ThunderClaw: Science Fiction Romance (Alien Warrior Book 2) Read online

  Another twisting stroke and he spewed, a harsh grunt and moan rumbling from low in his throat.

  Beowyn’s heaving chest vibrated with a snarl. He shuddered, sticky ropes of semen jetting over Éorik’s hand.

  Wet hotness dripped between them.

  They clung, panting and rubbing their tingling cocks in an attempt to extend the numbing euphoria.

  Sighing, Beowyn pressed a sweet kiss to Éorik’s throat. Hope surged through him with such power, he felt dizzy.

  They dressed in silence. It wasn’t fraught or uncomfortable.

  Both were simply lost in thought.

  ‘I smell pleasure oils.’ Beowyn made a point of sniffing the air.

  Éorik finished righting his clothing, not ready to dispel the lingering pleasure with humour, and aware the conversation took a dangerous path.

  I should have taken more care while cleansing.

  As always, he’d been restless without his King.

  Beowyn cocked his head, smiling wickedly. ‘You keep secrets.’

  Éorik’s preference had always been males with the occasional female thrown in for spice. Beowyn was the opposite.

  Telling him about Sìne suddenly seemed the worst possible idea.

  As Lumen predicted, the outcome of this situation would destroy him. It was a matter of time before he lost them both. They would tangle up in each other more than they already were.

  He’d be left out in the cold.

  ‘Come, tell. Do not let what happened here lessen us.’

  Blood boiling at the realisation nothing had changed after the impassioned act that took place not moments prior, Éorik repressed a roar, turning his back to fasten his leathers.

  ‘Fine, keep your secrets.’ Beowyn made a furious noise. ‘Do you think Sìne hired a worker? It would not be like her, would it? To deny me her body yet allow another to enjoy what is mine.’

  Éorik felt rocks pour into his belly. ‘Would you truly care?’

  ‘She is my One.’

  His response was slow in coming. ‘That is not our way.’

  ‘Have you seen how He, Venomous One is with Lumen? I thought him a fool. He refuses all others. See how she dotes on him? On all her mates.’ Beowyn nodded in satisfaction of his observation. ‘When you bed someone special other diversions,’ he fluttered his fingers, ‘fade away. I think it will be the same with me, once I have her.’

  ‘Is that what those who share themselves with you are?’ Éorik’s heartbeat pounded out his ears. ‘Diversions? Am I?’ He pointed at the seat where they’d devoured each other. ‘Does what happened mean nothing to you?’ To his shame, anguish twisted his expression and distorted his tone. ‘Nothing at all?’

  Beowyn blinked. ‘You are mine. You always have been, always will be. Sharing your body is but another way you prove your devotion.’ He took a hesitant step. ‘I depend on you as I do no other. What happened meant everything and nothing. How can I desire you more than I already do?’

  Éorik stared at his ugly hands. Ridges of skin covering his knuckles were discoloured and tough. His finger claws were deadly pincers, his hairy skin scarred. The grip of his palm was crushing, and in the recesses of his memory, the fingers he contemplated grabbed a skull and squeezed until bone gave way. ‘Everything and nothing.’ He nodded his agreement because what else was there to do? ‘Your ever faithful companion.’ Bitterness soured his tongue. ‘Forever ready to accept what little you throw my way.’

  ‘You are not yourself.’

  Éorik sucked in a breath, released a lie. ‘I am fine.’

  ‘Are you?’ Beowyn’s voice was strange. His winged brows furrowed. ‘Are you jealous, perhaps?’

  Swallowing, Éorik hated he’d caused his liege to doubt.

  At Éorik’s reluctance to meet his eyes, the Verak King grunted. ‘I see.’ His tone was once more imperious and strong. ‘Set aside the creature that fouls your mood. You are no fun. Come.’ He finished righting his clothes, and pushed the glossy fall of his hair over his shoulder. ‘Help me think of ways to woo my One.’

  ‘If I do not wish to set aside this creature?’ Éorik wondered if he’d become crazed. Each time he opened his mouth idiocy fell out.

  ‘Make him yours then.’ Beowyn’s tone was sharp. ‘I will not speak against it. When have I ever?’ Head lowered, hands going to his narrow hips, his voice moderated. ‘You have not added a favourite to your harem in an aeon. If that is what you want then go ahead. Who am I to stop you?’

