Defender (New World Book 7) (17 page)

“You couldn’t have known and the cave-in happened so fast. There was confusion. Humans can’t see in the dark. It was too dark for them to see where you went.”

“A Tonan killed that child.”

“Not my Tonan.”

Taz dragged his hand down his face. Lightning lit up the sky past the opening of the cave. Thunder crashed. Haven was sobbing in Skylar’s arms. Greta was quiet. She was awake when Taz returned and Macy saw the strange gaze she sent his way.

“You are only one person, Taz,” Greta said.

“It wasn’t your fault, Taz,” Haven said. Her huge expressive eyes were overflowing with tears. “It was my fault. I wanted them to come home with us. I was so scared when you went back; I hoped so hard you would come back, even if you came back alone.”

“No honey,” Macey said. “It wasn’t your fault. She pulled the girl into her lap. Taz stroked his finger down the girl’s cheek. Macey watched the tear slip under his skin.

“I will always come back,” Taz promised.

All of them pressed together with Taz’s powerful arms wrapping them in safety. Macey knew he meant what he said. His was no idle promise.

“We have no home,” Skylar said.

“We have each other,” Macey said.

“I’ll find us a new home tomorrow,” Taz said.

Haven crawled in his lap. “Jimmy and his father thought you were my dad.”

Macey watched as Taz stroked the child’s hair. He kissed her forehead when she gazed up at him.

“I guess I am,” Taz said. “You’re stuck with me.”

“Good,” Haven said.

In the morning, Taz left before first light. Everyone but Macey was asleep. She went outside with Taz. There was more destruction, trees were down everywhere. The skies were volatile. Macey wished the sun would shine.

“How far will you go?” she asked.

“I may need to travel some distance. Stay in the cave. I’m going to seal you in.”

“Taz,” Macey said, uncertain when she saw him muscle a large boulder close.

“You can tell them it came down in the night right after I left to search for a place to stay. Tell them I’ll figure out how to move it. For now, I can smell food. Wait here.”

Taz took off and returned moments later. He was carrying a food basket. She opened her mouth to ask where it came from but he held up his hands.

“Don’t ask. And don’t worry. I’ve taken care of all immediate threats.”

Macey knew he’d killed again. He leaned down and kissed her with deep passion. She took the basket and went into the cave. Taz moved the boulder across the opening, sealing them in. When the others woke, tension was thick. Macey and Greta had them sing songs. Macey used sticks and rocks for tic-tac-toe. The food was soon gone and Haven complained, wanting to be outside when the hint of sunlight shone down through cracks.

It was late day when Taz returned. He looked tired and frazzled. No one said a word when he pushed the rock away from the opening. Macey insisted numerous times Taz had phenomenal strength. No one questioned her.

“I found us shelter. More caves but they’re connected. We’ll be safe warm, clean and protected,” Taz said.

“How far?” Macey asked.

“We can get there by dark tomorrow. It took me longer because I was filling the cave with essentials. It should last until the storms leave, and the others are gone.”

Taz had a bag filled with items. Macey took blankets from him and settled them on the floor. Taz started a fire. The air was chilly. He pulled the rock three quarters closed. Nothing would get in unless it slithered and Taz told Macey his shield would warn him if there was danger to any of them. The next day would be grueling. It was time to eat and sleep and prepare.

The cave was extraordinary. Macey didn’t know what to think when she first walked in to the well-hidden cave. The entrance was deceptive, small; Taz had to duck when he entered through parted vines. Once inside she was astounded. An array of multicolored lights lit up the massive cave. There were no stalactites or stalagmites. Taz took her hand and led her to a steaming pool of water. An underground spring.

“We definitely need to get busy in there,” he whispered in her ear. She couldn’t agree more.

“We can have our own rooms,” Skylar squealed as she raced from cavern to cavern.

“I don’t want to be all alone,” Haven mumbled. The child was holding Taz’s hand.

Since the cave-in, Haven had attached herself to Taz’s hip. Taz picked her up and tucked her into the crook of an arm. He tweaked her nose, but she batted his hand away. She was scowling.

“It smells in here,” she grouched. “It will fall down too.”

“It won’t fall down,” Taz was quick to say. “It’s been here for a long time and will be here long after we are gone.”

