Chapter 5
CHAPTER 5
K endra stood up and moved out of the way as the board of governors entered the conference room. They had watched Zevon’s interaction with Verbet from a nearby lounge and their thunderous expression reflected their displeasure.
“There is no doubt,” one of them said. Kendra didn’t know his name. “Verbet murdered his brother and intends to take his place.”
“I agree,” another said as they quickly took their places around the table.
The eldest member of the group moved to Zevon’s right and spoke to him rather than the room at large. “So what does this mean for us? Is this development good or bad?”
“There are several possible courses of action,” Zevon told him, authority ringing in his deep voice.
Arcon escorted her toward the door as Zevon took control of the meeting. She wanted to stay and watch Zevon in action, but the governors would be more productive without the distraction of the president’s potential mate.
“Do you know what he plans to propose?” Kendra asked as she walked down the corridor with Arcon.
His warm palm pressed against the small of her back and awareness arced between them. “We could launch an aggressive military campaign against Verbet before he has time to set up a power base. We could wait and see what Verbet does. He might be a better leader than his half-brother.”
“Jevara’s death was more or less an accident,” she admitted. “Are there any other options?”
“We could offer support to the rebels while letting them take the lead.”
“Which option do you favor?” They reached the elevator banks and paused. Arcon was heading back to the training center to continue his self-defense classes, but Kendra was heading to their apartment. Provost Nadis, the most requested mentor, had offered to help Kendra explore and learn to control her new abilities. The lessons required quiet and concentration so they’d agreed to meet in private.
“I think the last option makes the most sense,” Arcon told her. “The best decisions are made by those closest to them. In other words, Torretians need to decide on the fate of their planet.”
“Do you know the new rebel leader? Can we trust him not to turn into a dictator himself?”
“I don’t know Soro well, but he seems to be an honorable male, and my instincts say that we can trust him.”
“Well, your instincts are good enough for me.” She rocked onto the balls of her feet and placed a kiss on his lips. “Will you be home for lunch?”
“Unlikely, but Zevon and I both plan to share the evening meal with you.” He returned her kiss and then summoned the elevator. “I’ll see you tonight.” He stepped onto one of the cars and blew her a kiss as the door slid closed in front of him.
Kendra summoned another car and requested the upper domestic level. She hadn’t had any other visions in the past three days and was starting to wonder if the one she’d had would be her one and only. Provost Nadis was highly skilled and well respected. If anyone could help Kendra develop into a dependable seer, it was Nadis.
Distracted by her convoluted thoughts, Kendra stepped out into the hallway and made her way toward the apartment she shared with Zevon and Arcon. Her thoughts gradually moved on from the meeting she’d just witnessed to the lessons awaiting her.
“There she is!”
A sharp, hostile voice drew Kendra’s attention to the other end of the corridor. She looked over her shoulder and cringed. Jessie and Heather were striding toward her, their movements fast and agitated.
“You selfish bitch,” Jessie sneered, dark eyes flashing. “All of us agreed to the lottery system. Luck of the draw was the only way for it to be fair for everyone. But you weren’t satisfied with your planet, so you found a way out of it.”
“I understand why you’re angry, but?—”
“I’m not just angry. I’m ready to wring your whorish neck.” She reached Kendra and shoved her hard enough to make Kendra stumble backward. “None of us wants to leave the Citadel. Why should you be spared the fate the rest of us are expected to endure?”
“My power started to activate. I did not intentionally?—”
“Run straight to Zevon’s office and get on your knees?” Jessie countered waspishly.
The retort was so accurate that Kendra’s face began to burn.
“Oh, my fucking God, you did exactly that, didn’t you? Did he fuck you over his desk or take you upstairs to his apartment?”
“It wasn’t like that. I?—”
“Spread your legs for the most powerful male on this outpost so you didn’t have to go to the least appealing planet. That’s exactly what you did.”
“Think what you like. I know what really happened.” Jessie was clearly not interested in an actual conversation, so Kendra turned around and headed for her apartment.
Jessie grabbed Kendra’s arm, fingernails digging in painfully.
“Let go. Right now!” Kendra demanded without turning around.
“Fuck you, bitch!” Jessie shouted. “I’m not going to that godforsaken desert no matter how many males you fuck!”
Kendra jerked her arm out of Jessie’s grasp and reluctantly faced her. “I’m sorry that you?—”
Jessie shoved Kendra with both hands, nearly knocking her off her feet. Unwilling to be victimized by this bully, Kendra retaliated with an equally hard shove. Jessie bared her teeth, literally snarled then drew back her arm. Kendra didn’t wait for the punch to land. She swept Jessie’s feet out from under her, sending her sprawling to the floor. Jessie slammed down flat on her back, her head bounding off the tiles.
Thinking the fight was over, Kendra turned and took one fast step in the opposite direction. Jessie grabbed her ankle and interrupted Kendra’s momentum. She lurched forward, going down on one knee before she could scramble back to her feet.
“I am not going to fight you,” Kendra insisted, but Jessie managed to stand as well.
A small crowd of conduits was now standing nearby. Heather was gleefully watching the altercation. Obviously, Jessie wasn’t the only one upset about Kendra’s new romance.
“Fine,” Jessie snapped. “Don’t fight me. Just stand there and bleed.”
Jessie swung for Kendra again, but Kendra easily dodged the punch. Jessie’s movements were slow and predictable and Kendra’s primary form of entertainment was a sparbot. Twisting away, Kendra tried to retreat, but Jessie was determined to fight her.
One of Jessie’s wild punches caught the side of Kendra’s face. The blow glanced off without delivering much damage, but anger surged through Kendra, consuming her good intentions. If Jessie wanted to fight, why not oblige her? Jessie had been the aggressor from the onset of the conflict. This was a clear case of self-defense.
Kendra’s first punch caught Jessie on the jaw, snapping her head sharply to the side. Jessie shrieked and came at her like a madwoman, swinging her arms like propellers. Kendra punched her in the stomach, hoping to knock the wind out of her. But Jessie’s wild motions caused her to twist at the last minute and Kendra’s fist collided with her ribs instead.
