Apparition Page 4

  Growing up, Doss didn’t have a male to teach him to fight, so his mother had taken up the task. Tonan women weren’t exactly excellent warriors and she had no protection. Doss had to be careful. His mother hadn’t any talons, or armor or anything. She had tried to stir battle memories within him; all she had really done was elicit the memory of a female needing protection. His mother didn’t have the warrior battle scent. She had tried, and she had loved him. Doss had loved her for trying so hard. Doss hung his head for a brief moment. Thinking about his mother left him sad, feeling lonely. But he wasn’t alone; he needed to convince Zoe to stay with him. She would be safe.

  Doss spoke a command and a tray of food appeared in the replicator. When he returned to Zoe, she was watchful. She grabbed the tray and practically pounced on it. Thankfully her wariness and her hunger were her only emotions. Doss had felt his head spin with every feeling she had bombarded him with. Human females were bathed in emotion. Perhaps it was their battle weapon; it was harder than hell to fight. When her eyes had leaked, he had been terrified she was drowning. Doss had never felt such fear in his life. He knew part of it was her own fear, but it had been horrible to think he was the cause.

  As she stuffed food into her mouth, barely chewing, he was remorseful. Maybe the stallion could take better care of her. The thought angered him. It wasn’t his fault. He didn’t know females, not really. And human females were new to them all. He had heard the chatter of the Tonans when they didn’t know he was listening. They claimed the human females were weak and pitiful. Tonans thought their fear was hilarious.

  Doss had felt Zoe’s fear. He found nothing about it in the least humorous. Yet another reason to loathe Tonans. Zoe coughed and guzzled the water from his flask. It dribbled down her chin and throat wetting the bed sheet that dried the spot immediately. She resumed her meal. Attacking it as though it would disappear.

  “I won’t starve you,” Doss said.

  Zoe looked up at him. Her cheeks bulged. Her eyes were wide. Her teeth made a chuck, chuck sound. Okay maybe that was a little funny. It reminded him of his mother telling him to chew his food. Doss shook his head as even more passed her lips. He thought one more bite and her head would explode. Her finger was pressed to her lips to keep everything in.

  The sheet slipped to her waist. Her high breasts were exposed. His mother had told him a woman could feed a baby with those beautiful round globes. Oddly enough, he thought it would be interesting to touch one. Just to see what it would feel like. Zoe continued to chew contentedly with her eyes closed. She had finished everything on her plate, drank all of the water and now she looked tired.

  Doss settled her back into the sheets. He continued to stroke her face with his fingers. He remembered how to calm a female from his ancestor’s memories. They were buried deep but once he touched Zoe, they sprang to the surface and Doss knew what he needed to do because of his emotional scent ability. She relaxed under his touch. Now he knew why his mother had yielded to his father. The secretions didn’t make a woman want a male; they just calmed her enough to decide without any other influence, such as fear or even common sense. It was only what she wanted.

  “I can tell you aren’t afraid of me any more.” Doss’ words were quietly spoken.

  “Did you drug me?”

  “Not exactly. You can separate your own emotions when you’re calmer. Deal with each individually without being bombarded.”

  “I don’t want to have sex with you.”

  Doss sighed. “I know. I won’t force you. Only a vile creature would.”

  “The Tonans did that, so did the Castians to the other women.”

  “Did they do it to you?”

  “No. First they attempted to weaken me. There were promises of food and fresh water if I told a Castian how badly I wanted him. For a piece of information, they took a woman. I didn’t want the Castian the Tonan gave me to and he knew it. He was angry and I was beaten.”

  “The Castians are prisoners. They wear collars. But they should have more control.”

  “Do you?”

  “Yes.”

  “What are you?”

  Doss would have to tell her eventually. “I’m a Tonian. Not Tonan, not Castian.”

  Zoe reached her hand out to touch his chest. “I like Tonians better.”

  She was telling the truth. Doss knew what a lie was; the Tonans were filled with them. That was why they grew tails. Doss’ mother told him to never lie. He never had. He wanted no filthy tail of deceit to follow him around. The Tonans told lies often to grow a tail to help them fight. But it could be snapped off causing great pain. Another would grow soon enough.

