Tempest And The Warrior (Unearthly World Book Book 7) Read online

  “Cy this is a bad area for your ship,” she warned.

  “We leave.”

  With a small leap, they were on the vessel. Tempest gazed around. She knew they had been working on the alien vessel. Cy set Braylon on his feet. He continued to hold Tempest. He strode with her into an adjoining room. He set her gently onto a large unusual bed. It was oblong and wide enough to hold her, Cy and Braylon. The Angano must be huge ass bastards. The sheets were clean and warmed with Cy’s eyes in a fast gaze. He motioned for her to take off her wet jacket and cuddle under the blankest. A huge battered desk was in a corner covered with toys.

  “Play,” Cy motioned to Braylon.

  Braylon sighed. “You rest, Mom. He wants us out from under foot while we take off.”

  Cy ruffled the boy’s hair. “Smart.”

  Tempest settled back amidst fluffy sheets and pillows with Braylon in her arms as Cy left the room. He peeked his head back.

  “It be rough.”

  “Mom, he means it will be a rough take off.”

  Tempest sighed. “Yeah I figured as much. Thanks for clearing that up.”

  The storm was growing stronger outside. A high window gave her a glimpse of the pounding deluge. It was a bad one. Within moments, the vessel rocked as the power geared up. A crunch followed as they lifted to hover precariously in the air. A decided sloshing was heard banging against the hull. The water was rising. The ship tilted to the left then the right. Tempest tightened her hold onto her son. Shaking began, making her shiver. She hoped they weren’t about to blow up.

  “The ship feels pissed,” Braylon exclaimed.

  “Sure does. And don’t say pissed.”

  The sudden thrust straight up lifted the pair a foot into the air then dumped them back onto the bed on their asses with a bounce. Tempest and Braylon gasped for air. The vessel revved and steadied out. Braylon giggled and Tempest chuckled. Finally, they were free from the loneliness of the planet. Tempest wondered what lay ahead.

  * * * *

  Cy heaved a huge breath releasing his pent up worry. They were sailing through the sky into the atmosphere. The vessel was quick. It took a moment to learn the steering and speed. Once he did, Cy wanted to bellow in delight but knew he’d scare the shit out of his passengers. Everything outside darkened. The stars were shining, each a polka dot in the distance. He couldn’t leave the console to check on his travelers but was certain his keen hearing picked up a gentle laugh of relief. He had done it. Cy had secured an enemy vessel, a female and her son. Humans. Titus was sure to let him stay. Now he just needed to get them safely to his planet.

  He detoured around the asteroid belt and meteors. The course he plotted was on a direct route to home. Home. He came bearing gifts. Cy filled with hope. What could possibly get in his way? Titus has a mate. He stiffened for a moment remembering he kidnapped Titus’s mate. The entire planet was furious. For a moment, he was tempted to let defeat settle again in his chest. Could he really go home? Tempest and her son could go to a warrior of Titus’s choice. The enemy ship was a gift. All Cy wanted was to spend his days roaming his beautiful planet. He would ask for nothing but asylum from the planet he loved. Maybe he would get a small scent of his mother. She was very old but better now, she might be mobile. He would swear on his life never to touch another female again.

  “Cy?”

  Cy spun. The boy stood behind him. “Bray.”

  The name was as close as he could get to the correct pronunciation. ‘Man cub’ was easier, but Cy suspected it was an endearment between mother and child. He would not intrude on their fond memories; he wasn’t keeping them.

  “My mother drifted off to sleep. I think her head is still kinda sore. So’s her hand.”

  Cy nodded, he had noticed the discoloration. He wasn’t certain what to replicate to make her feel better. Hopefully, Tempest would have an idea.

  “Needs rest.” Cy wished he could help her further. Finn could fix her. But it would take time to get home. Rest was the best medicine. If her break healed wrong Finn could still help her.

  “Yes, she does, and I don’t want to bother her. Can I play in here?”