Pain stabbed through Kendra’s hand and streaked up her arm. The pain dumped fuel on her smoldering temper and Kendra unleashed her aggression. She attacked Jessie with fast combinations and punishing body shots. Kendra’s fist found the center of Jessie’s gut, folding her over. Kendra brought up her leg as Jessie descended, smashing her knee into Jessie’s nose. With one final shove, Kendra sent Jessie sprawling to the floor.
“Stay down!” she yelled. “I am through being bullied by you!”
Jessie lay in a moaning heap, one hand pressed over her bloody nose, the other cradling her side.
Kendra heard one of the onlookers request medical assistance, so Kendra rushed toward her apartment. Tears blinded her and muscle memory guided her steps. All of her onetime friends looked as if they wanted to kill her. And two weeks ago most of them disliked Jessie as much as she did.
She reached the apartment and rushed inside. Making a beeline for the bathroom, Kendra ran her hand under cold water. Gingerly wiggling her fingers and shifting her wrist, she determined that nothing was broken. Still, she was going to have some nasty bruises. Jessie’s blood had washed away, but she stood there shaking and let the coolness soothe her abused knuckles. Her heart still thudded in her chest and her emotions tossed back and forth like a stormy sea. She hadn’t wanted to fight Jessie, had tried damn hard not to, but there was only so much provocation anyone could take.
“Provost Nadis to see you, Kendra. Shall I let her in?” the apartment’s AI asked.
After turning the water off, Kendra grabbed a towel and walked out into the living room. “Yes, let her in.”
Nadis was statuesque with silver-blonde hair and pale blue eyes. Kendra had only interacted with her in a classroom setting, so she immediately felt defensive. “Is Jessie going to be all right?” How much of the fight had the provost seen? Did she realize that Jessie provoked it?
“That question might have been more appropriate before you inflicted her injuries,” Nadis pointed out.
“She left me no choice.”
Nadis shook her head. “There are always choices.”
“Did you see how the fight started or only how it ended?” Frustration sparked to life inside Kendra again. Jessie was the biggest troublemaker on the outpost. Why was there such disappointment in Provost Nadis’ eyes?
“You ended up with blood on your hands. Jessie did not. What does that say to you?”
Confused by the provost’s attitude, Kendra squared her shoulders and met her gaze. “She threw plenty of punches. I just avoided them.”
“Why did you not continue to do so? Why did you go on the offensive?”
Holy fuck, Nadis was blaming her for the fight? Kendra couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “I pushed Jessie away and tried to avoid her. She was not going to stop no matter what I said or did.”
“I’ve observed Arcon’s self-defense classes.” Nadis arched her brows as she asked, “What are you supposed to do when faced with an attacker?”
“I tried to run away,” Kendra objected. Her frustration was escalating into anger and that was not going to help her convince Nadis that she was innocent. She took a deep breath and pulled back her emotions before she spoke again. “I tried, more than once, to leave the scene. Jessie would not let me.”
“You are much more skilled when it comes to physical altercations. I know how many hours you’ve logged in the gym. Could you have continued to avoid her blows until she tired herself out, or immobilized her without harming her?”
Shocked by the injustice of the outcome, Kendra just stared back at Nadis in silent defiance. Jessie deserved everything she got. Kendra refused to regret what she’d done.
Nadis shook her head, starting to look annoyed rather than disappointed. “She made you angry and you chose to hurt her. Is that not so?”
“She called me a whore. She said I went after Zevon and Arcon to avoid going to Houkdi.”
Nadis shrugged, unimpressed by the arguments. “Are those things true?”
“No,” Kendra cried. “I have been attracted to both from the start and my power started to activate.”
The door slid open and Zevon walked in. His gaze swept over Kendra before he asked, “Were you harmed by this brawl in the corridor?”
She shook her head. He’d cared enough to ask, but he was clearly angry. And like Provost Nadis, Zevon was angry with her, not Jessie. “Jessie started it. Jessie always starts shit.”
“That is not an excuse and you know it,” he warned. This was not her loving mate. This was President Zevon, ultimate authority at the Citadel. “There are strict rules against fighting and every person on this outpost is subject to them. I will not make an exception because you are my mate.”
“She attacked me.” Kendra couldn’t believe that they were angry with her for defending herself. “I tried to get away, but she came after me. It was self-defense.”
“You are uninjured while she has broken ribs, a split lip, and a fractured nose,” he argued. “You did more than defend yourself.”
This was ridiculous. She’d put up with Jessie’s bullshit for weeks. Jessie was a hateful bitch and Kendra was shocked that it had taken this long for someone to beat the shit out of her. “ Fine . She pissed me off and I shut her mouth for her. If that deserves punishment then punish me. Jessie is a toxic bully. Why didn’t anyone deal with her misbehavior?”
“Jessie has been reprimanded for her behavior,” Nadis told Kendra. “More than once.”
Zevon looked at the provost and said, “You may return to your duties. I will deal with this.”
“Of course, sir.” Without a backward glance, Nadis left the apartment.
What little regret Kendra had felt about the incident had been burned away by her anger. It was so unfair that they were blaming her for what happened in the hall.
“Are you willing to apologize for the injuries you inflicted on Jessie?” Zevon’s voice was tight and stern.
“Absolutely not.” The fucking bitch deserved it.
“Were you aware of the zero tolerance policies regarding fighting?” he persisted.
“I was. Now, may I ask you a question?”
He looked as if he’d refuse, but surprised her when he said, “Go on.”
“If you heard one of our soldiers accuse me of being a whore and using my body to avoid going to Houkdi, how would you react?”
One corner of his mouth lifted for a millisecond as if he were fighting back a smile. “I would punch him in the face. And then I would accept responsibility for my actions.”
“Actions have consequences,” she muttered; it was a common phrase around here. Clearly, this was a fight she had no hope of winning. “I chose to put a bully in her place, so what is the consequence for my actions?”
“I can deal with this as President Zevon or as your master. We are officially courting, so either is appropriate. Which do you prefer?”
She licked her lips. Uncertainty and anticipation were making her antsy. “May I know what each will do?”
He chuckled and shook his head. “What fun would there be in that?”
