusting her it drove home the point that part of her now ran through Nikolai’s body. She was literally part of him. And she loved it.
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Chapter Eleven The Mercy, a boxy Delta-Design, didn’t maneuver with enough agility in low orbit. They took the shuttle once they’d cloaked the ship on the outskirts of Wadhwa. In an attempt to keep her mind focused on things other than their insane plan Brooke spent the majority of the short flight studying the gorgeous landscape through the viewport. The forests and mountains of Wadhwa, interspersed by rivers and lakes, had none of the civilized air of Botannia, but showed an edge that appealed to her. They landed outside the small community, the landing strip basic. HoverTrans waited and took them to Galen and Nikolai’s house. Galen had called it small, but what centuries-old Naema and Vampires described as small and what Brooke thought of as such didn’t quite match. Six bedrooms, four bathrooms and various libraries, studies and sunrooms did not equal small. The house was gorgeous, light and airy with more windows and skylights than she’d ever seen. Masculine furniture complemented the design and never looked heavy or dark. She could see herself living here without having to make changes. Her jaw dropped when she walked into the master bedroom. Half the Nebokka could have fit comfortably into the large chamber. A spaceball team could party on the bed without bumping into each other. Maybe it was a slight exaggeration, but not by much. Nikolai had sent a message, telling Silas he was in town and would like to meet. The other Vampire had replied swiftly. He invited Nikolai for the same afternoon. “He wants to know what we know,” Galen said. Everybody agreed. Nikolai helped Brooke select her wardrobe. Much to Brooke’s surprise he’d made some incredible choices. Her measurements were on file, making it easy for the computer to manufacture the dresses. For the first encounter, she wore a deep purple-blue garment, which matched her eyes. It covered her from head to toe, even had a small collar pretending to cover the bite mark on her neck. Brooke followed the lines of her strong body, her hands luxuriating in the soft feel of the material. She had never before worn something so intensely feminine and part of her wished for her flight suit and weapons belt. But another part of her came close to purring in delight. Brooke straightened her shoulders and exhaled. She could do this. It helped when Galen’s and Nikolai’s eyes heated up as she walked down the stairs. Two long slits at the side, cleverly hidden so her legs didn’t play peekaboo, allowed movement. Brooke had been adamant she needed to be able to fight if it came to it,
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which is why the heels on her stilettos were removable, leaving her in easy-tomaneuver-on flats. “You look absolutely gorgeous.” Galen whirled her into his arms and kissed her breathless. Brooke felt his heat as though she were naked. Nikolai stroked down her back and her ass, worsening her breathlessness and strengthening her wish they could play in the spaceball field disguised as a bed upstairs. “I knew this would suit you.” He kissed the sensitive spot between neck and shoulder. A shiver ran down Brooke’s spine and she stepped back. “Down, boys. If you want me to have the odd brain cell left, you need to cut it out.” The men chuckled and Nikolai stole a quick kiss before both pulled away, giving Brooke an opportunity to admire their wardrobe. During her studies of old Earth she’d learned about its popular culture, which included a debonair spy called James Bond. Her men reminded her of images she’d seen of the character. Before they stepped outside and into the waiting transport, Galen stopped her. “Are you sure you’re ready? We can figure out something else.” “Or just kill Silas,” Nikolai suggested. “No.” Brooke shook her head. Her palms were sweaty, but she swallowed her anxiety. “We need information on the whole network, not just his part. I also want to find the people they’ve sold. We can’t leave them to suffer more than they already have.” Her men nodded and led her to the waiting transport.
***** Nikolai wasn’t happy, but forcing Brooke to stay behind would have damaged their relationship, possibly irreparably. He suppressed a sigh as they travelled to Silas’ mansion. He wished she didn’t look quite so incredible. When he’d chosen her wardrobe he aimed for clothes that gave her the appearance of harmless arm candy. He hadn’t planned for his response or his possessive attitude. He didn’t want anybody looking at her, let alone Silas’ greedy eyes. Galen leaned over Brooke, who sat between them, and gripped his hand. They would not leave her alone. One of them would be with her every second of the afternoon. Nikolai still had a premonition of darkness, a fear he would not be able to protect her. There was no plan B. They arrived at the mansion. It was the largest in the community. Silas always had to be a little bit bigger and better than everybody around him. He had been made a Vampire, not been born, and tended to compensate in his own way. A butler greeted them at the door and led them to a large study. 112
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This looks as if we’ve traveled through time and ended up in old Earth history, Brooke said in their heads. Her initiation of contact increased Nikolai’s heart rate. His blood traveled south. He had to agree. Massive wooden bookcases filled with antique-looking books lined the walls. The desk took up most of one wall and next to the computer piles of paper sat in untidy stacks. He snorted when he saw an inkwell and two quill pens sitting next to it. Talk about being authentic. The wall above the desk had been decorated with ancient weapons. Swords, battleaxes and morning stars graced the wall. Smaller knives and dirks took up a quarter of the space. Even a couple of spears had made it up there. A smaller door to the right opened. Silas walked in. He was shorter than Galen and Nikolai. His dirty-blond hair had been slicked back from his face, showing his beak-like nose and bad skin to a disadvantage. His thin lips displayed a cruel edge his smile couldn’t hide. To Nikolai’s surprise Silas had toned down his clothing. Where he used to wear over-the-top fashion, he now dressed all in black in a hand-tailored suit. The material and the fact it wasn’t machine-made showed his expensive taste, but he no longer resembled the caricature he’d often been as a younger Vampire. “Nikolai, what a surprise. You haven’t been back in ages.” Silas walked over, his hands stretched out in welcome. “How long has it been?” Nikolai suppressed his disgust and shook the other Vampire’s hand. “Close to a century. How are you, old friend?” Silas’ beady brown eyes moved over Galen and Brooke. He didn’t respond to Brooke’s presence. He had to have a live feed at the transport station and knew of their arrival before Nikolai contacted him. “I am just fine. Who have you brought me here?” “May I introduce my lifemate Galen?” “Your lifemate?” The other Vampire pretended surprise. “I hadn’t known you played for the other team, Niko.” Nikolai shrugged. “I play for all teams.” Silas chuckled. “So I see. Who’s the beauty at the back?” Nikolai didn’t turn around. His instructions to Brooke had been clear. She was supposed to behave submissive and stay behind both Galen and himself. “A project we’re working on,” was his only response. Silas’ brows shot up. “I find myself intrigued.” His gaze narrowed on Brooke’s neck where Nikolai’s bite was only halfway hidden behind the small collar. “You appear to play a dangerous game, old friend.” Nikolai prayed Brooke would understand his dismissive manner was an act. He shrugged and sank into one of the chairs before Silas’ desk. “Galen, how about you and Brooke go out and admire the gardens? Silas’ landscaping is a masterpiece.”
