Chapter 13

SARAH

The horizon was about to swallow the twin suns of Valose, the last of their blue light filtering through the dense canopy in shafts of silver and cobalt. I sighed as I peered through the dome wishing to gaze upon the alien landscape minus the wavy obstruction.

So much beauty on this world, and yet my heart ached for the familiar. For rolling green hills and a yellow sun, for the laughter of friends and the embrace of family. I wondered how much longer I would be here waiting for the Nomadicans to take me home.

There were a few of us who had decided against staying on Valose. We knew we would face questions from authorities as well as our families about where we had been after all this time, but we didn't care. We had plenty of time to make up a plausible story while waiting for the Nomadicans and the three Valosians to complete their rescue mission. There was no other ship except the Moktain craft that could cloak.

Marie's blunt words came floating back when she had sat on the opposite side of the bed from Gunnox spooning chiksin broth into my mouth that first day. The woman was direct and got right to the point, no matter how hard the truth was to hear. Like pulling off a Band-Aid in one quick jerk.

"So, the Yulineons are these alien guys that patrol infant galaxies like our Milky Way to protect primitive people, us, from invaders that would do us harm." Marie had flicked her hand in the air. "Sounds great and all, having our own guardians, but their protection goes both ways. They're also supposed to kill all humans with knowledge of other worlds and species. It's called enlightened or some shit. Anyway, if these patrollers catch us trying to return to Earth, they won't hesitate to blow our heads off on sight. Sorry, going home isn't an option."

Our return home had become feasible with the advanced cloaking abilities of the Moktian ship. However, the looming possibility of being discovered still lingered. Ruze warned us the Yulineons had engaged a celestial aetherometer around the planet because of all of the Gretolic activity, which would detect any atmospheric disruptions caused by a landing spaceship. But the Nomadican said it might be possible to cause a distraction to divert their attention, and we might be able to pull it off.

"Sarah?"

I turned at the sound of Gunnox's deep baritone. He stood next to me inside the bubble craft, his silvery scales shifting in the dimming light. The markings on his chest and arms glowed softly, as if in sympathy with my inner turmoil.

"Sorry," I shook myself from my musings. "What did you say?"

"Would you like to go for a ride in the spherical craft?"

"A ride?" I chuckled thinking he was joking. "Where would we go? We're stuck under this dome."

"That's the surprise," he said, a hint of excitement creeping into his tone. My pulse quickened in response. In the days since our rescue from the mines, I couldn't help but grow closer to Gunnox. He had become my constant companion, always making sure I wanted for nothing. It was impossible not to be drawn to his strength and kindness. My palm found its way to the center of my chest where I drew a tight circle. The memory of Earth was a barrier between us, one I didn't know if I could cross.

Gunnox stepped forward, misreading my hesitation. "I have learned to pilot this craft. Aggar says I'm a natural. I thought we might take a journey into the jungle this suns-set, so you can see some of the nocturnal creatures native to Valose."

A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. "A nocturnal safari?"

He nodded, his silver eyes gleaming. "We could leave the dome and still be safe inside the spherical craft. An adventure into the wilds without the risk of a deadly attack."

The prospect both thrilled and terrified me. To fly through the darkening sky, to explore the hidden mysteries of the lush alien jungle— what an adventure it would be!

"I stocked the craft with a soft pelt where we can sit, a loodskin for each of us, and those berries you like to snack on in case you get hungry."

"Sounds like you thought of everything." I gazed up into the swirling depths of his eyes and knew every moment I spent with him tightened the bond I could feel forming between us.

He had mentioned we were spirit mates on the flight here after our rescue from Gorka but had made no mention of it since. I could feel an underlying tinge of his unease as if it were my own, so I had never broached the subject. Everything about what it meant to take a Valosian mate I'd learned from the mated women—and it was for life. I wasn't ready to give up my dream of returning to Earth and the life I had left behind.

This surprise safari would make it that much harder when it came time for me to leave, but I couldn't extinguish the spark of hope reflected in his eyes. "I would like nothing more than to explore the jungle of Huren with you." And I meant it, even if it hurt me to my soul knowing our time together was fleeting.

Joy lit his expression as he led me to sit on the soft pelt already laid out on the transparent flooring. There were no seats aboard the craft, only a central console with dozens of flashing and blinking buttons and switches.

Gunnox stood behind the console, his hands moving swiftly over the controls as the door slid shut. The craft lifted silently off the ground. My heart leaped at the sudden sensation of weightlessness, a nervous thrill rushing through me for the adventure to come.

Gunnox glanced over with a reassuring smile. "Don't be afraid. I'll keep you safe."

