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  The water was warm and came to her chin. She waved her hands back and forth admiring the texture. This water was definitely different than the shower she was used to. It had been years since she was fully immersed in blessed wetness. Caris was curious as the water began to bubble, waves formed to swirl mightily around her gaining in intensity. She shrieked in fear thinking it was an attack and she’d been tricked. She heard a splash and Benz was holding her.

  “You should have mentioned it’s really a fricking whirlpool,” she bellowed.

  “It’s all right,” he soothed. “The water identifies your clothes and other things as dirt. I was going to tell you but you move like a cheetah. This water will also remove hair. You should have let me explain.”

  “My hair?” Caris cried out. Her hands flew to her head and she gasped as she tried to climb up his body. His muscles gave her surprising leverage and handholds and she didn’t care what her hands were holding.

  “Calm down. It will leave the hair on your head. Look at me. I’m not bald and I’ve been in here many times.”

  Caris stopped trying to sit on his head long enough to see he was right. His voice was pinched as she had a hold of his nose.

  “But to you I’m an alien,” she said as her voice shook. “What if it eradicates me?”

  “Caris,” he chided, and disengaged her hand so he could speak properly. “I wouldn’t put you in danger. Can you ease up a bit? Your heel is digging into my balls and one of your toes has a hold of my cock. I’d like to keep the hair I have on my head. Can you untangle your fingers?”

  She noted the water was no longer demonic. Caris eased her leg off his shoulder. She settled warily back into the pool.

  “Holy hell, female, have you got a grip,” Benz complained. “You climb like a cat I saw running from a dog. We need to find you a nail clipper, and maybe a scratching post.”

  Caris smacked him open handed on the chest. “Thanks so much for the warning.”

  Benz was wide-eyed. “I tried,” he said sputtering.

  “Oh, this is a healing pool,” Caris mimicked his voice as best as she could. She shoved away from him. “It feels so wonderful and warm and, and…holy fuck where are my clothes? I’m naked,” she shrieked.

  “About that…”

  “Out,” she demanded and pointed a finger at the door while holding an arm across her breasts. “Do not come back without a towel, clothes, and make sure your eyes are closed and walk backward when you return.”

  Caris’s eyes went round as a naked-ass Benz jumped from the pool. Tiny sprays and droplets slinked their way down his breathtaking muscular body. He turned slightly and she saw his hard-on. He was hung. She knew she was gawking and couldn’t stop. It was like a train wreck she couldn’t look away from. A beautiful, sinfully gorgeous train wreck of a man. Her gaze traveled the length of his body from his toes to his Oh my God, smiling lips. The hand pointing her finger clasped over her eyes.

  “I’ll get your towel. That is if you’re done checking me out…”

  “Go,” she stormed at him and did her best to stomp a foot in the water.

  Caris peeked through her fingers as he swaggered away. His ass, tight and firm, was an eye magnet. Shivering from the exchange, Caris ducked down until only her eyes and top of her head were visible. She blinked at her surroundings, turning in a circle, wide-eyed. She wondered if she looked like a gator or a frog. She breathed out making bubbles, rose, breathed in, and slipped back down.

  Benz returned, strolling casually in, holding towels and clothes. His eyes weren’t covered, he wasn’t walking backward. He laughed when he saw her.

  “You realize I’ve seen you naked before, right?” he reminded her.

  Caris lifted her hand out of the water and pointed to the door. Benz shrugged and left chuckling.

  * * * *

  “Why do I have to stay here?”

  Benz cringed at her whined words. Cobra had warned him females went through different stages to get what they wanted. She was cute sitting on his bed staring up at him with big beautiful eyes. Her thick long hair fell in waves and two rebel curls were at her temples, springing back into shape even after she tugged on them.

  “Before we go through all of your female need to be multi-emotional, which by the way, I do find impressive; females take multi-tasking seriously; let me point out something.” Benz’s armor crashed over him making Caris gasp. He knew she wasn’t afraid, simply startled.

