ARMOR [New World Book 2] Read online

  “Come?”

  “Release your seed.”

  My seed? It appeared Cobra had left out a few parts of this mating ritual thing. “We won’t be mated,” he said with some confusion. “Not unless I mark you.”

  “Don’t mark me.”

  Amy tossed her leg over him and sat a bit higher than his waist. Dasks had never seen a female’s sex and he thought everything was tucked inside. Amy guided his hand to her mound. With careful fingers he touched her folds and parted them. A small bud peeked at him and curiously he touched it. Amy made a small sound in the back of her throat. She liked his touch. Encouraged, Dasks’ finger rubbed the cute little bud, making her squirm. Dasks slipped a finger inside, past her teasing lips and bud. Inside was hot and moist. Amy had her own secretions. Dasks knew a human could sweat, but this was different. When Dasks had felt her mouth on his cock he had sensed her emotions through her saliva. Her vaginal secretions absorbed into his skin and Dasks’ primal urge soared.

  Dasks slid another finger inside her. Her insides closed around him and Amy moaned. Up and down she moved against him. Secretions from his fingers made her wet. Amy’s mouth opened and she gasped. Warm wetness surrounded his fingers and Dasks could sense her climax. It filled him and he burned with must. Dasks’ cock jumped and he suddenly knew he wanted to be buried inside her. He wanted to pump his magnificent erection so deep inside her she would scream with desire. Removing his fingers Dasks pushed her down toward his goal. Eagerly she complied. Dasks groaned when she guided his manhood up into her wet heat. Oh Lord of Dargon. She buried him inside her and as it disappeared he wondered for a brief second if he would get his new magnificent cock back. As she pulled up and he slid out, he didn’t care; he wanted to stay buried within her forever.

  “Don’t go yet,” he muttered.

  Amy lowered herself back down. Up and down she rode him, harder and faster. Her back arched and her head tossed back. Her insides closed around him. Her hands clasped onto his and she encouraged him to fondle her breast.

  The pad of his thumb rubbed over a bud and it hardened. His fingers closed over the pebble and he pulled gently. She moaned and he could feel her insides moisten further. Dasks could feel her wetness seep into his cock like it had his fingers. It stimulated the juices inside him and his seed began to come to life. Instinct soared. Now he understood. His seed, as she called it, was for offspring. It was amazing to be bombarded with the knowledge that he had the power to produce life.

  Blood pumped harder and faster through his veins as Amy moved. She planted her hands on his chest for leverage. Dasks pulled her up then thumped her back down onto him. Harder and faster he moved until she was crying out. Amy was growing tired. Her legs began shaking and she begged him to come. Come where? He didn’t get the terminology. He didn’t want to be anywhere else at this moment.

  Dasks’ powerful arms continued to thrust Amy up and down. His hands tightened onto her. Amy’s sweat coated her body in a fine sheen. Her secretions were driving him wild. He sensed her exhaustion, but it only added to his must. Dasks felt stronger as her scent of total surrender to him flowed from her body into him.

  Dasks could feel himself build inside her. The rushing sensation as he filled fueled his desire. Memories of thousands of years bombarded him that this was right, but there was more. Amy’s eyes widened in shock. When she pulled back Dasks could see why. His large cock was even bigger and growing thicker by the second as his seed made its way into his shaft. Dasks had entered complete must and he suddenly knew it was important for his entire length to fill to be successful to procreate.

  Amy whimpered and tried to pull herself from him. Dasks spun her under him. His arm wrapped around her hips locking her into place. Dasks had to finish. He burned with his desire. He had to make her his. Amy obviously sensed his intent and began struggling.

  “No, Dasks, you’ll die,” she cried out. “Please stop, you’re hurting me.”

  Both were breathing raggedly as she struggled to push him off her. In the back of Dasks’ mind he felt a tug at instinct. He was to stop any pain she felt. His head lowered and his fangs settled into her neck. Amy groaned and her struggles ceased when he injected her with his venom. Her arms settled at her sides limply. Her entire body relaxed to accept all of him. She lay beneath him quietly accepting. Except her eyes. Amy’s eyes begged him to stop before it was too late. This was give and take. Dasks couldn’t stop taking her, wanting his seed to explode within her, but he wouldn’t give her his mark. It almost killed him not to. His instinct was so strong generations screamed in his mind to finish.

