Apparition Read online

  “Are these all holograms, too?” Zoe whispered.

  “No, the Tonans found these creatures on a distant planet not long ago. They thought they might be of use, like slocks, to torment Dargon, but it turns out they’re harmless. Like a tiny race of pacifists. The Tonans had no use for them and set them loose, no doubt thinking they would just die out. Look at that one.”

  Zoe looked to where he pointed. A smaller Moonway was carrying a tiny little one and Zoe smiled. They had females and were breeding.

  Doss took Zoe into a glowing cave. It was apparent to her he had been there before. A replicator, bed and healing pond were in the small space. Outside, the horses were milling together.

  Doss took Zoe to the bed and said a command. Zoe loved how the bed made itself up without anyone having to lift a finger. She stripped and lay back on the blankets. They smelled of outdoors. Zoe remembered the fresh outdoor smell she had at one time been privy to on Earth. Until the earthquakes rattled the Earth’s foundation, the volcanoes erupted and sink holes wiped out entire cities. Once the meteors hit, Zoe and her family had been gone. Caveat was considered a prime breeder as were the mares from different places. Only the best—and wealthiest went to Ulsy first.

  Zoe didn’t want to think of how her father’s wealth had paved their way to the land of milk and honey. It had turned quickly into the land of death. Zoe wanted only to think of tonight, and tomorrow could take care of itself. She reached for Doss who settled himself on top of her. She wanted to feel his weight; he blanketed her. The night had been long and it had turned into a tiring day and now late evening. Doss seemed to have endless energy. When she commented, he told her his kind slept for pleasure mostly, more like a state of restfulness. They could go anywhere in their thoughts when they became dormant. The sun charged his shield. The cone-shaped black cylinders collected the sun so while he slept he was always comfortable. He was always aware of his surroundings, to an extent.

  “Have you ever thought of trying to make a door for the caves you use?” Zoe asked.

  Doss smiled cockily. “Do you really think there’s anything out there scarier or stronger than me?”

  Good point.

  Zoe traced her finger down his jaw. His eyes were dancing clouds and she smiled. As she looked deeper, she could see her reflection as they made love like smoke in a sultry mist that washed over them. It looked like animated smoldering passion. She loved his eyes and how they delved into her very being. Zoe was breathing faster. She felt a finger slip into her heat and she arched her back slightly. Zoe could feel Doss, his emotions surrounded her. His warm breath bathed her face. Each second they were together brought more of his awareness to her.

  Doss massaged his hand around her breast. He gazed at it thoughtfully. “Zoe? I know these are tits and a woman uses them to feed a baby, but why are they so fascinating? I have seen the horses interact and Caveat doesn’t play with the mare’s tits.”

  “Now there’s an oldie but a goody of a question. Mares have teats by the way, not tits. I have no idea why men and even some women find tits so interesting to touch. Maybe they were breastfed, or maybe not. Maybe it’s instinct because in our memories we know the breasts hold life, sustenance.” Zoe chuckled. “Maybe it’s because men are jealous they don’t have their own and want to share ours.”

  “So there are other life forms on your planet Earth that play with female tits?”

  Zoe thought about it. “I don’t know; I don’t think so. Dogs and cats don’t, horses don’t. I never really ever wondered if gorillas have foreplay.”

  “What’s foreplay?”

  “It’s what a couple does before they actually engage in sex. Like touching and kissing.”

  “Like touching and kissing tits?”

  “It’s not just about boobs. For me, it’s feelings, knowing a man wants to arouse me so that I feel pleasure too and I’m not just a sex toy. When couples marry, or in our case, mate, they want to find out what the other likes to please each other. It’s part of why we stay together and remain faithful. A bonding ritual of sorts. We sometimes know what another is thinking because of facial expressions, but we don’t scent emotion like you do. It can make for some rough times. At times so badly one will leave.”

  Doss seemed to ponder her words. “You mean in your culture some mates not only cheat but they leave their mates?”

  “Yes.”

  “They don’t die?”

