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  “It’s no use. I’m going to have to take him home,” Storm said.

  “I will.”

  “He won’t let you leave, because it’s your job to protect Brave. I feel fine. A walk will do me good. It’s good you and Titus aren’t far from one another. You have the weirdest weather. The snow stops on a line as though lines are drawn, actual lines. One side snow, one side no. Weird. I’m happy spring is here. The sight was freaking me out.”

  Storm picked Zell up and groaned. Citun chuckled, the boy was weightless to him. He was large for a child of his age but he was Titus’ after all. Citun lifted Brave into his arms.

  “I should go check on some things. I’ll walk you halfway.”

  “Is that a good idea? You know you get a little creepy when a warrior comes near her.”

  “Creepy?”

  “Scary as all heck.”

  “Jari and Taft want to see her. Lano pops in and Ashala has been here so my warriors are a little jealous. Showing her off to the two of them will be okay, as long as they keep their distance. She and I can spend some daddy and daughter time.”

  “Citun, that baby almost never leaves your arms. I wonder sometimes if I’ll have to fight to feed her. And then you’re hanging all over us.”

  “My mother never put me down the entire month she had me. It’s instinct. I’d be the same if you gave me a son.”

  “Yippee,” she drawled.

  Citun watched as Storm took Zell past the clearing when they separated. He cuddled Brave into his arm and continued. There were animals coming out of hibernation that were silly with sleep and no threat. Citun pointed out growing foliage, Brave yawned. A bangor came within view and Citun snarled. The bangor gasped in terror and took off as fast as it could in a different direction. Citun chuckled; the bangor knew who his mate was. There were enough sliced bangor around to make the area unpleasant for the creatures to stay. He went into battle mode when a growling female Zargonnii burst through the foliage. He wondered for a second if the female thought he stole the baby, or if she was after the bangor, but it was Amma.

  “Amma?”

  Amma was growling ferociously, her posture and tone were that of a female ready to kill. She leapt past Citun and he spun in time to see a Gorgano. Amma screamed, never coming close to the Gorgano, her hands to her head. Brave began sobbing in Citun’s arms. Amma was prone on the ground. Zargonnii females could no more battle a Gorgano than a male warrior.

  Your female killed my kind. I’m the last and will destroy your child.

  Citun curled around her. Brave was too young to mind-battle. Citun dropped to his knees as his mind was invaded. He threw a massive rock at the Gorgano which bounced off harmlessly, he was shielded, a force field.

  Stupid Zargonnii, did you think I wouldn’t detect the omnipotent material as your female battled? You have no hope. I’m unstoppable.

  If Storm were here she could kill it. Citun could not. The pond nearby was compelling him to enter. Brave would be eaten alive by the scum. Citun would watch his baby die; hear her screams. With every fiber of his being he refused to budge. There was an option, he could toss Brave into the air toward a tree, the trees loved new things. If he was lucky a tree couldn’t be compelled to release the baby. A sharp stick was near. If he could reach it he could thrust it through his hearts, killing him to save her.

  Agony seared his thoughts. He splayed his hand, and using his fingers he dragged his way to the stick. The Gorgano was shredding his mind but wanted him alive, wanted him to watch his baby die. Citun wouldn’t. Never. The stick was in his grasp. He made ready to throw Brave.

  “I love you,” he whispered to Brave.

  The Gorgano screamed when Zell appeared. The pint sized male wore an expression of such furious outrage, Citun fell onto his ass, the stick dropped to the ground. The pain stopped. The baby stopped crying when Zell placed his hand onto her head. The Gorgano was sliced in half, the way Storm would have killed it. Zell had destroyed the unknown omnipotent material.

  How?

  Zabbie appeared with Storm, racing from the jungle. Sobbing, Storm raced into Citun’s arms. Amma began to stir. She stumbled to her knees, looking dazed. Zell relaxed the balled fist at his side. The Gorgano was lifted by thought, Zabbie’s or Zell’s Citun wasn’t certain, and dumped into the pond where the scum dragged it under.

  “Looks like your son mastered my mate’s talent,” Citun said. “He cut through that material we were all so worried about.”

  Titus burst through the foliage with dozens of warriors. He ran to Zell and gazed over at the bloody spot where the sliced Gorgano had been. Brave was cooing and waving her little fists. Zell smiled at her, and he smiled at Citun. Zell moved his little hand lower onto Brave.

  “Something tells me we better keep a close eye on these two as they get older,” Storm said. “That emotion is very powerful.”

  “She’s only a baby, and he’s only a child. How can he love her already?” Citun asked.

  “His hand is over her heart,” Storm said.

  Zell grinned up at Storm. “Home.”

  “Amma did you understand what Zell said?”

  Storm was gazing at Amma in an odd way. Amma was smiling; she nodded at what Storm asked her, confusing Citun. Storm looked at Citun.

  “Did you understand what Zell said?”

  “Of course, he was speaking Zargonnii, a male’s Zargonnii.”

  “Then how come Amma understood him, too?” Zabbie asked.

  “Amma did you hear what Zell said in your tongue?” Storm asked, then translated.

  “Of course.”

  All heads turned to Zell who smiled at Brave.

  “Home,” he said again.

  “Looks like the Zargonnii life just got a lot stranger,” Titus said.

  “I think my son just claimed a mate,” Zabbie said.

  Citun scowled. “Well, he’s going to have to wait a few years.”

  Storm was grinning at him. “Come on, Daddy, it’s time to take Brave home.”

  Citun cuddled her closer. “She already is.” He pulled Storm into his arms. “You both are. And home is where you’ll stay.”

  About the Author

  C.L. Scholey

  Please call me Connie! It’s been fantastic working with great publishers and following my dream of writing.

  When I’m not writing, I’m busy looking after my children, husband, grandkids and the family pet, a head-strong, 116 pound mastiff named Aramis, after the Three Musketeers. I’m currently working on way too much, as normal, but I love every second of it.

  Please feel free to contact me at [email protected] Look me up on my web page www.clscholey.com or join me on Twitter and Facebook.

  I look forward to hearing from you.

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  TORRID BOOKS

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  Table of Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  About the Author