Page 8 of Stone Awakened

Not until the newcomer said his parting words did I see a change in Sunder, but then, it was only from the corner of my eye since I didn’t dare to appear as if I wasn’t giving that shark all my attention. Definitely a shiver that went through his wings, his hands turning into fists that he quickly released again.

I should be filled with absolute dread at the prospect of this shark taking any kind of interest in me. I didn’t even know where I’d gotten the guts to say something that came close to turning him down. What I was feeling was nothing like that, all my fear of this stranger faded at the thought that Sunder didn’t want this guy near me. Man, I was really acting like a schoolgirl with a crush. Come to think of it, I hadn’t felt or acted like this when I actually was a teen.

The moment the male and his two intimidating Xurtal guards had left, Uron unglued himself from his spot on the bench. “Shit, do you think he knew? Sunder, what do I do?” he asked, a panicked tone to his voice that I’d never heard with a Rummicaron before. Like the shark in the suit a moment ago, any of the species that I’d met had been so cool, emotionless.

Sunder crossed his arms over his wide chest and stared down at the male with a look that would make any misbehaving child squirm. “I suggest you do as Carator ordered, you realize who he is right?” He rumbled it in his deep voice, staring at Uron until the male really was squirming, shuffling from one foot to the other.

“Then what? Or’tal is going to take one look at me and…” he said, but he didn’t finish his sentence, shrugging helplessly. I was almost feeling sorry for the male, Uron hadn’t been bad as a guard, he’d kept to himself. Not like Sunder’s predecessor, Morkan, who had been cruel and mean, always berating the boys. Hindering any kind of training more than helping it.

Maybe Sunder was feeling bad for the guy too because I saw how his posture softened. He tilted his head and I caught a slightly exasperated look he send my way. Then he seemed to shift into what could only be called mentor mode, leaning towards the male, and grasping him by one shoulder. “Listen, you’ve got a drug problem. Carator doesn’t tolerate that, and you know you shouldn’t let those drugs rule your life. If you want to get through this? You never touch Roka again.”

Uron pulled a deeply chagrined face, unhappy with this answer. Then his bloodshot black eyes flicked in my direction and he realized he had an audience. I was watching, but so were Amar and Jett, and Jett was pulling a face that was very much disgusted. He was just old and wise enough to understand they were talking about drugs, and that his dad didn’t like them.

The Rummicaron pulled out an impressive, angry snarl, displaying his rows of sharp teeth in his shark-like mouth. Behind me, Amar flinched back, and I reached my hand for him immediately. Jett was startled enough to shift into his battle-form, his wings flaring wide so he looked bigger. I thought that he would lash out at Sunder, angry at the hand he had been dealt, but he gave the big Tarkan an angry look and deflated.

I could only describe his exit from the courtyard as watching a dog retreat with his tail between his legs. That would have been the end of it as far as I was concerned. I had known Uron for several weeks now but despite the twinge of sympathy, I didn’t feel like I owed him any further head space. Sunder seemed to feel differently because just as Uron opened the door, he called out, “Get your act together now, Uron. Or die. That’s probably what you’ll be hearing from Or’tal too.”

The door slammed shut behind the guard with a final sounding thud.

Chapter 6

Sunder

I knew I had to count myself lucky for not being noticed by Carator, but I kept feeling this uneasy dread all evening. It was rowdy and loud in the barracks, liquor was being passed around, and trays laden with food dotted the tables in the communal meal room. The guards not on duty, their numbers swelled by the entourage the Crimelord had brought with him, were playing card or dice games.

There was a sense of urgency, a need to get things in motion and break out of this place soon. To do that I needed to get a call out to my brothers, and I needed to get those landing codes. I hadn’t counted on such an influx of guards, the added security now that Carator had arrived. I should have though, I should have known that he’d come to inspect his new property. This was going to make our escape extra hard and it had already gotten exponentially more difficult with a female and second child to take into account.

Saying goodbye to Jett, and to Amar and Aggy, had left me with a bad taste in my mouth. If Carator was truly interested in the human, he wouldn’t take no for an answer. What I didn’t know was how fast the male would move if he set his mind to it, or if he’d be distracted by other things first. Easier conquests.

With the absence of Uron, we were left much more to our own devices that evening though, so I had had the chance to tuck my son into bed. That had been rewarding, even if I hated that I had to leave him in that locked room for the night. He was probably very safe there, that was a small comfort.