  “I can scent your exhaustion, Zoe. Sleep, I won’t hurt you. We can talk more in the morning. I can protect you if you’ll let me.”

  She looked pale. “I can’t ever go back to the Tonans.”

  “You won’t have to if you stay with me. The Tonans fear me. They won’t touch you if they know you’re mine. Your Earth is gone; you can’t go back. You can’t hide any more with the horses.”

  “I’m so tired.”

  Zoe’s hand slipped from his chest to the bed sheet. She was sleeping. Her slumber was restless. Doss settled himself beside her. She smelled so wonderful. Better than an Effie flower in full bloom. He tugged her against his chest. Her hair was still damp but the sheets were warm and had dried her body, they would continue to dry her hair.

  Doss buried his face into her throat and she mumbled something. Her body pressed even closer. Doss reveled in the feel of her. He had been alone for so long. He wanted nothing more than to claim her. His Tonan half battled him. She was his after all. He could take her and share his shield by mating her. He would even give a piece to protect his child when she conceived. Doss shook his head. He knew what rape was. He had heard the Tonans talk about it. If it was something a filthy Tonan and dirty Castian did it was something Doss would never do.

  For now he was content to hold her in his arms. His hand caressed the swell of her rump. Her skin was so soft. She lifted her knee to settle between his warm thighs. Doss continued to secrete his hormone. His body sensed she needed it to sleep soundly. Humans experienced something called nightmares. He wanted her to dream only pleasant thoughts. Doss could do that for her. He tried harder until he saw her smile. Then and only then did Doss give in to his own need to sleep and regenerate.

  Chapter 3

  Doss could feel warm breath on his ass. He wondered what it was then remembered he had captured a human female. Saved her really. Perhaps she had gotten turned around. When massive teeth sunk into his flesh Doss yelped and jumped up, his armor crashed over him, his pain was gone instantaneously. Zoe screamed. Caveat stood in the cave, ears back, and teeth grinning.

  Shit,I’ve just been bit in the ass by a horse.

  Caveat stomped both hooves onto the ground then reared. His legs flailed in Doss’ direction. Doss dodged the blow. He didn’t want to hurt the animal but the attack was frighteningly close to Zoe who sat dazed. She was still obviously feeling the effects of his secretions. They continued even while he dozed to keep her comfortable. Doss thought of his options. He could jump onto the horse, knock him down and bite him into submission. His fangs contained a powerful drug that would render the victim of his bite helpless. As Caveat continued to approach he thought it his best option. Before his plan came to fruition Zoe had hopped from the bed to the stallion’s back and they were off.

  Damn.

  Caveat was racing through the forest. Doss was angry. How the hell had that stallion found them? Faster, the ground rushed by as Doss sped to keep up. The animal was rejuvenated, he was moving quicker this time. Doss was livid; if Zoe fell off, she would be killed. Doss would be alone again. She needed to give him more of a chance to prove he could take care of her. The thought was irksome—since the damned horse had just made off with her.

  After a while the stallion slowed his frantic pace. The mares and their young had been left in another hollow. They greet
ed the stallion. This time the animal didn’t lead them away at a roaring pace. He commanded through squeals and neighs they were to follow. The head mare gathered them together. They went at a slow trot until they came to another river. When they stopped, Doss watched as the stallion stood staring at him quietly, head high, ears forward. If Doss didn’t know better he would swear he was being mocked. Caveat snorted once then again, but that was all.

  Doss cocked his head. He noticed something he hadn’t really noticed before. He was vaguely aware of what the stallion was feeling.Interesting. The stallion saw him as a threat but not a danger. Which was undeniably why he hadn’t tried to stomp him to death while he slept. The stallion was more than likely picking up on Zoe’s emotions. She was quietly sitting upright on Caveat’s back watching Doss. There was no fear, just curiosity.