If she was going to be disciplined, she’d rather endure the pain and humiliation in private. One thing was clear. She’d be punished either way. “I’d rather deal with my master,” she decided. “President Zevon intimidates me.”
Another warm chuckle rumbled through his chest and he accepted her decision with a nod. “I know for a fact that’s not true, but I’m glad you chose your master. Arcon is on his way up, so undress and kneel at the foot of the bed.”
Unable to release her resentment entirely, Kendra walked into the bedroom and slowly removed her clothes. Rules must be enforced. She understood that, but sometimes bullies deserved to have the shit beaten out of them. Apparently, President Zevon didn’t see it that way.
“I can sense your defiance,” he warned. “Don’t make me add to your punishment. It is going to be intense enough already.” He moved to a chair across from the bed and sat down, casually crossing his legs.
She folded her dress and placed it on a nearby table, stalling while she struggled with her emotions. She’d gotten used to being spanked, had even brought Zevon a strap to use on her when she’d mouthed off to one of the trainers. This was different. She didn’t feel that this was justified, so everything within her was resisting. She wanted to argue and slam doors, maybe throw one of her shoes at Zevon’s head. A temper tantrum would only earn her more pain, so she clenched her jaw and tried not to think about anything.
Sinking to her knees in front of him, Kendra moved her legs apart and asked, “Arms up or down?”
“Down is fine. In fact, play with your pussy. I want you wet.”
“Yes, Master.” She licked her fingers before she began. Fear made her wet and humiliation made her drip, but anger made her body shut down.
His gaze narrowed as he watched her. She was upset so he could doubtlessly sense her emotions, which meant he knew she was far from accepting this punishment.
She rubbed her clit and teased her opening, sliding over and around without pushing inside. His gaze focused between her thighs and desire erupted in his eyes. Her body might be slow to respond right now, but his wasn’t. A long, thick ridge stretched the front of his uniform pants, and his hands were clenching and releasing the arms of the chair.
Arcon walked in a few moments later. “I know fighting is a punishable offense, but I’ve come close to punching Jessie myself a time or two.”
“Our hotheaded mate didn’t just punch her. She beat her senseless. Jessie has cracked ribs and a broken nose. Worse, as you can clearly sense, Kendra finds nothing wrong with what she did.”
The compassion in Arcon’s gaze cooled and he shook his head. “I see.”
Wonderful. Now they were both pissed at her. She took a deep breath and concentrated on the slide of her fingers but it did no good. She didn’t feel like she deserved punishment so she couldn’t move beyond resentment.
“Stand up, pet, and take two steps toward me,” Zevon ordered.
Tension wrapped around her chest, making it hard to breathe. Both her mates had spanked her during their time together, but she hadn’t endured another harsh punishment since her first night with Arcon. Needing to understand what they were thinking, she reached across the transfer link, but both of them were shielding their minds.
“Sensing our emotions is a privilege, a gift,” Arcon reminded. “Focus on your behavior and the choices that led you to this situation. Discipline is meant to be endured alone.”
That concept was more upsetting than the promised pain. She’d gotten used to sharing their emotions, to knowing they were there whenever she needed reassurance. “How much trouble am I in?”
“How much trouble should you be in?” Zevon countered as he pushed to his feet.
The question sounded rhetorical, so she just watched him silently.
He moved to her side and said, “Lower wrist restraints.”
A panel above her head slid open and a set of padded wrist cuffs slowly lowered from somewhere inside the ceiling. She knew he had bondage equipment stashed all over the apartment but she’d never seen this apparatus before. He closed one cuff around each of her wrists. The mechanism engaged with a menacing click.
“Tighten cables until I say stop,” Zevon instructed the apartment’s AI.
The slack in the cables decreased until Kendra was drawn onto the balls of her feet. She felt off-balance and vulnerable, somehow more exposed, which didn’t make sense because she’d been naked since entering the room.
Zevon walked to the inset compartment beside the bed and removed a flogger, or this star system’s equivalent. The strands varied in width and the handle had a decidedly phallic shape. Did he intend to fuck her with it after he used the wicked falls to warm her skin?
When he stood directly in front of her, he looked into her eyes. His expression was grim and severe. His golden gaze filled with challenge. “Did you intentionally harm another conduit?”
She taught a bully a much-needed lesson. Jessie would think twice before harassing anyone else.
Guilt sparked to life within Kendra’s mind. She’d done more than stop Jessie’s harassment. She’d lost control of her emotions and used her training to punish a weaker person.
“Yes,” she admitted, feeling regret for the first time since encountering Jessie in the hallway. “I was provoked by a bully, but I took things too far and became a bully myself.”
“Yes, you did.” He moved to her side, remaining in her peripheral vision. “Were there other ways to deal with the situation?” He swung the flogger, fanning out the falls across her entire bottom.
She cried out as dozens of stinging sparks ignited all over her cheeks. “I could have ignored her.”
He swung again and the individual sparks melded into a solid eruption of pain. “But she grabbed your arm.” He played devil’s advocate, tossing her own arguments back at her.
“I didn’t try hard enough to elude her,” Kendra admitted, instinctively twisting away. “I wanted her to keep at it so I’d seem justified in hurting her.”
The flogger slapped against her ass over and over. Each swat brought a bright burst of pain followed by a creeping heat that sank deeper and deeper.
“Why did you want to hurt her?” He brought the flogger up, catching the lower curve of her cheeks, one side and then the other.
Kendra cried out, rocking onto her toes to escape the fiery sting. “She’s a galaxy class bitch who torments everyone.”
He ran his hand down her back then across her stinging bottom. Heat flared and a familiar ache erupted between her thighs.
“Do you honestly think I’m unaware of her abuse toward others?”
He squeezed her cheeks cruelly, dragging an abrupt scream from her throat.
“You knew. Of course, you knew.”
His fingers released, but he didn’t move his hand. “Do you doubt the mentors’ ability to curtail her behavior?”
Kendra wiggled, not sure if she wanted him to squeeze her ass again or take his hand away. “No one has so far. She’s just as hateful as the day we arrived.”
“Is that so?” He moved in front of her and swatted her breasts with the flogger, focusing on one side and then the other. The slaps were much lighter than he’d used on her ass, but it still stung like fire. “Before today, when was the last time you interacted with Jessie?”