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Galen leaned down and kissed Nikolai before taking Brooke’s hand. “With pleasure. I’ll leave you to catch up.” Silas called the butler and instructed him to look after Galen and Brooke. Once they were alone, he poured two glasses of blood and sat in the oversized chair behind his desk. “What in Jade’s name has turned Nikolai, the defender of the universe, into a Vampire openly drinking from a human? As soon as one of the others sees it, they’ll rat you out to the Council.” Nikolai shrugged. “If she wasn’t with us, she’d be in solitary confinement in a High Sec prison. Believe me, no human will cry over our treatment of her, but I’m still gathering intel. As long as she’s useful I don’t want her to know we seduced her for a purpose. Human females tend to be emotional.” Silas leaned forward. “My curiosity has been piqued. What kind of information is she holding back from you and how? A powerful Vampire like you should be able to read her like an open data port.” Nikolai took a sip of blood and ignored the jab. “I can’t say too much, it’s an open investigation. Though the bloody Council can go fuck itself,” he muttered the last under his breath, but loud enough the other Vampire heard. “She has an unusual shield, which is why I’ve begun to drink from her. The established connection gets me closer to breaking her shield.” “Is she this captain who was the only survivor after a freak explosion on a merchant vessel?” Nikolai changed the subject. “What have you been up to these last few decades, Silas? Still working on expanding your trade routes?” A satisfied smile played around Silas’ lips as he followed Nikolai’s direction and talked about himself. Nikolai continued the small talk for another thirty minutes or so before he stood. “I’m sorry to cut this short, but I have to go back to work.” He let anger and frustration shimmer in his eyes. Silas rose too. “How about you come back tonight? I’m having a small gathering, just a few friends. Bring your lifemate and your project. It’ll give you a few hours to be surrounded by likeminded people and away from your problems.” “Gladly.” He turned to the door. “By the way, have you heard from Miguel Calatrave? He disappeared off the face of the galaxy, no word, no life sign and he hasn’t been to any of his usual hangouts. None of my sources have been able to track him. You have your fingers in so many pies. Any ideas?” He turned in time to see malicious gloating flash through Silas’ eyes. “Really? And I always thought your sources were infallible.” Nikolai wanted to frown, but kept his face expressionless. He’d only mentioned the Spaniard to play to Silas’ superiority complex, but the delight displayed by the other Vampire worried him.
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“You’ll be glad to know I indeed have been in contact with Calatrave. We’re in a highly satisfying business connection.” Jade, the Spaniard is part of this? Calatrave had a brain like a computer, an IQ far beyond the average and was a master strategist. If he was a leading member of this trafficking ring, they were in even deeper shit than Nikolai thought. But that would be a problem for another day. Nikolai smiled. “I’m glad. Please give him my regards the next time you see him.” Silas nodded. They exchanged meaningless pleasantries and met Galen and Brooke at the main entrance. “Did you enjoy the gardens?” “They were as beautiful as you’ve described them,” Galen replied and kissed Nikolai. Brooke stuck to her role and remained silent behind them. “I’m glad.” He shook Silas’ hand. “I will see you tonight.” “Indeed.” The butler opened the door and guided them to their waiting HoverTrans. When Nikolai looked back, satisfaction practically poured off Silas’ body. The other Vampire had accepted their story.
***** On the trip home Galen stayed in character and described the grounds in excruciating detail, in case the HoverTrans carried a recording device. Brooke’s thoughts whirled through her mind like a never-ending vortex. Seeing the bastard had made her want to jump across the ridiculous desk and stake him through the heart. But gathering information was more important than her revenge. The whole enterprise needed to be stopped. Her stomach rolled. There had been something in Silas’ eyes that had shivers racing down her back. Nikolai might think he’d be fine, but she wasn’t as certain. Then there was the distance the men had put up. Since their return to the house, Nikolai hadn’t even touched her hand. Instead he’d walked out of the room, saying he needed to update his team leader Darius and check their security. The dark worry they’d lied and were in fact using her would not go away. Galen sat next to her on the sofa. He cupped her nape and caressed the sensitive skin. The heat of his touch raced through her like lava. Her nipples hardened and she grew wet. “What are you worried about?” he asked. Brooke leaned into the caress. His touch raised her heart rate and had butterflies dancing in her stomach. Not that his presence alone didn’t do those things, but the tenderness ratcheted everything up a notch. “I’m worried Nikolai is not taking the danger seriously enough. I have a bad feeling.”
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Galen studied her face. Brooke bit her lip, hoping he wouldn’t see through her. He leaned close and soothed that same lip with his tongue. “If you’re worried, we will have to make sure he considers every move before he makes it.” She released a breath she hadn’t realized she’d held. Brooke kissed him, sliding her tongue into his mouth. The kiss deepened and he moved one hand across her cheek, along her sensitive neck, to circle the hard peak of a nipple. Brooke wanted this, no, needed this. The encounter with Silas had shaken her more than she’d anticipated. Having Galen close would go a long way to make her feel better. Galen chuckled against her neck, tickling her. “What’s so funny?” She smiled. “I don’t know what you’re thinking, but I can feel your desire, your need for me and it’s making me laugh. I love the idea that you want me.” She kissed him. “I do.” The excitement of the moment made breathing difficult. He cupped one breast, teasing the nipple, while the other hand smoothed along her spine to her ass. He cupped the full cheek and tugged her onto his lap. “I’m glad,” he whispered against her lips. Brooke smiled some more. She couldn’t remember a man who simultaneously made her smile and so excited, she felt as if her heart would jump out of her chest. Her whole body burned, but at the same time she was relaxed on the inside. Like something she’d held clenched tight for years had finally come undone. He undid the buttons down her back. When ordering the dress via computer, Brooke had also spent credits on pretty underwear she knew her men would appreciate. As her top fell to her waist, Galen groaned. He framed her chest with both hands and gaped at the light-purple bra. It was satin and smooth, giving her ample chest a bit of a lift, presenting her breasts as if on a silver platter. And Galen looked ravenous. “I can’t wait to see the rest.” He leaned forward and tugged on the little black satin bow between her breasts. “I love this bow.” “There are more,” she whispered huskily. His head fell forward and he moaned. Brooke felt her smile stretch across the whole of her face. She’d never played like this, driving her partner to distraction through sexy lingerie. She hadn’t realized it could be fun as well as making her drip. “You want to see?” She climbed off his lap. Galen relaxed, opening his trousers to relieve the pressure. “Jade, yes, I want to see.” “Then get naked.”
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Galen’s brows shot up, but he voiced no argument. Instead he jumped up and tore his clothes off. Brooke wanted to rub her throbbing clit when Galen stroked up and down his big cock. He was pure sex, sweat gleaming on his toned body. She wanted to lick him from head to toe. And maybe she would. But first she wanted to play some more. Her gorgeous dress was still fastened around her waist, her breasts clad in her bra. She swallowed once and then pushed any thoughts about making an ass of herself by taking her clothes off in front of him aside. “I can’t wait.” Brooke’s pussy gushed. She stroked her hands up her legs, slowly, so he could imagine her skin beneath the dress. Once at her hips, she continued up the sides of her torso until she reached her breasts. Galen groaned and tightened the grip around his engorged dick. A drop escaped at the top. Brooke wanted to lick it off, but she wanted to continue her torture more. Her hands wandered to the front of her body, up her stomach. She captured her breasts and molded them against her, tugging at the peaks through the cloth. Galen thrust into his fingers. Brooke played with the strap of her bra, as if she was going to pull it down and reveal her bounty. His eyes were glued to her hands, but she kept herself covered. Instead, she moved to the side of her waist, making sure her breasts thrust forward, close to his face. She tugged at the short zipper and her dress slid down her legs, leaving her in bra and matching underwear. He clenched his fingers around the base of his penis and groaned as if she’d set him on fire. Brooke stepped out of the dress and turned in a circle. “Can you see the bows?” Sweat stood on his upper lip. Galen swallowed. “Holy Jade, I can.” The bows decorated the front and the back. Her underwear was in the shape of bikini briefs. Thongs might look sexy, but in Brooke’s experience it wasn’t much fun wearing butt-floss. If her men disagreed, they’d either have to get used to it or prove her differently. “Come here,” Galen panted. Brooke stepped between his legs. That drop on the tip of the mushroom head was too much for her. She leaned forward and flicked her tongue across it. Galen hissed. He plunged his hands in her hair and pulled her head up until their eyes met. “If you continue along this road there won’t be much fun left for you.” Brooke smirked and climbed on his lap until her knees were next to his hips. Her panty-clad pussy slid back and forth against his hard cock. She closed her eyes. This was too good to rush.