"I know." Gunnox was my steadfast protector since the day he rescued me. His presence instilled a sense of security that had been absent in my life. My constant companion ensured I lacked for nothing, from sustenance to clothing. The faint essence of him was always brimming with concern for my welfare as if trying to atone for the torments I endured within the Gorken mine.

"Fennix, open the dome," Gunnox hailed the command center located inside the palace. "We're ready to leave."

The male replied and the top of the dome split open, revealing the star-strewn sky minus the wavy barrier. The two suns had set, their azure light fading into the horizon. As we rose higher, breaking through the dome, a sea of bioluminescent treetops came into view, stretching endlessly into the distance.

"We're clear, Fennix. You can close the dome."

Fennix replied and away we went, truly free of the suffocating barrier.

Inside the spherical craft with its transparent hull, it felt like we were floating inside a soap bubble. No wavy distortion, just clear glass all around. Now I understood why the girls called it a bubble craft.

The jungle below hummed with life as Gunnox skillfully flew just above the towering trees. The sounds of chirping insects and rustling leaves surrounded us, creating a symphony of nature's melodies.

As we glided over this luminescent paradise of blues, silvers, and whites, the flora and fauna of the jungle emitted a soft glow, casting an ethereal light on everything around us. Strange creatures peered out from the dense foliage, their features illuminated by bioluminescence. Some were the size of dinosaurs or had too many eyes that shimmered in bright hues, while others displayed elaborate crests and razor-sharp teeth that gleamed in the gentle light.

Despite their exotic appearances, there was a mesmerizing beauty to these creatures, their otherworldly forms captivating my senses. Each plant and animal seemed to be painted with a touch of magic, their radiant glow enchanting me as we passed by them in our silent journey through the vibrant jungle.

"The jungle comes alive at night," Gunnox said, glancing at me. "As do its most dangerous predators. There's a clearing with a small pond near here where we can land. Many creatures go there to drink."

"Sounds perfect," I said.

We flew a bit farther until the jungle's canopy began to thin, and then Gunnox began an easy descent, setting us down on the pond's edge.

"Those are dearth," Gunnox pointed out the small herd of animals similar in size and build as a deer. "They're game we typically hunt as well as the elksen grazing in the field."

"They look so much like Earth animals." I tilted my head and snickered. "Well, except for the glowing patterns on their coats and the fact that they're blue and silver."

The night enveloped the Valosian landscape, shrouded in darkness under the watchful gaze of three moons that cast an ethereal glow on the alien world. The pond shimmered like liquid silver, mirroring the celestial trio above as if capturing their essence within its depths.

Cobalt blue dearth stood by the water's edge, their large eyes reflecting the moonlight. Their swift, agile forms darted back and forth, each sip from the pristine surface executed with a caution born of constant vigilance against any lurking predators.

On the other side of the pond, majestic silver elksen grazed on tufts of blue and silver grass that swayed gently in the cool night breeze. Their long, branching antlers reached toward the starlit sky like intricate works of art. Their silvery-white fur gleamed under the moon's radiance.

Across the pond, silver elksen feasted on tufts of blue and silver grass, swaying gently in the cool night breeze. Their long, branching antlers reaching for the starlit sky. They seemed at peace in this tranquil moment, their senses heightened yet serene as they partook of nature's bounty.

"You learned to fly this craft just so you could take me on a nighttime safari?" I whispered into the silence that had settled around us.

"I did." He smiled at my shocked expression. "You shouldn't look so surprised. As much as you play with that spotted beast, and talk about your studies of Earth creatures, I had to find a way for you to safely explore the Huren jungle."

"Do I really talk that much about animals?" I wrinkled my nose. "You must find me boring."

"Not at all. It's fascinating the differences between our worlds. I can't image what your Earth looks like."

I reached for the bag of berries that tasted like a cross between a pear and an apple and popped one in my mouth, but before I could finish chewing an enormous winged creature swooped down out of nowhere and snatched a dearth off the ground. With a single flap of its wings, it soared high into the night sky, clutching the dearth in long, lethal claws as the other animals scattered.

"Was that a fucking dragon?" I gulped. It was unlike me to drop an f-bomb, but after the thing I just saw, it was warranted.

"Wetlock," Gunnox supplied as the animals calmed and returned to grazing. "And the beast lurking just inside the treelined is a full-grown patooga male. Larger than its female counterpart, but when he pounces on that unsuspecting elksen, you can get an idea of the size Chompers will grow into."

"Really, where?" I squinted into the shadowy jungle but saw nothing but the thick of the alien foliage.

"Just past that maylute tree." Gunnox wrapped an around around my shoulders and leaned in close, pointing at where the creature lay in wait.

