Home > Lacey's Warriors (Bondmates #6)(7)

Lacey's Warriors (Bondmates #6)(7)
Author: Ann Mayburn

“No,” she whispered, her adrenaline rush fading, leaving her feeling sick to her stomach.

Chel moved closer, his presence a soothing balm to her soul. “Let us worry about the future later. Right now, we must focus on our only goal—you surviving the Baladium. We will help you in every way we can, but you have to trust us.”

She moved over to the sofa and sat down heavily, her mind whirling with everything she’d learned. “I don’t know what to say. I feel like I don’t know what is real anymore. Who or what I can trust? How do I know you’re not some…intergalactic hotties the aliens are using to try and manipulate me? Trying to distract me with your amazing bodies and faces.”

“Intergalactic what?” Gwarnon’s icy mask shattered into one of pure confusion as Chel said, “You think our bodies are amazing?”

She waved her hands in the air, cutting off Chel before he could speak again. “It doesn’t matter. You’re right. I need to survive the upcoming battle, but I’m not going to let you alter my DNA and bond with me or whatever. There has to be another way.”

“As you wish,” Gwarnon took a step back, but Chel put his hand on the other man’s shoulder.

They silently stared at each other and, even though neither of their expressions changed, she swore she could feel hints of emotions. Almost like words, but not, more like images and feelings. Both men were deeply hurt by her refusal, and another slice of guilt cut into her already nauseous stomach. She wished Roxy was there to talk with, but she was pretty sure her friend was still busy with the two hot alien guys that she was in love with.

“Those guys with Roxy? Are they her bondmates?”

“Yes,” Chel said, dropping his hand from Gwarnon’s arm and facing her with the full power of his gorgeous eyes surrounded by his long lashes. “They felt her in our galaxy the same time that Gwarnon received word from an informant about your location.”

“Huh,” she said. She leaned her elbows on her knees, holding her head in her hands for a moment as her tired thoughts circled in her head.

“Lacey…may I call you Lacey?” Chel asked in his warm, soothing voice.

“Sure.” She sighed as she looked up at him.

“I have a proposition for you. It does not require bonding.” He knelt before her quickly as she frowned. “I will modify the crystal implant to the best of my ability so that we will find a balance between the flow of information and your still human brain. But I ask that you supplement any knowledge you receive by letting us train you. We are both very skilled Warriors and have experience with battling many of your potential opponents. We ask you this boon as a fellow Warrior, not as our alyah.”

Too tired to argue with him that she wasn’t their alyah, she nodded. “I can agree to that. But no bonding. I don’t mean to sound like a bitch, but—uh, you seem like really nice guys, and I don’t want you to get your feelings hurt. I just—I can’t bond you. I have to return to Earth. I hope you understand.”

Thoughts of her mom and daughter tried to intrude, but she pushed them away.

She’d cry later, when she didn’t have an audience of men who might not be her enemies, but who weren’t quite her allies, either.

Gwarnon seemed to vibrate with tension and looked like he wanted to argue with her, but his voice was empty as he said, “As you wish.”

“You are tired.” Chel reached out his hand, hesitating before he touched her cheek. “May I scan you?”

Unwanted tingles of pleasurable anticipation filled her belly, but she whispered, “Sure.”

Warmth flowed from Chel as he placed his rough fingertips on her jawbone. His gaze grew distant for a moment before he focused on her again. “You need food and sleep. It appears the modifications done to you are all functioning properly, thank the Lord of Life for that. If it pleases you, we would be humbled if you would stay on our ship with us. We believe you will find it more comfortable.”

“Is that allowed? Won’t the NevShoo worry that I’ll get on your ship and flee?”

“No,” Gwarnon gave a humorless smirk. “Even the Lord of Life would not try to challenge the Baladium’s defenses. Once we entered their territory, we fall under their jurisdiction. It is one of the reasons Kadothians are forbidden from competing in the Baladium.”

Chel took a step back then offered her his hand to help her off the couch. She ignored it, scooting off the edge and trying to sidle past them. Warmth stirred in her belly as neither moved out of her way, electric lust snapping in the mere inches between their bodies. Just a little sway on her part would lead to her falling into their arms.

Firming her spine, she lifted her chin and said, “I would appreciate a room aboard your ship, if you have one. A private room.”

“Of course, you can have our quarters,” Chel said quickly, Gwarnon having gone back to his glowering silence.

“You don’t need to do that. I can sleep with Roxy. She’s going to be on your ship as well, right?”

“That will not be possible,” Chel said with a faint hint of pink to his cheeks. “She and her bondmates are celebraiting their reunion. I do not believe they would like to be disturbed.”

Her own blush warmed her cheeks as she mentally chastised herself for acting, literally, like a blushing virgin fresh out of bootcamp. “Understood.”

“Follow me,” Gwarnon said, walking away from her without a backward glance. “We will show you to your quarters.”

 

 

Chapter 2


Gwarnon

 


The door to their temporary rooms sealed shut behind him with a hiss, and Gwarnon fought with all of his might to keep from crumpling right there. Against all odds, he’d found his alyah, but she’d rejected them. Repeatedly, and with great vehemence. His heart had shattered into so many pieces, he feared he would never be able to retrieve them all from the dark pit of his depression.

Chel gripped him by his shoulders and spun him around so they faced each other. Reaching up, he gently traced his thumb over Gwarnon’s cheek then down to his jaw in a gentle stroke. He could feel the other man’s worry pouring through their bond, but couldn’t find the strength to reassure Chel. Not when he was barely holding on. He sank deeper into himself, shielding his emotions from the world, shielding himself from the relentless pain of living.

“No!” Chel suddenly shouted in his face. “Do not close off from me. Not now, not when there is finally hope.”

“Hope?” Gwarnon could barely speak as a hint of the seething emotions beneath the surface of his calm leaked through in that one word. “There is no hope. She rejected us.”

“No, she didn’t. Well, not entirely.” Chel gave him a gentle push in the direction of the couch. “Sit before you fall down.”

Gwarnon wanted to argue that he was fine, but Chel no doubt felt his weakness through their bond. “How can you say that? She was clear in her desire to not accept our bond.”

“I spoke at length with Lady Casey about the culture of her home world. She told me that Earth woman from the United States tend to be very guarded with their hearts. They usually like to be courted and prefer their regard earned rather than given. She emphasized that, as hard as it would be, we would need to give our Earth bride some time to get used to us. To earn her trust.” Chel began to unbraid his hair as he said, “Casey told me that it is not always safe to be a woman on their primitive home world. The Earth females are typically physically smaller than the males and untrained in battle. Without access to their dormant psychic powers, they are easy prey to the criminals of their planet.”

Hot Books
» House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City #1)
» A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire
» From Blood and Ash (Blood And Ash #1)
» A Million Kisses in Your Lifetime
» Deviant King (Royal Elite #1)
» Den of Vipers
» House of Sky and Breath (Crescent City #2)
» The Queen of Nothing (The Folk of the Air #
» Sweet Temptation
» The Sweetest Oblivion (Made #1)
» Chasing Cassandra (The Ravenels #6)
» Wreck & Ruin
» Steel Princess (Royal Elite #2)
» Twisted Hate (Twisted #3)
» The Play (Briar U Book 3)