  “I’m almost done,” he said. “Am I still hurting you?”

  “No, just promise not to mate with me.”

  “I promise I will not mate with you today,” he countered.

  Amy nodded.

  Dasks sensed he wasn’t hurting her, but he needed to hear her say it. He also sensed she was enjoying the feel of him. Dasks could feel his engorged cock as it stretched her walls. He moved as carefully as he could knowing now was not the time to be thrusting. It was no wonder a Castian went into must. Dasks had never felt anything so perfect in his life. Power flowed through him. He was in tune to every ounce of weight he settled onto her. His body knew exactly what she could hold. The venom he had injected heightened her emotions, making him—making him—feel the desperate desire to protect her. Wanting to claim her flowed in the form of sweat that dripped from his body to hers. Droplets penetrated her, preparing her body to form a new shield for their offspring. His babe, if conceived, would be more than just a part of him, it would need to take a piece of him.

  Dasks’ heart hammered knowing if he were successful and his seed took hold, she would be protected from death by the baby’s shield of armor. Male or female, all babies were conceived with a shield armor of sorts. It was a gift from their sire. The male of their species kept their armor for life. They were warriors as well as protectors. A female kept hers until weaned; it protected not only her but her mother—a vital food source for the babe. A female child’s sire or any Castian male could shield her from harm until she became a woman at twenty-one. After that, when she decided to mate, she would be protected by her mate’s armor. The circle of life in its infinite wisdom took the female shield so she would need to seek a male.

  If Dasks could get Amy with his babe, she would be protected for another four years. He couldn’t give her eternal life, but he could give her more time. But what about after the four years? She would die and his baby would be without a mother…just like he had. Segan was a good brother but not a day went by that Dasks didn’t miss his mother and father. What of Amy? Would it hurt her to know she could only watch her baby grow until she was three-and a-half?

  Yes.

  It wasn’t a decision for Dasks to make alone. At the last second he pulled from her and watched his seed, a curious mixture of white joined with dark black, spill onto the bed. Parts of his armor had mixed with his cum. A feeling of loss settled over him, since one of those could have been his child. Dasks slumped to his side feeling spent emotionally and physically dragging Amy with him. What was he to do? He couldn’t live with her and watch her die. He couldn’t mate with her and know they would both die. The answer was tearing out his insides.

  * * * *

  Amy was awakened by an alarm blaring through the ship. She scrambled from the bed and looked out the huge window. What she saw almost made her heart stop. A massive gray ship was hovering over Earth near their vessel. As Amy watched, the hull of the gray ship shimmered and a burst of light exploded before her eyes. Cobra’s ship was hit by an energy burst and Amy went flying backwards. She landed on her butt near the solid door to Dasks’ room.

  “Come with me,” Dasks demanded.

  Amy shrieked when Dasks suddenly appeared beside her in his armor. His pulsing green tattoo seemed sharper somehow, but she knew the mark. He gripped her hand, yanked her to her feet, and tossed her over his shoulder. The ground beneath her feet fl
ew by as Dasks jumped from wall to floor to wall at a pace faster than lightning. Amy felt motion sick. She closed her eyes and covered her face. Dasks’ grip on her behind was unbreakable.

  The hull of the ship was blasted again, but Dasks’ talons and claws were sunk deeply into the spongy interior of the vessel. Dasks was up on two legs when they came to a huge door. Amy was settled onto her feet. A group of women were sequestered inside. Meg was in the room as well as Danni, Leah and her children. Meg ran to her.

  “Amy, we’re under attack!” Meg cried.

  Cobra was before them. “Do not leave this room,” he ordered them.

  Dasks gave Amy one last look before he left with Cobra and Talsk. Amy was pleased to see Leah looking the picture of health. All of her children crowded around her looking scared. Amy hugged Meg and then Leah and her children. Danni hurried over.

  “Where are the others?” Amy asked.

  “A shuttle took a number of women to Dargon yesterday. It seems Cobra was expecting trouble,” Leah said. “They got word of a Tonan vessel headed to Earth. The enemy is trying to find females, too.”

  “How do you know that?” Amy asked.

  Leah blushed. “Cobra mated with me. He can’t keep a secret from me and he doesn’t lie. Under his gruff exterior he’s a real sweetheart. He makes me feel safe. Cobra won’t betray my love. There is something special about this race of males and the way they understand emotion and sense it. I’m in love with him and his honesty.”