"I still don't se—" I squeaked as a blue and silver spotted saber-toothed tiger lunged out of the vegetation, snatching an elksen in its powerful jaws and then darting away. "I was so not expecting that." I turned to Gunnox. "How much smaller will Chompers be compared to what I just saw?"

"A couple of fates shorter."

"No wonder you're not a fan of having her as a pet," I remarked with raised eyebrows. "The typical pets we have on Earth are nothing like that. I mean dogs and cats are predatory animals but they're a great deal smaller and tamer."

"I would very much like to see your world."

"It's nowhere near as wondrous as this." I gestured at the glowing jungle. "But Earth is pretty amazing. I guess it's all what you get used to."

Gunnox pressed a palm to the center of his chest. "Your longing for home equals mine."

"But you are home."

"Huren is not my home though I'm thrilled to be on Valosian soil again. I have not been to the Trisess Forest since Sia Havvar was ruler a yeron ago."

"Oh my God, I'm so selfish only thinking about myself. You were a victim of abduction too."

Gunnox nodded gravely. "Taken from the forest while hunting with Drekkor."

His face fell into a mask grave with sorrow. Whatever horrors were flitting through his mind matched the whisper of turmoil echoing within me. I stayed silent, not wanting to barge in on his private thoughts but wanting to comfort him all the same. I laid my hand on his heavy forearm as he broke his silence.

"Trisess territory is marked by the Sein River. None of the predatory beasts roaming the jungle can cross the raging rapids, so it's safe on the ground and the heavy canopy protects us against wetlocks that sometimes fly our skies," Gunnox's eyes glazed over, lost in a distant memory. "The river protects us but also poses a problem with game. Last time I was with my clan, we were running out of game to hunt and Sia Havvar was unable to negotiate with Clan Huren to allow us to hunt on their land.

"Now the world is different. I still can't wrap my head around the lifetime of rivalry suddenly set aside. To see all three clans intermingled inside a dome I had only ever viewed from a distance."

He gave me a withering grin. "The Valosian female who was to become my mate succumbed to the germ I recently learned hadn't been brought back by Sia Sakkar as we had all thought, but dumped into our atmosphere by the Gretolics' masters, the Grites who were trying to destroy their own creation."

"I had no idea." A surge of jealousy rocketed through me, followed by a healthy dose of guilt.

"I've hated Clan Huren unjustly. From what I've learned since returning, Sia Havvar was harboring the Gretolics and even planned to hand over twenty Valosians in exchange for a dome-penetrating weapon." He shook his head. "Not that I would volunteer to be abducted, but I'm glad I wasn't here to witness the betrayal of the only Sia I've ever served."

"I understand." I swallowed hard. "Earth won't be the same as when I left it. That is if I ever make it back there. Ivy said there was a global pandemic. That's how she met Zaku. She said we were on the brink of a world war because every country was blaming the other for the virus that had killed so many. Zaku's mission was to stop us from using nuclear weapons on each other.

"They fell in love and both of them left behind all they knew to be together," I said with a wistful grin. "Sounds romantic and scary all at the same time, to fly off to the stars with the one you love."

"Do you remember the Gretolics taking you from your home?"

"No. Nothing. I went to bed that night and woke up on the cold floor of a cell."

"I recall everything," he cringed. The muscle in his jaw twitched with the boiling anger I felt rush around my heart. "They used mind control on Drekkor and me. We were unable to stop ourselves from boarding the craft. Then we were injected with something and lost consciousness. The next thing I remember was waking up in a giant's cage with a variety of aliens I never knew existed and a member from a rival clan, Kyrran of Huren."

I shuddered. "Raven told us all about the giant alien with the voracious appetite. They were lucky to have you and Kyrran there to save them."

"Lucky for us to have Kyrran and his big balls steal the key to our cage right out of the giant's pocket," Gunnox half grunted, half chuckled. "I'll never forget him climbing the table leg and showing us the key to our freedom. It took all of us to escape. Tyrk and Vont'noir knew how to operate the ship that flew us off that rock and Nara had the fuel to make it happen."

"Raven said Vont'noir has tentacles for legs. I'm curious to meet this octopus person."

"The Aquador is a most interesting male to be sure," he chuckled. "I hope to see him again soon."

We both fell quiet, lost in our thoughts. I reached out and absently traced the glowing markings on Gunnox's arm, my fingertips tingling where they met his scales. He tensed at my touch but didn't pull away, his eyes darkening as he gazed at me.

"These designs," I said softly. "I remember you said they were camouflaged like how your scales change to match your surroundings. Now that I've seen all the bioluminescence of the jungle, it makes sense."