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Galen’s hands moved up until he cupped her breasts. When he tweaked her nipples, Brooke moaned. That little nip went straight to the clit she rubbed against his dick. “More,” she groaned. Galen followed her order. But he kept caressing her on top of the bra. Brooke wanted his touch on her skin, but could barely catch her breath, let alone have enough spare to speak. In the end she scrambled to undo the clasps at the back. When they became entangled in the gentle lace covering, she wanted to just tear it open, but Galen’s hands covered hers and stopped her. “I want to see you wear this again,” he murmured and kissed her neck as he untangled the hooks and slid off her bra. He grasped her breasts and rubbed his thumbs across her tight peaks. Brooke’s head fell back and her eyelids closed. “Harder,” she groaned. He followed the instructions, but took his sweet time doing so. When he leaned forward and laved one tight nipple, shivers ran down Brooke’s spine. It felt so good. Then he sucked the whole tip of her breast into the hot cavern of his mouth and she was one step away from flying into the abyss. “More,” she gasped. Instead, he moved over to the until-now neglected tip and gave it the same treatment. So close, Brooke was oh-so close. The gusset of her panties was drenched. Galen kept his mouth occupied with her breasts and tugged at the waistband of her underwear. To get it off she would have to rise up and stop rubbing her clit against his dick. Not an option right now. “Can you make more of these?” For a moment Brooke wasn’t sure what he meant. When she understood he was one step away from tearing them off, she laughed. “As many as we need.” He kissed her hard. “We’ll need a lot.” With that he tore the thin fabric off her. Brooke moaned when the heat of his cock hit the dampness of her pussy. She kept moving and he had to grab her ass to make her stop. She held still while he steadied his member. Brooke exhaled and threw her head back as she slowly sank down the hot, hard length. As always, his width kept her on the edge between pleasure and pain. He kissed his way from one breast to the other, sometimes sucking only on the nipple, sometimes on whole tip of her breast. She began to move. They both groaned. “As much as I enjoy watching, can anybody join?” Nikolai’s voice sounded from the door. Brooke looked at him. She’d known he was there since he’d entered the room. His watching had driven her even higher. “Not everybody can join, but you are always welcome.” 118
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He stepped up and kissed first her and then Galen. “Are you sure?” he asked, his eyes serious. Brooke nodded. He smiled and pulled a small bottle out of his pocket. She laughed. “You’re a regular space scout.” “Always prepared.” He grinned. Nikolai held her head for a deep kiss. Feeling her tongue tangle with his while Galen sucked her nipple had goose bumps running up and down her body. Both, together, were unbelievable. Nikolai stepped behind her and gently played with Galen’s balls. He threw his head back, moaned and grew even bigger inside her. Nikolai’s fingers wandered along Galen’s cock. Brooke felt them every time she moved down. Then he slowly followed her sensitive perineum until he reached her entrance. For a moment Brooke froze, but Galen’s kiss returned her to the here and now. Nikolai stroked his lubed-up fingers around her entrance. “Press out,” he demanded and Brooke followed orders. One of his big fingers pressed inside her. She couldn’t decide if his penetration was pleasure or pain. When he began to move his fingers, pulling nearly out and then going back in, every nerve ending in her passage stood at attention. And she still struggled to decide. Nikolai attempted to press two fingers inside her back door and pain became the dominant factor, but her pussy grew wetter. “It hurts.” Nikolai ignored her, only telling her, “Press out, Brooke, I’m coming in.” Brooke tried to move away from the pain but both men held on to her. She was just about to protest, when Galen moved his hand between them and played with her throbbing clit. Brooke couldn’t keep her body still, only the men’s strength kept her on the sofa. Her clit became more and more sensitive and the play took her attention away from the pain. Nikolai had two fingers inside her, massaging and caressing her back channel, balancing Brooke once again on the edge. She needed to orgasm so badly and was so close, but neither man seemed prepared to push her over the edge. “Fuck me, for Jade’s sake, fuck me!” “Are you sure?” Nikolai growled. “Yes!” Brooke screamed, but she closed her eyes and nearly strangled Galen with her arms around his neck. He understood and returned the hug. She felt more lube and then Nikolai’s hard length pressing against her. His two fingers had been no match to his dick, but Brooke was so close the added pain was welcome. Anything to push her over into the abyss.