Kendra tensed. She honestly couldn’t remember. “I haven’t been interacting with any of the other conduits since my powers were unleashed.”
“Then how do you know if her attitude improved or not?” He carefully flogged her breasts until her skin was pink and her nipples were tightly beaded. He paused and cupped one punished mound, teasing her nipple with the pad of his thumb.
Prickly sensations made Kendra moan and wiggle. Waves of intense sensation had her teetering on the brink of an orgasm.
“Stand still.” Zevon pinched her nipple harshly, twisting the tender flesh until she cried out. “Good girls accept their punishment and submit to their masters.”
“Yes, Master.” She centered her weight over her feet and stopped moving.
His hand slid boldly over her body, cupping her breasts and caressing her belly. He returned to her nipples over and over, seemingly fascinated by the tight peaks. His fingers caught the sensitive flesh and pinched. Then he slapped the mounds, making them quiver and sway.
She stood there quietly allowing the hurtful touches. Her body belonged to Zevon and Arcon. She had misbehaved, so it was their right to treat her harshly.
Apparently feeling left out, Arcon moved up behind her. His large hands cupped her bottom cheeks and squeezed, reigniting the sting and deepening the throbbing heat. She cried out, shaking in her bonds as her mates continued to torment her. They combined gentle caresses with punishing squeezes or harsh slaps until her body didn’t know what to expect. Her skin felt tight and hot, her core aching and empty.
Zevon eased his fingers between her thighs, pressing on her clit. “Open your legs, pet.”
Thinking he meant to caress her pussy and bring her to release, she eagerly made room for his hand. He squeezed her once, then moved his hand and slipped the handle of the flogger between her thighs. She tensed, expecting him to shove the phallus into her core.
“You do not have permission to come,” he warned then activated vibration.
Kendra whined as sensations pulsed through her entire abdomen. He teased her folds, traced her slit, and circled her clit. The emptiness inside her intensified until she cried out in misery. He took her right to the edge of orgasm over and over, but never let her come. She was sobbing and shaking by the time he removed the flogger. She released a thankful breath, but her relief was premature.
Flipping the whip around, Zevon brought the strands up between her thighs and Kendra screamed. The sting was hot and electric, but the responding ache was even worse. Her core clenched so hard it dragged another cry from her throat.
“I know how badly you want to come, so surrender to my flogger.” He swung again. The sting was intense but not nearly as painful as the first swat had been. “Submit to your master.” The next swat was slightly harder. “Find pleasure in the pain.”
She sank into the sensations, letting the fire wash over her in waves. Another swat made her clit twitch and a strange, floaty sensation overtook her mind.
Someone parted her bottom cheeks and rubbed lube over and around her puckered hole.
“Submit to your mates,” Arcon urged as he pushed a dildo into her bottom. “Come for us. Do it now.”
Zevon spanked her again and a staggering orgasm ripped through Kendra. She screamed as the pleasure spiked over into pain and then swung back into dizzying pleasure.
The flogger handle was pushed into her core as Zevon wrapped his hand around her throat. His mouth claimed hers and then he was fucking her wet pussy with the flogger. Arcon thrust the dildo deep, then began to vigorously fuck her ass. Kendra cried out and then moaned into Zevon’s mouth as both her holes were brutally filled.
Hard and fast her mates fucked her trembling body. They took, claimed, and used her because it was their right to do so. Zevon kissed her, nearly frantic with desire. He drove the flogger handle deep into her pussy while Arcon possessed her bottom with the dildo.
Soon, mate, this will be our cocks , Zevon warned in her mind as his tongue slid in and out of her mouth.
Overwhelmed by the thought of being utterly possessed, Kendra came in fast, hard spasms. Her hands clenched and her legs trembled as they continued to fuck her through the pleasure.
Arcon withdrew the dildo and then Zevon removed the flogger. Kendra sagged in her bonds, her entire body feeling weak and weightless. The wrist cuffs released and Zevon pulled her against him as her knees buckled. Her stinging breasts connected with his chest and she yelped. Then he swept her up in his arms and sat down on the bed. Zevon held her cradled against his chest as she recovered from the discipline.
After ducking into the bathroom to dispose of the dildo, Arcon sat down beside them.
“Do you understand why we had to be so harsh with you?” Zevon asked as he brushed the hair back from her face.
“I lost control and harmed another conduit.” It felt so nice to be held that she didn’t want to talk about it.
“That’s true,” Zevon agreed, “but it’s not the most important part.”
It was obvious that he was getting at something, but her mind was still too muddled to figure it out. “I’m not sure what you want me to say.”
“You’re a trained soldier now.” Arcon ran his hand down the length of her hair as he explained. “The skills you’ve developed can be dangerous. You’re now capable of seriously harming other people.”
“Isn’t that true of every person on this outpost?”
Arcon shook his head. “You have been unusually proficient. All of the trainers agree. It often takes years to develop the skills you’ve mastered in a few short weeks.”
“With that sort of power comes responsibility,” Zevon reminded her.
“The responsibility not to beat the shit out of my fellow conduits?” she grumbled with a sigh. “I’ll apologize to Jessie first thing in the morning.”
“Good girl.” Zevon leaned down and kissed her mouth. His tongue teased her lips without venturing inside then he raised his head and concluded. “Your punishment for hurting Jessie is over, but you also disrespected me and the trainers by not trusting us to deal with Jessie’s misbehavior.”
She swallowed past a sudden tightness in her throat. “And what’s the consequence for that?”
“Submission,” he said simply. “I require a show of submission to reestablish your proper place.”
“Yes, Master.” She managed to form a shaky smile. “I will gladly submit to you and Arcon.”
Arcon stood up and undressed. His gaze locked with hers and he took his time as he revealed his muscular body. Zevon often fucked her fully dressed, but Arcon generally got naked first. He liked the sensation of skin on skin as he moved inside her willing body.
He stroked his cock as he stared into her eyes. “I want your mouth, red. I want those soft lips sliding up and down my hardened length.”
Zevon set her on her feet and stood up so Arcon could sit down.
Arcon lowered himself onto the foot of the bed as he continued to stroke his cock.
