Chapter 15
Cade might have acted flippant at the sight of Colette and Jaspar in his cell, but inwardly, he raged for more than one reason.
How dare they imprison Colette?
What had Jaspar been thinking, leaving the ship?
How would he manage seduction with Jaspar in close proximity?
What if Colette chose Jaspar over him?
All those queries paled in comparison, though, to what his partner had to relate.
“Earth’s about to be attacked,” a grim Jaspar announced.
“What?” Cade couldn’t help but exclaim. “By who?”
“A Krampusonian ship is headed this way.”
Cade’s stomach sank. “You’re sure it’s them?”
“Yes. At its current speed, it will hit Earth’s orbit in two of their planetary rotations.” Dire news.
“That’s bad. We don’t have a proper arsenal to counter their assault.”
“I’m aware,” Jaspar’s quiet reply.
“This has got to be a cosmic joke. Here we are, days from Christmas, and some aliens with Krampus in their name are coming to ruin it.” Colette shook her head and laughed.
“Hardly amusing,” Jaspar noted.
“Oh, this isn’t amusement, more like admiring the irony. See, we have a legend about a monster, a creature with horns and a horrible visage, who, according to stories, likes to punish naughty children.”
Cade glanced at Jaspar, whose mouth had rounded in shock.
“Your planet has seen the Krampusonian before?” Cade ventured to ask.
She shrugged. “Maybe. I don’t know. Krampus is a myth, as far as I know.”
“Or not,” Cade muttered. “For you described their appearance accurately.”
“Wait, these invading aliens are horned monsters?” Colette’s turn to look and sound shocked.
“Yes, but they don’t take children to punish them,” Cade stated.
“Then what?”
Jaspar’s lips flattened. “Imagine the worst, and it won’t be enough. The Krampusonian are killers. And, as I told your general, you can’t reason with them. If they’re not stopped, your planet is doomed.”
“That’s bad.”
“Very.”
Colette glanced at the camera. “Think they’ll realize that in time to do something?”
“Even if they do, it might not make a difference. While your military has missiles powerful enough to destroy, their delivery system lacks the speed and precision needed to destroy an advanced vessel, such as the Krampusonian use, in space,” Jaspar explained with a shrug.
“You indicated in the general’s office that your ship has the ability to use nukes,” Colette stated.
“You met the general?” Cade interjected.
Jaspar nodded. “I did, but she didn’t heed my warning. She doesn’t trust us and thinks she can converse with the Krampusonian.”
“Ridiculous!” Cade huffed.
“In her defense, she is still getting to know you and has to explore her options.” Colette actually defended the stupidity of the senior officer.
“Her option is to let us help, or Earth is done for.” Cade shook his head.
Colette placed a hand on his arm. “Hopefully, the general comes to her senses before it’s too late. At least she knows you have a plan.”
“That isn’t certain to work,” Jaspar countered.
“Using your nuclear weapons would require some modification, as we would need to create a delivery system, something Beta was working on when I left. If we succeed both in making those changes and acquiring the missiles, then we should be able to destroy the Krampusonian ship before it has a chance to reach orbit and commence harvesting the children.”
“Or the military will kill these Krampus monsters the moment they set foot on Earth,” Colette stated.
“The Krampusonian don’t retrieve them in person. They beam them aboard.” Cade knew their tactics.
The reply pursed Colette’s lips. “Are you sure about that? Our Krampus legends had him on Earth and stealing the kids while they slept.”
“Very sure. Most likely, one of their vessels crashed on the surface of your planet and one of them survived for a while before your populace managed to eliminate it.” Jaspar paced the short length of the room.
“I can’t believe the humans have locked us away.
We should be preparing for the Krampusonian arrival, instead of languishing in this prison. ”
“What did you expect?” Cade couldn’t resist a sarcastic drawl. “You saw what they did to me.”
“I thought they’d listen to reason,” Jaspar growled.
“I’m sorry.” Colette’s head ducked.
