Chapter Four

Chapter Four

Tanner

Scratching at her palm, Tanner swore again. The spot didn't hurt, but it itched. Throbbed. Drove her crazy. She forced her mind away from the issue and concentrated on hiking silently through the forest.

After spending the night in her little cave, she was ready to go home. Home. Taking a deep breath, she shook her head. Her little hidey-hole at the edge of where this small forest met the desert sand wasn't home. It was a temporary shelter, at best. Tanny hoped like hell that she could find her sister soon and escape this planet. Take Candy back to Earth and their little house. That was home.

She moved slowly. Listening to the sounds of alien nature while she walked. When she first began hiding here, the sounds were odd, frightening, but she adjusted to their rhythm. This morning, everything sounded normal. Looking around, she didn't notice any tracks or signs that someone else was in her space. Tanny felt safe, positive she escaped her shadow. Or maybe he wasn't interested in her. She was following the guards who were taking the Andaran to his compound. Maybe they were just on the same path.

Without hesitation, she made her way to the small refuge she created several months ago. Without a calendar, she didn't know exactly how much time had passed since she escaped. But the fact that Candy was so very pregnant… meant it had been longer than she thought. Fear for her sister swamped Tanny. Where did she go? Who took her? Because Tanner didn't believe for one minute that the three women in that room woke from what had to be medically induced comas—to saunter out the front door.

The only thing keeping her from having a complete meltdown—was how shocked the Andaran was that the women and his guards were missing. Someone took them from right under his nose… and Tanner had to trust that someone had rescued Candy and the other two women. Now it was up to her to discover where her sister had been taken. Tanny didn't know if she had enough energy to start the search over again, or where she should begin? She'd searched the house for any clues last night. Finding nothing.

Tanny didn't realize how exhausted she was or how mentally drained. Even though she slept through part of the night, until the damn silver bird serenaded her awake this morning, she could hardly move. Barely able to put one foot in front of the other, she plodded across the small clearing and ducked under the pile of logs that hid her resting place.

Collapsing on her small pile of blankets, tears streamed down her face. She knew a good portion of her fatigue was depression. The silent tears turned to loud sobs as she released the hold on her emotions. For long moments Tanner cried.

Crying wasn't something she normally did, but she was so tired of handling everything on her own. Of maintaining the discipline to keep searching for her sister. Of struggling each and every day to find food, clothing, and all the things she needed to survive on this alien planet. Tanner wasn't sure she could keep going. Hope leached out of her body. She needed help and had no clue how to find someone she could trust.

She had never felt so utterly alone.

The black spot on her palm itched, then heated. Warmth spread through her body. Tanner swore the sensation radiated… support. The shock dried her tears and quieted the sobs. She allowed herself to take a minute to enjoy the weird sensation because it was the only thing that felt good since the day she was kidnapped.

Eventually, Tanner rolled over and got to her feet. Her body felt energized, capable again. With the positive feelings came the realization that the drugs pumped into the air on this planet had played a part in her breakdown. She'd overheard enough private conversations to know the impact of those drugs. They caused intensified anxiety and depression… along with a heightened sex drive. But she never discovered what the locals did to stop the effect. From everything she observed, they seemed to just live with it.

Shaking her head, Tanny grabbed one of the multi-colored Viant robes and headed for the stream that curved around her tiny meadow. She needed the cold water to shock some sense into her system and clear her head. She would wash her body and clothes, so she'd be ready to start all over tomorrow.

Tanny glared at the little silver bird who trilled from a nearby orange-leafed tree. She had no intention of adding another mystery to her long list. "Take your cooties and go somewhere else," she demanded. Scrubbing her marked palm against her thigh, she forced her thoughts toward Candy. How the hell did she find her sister now?

BinjaOB

Leaving the Andaran's compound, Binja stayed naked. He was covered only in a small loin cloth to allow his skin to change at will, based on what surrounded him. Clothing restricted his camouflage.

He followed the mental direction given to him by the small bird formed from his marking bands. Binja had long ago named the bird Eita, which meant tiny in an alien language he'd long forgotten. It had been one of many during his lifetime.

BinjaOB made good time through the wide strip of woods, relying on Eita's directions. The bird sent him a visual of how this forested acreage curled around the Andaran's compound, buffering the town from the nearby desert. The forest didn't appear to be inhabited by anything larger than pimats. A small, feline predator.

He knew pimats could be found on many planets. They varied in size from just a few pounds to hundreds. The larger ones would hunt, kill, and eat humanoids, but the cats on Viant were small. Only ten to twenty pounds, so they didn't present a threat. These cats had a natural camouflage, much like Binja did and were hard to see. Their gray fur was covered in vivid green and orange stripes—just like the foliage in the trees and small meadows. The stripes made them difficult to see.