  He remembered she said she hadn’t had human companionship for a year. Was she missing it? She had no shield to regulate her body core. She must be as lonely as he was. Doss wondered what she ate out here. The trees had fruit, presumably palatable, but because of the replicators Doss hadn’t been tempted into trying any. He bet she had. He wondered what else she had been tempted to partake of. She wouldn’t have dared light a fire to cook anything. It would have been noticed immediately. He admired her spirit. Doss would be very proud to be her mate. The way she worried for the horses he knew she was loving and caring. She would make a wonderful mother to their children. Doss had never wondered about being a father—he did now. The idea was appealing. He wondered what a child of his would look like.

  A sudden scent caught his attention and snapped him from his daydreaming of a family life. Doss’ concentration was fixed on the odor of another. He felt his blood boil until his shield controlled his anger. Already there was a Tonan after his female, his family. Far to the left, the filthy thing slithered closer, unaware he had been detected. Doss was already in motion. Moving like an apparition, he was at Caveat’s side before the horse knew what happened. Zoe was in his arms. She yelped, Caveat screamed in rage. The Tonan was in between Doss and the stallion.

  “A hybrid,” the Tonan snapped. “I should have known.”

  “Know this,” Doss said snarling, his arm enclosed Zoe. “This female is mine. Anyone who touches her will die.”

  Caveat was prancing and pawing the ground getting ready to strike. It looked to Doss the stallion was uncertain as to whom to go after first. Zoe was curled to his side. Doss could scent her terror. He needed to mate with her soon. It was for her own safety.

  The Tonan snapped his tail in frustration. It cracked in the air. Zoe cringed, her hand covered her face. That was all Caveat needed. He crashed his hooves into the Tonan’s back. The Tonan howled and spun. Doss moved faster than he had in his life. Zoe was tossed onto Caveat’s back, the stallion’s rear smacked hard, and Doss attacked the Tonan. He slit at him in a fiery fervor. His armor controlled his rage but fueled his dominance. Doss knew how to battle now, he was no longer inexperienced. Before long, the Tonan was gasping, his body was blood covered. Doss stood over him.

  Doss smelt the Tonan’s confusion. Obviously, he wasn’t used to being the loser. Doss also smelt his fear. Doss stomped down on the Tonan’s tail that had been broken in battle. It was the only part of him that showed he was Tonan. The tail was crushed under his huge claws. The warrior’s dark hair was saturated in sweat. His eyes glistened in pain. His flesh was a hideous mess.

  “This is the only time I will let you heal,” Doss warned. “Take a message back with you. Anyone who comes for my female will die.”

  “She is not marked.” The Tonan gasped.

  “By nightfall she will be,” Doss said.

  When Doss turned, the horses were gone, and so was Zoe.

  * * * *

  Zoe was off Caveat’s back in a heartbeat. The sound of the little foal screaming in terror had her and the horses in an uproar. Little Winsome must have fallen down the cliff side in her fear to get away. Aether was whinnying to her filly. The filly was lucky the terrain was sponge-like or she would have been killed or broken a leg.

  It was all her fault. This never would have happened if it wasn’t for her. Doss was right; the Tonans would come for her. They would never stop. They had her scent and could trail her on the wind. There was no escaping the planet. She would spend her life hiding in fear. Her horses would die trying to protect her. It looked like one was about to.

  Poor Caveat raced up and down the narrow cliff, but there was no way to get to the filly. Zoe could, but she couldn’t lift her. Even though the foal was young she was way too heavy for Zoe. What was she to do? She would be stuck there forever. Aether would go crazy. Caveat would have to drag her away eventually. Winsome would die alone and afraid. Oh God. What had she done? The pain was unbearable.

  “Are you hurt?” a voice asked.

  Zoe spun to see Doss standing a few feet away. Caveat was torn in two different directions. He charged Doss, but Doss held his talon hands up. The stallion stopped. He reared and raced back to Aether who was huffing out frantically. She looked like she would go over the cliff. Caveat kept sending her back.

  “I can scent your pain,” Doss said.

  “The filly, Winsome, is over the cliff. She must have been frightened off when you fought the Tonan. She’ll die.” Zoe broke into sobs.