  ‘Who are you indeed?’ Éorik barked laughter. Madness ate at his sanity. ‘It is not possible. If it were, I would not do that. She is special.’

  ‘She?’ Beowyn’s head snapped up. An almost smile played on his lips. ‘We have been gone for near a moontide. What female could have stolen your regard?’ As the words settled between them, his gaze sharpened. The line of his jaw tensed to a brutal cut. The Great One was not stupid. ‘Sìne.’ His eyes dulled, voice flat. ‘You speak of she who is mine. You bedded her.’

  Éorik’s extremities turned cold. He’d misjudged. Now was not the time to speak of what lay in his heart, but he’d backed himself into a corner.

  How to explain it wasn’t simply ‘everything and nothing’ to him?

  Standing his ground, his lungs worked like bellows. ‘I cannot ask for forgiveness.’

  ‘Leave me.’ Face cold, Beowyn’s eyes stared through him. ‘Before I do something I regret.’

  ‘I have to come to care for her. As I care for you.’

  ‘Leave, Commander.’

  Éorik’s voice cracked. ‘Owyn.’

  ‘Get out.’

  It wasn’t lost on Éorik the last time those words were spoken he dismissed a whore.

  Dah, the irony.

  Chapter 19

  ‘Petitioner for Enquiry 1223906599821.’

  Lumen groaned into Cobra’s shoulder, and I shot her a puzzled smile, staying close to Beowyn and Éorik as we entered the vast council chamber.

  Our footsteps echoed unendingly along the vaulted ceiling. My nose wrinkled at the sharp, clinical smell pervading the air and icing my lungs as I inhaled. We walked for an age to reach ring upon ring of glowing pews.

  Lumen slouched behind, her mates surrounding her. Her expression when I’d asked her to accompany me, so I had another human to confer with had made me nervous. She’d sulked and prevaricated as to why she was so reluctant to stand before the Premier again, but she’d come.

  If I hadn’t already considered her a true friend, I would have begun to.

  Aside from her brilliant suggestion to ensure Fergie was recognised as a protected individual by the Intergalactic Alliance, she was great at giving advice.

  As we left the transport, she took me aside and pointed out something was bothering Beowyn. I had noticed he had been quiet and distant, but dismissed it and gave him space. Everybody was moody at some point.

  Lumen’s brief but urgent warning made me pay better attention.

  It also embarrassed me.

  I wasn’t good at relationships. I was proven to awful at them, and it seemed little had changed. People I’d watched over the years made them look effortless, whereas I found open communication and healthy progression elusive.

  Disembarking onto Zoi Quay, I’d bumped into Éorik and apologised with a smile, stroking his waist. It was a lover’s touch, filled with intimacy and caring. He’d touched me in return, rubbing the small of my back just above my bottom, a teasing look brightening his features.

  Feeling eyes on us, my gaze moved past our little moment to find Beowyn glaring at the back of Éorik’s head. His burning look had dropped to me then had clouded with confusion.

  I’d frozen, sick with guilt.

  How awful it must have been for him to see me so intimate with someone other than him. Then I remembered his island harem filled with Concubines.

  Why should I feel guilty about Éorik when Beowyn had intentions of sleeping with other people? Hadn’t he had offered me a harem of my own
choosing? Not once did he specify who could and could not be in it.

  My defensive thoughts stalled and lurched in a whole new direction.

  I bit my inner cheek, embers of hope sparking to life.

  Maybe he’s changed his mind.

  Could I be looking at an opportunity to bring us closer? To communicate better? It cost nothing to try, and I needed to stop being cowardly.

  Pushing through my discomfort, I’d approached him as he hung back from the others to fiddle with his SonCom. ‘I know being with Éorik is okay in your culture but….’ I puffed my reddening cheeks. ‘I’m getting a vibe like you’re upset? I don’t want you thinking I’m promiscuous. Éorik is special to me. To us both, aye?’

  He’d blinked, his expression inscrutable. ‘You wish him for your lover. Why would I be upset? I took pleasure with another on Paniki as well.’

  ‘Y-You were with s-someone else?’

  This isn’t what I want.

  The idea of an open marriage hadn’t impacted me like this on Earth. I’d agreed to it thinking I’d never love him enough to care.