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She clenched her fingers around Galen’s shoulders and tried to breathe, but neither man was what could be described as small. They gave her a moment before they started to move in tandem. One moved in and the other moved out, then the other way around. Her hard nipples rubbed against Galen’s sweat-soaked chest. She felt Nikolai’s small nubs rubbing against her back. Her body grew accustomed and the men increased their tempo. Now Brooke clung to Galen’s shoulders to keep from floating away. Her body was awash with violent sensations, too many, coming too fast to process. Nikolai curled one arm around her waist and moved his hand between her and Galen. His touch was nearly too much, but he persisted, raising the plateau. Then he sank his teeth into her neck and drank. Brooke flew apart. Colors swam before her closed eyes and sensations chased each other through her body. Galen and Nikolai followed only seconds later and in that instance where all three flew through the air, helplessly whirling around, all walls dropped and their mind link exploded. Brooke could feel her cunt around Galen’s thick cock, the pressure her orgasming channel put on him, combined with Nikolai’s dick rubbing against him. She could feel Galen’s need for her and for Nikolai, and Nikolai’s need to finish the mission and have both her and Galen safe. It became too much and gray edged Brooke’s vision. Nikolai stopped drinking. Galen kissed her, robbing her of more breath, while at the same time sharing his strength. The gray receded. Galen’s and Nikolai’s release pumped into her, their pulsing continuing her high. After what felt like an age they finished. Brooke slumped between them. Nikolai licked the bite. He rested his head on her shoulder. “Wowzer,” he panted. He said nothing else. For a moment Brooke stayed absolutely still before she giggled. “Wowzer? What planet are you from?” Nikolai nipped at her shoulder but began to laugh as well. Galen kissed her laughing mouth. “He’s always been eloquent.” Happiness filled Brooke. This is what she wanted for the rest of her life. She stomped on the doubt that tried to creep in again. They had to mean it. Nikolai slumped against Brooke, trying to catch his breath. Sharing Brooke like this with Galen, without agendas and traps and her open to both of them had been wondrous and as erotic as he’d imagined. He gently disengaged and stepped inside the washroom to clean up. He also grabbed a wet cloth for Brooke. When he returned, Brooke had fallen asleep resting against Galen, who stroked up and down her spine. 120
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Nikolai flashed back to Brooke’s little striptease. She hadn’t acknowledged him, but the increase in her pounding pulse had told of her awareness. She’d ignored him, staying in her role as the dominant. He’d remained in the background and watched her torture his partner. He looked forward to her doing the same to him. Nikolai caught Galen’s gaze. His friend had satisfaction dripping out of every pore of his body. “We’ll have to do that again,” Galen said, his voice hoarse. Nikolai nodded as he leaned across Brooke’s body to kiss him. Her taste was on his lips, mixed with Galen’s own dark taste. It was as if Nikolai kissed both at the same time. “Let’s get some sleep. The meeting will be difficult enough without us being weak from too much sex.” “Is there such a thing?” Galen asked. He rose slowly, keeping Brooke in his arms. Nikolai had to steady him once he got to his feet. “From now on, let’s make sure we do this in bed or any other flat surface I can sleep on. I don’t want to move after,” Galen grumbled. Nikolai slung his arm across Galen’s shoulders and guided him to the bedroom. Galen flopped down, Brooke in his arms, and fell asleep. Nikolai lay down on the foot end of the bed and studied both of them in their sleep. Brooke lost some of her Amazon. She looked less fierce and more vulnerable without her formidable eyes threatening blood with one look. Galen always looked more Naema when he slept. His power and radiance, held in check when awake, came through. His skin took on a shine and his blond hair radiated light. Nikolai’s vision became blurry and a lump formed in his throat. These two meant everything to him. Tonight he would take them into danger. It would be the three against Jade who knew how many blood-crazy Ferals. He knew that he couldn’t store either in a safe bubble, but part of him just wanted to drag them aboard the Mercy and fly as far away as possible. Brooke stirred on the bed. “Nikolai,” she whispered without opening her eyes. Her hands patted around as if looking for him. Before she woke up further, Nikolai climbed up the bed and curled around her. She relaxed as soon as his heat touched her skin. “Everything will be okay,” she murmured. “Stop worrying. The three of us together are unbeatable.” Her breathing deepened and she was out again. Nikolai frowned. What did she mean? They had myths about lifemates increasing each other’s strengths and gaining power, but Galen and he had never felt any of that. And how would she know about it? He dropped in an uneasy slumber and had nightmares about losing Brooke or Galen.
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Chapter Twelve Brooke woke up surrounded by Nikolai and Galen. She felt not only their physical presence, but also their mindlink. A small part of her was still a little uncomfortable, but she was getting used to the idea. So far they had done nothing to betray the trust and her wall had not been approached or touched. Behind her Nikolai twitched. She turned around, careful not to wake Galen. Nikolai had a nightmare. His eyes flickered back and forth underneath his lids and he balled and opened his right fist repeatedly. Sweat stood on his upper lip. Brooke was tempted to wake him, but wanted to try something first. She followed the image of the shining light, which connected her to Nikolai and Galen when they removed the barrier. Images and emotions, flashes of her and Galen, raced through Nikolai’s mind. She tried to decipher what the images meant, but they moved too fast. Losing patience, she grabbed an image of Galen. Before she could prepare herself, she was sucked into the dream. Nikolai and Galen stood back-to-back in the office where they’d met Silas. A group of slathering Ferals had surrounded them, all of them armed. To her shock, her two men fought with everything they had, killing a number of Ferals, but more kept streaming through the door. In the end they overwhelmed Nikolai and Galen and held them captive. Silas approached, holding an elaborately decorated sword. “You really thought you could betray me?” he asked Nikolai. Then he turned to Galen, who had been pushed to his knees, and cut off his head. Brooke’s heart broke with the pain pouring from Nikolai. He roared, trying to get to Galen. She had enough. Brooke left her post as observer and stepped into the dream, her only thought getting to Nikolai. She pulled a sword herself and killed every single Feral in the room, too fast to be seen, until only Nikolai and her stood. He dropped down next to Galen, tears pouring from his eyes. Brooke swallowed but picked up Galen’s head and attached it back to his body. Galen gasped and began to breathe again. Brooke sat in front of Nikolai and framed his face with her hands. “Nothing will happen to us.” She kissed him. “We will be together and we will protect each other.” She released her certainty into Nikolai. He calmed down and pulled both Galen and her tightly into his arms. Brooke came back to reality. Nikolai, still asleep, had tugged her against his chest like a stuffed toy. Galen reached across her body and slung his arm around Nikolai. She felt squished, but right now giving Nikolai the support he needed was more important than breathing. 122
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“Nikolai, we can do this,” she whispered against his chest. He exhaled, his breath stroking her hair. “I can’t lose you, either of you.” “You won’t,” Galen said. “We get the information and call in Darius for back-up.” Brooke rummaged through their memories until she found Darius. He was the Vampire who had started the investigation after his lifemate had been a victim of the smuggling ring. He led this small group of warriors. Nikolai opened his eyes and relaxed his grip on Brooke. She felt a pang at the darkness filling his eyes. “Darius said he’d be here in a few hours. Once he knew we had a nest of Ferals, he called in whoever was in the vicinity.” His eyes turned fierce. He poked Galen in the chest. “You will not take any unnecessary risks.” His glare focused on Brooke. “Stay beside me the whole time, you will not take more than two steps away from me, understood?” Brooke kissed him. “I’m not going anywhere without you.” Galen leaned across her for a kiss. Some of the tension drained out of Nikolai. He flopped on his back, making it finally possible for Brooke to breathe. “I hadn’t expected to be so worried,” he said as if confessing a great sin. “I thought I’d be able to get the data without great fuss. Something changed last night.” Brooke cuddled up to him. “Maybe my worries carried over to you after our lovemaking. The connection was intense and it feels as if it grows stronger every time we make love.” Nikolai’s eyes widened. “Interesting idea.” He caught Galen’s gaze over Brooke’s shoulder. “What do you think?” Galen sat up. “I think Brooke is right. When you had your nightmare and she stepped in, the speed and skill she fought with matched yours.” Brooke nodded. “I agree, I’ve never been that good, definitely not with a sword, but I knew what to do and how.” Galen rubbed his chin. “It is possible our link allows skill and feelings to cross over? Nikolai, we’ve been doing it for so long we can’t identify the source of an emotion anymore. Brooke only just joined us.” He chuckled. “We weren’t prepared for her impact.” Brooke checked the clock on the nightstand. “We need to get going if we want to be only slightly late for this gathering.” She scrambled out between the two of them. “There’s making an entrance and there’s being unfashionably late.” She headed for the shower, but turned and looked back in the doorway. “And I don’t want company.” She heard her men chuckle, but knew they’d respect her wishes, which was all she cared about. As she stood under the shower, washing away the evidence of their toe-curling encounter, she struggled to accept the link. Now it wasn’t just emotions that crossed, but skill as well. She’d checked and her wall was still in place.