  He held up his talons, clicking them together to draw sparks. Cocking his head he smiled at her open-mouthed expression. Benz would have liked to wait until she reached her outrage emotion and insist on coming but there was no time.

  “Are you smiling?”

  He was surprised she guessed. There was no possible way she could see through his shield. Her arms crossed over her chest and her pert little nose scrunched. Perhaps she was going to be outraged any moment.

  “We have to go onto a planet that has no inhabitants,” he answered instead.

  “Then why can’t I go? I’d been cooped up for over sixty years. I don’t want another sixty to pass. I’m bored. You’re gone most of the time. And I can’t tell you how annoying it is to be sniffed from through a door. And yep I can see your surprise. I feel it; I hear them. Tell the warrior dogs next time I hear a single snuffle I’ll open the door and push them off the ledge.”

  That would be entertaining. “I doubt you could budge one an inch, but I’ll let them know. They enjoy a challenge.”

  “At least tell me when we’ll be back at your planet.”

  “That’s Cobra’s call.”

  “Then call him.”

  “I’ll see if there is anything nice on the planet I can bring you back.”

  She was still grouching when he left. Benz was remorseful. Cobra studied the planet. There were only a few tiny creatures. The air was breathable. Caris wouldn’t have left his side. But Benz knew it wasn’t the planet. The warriors were in a funk because they scented Caris. Though there had been many female births on his planet there also were many males born. A pure Castian came into must after he reached four hundred, and the human mixtures were ready for a mate as young as eighteen. The odds weren’t in a full-blooded Castian’s favor. The female to male ratio was way off. The sooner he could convince Caris to mate him the better. After all, finder’s keepers as the humans said.

  Benz strode around the ground checking for anything of value they might save. No doubt the Annihilators would rape this planet next. Since there was no sign of life, Cobra wasn’t too concerned. At a small noise Benz stopped and cocked his head. His shield didn’t sense danger. The rustle grew louder until the vegetation parted.

  The tiny little critter who emerged was a ball of fluff. There were two black-as-night eyes, a teeny pink nose and it was void of teeth. It stood maybe ten inches tall and wide. Benz crooned to it and it crooned back. He dropped the shield at his face. The little indigo bundle seemed surprised but not frightened.

  “You are so cute,” Benz said. “Would you like to come home with me? You don’t understand this but I fear for your planet. There is an enemy on the way. They fight from the sky so they’d never see how charming you are. I have a female earthling who would love you.” He scooped the critter into his arms. It yawned.

  “What is that?”

  Benz spun to see Cobra striding toward him as he stood. “I have no clue, but I bet Caris would love it.”

  Cobra stared at the creature. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. It might carry diseases.”

  “We are leaving here to go to protect a planet of Hydids. Those aliens aren’t even slightly humanoid. With no intelligence. I know they are sanctioned beings but what of these poor things? And I bet Caris will stop complaining if she’s occupied.”

  “Is she driving you nuts?”

  “Her cage is. When she is allowed to wander, the warriors keep sniffing her. Bunch of damned horny dogs.”

  “I was hoping our travels would have taken us to mor
e compatible mates.”

  “In the meantime, can Caris have this?”

  Cobra nodded. “Make certain it doesn’t leave your room.”

  Chapter Four

  Caris held the round super fluffy bundle of indigo on her lap. She had been ready to howl the injustice of her bedroom cage but seeing a massive warrior gently cuddling something so sweet and tiny in massive hands gave her pause. She’d never in her life had a pet. When the adorable bundled yawned exposing no teeth and curled up on her, Caris was smitten.

  “What is it?” she asked.

  “I have no clue. It was the only one around and didn’t make a fuss when I boarded the ship. I can’t tell if it’s male or female.”

  “What do I feed it?”

  “Well, for starters I’d say soft food.”

  “It’s a good thing you have a replicator. I couldn’t imagine going to a pet store and buying sixty different cans of something.”

