Sarai Read online

  Dazed, he tucked himself once more into a low crouch, trying to ignore his hurting ribs. He’d lost the shotgun, but no matter…he just needed to get out of here. Staying low to the floor where the air was clearer, he started crawling again.

  He could smell nothing but smoke, see nothing in the swirling particle-filled gloom. He sucked down a ragged breath, the thickened air sawing harshly down his throat, his respiratory tract, spilling into his congested lungs in a burning tide.

  His outstretched hands had found the wall. Thank you, God. He shuffled and found the windowsill. Grabbing the bottom of it with both hands, he screamed in pain as his fingers were pierced by jagged broken glass but he heaved himself up and through, knowing he had no choice.

  He screamed again as he fell forward, a glass shard stabbing through the denim of his jeans into his thigh. But nothing mattered except getting clear of the fire.

  He hit the wooden floor and rolled until he fell off the edge of the porch into a garden bed. He lay there, panting heavily, drawing air raggedly into his beleaguered lungs and expelling it in great hurting gasps. After a few seconds, he pulled himself together enough to crawl further from the building, finally looking back to see gouts of flame bulging out windows, creeping up exterior walls, disappearing under the eaves and emerging onto the roof.

  The fire had taken hold, devouring everything in its path. Jamie wanted to weep but hadn’t the strength to do anything other than lie in the dirt watching as the house that had been his family’s home for generations burned to the ground.

  Then he realised that over the sound of flames hissing and wood contracting as it burned, he could hear nothing else. No roars or snarls, no clanging of sword against sword. There was nothing; even the fire alarms were silent.

  Maybe the creatures had escaped through the house, taking their bloody fight away from the fire. Maybe they were still inside, burning into ash.

  Whatever. He couldn’t waste time worrying about any of them — he needed to get help, needed to get away.

  He stood, swaying and shaking, almost falling again, then staggered toward a work truck parked near one of the outbuildings.

  Chapter Two

  ALEKYN HELPED HIS PARD remove the two Keinyn bodies from the burning house, laying them respectfully on the ground at the front of the building.

  Tig bent over to check the body at his feet. He looked up at his clan mates, grim-faced.

  “Keinyn” — as if there were any doubt at all about that! — “caught mid-shift and insane with it.”

  Which was why they’d been able to take them down so easily — out of their minds and at the mercy of the intense hormonal and other physiological changes their bodies were trapped into cycling, these Keinyn were neither one thing nor the other. Dangerous, fearsome but vulnerable to organised and logical attack. The Keinyn, unlike the Naferi, were still able to shapeshift into their ancestral forms, but the ability was unstable, more of a liability than anything else, Alekyn privately believed, even though many Naferi disagreed.

  “Why were they with the Zill? Captives?” Eled asked. “Were they mind-altered?”

  “Possibly,” Alekyn murmured. “Two dead, one got away with the Zill. Maybe the Zill left these two to fight us.”

  The Zill never fought face to face if they could help it — they preferred blitzkrieg battles waged at a distance - but once they were planetside, they used brain-controlled slave fighters to obliterate all opposition. The slave fighters were completely dispensable; the Zill didn’t even bother to recall them when they’d finished their dirty work — they ended up being consumed by the Zill along with the populations they’d defeated for their masters.

  Tig grunted and gestured to the corpses. “We’re taking the bodies back to the healers for examination?”

  Alekyn nodded. “They’ll want to see what was done to them.”

  “They were after the small creature trapped inside,” Bram muttered.

  “We didn’t see it leave so it’s probably still in the house.” Eled looked regretful. “Shame, it was a pretty thing from what I saw.”

  Alekyn cursed silently. He’d been so focused on taking down the Zill and their Keinyn slaves he hadn’t spared their victim any thought. “Get the bodies onto gurneys…Tig’s right, the healers will want to see them.”

  Eled pressed a button on his belt; two floating gurneys materialised, ready for the corpses.