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Improved fighting skills definitely came in handy, but what else would pass between them without any of them realizing? Brooke tried to push the thought to the back of her mind and concentrate on what was to come. She put her braided hair up and used two wooden spikes, which not only looked pretty, but also could double as weapons, to fasten it. She stood in front of the wardrobe and studied the two dresses. Movement was mandatory, which took the emerald-green sheath out of the running. But the black dress had no collar, leaving Nikolai’s bite mark for the world to see. She shrugged. There was no time to manufacture another dress and demonstrating their connection so openly would assure the Ferals. She slipped into matching black underwear and pulled the dress over her head. It was made from a silklike fabric, but had enough give to move without tearing. The deep V-neck presented her neck and boobs on a silver platter and the blood-red sash drew the eye to her waist while showcasing the curves of her hips and ass. Brooke shook her head. She couldn’t remember the last time she stood in front of the mirror and studied a dress to anticipate every single consequence. The skirt of the dress fell straight to the floor. It also had a hidden seam. If she needed to fight, she could tear off the skirt. The little bustle at the back covered the two knives she wore around her waist. The long sleeves covered the extra stakes she carried. Armed, she stood in front of the mirror and studied herself to make sure nothing gave her away. What the Jade are you getting yourself into, girl? part of her asked herself. Her cyborg implants evened out some of the Ferals speed and strength advantage, but if Nikolai’s dream came true and a never-ending amount of Ferals poured into the room, they were screwed. Brooke touched the small compartment on the inside of her décolleté. The little pill killed instantly, a fate preferable to what the Ferals had in mind for her. But it was only the very last resort. Galen stepped into the doorway. “You look beautiful. Are you ready?” Brooke exhaled and turned to him. “As ready as I’ll ever be,” she said and took his arm.
***** Galen sunk into the transporter’s seats. He felt Brooke’s and Nikolai’s tension, but rather than adding his concerns to the mix, he tried to send back confidence. There was a touch of worry, but there was also a deep certainty the three of them could overcome any obstacle, no matter how high. He took Brooke’s hand. “There will be other blood slaves there.” She tightened her grip.
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Galen brought her hand up and kissed it. “You cannot allow your true feelings to shine through.” She nodded. Nikolai put his finger under her chin and elaborated. “You can’t interrupt an exchange, step in if abuse takes place or help any one of them before Darius arrives.” Brooke pulled her head back and stared straight ahead. “I understand. I can’t promise I won’t try to help, but I will do my best to stay in cover.” Galen stopped Nikolai from saying more. That was all they could ask of their Amazon. She was a warrior at heart and it would be tough for her to sit by while somebody was hurt. They arrived at Silas’ house. Instead of the study, the butler led them into a massive room filled with about twenty or so Ferals, who had to be wearing colored contacts. None of their eyes betrayed their feeding of adrenaline-laced blood. A much smaller number of humans was scattered between them. The room was lavishly decorated in expensive fabrics and art. At least eight sofas sat around the room and double that number of armchairs. Low coffee tables carried bottles of blood and spirits. Brooke gripped Galen’s hand tighter. The state of the majority of the humans was despicable. They were all clean and dressed, but a cloud of helplessness surrounded them. They were malnourished and their hollow eyes begged for the end. Galen spied a Feral grab a young woman at the back of the room and tear into her neck. The woman didn’t even flinch and no sound escaped her. Brooke turned into Galen’s chest. “I can’t do this,” she whispered. Galen pulled her close. By enduring this atrocity for another hour, you will protect more human innocents from experiencing the same fate, he said into her mind. Brooke nodded but clung to Galen for a moment longer. To cover her reaction, he pulled her chin up and devoured her with a kiss. Slowly but steadily she relaxed into him. Nikolai slapped him on the shoulder. “Galen, keep it in your pants. You’re giving them a show that’s for my eyes only.” The Ferals around them laughed. Galen took his time, but ended the kiss. Satisfaction ran through him when he saw Brooke’s reddened lips and slumbering eyes. “There are plenty of rooms upstairs, if you want to fuck her. Or you can do it right here,” Silas’ grating voice interrupted. “We wouldn’t mind the entertainment.” Galen ignored the comments, took Brooke’s arm and waited for Nikolai’s directions. “What a well-trained little lap dog.” Nikolai threw his head back and roared with laughter. “Silas, I would have never expected you to compare an ArchNaema to a lap dog.” Chuckling, he leaned over and 125
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kissed Galen. “As to being well trained, this is my world and Galen prefers to defer to me on this one.” He looked around. “You have rather a lot of living food present at this gathering.” Silas shrugged. “They’ve all signed a waiver and are bound to secrecy. Being treated like blood slaves is their wish, their fantasy.” Nikolai widened his eyes. “Really? Where have you found them?” “Here and there.” Galen watched Silas’ eyes. The Feral resembled a snake before its prey. Tension gathered in his stomach. He needed to gain access to the data quickly. Bring it to an end, Galen said to Nikolai. Silas is not a happy Space Cadet. We don’t want this to escalate. The plan was for Nikolai to distract Silas while Galen attempted to hack into the Feral’s computer and gather as much intel as he could before Darius arrived and with him the danger that the data sources could be destroyed in the struggle. Nikolai was about to begin when it happened. What was that old Earth saying? Oh yes, the shit hit the fan.
***** Brooke struggled to keep the disgust and fury off her face. Galen’s embrace had helped, but she wanted to pull a gun filled with steel bullets and wipe out all these monsters. Voluntary, my ass! Only another hour or so, then your wish will be fulfilled. You can hang on another sixty minutes. Brooke continued her pep talk and even believed it. Until a massive Feral entered the room, dragging a young woman no older than eighteen after him. He smiled at all his friends and pushed the girl in front of him as if to show her off. The Ferals gathered around the pair in a half-circle. Unlike the other slaves, the girl still had her backbone. She raised her head and straightened her shoulders. Brooke only heard vaguely when Silas bragged, “Ah, our entertainment has arrived.” The Ferals had all revealed their fangs and some of them rubbed their crotches. Not good at all. Nikolai and Galen stood on either side of her, but neither made a move to restrain her. They knew she would stop these perverts from hurting the girl. Let’s hope Darius is close enough, Nikolai thought. Can you try and postpone the entertainment by making Silas discuss some kind of business? Brooke asked. They had to stall for time. Without another word Nikolai stepped next to Silas and crossed his arms in front of his chest. “You know I can’t stand here and watch you hurt this girl.”
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Silas smirked. “She won’t be hurt, she’s here willingly. Anything else would be illegal. She enjoys it rough.” “That may be, but I’d prefer if Brooke wasn’t here to watch. She might not understand. Also, I have gathered some disturbing information I would like to talk to you about.” Silas’ brows shot up. “You’ve finished your project?” “No, but I have made a little progress.” “Certainly, let’s go to my office.” “The girl comes too.” “She’s none of your business.” “Agreed, but as long as we’re here I need Brooke to believe she’s safe. Do you think you can control them long enough for us to discuss the data?” The shorter Vampire tensed. “Of course, they will do whatever I tell them.” “Really?” Nikolai asked with just the right amount of disbelief in his voice. “They seem to be right on the edge. I’m not sure anybody could pull them back.” The look Silas sent Nikolai showed the other Vampire understood the manipulation, but for the moment agreed to follow Nikolai’s path. He strode over to the big Feral who had brought the girl into the room. “Russeau, take her back until I’ve finished my talk with Nikolai.” The big Feral gaped at him. “You want me to take her back? No way, you’ve been promising us one of the young ones for weeks.” Before Russeau took one step, Silas pulled a gun and shot the Feral. Russeau’s head exploded, blood and gore flying everywhere. “Is anybody else as impatient as Russeau?” The other Ferals stepped back, nobody met Silas’ eyes. He slipped his gun back into his pocket. “Good. We won’t be long.” He grabbed the girl’s wrist and dragged her after him out of the room. She didn’t protest. Nikolai, Galen and Brooke followed. Brooke slowly unclenched her fist. That had been close.
