Chapter 5

Kalzudaud

I wanted to linger in that moment. More than anything, I wanted to keep pleasuring my sexy mate and discover all the things that made her moan for me. She deserved so much better than a quick romp in the woods. Silky sheets, jewels and gems, the finest Aderian wine or the tastiest Tarkan delicacies. Whatever she wanted, it would be hers.

Right now, her safety was more important than spoiling her. I could hear the sound of an approaching land vehicle and knew that we had to get out of here, fast. I should have remembered our dire situation, but I'd let myself get swept away in the tempting, sinful moment when she offered to heal me.

With a few powerful pushes of my wings, I had us soaring over the newly created clearing. The short range vessel was a mess, its nose dug deep into the Daudiras' dirt, while a deep furrow lead the way through the woods toward it. The tall silkbark trees that still stood were each big enough to find a safe perch on, and I located just such a spot to set my mate down. "Stay here," I warned her as I parked her sexy rear on the thick limb and notched the emergency kit in a few branches next to her. "I will deal with them."

I spun around just as the vehicle careened out of the cover of the jungle trees and into the clearing next to the vessel. Several Tarkan males in their battle-forms leaped out, dressed in simple black leather kilts and armed with swords or axes. They had forgone any type of laser weaponry, which was almost entirely rendered useless against a Tarkan's battle-form. Good, that meant they expected it to just be me.

They were not wearing any colors that denoted their loyalty, just black over their gray bodies. I made sure to be absolutely silent as I circled above them, waiting only long enough to be sure of their intentions. They entered the ship, leaving only a single male to guard the exit, and he was clearly new at this. "Is the bastard dead or not?" he yelled out impatiently, only to be cursed at and shushed by the rest of the thugs inside.

I had no mercy left in me for any of these traitors, not after they killed my sister and her mate and left Sera dying. Sweeping around, I folded my wings tightly against my body and with a rapid spiral drop, caught the lone male up and wrenched his wings. He screamed as I took the struggling male higher into the air, high enough for a fatal drop even in his battle-form. Watching him plummet wasn't as satisfying as I had imagined, and his screams called the others.

Good, I could use a target for all this anger and rage. I was going to show them that I was no pampered royalty but a battle hardened warrior in my own right. This King had teeth, and he was not afraid to get his hands dirty. Iru would be sad to hear he'd missed a good fight, but these were all mine. They flung themselves into the sky after me and I relished the aerial battle that followed, dodging wing claws, swords, and ax blows. Catching these lowlifes where it counted, but always, always, making sure to keep them away from the tree in which my mate was hiding.

The fight was over far too soon, and still filled with the rage of the battle, I trembled when I landed on the thick tree limb next to my Caitlyn. Blood splattered me, none of it my own, and several bruises richer once again, but those I wouldn't notice until later. We needed to move, and fast, because this was only the fore guard. When they did not report back soon, more would follow. It was tempting to stick around and hope that it would draw out the traitor behind it all, but the coward would probably not show themselves.

Caitlyn was staring at me with enormous eyes; they were a deep brown that seemed unique just to her and her species. She looked a little in shock, and a powerful scent of fear wafted from her that I had not noticed before. Despite my not so stellar introductions, and the fact that I'd stolen her from Aderia, she had not feared me.

"You are safe," I told her. "They did not notice you were there." I had made sure of that on the off chance that one of them managed to escape and report back. Nobody needed to know what I was up to. My mission to save Sera would only renew their efforts to end her young life, and I would not tolerate any danger to my mate.

She gave me a curt nod, and her swallow was loud enough for me to hear it. That did not assure her, which could only mean that it was me she felt apprehension for now. The heaviness that settled in my chest at that thought made me rub my sternum roughly with a knuckle. I would fix this. I would have her trust again when she realized my battle prowess was only there to serve her, to serve my kingdom.

"Iru, pick up my friend," I said into my com device. As we crashed, interference could have prevented my call from going through, but we were on the planet now, and our connection should be effortless. If he did not answer, that could only mean that he was dead or out of touch on purpose. My mind spun with worry for my heart-daughter and my friend.

"It'll be alright," Caitlyn said in the laden silence while I glared at my unresponsive com device. She reached out across the branch to put her small hand on my wrist and the world seemed to right itself around me. I didn't know it could be like that, but that touch brought back a light, a flicker of hope. She was right, it would be alright, I would make it so. I offered her a grateful smile and was rewarded with one of hers in return. Could her trust in me come back that quickly? Was a mate bond really that powerful?

"Kal? Is that you?" Iru's voice suddenly crackled in the air between us and I jerked my eyes back to my com device. The connection was terrible, so he was either not on the planet with Sera, or somewhere deep underground. Both were very valid options. My friend would go to the ends of the quadrant if it meant fulfilling his duty to me and the future queen.

"It is. I succeeded. We need to rendezvous. Can you reach the palace safely by tomorrow?" When Iru confirmed easily, my worries faded away. I knew where he'd taken my heart-daughter, a good, safe place that not many would think to look in or even want to go. Tarkan were made for the skies, the underground catacombs were anathema to us all, but Iru was at home in the dark. Even better, they were very near the palace and help in case he needed it.

"I need to destroy my com to avoid trackers," I warned. "I suggest you do the same. We will be there at the agreed time." The call disconnected with another loud crackle and in the following silence, I raised my eyes to meet Caitlyn's gaze. "I will keep you safe, always. That is my promise as a male, your male. Understand?" When she nodded, I raised my com and slammed it hard against the tree's thick bark, then let the pieces scatter to the ground.