  On the jungle planet, I’d been confused about how I felt about the abstract idea of us taking lovers. I had been too wary of Beowyn to consider him mine. I’d been attracted to him, curious about how our future as spouses was to play out, but the idea of him going elsewhere for sex had made me irritated, not hurt.

  Then I’d slept with Éorik.

  I’d gotten caught up in my newfound confidence instead of taking the time to prepare myself for the exact words my husband had spoken with about as much delicacy as a raging herd of wildebeest. I had waited too long. I should have spoken to him the first day I realised I was falling in love. I said nothing. Now I had no right to react as if his actions were anything but what he’d promised, as if they weren’t the devastating betrayal I felt them to be.

  I wasn’t pushing for a double standard. I hadn’t forgotten I’d been climbing into bed with his Commander.

  My conduct didn’t feel like a betrayal as his did because in my mind, Éorik was both of ours, and we were his. I had no intention of being intimate with anybody but them. It wasn’t a situation I’d planned for. I had no idea how to cope with two males.

  What I did know was the idea of us three together made my heart burst with joy. The idea of other people involved with us was devastating. Beowyn had no idea I felt this way. Éorik and I confessed to loving him, but how was he supposed to know what lay in our hearts if neither of us was brave enough to fucking tell him? I’d wanted to have a better conversation than the one we were having, maybe suggest we go off together after our business was concluded with the Premier, but I was all shattered and shaken. I–am curled in the corner with my hand on my bruised cheek. ‘Who’s Amy?’ My voice is a whisper.

  ‘None of your fucking business.’ Liam points at my stomach. ‘Get rid of it. I’m not fucking around, Sìne. I don’t want a kid.’

  Tears wet my chin. ‘You’re seeing someone else?’ He’s been cheating? We’d been so happy. ‘I don’t want to kill our baby.’

  He drags a hand through his hair. His knuckles are swollen. Red on his fingers smears the sandy brown strands. ‘Jesus, you are fucking clueless. We’re done. I want to be with Amy. She actually has something to hold onto in bed.’ He turns. ‘Get rid of it. Tell those knuckle-dragging animals you call a clan about the tap I gave you, and I’ll come back. You don’t want that. Trust me.’ He slams the front door.

  My nose is bleeding, and my jaw aches. Stuff is kind of hazy. I can’t focus, and I might vomit, but I think I need to talk to him. If we talked, I could make him see he loved me and–now talking seemed an excellent way to have my heart stomped on.

  ‘Good.’ My voice was high. I felt raw and cut open. ‘I’m glad we had this talk.’ I looked away to keep myself from doing something drastic. ‘Okay then. Everything and everyone is fine.’

  I’d rushed into the cold-ore storeroom and cried into my knees. How the fuck I was going to survive on Vayhalun? The closer we drew to the planet the more I realised how out of my depth I really was.

  An hour later, I was dry-eyed and trudging through the Council chambers with two nonplussed Verak flanking me.

  They and the Rä males made their gestures of greeting, bowing, fists pressing to hearts. Genuflecting was no longer a part of the culture I’d come from, so I mirrored Lumen’s wave.

  Éorik sighed, and Beowyn chuckled.

  ‘I am the Premier.’ The voice rolled through the cavern with the power of a thunderclap. ‘I am the voice of this congress. The Petitioner of Unregistered Planet 2276549, formerly known to its inhabitants as Earth, wishes to clarify if her genetically pure human offspring is protected under Intergalactic Edict due to her union with a royal member of Registered Species 1899519 known as Verak.’ A shaft of cool light cut a line through the murk. It highlighted a wizened figure huddled on the foremost pew. Its features were cast in shadow, its long ears two triangles poking over its bulbous, bald skull. ‘It is our understanding Unregistered Planet 2276549 was noted as vulnerable and added to the Protected List in Resolved Enquiry 122390654756, Petitioner, She, Lumen of the Stars, human Ambassador of the Registered Planet formerly known to its inhabitants as Ra, and from the Unregistered Protected Planet 2276549, formerly known to its inhabitants as Earth. Defendant Sorkbhal, L’Odo Chief of the of Unregistered Planet 336754, formerly known to its inhabitants as Od.’ The Premier left a pregnant pause as a thousand whispers from the pews behind him slithered through the chilly air. ‘May the records state the Registered Species known as Verak have poached a primitive indigenous species of Category One Protected Planet 2276549.’ The Premier made an ominous chirring sound. ‘Is this correct?’