***** Nikolai dropped into one of the chairs before Silas’ desk. Brooke, stand behind my chair, he instructed. She followed his order. Galen settled into the chair next to him. “What did Russeau mean when he said you’d been promising them a young one for weeks?”
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Silas pushed the girl to her knees beside his chair and sat down. “I have no idea. He wasn’t the sharpest sword in the armory. He must have misunderstood something I said.” “And for that you killed him,” Galen said. Silas looked at him as if he wasn’t too bright. “He talked back to me and didn’t follow my orders.” He steepled his fingers and focused on Nikolai. “Now, what kind of rumors have you heard?” “That you have gone Feral and are smuggling humans as blood slaves all across the galaxy.” Silas chuckled. “Who told you that?” A shiver ran down Brooke’s back. The Vampire was far too certain and smug. Her stomach churned. Something bad was about to happen. She warned her men and they agreed. “It’s true, he is a monster.” The girl climbed to her feet. “He kidnapped us.” Before anybody could respond, Silas slapped her across the face, hard enough to make her fall back to the floor. “Stop.” Nikolai jumped out of his chair, but Silas pulled the gun. “Sit down or your beloved lifemate dies.” He aimed at Galen. Nikolai sat back down. Silas smiled. “Did you know that when you combine Vampire power with Naema magic, you can create the most amazing things?” He flipped a switch on his desk. All three doors to the study opened. Ferals marched inside and surrounded them. None wore colored contacts. Their red eyes glared at them. Brooke clenched her hand around the back of Nikolai’s chair. Busted. “What is the meaning of this?” Nikolai asked, staying in character. Silas holstered his gun and clapped. “You can stop acting.” He sank into his chair and called over a large data port. “Play.” Brooke stared in horror when Nikolai’s living room flickered onto the screen, showing herself undressing for Galen. “I bet you thought your security was impenetrable, but when you’re an out-of-thebox thinker like myself, you use all new sources and technology to your advantage. With my Naema’s friend I have created these little bugs that adapt to the frequency of your system and can pass through without setting off the alarm. “You fuck a lot and talk too much. Before I kill you, just for future reference, how did you unlock the barrier in the bitch’s mind?” “Why the Nebokka?” Brooke asked. She wanted to know, but she also hoped that keeping his attention on her would give Nikolai and Galen time to come up with a plan.
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Silas propped his elbows on the desk and rested his chin on the back of his hands. “Would you like me to make something up about fate and how it was your destiny to be my victim?” He chuckled. “We started out harvesting with the undesirables of human society, you know, the homeless, street courtesans, dealers, runaways. But it always takes a couple of months to get them clean, feed them up and make them desirable property for our clients. “The Nebokka was the first ship to take off when we began to look around. And your destination was in our neck of the woods.” He shrugged. “We decided it was time to try something new. You were convenient. “And it worked. The settlers were all in prime condition. No time needed to be wasted before we could start the auctions. The younger ones, like this one,” he pointed to the girl lying on the floor, “go for close to one million credits. The older ones vary, depending on what the clients are looking for.” Brooke wanted to throw up. It had been pure coincidence. Her people had died and suffered for nothing other than the greed of a monster. “How could you sell the children?” she burst out. Silas had no conscience, but the horror the little ones had to endure broke her heart. “Who said I did?” She frowned. “You said they go for close to a million credits.” “Why would I fulfill demand when I can wait and drive up the price?” Hope filled her heart. Maybe the children were still at the house. “Why send the anonymous data?” Galen asked. “I found out the Council had put together your little band of merry warriors and needed a way to get you off my back.” Silas snorted. “You fell so easily into my trap I wonder how you survived this long. You fucked her before you even left Teren.” “You had us watched,” Nikolai said, his voice flat. “Of course. Now, enough of your procrastination, how did you dismantle my trap? All three of you should have been fried to a crisp.” Brooke had listened with growing horror. He’d chosen her at random. Everything had happened according to his plan. He’d played with their lives like a game in virtual reality. Neither Nikolai nor Galen had any ideas on how to overcome the overwhelming number of Ferals. Nikolai’s porta-comp and Silas’ data port beeped. “Ah, we have company. An unknown ship has arrived in orbit. Going by name and classification it’s an old friend of yours. Don’t think your good buddy Darius will come to help. He’ll be far too busy with my fleet to even think of you.” Brooke struggled against the overwhelming helplessness drowning her. She’d sworn she would never let herself feel this way again.
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Silas had anticipated and countered everything they’d thought of, blocked every way out. They needed a distraction or they were dead. It came from an unexpected source. The young girl had regained consciousness and crawled into a corner, surrounded by the ceiling-high shelves. Nobody paid her any attention. Brooke was the only one who could see her clearly from where she stood. The girl’s black eyes met hers for a moment. Brooke bit her tongue to keep her surprise from escaping when she built an energy ball between her palms. Sweat stood on her forehead. Her teeth gnawed on her lower lip in concentration, but the ball grew. Brooke sent the information to Galen and Nikolai, told them to be prepared, to use the diversion. Suddenly, the girl jumped to her feet with a scream. She fired the energy ball at Silas. It missed the Vampire. The desk exploded, shrapnel flying all around them. The shock wave threw Brooke against the wall decorated with weapons, close to the girl. Galen and Nikolai vaulted the other way and began to take out the Ferals closest to them. Unfortunately it meant she was on her own. Nothing more than a few knives and a couple of stakes to defend herself. And an army of Ferals between her and her men. Brooke shook the girl. “You all right? What’s your name?” “Edana,” she coughed, pushing off wooden chunks. “I’m okay.” “Can you do it again?” Edana shook her head. “No, I’ve only come into my power. This’ll wipe me out for hours.” Brooke nodded and took stock of the situation. Galen and Nikolai were surrounded by close to twenty Ferals. She could barely see them. So far the Ferals ignored Edana and her, but that could change any second now. A clatter pulled her eyes away from her men and to the ruins of the desk. Silas rose up from the wreckage of his massive desk like a specter. Wooden splinters covered every available surface of his skin. His eyes flashed as red as the blood trickling from his wounds. He looked apoplectic.