"If you like the jungle of Huren, you should see the Trisess Forest during the dark hurs."

"I imagine it's beautiful." I let my hand wander to his chest, tracing the intricate patterns that curved over his heavy pectorals. Beneath my palm, I could feel the erratic beat of his heart, the warmth of his skin seeping into mine. "Your heartbeat is so different from mine."

"Heartbeats," Gunnox softly corrected as his eyes fluttered closed while I explored the markings. When I glanced up, his expression was one of blissful abandon, all traces of the stoic warrior gone. My heart swelled with tenderness for this male who had sacrificed to protect me, who had awakened something within me I didn't quite understand.

"You have two hearts." It wasn't a question, just a revelation. I knew from talking to the mated girls that the males had two hearts, one to pump their blood and the other to pump a hormone called adrenalyne through their veins. It made them stronger, faster, more resilient to injury, and all to protect their spirit mate.

I was Gunnox's spirit mate and his ancillary heart beat for one reason only and that reason was me.

I acted on impulse and pressed my lips to his. His eyes flew open in shock, but it quickly gave way to a ravenous desire. Our mouths melded together in a seamless rhythm, igniting a fire within me. The taste of him was intoxicating, primal, and electric.

Our tongues entwined in a frenzied dance sparks flying between us as our hands eagerly roamed every inch of each other's bodies, desperate to memorize every curve and swell, every hard angle and sculpted muscle.

The undeniable evidence of his arousal pressed against me, igniting a fiery ache to coil low in my belly. Every hard inch of him was electric with passion, igniting a primal need within me. I leaned into his touch, craving more of his sensual heat as our bodies intertwined and the small craft filled with the heady scent of desire.

A low, guttural moan escaped my lips as a heady purring emanated from his chest and reverberated through me, igniting a fire that burned hot within my core. The erotic melody surged through me, igniting a fiery desire that left me weak in the knees. Our bodies intertwined, his hard muscles fitting perfectly against my soft curves, creating an electric current of desire between us. I melted into him, every touch and movement sending waves of pleasure to the depths of my being.

But even as I gave into the passionate moment, my heart was torn. I wanted to let myself go, give myself over to the fiery heat, and let him claim my pussy as his. But Earth called to me still, a dull ache for a home that refused to fade, yet my sex throbbed for his touch.

As if he knew what I craved, his hand found its way under the hem of my kilt-dress. I cried out as his fingertips grazed the petals of my sex, a sensual teasing that curled my toes. He slipped a finger inside and I nearly came undone. My hand covered his knowing I should put a stop to this. On Valose, sex was more than just for pleasure. It was a coalescing of life essences, a sharing of souls that somehow happened through a portal presenting through mating. I'd seen the evidence of it on the mated girls in the form of a glowing shawra.

If I let him claim me, I would be his forever. As his purring became more erotic and the building of an orgasm became painfully sharp, welcoming him between my thighs didn't sound like such a bad idea. Going by the thick shaft I just wrapped my hand around, sex with Gunnox was going to be mind-blowing.

"I'm not sure, but I want to," I muttered against his lips.

I was almost at the point of no return when he pulled away, laying me gently on my back. "Not until you're ready."

His hands rested on my thighs, easing my dress to my waist. His fingers hooked the waistband of my panties and slid them off. His hands hooked under my knees and spread me wide to his intense view. My thighs trembled as my pussy lay bare before him. "Such a succulent blossom ripened with need."

My breath hitched at his words. Then he slipped his hands under my buttocks and lifted me inhaling deeply. "Such an intoxicating scent in need of sampling."

My entire body was on fire. I'd never been this horny in my life, and if he didn't touch me soon, I was going to take care of business myself.

Before I could reach between my thighs, his hot breath washed over my core. I yelped as his tongue speared inside. My back arched as he held me firmly against his mouth, as he skillfully alternated between sucking on my sensitive clit and thrusting his tongue deep within me.

With my legs slung over the breadth of his shoulders, my head thrashed back and forth on the soft pelt while my hips rolled in time with the rhythm of his probing tongue. I mumbled incoherently as shockwaves of ecstasy shot through my entire being.

My hands curled into the pelt beneath me and I held onto the sharp edge of release for as long as I could, wanting to prolong the moment, but my inner walls gave way to the soul-splintering orgasm and the world erupted in a shower of sparks.

"Thank you," I mumbled as I drifted down from my blissful high.

I wasn't sure if I had thanked him for the mind-blowing orgasm or for allowing me the time to make my choice. After what we had just shared, I wasn't so sure earth was where I belonged.