  “Tig, when we get back to the ship, see whether this planet is sufficiently advanced to have some kind of compnet. If it has, upload as much information as you can — we’ll need to know how advanced this world and its inhabitants are.”

  He didn’t need to tell them why. They already knew. If they could, the Zill would ravage this planet, taking all its resources and enslaving or consuming its inhabitants to further their endless war against the Naferi and the other PanGalactic Federation members.

  From now on, this world would fall under the aegis of PanGal, simply to keep it safe from the Zill. Alekyn wondered which interplanetary power would be granted protectorate privileges. He shrugged. That was politics and not his concern. He just had to get his pard, the corpses and this new intelligence back to Naferi as fast as he could.

  He frowned. Thoughts of the small creature lost in the fire were nagging at him, though. Tig was busily tapping his e-tab; Eled and Bram were loading the bodies onto the gurneys. While they were occupied, he’d do a little scouting of his own. He headed around the side of the structure, to the window through which he and Eled had entered the building. Flames were now shooting up the exterior walls. The dwelling was obviously made of highly combustible materials. He felt a momentary sadness at the thought of whatever had died in the room, but there was nothing he could do. He and his pard only narrowly escaped themselves, hampered as they were by the bodies of the Keinyn.

  He looked around, wondering vaguely whether the fire would spread to the other buildings and whether it mattered. He sighed. Probably not. He turned back to his companions. They should just get back to the ship and head for home. Luckily the void would ensure a fast trip.

  Deep in thought, at first his eyes slid over something moving on the ground well away from the house. He did a double take and looked more closely.

  Staggering to its feet some distance from the house was a small figure. It was coughing pitifully and holding its ribs as if they caused it pain.

  Their missing victim, injured but alive. Maybe Tig could heal it and erase its memories of the trauma to which it had been subjected.

  He followed the creature quietly, not wanting to frighten it, as it moved unsteadily toward one of the primitive vehicles. A gentle breeze mooched up, blowing toward Alekyn. He sucked its cool freshness into his lungs, welcoming it after the acrid rank of smoke.

  Then he caught his breath sharply. Something tickled and teased his senses, something that caused him to inhale sharply, an almost undetectable pulse, an awareness of sudden need, rippling through his body, centering on his cock and balls, causing them to jump and twitch in sensual harmony. Soft golden motes speckled his vision, swirling around him, curling towards and wrapping around the little shape before him. He found himself chuffing with unexpected, overwhelming delight. That smell, so sweet, like nefan flowers in high summer …

  The creature stopped, then began to turn toward him slowly, its expression horrified. For a heartbeat, Alekyn, his head spinning, simply stared at the most beautiful creature he’d ever seen, then, wanting to reassure it, reached toward it, arms opened wide.

  “It’s all right, pretty thing,” he crooned. “Don’t be frightened…I will help you.”

  The creature cringed, backing away unsteadily, its eyes huge and frightened. It spat a string of musical notes at him and Alekyn smiled reassuringly. It was obvious the little thing didn’t understand a word he was saying.

  ________________________________

  JAMIE HAD JUST REACHED the truck when a strange sound caused him to stop, trying to hear something, anythin
g, over the rapid staccato of his heartbeats. What was that noise? It sounded like a cat’s chuffing, an odd soft chirruping. He turned slowly, dreading what he was going to see.

  One of the aliens stood about two metres from him, impossibly huge arms wide open and reaching.

  Jamie clenched his fists, straightening his hurting body as much he could, as aggressively as possible facing a creature standing at least a head and half taller than him.

  “Back off,” he grated. “Back the hell off, whatever you are.”

  The catman raised his hands slowly as if trying to reassure a frightened child. He murmured something in a low tone and moved closer.

  Jamie shook his head; he had no idea what the creature was saying and frankly he didn’t care. His lungs were on fire; his head was spinning and his ribs hurt like the devil himself was dancing on their broken ends.