“It’s too primitive to live in a cave,” Haven said and struggled from his grasp.

“I thought you said PMS was for older girls,” Taz whispered in Macey’s ear. She would have chuckled, but Haven was having issues.

“Haven. Honey?” Macey said and crouched before her.

“You better get away. Anything I care about or like dies.”

Ah I get it.

“I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart. Neither is Taz or Aunt Greta or Skylar. You’re stuck with us. The cellar collapsing was an accident, there was too much rain too fast, the cellar was on a slope, and we’ve been pounded with some nasty weather. It all conspired into the mudslide, you did nothing wrong. Jimmy’s death was tragic but a horrible accident. You didn’t cause anything to happen. Your parents’ deaths weren’t your fault either.” Macey ran the backs of her fingers down the girl’s cheek.

“You promise you won’t go away?” Haven asked.

The relief on the child’s face made Macey want to cry. Taz picked Haven up under her arms and held her eye level while she clasped his forearms, her legs dangling.

“Of course we promise.” Taz grinned and winked at her. “You’re the first little girl I ever owned.”

Haven rolled her eyes. “You don’t own children silly. But thanks for not saying human female!”

Taz chuckled and set her down. She scampered off to explore with Skylar. Taz told Macey there was only one way in or out—for humans. The cave was massive but impossible to get lost in. Exploring would keep the girls entertained for a long time. There was a section that dropped off he sealed for safety.

“There’s a kitchen in here,” Greta said.

“I collected a few things before I brought you here,” Taz said.

“You must run very fast,” Greta said.

“I do,” Taz said.

Greta smiled at him and gave Taz a hug before telling them she would start dinner. They could sleep after. Macey could hear her aunt’s exclamations.

“A propane burner. A barbeque with coal. I can make tea,” Greta squealed. “You found me tea. Taz, have I mentioned how much I adore you.”

“Yep, she’s in love with you,” Macey said and chuckled.

“Girls?” Taz bellowed. They stopped dead in their tracks from their race around the huge cave. “Macey and I are going to bathe. Help Aunt Greta.”

Skylar giggled as she wrapped an arm around a protesting Haven and they scooted away.

“Subtle,” Macey said.

“This will be our home for a long time,” Taz said. He sounded serious. “It’s safe, open, big. My shield is telling me a successful mating will give us a female child. I already feel as though Skylar and Haven are mine, but, I’m greedy. I want more.”

He took her hand and led her to the hot swirling water. The area was sheltered on three sides away from prying eyes. Macey knew Greta would keep the girls busy. She stripped slowly with his gaze on her the entire time. When she lifted her hands over her head to remove her shirt Taz ran his palms down her sides. The water was hot and Macey gasped as she sank into the foamy depths.

“Might be too hot for Haven,” she said.

“There are three in here. This one’s the hottest. The last one will be perfect for little ones.”

“Sperm doesn’t do well in heat.”

“My shield regenerates in the sun. I love the heat, so does my sperm.”

“Are your critters all hot and bothered?”

“Fuck yes.”

Macey reached down and gripped his cock. He was big but not too engorged. She ran her palm over the length of him.

“Can you control your cock so I can suck on it? I don’t want a sudden Twinkie on steroids to give me a broken jaw or a permanent wide mouth expression.”

Taz stared at her, wide-eyed. “In your mouth?”

“Well, unless you can figure out how to get it in yours…”

Taz lifted her under the arms to move her while he sat on the edge of the pool. Macey stood between his legs and took his erection in her hands. She watched his expression as she licked the head of his cock. Taz swore and shuddered.

“Remember when you spanked me?” she coyly asked and licked him again.

“Uh oh.”

“You do remember. There are other ways of torture.”

Macey drew half of him into her mouth. He was huge and filled her. Her teeth slightly grazed his skin and he shuddered. His hand gripped her hair but he didn’t stop her. She sucked harder and moved her mouth over him. She lifted her hands to tease his sacks and for a second he squirmed.

She released him and nipped his inner thigh. He made an odd sound and when she gazed at him he looked dangerous.

Good, smart ass.

She nipped his other thigh before using her hands to work his cock. He was warm and wet and she knew his secretions were meant for her. She laved the tip of his head and drew him into her mouth as slow as she could. He was trembling when her hands pushed his thighs wider. She took him deeper.