  “Pets are a novelty on my planet.” Benz sat beside her. He reached to tickle under the being’s neck. It didn’t purr like a cat but it made a melodic sound deep within its throat. “Most animals are holograms. The kids love them. They can play with them, pet them…”

  “A solid hologram?”

  “Yes. We are an advanced race.”

  Caris smiled at his arrogance. Benz lifted a hand to cup her chin. She noted the change in her emotions immediately. She liked his touch but the smoldering gaze made her lean back.

  “No matter how advanced a race is males will ultimately think with their cock,” she chided.

  Benz gaped then recovered. “My cock can’t think for itself. We’re not that advanced.”

  Caris snorted. “It’s not advancement. It’s primitive.”

  There was a bleep at the door and Benz called for them to come in using a voice recognition command. Cobra appeared. He didn’t seem happy.

  “I need you both in the lab.”

  “You have a lab on board?” Caris swallowed hard. If they thought she could be used in experiments, they had another think coming.

  “We don’t plan on dissecting you.” Cobra’s tone was wry.

  Caris couldn’t stop the blush creeping up her throat. Benz took her pet and settled it on the bed placing a light cover over it. Caris wanted to laugh at seeing a warrior tuck in a strange animal but didn’t. Benz rose and shrugged sheepishly before lifting Caris into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held tight. They strode for the door and she closed her eyes as they descended. She needn’t have worried. Benz’s strong arm kept her safe.

  The ‘lab’ was a large room equipped with devices strangely resembling a torture chamber. Benz settled her on her feet and Cobra led her to a viewing screen. There was a picture, a vaguely familiar picture. She crept closer, concentrating.

  “Do you know who that is?” Cobra asked.

  “I think he was my imaginary friend. It’s the stunning eye color. I’d never seen any so brilliantly beautiful. He’s so big now. He looked different, but at the time I was a child and he was my best friend, so I didn’t think about his looks. He said he had to go when I was eight or nine because my grownups would begin to think there was something wrong with me. We went everywhere together, he took me to different planets, at least that’s what he said they were. He showed me so many wonderful things. He can’t be real: can he?”

  “He’s an Annihilator. His father sent their male offspring to different planets to observe in secret. Your imaginary friend is deadly, and unfortunately all too real.”

  “He was no older than me. Is this him now? He isn’t old either.”

  “He is full grown. We’re uncertain of their aging process. This alien is a brutal killer. And now Ankou wants you. The aliens didn’t leave your information behind for us to find. Somehow Ankou found out about you. The Annihilator hid the information with plans to return. For some reason, he spared you their wrath. That can mean only one thing.”

  Both Cobra and Benz gazed at each other. Benz scowled and took a step closer to her.

  “He’s after me?” Caris said filled with surprise.

  “Yes. Tell me what you can.” Cobra was brusque.

  “He came to me in my dreams. His image would lighten. Like a see-through hologram. He could take pictures in his mind to show me strange planets that were so entertaining. He was flesh and bone from what I could see. When he got angry or showed me how he could protect me, he would turn into a massive brute with a powerful build. At least he looked massive to me even though he was still only a child. I can only guess at how big he is now. He had huge rounded eyes that could blaze like the sun or shimmer as would a clear pond. I know he could see in the dark. Ankou, yes it’s what he called himself.”

  Caris gazed at Ankou’s now very broad chest; his skin tone was gray-black with silver streaks. Flared nose, large teeth. Sporadic hair on his body. He was dressed as a warrior. His long silver hair flowed to his back. He had deep indigo eye color in this image, almost the color of her pet and appeared angry, and for a second she shuddered. She remembered the white pupils which would dilate. Hands with thick indigo talon fingernails. Deep gruff voice. Smart. Dangerous. Ankou could run on water. He could use a hand to lunge at a tree, grab the tree, spin around with the single hand, and kick his imaginary opponents in the chest. Caris remembered clapping and telling him how wonderful he was while he puffed with pride. She also remembered the last time she saw him he told her nothing would ever hurt her.

  He was a child then. The opponents weren’t real; they were imaginary. Weren’t they?