  The boy held a small toy clutched in his hand. He looked hopeful. Cy remembered there had been no male in his life for three years. It was a long time and unheard of for a male on his planet. Pity rose in his chest. He could make certain the boy would be acceptable as a Zargonnii son, he had weeks to teach what he needed to know. He would be the tiniest warrior on the planet. There weren’t many human males, but all came to them grown. Braylon was special. Cy could tell. He had a warrior’s heart. The boy was honorable. The way he worried for his mother. The way he helped Cy.

  Gazing at the boy’s small stature, he grew concerned. Man or child he wouldn’t last long on Cy’s planet unless like his mother he had constant protection. Where would he find a mate? As far as Cy knew all available human females were taken by warriors.

  I could keep him safe.

  Cy almost jumped as the thought crashed into his mind. If the boy’s mother mated a Zargonnii, the warrior would be obligated to protect the child but not the man he would grow into. If Cy maintained a fatherly connection, perhaps the adult Braylon might live with him to ease his loneliness. After all, both would be outcasts. They could take long walks together. Cy could tell him of the ancient legends. Fun stories of a time when Zargonnii male and female would come together. He almost chuckled, that would never happen. The boy would need a mate of his own. Perhaps Cobra, Castian leader, could be convinced to help the child become half-Castian.

  Cy walked to the replicator and asked for a thick blanket. He spread it out on the floor and Braylon sat down. The child examined his toy space ship, marveling over the detail. Cy remembered having the same toy many years ago, it was a favorite of Zargonnii male offspring. Cy’s father had replicated him one. Another lifetime ago. Cy took the bulky toy and went to the console.

  “Open hand. Command, return.”

  Puzzled for a second Braylon opened his hands. “Return.”

  The vessel came to life. Lights turned on, a slight whirl was heard, clicks. It lifted from Cy’s hand to hover for a moment, turning lazily then zipped across the room. The ship stopped a foot short of Braylon’s open palms before gently settling.

  “Wicked cool,” Braylon shouted. “Thank you for the toys, Cy. This is awesome. Even Grey’s stuff wasn’t as cool.”

  Cy chuckled and watched the boy set the space ship in various places before demanding the vessel return to him. Cy had a thought; he was surprised Grey was able to program toys into a Tonan replicator. He must have been very smart, until he abandoned the pair. There were other toys the boy brought from the room sneaking quietly in not to disturb his mother.

  The window drew Cy’s attention but he could see the child reflected in the material. A battalion of warriors fought battles while the toy ship rescued stragglers. Cy had never seen a child play, except himself and Titus when younger. He smiled at his antics. Before long, Braylon yawned and curled up on the blanket. Cy turned and studied him as he slept. He was thin with circles under his eyes as was his mother. The stress of three years alone on an empty planet must have weighed heavily on both.

  Braylon had no friends. He guessed they spent much of their time in the safety of the lonely cave. After his first taste of the winter weather, Cy knew they would have been trapped with no food this time. Starvation was an awful way to die. The Tonan was heartless to leave them there. Grey would have been around for the storms. Even if they had a replicator, the warrior would have seen the beasts. Abandoning them was cruel and in Tonan form. The pair must have felt so trapped. Tempest was a strong female. She was a mother a child could be proud of, like Cy’s own.

  Cy could understand the betrayal the child felt when Grey left. When Braylon could understand the concept of their dire situation, worry no doubt ruled his young life. If his mother perished, he would be alone. Hunger nipped at their heels, literally, from what Cy saw. The way he n
eeded to be close to Cy, the boy had attachment issues. Titus would have to find the female a strong warrior. Both she and the boy would need to be loved and cared for.

  The clearing of a throat startled Cy which surprised him further. Then again, he had been alone for years. Tempest stood watching Cy while he was watching the boy.

  “Why ‘man cub?’”

  “You want to know where the nickname came from.” Cy nodded. “Our last name is Bear. David, my husband, was Papa Bear, I was Mama Bear and Braylon was Baby Bear, our little cub. David was a firefighter and was killed when the storms became bad on Earth. Braylon was a baby when the Tonans arrived, but in the beginning, it wasn’t bad in certain areas. We hung on as long as we could while David cared for us, protected us. He was a hero to many. Not that it mattered because Earth died no matter what we did. Grey admitted Earth’s death was the fault of the Tonans. Braylon was almost three when David died. Smart for one so young. He knew David wasn’t coming back. I told him he was the man of the house, but as I held him while he cried, I told him he was my brave man cub.