  “Some are devastated. Some have committed suicide, I’m sure. But many more go on to find a new mate and greater happiness.”

  Doss frowned. “Zoe we mated for life; if you leave me, we will both die.”

  Zoe smiled at him. “Then we should work on your foreplay,” she said and winked. Doss visibly relaxed.

  “What should we do first?” Doss asked. “Kiss?”

  Doss kissed her lips tenderly, then her eyelids and cheeks. He moved down her body until he came to a high breast. He licked the nipple and blew on it. When his mouth closed over her taut bud, Zoe moaned. The secretions in his mouth slipped into the milk ducts and Zoe tasted his passion in her mouth. The idea was startling. Passion had a flavor.

  Doss lifted his head and chuckled in a sexy way. His hand continued to rub at her breast and he moved higher to suck on her tongue. Again Zoe tasted him. His moist body covered her completely and Zoe absorbed his secretions. She had no choice. Moisture slipped into her skin and mingled with the blood that was surging through her veins. He engulfed every fiber of her being. He knew exactly what to touch, what to lick, what to suckle because of her emotions he could scent. They were one. It was like they were extensions of one another.

  “Oh Doss!” She gasped.

  When she looked up at him, his eyes were a storm of moving passion. His fangs were dripping tiny drops from their sharp ends and he was panting. His hand fisted into her hair as his cock impaled her and Zoe cried out from the force. She couldn’t decide if she wanted him slower and gentler or faster and harder, and Doss growled into her ear.

  “Both ways.” The words were dragged from his mouth.

  Doss plunged and slid slowly from her. He plunged harder connecting their hips in a hammering thump that rocked Zoe’s teeth. Again, he pulled out agonizingly slow. When he plundered her depths once more Zoe cried out and came hard. Doss inhaled her scent.

  “Shit, you smell so good, my cock wants to taste more of you,” he said before rolling her onto her belly.

  Zoe knew he meant it. Zoe felt him grow huge. She was filled with him. His hands on her back were wet with his desire to flood his secretions into every inch of her. He was inside her, outside her. Her orgasm fluid seeped into his cock. He expanded further and Zoe was begging him to bite her.

  Doss lifted her higher and gripped her throat. His fangs buried into her neck and he gentled his thrusts until he was rocking against her. His teeth remained buried in her and Zoe knew it was because his cock was huge and when he plunged he went hard and deep. He pulled from her slowly and plunged again, hard and deep.

  “This is why we will never be apart,” Doss said, leaving her throat for a brief second, his voice was a groaning growl of contentment. “We are joined with emotion and scent. My secretions run through your veins. I have absorbed your fluid into me. We belong to each other.”

  His fangs again buried deep giving her a wonderful feeling of euphoria. His secretions were like ecstasy, Doss was like a drug with the only aftereffects being love. She was addicted to him, her mate—her forever lover. Zoe’s insides were slick and hot and wet. Her body shuddered when she came again. Warm liquid trailed down her throat both inside and outside and Zoe felt her blood mix with his saliva. There was no pain only pleasure as another orgasm gripped her and she screamed. When Doss finally pulled from her Zoe slumped. Doss picked her up and took her to the healing water where he bathed her.

  “I love you, Zoe,” he said.

  “I know. I love you, too.”

  “I know.”

  Doss pinned her to th
e side of the pool. Zoe was eager for him when they started all over again.

  Chapter 8

  Zoe knew she was dreaming. She always knew when she was dreaming. Her slender arms were wrapped around her knees as she rocked herself. She was a Tonan captive. When the shielded male hunkered down before her, Zoe cringed until a tender hand, void of talons, cupped her chin. It was Doss.

  “You don’t need to be here,” Doss said.

  “Yes, I do.”

  “Let me take you somewhere else.”

  “No not yet,” she replied.

  Doss cocked his head. “You don’t like it here. I scent your emotions. I don’t like your fear. You’re here because of me.”