  ‘It is,’ Beowyn said without a trace of concern.

  ‘As a pure human offspring is the impetus of Open Enquiry 1223906599821 I assume more than one life form was taken?’

  ‘I abducted six all told.’

  A blast of anger shimmered from the pews. ‘Why?’ The word crashed and boomed.

  ‘Sìne is my One, my Queen. I mated her the old way, claiming her as spoils and wedded her as her people require. She could not abandon her cub, and her kin wished to journey with her to her new home planet.’

  ‘How do you plead?’

  ‘Guilty.’

  I startled. Was he in trouble? Shouldn’t he have legal representation? I clamped a hand on his arm as if I could drag him somewhere safe. ‘What are you doing?’

  Hesitating, Beowyn reached to entwine his fingers with mine. ‘All is well.’

  ‘Admission of guilt accepted.’ The sere figure flexed a spindle-fingered hand. ‘Mating rites of the Verak are known to this esteemed member. The freely given confession will be taken into consideration and will be reflected in fines levied. Justice is fair.’

  ‘You are most wise.’ Beowyn put his hands on his hips, legs spread. ‘As I have taken this human as my life mate is our cub and all young to come protected under Edict?’

  ‘There is a precedent. Humans, a sentient yet primitive indigenous species of Category One Protected Planet 2276549 are known to have mated with advanced Registered sentients.’ An elongated ear bristled with hair quivered. ‘Human female, are we correct to surmise you are willing to mate the Verak male?’

  Everyone one looked at me.

  ‘Aye?’ My voice lifted at the end, so I said it again, firm, and squeezed Beowyn’s hand. ‘Me and my family chose to go to Vayhalun. Does that no negate Beowyn’s guilt?’

  ‘No.’ The Premier emitted a buzzing trill. ‘We will contact the leader of humans to ensure your immigration is within the confines of your laws, and, therefore, your mating with the Verak legal and protected under the Supreme Laws. You will be notified of the outcome within the cycle, and be recalled to this chamber for the disclosure of fines, and the opportunity to contest any rulings as is the right of all Registered species. Adjourned.’ A gong sounded, and the floor vibrated. Dust fell from the ceiling. The
hunched figure bellowed, ‘Next!’

  Outside the chamber, I turned to Lumen. ‘That wee alien is terrifying.’

  Eyes rounding, she nodded.

  ‘Yesss.’ Fiercely waved his hands to get my attention. ‘Did you know the Godai Emperor has the power to reach into your mind and crush it? His species is small, but it is a trick.’ He tapped a talon to his temple. ‘Inside their mind is the power to end worlds. Even Azteka do not anger the Godai.’

  Amazed at the wonderful, weird and worrisome things I’d come into contact with since Beowyn and Éorik exploded into my life, I twirled a circle, taking in the bizarre architecture.

  Sky-high walls were made of smoke. I put my palm against them and could feel the hot, roiling mass beat against my palm, but the wall remained solid, impenetrable. Our footsteps rippled the floor. I walked and billions of teeny tiles lifted and rolled, impacting with other tiles disturbed by the rest of the group.

  Weird, worrisome and wonderful.

  I tipped my head to smile at Éorik. ‘What now?’

  Lumen touched my arm. ‘May I show you something?’

  Our group left the magisterial building and headed towards the highway. The chief artery of Zoi Quay looped the city, sprawling spaceports relegated to its outer rim.

  Smog hung in a luminous smear across the built-up skyline, and the bitter taste stuck in my craw. Traffic lanes were crammed with whizzing crafts, the floating sidewalks pedestrian bomboras.

  Gritty pollution dried my eyes. I itched the inner corners red-raw until Beowyn caught my hands.

  He washed them with water Éorik purchased from an ambling pedlar.

  The alien’s winking eye lit with pleasure, nose flaps quivering. Squirming tentacles ringing his mouth flicked mucus as he spouted his appreciation of the sale.

  I stared at the glistening, writhing feelers, searching for the reason why I found them repellent. My fingers went to my mouth and traced their shape. Humans produced saliva and phlegm, and often unintentionally spat the secretions at others. Why did the mucus make me queasy? Did the alien find my fleshy pink lips off-putting? Did he grudgingly tolerate the sight and touch of his latest hideous customer?