Zevon gathered her hands to the small of her back and then turned her to face Arcon. “Bend from the waist and use that sassy mouth to pleasure your source,” Zevon directed, still holding her arms behind her.
Kendra quickly licked her lips then bent down and wet Arcon’s tip with her tongue. He tasted of pre-cum and his skin was slick and warm. She wished her arms were free so she could touch his amazing body, but Zevon’s need to control her was particularly strong today. When Arcon’s entire length was wet, she slowly sucked him into her mouth.
He moaned low in his throat and let his head drop back. After a few rotations, Arcon tangled his fingers in her hair and slowed her rhythmic bobbing. “Take your time, red,” he coaxed. “I love the feel of your mouth on me.”
“You do not have permission to come,” Zevon warned. “This is about our pleasure. If you’re a very, very good girl, we might let you come later.”
Yes, Master . Unable to speak with Arcon in her mouth, she pushed the response into Zevon’s mind.
She slid her lips up and down on Arcon as Zevon positioned himself against her pussy. She braced for a forceful thrust, as that was Zevon’s typical entry. Instead, he drove in slowly, filling her by degrees. Her core fluttered around him and her clit twitched.
“If you’d reported Jessie’s attack instead of retaliating,” Zevon continued his slow, teasing pace as he pulled nearly out. “I would fuck you slow and easy so I could caress and arouse you, make you come over and over again. But that’s not what you did. Was it?”
No, Master. And I’m truly sorry.
He drew all the way out, leaving her empty and wanting.
“Then show me.” He released her wrists. “Reach back and pull your cheeks apart. Offer me your tight little ass. Arcon has enjoyed you there, but you’ve yet to take my cock.”
She squeezed her eyes shut. Zevon’s cock was unusually thick. It had been painful enough when Arcon took her there. With Zevon it would doubtlessly be worse. And he wanted her to do it willingly, to offer her ass to him.
“Your punishment is over,” Zevon stressed. “This is your choice.”
She wanted to please him, to prove that she’d learned her lesson. She should have trusted him to deal with Jessie. Instead, she gave in to her temper and hurt another conduit. Besides, she had learned to find pleasure in pain, and Zevon obviously needed her complete surrender. Hands trembling, she reached back and drew her cheeks apart. The motion reignited the sting in her cheeks and made her pussy flutter.
“Good girl,” Arcon praised as he slid in and out of her mouth.
Zevon paused long enough to lubricate her tightest opening and then his cock was firmly pressed against her. His large, warm hands grasped her waist as he steadily drove into her bottom.
Kendra moaned around Arcon’s cock. Her ass stretched, burning for a moment, then adjusting to the invading thickness. The sting gradually subsided, but she still felt overwhelmingly full. How in God’s name would she ever take them both at the same time?
Dark, possessive emotions flowed into her mind. She gasped, then shuddered. Zevon had just lowered his mental shields. She tilted her hips, thanking him with a better angle for his penetration. He drew nearly out, then filled her again. Emotion mixed with the physical sensations, making both more satisfying.
“Eyes on me, red,” Arcon ordered as he tilted her head back.
She forced her lids up and met his smoldering gaze. His emotions rolled across the link a millisecond later, soothing and warming her. He pushed deeper into her mouth, his expression fierce and hungry. She knew what he wanted, what he would demand, so she willingly offered it to him. Drawing air in through her nose, she relaxed her throat and let his cock slide deeper. Her vision blurred as he momentarily cut off her airflow, but he pulled back just as quickly, allowing her breath again.
“I love you, mate,” he whispered, their gazes locked. “I think I’ve always loved you.”
Tears escaped the corners of her eyes, but it wasn’t the steady slide of his cock down her throat. She was overwhelmed by their emotions, so raw and distinct within her mind.
“You mean more to me than I ever thought possible,” Zevon told her as he carefully possessed her bottom. “You are the perfect mate, exactly what we both need to be happy—forever. We are so grateful that we found you.”
Tears streamed down her cheeks as they moved in and out of her willing body. Zevon eased her hands away from her bottom cheeks and guided them to Arcon’s thighs. Then he ran his hands up and down her sides, pausing to lightly squeeze her breasts as they rocked beneath her.
I think I lov ? —
“Don’t say it until you’re sure,” Zevon interrupted. “A soul bond is forever. We can wait until you’re certain. Just open your mind. Offer us your emotions as you’ve offered your amazing body.”
And so she did. She shared her emotions without hesitation, opening herself completely. They moved faster, plunging deeper. Urgency built, swirling around them like a gathering thunderstorm. Zevon grasped her hips as he rocked forcefully into her bottom. Arcon took her just as demandingly, his balls slapping against her chin at the apex of each long stroke.
She locked her elbows and let them possess her body as their emotions sustained and aroused her. They needed her, desired her with a consuming hunger. It was humbling and confusing that their feelings could be this deep after such a short courtship. Over and over both males bottomed out inside her body. Their pleasure was intoxicating and her own need began to escalate.
Zevon slipped one of his hands between her thighs. He found her clit with his fingertips and rubbed in a tight circle. She rotated her hips, trying to increase the friction.
He slapped her pussy. “Stand still and take my cock. You’ll only come if I want to give you pleasure.”
Yes, Master. I’m sorry.
Pulling his cock all the way out, Zevon paused and waited for her body to contract before he thrust his entire length back inside her.
Kendra whimpered. The intensity hovered on the razor’s edge of pain, so of course he did it again. And again.
“Submission,” Zevon growled out. “This is what it feels like when your tight little ass submits to your master’s cock.”
He stayed inside her with the next thrust and went back to fucking her fast and hard. Her breasts jiggled and swayed as his long fingers rubbed her clit.
“I’m not going to last much longer,” Arcon warned.
Zevon slapped her pussy, rubbed her clit, then slapped her again. “Come, pet. Come right now.”
His fingers returned to her clit so the order was easy to obey. Pleasure detonated with the sudden force of a bomb and she screamed around Arcon. Zevon drove his entire length into her and she felt his hot seed jet out. Arcon shuddered violently as he drew back into her mouth. His seed coated her tongue, his taste intoxicating. She swallowed and sucked, greedy for every drop of his essence.