  Doss was there. She was in his arms. He remained in his armor. Zoe knew they hadn’t gone far from the Tonan. Doss would still be wary and watchful. The other horses were in a tight circle around little Tenebrae. Doss set Zoe from him and walked to the stallion. For a moment they just looked at each other. Creature to beast. Doss moved back. Zoe watched as Caveat went to Aether. When Doss went over the cliff Aether was screaming. Winsome was also screaming, terrified. After all Doss was the creature that brought the frightening scent of blood.

  Caveat physically restrained the mare from jumping down the side of the cliff. Back and forth he slammed her forcing her away from the cliff edge. She bit at him and tried to kick but the gentle stallion was way too strong for her. Soon enough Aether stood, sides heaving, crying a whicker softly, pressed heavily against Caveat. It was heartbreaking. A long moment passed. Zoe was afraid the little filly would jump to her death in her fear. She knew how fast and how strong Doss was. Hopefully he could save her.

  “Aether,” Zoe yelled. “Look.”

  The horse’s ears pricked. Winsome who had been across Doss’ shoulders was set carefully onto her feet. Aether whinnied in relief and raced to her baby. Caveat wasn’t far behind. Doss came to stand with Zoe.

  “Thank you,” she whispered.

  “You need to come with me.”

  “I know.”

  “I won’t hurt you, Zoe. I can protect you.”

  “I know.” She turned as her tears poured down her face blurring her vision. “Will I ever see them again?”

  Doss captured a tear. “After tonight you will be safe. But it will be hard for Caveat. Yes, you will see them again as soon as tomorrow if you like.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “Mate you,” Doss said. “Don’t be afraid. After tonight my shield will protect you.”

  Zoe was incredulous. “How?”

  “Trust me?”

  “That’s all you ask for my safety?”

  “There is everything in trust in my world. Zoe, a Tonian mates for life. If you die, I will die, and if I die, so will you. Your trust is more than important—it’s our survival. We will be together thousands of years as the result. I swear as your mate, you will have my undying loyalty and love. I know this may seem odd as I don’t understand your culture, but I will love you when we mate—I will have no other choice. You will be a part of me—you have to be for the shield to sense you. Our blood will flow as one. We will be as one.”

  Zoe could see his sincerity. She felt incredulous, they didn’t even know one another and he professed he would love her? She didn’t doubt him. With his proficiency for sensing emotion it had to be true. She
would live thousands of years? Would she love him? Could she?

  “How does a Tonian mate a woman for life?” she asked curiously.

  “When we mate and have sex, I will mark your shoulder and everyone will know you are mine. Your shoulder will bear my tattoo. It won’t hurt.”

  She understood his meaning; he was asking her to be his emotionally and physically. The idea of having sex with him wasn’t frightening. What was frightening was thinking of a life running forever with the Tonans after her. She was part of a herd—a herd. How long would she crave human companionship? From the moment she met him, Zoe knew her life had changed. She would trust him. There really was no other choice. She nodded.

  “I’ll mate with you.”

  “Then you need to let Caveat know it’s your choice to leave. He thinks you belong to him.”

  “I do in a way. I saved his life when he was born. Now he saves mine.”

  “The Tonans have no use for the horses. When you are gone they won’t be bothered with them.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “We can encourage Caveat to move the herd closer to the cave.”

  Zoe was filled with hope. “Will you help watch them?”

  “If that’s what you want.”

  “Yes!” Zoe squealed. It was exactly what she wanted. Doss could protect them.

  Zoe was smiling when she went to Caveat. He tossed his head in greeting though he had been watching. She had seen him. Zoe buried her fingers into his fur and hugged him. His head fell across her shoulder. Soon the others were gathered around.

  “I need to go, my friend. But I will be back soon,” Zoe whispered.

  She knew this was the right thing to do. Caveat protected his herd. Doss would protect them all. They were in a strange new world with strange creatures. Zoe wasn’t afraid of Doss but she was afraid for Caveat’s life. When she stepped back, Caveat lowered his knee. Zoe shook her head no.