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Chapter Thirteen Brooke’s heart raced. Nikolai took on three Ferals. He punched and kicked so fast, Brooke could barely follow. But he also received a beating. Grunts and growls filled the room. Galen used his gorgeous blue-green wings to hold his own against another three Ferals. Every time one of them tried to attack him from behind, he used the wings to thrust the Feral away. He shone like a star, blinding the monsters in front of him. One of them attempted a frontal attack. Galen generated an energy ball similar to the one Edana had thrown and incinerated the attacker. More pressed in. She tore off her skirt and pulled the two knives from under the bustle. Silas snorted. “Bitch, do you really think you stand any chance against me with those pig-stickers?” Brooke tightened her grip on the knives. She attacked, slashing in hard swings. A line of blood appeared across his chest, but it infuriated him more than anything else. He grabbed her left wrist with crushing force. Pain sliced up her arm and her fingers went lax. The first knife hit the floor and bounced as she sliced for his rib cage with the blade in her right. He grabbed the wrist before she could connect, twisting the weapon from her hand as he dodged the knee she tried to bury in his balls. “Gotcha,” he hissed. She wrenched backward, her cyborg enhancements giving her the strength to drag him along for two steps and almost tear free. He tightened his grasp, the pain so searing she screamed in white-hot torture. She jumped, kicked and elbowed his jaw, but Silas utilized his Vampire speed and twisted behind her. “He will watch you die. Then he will watch his Naema die.” He licked her neck. “And then he will die.” Brooke kicked back and hit his knee, but her shoes were too light to make any impact. She should have ignored fashion and worn her boots. He avoided her head butt by sinking his fangs into her neck. Agony blazed through her. Nikolai and Galen roared. They fought to break through the ring of Ferals around them. They couldn’t.
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Brooke felt her strength drain away with every suck from the monster. It was too late for the little pill. She had to say goodbye to them, with no walls as a barrier, while she still could. Galen, Nikolai, I love you, she whispered in her mind. Thank you for saving me. The last two weeks have been the best of my life. She dropped the barrier behind which she’d hidden her love and desire. I will keep him occupied. Kill as many as you can and get away. You need to save whoever is left, especially the children. Both men screamed in her head simultaneously. No! Their love poured inside her like a supernova and filled her with strength. But not just that, light blazed from her skin, as bright as Galen’s searing radiation. Silas jumped away from her when the Feral closest to her burst into flames. She tore a large sword off the wall, hoping it wasn’t just decorative. Judging by the weight it was exactly what she needed. She whirled to Silas and snarled. “Look, I found a bigger pig-sticker.” Blood, her blood, covered his mouth. He bellowed his fury and ripped a second sword off the wall. Brooke attacked. Her skill and expertise were not her own. Neither was her speed and strength. She channeled Nikolai, and he was a master. The monster before her stood no chance. Her anger and pain poured out of her. Silas had hurt her, had blown up her ship, had killed her friends without a second thought. Every cut, every slice made her feel better. Every time she parried one of his ripostes she wanted to shout with glee. Panic grew in his eyes. Finally, she chopped off the hand holding the sword. He screamed and dropped to his knees, his other hand clenched around the stump. Brooke had not pity or compassion. She swung her blade and decapitated him without hesitation. Edana huddled in a corner. Their eyes met. The young woman nodded once, her face solemn. Fear and pain radiated from her black eyes, but Brooke also read determination and a thirst for revenge. She whirled around and joined Galen and Nikolai. Loud booms sounded from outside. Sounds like Darius is busy with Silas’ fleet, just like he said, Galen said. Let me finish this, Nikolai replied. He tore the Ferals surrounding him limb from limb, his strength increased as if he’d grown cyborg implants. The battle had turned. In only a few moments the Ferals were mashed body parts and dust. The three of them stood in the middle of the room, panting. Brooke still held the sword and Galen still glowed like a sun.
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“What the Jade just happened?” Brooke asked. The men exchanged a glance and burst into laughter. Galen’s glow dimmed down until it disappeared. The sword grew heavy in Brooke’s hand. She let the tip drop to the floor. Nikolai wiped his bloody hands on his shirt and framed her face. “You finally accepted us completely, accepted out lifemate bond. Once your last wall dropped down all three of us gained extra skills and power.” Galen’s smile lit up the room. “I’ve glowed before and I’ve made energy balls, but I’ve never had enough power to fry my opponents.” He pulled Brooke close with his free arm. “I love you, and I’m never letting you go.” He kissed her with so much tenderness and love Brooke’s vision blurred. She didn’t know how long they stood like this, but Brooke felt Galen’s love like a physical presence. She also knew Nikolai waited for his moment. Brooke brought Galen’s kiss to an end and looked at Nikolai. He appeared confident, but Brooke felt his uncertainty, his vulnerability. She framed his face in her hands. “I love you, Nikolai. You fulfill me.” His uncertainty vanished and he kissed her hard enough for her to nick her tongue on one of his fangs. She didn’t back down and gave as good as she got. Her temperature shot through the roof and her nipples turned hard. Galen’s hands on both their backs brought them back to the present. “We have time enough later. Now we need to clean up and see if we can find any survivors.” Brooke looked over to Edana. The girl was already halfway to the door, limping. It appeared she’d injured her ankle. “Edana, wait up.” Brooke rushed after her, her vision jumping between Galen and Nikolai, making her nearly run into an overturned chair. Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it, Nikolai assured her. Brooke hoped he was right. Otherwise it would be easy enough for an enemy to overcome her right now. Edana didn’t stop until Nikolai took her arm. The girl studied him for a moment, her eyes showing an age that shouldn’t be in someone this young. “We can’t wait. The kids are downstairs. If any of the monsters escape they’ll go for the little ones.” Nikolai didn’t hesitate. He leaned down and picked her up. “You go first, Galen, and have your light at the ready. Brooke, you bring up the rear and keep hold of that sword.” Brooke grimaced. It’s too heavy. Nikolai shot her the image of a smaller version, hanging above one of the armchairs. Brooke changed swords and felt immediately better. This one she could carry without extra power.