  Amy’s eyes widened in surprise. Leah was a beautiful woman in her mid-thirties. Amy had learned Cobra was three thousand years old and never mated. It was a long time to be a bachelor. Leah looked pleased about her situation. Leah turned slightly. Her right shoulder was exposed and Amy could see a brilliant glowing green tattoo. It was identical to Cobra’s markings. Leah’s face was practically glowing as well with happiness and Amy knew how important it was for Leah never to feel betrayed again.

  Meg showed Amy the tattoo identical to Talsk’s facial markings on her shoulder. Amy was happy for her friend. Amy saw Danni’s mark as well. It was bittersweet. Her friends were safe; Amy wished she could be, too. She would give anything to bear Dasks’ mark and know they would live for thousands of years.

  Another blast rocked the vessel. Lisa began crying. Leah picked her daughter up. Amy scooped up Maddy. The room suddenly went dark. Amy stood still. A flicker of a dimmer light came on. Auxiliary power. They must have boosted power to their shields. The room they were in was void of anything—no furniture, nothing. It almost looked like a cell. An idea formed in Amy’s mind. It could be a cell. If they couldn’t break out then hopefully nothing could break in.

  No sooner did she think this than the door to the room flew off. Everyone screamed when an armored Castian came crashing in with a gray creature. The gray creature was hideous. Its talons clawed at the Castian. Amy had no idea who it was; she had never seen the facial tattoo markings of this Castian warrior. The Tonan whipped its forked tail around and snagged the Castian by the ankle. A massive clawed foot slammed down onto the tail and snapped it in half. The Tonan howled.

  “You want to fight dirty?” the Tonan snarled. “Castian bastard.”

  To Amy’s horror the creature flung its massively muscled arm forward and its talons shot out to slit Leah. Leah screamed and ducked. Lisa fell to the ground. The Tonan was sent flying back before it could connect with Leah’s middle. The creature bounced off the wall. Lisa jumped up and ran to her mother, but she too was sent flying.

  “Stay away from her!” the Castian yelled. “The woman must be carrying my father’s babe. The shield is up and won’t come down. Nothing can penetrate it.”

  “My children!” Leah screamed.

  Leah sat on the ground looking terrified and confused, wanting to go to her children but unable to. Amy was in shock. Dasks had casually mentioned that a woman became shielded when pregnant, but to see a tiny woman send a massive warrior flying without lifting a finger was like nothing she had ever seen before. And poor Lisa was sprawled face up howling for her mother. Amy ran to the child and scooped her up into her arms. More Castians and more Tonans flooded the room.

  “Dasks!” Amy screamed when she saw his tattoo.

  Amy found herself between Talsk and Dasks. Meg was beside her crouched on the ground holding Maddy. Leah huddled into a small ball, and no one went near her. Amy lost sight of Craig. Lisa struggled in Amy’s arms and yanked herself free. Amy screamed for her. Talsk and Dasks were moving so quickly in front of her she could barely see them. Their talons sliced across armor making a god-awful screeching sound and sending sparks flying. Lisa was tiny enough to fit through an opening as a Tonan tail slithered forward and made a grab for Meg.

  Talsk’s foot slammed down and cracked the tail in half. Lisa was gone. Amy screamed at Dasks to find the child but neither he nor Talsk broke formation. They fought as one. With a roar Dasks’ talons sliced across a Tonan throat when his enemy’s armor faltered with exhaustion. There wasn’t much light on Earth. They needed to head home soon to regenerate, Dasks had told her. If the Tonans were feeling loss of power, their body shield would be low. When the creature fell, Amy caught sight of Lisa. She screamed when a Tonan went for the child.

  “Rask!” Dasks yelled. “The child!”

  Amy had heard of Rask.

  He was the Castian in charge of Dargon. Perhaps Cobra had sent for him knowing there was going to be trouble. If it were Rask and his men fighting, their armor would hold better having been regenerated from Dargon’s two suns. Amy watched as Cobra’s son grabbed Lisa, his shield dropping then snapping into place while another Castian guarded him. Amy knew it had to be the man’s warrior mate. Lisa was unseen, but safe.

