He growled and flexed his claws. He did not need weapons. He would fight as his ancestors fought—claw to claw, fang to fang.
Nakan rounded the last corner and finally found Kalinda, struggling against the tight hold of an Ateran warrior. One glance identified the male—Chaze.
“Release her!” Nakan bellowed and charged across the tunnel. He raised his claws, ready to swipe them across Chaze’s throat.
Chaze growled and twisted to the side as he shoved Kalinda away to free his hands. He drew a dagger and swiped at Nakan to ward off his attack. Nakan’s claws scraped against the dagger’s blade, sparks dancing along the edge. The two warriors squared off, each watching the other for any weakness. Nakan maneuvered himself until he stood between Chaze and Kalinda, the female behind him so he could properly protect her.
“Be gone, Nakan.” Chaze swiped at him with his dagger. “This does not concern you.”
“You assault a female in my city,” he growled, “and you say it is not my concern?”
“There was no assault.” Chaze spat on the ground. “I am here to stake my claim.”
“What claim?” Nakan narrowed his eyes, watching Chaze carefully, his body prepared for any sudden movement by the male.
“She offered herself to me,” Chaze raised his chin. “I claim the Right of Ka’Kode.”
Nakan froze, disbelief stealing his breath for a moment. He glanced at Kalinda from his periphery. “Is this true?”
“What?” Kalinda’s gaze moved back and forth between them, eyes wide and face pale. “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
Chaze sneered. “The Right of the Bloodless Mate. You and your companions cannot be kode to any Ateran male, but you can be ka’kode and you will be mine.”
“I don’t understand.” Kalinda took shelter behind Nakan.
He was pleased by that. She did as she should—trusted in his protection.
Her eyes darted for the exits and he hoped she would not try to flee. It would make protecting her difficult if the situation devolved into a chase through the tunnels. Plus, she could not know which paths were safe and which could threaten her life. He did not wish for her to be hurt because she took a wrong turn.
“She cannot be your ka’kode,” Nakan glared at Chaze, murder churning in his thoughts. “It is not possible.”
“You cannot deny me my right.” Chaze’s gray eyes blazed with fury. “I have made first claim. By law and honor she is mine.”
“No!” Nakan swiped at Chaze with his claws and Chaze jumped back.
Chaze crouched and raised his dagger, lips curled in a sneer. “I have the right.”
“No,” Nakan lowered his claws and clenched his fists. “She cannot be ka’kode because she is already mine. She is my kode.”
Chaze’s eyes narrowed, attention flicking to Kalinda and then back to Nakan. “That is not possible.”
“Yet it is true. It has been since the first night at the crashed vessel. You have no claim for she is kode. You have no right to touch her.”
Kalinda’s attention moved from one warrior to the other and back again, her small pink tongue darting out to wet her lips. After a moment’s hesitation, she nodded and settled her stare on Nakan. “Yes. Yes, that’s true. I’m, uhhh, I’m his code-ey.”
Her mangled pronunciation aside, Kalinda’s words filled him with honor and pride. He straightened and stared down at Chaze, a warrior male protective of his mate. “You see? Your claim is without merit. Leave.”
Chaze growled and looked at Kalinda once more, but she jerked to hide behind Nakan once more. She moved so close, the heat of her body bathed his back.
“This is not over.” Chaze pointed at Nakan, stopping just short of jabbing him in the chest.
Nakan batted the annoying male’s hand away. Chaze backed up and then turned and headed down the corridor, but Nakan remained motionless, staying in place until he could no longer see the other male.
Behind him, Kalinda released a sob and he turned to her, wrapping his arms around her trembling form. A contented sigh escaped his lips and he allowed himself a moment to enjoy her touch. Feeling her body pressed to his confirmed his beliefs. She was his. He could feel their bond in every touch of her soft alien skin against his scales.
Chapter Five
Kalinda followed Nakan in a daze, blindly matching his steps as he led her through the tunnels. She stumbled along the shadowy corridors, unable to keep track of where they headed. Gaze trained on Nakan’s back, she used all of her energy just to keep pace with him through the alien halls.
Soon they entered a broader portion of the tunnel system—an area where the natural caverns gave way to carved corridors with high ceilings lit by the strange glow she’d seen elsewhere. There were more Aterans in the area, each moving with a sense of purpose—intent on their destinations and not sparing them a glance. At least that was what she thought at first. Soon one alien paused and then another, staring at them as they passed. No doubt they questioned her presence so far from the human quarters. They also probably wondered why she was escorted by their leader.
Funny thing. Kalinda wondered the same.
Nakan led her through a large set of highly polished, stone double doors that swung on silent hinges and into the most extravagant part of the city she’d seen so far. The ceiling was easily two stories high, with tall windows at the far end revealing the mountains beyond. The carved furnishings of stone and wood tempted her to curl up in one of the oversized chairs and the room was lit by crystal chandeliers hanging from a delicate cord. Stone niches carved into the walls held sensuous works of art, most carved from stone and adorned with glimmering gemstones. Along one wall, a series of statues carved to look like Ateran warriors drew her eye.
Each one bore a striking resemblance to the next… and to Nakan.
“This is your room.” Kalinda’s voice remained dull with her shock.
“That is correct.” Nakan crossed the room to a basin positioned against the wall. He reached into the carved bowl and withdrew a tan, porous object that resembled an Earth sponge to Kalinda. He kept his back to her as he scrubbed it over his scales, brushing away the dirt and grime that covered him.
Okay, he wasn’t going to comment on their location. She’d move on. For now. “Are you going to tell me what all that was about?”
She took a seat on a padded bench and wrapped her arms around herself. Now that she was away from Chaze and out of danger, the gravity of the situation finally settled on her shoulders. She had nearly been killed. By an alien monster who spoke of “claiming” her.
“Chaze will not harm you.” Nakan glanced over his shoulder, gray eyes colliding with her stare. “I will not allow it.”
“That’s not what I asked.” Kalinda turned her attention to the ground. She didn’t know what was going on. Just what had she gotten herself into? She simply wanted to be home on Earth. Or really, any world other than Atera.
“I am not sure how to explain.” Nakan returned to his bathing.
“You can start by telling me what that beast wanted and explain what a… a cacodee is.”
“Ka’kode.” Nakan corrected her, pausing in his motions.