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“Let’s check the big room first,” she suggested. Her men agreed. Her vision still jumped around, but she managed a little better to focus. Galen stepped into the great room and fired two energy bolts, incinerating the remaining Ferals. None of the slaves looked up when they entered, but remained in the same cowering position on the floor. Brooke couldn’t imagine what kind of torture they must have survived to lose their will for life in this manner. She felt Galen kissing her, despite him being halfway across the room. She smiled and sent her thanks. Nikolai deposited Edana on the sofa, but the girl struggled to her feet. He stopped her before she could walk through the door. “We haven’t cleared the house yet. There may be more in hiding.” Edana tried to twist her arm out of his grip. “I need to check on the others. They are younger than me, the most valuable. We can’t wait.” Nikolai didn’t let go. “Describe the way to me.” The young girl shook her head. “We don’t have time.” She tried again to twist her arm out of his hold. Nikolai released her and waved her on. Edana led them through a number of rooms into a massive kitchen. From there she hobbled down a set of servant stairs, leading into a darkly lit basement. Be wary, Galen warned. We don’t know what to expect. He used his energy balls to increase the light. Brooke didn’t think Edana would betray them, but they couldn’t be too careful in this situation. They finally reached a massive room that resembled more of a dungeon than a proper basement in a luxurious house. The Ferals had set up eleven metal cages, all but one holding a child between the ages of six or seven and maybe fourteen. The cold raised goose bumps across her body. The light was barely bright enough to highlight the center of the room, let alone the shadowed corners. The kids all jumped up when they came in and shouted, “Dana!”, “Edana!”, “You’re back!”, “What happened?” Edana stood panting, bent forward and resting her hands on her thighs. “Thank Jade,” she whispered. Galen set a number of energy balls to float around like light fixtures. Nikolai studied the set-up with hands on his hips. “That’s new.” The new light sources showed bare brick walls and windows covered in bars. The kids had no running water, only buckets for the necessities. Going by their pallor and thin bodies, Brooke wasn’t sure the Ferals even bothered to feed them. This neglect on top of everything else the little ones had suffered through drove Brooke nearly to her knees. Nikolai sent her his strength and warmth. She took a couple of deeper breaths and nodded her thanks. 134
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“I wonder what else will happen.” Nikolai stepped beside her, commenting on Galen’s new power. Galen fried the locks. In no time the kids huddled around Edana. Any ideas what we’re going to do with them now? Brooke asked. Nikolai shrugged. Take them to the house, try to figure out what happened to their parents and find out if they still have living relatives. Edana will have to go to Catullus, Galen said. She’s at least half Naema. Brooke’s eyes flew to the young woman. “We’ll have to look for her family first.” Galen touched her back. “We will, but if she has even only half our Gifts, she needs to learn control.” “Maybe her parents have taught her. Why does she need to be trained on the Naema home world?” “They have the best teachers and facilities. Brooke, we don’t have to make any decisions right now, but she will have to learn.” Brooke only wanted to return the girl to loving parents, ensure she still had a small chance of living a normal life after everything she’s been through. He’s right. I’m a danger until I learn control. Brooke braced her knees and grabbed Nikolai’s arm, the girl’s power ploughed through her defenses as if she had none. Edana’s voice echoed through her head, making her feel dizzy. Her eyes met Edana’s. The girl had spoken in her head. And her head only. Her men supported her, but didn’t know what happened until she showed them. “Who are your parents, Edana?” Galen asked. The young woman gently ushered the younger children to the door. “I have no parents.” With the kids before her, she climbed up the steps. Galen, Nikolai and Brooke stared after her. “Interesting young lady,” Nikolai said. Brooke snorted. “That’s one way to put it.” She took Galen’s hand. His warm, calloused fingers laced through hers. “Let’s go. We still have a lot of work to do.” “I will start a background search as soon as we get back to the Mercy,” Galen said. His eyes remained glued to the doorway Edana had just walked through. “I can contact Kayla,” Brooke said. “There’s nothing she can’t find on the StarNet.” Nikolai put a hand on his shoulder. Galen exhaled and patted his lover’s hand. “I’m all right. I hadn’t expected to find a Naema as a hostage, and certainly not one so young.” He turned to Brooke. “That would be helpful. The more eyes the better.”
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His need to find out about Edana, her story and why she would deny her parents, crashed through Brooke. She tightened her grip on his hand and braced herself for the onslaught. “We will take her to Catullus.” She kissed his palm, her lips caressing him as she offered comfort. “The rest of your team can work on the traffickers. There’s a Naema we need to identify.” “She’s right. This one is personal.” Nikolai took Brooke’s other hand. “Let’s do this,” Brooke said and walked upstairs into the main room, her men at her side. She froze in the doorway when she saw a big Vampire standing in the middle of the room, looking around in disgust. Nikolai stepped around her. “Darius, I’m glad you made it.” Darius’ dark demeanor lightened when he saw them. “I could say the same about you.” Edana and the kids huddled together in one corner of the room, but two kids had run to a couple of the women kneeling on the floor. Life returned to their eyes. Mother and child held on tightly to each other. The children’s voices stirred something in the other adult survivors. They seemed to come out of a trance and look around. When they realized there were no Ferals present, they slowly climbed to their feet. Brooke and the men stood a little away. “They are going to need a lot of help and therapy,” she said. Darius nodded. “Stasia is on the ship. She’s a survivor herself and will help in the first instance. We will take them to Rabelais. There’s a clinic there that will help them.” “How do you know about it?” Brooke asked. “After we freed the first group of survivors, Stasia and I realized we needed qualified personnel. We hired doctors and nurses and set up the clinic. Rabelais is close enough to the core they will feel safer, and far away enough word won’t spread to the Guard. We also have to change their memories and turn their attackers into humans. We’re trying to stop this from turning into a war.” Do you trust him? Brooke asked Galen and Nikolai. Completely, Nikolai replied. Galen showed her memories of Darius fighting at their side, Darius protecting a group of humans from Ferals and, finally, an image of the big Vampire at his wedding. His deep love for his wife was written on his face and persuaded her more than anything else Galen showed her. Brooke relaxed even more when Darius’ lifemate Anastasia came off the ship. The woman was confident and knew exactly what to do with the survivors. Brooke helped her as much as she could, while Galen and Nikolai brought Darius up to date. They disappeared for a little while to go through Silas’ computer. Darius updated the small group of warriors the Vampire Council had authorized. He transferred the 136
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sales data and dispatched the teams in an attempt to recover as many of the settlers as possible. Once the survivors were settled on Darius’ ship the Empress, Brooke and her men headed back to Nikolai’s house. “Our house,” Nikolai said, his voice and grip on her hand firm as he held her gaze. “Whatever I own belongs to you too.” Brooke smiled, but fatigue weighed her down. It had been a long and exhausting day. Before she could take another step, Nikolai swung her up in his arms. “We’re here to look after you.” He carried her into the bathroom. Galen had already started filling the enormous tub. Brooke looked at the steam coming off the water and moaned in delight. Nikolai dropped her back on her feet and the men undressed her. Brooke did the same to them. Naked, all three crawled into the tub and settled down, Brooke in her now habitual position in the middle. “What’s first?” she asked, her head on Nikolai’s shoulder and her legs entwined with Galen’s. “I’ve started the run on Edana, no last name. There’s a lot of data to sift through. She didn’t grow up in a Naema community, but younglings lose control during puberty. There will be traces of accidents, suspicious occurrences, weird disappearances. She’ll have moved frequently,” Galen said, massaging her calves. “But that can run in the background. First priority is to find the Naema involved with the traffickers.” “And we need to track down the Spaniard,” Nikolai rubbed his hand up and down her back. Brooke’s eyelids dropped. “Tomorrow,” she murmured. “Tonight I just want to be with you.” She couldn’t see it, but she knew her men grinned. The warm and happy sensation through her connection was like a light purr in the back of her mind. When they took turns at washing and kissing her, she relaxed more and more. Here she was, with her Vampire and her Naema. Her lifemates. There were still a number of issues they needed to address, but right now? Right now Brooke was exactly where she wanted to be for the rest of her hopefully long life. In their arms. The End
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About the Author Tina Christopher spent her early years flitting across the Channel between Germany and England. After touring the world extensively, she finally laid down roots in Toronto. And while Canada’s winters may be frigid, Tina’s characters are anything but! Like most writers, Tina often hears voices in her head, but it took the encouragement of an editor friend before she actually put fingers to keyboard. While those first stories will never see the light of day, she’s subsequently honed her craft and learned to build not just worlds, but entire galaxies. Her first book from Ellora’s Cave features a galaxy filled with Vampires, Humans and angel-like aliens called Naema. When not imagining faraway worlds and scorching-hot encounters, Tina can be found on her sofa working through her never-ending TBR pile or venturing into the real world—whether to a nearby café or a passport-required destination. She’s a member of RWA’s Toronto chapter. Her two degrees in environmental conservation, majoring in large animal studies, come in handy when wrestling with supernatural beasties. Tina welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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