“For what?” Puzzlement filled Cade’s query.
“For being the bait that got you caught.”
“Bah. That isn’t your fault. Beta saw the soldiers sneaking in on our meeting and gave me the option to remove myself.”
“Why didn’t you go?” She cast him a glance from below full lashes.
“Because, like Jaspar, I thought they’d listen.” Cade’s lips twisted in a wry smile. “Your general is even more stubborn than you were.”
“I’m not stubborn.” Colette tossed her head.
“It took bringing you aboard my ship for you to believe me,” Cade reminded.
“Speaking of ship, I assume you’re cut off from Beta?”
Both Jaspar and Cade nodded, with Jaspar adding, “This installation is blocking all signals.”
“Meaning we’re screwed until the general decides to let us go.” Colette sighed and slumped to sit on the mattress.
Seeing her despondent led to Cade joining her and grabbing her hand, in a gesture he’d seen humans use for comfort. “Don’t lose hope.”
Advice that proved hard to follow because Cade wanted to act. Wanted to fight. But stuck in this cell, there was nothing any of them could do.
Jaspar dropped to the mattress on the other side of Colette, his shoulder brushing hers, and Cade quickly quashed the jealousy. He didn’t have a claim to Colette. Neither of them did until a formal bond was put in place, which most likely would never happen given their current situation.
“Enough talk about evil Christmas-ruining alien monsters. Tell me about life on your planet. What was it like growing up?”
At Colette’s request, they talked, Cade and Jaspar taking turns telling stories about their planet and upbringing, explaining their culture and how their society worked.
Colette reiterated by sharing Earth customs—which varied depending on the country.
She told them of growing up as an only child with older parents. Of how she began her company.
They spoke until their repast arrived, then talked some more until a yawning Colette said, “I need to go to bed.”
She lay down on the mattress, barely big enough for one.
Jaspar and Cade, without a word, took up positions on either side.
When they woke, they continued to relate personal experiences.
Cade got to know Colette as more than just an attractive sexual partner, but in a surprise, he discovered Jaspar was more interesting than expected.
Even odder, despite their current incarcerated dilemma, Cade enjoyed himself.
The one thing he didn’t enjoy—other than the horrible meals—was the sexual tension.
It hovered in the air, teasing and tantalizing.
It didn’t just affect Cade, not that they spoke of it.
Didn’t have to. It appeared in every accidental touch—that led a few times to Colette making a noise that hardened his cock.
Or how Cade would notice Jaspar staring at Colette, only to look away, his cheeks a bright purple.
It became even more obvious their second night of slumber when she said, “I can’t believe I’m asking this, but this cell is kind of cold. Would one of you want to cuddle?”
He and Jaspar almost fought over who got to do so first. They played a game of Antimatter, Supernova, or Blackhole to decide who. Cade won, his wiggling fingers defeating Jaspar’s rounded ones—antimatter reversed the blackhole’s polarity.
Cade got to be the first to wrap himself around Colette, his cock hard, his need almost painful.
Who knew being close to a woman he couldn’t have would be the most cruel form of torture he ever experienced?
When he could take it no longer, he left the narrow bed and signaled to Jaspar to have a turn.
However, despite the fact they all ached, none of them acted.
How could they, knowing they were watched?
However, Cade did wonder what would happen if they found themselves somewhere with no camera.
Who would Colette choose? Cade honestly didn’t know because she treated them the same, which led to him debating a scenario he’d never have dared imagine before he’d met Colette: a three-way bonding.
Not unheard of, since the shortage of females.
The biggest issue being jealousy. To Cade’s surprise, though, watching Jaspar pressed against Colette as they slept didn’t send him into a rage.
On the contrary, when he imagined Colette touching his partner, and him watching, he thought it rather arousing.
On their third day of captivity, on the eve of something humans called Christmas, soldiers opened the door and flanked it as the doctor entered, looking exhausted.
“Ms. Wilson, could you come with me?”