With Eita's help, it didn't take long for Binja to track the would-be assassin. He found the male sleeping in a little nest under several downed trees. This little hidey-hole was perfect. If he hadn't followed the direction of his bird, he would have walked right by. So, at least this assassin wasn't a complete waste.

Binja was angry. Irritated that this man didn't do more than scratch the kack-head Andaran. The evil alien only had a three-inch-long scrape down his bicep from the laser and a knot on his head from hitting a rock on the street after he fainted. Siluthien Hell. Who tried to kill someone as crazy as the Andaran without becoming a crack shot?

To make matters worse, the self-made king of Viant was furious that someone would attempt to kill him. Hiding in the shadows of the Andaran's bedroom, Binja watched as the man shrieked his orders. Jacanas wanted the guards to search every house, every business, every fracking inch of the planet for the would-be killer.

Binja grimaced. That would make everyone's life miserable, and it would also make it more difficult to challenge the Andaran. Thankfully, the leader of his Super Spies broke into this tirade and asked, " How is the SS supposed to know who shot the laser? Our concern was getting you to safety, so none of us saw where the shot came from."

It was a good question. A reasonable attempt at turning away Jacanas' wrath. However, it was also one that almost got the Ahnok killed. The Ahnok species made elite bodyguards and spies. This was because they had a halo of eyes that surrounded their skulls and allowed them a complete, circular view of their surroundings. The beings couldn't be surprised. Even asleep, they only closed half their eyelids. The Ahnoks he and his brothers knew were also incredibly skilled with weapons.

The Andaran was a fool if he thought he could kill his Ahnok guard without a plan. While his boss seethed, the Ahnok requested enough time to gather more information and the tight-lipped Andaran agreed.

BinjaOB quickly used his mental connection with his brothers to warn them about what happened. Then he set off to teach this kacking idiot a lesson. It didn't matter if the man had a reason for wanting the Andaran dead. They all had a reason. But he didn't do the job and his incompetent actions put them all at risk. It was unacceptable.

Entering a small clearing, Binja paused. The heavily perfumed air overrode any scent. The bubbling brook surrounding most of the small clearing muffled all sounds. Visually, the surrounding area appeared flat. The downed trees seemed impenetrable. Only the presence of a small piece of his soul in the little bird alerted him to the location of the assassin's hiding spot. It was clever, showing Binja that his opponent had some skills. Even if the man couldn't shoot worth a damn.

Quietly Binja slipped under the trees and into the dugout. He knew his body was almost invisible. And the babbling spring not only muted any noise the failed assassin made, but covered his steps as well.

Binja noted the wet clothing tossed over one of the fallen logs. He glanced at the sleeping figure. The man's wet hair was dappled in sunlight and shadow. It was difficult in this lighting to determine the color. The man had obviously bathed in the stream and washed his clothes. Now he was wrapped in a Viant robe, sleeping.

Binja shook his head. This was too easy. He'd been looking forward to a fight, a contest of wills. Grinning, he decided he might just get a little tussle out of this after all. Binja grabbed hold of the robe and tore it off the man. He jumped on him, wanting a physical fight to burn off the anger of missing his target. Stripping the man's cover would provide a few seconds of distraction.

Only it wasn't his opponent who was distracted.

"You aren't a man," he stated flatly. BinjaOB pinned the naked female on her back, straddling her hips with her wrists held firmly in both hands so she couldn't fight him. He pinned those wrists to the ground and leaned over her. Shifting his body, Binja bit back a moan when naked flesh slid over naked flesh. His loincloth did not protect him from the feel of her warm, writhing body. He closed his eyes, not wanting to add the visual of round, generous breasts tipped with perfect nipples.

Every movement she made brought them closer together.

Mine … his mating bands vibrated.

"No shit, Sherlock. Get off me!" she screamed the words, bucking underneath him. Her eyes opened, and she screamed again.

Probably because Binja was in full camouflage mode and she couldn't see him. He relaxed, letting his markings fade, so she'd see his dark silver flesh.

"My name is not Sherlock," he bit out. "It is BinjaOB. Stop moving or we'll end up much closer than either of us wants to be." He pressed into her, unable to suppress the forward and back motion of his hips. Grinding his cock into her flesh. His body screamed at him to tilt his hips, just a bit, and slide… Siluthien Hell! His bands thrummed, and he threw back his head. Gritting his teeth, then tightening his muscles against the overwhelming urge to take this woman and damn all consequences.

Her thighs parted, and she lifted one leg, wrapping it around his hips when his body filled the space she created for him. "Get off me," she gasped and tightened the hook she made with her leg. Holding him in place.

Binja realized he was panting, straining. He looked down into flashing sage-green eyes and watched her chest rise and fall. She pushed her breasts upward, as if making an offering. His gaze snagged on her blood engorged nipples.

He licked his lips. "I don't want you." His words were clipped. His body twitched, dragging his cock over the slick flesh between her thighs. He gasped and shuddered with an intense reaction, denying the truth of his words.