  “Why do you think this Ankou being wants Caris?” Benz tone was a bit high.

  Cobra placed a hand onto Benz’s shoulder. “The Annihilators have their own females. They have no need for others. I think it’s obvious the way they destroy and steal. They don’t want slaves or mates. They may want information. Those pictures Caris spoke of may be maps back to planets they have yet to destroy.”

  “All they want are pictures in my mind?” Caris said. She had been leaning forward to gaze at her old childhood friend then slumped onto her behind in the chair. Her thoughts raced. “They weren’t just pictures of planets. There were many things he showed me. Can I see your planet on this viewer?”

  Cobra pulled up a picture he called home. She shuddered. She had seen this planet and the surrounding ones.

  “I’ve seen your home.”

  “Our planet has been hidden for decades,” Cobra said. “We cloaked it when we learned of the Annihilators.”

  “Not to a child on Earth decades before we hid ourselves. It was convenient for us the Lipions got to Caris first. I bet the Annihilators were pissed. If that’s all Ankou wants why hide her from the others?” Benz said and breathed out a slow steady breath. “Cobra, if Caris has seen our planet then the Annihilators can find us through her.”

  “There must be others,” Caris said. She was desperate. What if they decided to kill her? She remembered Benz with his gentle hands on her indigo pet. No one on the battleship had been cruel.

  Cobra crouched before her. “As you said, you’d be in your nineties. I think all the children the Annihilators visited must be gone by now. We have screened every female for knowledge on our planet. As have the Zargonnii. Only you know our exact location.”

  “Zar-what-e?”

  “Zargonnii are a race of mercenary warriors who have mated with human females. They won’t be happy you carry a map of their planet in your mind,” Cobra said.

  “I was a little girl. I’m no spy,” Caris said her tone quiet. “Why would they use earthlings to store maps? And why children?”

  “There are waves in the universe, Caris,” Cobra said. “If the information is stored in any kind of computer format there will always be a way of collecting that information. Otherwise we would have known about the Annihilators long ago. But not if it’s tucked within a mind. You are a rare find. As a child your mind would absorb everything, then equally forget. Until it’s extracted.” Caris sh
uddered at his words.

  Benz cupped her chin. “We know there is fault only with the Annihilators. Of course you were a child. It seems these creatures might have a link to you but because your mind insisted you were on Earth for all these years it’s confused them. You’re free now; your thoughts are your own.” Benz gazed at Cobra. “Do you think Ankou ever showed her his planet?”

  Caris blinked, her eyes widened. “Yes,” she whispered. “He wasn’t supposed to but he was very proud of it. I had a dream of it a few days before everyone disappeared. Do you think the Annihilators found the planet I was on because I dreamed of them? I don’t know why after all these years I remembered Ankou, unless it was something the Lipions did while watching my memories, my dreams.”

  “If so you can’t dream of them again,” Cobra said, his voice grim.

  “I can’t control my dreams,” she wailed.

  “I can if you mate with me,” Benz said.

  “Mate with you? I hardly know you.”

  “Caris,” Cobra said still eye level with her. “We can’t risk taking you to our planet. We can’t risk dropping you off somewhere for them to find. We won’t hurt you. Right now we can’t go home. Everywhere we go he can find you. All it will take is a second. I’m out of options.”

  Caris’s mind was reeling. They wanted her to mate an alien she hardly knew. How long could she stay awake?

  “Isn’t speaking about him the same?” she asked.

  “No,” Cobra replied. “Since you have been in here, you have been scanned. Our lab confirms the connection is in your dreams. The dream you had coincides with the Annihilators’ attack on the last planet you were on.”

  “Can’t you shield my dreams?”

  “Yes, if you are mated,” Cobra said.

  Benz reached to place a hand on her shoulder. Caris shuddered. What kind of mating ritual was there? In so many science fiction books she used to read the alien always wanted sex. Primal, earth-shattering sex. It was exciting to read but staring over at Benz and the outline of his somewhat flaccid cock—it looked huge. He was huge.