  “Later as the water climbed higher as Earth flooded, I knew we would drown eventually. It was a sad day when my husband’s grave was covered by a new lake. I knew we had to leave. The Tonans offered a sanctuary on Ulsy. Many of us were piled in. The last shuttle, there were no men. Braylon the only child. The Tonans said they would be back for the men screaming for them to take them with the Tonans, but Grey told me it was a lie. Ulsy was a sea of deception. They didn’t want human males there. I guess he saved our lives. I think he was sorry he did. He missed his home and his people.”

  Tempest offered him a tentative smile. She walked over to wrap a part of the blanket across her son. Cy was chagrinned, he should have done that, made certain he was warm. But he never had a son and he never would. For a split second, he understood what the Tonan felt. Grey stole a female and her child. There were bound to be repercussions, and a Tonan’s wrath was fierce. Betrayal was a deadly game.

  “Why are you out here alone?” Tempest asked.

  Cy cringed. “Temper.”

  “Did you hurt someone?”

  “Yes.”

  “Did he die?”

  “No, she. Shameful.”

  Tempest went pale. “Did she die?”

  “No. Finn fix.”

  “Is Finn a doctor?”

  “Yes.” Cy gazed at her. Tiny, frightened but trying to look brave when she was injured. “No hurt.” He was sincere. He would keep his temper in check if it killed him. He would never give Titus a reason to doubt him.

  “Braylon couldn’t take another betrayal.” Cy could tell neither could she.

  He turned to stand near the console. It was annoying to have to gaze up at the screen. He thought about replicating a bench, but the idea was embarrassing. A huge ass warrior having to hoist himself up to see out a window like a child.

  “Hot chocolate.”

  Tempest strolled over to him with her hands wrapped around a mug still favoring the one, fingers were swollen. To her credit, she never complained. She kept back a pace to gaze with him as stars whipped by. She claimed they were beautiful. Cy had seen so many they were commonplace.

  “This vessel is creepy. It makes me jittery inside,” she said.

  “Blood hard come off.”

  “Is that what’s on the walls?”

  “Dry.”

  “Gross.”

  “Very.”

  “Why not take it all off?”

  “Study.”

  “That’s smart. Stinky but smart.” Tempest walked over to the wall where the blood smeared.

  A sudden moving object caught Cy’s eye, a meteor was hurtling toward them. He damned the console height. Cy veered left to avoid a collision and heard a yelp from Tempest. The hot chocolate spilled and she was tossed against the wall. Angano blood and chocolate dripped as the mess oozed down the wall. Cy was pissed. She might have destroyed DNA. He grabbed her hand sending the mug crashing to the ground. His eyes heated with his anger. He needed that blood to convince Titus he could be trusted again. He had to be welcomed home. Cy was so close. Rage built within. A rage he thought he’d quashed.

  Females are always interfering.

  Chapter 5

  Tempest tried to break free of Cy’s grip. He was hurting her. She could see he was angry, and the blaze of his eyes was too hot on her cheeks. He slipped into battle mode. She was pulled closer and she could see his fury. He roared his rage making her hair stand on end. His nostrils flared and his growls sent shivers through her.

  “Let go,” she bellowed.

  She struggled with him. Cy was taking deep breaths. If he squeezed harder, he would break her wrist. Grey’s image flashed into her mind. He sometimes enjoyed inflicting pain. Did this warrior? She and Braylon were trapped. Had Cy lied all along to her? Were they in danger from him?

  “You’re hurting me,” she pleaded.

  “Look what you’ve done. I need that blood, female. You contaminated some of it. I must take it home. I must go home.” He was shaking and Tempest could see he battled within. No, he hadn’t lied and he never said he wasn’t without a temper. But something else nagged her until he swore.

  Tempest stood mouth agape. “Let go and say something else.”

  Cy lifted the wrist he held. Tempest saw the goo of the blood mixed with chocolate on her palm. The heat still stung.

  “Aliens aren’t made of hot chocolate. Damn it.”