  It was true. She was. Doss flowed through her as well. He warred within his thoughts since meeting Cobra and Loy. There was something he needed, but she didn’t know what and so her dreams brought her here. Though afraid, this was what she needed to do for Doss. The door to her cell opened and her Tonan captor entered. Nude, Zoe scrambled to her feet. She was so scared. Doss stood in front of her, but the Tonan walked through him and took her arm.

  “Zoe,” Doss said with alarm.

  “Come with me,” she pleaded but she wouldn’t give up the dream—she couldn’t give up the dream.

  The Tonan laughed at the terror coming from the cells around them as they passed. Zoe was shaking, but Doss was here. There was something…Doss needed something from her. The door to Loy’s cell opened. Loy stood angry, his eyes narrowed. Doss had his hand on Zoe. The scene played out. The Tonan was cruel, Loy was furious. Zoe hated them both. When Loy pushed Zoe away Doss growled. Even though his armor was up, Zoe could tell Doss was ready for blood.

  When the Tonan poised his tail to strike her, the dream fast-forwarded. Still, Zoe wouldn’t give it up, there was more and Doss had to see all of it. The Tonan dropped his armor and if Doss hadn’t already killed him he would be dead now. When finally Zoe bit the Tonan and the Tonan raised his hand to her, the image shattered like glass. Zoe knew Doss could take no more and for some odd reason, she knew she had given him what he had needed to see.

  Zoe woke in Doss’ arms. His body was wrapped around her protectively. “Aw, Zoe,” he mumbled, he sounded wounded for her.

  “I couldn’t help it, Doss. There was something you needed to see.”

  “There was something I needed to scent. I’m so sorry that happened to you. I will never allow you to dream that again; it hurt my soul to watch. It was my armor that led us there. My armor senses I needed to work something out in thoughts because after meeting Loy both my sides have battled indecision. I was drawn to him, his Castian side no doubt. Because he was the first kind warrior I have met. I can’t keep battling myself. My armor protects us both. I can’t keep you safe if I battle myself.

  “Loy wasn’t angry with you, Zoe. He was furious his warrior mate was dead, he hated the Tonan. He was terrified he would give in and take you even though he sensed your fear of him. There was one more thing I sensed from him.”

  “What?”

  “He would have done the same thing as his warrior mate. He would have done his best to impregnate you to save you.”

  “He would have been killed.”

  “Yes.”

  “How can you scent emotions in a dream?”

  “Your dream left an imprint; it was a very emotional experience for you. Some memories are stronger; they grip us tighter and a scent, a smell, something triggers them. My scent is highly evolved. The scent was like a shadow. It wasn’t whole, but it was enough to see and enough to scent.”

  “What do we do? I’m still afraid of Castians, but I hate Tonans. The Tonans will come after us. The war will continue. What if we have a child? The baby will be all alone with no others to play with.”

  Doss pulled her closer. “I spent my life thinking Castians were cowards and Tonans were evil. I still think Tonans are evil filth. Especially after what I just saw. I felt Loy’s rage when the Tonan whipped you. I’m sorry, Zoe, but that part I fast-forwarded; I couldn’t bear it and I’m so proud of your courage. But I knew if Loy had a shield, he would have done his best to kill the Tonan for you. He is a warrior with courage.”

  “I don’t scent emotion like you, Doss. I can feel some of what you feel. I sense you. I want to sense Loy. I can in a way. Is it because we connected in the cell?”

  “I guess some of what you feel is from me,” he said and shrugged. “I know you have no fear of Loy. But Cobra is right. The healing process will take time. The women are terrified of both the Tonans and Castians like you are. But at least you have one Castian that you trust. It’s more than the other women can say.”

  “I have you, too.”

  “You will always have me.”

  Zoe giggled. “I’ll always have Caveat.”

  Doss groaned. “Quit sniffing my ass, you damned hairy beast.”

  Caveat whinnied. “I think he wants an apple. Is there fodder for them out there?”

  Doss got up and dressed. He went to the replicator and before long there were enough apples of every kind and color as well as carrots to keep the horses happy for a little while. After Zoe dressed and they had both eaten, Doss took her hand and they went outside. The suns were rising.