Most of that evening I spend circling the various gaming tables, pretending to drink as much as my coworkers. My thoughts were with Aggy and the children, but I forced myself to be friendly, and easygoing, while I pumped the newcomers for information. I needed to get a good idea of what their duties and schedules would be like, and if they had changed anything about the planetary defense system I needed to know about.

By the time it was almost midnight, I slipped out, fuming at myself for not acting sooner, for thinking I had this much time. I should have pressed harder to get appointed to the training ward, but I’d been worried it would seem strange. With this many guards around, what risk would I ask my brothers to take, just to rescue myself and my son?

Normally, I would take a moment for a flight, exercising my body, and clearing my mind. If thought it was safe, I’d shoot off a call to the Vagabond, updating them with what I knew and asking for intel. This time I didn’t risk it because I wasn’t certain how closely they were watching that. My wings took me somewhere else anyway, sending me over the low outbuildings and soaring down into the training courtyard.

I was in front of Aggy’s door before I could second-guess myself. I hated being impulsive, but sometimes it was worth the risk, this one was only minimal anyway. Most males here wouldn’t think twice about it, because given the chance they would no doubt do the same.

When I knocked on her door, I fully expected her not to answer it, or if she did, that she’d send me packing. It took so long that I almost left. The door opened just as I had turned my back to it, the soft whisper of the panel retracting alerting me. Looking over my shoulder I was met with the same vision from last night, only this time all the hostility was gone.

Aggy stood in the door opening, soft light illuminating her from behind. She wore a nearly see-through white shirt, and her long brown hair draped around her shoulders. Her shapely legs were encased in snug pants that showcased every single curve. Where her expression had been closed-off and hostile last night, this time she was smiling softly in invitation.

“Sunder,” she said, her voice husky from sleep. I’d woken her, but I didn’t regret it, she looked like a vision. “What are you doing here?” she asked, and her voice, the smile, was turning my insides to mush. Much like my stone outside was slowly crumbling, strained from holding my battle-form as long as I had. I shoved that unpleasant thought away, unwilling to give it any time tonight.

Without a word, I stepped close to the human female, towering over her and forcing her to back up into her room. The panel swished close behind me and the moment it did, my wings curved forward, capturing her inside their cocoon. My hands followed after, curling around her soft, curvy middle and tugging her closer until our bodies were touching from the knees up to her shoulders.

I could feel the warm globes of her breasts as they pressed against me, smell her delicious sweet scent. She made a soft gasping sound, her hands coming up to rest against my shoulders. I hated how little I could feel that touch, my battle-form wasn’t suited for feeling pleasure, the skin hard and rough as stone.

That didn’t matter when Aggy tilted her head back, her gaze heavy-lidded. She licked at her lips, her hands sliding up my shoulders, and around my neck. I leaned down at the first bit of pressure. Despite coming here fully intending to steal, at the very least, a kiss, now I worried that she would even want to. A Tarkan in battle-form was not a pretty sight to most species. I’d been away from home so long, that I’d gotten used to seeing other features more than those of my own kind.

She didn’t hesitate, rising on tiptoe to press soft lips against my mouth. A growl erupted from my chest, rumbling through my body. My palms were on her waist, my wings curved around her back, I had her right where I wanted. The primal urge to make sure she knew that and that I wasn’t going to let her go, rushed through me. I hadn’t felt this strongly the urge to rut in more than twenty years.

Shocked by the intense rush of feeling, I forced myself to focus only on the here and now, on her mouth on mine. I ran my palms up her sides, around her small rib cage, and over the slender, wingless shoulder blades. She felt so soft, so fragile, the contrast between my battle-form and her soft skin was huge.

Something inside of me unwound a little, tension leaving my body that I didn’t even know I’d been carrying. I backed up a step, pulling the warm, willing woman in my arms with me until my back was pressed up against the door. Curling my arms more tightly around her body, I lifted her from the ground and focused on the warm wet cavern of her mouth.

If there was one part of my body that was sensitive, it was the inside of my mouth, my tongue, so I set out to explore her with it. I tasted the soft curve of her jaw, the roundness of her cheek, the sensitive, and the slightly salty spot right beneath her ear. I was rewarded by a husky moan when I nibbled on her earlobe.