As the physical intensity faded, Kendra became more aware of their emotions. Love. They’d both claimed to love her in their own way, but now she could sense how much they meant it. Affection, possessive need, and fierce protectiveness melded into an emotion so sweet and humbling that it made Kendra cry all over again.
Arcon pulled out of her mouth and kissed her lightly on the lips. Zevon seemed reluctant to part, but he carefully separated their bodies. Arcon eased her onto his lap and Zevon draped her legs over his thighs as he joined them on the bed. They just held and caressed her for a few moments. Kendra’s bottom was still tender from the flogger and all the penetration. Arcon’s taste lingered in her mouth, but she wasn’t in a hurry to change any of it.
Her mates loved her, and she was well on her way to falling in love with them. Their need for her might be harsh and painful at times, but she had never felt more content. She started to tell them that she loved them too, but Zevon’s words echoed back to her. She hesitated.
Don’t say it until you’re sure. A soul bond is forever. We can wait until you’re certain.
They had more than proved that she could trust them with her body. Now she needed to decide if she could trust them with her heart.
Jessie sat near the window on the transport staring out into space with unseeing eyes. It had been six days since Kendra assaulted her in the corridor. Tissue regenerators repaired the damage to Jessie’s body, but bitter resentment still tainted her soul. While she lay bleeding in the hallway, Kendra had casually walked off and entered Zevon’s apartment. Worse, the bitch hadn’t even been punished for breaking Jessie’s bones. Well, okay, she’d apologized. She’d even managed to seem sincere, but Jessie didn’t give a fuck. Nothing had changed for her. She was still on her way to a desolate wasteland to bond with two barbarians. The Houkdi still lived in tents, for God’s sake. Half of the tribes didn’t even have indoor plumbing!
She was one of six conduits that had been dispatched to a different planet today. There had been a pointless ceremony and then the ships all set off to their separate locations. The entire situation was ridiculous. There was nothing to celebrate. They’d been bartered away as part of an alliance. No one asked for their opinion much less their permission. They’d just been informed of what was expected of them and meekly they’d agreed. The lack of spirit sickened Jessie, but none of them had a choice. They had no money, no true support system. They were weapons of war, at least to everyone at the Citadel.
The conduits were grouped into pairs, two females for each of the ally planets, Altor, Pyron and Houkdi. The rebels on Torret had been promised a pair also, but that ‘shipment’ had been postponed. Jessie didn’t know why. No one ever told the conduits anything. They were just expected to blindly obey.
A team of warriors had been sent with each conduit pair. Why did she need protection if Houkdi was safe? Two of the hulking males sat in the front of the ship. One was flying the vessel, the other navigating or who knew what. The third soldier sat in the back, making Jessie feel like a prisoner rather than a coveted potential mate.
“Are you going to brood all the way to Houkdi?” Heather plopped down in the seat beside her, sounding revoltingly cheerful.
“Do you have a problem with that?” Jessie asked without turning around.
“Actually, I do. I could be on my way to Altor right now, but I chose to switch places with Jill so I could be with you. For some strange reason I thought that being with my best friend on a shitty planet would be better than being alone on the richest, most sophisticated planet in the star system.”
Jessie sighed and looked at Heather. “I didn’t ask you to switch with Jill. I’m not sure I would have done the same thing for you.”
Heather waved away the comment. “You’re full of shit and we both know it. You’re not nearly the badass you want everyone to think. So just say ‘thank you, Heather.’”
“Thanks.” Jessie paused and looked into Heather’s eyes as she added, “I really do appreciate it. Facing this nightmare alone would have been unbearable.” Obsessing over Kendra hurt no one but herself. Jessie tried to let it go, but resentment surged up through her and she sneered, “I can’t believe that nothing happened to Kendra. She beat me half to death and?—”
“Drama alert,” Heather chimed in. “She broke your nose and got in one lucky punch that cracked your ribs. You knew her best friend is a sparbot when you went after her. I warned you, but nothing I said would calm you down.”
Jessie glared at Heather, then turned back to the window. “You’re doing a terrible job of cheering me up.”
“Yeah, I suppose I am. How about if we try to solve a mystery. You like analyzing possibilities.”
Tired of her own misery, Jessie shifted her body toward Heather, facing her as much as the seat allowed. “Which mystery are we solving?”
“Why’d Zevon put the two females meant for Torret on hold? The rebels are at the heart of this alliance. Why give conduits to everyone but them?”
“The situation must have become more volatile on Torret. Maybe Jevara is planning some sort of offensive and Zevon didn’t want the conduits caught up in it.”
Heather nodded, but speculation clouded her gaze. “It’s a good guess, but the vast majority of the fighting has taken place off-world.”
Jessie shrugged, unoffended by Heather’s argument. They enjoyed debating issues that required them to approach subjects from the opposite sides. “Then flip the scenario around. Maybe it’s the rebels that are getting ready to?—”
A boom sounded outside the ship, rocking it slightly from side to side.
“What the hell was that?” Jessie started to stand up, but the pilot motioned her back down.
“Strap yourselves in,” he ordered. “This could get ugly.”
“Ugly?” Jessie cried. “What’s going on?”
He didn’t bother responding. Both males in front worked frantically, their hands sweeping and twisting in the holographic controls.
Tension swept through the ship, leaving Jessie no doubt that the danger was real. She quickly fastened her safety straps while Heather did the same. They were clearly under attack, but who was out there and for what purpose?
The third male rushed to the seat directly behind the pilot and activated yet another control station. “There are six ships,” he announced. “We’re surrounded.”
“Fuck,” the pilot snarled as he sent their ship into a plummeting dive.
Jessie gasped. Heather cried out and grabbed Jessie’s arm.
“You target left. I’ll target right,” the third soldier called out.
“Got it,” the navigator responded.
The pilot continued sharp, unpredictable maneuvers while the other two fired a continual barrage of energy pulses at the attacking ships.
Jessie’s heart thundered in her chest. If the attacking force wanted them dead, they would be dead already. This was a capture mission, which meant they were after conduits. She glanced at Heather, but she had her eyes tightly closed and her lips were moving, likely in a silent prayer.