  Doss gripped her hand and pointed out intricate markings on the trees and places on the soft stone structures resembling rocks said to have belonged to another race over millions of years old. The forest smelled primitive. It gave Zoe an odd feeling. Almost déjà vu. If she didn’t know better she would have sworn at one time she had walked the region. It became apparent to Zoe that Doss was more than well aware of the area.

  “Do you come here often?” Zoe asked.

  “Often enough. I’m eight hundred years old. I get bored so I wander. I know every inch of this planet.”

  Zoe stopped him. “Do you know where the Tonan slave camps are?”

  “Yes.”

  “You should tell Cobra.”

  Doss hesitated. “Zoe,” he began.

  Zoe frowned. “You’re afraid. Why? You were as eager as I was to save that woman and those children.”

  “Then we met Cobra and I started thinking. If the Castians and Tonans stop warring, who do you think they’ll wage war on next?” Doss answered. “Warriors need a battle.”

  “Are there more hybrids?”

  “I’ve never seen one, but I have heard rumors. Zoe, a hybrid is more dangerous than a Castian and Tonan combined. I’m a good person, but what if some hybrids aren’t? What if some lean more on the side of Tonans? Cruel evil males that can kill both sides. Introducing human females has proven dangerous. There are Tonans who are breeding with human females and some who might have considered giving a piece of their shields to their sons when our second must hits.”

  “How do you know?”

  “I can control my scent emotions; I blend in and move quickly. I hear a lot of shit. Not a lot of good shit either. With the loss of our females, the Tonans realized their mistake and instead of killing these human females, they’re keeping many to build their race. Human females aren’t capable of repelling a male. They’re vulnerable unless mated. By the time a Tonan and Castian reach the age of twelve they are deadly warriors. New armies on both sides will build.”

  “Sounds to me like they could use a mediator.”

  “The Tonans and Castians can never live together in harmony. Because I have the blood of both, I have the scent memories of both. I understand each race. There is no emotional empathy in a Tonan warrior, it’s been bred out.”

  “I think it would be in Cobra’s best interest to welcome you into their midst.”

  “They fear me.”

  “They don’t know you.”

  Zoe looked at the massive trees they were surrounded by. The tree tops overlapped to close out the sun and Zoe was concerned. Doss needed the sun. It shone sporadically in places and she guided him to one of those areas. Doss was chuckling as she dragged him along.

  “Relax, Zoe. It takes
a long time for my armor to suffer from the loss of sunlight.”

  “Those trees are so high. What on earth would a Castian do if they were afraid of heights?” Zoe mused.

  “It would be a very embarrassing situation for sure,” Doss said and laughed.

  “Look!” Zoe squealed and pointed. “Moonway.”

  The little creatures were studying them just as curiously. They stood upright on their hind legs, the females hanging back with their young. There were perhaps twenty. Surprisingly, Zoe noted a domed wood home like the Tonan camp. It was much smaller, proportioned to the Moonway size. It was up off the ground like a bird’s nest.

  Zoe moved back into Doss’ arms. “Oh how I would have loved one of these when I was a child.”

  “These creatures also mate for life. I don’t know how long they live though. I don’t think they die when their mate dies. You see the one holding the babe,” Doss asked and Zoe nodded. “They were brought here by the Tonans about twenty years ago. That female would curl into a ball and rock. She looked so sad it near broke my heart. I’m guessing her loved ones were left behind when they were captured. It took a long time and tenderness on her new mate’s part, but eventually he convinced her she wasn’t alone.”

  “How sad, and yet how beautiful.”

  “I could understand her loneliness,” Doss whispered.

  “I don’t understand, though,” Zoe mused. “The water was poison. How did the females survive?”

  Doss ducked his head and looked a bit sheepish. “I told them not to drink the water. I know it sounds odd but I replicated what was needed when I came across them. They seemed to understand. They’re used to me. Then the humans landed and the Tonans, seeing their golden opportunity, introduced chemicals that made the water palatable. I didn’t want the little females to die when they came here. The males would have been so lonely. And they were so vulnerable.”