His erection began to grow, and he began to slip out the bigger he became. Finally Macey had to release him. Taz jumped into the pool and grabbed her hips. Macey panicked. If he plunged his engorged length into her while he was huge she’d howl the cave down. Taz thrust as he bit into her throat, her scream died on her lips and she rested her head on his shoulder for a moment as his thrusts went wild, spilling water over the edges of the pool.

Taz’s breath came in short puffs as he slowed. His hands trailed over her back. He grabbed a fistful of her hair and exposed her throat. He bit her again and he continued to rock. He was building faster this time.

“I’m happy we’ll be here a long time. I can get used to this,” Macey said, her lips were pressed to his ear.

“You’ll get used to it too. I want my baby. I want to complete our family. I’ll just have to try harder.”

“You definitely have the harder part down to an art.”

Taz chuckled. “Do I? How about we concentrate on the try aspect.”

Taz ravaged her lips. When he broke contact she smiled at him.

“We have forever you know,” Macey said.

“We really do.”

Taz cuddled her to his chest. Her breasts pressed to his skin. Macey closed her eyes and breathed deep. Forever was a long time. She was happy she would spend it with Taz.

* * * *

For a long time, Taz was happy and content to watch the girls play in the cave they made a home in. Days turned to weeks, weeks to months. Laughter filled their days while the storms worsened and few shuttles left. Much of Earth was destroyed. Taz went out daily, wistfully wishing the skies would clear and the Tonans would be gone. He was always relieved to return home.

The happiest day of his life after finding Macey was the first hushed emotions of his babe, quiet emotions swirled into life. The second he heard her heart beat, he grabbed Macey and crushed her to him. She was astounded he knew before she did, but he knew. He scented his child’s life and fell in love all over again. He would be the proudest father in the universe. And thanks to his parents and Macey, he would be the most loving.

He loved to feel Macey’s belly as she expanded and the kicks of his baby were the sweetest feeling anywhere. They would complete their family. Each day, Taz went out in search of anything that would make their lives easier. Every day he returned feeling remorseful. The storms were getting worse. The Tonans were capturing females now in plain sight. They weren’t waiting for shuttles anymore. The shuttles had all but stopped with the drastic weather, only the Tonan mother ships flew in. Too many shuttles crashed or veered off course to land on different planets and he heard word Krish was on the move and looking for him. Taz knew something extreme had occurred on his planet.

After wild storms, dead animals were easy to come by. Taz preferred fresh meat but a deer lay on the ground. He was about to retrieve it when he stopped. He had been on Earth for a year now and knew he maintained an earthy scent; it’s what kept him from being detected when he spied on other Tonans. The two Tonans who walked within his sight were easy to avoid.

“Cobra escaped. We got word. The war is gearing up. He’s coming for human females for his warriors.”

“So it’s true. He’s out to kill all Tonans.”

The pair moved off. The idea was scary. It would mean the Castians were coming. His family was in danger. A greater threat was the encroaching water. The cave would flood and they would drown if he didn’t move the others soon. Taz loathed the idea of making yet another home.

Overhead the sky was darkening; another storm was brewing. It would be brutal. He needed to get home. Haven hated thunder. The city he roamed was totaled. Death was everywhere. Taz felt sad. The city had been spared for so long. There were few people, but enough to keep his interest.

As he went to retrieve the deer he stopped in his tracks. There was no mistaking the evil stench behind him. Taz knew this moment would come. He turned to stare at Krish, earthy scent or not, he’d known Krish would find him. Taz felt no fear, not even a twinge; it was the first time in his life he knew he defied Krish on purpose and he didn’t care.

“You’ve grown weak.”

Taz glared at him.

“I’m anything but weak.”

“You scent of female. You’ve mated. How wonderful.” Krish strolled towards him. “I can smell her scent on you. I won’t kill her or you. I have bigger plans for your female. I’ve been searching for you for a long time.”

“My mate and I are staying on Earth.”

Krish laughed. “I doubt it. The planet is dying. There was never any thought to stop the storms. Every human we want or need has already been taken. It’s just a matter of rounding up a few stragglers for sport. We have no need to hide; my plan is in motion. Once the females get us what we want from the Castians, we’ll kill them all and the human offspring as well. Females are useless. After our enemy falls, females will fall.”