“Not again,” Heather whispered. “I can’t go through this again.”
Covering Heather’s hand with hers, Jessie gave it a reassuring squeeze. “It will be okay. I promise.” Even as the words left her mouth, Jessie was overcome with trepidation. Conduits were the most valuable resource in this star system. They had to be the reason for this attack.
“Why aren’t they returning fire?” one of the soldiers muttered. “We’re outnumbered and outgunned.”
“You just answered your own question,” the pilot said tersely. “They’re playing with us.”
Another boom sounded and the ship spun sickeningly for several long moments. When it finally stopped rotating, the navigator said, “They just disabled our engines.”
“They’re hailing us,” the third soldier said.
The pilot activated the comm, but all the males seemed shocked when the image of a female appeared on the main display.
“Good afternoon, gentlemen. I am Domar, Royal Consort to Emperor Verbet,” she introduced with a charming smile.
Emperor Verbet ? Jessie wondered. No one else reacted to the phrase. Was she the only one who noticed? Who the hell was Verbet and what had happened to Jevara?
With long dark hair and night-black eyes set off by copper-tinted skin, Domar was undeniably beautiful. Her garments were rich, highly decorated, adding credence to her claim. “I wish to speak with the conduits. I give my word of honor that they will not be harmed, but they will have the opportunity to hear my offer. How that transpires is up to you. You can allow them to stream over to my ship or my soldiers will come get them.”
Rather than argue with her, the pilot simply terminated the comm. “Surround them. Defend them with your lives.”
“No,” Jessie cried. “I don’t want anyone dying for me. I’ll go talk to her, find out what she wants.”
The males ignored her as they formed a protective half circle around the females.
The rest transpired with surreal speed and sickening violence. Six Torretian soldiers streamed onto the transport. Pulse rifles were strapped to their backs but they attacked with long, curved blades. They faced the females and any stray shot could harm the precious conduits. The security team fired pulse pistols in rapid succession a millisecond after the invaders materialized, but the energy was absorbed by the formfitting armor of the Torretians.
Heather cried out and pressed her face against Jessie’s shoulder. “Make them stop. Please make them stop!”
The attacking force reached the security team and the real fight began. They stabbed and slashed with such viciousness that Jessie too closed her eyes. The invasion back on Earth still filled her dreams each night. She didn’t need more fuel for her imagination.
The Torretians outnumbered the Altorians two to one, so Jessie knew the fight wouldn’t take long. Hopelessness welled inside her as the sounds of combat stretched on. Would this be her life now, violent males endlessly fighting to possess her mythical power? Each scream of pain, each resounding smack of fists hitting flesh warned Jessie that the conflict would never be over.
“Come,” a deep commanding voice cut through Jessie’s despair. “We will not hurt you.”
Reluctantly, Jessie opened her eyes. The security team was dead; one glance at their blood-covered bodies confirmed that fact.
“You didn’t need to kill them,” Jessie sobbed, unable to stabilize her raging emotions. “I’d already agreed to come with you.”
The leader said nothing. He simply held out his hand, his expression filled with expectation.
Jessie unfastened her safety straps and eased Heather off her shoulder. “The fight’s over. We have to go.”
A harsh sob was Heather’s only reply, so Jessie released Heather’s straps and tried to pull her to her feet. Heather cried even harder, lost in hysterical fear. With her eyes stubbornly squeezed shut, she struggled against Jessie’s light grasp.
“I’ll take her,” one of the Torretians offered. He was younger than the others, his features less intimidating. “Come here, love,” he coaxed as he scooped Heather up in his arms.
To Jessie’s surprise, Heather wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in the side of his neck.
“No one will hurt you now,” he told her. “I guarantee it.” He strode to the back of the ship and a molecular teleportation beam streamed them off the transport. The other soldiers soon followed and Jessie was alone with the leader.
“You’re next,” the leader told Jessie. “Domar is waiting.”
She hadn’t known the members of the security team, barely remembered their names, but they had been willing to fight to the death to protect her. That meant a lot to Jessie.
Shock and confusion kept Jessie grounded in place. Her mind wouldn’t accept the brutality of what had just happened. Flashes of light drew her attention to the back of the ship and a soft gasp escaped her lips. Two of the Torretian soldiers returned, each one carrying an unconscious female.
“W-what are you doing?” Jessie moved away from the leader, putting as much room between them as possible.
He said nothing as the two females were placed in seats and their safety straps fastened. As Jessie looked closer at the females, she realized they weren’t unconscious, they were dead. “Oh, my God.” Had the Torretians tortured and killed these poor women so they could use their bodies? One female had dark brown hair not unlike Jessie’s own. The other was blonde, like Heather. The bodies were dressed in uniforms identical to the one Jessie wore and both had been badly burned. Her accusatory gaze flew to the leader. “You’re making it look like we died.” Didn’t they realize DNA testing would easily reveal the switch? The females’ faces were distorted by their burns, large portions of their bodies were charred, but there was still flesh on their bones. They would never get away with this.
The leader smiled, the expression cold and filled with menace. “Images will be sent to the Citadel and then the ship will explode. Some might wonder if this was set up, but they will never be able to prove if you are alive or dead. Now, move!” He grabbed her upper arm and dragged her out from between the seats.
“But why do you want Zevon to think we’re dead? What are you going to do with us?”
The leader ignored her questions as he positioned her in the back of the ship.
Refusing to look at the carnage, Jessie tried not to panic. They wouldn’t stage her death if they meant to kill her. They would simply kill her and leave her body where Zevon was sure to find it. This was only the fourth time she’d streamed since arriving in the star system so the endless sucking sensation was still disorienting. She materialized with a soft gasp and stumbled forward a step.
“Steady,” the leader said, his massive hand tightening around her upper arm.
She shivered, not yet ready to be touched by anyone. “I’m fine.” She twisted free of his grasp then crossed her arms over her chest.
After pausing long enough to make sure Jessie was steady, the leader escorted her to a luxurious cabin. At least luxurious by spaceship standards. The room was compact, but the furniture appeared posh and comfortable. Domar stood directly across from the door casually sipping a pale blue beverage. Her emerald green gown skimmed her body, hinting at lush curves rather than blatantly outlining them. From the crown of her shiny hair to the toe of her jeweled slippers, she was the picture of elegant privilege.