  Rask and his warrior mate continued to battle. One by one the Tonans fell, then fled. The Castians roared their victory.

  Meg released Maddy who approached her mother tentatively.

  “Mommy?”

  “I think it’s okay, sweetheart. Just come to me slowly,” her mother warned.

  Maddy moved closer until she was in her mother’s arms. Rask’s armor lowered and he set Lisa onto her feet. The child marched to her mother scowling.

  “You throwed me,” she said and stomped her foot.

  Rask was chuckling. “It wasn’t your mommy, little one. It was your baby sister who did that.”

  Lisa pressed her nose to her mother’s belly. “No more throwin’, baby.”

  Leah chuckled then looked around. “Where’s Craig?”

  Leah was soon scrambling to her feet and racing for Cobra who held the limp boy to his chest. Amy saw the blood. Craig had been sliced by talons across his chest and throat. Leah screamed. Cobra looked devastated as he cradled the child.

  “I tried, but I have no warrior mate to watch my back. I thought I moved fast enough but there were four of them.”

  “No, no,” Leah sobbed.

  “He needs a doctor,” Amy said. Though from the wounds she doubted it would help.

  “We have no doctors,” Cobra said. “Our shields heal us if we’re injured. I don’t think the healing water will cure this. He’s lost too much blood.”

  “Then we can give him a transfusion,” Danni said.

  Amy knew Danni had been going to school to be a nurse, but that was eons ago.

  “What’s a transfusion?” Cobra asked.

  “We take blood from another to put in him,” Danni explained.

  “A Castian can’t give blood willingly. Our armor won’t permit anything to penetrate our skin,” Rask said.

  “But you have a warrior mate. Your fangs penetrated a warrior’s skin,” Amy said desperately.

  “It only happens for our protection,” Cobra said. Gently he lowered the boy to the ground.

  Leah was over him sobbing hysterically. She looked up at Cobra with pain-filled eyes. “You said you would take care of him,” she accused. “You swore it when we mated.”

  Cobra looked defeated with her agony.


  Amy knew he was feeling what she was. The pain was radiating from his eyes. Amy could tell he loved the boy. He would have no choice but to love him because Leah loved her son. Cobra would feel what she felt.

  “I’m so sorry,” he stammered.

  “I hurt,” Craig whimpered.

  Cobra dropped down to one knee beside him. “Close your eyes.”

  “Don’t touch him,” Leah snapped. She lifted a hand and slapped Cobra across the face. She drew a fine line of blood at his mouth. Amy was surprised his armor hadn’t gone up then remembered Castian armor would not go up if it would injure a female. She had hit to hurt; the armor might have broken her hand.

  Amy wondered if Cobra had sensed this from her and surmised he had.

  “I can ease his pain,” Cobra’s voice was solemn.

  Amy was sobbing in Dasks’ arms when Cobra lowered himself to bite into the child’s neck. Amy knew Craig would feel no pain after the bite. He would die quietly.

  Leah was howling when Cobra pulled away. She gathered her son into her arms and crushed him to her chest.

  Amy was stunned when Leah was flung back and landed harmlessly on the ground with a bounce.

  A gasp of surprise rose when armor tediously began to clasp around Craig’s body. Piece by piece it forcefully slammed into place incasing the boy.

  “Cobra?” Rask asked in confusion.

  Cobra reached up to touch his mouth. “Our blood mingled.” Cobra stumbled then slipped to the floor. He looked drained.

  “Cobra?” Rask yelled and dropped down beside him.

  “I have no warrior mate. I haven’t for almost four hundred years. My armor felt my frustration while I was fighting. No one had my back.” Cobra began laughing. “I have given two pieces of my armor in just days. It’s no wonder I feel a bit weak. The first was to the new babe. Now it would appear I have a new warrior mate.”

  “But he’s a little boy,” Leah said, creeping closer.

  “He’s a Castian warrior now. You said he was almost twelve. It’s when a Castian first takes a warrior mate,” Cobra declared. He chuckled at Leah’s expression. “It’s all right, Leah. He’s related to the baby. She’ll let him close after she learns his scent. She can smell him through your nose. It was just a shock to be so close to a male, then a male warrior. Even that tiny inside your womb a babe can sense emotion and belonging. Learning which male to stay away from and which male to seek aid from is for her and your survival. Instinct in our young is conceived when they are.”