  “I can understand you. Every word,” Tempest said. “And my head doesn’t throb. My hand doesn’t feel broken anymore. But you’re squeezing too tight.”

  Cy took a few more deep breaths then released her. “The hot chocolate must have washed the blood onto your skin and you absorbed it. This could mean trouble. Shit.”

  “How?”

  “These aliens are linked. Most of the human females on our planet were attacked by the Gorgano. The Angano is worse. If they think you’re one of them, they might come looking for you. If you connected in any way…shit, shit. I can’t take you back to my planet until I know for sure. I can’t lead them home. I can’t go home.” Cy stepped back from her.

  “But you promised,” Braylon said.

  Tempest and Cy turned to gaze at a forlorn Braylon. Mouth agape he was bleary-eyed from sleep sitting up on the blanket. Tears began to slip down his cheeks. He rubbed them away angrily. Cy went to him and knelt.

  “The Gorgano are bad. The Angano are worse. I’m not trying to betray you or go back on my word. I can’t risk bringing the wrath of evil aliens onto my people, humans, children. Please understand. Your mother might be a beacon.”

  “I do understand most of what you say. You’ll find another planet. Then you’re dumping us off aren’t you?” he accused.

  “No. I won’t leave you, though I can’t battle an Angano.”

  “Why not?” Braylon snuffled. “You’re a warrior. The biggest I ever saw.”

  “Angano mind battle. I fight with sheer power. Human females change when introduced to bad aliens and their minds are attacked. The females, many at least, can fight back. The females don’t become bad; they are given a rare opportunity to open their brain capacity. The Angano can destroy a Zargonnii warrior, even one as large as me, with a mere thought.”

  “What will we do?” Tempest asked. Her heart fell further with each word Cy spoke. Of course they couldn’t take a menace back to an unsuspecting planet. Bringing the enemy home didn’t scream welcome. Could she mind battle such a creature and win? She’d have to, to save her son.

  “We need to find a safe planet and set up a place where we can battle,” Cy said.

  “But if you can’t mind battle how do we survive? What tactical maneuvers can we plan for? What if I can’t mind battle? I can’t leave Braylon alone; if we’re both destroyed, he’d have no one.”

  “I’m sorry, Tempest. I have to take us to another planet. I need you for bait. No not even bait. If the Angano come, they will find you no matter wher
e you are. We can’t hide. They’ll come here. Anywhere. Endangering an entire planet, my home planet, isn’t an option. We have half-human children on our planet. I have to think of something. It’s not like we’ll have any other option. We just need to be certain when or if they come looking for you there are obstacles in their way. Hopefully enough to send them running. We’ll need a plan and a lot of hope.”

  * * * *

  Cy sent Tempest and the child back to the bedroom. He knew he had frightened them both. It couldn’t be helped. If his salvation was now a danger, there would be consequences. It would be weeks before he was close enough to try to contact Titus. The Angano could already be stalking them. Cy wanted to go home, and now he had to find a different planet. There were a number of them he had visited. Some they wouldn’t survive on, Tempest and Braylon, because of being human.

  For days, he searched the galaxy and checked Angano charts. Nothing made sense to him. Space landmarks were easier to comprehend. Tempest and the boy kept him at a distance. They ate in the other room, Braylon played there. He heard them at times giggling together. He was an unwanted pariah. His temper had gotten the best of him again.

  The longer they searched for an acceptable planet, the antsier Cy became. Human females on his planet could mind battle the Gorgano, he wasn’t as certain about the Angano and their effects on humans. Cy could go for days without sleep which was a boon and a curse. Being lost in a dream trumped this wakeful nightmare. Tempest didn’t speak much, she and the boy were wary.

  If only she hadn’t touched the blood.

  No that was wrong. He alone was responsible. He thought the DNA would help in learning ways to kill their enemy. Tempest had healed the moment her hand touched Angano blood. A new healing agent of that power would benefit the entire planet. The warriors could share with their females. But at what risk? Was there a risk? Cy didn’t know, but he couldn’t take the chance. And what of Tempest. An encounter with the Gorgano altered human females but only during an attack. Would the mingling of blood be different? Cy had no clue. Tempest appeared normal.