  “I’m getting in the truck,” he informed the catman in a matter of fact tone, as if the creature could understand him. Lifting a bloodstained hand, he curled it round the truck door handle then screamed in agony as glass remnants drove themselves deeper into his torn flesh.

  He was too shocked to register the flurry of movement that brought the creature to his side. Faster than he could comprehend, it grabbed him, pulling his injured hands away from the door, holding him immoveable against a broad, leather-clad chest.

  Jamie tilted his head upwards, dazed, feeling his heart fluttering like a bird caught in a trap. The hands holding him were gentle, but unrelenting; gleaming blue eyes stared down into his.

  For a moment, he almost stopped trying to drag more air into his tormented lungs, fascinated by the creature holding him, astonished beyond belief at what he was seeing.

  Slanted almond-shaped eyes, pupils elongated and vertical; a thin nose, straight and perfect; a chiseled, shapely mouth; a mane of tawny-gold hair falling thick and glorious to its waist. He was a mixture of GQ masculine perfection and other-world oddness.

  Not a cat, he realised dazedly, not covered in plush soft fur, but pale golden skin marked with delicate black stripes that lapped around its eyes like a mask to join above its eyes in a beautifully formed “M”.

  But its ears…mesmerized, Jamie found himself reaching up with his other hand to stroke the one nearest him. A purring sound was his reward, and then the creature bent its head closer, letting Jamie trace his bloodied fingers along the velvety softness from base to white-tufted tip.

  Jamie sighed in amazement. As if encouraged, the creature breathed deeply; its lips making an odd sort of movement as if tasting Jamie’s scent.

  The air momentarily seemed to glow around them, a soft golden light flowing softly and weaving an intricate web of warmth and comfort around them both. A warm tongue, raspy and rough-edged, gently licked around Jamie’s chin, tidying away some of the ash and blood bedecking it. It was hypnotically soothing and Jamie felt himself relaxing, leaning weakly into the creature’s embrace. He felt oddly at peace after the trauma of the past while…he jerked himself away, staring at the creature in shock.

  What the hell was wrong with him? He was being held by something that wasn’t human while not fifty metres away his home was burning to the ground.

  “No,” he said sharply, struggling against the creature’s firm hold. “Let me go, I have to get help.”

  The creature frowned, its eyes narrowing as they stared down at Jamie intently. Something flickered in their azure depths and Jamie shivered.

  “I have to go.” He tried to twist his way free of the creature’s hold, his struggles intensifying as the grip tightened instead of eased.

  The creature shook its head. Was that gesture universal? Was it refusing to let him go? Jamie wondered. It seemed so — the creature ignored his efforts to escape. Its big muscled arms wrapped around Jamie, pulling him tightly into its embrace.

  Pain from his ribs ricocheted through Jamie. He whimpered and felt his legs collapsing beneath him. The creature held him upright, but its hold loosened slightly; its frown deepening as it studied Jamie closely. Two fangs, longer than the rest of its canines, slowly descended from its upper jaws.

  Jamie watched fascinated as drops of clear liquid gathered on the tip of each hollowed fang. Momentarily distracted, he had no time to react before the creature pounced, driving those sharp tips into his tender throat.

  He could feel venom pouring from the puncture sites, spreading toward his heart, his brain. He wanted to scream, but pain and fear alike both receded instantly. His eyelids were too heavy to lift and his mind retreated seamlessly into unconsciousness.

  He didn’t feel anything as the strong arms hooked under his knees and hoisted him possessively into a protective embrace.

  ________________________________

  ALEKYN STUDIED THE SMALL creature in his arms. He shivered as he remembered the glow that had swirled around them, the golden glimmering signaling his perfect mate, his sarai, and irrevocably uniting them.

  He felt his lips forming a smile, his heart filled suddenly with intense joy, his small bundle in his arms was his destiny, his love for as long as they lived. He was now a Sarat, a master to his little sarai, and he would spend his life ensuring this little creature’s wellbeing.