“Why?” Suspicion clouded her tone, as they’d had no contact with anyone since being locked in the cell.
“To run more tests. With you having spent time with the visitors in close quarters, plus given you’ve been intimate with them both, I think it might be prudent to see if you remain healthy.”
“I’m fine,” Colette grumbled. “Although I would be better if you let us go.”
“I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
“Then why should I help you?”
“What if I said you could take a shower?” the doctor offered.
“Bribing me with a basic right? Seriously?” Colette scoffed.
“Go,” Jaspar commanded. “Show them they have nothing to fear from us.”
“Only if they agree to let you both get a chance to bathe too,” she insisted.
The doctor sighed and nodded. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“In that case, I agree.”
Colette left with the doctor, and Cade fought to not follow, not because he wanted to escape, but because he hated her leaving his sight. He stiffened as the door slammed shut.
Jaspar glared at the locked portal, switching to his native tongue—easily done with the embedded communicator—and growled, “I don’t like her being without protection.”
“The humans won’t harm her.” Cade replied in the same language.
“They had no issue locking her up. They are so obstinate, and I’m getting tired of waiting.”
“As am I. When do we stop being docile and show these humans warriors deserve respect?” Cade had played nice long enough.
The Krampusonians would be here soon. Despite the fact the Earthlings hadn’t agreed to an alliance, if they were going to defend this planet, they needed to return to their ship.
“It shouldn’t be long now, assuming Beta’s subterfuge worked.”
A startled Cade glanced at Jaspar. “Explain.”
“Before beaming me down, Beta ensured I brought two devices. One which I gave to the general so she could contact the ship. The second was a transponder that I only barely managed to affix to an electrical conduit when the guards looked away for a moment. Beta was going to try and infiltrate their network via the current.”
“It must not have worked, since we’re still here.”
“The AI did warn that it might take a bit of time, as their programming is more complex than expected, given they didn’t write it in the same language our computers are used to.”
“What does getting into their system do for us, though? It’s not like we can beam out. The installation is too far underground.”
Jaspar shrugged. “I don’t know, but I didn’t think it would hurt.”
With Colette gone and able to speak without anyone the wiser, Cade finally asked, “Why did you leave the ship? Wasn’t this scenario the reason why you stayed behind in the first place?”
The rebuke led to Jaspar grimacing. “I’ll admit I didn’t think it through properly. I expected the humans to be grateful for the warning and to want to collaborate on a way to eliminate the threat. I miscalculated.”
“They are a suspicious bunch,” Cade muttered. “And it will cost them everything.”
“Us, too,” Jaspar added more quietly. He glanced at Cade. “You copulated with Colette.”
Warriors didn’t lie. “I did.”
“But didn’t bond?”
He shook his head.
Jaspar sighed. “Is it wrong I wish to fornicate with her again?”
Cade’s lips twisted. “If you’re wrong, then so am I. I’ve never experienced anything as satisfying.”
“Me either.” Jaspar hesitated before adding, “Once we do escape, what are we going to do about the fact we both want her?”
Cade made the suggestion that had been brewing in his mind. “How do you feel about a triad?”
The resulting reply wasn’t a punch to the face. They might have spoken more on the subject, but a familiar voice came over the speaker.
“Hello, Commanders. You can speak freely, as I’ve disabled the humans’ feed for the cell.”
“Beta?” Cade couldn’t help but sound surprised.
“Yes, it’s me. Sorry for the delay. Are you ready to escape?”
“Yes!” the males shouted.
“Good. We don’t have much time. The Krampusonians are here.”
“Meaning it’s too late,” Jaspar murmured, looking grave.
“Perhaps not. I have formulated a plan,” Beta stated.
A plan that came with a slim probability of success, with failure being almost certain death.
Despite that bleak warning, the warriors didn’t hesitate to agree. After all, they swore to serve, and if their planet required them to sacrifice their lives, then so be it.
“Tell us what we must do.”