“Your soldiers just murdered my escort,” Jessie snapped. “And they’re setting up the transport to make it look like I’m dead. What the hell do you want with me?”
“Would you like something to drink?” She lifted her glass, head tilting to one side. “The benalis is lovely.”
Jessie glared at her. “Did you murder those two women so you could use their bodies? How much blood do I have on my hands?”
Domar paused to take a drink, her dark eyes narrowed and assessing. “Both females were already dead and your escort was simply doing their job. You can continue to castigate yourself if you like, but it’s unnecessary.”
“Why am I here? Is Heather all right?”
“Heather is fine and you are here because I have an offer for you. The offer is strictly voluntary and it will only be presented to you once. So consider carefully before you give me your final answer.”
“I’m not interested,” Jessie said firmly.
“Don’t be impertinent.” Domar’s expression hardened and warning flashed in her dark eyes. “You’re on your way to Houkdi. How well do you know their customs? All of the tribes are primitive by Torretian standards, but some are downright barbaric.”
She wasn’t saying anything Jessie didn’t already know. But Torret wasn’t really a better option. Not only were they at war with Altor and the Citadel. They were also on the brink of civil war. Still, they had spaceships, and running water. “What’s your offer?”
“Willingly fight for the new emperor and you will be richly rewarded.”
“What happened to the old emperor? And who is Verbet? I’m not overly familiar with Torretian society, but I’ve never heard of him.”
Domar’s eyes narrowed to gleaming slits. “That’s disappointing. Maybe you’re not the female I believed you to be.”
Jessie tensed. She was doing it again, pissing someone off for no reason. She was completely at the mercy of this female. If she wanted to stay alive, she needed to play nicely for a change. “I apologize for my ignorance. The information provided by the Citadel is spun sharply in Altor’s favor.”
The excuse seemed to please Domar. She inclined her head and her expression relaxed. “Verbet is Jevara’s half-brother. He is the only person alive with royal blood in his veins.”
“I see. And may I know what happened to Jevara?”
“A tragic accident.” A smirk lifted the corners of Domar’s mouth. Clearly, she found it anything but tragic. “Back to my offer. Just so there’s no misunderstanding, you must willingly switch sides in the war and agree to be claimed by males who are loyal to Verbet. This must be done within the week for you to receive the rest of my offer.”
“Which is?”
“A private villa with a trained staff.” Domar waved her hand and the image of a palatial home appeared between them. Pressed up against one of the massive underwater domes, all of the walls on one side of the house were transparent. Torret was a water planet. All of the cities were contained within similar domes. “A generous income and access to the highest echelons of Torretian society.” A hint of challenge shaped her smile as she added, “Or you can continue on to Houkdi and live in a tent in the middle of the desert.”
“You’re asking me to betray my friends and become a traitor.”
“A traitor to what? You were raised on an alien world and your one and only true friend is in a cabin down the hall.” Domar strolled over to an armless chair and sat down, crossing her long legs as she studied Jessie. “Just because you’re a conduit that doesn’t obligate you to serve the Citadel.”
Defiance sparked through Jessie and she struggled to keep her mouth closed. Domar was right. Heather was Jessie’s only close friend, but that didn’t mean she wanted her face rubbed in it. As for being loyal to the Citadel, Jessie wasn’t sure how she felt about that.
“Three transports left the Citadel this morning with conduits onboard. One was headed to Houkdi, one to Altor, and one to Pyron.”
Shocked by the accuracy of her knowledge, Jessie moved closer to Domar’s chair. “How do you know that?”
“The emperor counts on me to know such things.” Domar chuckled then continued with her explanation. “We sent an attack force to intercept each transport, so a total of six conduits should be on their way to Torret right now. We were hoping for eight, but Zevon refused to send anyone to Torret until he figures out what Verbet has in mind.”
And now Jessie had the answer to the mystery Heather had suggested they solve. But why the fuck wouldn’t Zevon tell all the conduits that Jevara—their primary enemy—was dead? It was more evidence of how little he respected them.
“Verbet’s intentions should be glaringly apparent by now,” Jessie muttered but her mind spun on ahead. Jill and Loren were among the conduits who shipped out today. They weren’t close friends but Jessie liked them both. The other two were followers. They would do whatever they were told. Verbet might have shifted the course of the war with this one daring act.
“I see that I’ve caught your interest.” Domar grinned. “According to my spies, Zevon’s mate put you in the hospital a few days ago. Was she punished for her brutality?”
Disconcerted by the accuracy of Domar’s information and the ease with which she had targeted her temptations, Jessie just stared back at her silently.
A sly smile bowed Domar’s lips, but her voice was filled with disdain. “Do people like that really deserve your loyalty? I’m offering you a choice. That’s more than anyone at the Citadel has ever done.”
Jessie searched her mind trying to find the reasons to refuse Domar. She was offering Jessie everything she’d always wanted, everything she’d dreamed about on that godforsaken island where she was raised. Wealth, comfort, respect, and power. She was so ready to experience her power. War was war. Why should she care which side she supported? Ever since the day she was taken from Earth without her permission, she’d been bullied and manipulated by everyone. None of these people deserved her loyalty.
“Zevon protected her,” Jessie muttered. “Kendra beat me senseless and Zevon did nothing about it.”
“So fight for Verbet. Fight for me and you can make Kendra pay for everything she has ever done to you.”
Gradually giving in to temptation, Jessie released the smoldering resentment she had harbored ever since leaving Earth. It had started with Ansley, then Eden, and finally Kendra. They all thought they were better than everyone else. They went through life as if the rules did not apply to them. They acted as if they were the only ones who mattered. Well, Jessie was about to prove them wrong.
“I’ll do it,” she said firmly.
“I’m thrilled.” Domar pushed to her feet and stepped closer to Jessie. “I asked to speak with you first because you’re clearly a leader. Can I count on you to help me convince the others?”
“You leave the others to me. I know just what to say. Convincing them won’t be a problem.”
Smiling broadly, Domar dipped her head. “You won’t regret it. Welcome to the service of Emperor Verbet.”