  Most of its body was covered in some sort of material, and soft black hair curled over its head. The small creature’s face was lovely, dominated by darkly lashed green eyes, but its ears, set low and hard against the sides of its head were distinctly odd. The poor thing had no canines to speak of, no obvious defenses.

  Alekyn would need to look after it very carefully.

  He smoothed his hand over the creature’s head, brushing soft curly locks from its forehead, and ran his fingers gently over its smooth cheeks. It was hurt, bleeding from small wounds all over its body. Its breathing was ragged, coming in short pants, and when he’d pulled its delicate form back into his close embrace, he’d felt several ribs shift. No wonder it had yelped.

  The little thing needed medical care. His first duty as a Sarat called.

  It weighs so little, he thought as he made his way back to where Tig, still engrossed in his e-tab, stood. He grunted and Tig looked up, his absorbed expression rapidly changing to comprehension as he saw Alekyn’s burden. He tucked his e-tab back into his belt and loped over to Alekyn.

  “They were after this one.” Alekyn tucked the creature’s head against his shoulder protectively. “It’s been hurt and is having troubling breathing.”

  Tig was his pard’s medic. He huffed, peering at Alekyn’s burden; Alekyn felt his muscles tighten protectively, his fangs descending automatically. Tig eyed him curiously.

  “Eled said it was pretty,” he said. “He was right. You bit it?”

  Alekyn nodded. “It was in obvious pain and panicking. I thought it best to sedate it.”

  “Hmm. Put it down so I can examine it.”

  Alekyn reluctantly obeyed, watching uneasily as Tig carefully lifted the bloodstained material covering the creature’s chest, cautiously feeling the broken ribs, gently examining its fine but torn fingers. He listened carefully to the ragged breathing, frowning.

  “The ribs need healing. I’ll bind them now. We’ll have to get the glass splinters out of its flesh as soon as possible. The real problem is the smoke it inhaled…it’s struggling to breathe and that’s not good.”

  Alekyn’s face tightened. “Let’s get it to the ship to treat it and then we’ll take it back to Naferi’s.”

  “That’s not necessary. I can fix its woes on board ship and we can release it.”

  Alekyn growled low and threatening. Tig’s ears flicked; his topaz eyes sharpened as he studied his clan leader warily. Then he relaxed.

  “It’s a pretty little thing,” he repeated thoughtfully, “and it looks Naferi, except for the size. And the ears, of course; no retractable claws, but apart from that, very like us.”

  “Yes,” Alekyn answered tersely. “Tig…it is mine, my sarai.”

  Tig’s ears shot back, then forward. He n
odded then smiled. “It’s beautiful. Alekyn…you are the first in our pard to find a mate.”

  They exchanged a long look. “This sector has not been explored,” Tig extracted his medkit and carefully began wrapping the sarai’s ribs. “We didn’t even know its void path existed until we followed the Zill scout through.”

  Alekyn grunted his assent, his big hand smoothing his sarai’s brow. They’d been on a routine patrol when a Zill scout ship was detected not far from a Naferi star base. They’d pursued it, not expecting their quarry to enter an unknown void. They’d been even more surprised when the void exited so close to this uncharted world.

  “The targeting of my sarai by the Zill — it is a coincidence, surely?”

  “Or fate.” Tig finished his task, then rose and respectfully stepped away from Alekyn and his mate. “We need to get your sarai to the ship before its breathing worsens.”

  Alekyn picked up his sarai, cradling it against his chest carefully. “Yes, then I wish to get it home as soon as possible. Where are Bram and Eled?”

  “Gurneying the bodies back to the ship. Alekyn, about the little thing…it looks so similar to us that it should be examined by the healers. It could be a breeder.”

  Alekyn considered the matter briefly before nodding. “I agree.” He sighed. “My sarai smells so good, soft and warm like the forest in early summer, I can barely think.”

  Tig stilled, staring at him sharply. Unable to resist the impulse, he leaned forward to sniff the exposed flesh of the creature’s slim furless throat. “You’re right. Under the smoke, it smells…it smells delicious. How intriguing.”